Mixed Martial Arts in Ontario

For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of both striking as well as grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete.
The roots of mixed martial arts can be traced back to various mixed style contests that took place throughout Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim during the early 1900s. Modern MMA competition emerged in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, although professional MMA events had been held in Japan by Shooto starting back in 1989. Originally organized with the intention of finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety. Later promoters adopted many additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport.
The name mixed martial arts was coined by Rick Blume, president and CEO of Battlecade, in 1995. Following these changes, the sport has seen increased popularity with pay per view reach rivalling boxing and and professional wrestling.
*Contents
*History
*Rules
*MMA in Ontario
*World Fights
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History
As a result of an increased number of competitors, organized training camps, information sharing, and modern kinesiology, the understanding of the combat-effectiveness of various strategies has been greatly improved. UFC commentator Joe Rogan has claimed that martial arts have evolved more in the ten years following 1993 than in the preceding 700 years.
The early years of the sport saw a wide variety of traditional styles—everything from sumo to kickboxing—but the continual evolution of the sport saw many styles prove ineffective, while others proved successful on their own.
In the early 1990s, three styles stood out for their effectiveness in competition: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, amateur wrestling and submission wrestling. This may be attributable in part to the grappling emphasis of the aforementioned styles, which were, perhaps due to the scarcity of mixed martial arts competitions prior to the early 90s, unknown to most practitioners of striking-based arts. Fighters who combined amateur wrestling with striking techniques found success in the standing portion of a fight, whilst Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylists had a distinct advantage on the ground: those unfamiliar with submission grappling proved to be unprepared to deal with its submission techniques. Shoot wrestling practitioners offered a balance of amateur wrestling ability and catch wrestling-based submissions, resulting in a well-rounded skillset. The shoot wrestlers were especially successful in Japan. As competitions became more and more common, those with a base in striking became more competitive as they acquainted themselves with takedowns and submission holds, leading to notable upsets against the then dominant grapplers. Subsequently, those from the varying grappling styles added striking techniques to their arsenal. This overall development of increased cross-training resulted in the fighters becoming increasingly multi-dimensional and well-rounded in their skills. The changes were demonstrated when the original UFC champion Royce Gracie who had defeated many opponents using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fought the then UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes at UFC 60 and was defeated by a TKO from 'ground-and-pound'.
Rules
Weight Classes
Mixed martial artists are divided into nine classes:
1.Flyweight - Under 125.9 lbs
2.Bantamweight - 126 to 134.9 lbs
3.Featherweight - 135 to 144.9 lbs
4.Lightweight - 145 to 154.9 lbs
5.Welterweight - 155 to 169.9 lbs
6.Middleweight - 170 to 184.9 lbs
7.Light Heavyweight - 185 to 204.9 lbs
8.Heavyweight - 204 to 264.9 lbs
9.Super Heavyweight - Over 265 lbs
Fouls
a.The fouls will result in penalties if committed, and can lead to disqualification:
1.Butting with the head
2.Eye gouging of any kind
3.Biting or spitting at an opponent
4.Hair pulling
5.Fish hooking
6.Groin attacks of any kind
7.Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifice
8.Downward pointing of elbow strikes
9.Small joint manipulation
10.Strikes to the spine or back of the head
11.Heel kicks to the kidney
12.Throat strikes of any kind
13.Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle
14.Kicking the head of a grounded fighter
15.Kneeing the head of a grounded fighter
16.Stomping of a grounded fighter
17.The use of abusive language in fighting area
18.Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent
19.Attacking an opponent on or during the break
20.Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care at the time
21.Timidity (avoiding contact, or consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury)
22.Interference from a mixed martial artists seconds
23.Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area
24.Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions
25.Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck.
See also Mixed martial arts rules
Mixed Martial Arts in Ontario
Mixed Martial Arts in Ontario is a banned sport. For decades now, Mixed Martial Arts in Ontario have been practiced, just never in competitions. In Toronto December 2009 Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, declared he was not emotionally ready to allow the sport in Ontario yet. McGuinty, as a teenager played this sport illegally, he was severely injured, breaking his femur, his right wrist as well as left index finger. This fight left him emotionally detached from his family, simply because the opponent was significantly younger. He never approached the sport again. "It's just not a priority for us," he told reporters at Queen's Park. "We have other things on the go right now, and we'll stay focused on those." He decides to keep himself busy with other priorities untill he can face this sport once again.
In the summer of 2009 the UFC hired the law firm of Cassels Brock and Blackwell to conduct an estimate in reference to other countries and provinces, and the organization estimates a UFC event in Toronto would generate $14 million in revenue for the provincial government. This is a significant amount of revenue for the provincial government, and is necessary considering the embezzling charges that are being laid on the government. The details of these charges are unknown at the moment, the CBC reporters only caught a glimpse of the file early April 2010, a full extended article will be published May 5 after the trial on the previous day. The MMA’ s were initially banned from Ontario because the premiere of Ontario’s son was accidentally killed in a brutal MMA fight at a competition in Montreal. George Stewart Henry was was the Ontario Premier, his son Earnest was only 18 at the time of the fight, it was three days before his birthday. This fight brought great publicity to the Henry family, George was devastated, and on May 20, 1932, he would declare his motion in the Criminal Code. However, was not until 1985 that the legislation was passed. Section 83.1 of the Criminal Code says anyone who "engages as a principal in a prize fight," encourages, promotes or is present at a prize fight is guilty of an offence, unless the “contest" is "held with the permission or under the authority of an athletic board within the province." Fines are up to 100,000$ and jail time can be sentenced.
Other Government Officials on the other hand would like to see MMA's in Ontario. It would help increase profit, and decreases the taxes. David Onley stated that if the MMA were brought to Ontario the PST 8%, and GST 5% sales tax, which will be harmonizing to 13% on everything, could be decreased to an even 10% tax. This could be done throught the profits of the MMA competitions.

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