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Is MMA set to return to Vancouver? Council vote looms on big money sport

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http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465...n?size=620x400

Surrey-based MMA fighter Kalib Starnes (middle row, 4th from left) and the team of fighters at Suitela Fitness and Self Defense Centre pose for a photo after a typically gruelling training session.
Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Vancouver Sun

Vancouver city council will debate next week whether to allow the city’s athletic commission to sanction controversial Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting events.

A report from the Vancouver’s chief license inspector to be discussed next Thursday highlights a need for clarity as to whether the hugely popular combat sport is allowed within the city.

The Vancouver Athletic Commission (VAC) allowed five MMA events before city council in 2007 told the commission to temporarily cease sanctioning the fights.

"Based upon the violent nature of the sport and in light of the growth in its popularity resulting in more requests being received by the VAC to hold MMA Events in Vancouver, the VAC and City Staff are seeking Council’s direction as to whether MMA Events are to be within the Commission’s mandate,” reads the report.

The report notes the sanctioning MMA events would increase the VAC’s workload but the organization could also collect “very significant” gate fees from events.

Richmond-based mixed martial arts instructor Mark Bishop of Urban Rebel MMA is happy to hear the issue is back on council's agenda.

"Financially, it would be a huge boost to the economy," said Bishop. "It would give an outlet to a lot of very bored youth who are looking for choices other than hockey or fighting in the street."

Bishop trains classes of children, teenagers and adults in the sport, which combines elements of boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.

According to the council report, the Vancouver police department is concerned that if the VAC doesn’t regulate the fights they will happen anyway underground.

Considered one of the fastest growing spectator sports, it is sanctioned in 38 U.S. states as well as Canadian cities like Calgary, Edmonton and the province of Quebec.

Chilliwack-based fight promoter Paul Daniel of ValleyFight started running fight cards on first nations reserves when Chilliwack council banned MMA from public buildings in the area. Despite being forced to essentially go underground, his events have drawn sell-out crowds on a constant basis and been lauded by fighters for putting fighter safety and security ahead of profits.

When asked if regulation of MMA in Vancouver would see his company looking to promote regular events downtown, Daniel replied, "Short answer: Yes."

He's not alone. Florida-based MMA promoter John Prisco of the Xtreme Fighting Championships regularly draws crowds of 10,000 plus to his XFC events. He recently told The Sun that if local authorities cleared the regulation hurdle, his group would be very interested in looking at promoting cards in the area.

"We're always looking for places to expand our reach," said Prisco, "and Vancouver fight fans are the kind of audience you'd like to be working with. It's obviously not something you do overnight, but if the commission up there needed help with rules and best practices, we'd be very enthusiastic about flying up and working with them. We did just that recently in Tennessee, and the state recently approved the sport there as a result."

The XFC's first card in Tennessee drew a crowd of 5,200 and received glowing reviews in the press.

Although MMA began as a “raw fringe sport,” the report says, many regions have adopted rules to protect athletes, such as time limits, weight classes, safety procedures, and prohibiting things such as head butts, biting and eye gouging. An April 2008 UFC event in Montreal drew 21,000 people and was seen by 500,000 people on pay-per-view.

crolfsen@vancouversun.com

http://www.vancouversun.com/Sports/r...304/story.html

MMA is the product of a society that lusts for sex and violence.

I say, give the people what they want.

Next step, cage fighting with weapons. I'd even pay to see that.

I'd pay double to see a man in a cage with a tiger

HAHAHA Kalib Starnes! he's my hero...

LOL kalib stanes....

oh god, starnes from that fight a while back

but it would be great to bring live MMA here in vancouver

Kinda funny how this comes after Dana said he'd like to bring UFC to Toronto and Vancouver

Hmmmmm......

id love to go and watch a fight if it came here and im pretty sure it would sell out very fast. Lets just hope if it does come here they bring in some big name fighters.

on another note: ahaha Kalib starnes is a joke that was one of the worst fights in UF history. he ran around like a pansy in the ring

meh they should keep trashy low-class sports out

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Originally Posted by StylinRed (Post 6337660)

meh they should keep trashy low-class sports out

I agree, 95% of MMA fans are trashy people.

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Originally Posted by Ch28 (Post 6337560)

Kinda funny how this comes after Dana said he'd like to bring UFC to Toronto and Vancouver

Hmmmmm......

Dana has said that for years tho.

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Originally Posted by Jason00S2000 (Post 6337701)

I agree, 95% of MMA fans are trashy people.

You've never been to a fight night have you?

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Originally Posted by Black SC2 (Post 6338159)

You've never been to a fight night have you?

Watching two people knock the shit out of each other? Nah, sounds like something only redneck hicks would enjoy (and I should know...). UFC bugs the hell out of me.

I've never watched a UFC fight and I don't understand all the hype around it. All my friends, including my female friends, are crazy about UFC.

Ah...cue the ignorant MMA bashers :Popcorn

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Originally Posted by Lomac (Post 6338202)

Watching two people knock the shit out of each other? Nah, sounds like something only redneck hicks would enjoy (and I should know...). UFC bugs the hell out of me.

how about boxing?

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Originally Posted by Grandmaster TSE (Post 6338301)

how about boxing?

Falls under the same category, I feel.

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Originally Posted by Ch28 (Post 6338284)

Ah...cue the ignorant MMA bashers :Popcorn

Ignorant? Hardly. I just fail to see the appeal behind watching two people play fisticuffs with one another with the intent of bodily harm. That goes for wrestling, UFC, and like.

Keep in mind that this is coming from someone with a martial arts background as well.

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Originally Posted by Lomac (Post 6338311)

Keep in mind that this is coming from someone with a martial arts background as well.

You must have done one of those useless martial arts like Ninjitsu or something. If you have ever done Boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ etc. then you would know its not just 2 guys trying to play 'fisticuffs' with each other, its quite technical and actually takes alot of skill. If for some reason you have done any of those then you must have been the kid that got tapped out 3 times a round and lost interest and became a hater.

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Originally Posted by Drk (Post 6338375)

Yes, I realize it's not just two people playing fisticuffs. I was being facetious. I was trained in Karate, but my Sensei was also an ex-ERT officer, so he liked to devote a lot of training towards the practical methods of street fighting.

And I still haven't heard what it is that people find appealing about watching two people fight.

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Originally Posted by Black SC2 (Post 6338159)

You've never been to a fight night have you?

Actually, I have.

I'd say most big Canucks fans are complete mouthbreathers who are pretty much brain dead. Look at European soccer hooligans for an example of people who have completely dead brains.

However, if you meet big MMA fans, and try to have a normal conversation with them, they are usually even more narrow minded than even a froathing-mouthed skatehead. The people I've known who are big into martial arts aren't really big fans of MMA. They'll keep up to date on it, but really only to watch technique, and aren't what I would call a big fan.

A couple of my female friends admit they get turned on by sweaty men wrestling, which is why they like it.

It's entertainment for the brainless masses.

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Originally Posted by Lomac (Post 6338202)

Watching two people knock the shit out of each other? Nah, sounds like something only redneck hicks would enjoy (and I should know...). UFC bugs the hell out of me.

I take a certain amount of offence to that statement. Just because you aren't into it/ don't get it/ whatever, doesn't mean the people who are into it are redneck hicks.

I too have a traditional martial arts background, as well as moderate first hand MMA experience. I appreciate MMA for being the venue where you can truly test the skills you learn in the other martial arts. Point fighting doesn't do it. Bunkai doesn't do it. Free rolling doesn't do it. MMA allows you to finally test all your theories, as well as the theories of your coach/ sensei/ sifu/ grand wizard etc., without excuses, without bs. While the UFC did start as little more than a circus sideshow, it has come a long way as an organization, and has done a great deal in the efforts of fighter safety, representation and opportunity.

Mind you, I've been in martial arts myself, and I've watched the UFC. I'd probably be more supportive of MMA if there was some tradition and rules of conduct for the competitors. It might positively influence the fans.

Last time I watched MMA at a bar, there were several fights right after between Affiliction and Ed Hardy wearing douchebags.

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Originally Posted by Black SC2 (Post 6338509)

I'd far rather see a fighting league with weapons and armor. That would be much more interesting.

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Originally Posted by Lomac (Post 6338496)

And I still haven't heard what it is that people find appealing about watching two people fight.

Let's say that your in highschool and every sports team has a game that day, But then you hear about a fight thats going on after school. You bet your ass that everyone is going to watch those 2 kids fight, even the people playing the school sports would wish they were watching it.