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A Congressional subcommittee held a hearing Thursday on a range of issues related to mixed martial arts, including?brain trauma, inconsistent anti-doping measures and athlete compensation.The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade -- which is part of the?U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce -- reviewed testimony from several witnesses. Among them were former UFC champion Randy Couture and Jeff Novitzky, the UFCs vice president of athlete health and performance.It was a significant hearing in the sports history because, historically, the federal government has taken very little interest in MMA.This is plowing new ground in Congress, the subcommittee chairman, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas), said Thursday.As the industry continues to evolve swiftly, it seems that now is the time to bring Congress up to speed on mixed martial arts and understand if there is a role Congress that should be playing in this multibillion-dollar industry.The current lack of comprehensive health insurance for professional fighters was one of the key issues discussed.Although the focus of the hearing was not to specifically address a live bill to expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000 to MMA, that topic certainly loomed over the entire hearing.That bill -- introduced to Congress in May by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) -- aims to expand the federal laws coverage to all combat sports, and specifically calls for the Association of Boxing Commissions to create guidelines for minimum fighter/promoter contractual provisions and establish criteria for an independent fighter rankings system.Couture, who retired in 2011, spoke at length about the need for independent rankings and less restrictive contracts. He used his experience of never securing a fight against Russian icon Fedor Emelianenko as an example.Im living proof of the closed market that exists in our sport right now, Couture said. In the height of my career ... I wanted to fight the No. 1 heavyweight in the world.I wasnt able to see that fight happen through the [UFC], so I pursued it myself outside that contract. Injunctions were filed to keep me from making that fight happen.Novitzky, a longtime advocate of anti-doping practices, said he had concerns regarding any federal law that would force the UFC to cross promote, given the lack of drug testing outside the promotion.The UFC partnered with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to implement a year-round random drug testing program last year.The subcommittee will not meet again until early 2017, at which point there will be a hearing scheduled to specifically address the bill to expand the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, Rep. Mullin told ESPN.com. Should the bill pass through both the subcommittee and the House, it would move on to the Senate.Ultimately, the bill would also require the signature of President-elect Donald Trump, who has a known relationship with UFC president Dana White. Mullin said he does not see that relationship as a threat to the bill, which the UFC does not support.Why would there be the threat of a veto if we have overwhelming bi-partisan support? Mullin asked. I know people say [Trump] has a relationship with Dana White, but that doesnt matter. This is about taking care of fighters. I have zero concerns over that [relationship]. Clearance Soccer Jerseys .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Replica Soccer Jerseys . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Soccer Jerseys Outlet . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. If its a given that NFL officials will be criticized now and then, such bad-mouthing becomes that much more significant when some of the leagues most prominent voices -- Cam Newton, Richard Sherman, Josh Norman -- rise in unison to complain about the men in stripes.Panthers quarterback Newton, the reigning near-unanimous MVP, was fed up after having his right knee twisted on a low shot from Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell in the third quarter of Carolinas 30-20 victory over Arizona in a rematch of last seasons NFC championship game.At times, I dont even feel safe. And enough is enough. I plan on talking to Commissioner (Roger) Goodell about this, Newton said. I dont know what I have to do. ... I dont think theres a person that can go through what I go through and still keep their head.His words Sunday came a couple of months after he absorbed four helmet-to-helmet hits that resulted in a grand total of zero penalty yards in a season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos.This time, Newton noted the hits to the head while also making an impassioned plea for more protection in the pocket from officials, who hed rather have make more calls than frequently explain they were sorry for not throwing a flag.I just cant keep accepting, `Oh, we missed that one or `I apologize for doing that or `I didnt see it, Newton said.Seahawks cornerback Sherman and his coach, Pete Carroll, complained about what they said were illegal pick plays used by Saints receivers as New Orleans came back to beat Seattle 25-20 .Its hard to play defense like that. Its tough to play in this league with the way games are being officiated. The rules are already skewed to the offense, but you have to fight through it and find a way to win, said Sherman, never shy about sharing his thoughts. Its obvious to the outside world how the game was officiated. ... I mean, the calls -- or lack thereof -- were pretty egregious.Another speaks-his-mind, elite cornerback, Washingtons Norman, was upset after drawing five flags -- four for illegal use of hands -- while trying to cover Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green during the teams 27-all tie in London.Norman called out field judge Brad Freeman by uniform number andd said: Im just going to be honest with you; Im going to be straightforward: He was terrible.dddddddddddd I feel like he should be reprimanded.No stranger to fines from the NFL, Norman -- and Newton and Sherman -- might be getting reprimanded this week.In case you missed it, here are the other notable topics after the NFL seasons eighth Sunday:0-16?: Only one team, the 2008 Detroit Lions, has gone 0-16, but now the Cleveland Browns are halfway there and looking capable of going a full season without winning after a 31-28 loss at home to possibly the easiest opponent left on the schedule, the QB-challenged New York Jets.KISSING YOUR SISTER: Maybe the NFL needs to reconsider its overtime rules yet again, because no one likes a tie, and for the first time since 1997, there have been two in one season -- in consecutive weeks, no less. I dont think there should be a tie. Is it a win? Is it a loss? Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker said. I dont know what it is.BRADYS BACK: So maybe a little longer offseason for Tom Brady helped him and the Patriots. Since returning from his four-game Deflategate suspension, Brady has thrown for 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions and led his team to a 4-0 record. His latest masterpiece was a 4-TD performance while beating the Buffalo Bills 41-25.RAIDERS VS. BRONCOS : Lets look ahead to next Sunday night, when there will be quite a top-of-the-AFC matchup between the Super Bowl champion Broncos and the up-and-coming Oakland Raiders, a pair of 6-2 teams who are chasing the New England Patriots (7-1) for conference supremacy. And while the Raiders set an NFL record by being called for 23 penalties for 200 yards in their 30-24 overtime victory at Tampa Bay this week, the most noteworthy numbers were those put up by Oakland QB Derek Carr: 513 yards, four TDs, zero INTs. Should be fun watching Carr, Amari Cooper and Co. work against Denvers dominant defense.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '