CAMO Celebrates 1st Year of Helping CA Fighters
By:
ChadMMAtica
On:
7/29/2010 12:59 PM
Posted To: MMAJacked
California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. Closing In On One Year Anniversary, Adopts Additional Rules to Promote Fighter Health and Safety
LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2010 – Less than a year removed (August, 2009) from being delegated the official, exclusive authority to govern amateur mixed martial arts in California by the California State Athletic Commission (“CSAC”), the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. (“CAMO”) immediately set to work in establishing one of the most well organized programs for amateur mixed martial arts in the Country. Where nothing existed before, CAMO has quickly become a “pathway to the pros,” not only for fighters, but also for referees, judges, inspector, doctors and all other MMA officials. Since its inception, CAMO has grown quickly and the program continues to gain momentum up and down the State.
Closing in on its one-year anniversary, CAMO is pleased to announce over 750 licensed fighters are now participating at the amateur level, with an additional 40 judges, 35 referees and 44 licensed promoters also participating in the program. CAMO has overseen over 50 amateur and pro-am events in the State and has governed over 500 individual bouts. All fighters must undergo blood tests and a complete doctor physical prior to being approved to fight in the CAMO program. CAMO assigns qualified ringside physicians, judges, referees, timekeepers and inspectors to work all licensed CAMO shows, while also mandating that promoters have an ambulance and paramedics on hand and a medical insurance policy in place to cover fighter injuries.
“The CAMO program’s number one priority is the health and safety of the fighters. We seek to provide our athletes a way to gain experience in the sport they love, and to do it in an environment where they know that all responsible safety precautions will be in place,” said Jeremy Lappen, CEO of CAMO. “We are extremely pleased to see CAMO becoming a true MMA community for members to collaborate, interact, and do their own part to help advance this incredible sport.”
As part of an ongoing effort to improve the safety, competitive and athletic integrity of amateur MMA, CAMO has recently instituted some additional rules to its programs. Working very closely with George Dodd, the Executive Officer of CSAC, the Department of Consumer Affairs legal department and CAMO’s board of advisors, including John McCarthy and Bas Rutten, CAMO has adopted the following rule changes:
· Rotational leg locks have been made illegal
· Knees to the head are no longer allowed for the first five fights of a fighter’s career (after 5 fights, if both fighters agree, knees to the head in the standing position will be allowed).
· The Heavyweight class has now been broken up into two weight classes:
o Cruiserweight = 205 lbs to 230 lbs; and
o Heavyweight = 230 lbs to 265 lbs
The above rules went into effect at the beginning of July, 2010.
About CAMO:
California Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. (CAMO) is a non-profit public benefit corporation created to oversee and maintain the safety, credibility and integrity of amateur MMA in the State of California. Founded in 2009, CAMO is dedicated to helping foster the growth of the sport of amateur Mixed Martial Arts and to oversee the health, safety and welfare of the athletes that choose to participate in it. On August 24, 2009, the California State Athletic Commission officially delegated to CAMO the exclusive authority to regulate Amateur Mixed Martial Arts and also to oversee Pankration in the State of California.
" alt="MMAJacked Store"> 