A Congressional subcommittee held a hearing Thursday on a range of issues related to mixed martial arts, including?brain trauma, inconsistent anti-doping measures and athlete compensation.The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade -- which is part of the?U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce -- reviewed testimony from several witnesses. Among them were former UFC champion Randy Couture and Jeff Novitzky, the UFCs vice president of athlete health and performance.It was a significant hearing in the sports history because, historically, the federal government has taken very little interest in MMA.This is plowing new ground in Congress, the subcommittee chairman, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas), said Thursday.As the industry continues to evolve swiftly, it seems that now is the time to bring Congress up to speed on mixed martial arts and understand if there is a role Congress that should be playing in this multibillion-dollar industry.The current lack of comprehensive health insurance for professional fighters was one of the key issues discussed.Although the focus of the hearing was not to specifically address a live bill to expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 to MMA, that topic certainly loomed over the entire hearing.That bill -- introduced to Congress in May by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) -- aims to expand the federal laws coverage to all combat sports, and specifically calls for the Association of Boxing Commissions to create guidelines for minimum fighter/promoter contractual provisions and establish criteria for an independent fighter rankings system.Couture, who retired in 2011, spoke at length about the need for independent rankings and less restrictive contracts. He used his experience of never securing a fight against Russian icon Fedor Emelianenko as an example.Im living proof of the closed market that exists in our sport right now, Couture said. In the height of my career ... I wanted to fight the No. 1 heavyweight in the world.I wasnt able to see that fight happen through the [UFC], so I pursued it myself outside that contract. Injunctions were filed to keep me from making that fight happen.Novitzky, a longtime advocate of anti-doping practices, said he had concerns regarding any federal law that would force the UFC to cross promote, given the lack of drug testing outside the promotion.The UFC partnered with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to implement a year-round random drug testing program last year.The subcommittee will not meet again until early 2017, at which point there will be a hearing scheduled to specifically address the bill to expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, Rep. Mullin told ESPN.com. Should the bill pass through both the subcommittee and the House, it would move on to the Senate.Ultimately, the bill would also require the signature of President-elect Donald Trump, who has a known relationship with UFC president Dana White. Mullin said he does not see that relationship as a threat to the bill, which the UFC does not support.Why would there be the threat of a veto if we have overwhelming bi-partisan support? Mullin asked. I know people say [Trump] has a relationship with Dana White, but that doesnt matter. This is about taking care of fighters. I have zero concerns over that [relationship]. Cheap Ferguson Jenkins Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Cheap Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. http://www.cheaptexasrangersjerseys.com/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Texas Rangers Jerseys .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. PHOENIX -- Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin sat at his desk with a dazed look on his face, not sure what to say after a wild game that included 32 hits, 17 runs, great plays and bizarre sequences.You guys bring it up; I dont remember half the stuff that happened, Mackanin said after the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 in 10 innings Wednesday to complete their first sweep at Chase Field in 10 years.Philadelphia scored two runs in the ninth to beat the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night and needed another rally to set up the sweep.Arizona went ahead 7-4 in the seventh inning on Paul Goldschmidts two-run double, but the Phillies scored four times in the eighth to go up 8-7.The Diamondbacks fought back in the bottom half, tying it on Jean Seguras infield single, but allowed Jeanmar Gomez (3-2) to escape a jam in the ninth.Peter Bourjos, who earlier had a two-run homer, hit a two-out single off Silvino Bracho (0-2) in the 10th and moved to third on Cody Asches single. Pinch-hitter Tyler Goeddel followed with a line drive to right field for a sacrifice fly and the go-ahead run.Brett Oberholtzer gave up a one-out single in the 10th, but got the final two outs for his first career save.Asche had three RBI, Cesar Hernandez finished with four of Philadelphias 17 hits and the Phillies won for the fourth time in five games.When we left Philly, we became a different team, Mackanin said. Im hoping we can take this momentum and build on it.The Diamondbacks are looking for some way, any way, to win at home.Arizona went 7-3 on a road trip that included a sweep of the Phillies, but returned home to lose three straight, dropping to 13-28 at Chase Field.Jake Lamb hit a three-run homer and Segura had two RBI for Arizona, which piled up 15 hits.We felt really good coming home from the road trip, the way we were playing, Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley said. We are still grinding. We are still trying to put it together.Phillies starter Zach Eflin struggled early before settling into a rhythm.Lamb, who hit a solo homer Tuesday, hit his ninth home run in June in the first inning off the rookie right-hander, a three-run shot to center.Segura added a sacrificce fly in the second inning, but Eflin retired 10 of the next 11 batters.dddddddddddd.Eflin allowed four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and struck out three in six innings.I felt good, he said. After the first and second innings, I was really locked in, pitching inside and keeping them guessing.Bradley was sharp in his previous two starts, allowing a run in 11 innings.The right-hander gave up more than that in the first inning against the Phillies, when Bourjos hit a towering, two-run homer to left.Eflin hit a leadoff double against Bradley in the fifth inning for his first big league hit and later scored his first run on Asches double that pulled Philadelphia to 4-3.Bradley allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four in six innings.Minus the first two batters of the game, he said, I was able to settle in and get through six and leave with us having the lead.NUMBERSSeven of Lambs last nine homers have either tied the game or put Arizona ahead. ... The Phillies swept Arizona for the first time at Chase Field since a three-game series in June 2006. ... Bourjos is 24 for 51 in his last 17 games. ... Arizonas Michael Bourn has at least two hits in four of his past six games after going 4 for 5.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Top prospect Mark Appel, the first pick in the 2013 draft by Houston, is out for the season after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.Diamondbacks: Arizona had no update on Zack Greinke a day after the right-hander strained his left oblique and left after two innings against the Phillies. Manager Chip Hale said the team should have a better idea by Friday.UP NEXTPhillies: Jeremy Hellickson could be making one of his last starts for Philadelphia against Kansas City on Friday, with contending teams expected to be interested in the right-hander at the trade deadline.Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller makes his first start at Chase Field since May 18 and third overall since returning from the DL (sprained right index finger) when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. ' ' '
