> an athletic commission is responsible for refereeing
This sounds a bit like a distancing attempt.
Surely those referees follow the rules of UFC. So ultimately UFC is responsible no matter which entity enforces the rules.
This sounds a bit like a distancing attempt.
Surely those referees follow the rules of UFC. So ultimately UFC is responsible no matter which entity enforces the rules.
"Unified rules of MMA" were developed at the state athletic commission level (NJ maybe?), but not everywhere implements them: https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/4/16/18358920/abc-survey-at....
The ending of one fight in TX had betting implications because of their odd rules. https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/6/21/23177038/texas-commiss...
I may be wrong, but I think it's the other way around. The commission sets the rules and hires the referees to enforce them. Dana White has be openly critical of certain referees and made it clear he'd fire them if he could. The UFC must follow the rules of the commission. I believe that's why some past fights could only occur in certain jurisdictions, and with modified rules. The unified rules of MMA are set by commission voters, not the UFC [1].
[1] https://www.ufc.com/unified-rules-mixed-martial-arts?languag...