Canadian fight fans have reason to celebrate!  After this weekend’s announcement that mixed martial arts is finally set to be legalized in Ontario, Canada.

The UFC recently hired Tom Wright, former commissioner of the Canadian Football League, as the new head of UFC Canada and opened a Toronto office to help increase the promotion's presence in Ontario.

A strategy which has apparently worked, but how and why the change in tune, since not too long ago Premier Dalton McGuinty indicated that MMA regulation was "not a priority?

Ontario will adopt the same rules for professional MMA that are widely used across North America. This announcement gives the way for the first regulated professional MMA event to be held in Ontario for sometime in 2011.

As MMA has grown in recognition throughout the world, many cities have reaped the economic rewards of hosting events.  A major MMA event in Ontario could attract 30,000+ fans and generate somewhere around $6 million for the local economic.  Does this change in heart really represent what the people want, or is this just another poppycock way of combating the economic woes?  This all from a premier who has also banned cell phones while driving, pit bulls and smoking in cars with children. But now he will allow MMA, seems a bit out of character don’t you think?  But I guess  he’s just trying to divert focus from the shit he’s stepped in lately — such as the G20 secret security law issue and the now-scrapped eco-tax fees.  For months the premier has said both online gaming and mixed martial arts fighting are not at the top of mind for Ontarians.   But now if he actually thinks mixed martial arts and online gaming are going to be the solution of Ontario’s economic woes we are in big trouble here in Ontario.

Back to MMA, looks like the UFC may still have one hurdle left to clear... the B.C. Medical Association wants Ottawa to ban mixed martial arts fighting in Canada. Good luck –didn’t they get the memo calling for MMA and Online Gambling to be used to restore our economy!!!  The BCMA hopes its declaration calling for the ban will be passed next week at the Canadian Medical Association's annual meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont.

IMO all disease will have long been cured before anyone will ban MMA, which has become - despite the way some people feel about it - one of the most popular sports around.

The docs’ concern for the health of the fighters, most probably their motivation in calling for a ban, is spot on.  After all, they're doctors right!?

But not to me their call for a ban doesn't hold up. Many sports kill and maim their participants in much greater numbers than MMA, which from what I have found has only lost just two fighters in its history. Compare that with the hundreds of race-car drivers or football players who have died while competing and the number of boxers, skiers, jockeys and soccer and hockey players who've perished. And that's not counting serious injuries. So if we use BCMA's logic, shouldn't we see a call to ban all other friggin sports also?  – I dislike many sports, but my peers, colleges and I aren’t calling for a ban! Seriously what’s going on with people and our leaders!?

What do you think, tell me I’m not alone!?

By Brian