Texas to consider Foster’s 10-point weight-cutting reform
Most athletic commissions are apparently waiting for a high profile death, unconvinced by the lesser known deaths, and the endless series of hospitalizations.
The culture of extreme weight cutting is the most dangerous regulatory issue in mixed martial arts. Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission has created a 10 Point Plan to fix the deadly problem. It works. The ABC medical committee supports it. The ABC has adopted it. The UFC supports it and will continue to adopt further parts of it.
Unfortunately, most athletic commissions are apparently waiting for a high profile death, unconvinced by the lesser known deaths, and the endless series of hospitalizations and other major health problems.
Now Texas Combative Sports Program director ‘Big’ Greg Alvarez tells Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting that Foster’s plan will be discussed at Friday’s advisory board meeting. Alvarez said the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) could implement the 10 Point Plan without going through the state legislature but said it would take approximately four months to implement.
Fighter Clovis ‘C.J.’ Hancock had a hard cut for his fight vs. Charlie Ontiveros at the LFA 26 event in Texas earlier this month, and died in the arena, but was revived. However, Alvarez said that that was not the reason for considering the progressive reforms, noting that he and Foster have been discussing them for a long time.
If Texas joins California, the two large commission adoptions may spur others to address the issue. Or it may take a high-profile death.
