Mixed-martial arts gets green light in Vancouver
Updated: Thu Dec. 17 2009 15:18:31
ctvbc.ca
Vancouver city council has approved holding mixed-martial arts events in the city on a two-year pilot basis.
Three councillors voted against the proposal: Andrea Reimer, Raymond Louie and Ellen Woodsworth.
Mixed-martial arts is a full combat sport that combines jujitsu, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and other forms of hand-to-hand combat.
According to a city staff report, a number of municipal athletic commissions (including Calgary, Edmonton and Prince George) and provincial athletic commissions (including Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba) have sanctioned MMA events.
Mixed-martial arts is becoming one of the fastest growing spectator sports - even more popular than wrestling and boxing.
The city staff reported cited a 2008 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that examined injuries to fighters in sanctioned MMA events in Nevada.
Turned out, injury rates were similar to rates in other combat sports and that overall risk of critical sports-related injury appeared low, according to the study.
Vancouver police say there have been no significant policing issues when MMA events are run professionally and a security plan is in place.
Ultimate Fighting Championship officials are pushing for a title fight in Vancouver next year, and promoters have already tentatively booked General Motors Place for a June 2010 fight featuring current champion Georges St. Pierre.
Well its about god damned time. Vancouver took a huge step back a few years ago when they banned MMA fights.