Call for Guam commission to be made functional
Despite a 2009 law establishing the Guam Unarmed Combat Commission, the sport apparently has no oversight what so ever at present.
Mixed martial arts is in the USA is regulated under the spirit of a Federal law, The Ali Act. However, the act nowhere mentions MMA, and even for boxing, it is a law without penalties. Still, it works.
In the U.S. island territory of Guam in Micronesia mixed martial arts has proven to be popular, with Pacific Xtreme Combat among others promoting excellent events. However, in a recent editorial, the Pacific Daily News reports that despite a 2009 law establishing the Guam Unarmed Combat Commission, the sport apparently has no oversight what so ever at present.
The commission is charged with sole direction, management, control and jurisdiction over all contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat to be conducted, held or given within Guam. Unfortunately, it does not appear to have any officially appointed members and does not appear to have met in years.
The good news is, three commissioners have been appointed by the legislature -Robert Marks, Jon Ulloa, and John Edwards. Bad news is, none of them serve on the commission.
According to the 2009 law, the Revenue and Tax Director is a member of the commission, but current director John Camacho hasn’t attended a commission meeting since he assumed the role in 2011, and is unaware of any commission meetings in the last year.
The commission is supposed to license events, fighters, promoters, managers, and ring officials. Events are going on, but no one appears to be licensing anything. Even the Facebook page is dormant.
The editorial closes with a plea for action:
Given the popularity of mixed martial arts and other combat sports, the island needs the Guam Unarmed Combat Commission to be a fully functioning body. The commission needs adequate members so it can meet regularly and ensure all standards and regulations for combat sports are followed.
