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The Nevada State Athletic Commission will officially lose its executive director on Monday, January 27 when Keith Kizer's resignation becomes official. Kizer has held the position of executive director since 2006.
When the new executive director is in place, many eyes in the sports world will turn in their direction. Las Vegas has long been known as the "fight capital of the world," and decisions made by the NSAC are often used to set the agenda for other commissions throughout the United States.
With a new executive director on the horizon for the NSAC, UFC president Dana White was asked about his feelings on the commission, "Contrary to popular belief, I have nothing negative to say about the old regime," White told assembled media on Thursday at the United Center in Chicago.
White, in town for Saturday's UFC on Fox 10 event continued, saying, "My frustration has not just been with Nevada, but with everybody everywhere. The judging and the reffing, I see things being done to make it better. I think we're going in a good direction right now. I feel confident that this is going to be a good year for the sport in Nevada who leads the charge in combat sports, and in the rest of the states. Everywhere I go the commissions give me the feeling that everyone wants to make it better."
It is somewhat surprising to hear White say that he has no problem with the "old regime" at the NSAC. After all, it wasn't too long ago that White was ripping into the NSAC.
Following UFC 167's main event, White was very critical of the NSAC. White believing that Johny Hendricks should have been deemed the winner of that card's main event against then UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre said, "I think the Nevada State Athletic Commission is atrocious. I think the governor needs to step in immediately before these guys destroy this sport like they did boxing."
The search for Kizer's replacement is ongoing.
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