Yesterday it was announced that BC has legalized amateur MMA in addition to a host of other amateur combat sports. As the legality of combat sports vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in Canada there is, at this stage, no set of unified rules in place for the sport. I have been in touch with … More BC Provisionally Adopts ABC’s Rules For Amateur MMA
Earlier this year I dissected some comments made by Mark Pavelich who proclaimed that he “is never going to put female MMA in my organization.” The outspoken CEO of Canada’s longest running MMA promotion, the MFC, justified his stance on the basis that “I just don’t like to see females hitting each other.” Interestingly enough, Mark … More The MFC Does An About Face On Reason Behind No Women Allowed Policy
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?
When an unlawful combat sports event takes place in Canada typically prosecutions will take one of two forms, either pursuant to Section 83 of the Criminal Code for being unlawful ‘prize fights’ or under various Provincial or Municipal legislation involving unsanctioned combat sport events. Since section 83 of the Criminal Code was overhauled by Bill … More Prize Fighting Prosecutions and Combat Sports in Canada
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!)
Earlier this month Brian Stann retired from his successful MMA career due to concerns regarding possible long term implications from traumatic brain injury. Last week, Cole Harbour MMA fighter TJ Grant committed an equally impressive move in deference to head injury. He stepped down from his UFC lightweight title shot scheduled next month. This, despite not … More Concussion Common Sense Leadership From Canada’s TJ Grant
UPDATE July 30, 2013 – Saskatchewan has apparently played the trump card telling Cities they do not have the authority to regulate MMA. Please click here for details ______________________________________________________________________ Keith Grienke of Top MMA News reports that the City of Weyburn Saskatchewan “is looking at allowing Alberta’s Central Combative Sports Commission to sanction pro and amateur … More Can Saskatchewan Cities Regulate Mixed Martial Arts?
All tested athletes have reportedly passed their drug tests following UFC 161. The Manitoba Combative Sports Commissioner has just released the following brief statement: The Manitoba Combative Sports Commission had random drug testing conducted at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 15, 2013. Ten of the twenty two athletes were randomly tested for performance-enhancing drugs … More UFC 161 Drug Test Results – All Randomly Tested Athletes Come Back Clean
As previously discussed, amateur Boxing, Judo, Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do are presently legal in BC however there is concern that the government is about to get involved in regulating these previously self regulated combat sports due to the powers given to the Provinces by the new section 83 of the Criminal Code. Andrew Schuck, … More Is BC About To Add Red Tape To Amateur Boxing, Judo, Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do?
Last month I highlighted the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission’s practice of releasing minimal information when dealing with fighter injuries. I discussed why this is likely the legally correct thing to do not to mention a practice that is in the fighter’s best interests. Moving a few Provinces west, today I look at the Edmonton Combative Sports … More Does The Edmonton Commission Release Too Much Information Regarding Fighter Injuries?
Combat Sports Law 