While regulation is always welcome, the selection of the ABC over the District of Columbia commission has raised eyebrows.

In a press release distributed to media outlets including Cageside Press, the UFC cited Association of Boxing Commissions President Timothy Shipman, as saying that “As the event is being held on federal property, there is no requirement for the UFC to select a state athletic commission to oversee the event.”

The post UFC Picks ABC to Regulate White House Card, DC Commission Cries Foul appeared first on Cageside Press.

Mike Mazzulli’s 10-year tenure as President of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) will come to an end this August, as a new president will be voted in during the annual conference in New Orleans. Mazzulli has chosen not to seek re-election.

During his leadership, the ABC focused heavily on fighter safety and athlete representation—particularly ensuring fighters had a voice in regulatory decisions. His departure comes at a pivotal time, as the ABC is currently under scrutiny with proposed amendments to the Muhammad Ali Act. It will be interesting to see who takes the reins next.

“My term is up, and I’m ready to pass on the leadership position,” Mazzulli told me. “I’ll still be heading the commission with the Mohegan Tribe [in Connecticut] and will be available to help the ABC wherever it’s needed.”

I spoke with Mike last week to catch up after he mentioned on Din Thomas’ “FightCourt” podcast that a new president would be voted in. According to the ABC’s constitution, as published on their website: During the ABC’s annual meeting, any voting delegate in good standing can nominate a candidate for the presidency. If more than one candidate is nominated, an anonymous paper ballot vote is conducted, and a simple majority determines the next president.

Names being floated as potential successors include Tim Shipman of Florida and Scott Bowler from Utah.

This leadership transition comes amid the buzz around potential changes to the Ali Act—changes Mazzulli believes won’t be affected by new leadership. Momentum behind the act has also slowed somewhat, especially after Dana White and TKO were removed from collaborating with Turki Alalshikh on promoting the upcoming Canelo vs. Crawford fight.

One thing I have to credit the ABC for is its unity in regulation—specifically in recognizing medical suspensions across jurisdictions and pursuing common goals to improve combat sports. Because of that, I believe the next president will continue in the direction Mazzulli has set over the past decade.

Among his accomplishments, Mazzulli helped bring legitimacy to the industry and ensured fighters had a meaningful voice in decisions that directly impact them. One standout achievement is the implementation of the fighter committee, which now holds a formal seat at the table within the ABC.

The 37th annual ABC conference will take place August 1–7 in New Orleans. In addition to the election, the event will feature several key sessions, including judge and referee training, proposed rule changes and standardizations, and discussions around safety protocols. Fighters are encouraged to attend—not just to observe, but to be involved in shaping the future of the sport. Special sessions will also dive into technical positions related to rule changes, where fighter input is especially valued.

It’s a great opportunity to network, learn, and push combat sports forward—together.

For more information on the event, visit the ABC website: https://www.abcboxing.com

The post Mazzulli Out: New President to Be Voted In at ABC Conference appeared first on Cageside Press.

Oddly enough, a parody account on social media network Twitter was seemingly first to break the news.

The UFC is currently aired on ESPN and ESPN+ (their streaming service) in the United States. Outside of Pay-Per-View events, their entire 2020 slate was split between these two services.

However, both ABC and ESPN are owned by the same parent company: Disney. And apparently, the House of Mouse sees big enough potential to consider airing a UFC event on its flagship television network.

Currently, the UFC’s January 16 card (UFC Fight Island 7), which is headlined by Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar in a key featherweight match-up, is listed for ESPN+. Both prelims and the main card are set to air on the service, with the preliminary card kicking off at 12PM ET. However, a change in networks would be easy enough, and the preliminary card would likely remain on the ESPN side of things. How many main card fights would actually air on ABC is unknown at the moment.

No official announcement has been made by the promotion, ABC, or Disney at this time.

The last time the UFC aired a live event on broadcast television was in December 2018. The final event of the FOX era, UFC on FOX 31, saw Al Iaquinta defeat Kevin Lee in the main event. The organization’s debut on that network, in 2011, saw an entire broadcast built around a single fight: the heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Brazil’s Dos Santos won the bout in 64 seconds.

Let’s hope at least two fights make it onto the ABC broadcast.

The post UFC Eyeing Return to Broadcast TV, with Jan. 16 Fight Island Card Targeted for ABC appeared first on Cageside Press.