MMA NEWS
**On Wednesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission unanimously approved the UFC’s motion to hold their event at the Apex this Saturday in Las Vegas. The event will go forward but is closed to the public. It was reported earlier this week that the UFC is introducing stricter measures regarding COVID-19 testing and self-isolation as fighters, cornermen, and others await their test results. It appeared to be a formality that Nevada would approve the event with Dana White telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week that “we are a go” for the event on May 30th. This provides a lot of relief for the company to run shows out of their home base that will invariably reduce expenses and travel for the staff. In a memo to fighters issued this past week, the UFC noted that the Performance Institute would be closed this week.
**During Wednesday’s NAC hearing, they also approved the UFC 250 pay-per-view to take place at the Apex on Saturday, June 6th. That card will be headlined by Amanda Nunes defending the UFC featherweight title against Felicia Spencer. The NAC also approved two boxing events promoted by Top Rank for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9th and 11th.
**Erik Magraken of Combat Sports Law sent in a public record request for the protocols being utilized by the Nevada Athletic Commission and received the full document that outlines what the questionnaire will consist of, protocol if there is a positive test, and the following testing procedures that will see them use oral fluid samples:
There is one established method to detect Covid-19. The FDA-approved diagnostic PCR method, which measures the virus in the individual. It is necessary to conduct this test on all individuals entering the closed system. Briefly, the PCR method will be beneficial in detecting recent infections, even if no symptoms were identified.
It is important that a physician oversees the collection process for the PCR program.
All individuals entering closed system will have their temperature checked.
Oral fluid samples shall be collected from a licensed medical practitioner. Only FDA-approved oral fluid kits shall be used. If no oral fluid kits are available, it is acceptable to use FDA-approved nasal swabs, however, the first choice should always be saliva for ease of collection and sensitivity of the assay. After collection, the sample shall be transported to a laboratory to run an FDA-approved PCR assay for Covid-19.
The questionnaire will ask if the subject has had a fever over the past three days at or above 99.5 degrees, coming into contact with anyone with COVID-19, if they have traveled to or from a high-risk area in the past two weeks, being under a government-mandated quarantine and whether they have experienced shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, cough, fever, headache, chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, diarrhea, or fatigue in the past 72 hours.
The following is the procedure if a positive test occurs:
All personnel that test positive will be required to seek immediate primary care, self-quarantine in the state of Nevada for 14 days and shall not be allowed to travel by air until cleared. Solo car travel may be permitted by the individual testing positive if they do not live in the state of Nevada but under no circumstance may the positive personnel be allowed to travel by air until cleared by an NSAC physician and have tested negative for the PCR test. Should the person fail to comply with this directive, he or she shall not be permitted to enter a closed system or participate in any future events of unarmed combat in this State until such time as these protocols are no longer in force.
**Former UFC fighter Sam Stout and his wife Jessie revealed the tragic news that their one-month-old daughter Sydney Love Stout died this past weekend in her sleep. Stout issued a statement regarding her passing and how devastated the two are:
Most of you already know that we lost Sydney Love Stout in her sleep the night before last. We tried to save her, but it was too late. The last month with her was the best month of my life, and this is now the worst time of my life … it still doesn’t feel real.
Jessie and I haven’t let go of each other since yesterday and we will continue to hold on to one other for the rest of our lives. We will be eternally scared from this. We appreciate all the love we have already received from the people around us. We Love you Sydney bean.
To assist the family during their time of grieving, a GoFundMe has been set up. Sam and Jessie have a six-year-old daughter as well. We send our condolences to the Stout family during this incredibly trying time.
**MMA Junkie reported that Kevin Holland will not be able to fight this Saturday due to injury. Holland fought on May 16th in a middleweight fight against Anthony Hernandez and was planning to return two-weeks later at welterweight against Daniel Rodriguez. The site reports that the UFC is in the process of finalizing Gabriel Green as the replacement to fight Rodriguez this weekend. Green is 9-2 and won his last six fights outside the UFC and has had three fights with Bellator.
**Colby Covington has announced that he has left American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
**This Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card from Las Vegas will be airing on TSN1, TSN4, and TSN5 in Canada beginning with the televised prelims at 7 pm Eastern and the main card at 9 pm. Below is the full card:
MAIN CARD (9 pm Eastern on ESPN & ESPN+, TSN1/4/5 in Canada)
*Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns
*Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
*Daniel Rodriguez vs. Gabriel Green
*Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver
*Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers
PRELIMINARY CARD (6 pm on ESPN & ESPN+, TSN in Canada at 7 pm)
*Katlyn Chookagian vs. Antonina Shevchenko
*Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle
*Klidson Abreu vs. Jamahal Hill
*Brandon Royval vs. Tim Elliott
*Casey Kenney vs. Louis Smolka
*Chris Gutierrez vs. Vince Morales
ON THIS DATE
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REWIND-A-WAI #62: WrestleMania 31 (Patreon)
John Pollock and Wai Ting review WWE WrestleMania 31 (2015) from Santa Clara, CA as Seth Rollins cashes-in his MITB briefcase during Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns to win the WWE Championship.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/37567520
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REWIND-A-RAW 5/25/20: Standing Room Only, Last Ride Chapter 3
John Pollock and Wai Ting review WWE Raw featuring the return of an audience as NXT performers are utilized as stand-ins for an absent crowd. Plus, Undertaker: The Last Ride Chapter 3 and the day’s news.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/05/26/rewind-a-raw-5-25-20-standing-room-only-last-ride-chapter-3/
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POST INTERVIEW: Jonathan Snowden
John Pollock is joined by author Jonathan Snowden to discuss his latest release Shamrock: The World’s Most Dangerous Man that documents the tumultuous and impact life & career of MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/05/24/post-interview-jonathan-snowden-shamrock-the-worlds-most-dangerous-man/
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AEW Double or Nothing POST Show
John Pollock & Wai Ting review AEW Double or Nothing 2020 featuring The Elite vs. The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match. WH Park joins us to discuss the passing of Hana Kimura
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/05/24/aew-double-or-nothing-2020-post-show/
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RASD 5/22/20: Hana Kimura Passes Away, Dark Side on Owen Hart
John Pollock and Wai Ting discuss breaking news of the tragic passing of Stardom’s Hana Kimura at the age of 22. [NOTE: The rest of our podcast including our SmackDown and Dark Side of the Ring: “The Final Days of Owen Hart” reviews were recorded prior and are presented as originally recorded.]
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/05/23/rasd-5-22-20-hana-kimura-passes-away-dark-side-on-owen-hart/
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Café Hangout: David Bixenspan talks Owen Hart
On today’s Hangout, John Pollock and Wai Ting welcome wrestling journalist David Bixenspan to discuss his recent research into the death of Owen Hart and his thoughts on the season finale of Dark Side of the Ring.
https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/05/21/cafe-hangout-3pm-et-david-bixenspan-talks-owen-hart-your-calls/
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