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OAC director Profato details MMA suspensions
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
You might say that 33 years as an area police officer has prepared Bernie Profato for his current position as executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission.
A standout athlete at Niles McKinley and one of the area’s top boxers and sports referees, Profato has always had a passion for unarmed combat sports and in 14 years with the OAC, fully understands the monitoring necessary in order to keep fighters out of harm’s way.
He told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center that his recent suspension (albeit indefinitely) of 23 MMA fighters, plus the lifetime ban of a matchmaker was both time consuming and exhausting, adding that the investigation is still ongoing.
“I need to credit my administrative assistant, Judy McCarty, because she is the one who initially caught the paperwork impropriety,” he said. “We require bloodwork and medicals on all fighters prior to any card on which they will participate. After Judy brought this to my attention, I took over because we have to give clearance before anyone is permitted to fight. In this case, there were just too many red flags.”
With a penchant to dig for the truth that dates to his law enforcement days, Profato traced the problem to the matchmaker, who was operating a sophisticated paperwork scheme that actually involved a physician.
“I called the doctor in question and over the course of our conversation, was informed that he is a neurologist who hasn’t ordered a blood test in over for 15 years,” Profato added. “From there, it was the typical snowball effect because more and more questions kept surfacing. We’re a regulatory body with fighter safety our main concern.”
The investigation centered on MMA participants, but Profato’s office also oversees boxing, karate, kick boxing and muay-thai among its arsenal of combat sports.
“When we got to the root of the problem, we were then able to get in touch with the matchmaker’s attorney. A meeting was set for my office, at which time they provided the names of all participants in the scheme,” Profato said. “We were mostly concerned about the spread of any infectious diseases, so we ordered legitimate blood tests for the 21 amateur and two professional participants. We wanted all names and are really very fortunate that no one tested positive. This could have turned into an epidemic had the matchmaker not cooperated and someone come back with a positive test.”
According to Profato, the investigation will remain open for about a year while the possibility of criminal charges being filed is discussed.
“A return by those suspended is still a possibility, but they must appear before me and our commissioners with proper paperwork before granted reinstatement,” he said. “This is the second such incident that has happened under my watch with the first occurring about 10 years ago. That wasn’t as sophisticated in that six fighters were suspended. They all turned state’s evidence and two promoters ended up being suspended for life as well. Again, we protect the fighters that we represent.”
Profato estimates that the OAC regulates approximately 4,500 MMA participants and just over 800 professional boxers.
While his office does not regulate amateur boxing, concussions on both the amateur and professional levels, not just in combat sports but all contact sports, remain a major concern.
“A little over a year and a half ago the ABC [Association of Boxing Commissioners] came up with two rule changes that Ohio, Pennsylvania and several other states refused to adopt, simply because studies were not provided in regards to concussion safety,” Profato said. “It was a concern then and remains a concern now.”
The two rule changes were the “down fighter rule,” whereby you cannot kick an opponent in the head when in the upright position if three of his points [two feet, hand or rear end] are on the canvas,” he said. “You are vulnerable and studies haven’t proven otherwise. Also, no axe-kick to the kidneys or heel-kick. If you cannot do it in boxing, then you shouldn’t be able do it in MMA. More studies are needed.”
Profato also added that the ARP (American Ringside Physicians) recommends continued studies on head injuries in all sports before any changes can be adopted.
Next week, general manager Tony Frabbiele of Hollywood Gaming will serve as guest speaker.