Ministry News

August 14, 2010

Ontario Moves to Allow Mixed Martial Arts
McGuinty Government Focusing On Competitor Safety, Boosting Local Economies

NEWS

Ontario is taking steps to allow professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events in the province.

The province would adopt the same rules for professional MMA that are widely used across North America.  This announcement paves the way for the first regulated professional MMA event to be held in Ontario in 2011.

As MMA has grown in popularity throughout the world, many cities have reaped the economic rewards of hosting events. A major MMA event in Ontario could attract up to 30,000 fans and generate up to $6 million in local economic activity -- everything from hotel rooms to restaurants and other stores and services.

While MMA events provide an economic benefit, Ontario’s priority is the safety of the competitors. By regulating professional MMA, Ontario could enhance the safety of all participants with explicit safety and medical standards at licensed events.

QUOTES

"Our government has been monitoring MMA for some time. We know that the sport has evolved and that Ontarians want to see it here. My goal is to make sure we have the tools to keep the competitors safe, and provide an economic boost to communities that want to host professional MMA events."
-Sophia Aggelonitis, Minister of Consumer Services

QUICK FACTS

• Six Canadian jurisdictions and 46 American states currently allow MMA.
• At a 2008 professional MMA event in Montreal, online ticket sales indicate that 42 per cent of ticket purchasers at the sold-out event were residents of Ontario.
• New Jersey was the first US state to allow professional MMA events in 2000.

LEARN MORE

• Visit the Ministry of Consumer Services.

For more information:

Douglas Tindal, Minister’s Office, 416-326-1946
Melissa Zanette, Minister’s Office, 416-325-0238

ontario.ca/consumerservices-news

Backgrounder

Mixed Martial Arts In Ontario

Ontario is moving forward to allow professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

MMA is a full-contact, combative sport. Competitors use a mixture of striking and grappling martial arts techniques.

Professional MMA gained widespread exposure in North America over the past decade and is increasing in popularity throughout the world. Six Canadian jurisdictions and 46 American states already allow the sport.  Many Ontario fans attend live MMA events elsewhere in North America and purchase pay-per-view subscriptions to watch the sport here.

Like professional boxing and kick boxing, which are regulated in Ontario, professional MMA would fall under Ontario's Athletics Control Act. Ontario's Athletics Commissioner would be responsible for:

• licensing promoters and competitors
• ensuring promoters have paid necessary fees and obtained liability insurance
• appointing officials and medical personnel
• ensuring all medical requirements are completed and reviewed before each event
• ensuring competitors are in good standing
• conducting weigh-ins and overseeing pre-fight activities, and
• attending and overseeing each event to make sure they comply with Ontario's rules and regulations.

Ontario's priority is to protect the safety of the competitors. Ontario proposes to adopt the rules for professional MMA used by the State of New Jersey, which are widely used across North America.

It is anticipated that 10 to 15 professional MMA events, including one large event, might be held in Ontario annually, with significant economic benefits to the host communities. The experience in other jurisdictions is that a major event could lead to up to $6 million in local economic impact.

The province would work to ensure promoters and competitors are appropriately licensed and explicit health and safety standards are in place before professional MMA events can take place in Ontario.