The Show Money crew is Paul the economist, Jason the lawyer, and John the MMA insider and all-knowing guru. In today’s episode, Jason is on a Hawaiian vacation so John and Paul spend the entire show on the newly released details of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act’s proposed extension into the world of MMA and grappling. What’s contained in the first draft of the new bill? Will there be MMA sanctioning bodies? Will we see cross-promotional fights through a new ranking system? How will the newly proposed bill affect a possible UFC sale? The guys are also joined by former WEC lightweight champion and former UFC lightweight fighter, Jamie Varner, for a fighter’s perspective on the proposed legislation and his dealings with the UFC.
For those interested in specific parts, John and Paul start with a review of the Ali Act and proposed extension details then walk through key MMA elements including (1) fighter disclosures at 11:45, (2) the promoter/manager firewall at 18:47, (3) MMA sanctioning bodies and independent rankings at 33:07, (5) coercive contracts at 47:40, (6) the effect on grappling promotions at 49:44, (7) private enforcement at 56:17, and (8) the effect on a possible UFC sale at 1:00:24. The interview with Jamie Varner starts at the 1:09:00 mark and continues to the end.
Note: The show was recorded on Monday before learning the UFC rescinded its ban against MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, Esther Lin, and E. Casey Leydon.
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Follow Jamie Varner at @jamievarner, Paul at @MMAanalytics, John at @heynottheface, and Jason at @dilletaunt.
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