Alberta Municipalities Call For Province Wide Combative Sports Commission

January 7, 2014

The legality of MMA and Combat Sports varies across Alberta from Municipality to Municipality.  Interestingly, this may change as the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association is now lobbying the Provincial Government to replace the local commission model with a Province wide combative sports commission. Alberta’s 272 urban municipalities gather annually through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association … More Alberta Municipalities Call For Province Wide Combative Sports Commission

Why Technicalities Matter – Criminal Conduct Exclusions and Insurance in MMA

January 4, 2014

I am not a professional combatant, I am not a promoter and I am not a government regulator.  Despite this I go on and on about the need of Provinces like Ontario and Quebec to pass appropriate laws to legalize amateur MMA instead of turning a blind eye, and here I go again.  Why? Because … More Why Technicalities Matter – Criminal Conduct Exclusions and Insurance in MMA

Is Ontario Selectively Prosecuting MMA Events?

January 3, 2014

I have previously highlighted why there is no proper framework for amateur MMA in Ontario and until appropriate post Bill S-209 laws are passed amateur MMA events cannot comply with section 83 of the Criminal Code. Despite this it appears that some amateur Combat Sports events are taking place without government repercussions.  Pecker’d Promotions discusses … More Is Ontario Selectively Prosecuting MMA Events?

Canadian MMA Law Recognized As “Best New Law Blog” in 2013

January 1, 2014

I am honoured to receive the 2013 Canadian Law Blog Award naming this site as one of the Best New Law Blogs of the year.  Thank you to everyone who nominated this site,  to Steve Matthews, Simon Fodden and Jordan Furlong for the award, and to everyone who has visited in 2013. So how do you celebrate an award as … More Canadian MMA Law Recognized As “Best New Law Blog” in 2013

Where’s the MMA At? Busiest US and Canadian Athletic Commissions Revealed

December 30, 2013

Ever wonder where the most MMA events take place?  Data was recently compiled addressing the volume of sanctioned amateur and professional events in the US and Canada from 2009-2012. California wins by a landslide with 154 sanctioned events in 2012 alone.  Texas comes in second with 83 and Nevada ranked fifth overall in volume in … More Where’s the MMA At? Busiest US and Canadian Athletic Commissions Revealed

ABC Medical Committee Addresses Safety of Transgender Combatant Licencing

December 30, 2013

Few topics generate more debate when it comes to MMA regulation than licencing of transgender athletes.   Ultimately this is a debate that is best addressed through science as the most valid criticisms focus on the health and safety of participants.  To this end, the Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee (comprised of some 40 … More ABC Medical Committee Addresses Safety of Transgender Combatant Licencing

More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports

December 27, 2013

Earlier this year I canvassed the possibility of obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medical marijuana users licensed to compete in combat sports. The Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee has now addressed this issue, noting that “there are no good data at present to suggest that marijuana acts directly as a performance-enhancing drug” and confirmed … More More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports

How Much Head Trauma is Too Much in a Combat Sports Career?

December 27, 2013

C.T.E. (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a progressive degenerative disease which is linked to combat and other contact sports such as hockey and football.  When an athlete experiences too many concussive or sub concussive shots over the course of a career they are at risk of developing CTE which can have profound consequences later in life. … More How Much Head Trauma is Too Much in a Combat Sports Career?

What the PED Lawsuit Will Look Like in MMA

December 23, 2013

I’ve previously discussed some of the biggest legal threats to MMA with PED abuse and inadequate policies addressing this being one of them.  I’ll confess that when a lawyer talks about the law, especially in a hypothetical situation, it can be a little dry.  Enter Ben Miller.  Last week Ben authored an article at the … More What the PED Lawsuit Will Look Like in MMA

One More From the Vault – Amateur Combat Sports Outside of OAC Jurisdiction

December 20, 2013

Adding to this site’s archives addressing combat sports prosecutions in Canada, useful reasons for judgement were recently shared with me addressing charges under the Ontario Athletics Control Act dealing with an amateur kickboxing event. In the unreported 2010 case (Her Majesty the Queen v. McNamara) the Defendants held two kickboxing bouts and were charged with … More One More From the Vault – Amateur Combat Sports Outside of OAC Jurisdiction