Wisconsin moving towards regulation of MMA
Safety standards proposed for mixed martial arts Two state legislators have introduced a bill intended to regulate and establish safety…
Safety standards proposed for mixed martial arts
Two state legislators have introduced a bill intended to regulate and establish safety standards for mixed martial arts in Wisconsin.
Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and has a strong following in Wisconsin, its proponents say. Wisconsin is one of 10 states in the country that does not regulate mixed martial arts contests.
The proposed legislation would expand the state’s boxing laws to include rules for athletes, referees, officials and others involved in the sport.
The two legislators are state Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and state Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee). Colón has a boxing background.
“The sport of mixed martial arts is growing rapidly,” Hansen said in a statement. “In the last two years alone there were more than 50 MMA events and hundreds of bouts here in Wisconsin. Given the sport’s growing popularity it makes sense to establish clear safety standards that will protect the athletes as well as the integrity of this growing sport.”
MMA is a sport that combines various forms of martial arts, such as jiujitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and others.
Duke Roufus, a four-time professional heavyweight kickboxing world champion who runs an MMA training facility in Milwaukee, has been a strong backer of the sport and legislation.
Concern about brutality
While the sport has exploded nationally, it has raised some concerns because of its brutality. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) once called the sport “human cockfighting.”
“We respect that some may not enjoy this sport, but the fact of the matter is that mixed martial arts is widely popular and growing at a phenomenal rate,” Colón said. “This sport and its fan base will only continue to expand in Wisconsin and become more and more a part of the state’s mainstream athletic environment.”
Colón added that Wisconsin, without any regulation, has been an island among neighboring states when it comes to mixed martial arts. “It’s time for our state to move forward and join others in helping ensure the safety of the sport in Wisconsin,” Colón said.
Scott Joffe, Roufus’ business partner, said the changes were needed to allow the sport, which has garnered a strong pay-per-view following on cable television, to grow.
“This sport is here to stay,” Joffe said. “More and more people are competing in it.”