That's what he said in December. A quick 8 Months later and it's moving forward. Here's the thing. If you are "against it" don't watch it. Don't go to the events.
After petitions and pleading, wanting and waiting, mixed martial arts fans in Ontario have had their wish granted. The Ontario government will allow MMA events to take place in the province.
The provincial government announced Saturday it will sanction events under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, as used in promotions across North America since 2000.
Most notably, the decision allows Ultimate Fighting Championship, the sport's premiere organization, to hold an event in Ontario.
Most notably, the decision allows Ultimate Fighting Championship, the sport's premiere organization, to hold an event in Ontario.
"Toronto and the province of Ontario are almost the epicentre of MMA," Marc Ratner, the UFC vice-president of regulatory affairs and one of the company's behind-the-scene officials, said in an interview Saturday.
"The enthusiasm and excitement and everything that we measure -- PPV buys, the amount of bars showing it -- it's very important that Ontario's on board. Now it is."
Set records in Montreal
Set records in Montreal
Ontario, Massachusetts and New York were the last three major North American markets being targeted immediately by UFC. The company makes its debut in Boston on Aug. 28. Sanctioning in New York remains caught in the state's political turmoil.
UFC has held Canadian events in Quebec and British Columbia, setting attendance records twice at the Bell Centre in Montreal. At GM Place in Vancouver this year the company set a record for its fastest sell-out.
UFC's first event in Ontario won't be held until 2011. No date or venue for the provincial debut has been set, said UFC Canada president Tom Wright, although he did concede the Rogers Centre, formerly known as SkyDome, or Air Canada Centre are "clearly" the two logical choices in Toronto.
Wright is former commissioner of the CFL. Safety comes first
The Ontario government said a major MMA event could bring up to $6 million into the local economy for hotel rooms, restaurants and more. It stressed the province's "priority is the safety of competitors."
Professional mixed martial art events are not sanctioned in Sask-atchewan, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and Nunavut. New Brunswick bans MMA outside of the city of Moncton.
The news in Ontario is a stark contrast to British Columbia, where last week the B.C. Medical Association announced it wants to see MMA banned in the province.
