Promoters and fans of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) may be a buzz with this news but I would guess many Vermonters have until now remained unaware that the Vermont legislature has passed legislation that could bring Mixed Martial Arts and kickboxing matches to the Green Mountains. Coming afoot this session’s wrangling and occasional cries over perceived lack of civility one might marvel at their ability to quietly come together and allow martial arts and kickboxing.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs (and one time executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission) Marc Ratner said:
“We are thrilled with the state of Vermont becoming the 46th state to regulate the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. We look forward to working with their athletic commission in forming the rules and regulations of this great sport.”
Once called “human cockfighting”
They sport has cleaned itself up substantially since 1997 when Senator John McCain called it “human cockfighting”. After McCain’s comments the sport prohibited controversial tactics, including hair-pulling, small-joint manipulation, head butts, groin strikes, kicks to a downed opponent and strikes to the back of the head and neck. Recently the UFC got an eight year exclusive contract with Fox TV. Viewership for the UFC’s programs like Unleashed,Knockouts and Countdown have in the past averaged millions of viewers but have fallen in recent years.
The Vermont legislation contains the following definitions:
“Kickboxing” means unarmed combat involving the use of striking techniques delivered with the upper and lower body and in which the competitors remain standing while striking;
“Martial arts” means any form of unarmed combative sport or unarmed combative entertainment that allows contact striking, except boxing or wrestling;
“Mixed martial arts” means unarmed combat involving the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts, including grappling, submission holds, and strikes with the upper and lower body.
Large media markets New York and Connecticut remain “unregulated” for MMA and are likely the next match for the UFC’s Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Ratner. Alaska and Montana do not have the regulatory entities to oversee such sport.
We can’t decriminalize and regulate marijuana, but we can always find another way to decriminalize and regulate assault as a form of entertainment.
To be clear, MMA was not “decriminalized” in Vermont. MMA was legal in VT before the effort to regulate the sport even began. In fact, there are multiple events held in Burlington’s Memorial auditorium every year. One event, held twice a year, is known as the Burlington Brawl and the other is a new event promoted by Right-Left entertainment.
The purpose of this new legislative language is to ensure the safety of the fighters is priority one. It also aims to ensure that illegal fights are not taking place in someone’s backyard.
Additionally, the effort was part of the OPR bill which is taken up annually to enure that professional regulation is keeping up with the rapidly changing professional environment in Vermont.
Full disclosure, I represent the UFC through my work at KSE Partners on this effort.
……sigh…Now, my girlfriend and I once had a goat when I lived in the country. And Rumpus the Goat loved to play at attacking me with his horns. So, why not GOATFIGHTING in Vermont? Ya know, like Bullfighting over in Spain. We can start this Summer and Fall at the fairs. Candidates fight Goats. Barehanded, of course. I think this will really go. A real tourist draw.
Is this the Year Of Silliness on the Chinese Calendar? Or the Year Of Stupid? We’re debating the merits of goddamn kickboxing? Well, maybe that would be a good fair event for the candidates too. Jesus…….????????????