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Connecticut moved closer to allowing professional mixed martial arts matches when a bill to allow state-regulated contests was voted out of the Public Safety and Security Committee Monday.
The legislation has already drawn criticism from some who feel the sport is too violent for the state to sanction it, especially when lawmakers are in the midst of answering a charge to reduce violence.
"The name itself, cage fighting, should tip you off as to the kind of brutal sport it is," said Rep. Steve Mikutel, who voted against the measure. "Throughout this legislative session we are trying to reduce violence—I feel this goes against the grain of what we'd be trying to do." Connecticut, which bans the sport, is one of only four states that does not regulate mixed martial arts matches. Last year, Vermont became the 46th state to approve regulation. Brett Okamoto, who covers MMA for ESPN, said even in the few years he's been with the company he's seen it move more towards the mainstream. "You see it on [ESPN's] Sports Center now," he said. "It's still fighting. It's two guys or two females fighting in a cage…it's not for everyone."
Though the brutality of the sport causes some elected officials to oppose the legislation, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who supports the measure, said that the violent nature of the sport does not justify banning it.
"Football and boxing also have well-documented histories of injuries…yet both are legal in the state of Connecticut," he said.
Connecticut's casinos, under the jurisdiction of tribal governments, already host matches but do so without state oversight. Under the proposed legislation, the state would regulate mixed martial arts like boxing, which is legal in Connecticut.
"The enactment of this bill will ensure safety in a sport that is being conducted now in this state with no regulation," said Charles Steedman, Chair of the Connecticut Sports Advisory Board, in testimony to the committee last month. He told lawmakers passing the bill would allow the state to set proper safety standards, select qualified officials and establish drug testing requirements.
Lawmakers have considered this issue in prior years as well, and last session the measure was voted out of committee, but died on the Senate floor.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship Chairman & CEO Lorenzo Fertitta praised the committee vote Tuesday. "On behalf of all the Connecticut UFC and MMA fans, I'm hoping that this year, finally, the General Assembly will pass this bill," he said.
The bill has 30 co-sponsors, and supporters argue legalizing the sport would stimulate the economy by creating jobs and bringing in state revenue. The state, they say, would benefit from licensing and registration fees as well as taxes imposed on promoters for ticket sales and venues that host events.
"This bill is important to our large cities as well, putting Hartford and Bridgeport in a unique position to have additional revenues that will be derived from the opportunity to host these events in our larger capacity event areas," said Rep. Matt Ritter, in testimony to the committee during a public hearing on the bill. Ritter said local businesses would see a boom as well, not only venues like the XL Center and Webster's Bank Arena, but also restaurants, hotels and parking facilities in surrounding areas.
Committee Votes To Legalize MMA - Courant-com
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2013/03/18
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Allanna "Hands of Stones" Jones -- who's scheduled to fight Fox next month in Florida -- tells TMZ, "It doesn't matter what he [Fox] had changed ... he was still born and developed a man."
Jones believes Fox's participation in the sport will distract from the accomplishments of "real" female fighters, saying, "[WMMA] is just making a name for itself and this will have a negative impact on it.”
Worth noting ... Fox is a postoperative transsexual who has undergone hormone therapy and has been living as a woman for years. Any advantage she might have over other female fighters is debatable.
But despite claims it's not a fair fight, Jones is still convinced she'll wipe the floor with Fox -- telling us, "I am not scared to fight him because I know I can win."
Guess we'll see about that.
Read more: Transgender MMA Fighter Should Be Banned from Sport ... Says Next Opponent | TMZ-com
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