The California State Athletic Commission on Thursday voided a management agreement between UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and her now-former representative, arguing it was unenforceable because commission standards weren’t followed. Rousey, who is expected to defend her title this summer, is now free to seek other fight managers. CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster, acting as the state’s arbitrator in the dispute, found that Rousey, 27, couldn’t be held to the fight management portion of her contract because the commission hadn’t certified her relationship with Fight Tribe Management’s Darin Harvey. “The agreement is hereby found to be invalid and unenforceable as it relates to Rousey’s professional fighting services and Harvey’s professional fighting management services, only,” reads the arbitration ruling, which was obtained Friday by MMAjunkie. “The commission makes no findings as to the other parts of the agreement that are not directly relating to MMA fighting and defers these matters to the Calfornia Superior Court.” Harvey, who filed a request for arbitration on March 7, could not be reached for comment. Rousey’s lawyer in the dispute, Steve Bash, wrote via text, “We are pleased with the decision and agree that it is consistent with longstanding law governing relationships between the parties.” In its decision, the CSAC leaned heavily on a rule that requires managers and fighters to use the commission’s forms to make official their business relationship, and contracts between the parties must receive written approval.
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CSAC voids contract between UFC champ Ronda Rousey and manager – MMA Junkie