Peer reviewed, as stated by the publisher
Ringside Physician Stoppage Authority in United States Combat Sports Commissions
A Critical Clinical Review of Neidecker, John, and Wheelock (2025)
Casey C. Sears. 2026. Combat Sports Regulation and Science, Report No. CSX-001.
Read the source at Sears Publishing CompanyDOI 10.67999/csx.001
Summary
A critical review examining U.S. commission stoppage authority through primary legal sources and its implications for fighter safety.
What the work reports
- The work reviews a 2025 article by Neidecker, John, and Wheelock on how many U.S. commissions give the ringside physician authority to stop a fight.
- It checks that article’s classifications against primary legal sources. The review reports that the article’s principal finding did not hold up against those sources.
- It also questions the assumption that giving physicians independent authority to stop a bout makes fighters safer.
Limits to keep in mind
- A critical review of one published article. It is the author’s analysis, not a new study of fighter outcomes.
- Read it alongside the article it reviews. The review’s reference list identifies that article.
Publication status
Peer reviewed, as stated by the publisher. The publisher’s record and the Crossref record state that the work was peer reviewed by multiple independent reviewers whose identities are confidential. FMRI reports that designation and has not examined the review process.
No correction or retraction notice was found in Crossref or Scite when this record was checked.
Rights
All rights reserved. Copyright 2026 Sears Publishing Company. All rights reserved. FMRI links to the work and does not reproduce its text, abstract, tables or figures. Publisher's rights statement.
FMRI’s role
None. This work was written and published independently of FMRI. FMRI lists it and describes it in its own words.
See the source record for the author’s affiliations and disclosures.