We, the members of the Georgia combat sports community—including fighters, trainers, promoters, officials, and gym owners—hereby petition for the immediate resignation or termination of Matt Woodruff from his position as Executive Director of the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission (GAEC). This demand is based on a prolonged pattern of professional negligence, mismanagement, and systemic failure to fulfill the duties of his office. Some examples are:

Misleading Governance: Mr. Woodruff has consistently misinformed commission members regarding the status of the online licensing system, falsely claiming it is flawless while shifting blame onto fighters and trainers for administrative issues.

Inconsistent Enforcement: The GAEC has engaged in preferential treatment, allowing select participants to bypass mandatory notarization processes while strictly enforcing rules on others. Furthermore, venue regulations—such as dressing room access limits—are routinely ignored at high-profile events but aggressively enforced at local Atlanta shows.

Substandard Officiating and Gatekeeping: Fighters and coaches face ongoing frustration due to the consistently poor quality of judging and officiating at Georgia events. Despite repeated, formal requests from community stakeholders to utilize exceptional, highly qualified referees like George Allen, Mr. Woodruff actively refuses to assign them without any just or transparent reason.

Complete Absence and Financial Burden: Mr. Woodruff has failed to attend a single local Georgia boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or bare-knuckle event since 2020. This total lack of presence forces local promotions to absorb an unnecessary financial burden of $750 per event to hire external representation.

Disconnection from Stakeholders: In his years of absence, the Executive Director has maintained zero personal relationships with the community he serves, leading to widespread confusion where participants frequently mistake event representatives for leadership.

Outdated Communication: Mr. Woodruff has explicitly refused to utilize modern communication channels, relying solely on email rather than social media tools to broadcast critical rule updates and engage with a younger demographic of fighters and trainers.

The Georgia combat sports industry requires proactive, accountable, and present leadership. Mr. Woodruff's actions demonstrate a fundamental detachment from the sports he regulates and a failure to support the stakeholders who drive this industry forward. We urge Mr. Todd Zandrowicz to take immediate action in the removal of Mr. Woodruff from office.