State Athletic Commission prepares for UFC fight, Monday meeting
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The embattled California State Athletic Commission is being watched closely by officials who’ve been stunned by the chaos and actions surrounding the panel.
Sources contacted The Times this week to express concern about overtime being paid to inspectors and state employees for working Saturday night’s UFC 104 event at Staples Center. Acting executive officer Dave Thornton responded to the complaints, explaining only one individual is collecting overtime and she’s needed to attend Monday’s CSAC board meeting in Los Angeles. Others called in from Sacramento are salaried, said Thornton, and were required to work the UFC event and interview applicants for a position in El Monte this week.
The commission, which will have newly appointed commissioner Dr. Van Lemon introduced as the resigned Howard Rose’s replacement at its Monday meeting, has more pressing matters:
--- Can it maintain the integrity of drug screening that two years ago caught two UFC lightweight title fighters with steroids in their system? ‘I know we’re prepared for the event, for the testing of steroids and other drugs,’ Thornton said.
--- What has it done to address mismatches in boxing? A Department of Consumer Affairs analyst has concluded a review of three different periods, stretching from last year to last month in assessing the bouts California has permitted to proceed. ‘I believe the commission will be pleased by the report,’ Thornton said. ‘Again, we’re always looking for improvements, and our No. 1 concern is fighter safety. I want to be sure if we’re doing something wrong, we’ll correct it, but I think this report will show we’re on the right track.’
Yet, it appears the commission slipped when it allowed a welterweight named Juan Carlos Diaz to fight unbeaten prospect Luis Grajeda (7-0) on Oct. 10 at Nokia Theatre. Diaz was announced and listed on a press sheet as possessing a 3-0 record, but follow-up checks reveal he possibly has a 1-8 record.
Diaz was badly beaten to the punch early on and was knocked down three times before the referee stopped the bout in the second round.
‘The whole bout approval process is not an exact science,’ Thornton said, adding he would delve further into the matchmaking of Grajeda-Diaz.
-- Lance Pugmire