Massachusetts is home to several mixed martial artists, professional and amateur. Some of the country's top gyms are located in or around Boston; though the fighters that train at these gyms are unable to compete in their home state. That could be changing soon as
House bill no. 94290 to legalize MMA was just passed and now only awaits the signature of Gov. Deval Patrick to become law.
The bill, originally filed by Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole.) Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), was recently passed with a 144-10 vote in the House of Representatives. The Senate version was passed earlier this summer with a 34-1 vote; Senator Marian Walsh (D-Boston) was the only senator to vote against the bill.
House Docket number 94290 (the MMA bill) was passed through both the house and senate with only a few changes; however, the changes made do stand out. For example: Section three of the bill states that, "(c) Any persons holding, conducting, promoting or participating in a match or exhibition held without a license, as provided in section 33, or a toughman or similar type match or exhibition, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of corrections for not more than 3 months or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both such fine and imprisonment." Though Section 4 goes on to strike out the amount of $5,000 and up the possible fine to $50,000.
Promoters are required to pay the commission 4% of total ticket sales, and an additional 2% if the event is broadcast via "television, pay-per-view, motion picture or other broadcasting rights, regardless of whether the event is broadcast live or in the future." For pay-per-views a "broadcasting fee imposed under this section [sect. 46] shall be not more than $75,000 per event."
Once Gov. Patrick signs the bill into law, the boxing commission will take over the duties of regulating mixed martial arts and become a general athletic commission known as the State Athletic Commission. The Athletic Commission will "consist of the commissioner of the department of public safety, or his designee, and 4 persons
to be appointed by the governor who shall serve for terms of 3 years," per bill H-94290. The bill goes on to specify, "At least 1 member shall have a background in the sport of boxing and at least 1 member shall have a background in the sport of mixed martial arts."
After the commission is formed, the state will adopt the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that most states who legalize MMA use. However, the difference in the Massachusetts bill is an amendment that allows towns and cities the option to vote down MMA licenses in their community. Each municipality has seven (7) days to vote down (or "opt-out") an event that has been granted a license by the state commission. To prohibit an event from taking place the municipality must gain a majority vote of either its city council or board of selectmen.
The passing of H-94290 makes Massachusetts the forty-first state to legalize mixed martial arts. UFC President, Dana White, has expressed interest in holding an outdoors event at Fenway Park in the summer of 2010 if the bill is made effective into law by that time.
From the press release issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: "Our committee worked with the Department of Public Safety to ensure that when these mixed martial events do occur, they are regulated by both state and local officials,” said Rep. Michael A. Costello, chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This bill ensures that the events will be conducted in a safe and responsible manner.”
You can read House Docket No. 94290
HERE.
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