Changes are coming soon in the BC amateur MMA/combat sports landscape as a result of the Bill S-209 overhaul. I have been in touch with a few commissioners / stakeholders in the MMA community from different Provinces over the past month and there appears to be some hesitation on the government front hoping to “get … More Amateur MMA / Combat Sports in BC Headed for a Mixed Bag of Regulation?
Following UFC 161 the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission released the required information relating to fighter medical suspensions so these can be published at the Association of Boxing Commissions Official Certified Database for Mixed Martial Arts. This is done to allow Athletic Commissions in other jurisdictions to find out whether a combatant intending to fight under their … More Why the Manitoba Commission’s Silence is Golden When it Comes to Fighter Injury Details
Yes, once again here comes a lawyer to take all the fun out of things! Today I will breakdown the legal authority (or lack thereof) of the Calgary Combative Sports Commission to regulate AMMA. AFC 20 is scheduled to take place in Calgary in July and three amateur bouts are reportedly taking place. Given … More Breaking Down the Calgary Combative Sports Commission’s Authority To Regulate AMMA
With Bill S-209 now in force the legislative floodgates are opening with regional governments passing laws addressing mixed martial arts and other combat sports. Alberta’s Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray) is the latest to enter the fray with the City Council having just passed a Combative Sports Commission Bylaw. The new bylaw … More Fort McMurray Passes Combative Sports Commission Bylaw
I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the now overhauled section 83 of the Canadian Criminal Code and the difficulties this creates for amateur MMA throughout Canada. Appreciating that the default, absent Provincial intervention, is that Amateur MMA is illegal in Canada, can a promoter get around this exception by hosting an “exhibition” fight? Probably … More Can You Avoid Section 83 of the Criminal Code With “Exhibition Fights”
When Bill S-209 first started making headlines last year it was clear that the wording of the legislation would leave a big legal gap which Provinces would be tasked with filling. As Bill S-209 slowly plodded through the Senate and Parliament, Provinces across Canada did little in anticipation of the law passing. Now S-209 is in … More The Law of Unintended Consequences – Amateur MMA Events now Illegal, Being Shut Down in Canada
The Manitoba Combative Sports Commission has just released the official results and medical suspensions for UFC 161 . Here they are in full: UFC 161 official results – Manitoba
So you want to run an amateur MMA event in Ontario and make sure you do so legally. With S-209 coming into force you’re ready to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. What steps can you take? The answer is none, there is currently no way to legally hold an AMMA event in Ontario. … More Why Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Remain Illegal in Ontario
The first and foremost job of any referee is to ensure participant safety. It does not take a deep thinker to appreciate that carelessness in this vital role can lead to unneeded participant harm in the realm of combat sports. This brings me to today’s topic, is there a useful legal avenue to challenge a … More Challenging A Licensed MMA Referee: Can Judicial Review Provide a Remedy?
The diverse landscape of MMA regulation makes for potentially interesting issues whenever the UFC dips their toes in a new jurisdiction. With UFC 161 bringing the organization to Manitoba for the first time a question worth asking is which substances run afoul of Manitoba’s Combative Sports Commission? Article VIII of the UFC’s Fighter Contract requires … More What PED’s Are Out of Bounds for UFC 161?
Combat Sports Law 