Vancouver Athletic Commission no longer sanctioning MMA matches

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 09-20-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

In a hotly debated hearing at the Vancouver, BC City Council today, the final ruling was the Vancuover Athletic Commission will no longer sanction MMA matches.

This isn't huge, but still a setback.

The_Iceman · 09-20-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Council will ponder future of 'human cockfighting' in city"
Ultimate fighting or mixed martial arts gains popularity

Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver sun
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007

VANCOUVER - In Britain, doctors want it banned. In the U.S., presidential hopeful John McCain famously dubbed it "human cockfighting." Now, the controversy over ultimate fighting is coming to Vancouver.

On Thursday, city council will discuss whether to ban ultimate fighting matches or continue sanctioning them. Ultimate fighting, also known as mixed martial arts, is an often-violent combat sport that mixes elements of traditional martial arts, kickboxing and wrestling.

"Both ultimate fighting and mixed martial arts are more violent than the more traditional professional boxing, wrestling and kickboxing contests," says a report that will go to a council committee on Thursday.

The report recommends the city choose one of two options: Either stop sanctioning the matches in Vancouver and call on the province to begin regulating and supervising all combat-related sports, or continue to sanction the events while significantly increasing restrictions.

"Ultimate fighting and mixed martial arts are violent combat sports of growing popularity," says the report. "It is recommended that council provide direction with respect to allowing ultimate fighting and mixed martial arts in the city."

The Vancouver Athletic Commission now sanctions mixed martial arts events, and the city report says that in the five or six events that have taken place in the last year in Vancouver, there have been no serious injuries.

On Tuesday, the commission's medical adviser said the sport isn't as dangerous as it first appears.

"There is fairly believable evidence that the risk of concussions and other neurological injuries is less in mixed martial arts compared to boxing," said Dr. Morgan Brache.

Brache, who said he only recently began supervising mixed martial arts events, explained that a mixed martial arts fight ends immediately if someone is knocked out, and that fighters can stop a match at any time by tapping the mat. He said this contrasts with a boxing match, where someone who is knocked out can stand up within a certain time and continue fighting. "It's safer than people think," he said.

But Brache acknowledged the fights are still dangerous.

"You are putting yourself at risk for sure," he said. "You can get broken bones, you can still get concussions, you can get all kinds of bad injuries," he added.

"It will still happen, for sure, but I think that's more an argument for having medical people involved and making all the regulations as stringent as you can."

In an interview on Tuesday, Eric Nicholl of Bodog Fight -- a company that has organized high-profile fights in Vancouver -- spoke out against a potential ban, saying the sport is no longer the collection of uncontrolled brawls it was when it began and now is governed by rules that put safety first.

"In the late 1990s, mixed martial arts began to produce legitimate athletes rather than tough guys and thugs," he said.

He said the term Ultimate Fighting is a brand name, and the sport is called mixed martial arts.

It's a distinction many in the sport feel is important.

"When you throw the words ultimate fighting in there, it makes it sound like a bloodbath," said Murray Wallace of the Hap Do Sool Martial Arts Academy in Tsawwassen, which teaches mixed martial arts.

"We don't want to see anyone get injured," he said. "We really stress safety and respect."

Despite the steps made by promoters and organizers, the violence of the sport has created controversy around the world, especially as its popularity grows.

"This kind of competition hardly constitutes a sport -- the days of gladiator fights are over and we should not be looking to resurrect them," Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, the British Medical Association's head of ethics, wrote in a report earlier this month.

"As doctors we cannot stand by while violent fighting tournaments are allowed to take place," she said, noting that her organization has also campaigned for a ban on boxing since 1982.

"Large amounts of money can be earned by participants, promoters and others linked to ultimate fighting, but no amount of money can compensate for permanent brain damage and premature death," she said.

"As a civilized society we should be campaigning to outlaw these activities."

jfowlie@png.canwest.com

Council will ponder future of 'human cockfighting' in city

This isn't helping the growth of mma in canada at all. It's bad enough that Ontario and P.E.I don't sanction mma matches, now Vancouver,BC, this is sucks! This is exactly the kinda right wing ingnorant crap that wants to get rid of everything that is new and exciting and that's out there detroy the hopes of future mixed martial artists, because they think it's so brutal. These are the same fighters that want to break into an industry, that as had no serious injuries or deaths to claim as of yet, unlike boxing. And to top it all off , there name calling it "human cockfighting". Give me a break!

Someone please tell Mcfly to get out of 1950 and fly into the 21st century, and live a little...

x.MMA.x · 09-20-2007, 10:42 PM

MMA, or cage fighting isn't as dangerous as it seems. Its way safer than boxing too, its not like you sustain like you get knocked out 8 times in one fight. And if someone wants to fight thats their choice, not a bunch of pansys. We got to fight this guys. Take it to their door step. :sport-smi :sport-smi

Edit - WTF how come i can't get the smilies i wanted?

jyd94 · 09-21-2007, 08:17 AM

This is the same place, where the only thing I have ever heard about it is the unbelivable strip clubs? Good call Vancouver.

WorkingStiff · 09-21-2007, 09:27 AM

"This kind of competition hardly constitutes a sport -- the days of gladiator fights are over and we should not be looking to resurrect them," Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, the British Medical Association's head of ethics, wrote in a report earlier this month.

/sigh

x.MMA.x · 09-21-2007, 07:45 PM

Gladiator sports? That guy is nutz, there was always a death in a gladiator event. And im pretty sure there hasn't been one death in the history of MMA, not counting underground s***. So we got lots of spare room for deaths. He talks about how violent it is and then compare it to Gladiator battles. Then that means we should be able to do more killing.

LET THE KILLING OF DR.VIVIENNE NATHANSON BEGIN!!!

Toshinden · 09-21-2007, 08:22 PM

Damnit! I live in B.C.... they better change those rules before the UFC consider coming here, or I'm gonna be pissed.

x.MMA.x · 09-21-2007, 10:48 PM

I live in B.C. too. We got to devise a plan to toshinden all of mma in the bc area lies in our hands. we must make haste.

Toshinden · 09-22-2007, 03:22 AM

Well the next election is too far away... so we'd have to take the city by force on our own. Don't worry, we can do it with just 2 guys. A couple years ago, in my graduating year of high school, my history teacher informed me that in order to take over a city successfully, you will need to take over the radio stations. And who's gonna expect 2 guys to take over a radio station? We've got this in the bag... I predict UFC 83 will be in Vancouver

x.MMA.x · 09-22-2007, 03:29 AM

Yea, man im only 3 1/2 hours away. We will raid the most popular radio station tomorrow night. After UFC 76 of course.

Toshinden · 09-22-2007, 03:34 AM

Oh of course... I don't get off work until 10, so it'll all work out.