While mixed martial arts fans are focused on the latest volleys of trash talk, and Ronda Rousey’s remarkable fanny, the sport rests on a rarely understood, barely acknowledged bedrock of government regulation.

One of the few members of the MMA media who brings light to this vital subject is Fightopinion.com’s Zach Arnold. He is reporting that California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd is keeping his job, following a report that the CSAC is in dire financial straits.



Dodd’s CSAC is under California’s Department of Consumer Affairs, which apparently wanted to fire him, but is not doing so. Instead the DCS censured him, while retaining the right to fire, and of course ordering that financial issues be addressed.

A few items of note from today’s tension-filled South El Monte, California CSAC hearing.

•All of the major bean counters from Department of Consumer Affairs were there. DCA wanted George Dodd out.

•The CSAC board voted to censure George Dodd and will have him continue as Executive Director under supervision.

•Attorneys were in the room not related to DCA. This caught the politicians by surprise.

•Public comment was held to three minutes per person. This didn’t go over well with a couple of people who wanted to speak. DCA officials were reportedly very upset by what took place in regards to what was discussed in public comment.

•There were various referees, judges, and other officials who spoke out in support of Dodd at today’s hearing. Whether DCA/CSAC thinks this was orchestrated by someone in the room or not, people did show up at today’s hearing to back Dodd. It caught DCA flat-footed.

•Dean Grafilo, Jerry Brown’s new appointment to the CSAC, voted during quorum on Dodd’s job status. He shouldn’t have… because he’s not been confirmed, yet, by the state Senate.

•What today’s decision means is that there are real cracks developing and people are not on the same page.

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