Representatives of MMA, pro wrestling, boxing, a couple of lawyers ... and the Federal Bureau of Investigation??? are joining forces to create what sounds like the first sanctioning body for Mixed Martial Arts. To boil it down, if this works, we could see belt holders from different organizations fighting to unify belts, similar to what happens in boxing.
This from mmafightline.com:
NEW YORK - Respected figures from the business world, professional and amateur athletics, medicine, and sports journalism will gather at a lunch/press conference next week to launch the first ever MMA sanctioning body. WAMMA the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts will rank fighters by weight division, establish unified rules, ensure the safety and welfare of fighters, and sanction world championship bouts. Most important, it will enable the best fighters in the world to face off against each other, creating unified legitimacy and increasing the integrity of the sport.
The press conference on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at 12:00 pm will take place at Gallagher’s Steak House, 228 West 52 Street, New York City. Steak lunch will be served for reporters. A full schedule is below. Please RSVP to attend.
Appearing at the press conference will be former wrestler and NFL player Bill Goldberg; MMA Legends Pat Miletich and Don Frye; noted boxing manager Godwin Asifo; attorney Fred Levin, who helped manage the career of boxer Roy Jones, Jr.; nationally known attorney Michael Lynch; and David Szady, a 33-year veteran of the FBI.
And this from a story by Bill Vilona from the Pensacola News Journal:
The goal of WAMMA is to bring stability and credibility through one umbrella organization. The group will not promote the fights, nor align with fighters. Rather, the intention is to work with promoters like the NFL works with team owners, or other major-sport organizations govern a league.
The organization will be headquartered either in Pensacola or Orlando, Szady said.
"We're not a threat to (Dallas Mavericks owner) Mark Cuban, UFC or any of the other organizations," said Szady, a Cape Cod, Mass, resident who met Levin and Stephenson five months ago to discuss the plan. "What we're looking to do, as promoters continue to come into this sport, is provide a legitimacy.
"I watched the fights periodically the last few years, but was never a huge fan. In a way, that is a strength. I have no agenda. I have no strong feelings. I have no ties to any promoter. This will be a completely transparent organization."
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