The Legality of MMA in Yellowknife and the Canadian Territories

The City of Yellowknife has a long history of hosting and regulating combat sport events including Mixed Martial Arts.  Despite this history, can the City legally regulate MMA events given the newly amended section 83 of the Criminal Code? As previously discussed, section 83 makes professional MMA illegal by default in all of Canada unless the … More The Legality of MMA in Yellowknife and the Canadian Territories

BC Sets the Canadian Standard For Legal Pro/Am MMA Events

Professional and amateur MMA can now be legally hosted in Canada so long as appropriate local laws are passed.  To this end other Canadian jurisdictions can take a page from British Columbia when it comes to regulating combat sports in the post Bill S-209 world.  BC now has the clearest Province wide legal framework for … More BC Sets the Canadian Standard For Legal Pro/Am MMA Events

BC Legalizes Amateur MMA and Other Non-IOC Combat Sports

The BC Government has just passed  Order in Council 2013-342 which expands the BC Athletic Commissioner’s powers to regulate all amateur MMA, kickboxing, pankration and Muay Thai events.  In addition to the BCAC’s powers to regulate pro boxing and MMA, they will apparently now also regulate “any amateur boxing that occurs at a professional boxing or … More BC Legalizes Amateur MMA and Other Non-IOC Combat Sports

Saskatchewan To Legalize Amateur MMA and Other Combat Sports?

Update August 14, 2013 – the plans discussed below have gone through and will apparently also include pro MMA.  You can click here for details ______________________________________________________________________ As previously discussed,  Canadian federal law designates amateur combat sports  ”in the programme of the International Olympic Committee” legal by default.    These include  Boxing, Wrestling, Judo and Tae Kwon Do. … More Saskatchewan To Legalize Amateur MMA and Other Combat Sports?

A Legal Breakdown of MMA In Nova Scotia (And Why Sword Fighting Is Boxing in NS!)

Breaking down the legality of MMA in Canada on a Province by Province basis is an interesting exercise given the strange legislative patchwork various Provinces put together trying to get around the pre Bill S-209 version of the Criminal Code. Today I address the legality of MMA, both professional and amateur, in Nova Scotia. As … More A Legal Breakdown of MMA In Nova Scotia (And Why Sword Fighting Is Boxing in NS!)

Victoria MP Murray Rankin Cautions BC Government About Regulating Amateur Boxing and Wrestling

As recently reported, it is rumored that the BC Government is considering regulating amateur boxing along with other combat sports on the programme of the IOC.   Not all stakeholders are pleased with this development.  Canadian Member of Parliament Murray Rankin is among those. Murray recently cautioned BC’s Minister of Sport about their rumored plans. … More Victoria MP Murray Rankin Cautions BC Government About Regulating Amateur Boxing and Wrestling

More Fallout on the Canadian Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Scene – Grande Prairie Cancels AMMA Events

As previously discussed, the now overhauled section 83 of the Criminal Code does not in and of itself make MMA legal across Canada, it allows Provinces to make it legal on a Province by Province basis.  The default is the sport remains illegal.  It requires Provincial regulation.  This needs to happen for both professional and amateur … More More Fallout on the Canadian Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Scene – Grande Prairie Cancels AMMA Events

Calgary Pulls The Plug For Amateur MMA At AFC Stampede Fight Night

The AFC’s latest event is scheduled to take place on July 12 in Calgary.  Last month Top MMA News reported that the event was scheduled to host a handful of amateur fights on the card. As previously discussed, Calgary currently lacks a proper framework to host amateur MMA bouts.  I have it on good authority … More Calgary Pulls The Plug For Amateur MMA At AFC Stampede Fight Night