You will be aware that the UK is in need of a legitimate Governing Body for MMA. NFAC was 'launched' some time ago but due to 'people' issues was unable to maintain any momentum and has not progressed as it should have. A more solid committee has been brought together and I am working to try and introduce some order and regulation to this great sport of ours.
At present the regulations for NFAC Sanctioned events is not written in stone. They are in the process of being created. Well known promotions that have been running successfully will find that they have to make only slight if any adjustments at all, and we will be using some good old fashioned commen sense in allowing them some time to make these adjustments.
The 'committee' at present is made up of 3 people who are working unpaid to make NFAC a viable organisation. They are Grant Waterman, Paul Griffin from the BNMAA, and Greg Steene from the World Boxing Federation. Paul has been ill lately but I believe he will be more active soon.
I have voiced my concerns regarding communication and apologise on behalf of NFAC to anyone who did not receive a reply. This is being addressed. I will probably be the point of contact in the near future.
Aims (in brief) over the next year or so are as follows. (may include Europe and possibly further afield)
License 'professional' and amateur Mixed Martial Arts Fighters. This will be done to a similar standard as professional boxers and those fighting under NSAC sanctioned events.
License Mixed Martial Arts gyms. Health and safety and quality checks will be carried out.
Obtain membership from anyone training in Mixed Martial arts.
License Promoters and sanction events.
Licence Trainers, Judges, Referees, and others involved with Health and Safety.
Obtain Sport England recognition, which will lead to events being allowed anywhere in the UK.
There will be legal representation for those licensed, e.g., if an NFAC promoter doesn't pay an NFAC fighter and visa versa, as well as any other legal issues.
People should realise that the sport is still walking a fine line and it needs to be legitimised. The recent press reports after the UFC in Manchester make this clearly apparent.
As an example of NFAC's independence from any one promotion or other, Cage Rage has reluctantly dropped the Open Guard Rule. NFAC will be a genuinely autonomous organisation representing and protecting every member equally.
In summary NFAC respect the fact that certain organisations have a successful past with an exemplary health and safety record and these are the members we wish to encourage. We would like to help them to continue their success and avoid any pitfalls.
NSAC rules will be acceptable intitally. Although we would advise no elbow strikes to the head of a downed fighter.
Non title fights will be 3 x 5 minutes.
Weight classes will remain as Cage Warriors, Cage Rage, FX3, AngrrrManagement, NSAC, etc, etc use. Although there is no reason for anyone not to use 'special' weight classes now and again, eg. 73kg and under.
Promoters will be able to contact members through NFAC which should be a huge potential for ticket sales and marketing. Imagine if NFAC builds a database of 20,000 members or more in the near future.
We would like to see the sport become as professionally run as possible but the problem is money. As you know most promotions do not make that much profit so trying to tell people they have to have qualified, timekeepers, judges, ref's, runners, etc, etc, whilst being a good thing, may not be realistic initially, although it is paramount to legitimising the sport. Therefore I am going to propose a time period of 6 to 12 months from NFAC's official launch for promotions to make any necessary adjustments. It's obvious that with all the good intentions in the world, these things will take a bit of time.
It is our aim to achieve Quango status and gain Sport England recognition. We can then look for additional financial support as well as lottery funding. Our accounts will be fully audited and all relevant information to be posted on our website. We hope to open a fighters benevolent funds which will be administered by NFAC and monies paid out at their
discretion after listening to individual case histories.
NFAC will not be a bully boy organisation and initially it will be an 'Advisory body' rather than a Governing body. We hope to guide and encourage its members rather than dictating.
If we can obtain Sport England recognition and get the support of local councils this will be incentive for people to follow the guidelines and run as professionally as possible. NFAC would communicate on behalf of its members so those who do not follow the guidelines or act in an unprofessional or inappropriate way would not be sanctioned. This would certainly jeopardise future events for them.
The possibility of setting up a legitimate ranking system for its members will be realistic. Local titles could remain in place. Unifying titles may be a financial issue. Could one organisation afford the same fighters as another?
NFAC must be independent. It will not be possible for any promotion to dominate NFAC.
Joining fees will be kept low and we will be looking for donations from those wishing to see the sport move forward in the UK.
NFAC will be in a postion to take applications from anyone interested at the SENI show on 19th and 20th May 2007. We are looking forward to an even more exciting future fo this great sport.
Drop me an email if you wish to veiw the regulations that have been drawn up so far.
Regards.
Grant Waterman.
WATERMAG2000@AOL.COM
At present the regulations for NFAC Sanctioned events is not written in stone. They are in the process of being created. Well known promotions that have been running successfully will find that they have to make only slight if any adjustments at all, and we will be using some good old fashioned commen sense in allowing them some time to make these adjustments.
The 'committee' at present is made up of 3 people who are working unpaid to make NFAC a viable organisation. They are Grant Waterman, Paul Griffin from the BNMAA, and Greg Steene from the World Boxing Federation. Paul has been ill lately but I believe he will be more active soon.
I have voiced my concerns regarding communication and apologise on behalf of NFAC to anyone who did not receive a reply. This is being addressed. I will probably be the point of contact in the near future.
Aims (in brief) over the next year or so are as follows. (may include Europe and possibly further afield)
License 'professional' and amateur Mixed Martial Arts Fighters. This will be done to a similar standard as professional boxers and those fighting under NSAC sanctioned events.
License Mixed Martial Arts gyms. Health and safety and quality checks will be carried out.
Obtain membership from anyone training in Mixed Martial arts.
License Promoters and sanction events.
Licence Trainers, Judges, Referees, and others involved with Health and Safety.
Obtain Sport England recognition, which will lead to events being allowed anywhere in the UK.
There will be legal representation for those licensed, e.g., if an NFAC promoter doesn't pay an NFAC fighter and visa versa, as well as any other legal issues.
People should realise that the sport is still walking a fine line and it needs to be legitimised. The recent press reports after the UFC in Manchester make this clearly apparent.
As an example of NFAC's independence from any one promotion or other, Cage Rage has reluctantly dropped the Open Guard Rule. NFAC will be a genuinely autonomous organisation representing and protecting every member equally.
In summary NFAC respect the fact that certain organisations have a successful past with an exemplary health and safety record and these are the members we wish to encourage. We would like to help them to continue their success and avoid any pitfalls.
NSAC rules will be acceptable intitally. Although we would advise no elbow strikes to the head of a downed fighter.
Non title fights will be 3 x 5 minutes.
Weight classes will remain as Cage Warriors, Cage Rage, FX3, AngrrrManagement, NSAC, etc, etc use. Although there is no reason for anyone not to use 'special' weight classes now and again, eg. 73kg and under.
Promoters will be able to contact members through NFAC which should be a huge potential for ticket sales and marketing. Imagine if NFAC builds a database of 20,000 members or more in the near future.
We would like to see the sport become as professionally run as possible but the problem is money. As you know most promotions do not make that much profit so trying to tell people they have to have qualified, timekeepers, judges, ref's, runners, etc, etc, whilst being a good thing, may not be realistic initially, although it is paramount to legitimising the sport. Therefore I am going to propose a time period of 6 to 12 months from NFAC's official launch for promotions to make any necessary adjustments. It's obvious that with all the good intentions in the world, these things will take a bit of time.
It is our aim to achieve Quango status and gain Sport England recognition. We can then look for additional financial support as well as lottery funding. Our accounts will be fully audited and all relevant information to be posted on our website. We hope to open a fighters benevolent funds which will be administered by NFAC and monies paid out at their
discretion after listening to individual case histories.
NFAC will not be a bully boy organisation and initially it will be an 'Advisory body' rather than a Governing body. We hope to guide and encourage its members rather than dictating.
If we can obtain Sport England recognition and get the support of local councils this will be incentive for people to follow the guidelines and run as professionally as possible. NFAC would communicate on behalf of its members so those who do not follow the guidelines or act in an unprofessional or inappropriate way would not be sanctioned. This would certainly jeopardise future events for them.
The possibility of setting up a legitimate ranking system for its members will be realistic. Local titles could remain in place. Unifying titles may be a financial issue. Could one organisation afford the same fighters as another?
NFAC must be independent. It will not be possible for any promotion to dominate NFAC.
Joining fees will be kept low and we will be looking for donations from those wishing to see the sport move forward in the UK.
NFAC will be in a postion to take applications from anyone interested at the SENI show on 19th and 20th May 2007. We are looking forward to an even more exciting future fo this great sport.
Drop me an email if you wish to veiw the regulations that have been drawn up so far.
Regards.
Grant Waterman.
WATERMAG2000@AOL.COM
