Knees, Elbows, Foot Stomps Up for Review

New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Counsel Nick Lembo has called on mixed martial arts fans to submit their comments to the Association of Boxing Commissions Professional and Amateur MMA Rules Committee by 17 September.

“We are interested in any comments,” said Lembo.  “All comments will be passed on to the Committee for their consideration.”

Topics on the Commitee’s agenda include:

Adding smothering of the nostrils or mouth as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing manipulating the clavicle as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing heel kicks to the kidney as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing the allowance of stomps to the feet by two standing fighters  (as per the Montreal document).

Reviewing weight classes (as in the Montreal document).

Rules or prohibited strikes for amateurs.

Downward pointed elbow strikes.

Where strikes should be allowed to the back of the head.

Knees to the head on the ground.

And, scoring.

Comments must be submitted in writing by 17 September to:

Nicholas Lembo
State Athletic Control Board
Hughes Justice Complex
PO Box 180
Trenton, NJ 08625

The Association of Boxing Commissions Professional and Amateur MMA Rules Committee consists of the following members:

Chairman Nick Lembo, New Jersey
Jim Erickson, North Dakota
Andy Foster, Georgia
Dale Kilparchuk, River Cree
Keith Kizer, Nevada
Armando Garcia, California
Josef Mason, Colorado
Mike Mazzulli, Mohegan Sun
Bernie Profato, Ohio

In addition, Lembo has announced a fighters sub-committee consisting of:

“Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3)
Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)
Stephen Haigh (4-2)
“Gumby” Jeremy Horn (80-18-5)
Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7)
Tara LaRosa
“Croation Sensation” Pat Miletich (28-7-2)
Fighters.com’s Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (13-4-1)

And, an industry sub-committee of:

Monte Cox, Adrenaline MMA promoter
John McCarthy, broadcaster and referee
Lou Neglia, Ring of Combat promoter
J.D. Penn, Rumble on the Rock promoter
Joe Silva, UFC matchmaker
Marc Ratner, UFC vice-president
Jared Shaw, EliteXC vice-president