Support high for regulating MMA in Wisconsin
Support high for regulating mixed martial arts fights in state You’ve seen the likes of Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva and…
Support high for regulating mixed martial arts fights in state
You’ve seen the likes of Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva and Randy Couture on TV in a sport booming in popularity.
Mixed martial arts competition is drawing huge crowds nationally for the sport that mixes Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay-thai, kickboxing and boxing.
Wisconsin, however, is one of 10 states that do not regulate amateur and professional mixed martial arts competition, but that could soon change with
legislation pending to protect the fighters and to open the possibility to bring top notch professionals of the sport to perform in the state.
The Wisconsin Senate recently approved a bill that would impose regulations and fees on mixed martial arts fights. The Assembly could vote on a bill that mirror’s the Senate bill sometime in January or February and if passed would only need the signature of Gov. Jim Doyle to make it a law.
Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said the Assembly’s Consumer Protection Committee — which he is chairman — recently held a public hearing on the mixed martial arts bill, where trainers, promoters, participants and physicians came to support regulating the sport.
Most of the promoters and people involved are actually seeking to have some standardized, uniform rules and regulations, Hintz said.
Hintz said he supports regulating mixed martial arts fights.
It’s about making sure we have rules, protections and safety in the same way we have for other sports like boxing, he said. We regulate boxing and as mixed martial arts is mainstream we want to make sure we have rules and regulations to protect the participants.
For example, right now no pre-fight physical is required and no physician is mandated at mixed martial arts fights in Wisconsin.
He said the Senate and Assembly bills would mandate every mixed martial arts contest have a licensed referee, four licensed judges, a doctor and an ambulance.
No one could fight unless they have proof of heath insurance. Also, Hintz said there is a provision for fighters to be examined after every match.