Oklahoma Commission Adding Extra Health, Safety Elements for Battlegrounds MMA 5

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With competitors in Battlegrounds MMA’s one-night, eight-man welterweight tournament facing as many as 45 minutes and nine rounds of fighting, the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission is taking additional safety precautions.

OSAC Executive Director Joe Miller on Wednesday spoke with Sherdog.com about the added measures being taken to assure the safety and well-being of fighters on Friday’s card at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

“Other than the normal requirements for MMA regulation, additional health and safety elements have been added,” Miller told Sherdog.com. “New CT scan, new EKG, new dilated fundoscopic, SCAT3, Sickle Cell, King-Devick, and IV fluid are available.”

In addition to the newly acquired equipment, there will also be some special rules enforced.

“Elbows are not allowed until the final match of the tournament. There will also be a mandatory rest period between bouts at a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 45 minutes,” Miller said. “In addition, there are mandatory medical tests in between rounds and before/after each bout, as well as three additional medical personnel at cageside.”

The eight tournament participants featured are Roan Carneiro, Luigi Fioravanti, Trey Houston, Brock Larson, Cody McKenzie, Joe Ray, Jesse Taylor and Randall Wallace. The card will be announced by Jim Ross and Chael Sonnen, and will air live on pay-per-view.