Massachusetts inches closer to MMA regulation, UFC at Fenway Park nearing?
In a move that could soon bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Boston, Massachusetts state representatives passed a bill earlier this week that calls for the regulation of mixed martial arts.
The bill calls for the Massachusetts State Boxing Commission to expand to a general athletic commission and oversee MMA events.
The bill passed by an overwhelming 144-10 vote and simply awaits a signature from Governor Deval Patrick to go into effect.
The state senate approved the measure, which is sponsored by Rep. Charles Murphy (D-Burlington), earlier this year.
Massachusetts actually regulated the sport for a few years in the early 2000s. However, once it was discovered the state was doing so under boxing statutes that didn't extend to MMA, the commission stopped statewide regulation in 2005. Even with the new bill, communities will determine on a local level whether or not MMA is allowed.
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported in August, UFC president Dana White (who lived in Boston before his move to Las Vegas) has long desired to host a UFC event in Boston. In fact, he said the organization was looking into hosting an outdoor event at the 37,000-seat Fenway Park, the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.
"We're going to Boston," White said at the time. "We're definitely going to Boston. ... We're going everywhere."
MMA agent and promoter Joseph Cavallaro, a longtime friend of White's who runs the popular Massachusetts-based World Championship Fighting promotion, has supported the bill since its inception. Clients such as Kenny Florian and Marcus Davis often attend his shows, which are approved on a local level, and were part of the campaigning efforts to promote the bill.
Cavallaro operates in a gray area of the law but implements safety procedures and other measures that are required by most states that officially regulate MMA.
"It's huge news for us," Cavallaro said about the bill's passing.
In a move that could soon bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Boston, Massachusetts state representatives passed a bill earlier this week that calls for the regulation of mixed martial arts.
The bill calls for the Massachusetts State Boxing Commission to expand to a general athletic commission and oversee MMA events.
The bill passed by an overwhelming 144-10 vote and simply awaits a signature from Governor Deval Patrick to go into effect.
The state senate approved the measure, which is sponsored by Rep. Charles Murphy (D-Burlington), earlier this year.
Massachusetts actually regulated the sport for a few years in the early 2000s. However, once it was discovered the state was doing so under boxing statutes that didn't extend to MMA, the commission stopped statewide regulation in 2005. Even with the new bill, communities will determine on a local level whether or not MMA is allowed.
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported in August, UFC president Dana White (who lived in Boston before his move to Las Vegas) has long desired to host a UFC event in Boston. In fact, he said the organization was looking into hosting an outdoor event at the 37,000-seat Fenway Park, the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.
"We're going to Boston," White said at the time. "We're definitely going to Boston. ... We're going everywhere."
MMA agent and promoter Joseph Cavallaro, a longtime friend of White's who runs the popular Massachusetts-based World Championship Fighting promotion, has supported the bill since its inception. Clients such as Kenny Florian and Marcus Davis often attend his shows, which are approved on a local level, and were part of the campaigning efforts to promote the bill.
Cavallaro operates in a gray area of the law but implements safety procedures and other measures that are required by most states that officially regulate MMA.
"It's huge news for us," Cavallaro said about the bill's passing.
