MMA now legal in all Canadian provinces & Connecticut
MMA was once despised, pushed from the airways, and frequently illegal. Now it is the world’s fastest growing sport, and…
MMA was once despised, pushed from the airways, and frequently illegal. Now it is the world’s fastest growing sport, and at least at the professional level, is legal and regulated nearly everywhere. The two exceptions are New York and Connecticut.
Current Connecticut statutes don’t permit MMA, according to a legal interpretation from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, although training is allowed.
Because the current boxing regulations prohibit the fighting techniques used in MMA, and there is no statutory authority for MMA, MMA events cannot take place in Connecticut without a legislative change, explained Blumenthal in a Dec. 8, 2008, correspondence with State Boxing Commission Chairman James Krayeske, Jr.
However, regulation in Connecticut has finally arrived, despite past attempts to thwart regulation of the sport by the Culinary Union, and the WWE.
Further the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill S-209 to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to permit MMA by a vote of 267 to 9.
Josh Sanchez from Fansided has the story.
Wednesday afternoon it was announced that the sport has passed the Connecticut senate and will now be legalized. With the news, Connecticut will become the 49th state to legalize mixed martial arts.
The good news does not end there.
There is also good news for MMA fans in Canada, as well. From UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs:
Marc Ratner UFC @MarcRatnerUFC
•Also today MMA is now legal throughout all Provinces in Canada great day for MMA
•Connecticut becomes the 49th State to legalize MMA ….NY is the last holdout and we’ll get there too!
Unfortunately, New York remains without legalized mixed martial arts. It is the lone state that has yet to legalize the sport.
Once New York is a go, mixed martial arts is going to really erupt and take the step to the next level.
Watch the House of Commons vote on S-409 to amend the Criminal Code of Canada allowing MMA by a vote of 267 to 9.