After May 8, Quebec will have had the pleasure of hosting three UFC events. With the presence of TKOMMA and XMMA, Quebec experiences a “privilege” that not every province shares - that is, the sanctioning of MMA bouts, both amateur and pro. The debate over the stagnated legislation is beginning to heat up as UFC president Dana White has repeatedly called out Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty over his apathetic stance towards legalizing the sport in Ontario. After disparaging remarks by McGuinty saying that the legalization of MMA in Ontario is a low priority compared to the other bills under consideration, White has taken the dismissal personally – as he should. That Ontarians cannot attend, let alone participate, in sanctioned MMA events, displays a grievous indifference on the part of the province.
McGuinty’s desire to first speak with police and health officials before signing off on any legislation is a waste of both time and money. With legislation already passed in Quebec, Alberta and most recently British Columbia, McGuinty must realize that the matter has already been considered and approved. If he still would prefer to examine the matter officially, he can simply request the reports presumably undertaken by these other provinces when the sport was less known and carried the taboo of being a “blood sport.”
The fact that fight fans in Ontario are unable to attend live events in their own province is a sad reality, but it pales in comparison to the hardship endured by those interested in pursuing a career in the sport. Though martial art schools and MMA gyms do operate within the province, there is nowhere for amateurs to test the waters and create a name for themselves. UFC aside, regional circuits are necessary to foster young talent and create future stars. It’s hardly pragmatic to realize that those who are still eager and hungry will still manage to compete, travelling to other provinces or the United States – some must travel all the way to Asia in order to get a spot on a professional card. So if McGuinty is worried about the safety of his citizens who wish to compete in MMA, he is failing, just making them do the same work at a greater expense and difficulty.
As for McGuinty’s interest in speaking with police officials, it suggests another concern: the occurrence of unsanctioned events. McGuinty probably sees MMA as Brad Pitt and Ed Norton ruthlessly beating Ontarians in backyards and basements across the province. Though such an unsafe – and ridiculous – scenario brings to mind to mind a familiar adage: “it’s not illegal because it’s dangerous, it’s dangerous because it’s illegal.”
But as the war of words is conducted through the media, the UFC has chosen a second path to quickening the legalization of MMA in Ontario, a path which has proven itself in the past. Similar to the philosophy I have described behind the Ultimate Fighter, the public become more attached and responsive when they can connect on a personal level with an athlete. Just look at what Georges St-Pierre has done for the popularity of MMA in Quebec. You’d be hard pressed to find a fellow student who doesn’t know the acronym GSP.
Although the UFC already has Ontario-based fighters in their rosters, such as Sam Sout and Mark Bocek, they are clearly aiming at Toronto, the largest city in the country and a veritable cash cow when it comes to major sporting events. So in order to put a face to the struggle of legalizing MMA in Ontario (that is, Toronto) the UFC has signed a multi-fight deal with IFL veteran and Torontonian Claude Patrick to be their “hometown hero.”
So push on Dana: McGuinty will eventually realize the error of his ways and see that the sport will not be slowing down on his account, not even for his citizens. In fact he only stands to gain. With a provincial deficit of around $25 billion, McGuinty shouldn’t be turning his back to the over $1 million worth of taxes he would collect, nor to the employment such a large event would offer. While the government certainly has more pressing issues it must deal with, issues that concern all Ontarians and not just those interested in MMA, it certainly begs the question why such an issue that deals with the rights and freedoms relevant to all Canadians, is relegated to the provincial level in the first place.
Northern Exposure
British Columbia has recently passed a bill legalizing MMA. To celebrate the occasion, the UFC will be hosting UFC 115 at GM Place in Vancouver on June 12.
When travelling to untapped territory, the UFC likes to ensure a large attendance by including a super fight – generally pitting together two top-ranked fighters who compete at different weights. In Van City, former middleweight champion Rich Franklin is rumoured to meet former five time champion and UFC hall of famer Randy Couture.
The rumoured match-ups:
Randy Couture vs. Rich Franklin
Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz
Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Pat Berry
Gilbert Yvel vs. Ben Rothwell
Tyson Griffin vs. Evan Dunham
Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald
James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta
Mike Pyle vs. Jesse Lennox
Also, Claude Patrick is expected to make his UFC debut against an as-of-yet unnamed opponent.
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