What’s the hold up with MMA in Connecticut?
Jimmy Burchfield: “I had to cancel three MMA shows and two boxing shows that I had scheduled for this year.”
Some of the greatest action in mixed martial arts takes place within the borders of Connecticut. However, it takes place at the UFC at Foxwoods and Bellator MMA and Reality Fighting at Mohegan Sun, on sovereign tribal nation land.
In 2009, then a state senator Jonathan Harris introduced a bill legalizing the sport. In 2013 legislation finally passed, but it had a poison pill in the form of healthcare requirements. Last year those were relaxed but to date, no one is promoting MMA in The Nutmeg State outside Mohegan and Foxwoods. It comes down to money.
Brian Woodman Jr. has the story for CT News Junkie.
Fight promoters say the dearth of events thus far has been about costs.
Jimmy Burchfield, the president of the Rhode Island-based CES, said the current cost of doing business in Connecticut is not competitive with other states. While he has previously offered MMA shows at Foxwoods, he generally uses the Twin Rivers Casino in Rhode Island. CES also offers boxing events at Foxwoods.
I had to cancel three MMA shows and two boxing shows that I had scheduled for this year, Burchfield said regarding his attempts to bring events to Connecticut off the Indian reservations.
The obstacle that prevents bringing boxing and MMA to Connecticut is very basic — costs, said Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing.
Larry Perosino, secretary of the Connecticut Boxing Commission, confirmed that there are $13,000 in upfront fees related to MMA events, associated with personnel expenses for the weigh-ins and the events themselves. For example, fight inspectors cost about $1,700.
Detective Mark Langlais of the Connecticut State Police, who is the administrator of boxing and MMA for the public safety department’s special licensing and firearms unit, said the fees cover regulatory and operational costs incurred by the department to regulate events.
Perosino and Burchfield both criticized the 10 percent state admission tax for the events, saying it is much higher than other states charge.
The percentage that Connecticut charges as a tax on tickets sold is at least double the tax from even the highest states, DeGuardia said.
The state Department of Public Safety currently regulates boxing and MMA. It had previously been regulated about 10 years ago by the Department of Consumer Protection.
It is firmly established that having a big MMA show come to a city is remarkably good that the local economy. Hopefully, for all parties involved – government officials, promotions, local fans, and local fighters – the state continues to refine their regulations until it works.