The Saga Continues: Athletic Commission Fires Back at Shine Fights CEO

It’s that time again, fans and friends. There’s a new chapter in the Shine Fights saga. I already reported on Shine Fights CEO Devin Price berating the Virginia Athletic Commission for canceling his show. Price criticized the VAC for a number of reasons, the principal one being that they canceled his event event based almost solely on the rumor surrounding Shine Fights not paying their fighters. It now appears that the commission isn’t taking that tirade lying down, and recently told their side of the story to Sherdog.com.

Here’s what Mary Broz-Vaughan, the Director of Communications for the Department of Professional and Occupational Relations, had to say: “We were begging for information from them on Tuesday. We just can’t put on an event without the required documents. Our bonding requirement would have allayed these concerns, but (Shine) didn’t provide evidence that they’d acquired one. Allegations alone are not sufficient grounds for denial. We looked to see if there was a way we could make [the proposed eight-man Lightweight Grand Prix tournament] work, though we don’t take kindly to that type of event in the state. There just wasn’t enough level of detail in (Shine’s proposed rules) that we were comfortable with.”

The documents Broz-Vaughan is referring to included medical records and professional records for the athletes that were scheduled to compete at the event, which supposedly the athletic commission never received. Shine also failed to produce a state-mandated bond. Broz-Vaughan also denied the rumor that the athletic commission canceled the show due to a voting contest that allowed fans of Shine Fights to choose the opening-round match-ups of the proposed eight-man one-night tournament.

This just keeps getting more and more interesting. I’ve spoken very harshly of Shine Fights in the past, and my unwavering non-sympathy to their plight is only further backed up by this recent report. At what point does everyone involved just throw their hands up in the air and say “enough is enough”? Surely we’re nearing that point, if we haven’t passed it already. I can appreciate the guts it took to try and book the Mayorga/Thomas fight, and even the guts it took to try and make this one-night Grand Prix tournament. But it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Shine Fights is decomposing into a mismanaged, unorganized mess.

I’ve remained pretty silent on the event itself and focused almost exclusively on the controversy around it. Well, that’s because I don’t really have a problem with the event itself. I actually like the idea of a one-night eight-man tournament. It’s pretty nostalgic, to begin with, and I think the tournament format can work in today’s MMA world so long as it’s modified for the times. Winning a tournament used to be the ultimate way to prove that you’re the best around, and even if this Lightweight Grand Prix doesn’t contain anybody world-ranked, it’d still be a pretty big feather in the winner’s cap to have won three fights in one night when most star fighters barely fight three times in one year.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Where does Shine Fights go from here? Can those in charge salvage their promotion? And with all the controversy surrounding this upcoming event, how interested are you in the event itself?