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We here at Bloody Elbow certainly have not been shy with our advocacy for the legalization and regulation of mixed martial arts. But we are certainly operating under no illusions that once the sport is regulated that our problems are over.

No, regulation is just the start, constantly working to improve the performance of all state regulatory bodies is going to be a constant of mma's future.

Luke's series on the failings of the Virginia authorities in their handling of last weekend's UWC: Redemption event is one example.

Anyone who thinks that Virginia is running a uniquely bad operation should note that the Texas Commission only drug tests fighters at the special request of the UFC.

Then there's this devastating LA Times expose on the California State Athletic Commission. Kevin Iole sums it up:

A lengthy investigation by the newspaper revealed that, among many other grievances, state authorities routinely approved mismatches; didn’t follow proper medical procedures; allowed a fighter to compete without having had an HIV blood screening; and failed to prevent boxers who were under state-issued suspensions from fighting.

Fightlinker has a handy list of the many MMA-related sins of the CSAC as well. Kevin Iole opines:

The fight game is poorly regulated around the country, with loose adherence to the rules and overworked and underfunded commission staff barely able to handle the workload. Obviously, something needs to be done; but in an age when governors are being forced to slash essential services, the last thing they're going to do is increase spending on boxing and mixed martial-arts regulation.

Proponents of a federal boxing commission are sure to point to the Times' investigation as yet another reason why a federal commission should be created to regulate combat sports.

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If individual states are overwhelmed with shows, imagine what it would be like if it was a federal commission’s job to stay on top of things.

The raison d’être for a state athletic commission is to protect the safety of the fighters, to collect revenue due the state and to ensure fair matches.

Yet state after state fails at this basic responsibility – though they always collect the monies due the state – simply because there is far too much work for far too few people.

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The state of boxing and MMA regulation is largely poor, but it’s nothing that will be fixed by bringing in the federal government.

Something needs to be done to prevent a disaster, but the money simply isn’t there to prevent it. Sadly, making the problem federal would only make it worse.

If we grant Iole his premise, which I think we must since MMA isn't even legal in all fifty states and therefore can't be regulated under a blanket federal authority, it means we're in for a continued long, hard slog to not only get MMA regulated in all fifty states, but to then remain vigilant and work to ensure that each state that regulates MMA does a competent job at it.

That's where I like to think blogs like BloodyElbow have an important role to play. In my fifteen years of political, PR and marketing work, I've seen one thing proven over and over again: sunlight disinfects. The more attention whiny loudmouths like us pay to shady goings on, the less shady things become.