Massachusetts Signs Bill To Regulate MMA
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (yesterday) signed a bill into law that regulates mixed martial arts in the “Bay State,” paving the way for the sport’s top brand, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and other promotions to host events in 2010 and beyond.
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UFC officials stormed Massachusetts earlier this year, attempting to convince lawmakers that MMA regulation is good for them and the state economy … to the tune of $12.3 million in just one weekend.
The dog and pony show was apparently very effective -- the bill breezed through the State Senate by a vote of 34-1. It then headed to the House Ways and Means Committee for additional consideration, where it sailed through by a vote of 144-10.
Dana White has talked in the past about holding an MMA event in Fenway Park which would be fairly amazing but is also very much a guy from the Boston area talking about a personal dream. Still, this is a major step forward for the sport and should serve to apply a good amount of pressure on New York to get their act together and get the sport regulated. One gets the feeling that it won’t be too much longer before the UFC is hosting an event in MSG.
