Blow dealt to CAMO!
CAMO threw in the towel before what would have been the first Administrative Hearing under the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) new rules and regulations. Jock Marlo of Hart, King & Coldren, on behalf of his client, a professional mixed martial arts promoter, scored big against CAMO.
At issue was CAMO's practice of allowing, and even encouraging, amateur promoters to pay amateur fighters a commission on ticket sales. This practice is prohibited by CAMO's own rules. CAMO Rule § 304 expressly prohibits the compensation of any amateur MMA contestant. CAMO Rule section 304 reads:
"No person shall appear as a contestant in any amateur MMA contest who has or will receive any compensation or reward in any form, except for actual travel and hotel expenses, and/or per diem not exceeding $100 per day, or trophies, for competing in MMA contests."
Furthermore, CAMO Rule section § 305 specifically prohibits any "portion of an admission fee or fees charged or received for any MMA contestant [from being] paid or given, either directly or indirectly, in exchange for his services in the contest."
Mr. Marlo's client was prepared to sue CAMO for violating its own rules by allowing amateur promoters to pay amateur fighters. The first step towards a lawsuit was filing a formal official complaint against CAMO, and requesting an Administrative Hearing on the matter. The official complaint was filed against CAMO on April 23, 2010. In this case, CAMO responded quickly to the complaint and did the right thing--CAMO acknowledged that their rules had to change, and that the rules would quickly be revised so as to prevent contestants from selling tickets on commission. CAMO also promised to inform promoters about the change in rules, and to advise promoters that competing fighters may not be paid, by commission or otherwise, for selling tickets for their events.
For more information, please contact Jock Marlo at 714-432-8700 x. 317 or via email at jmarlo@hkclaw.com.
200 Sandpointe, 4th Fl, Santa Ana, CA 92707 714-432-8700 www.hkclaw.com
