Vancouver has officially opened its doors to the Ultimate Fighting Championship and other professional mixed martial arts events after council voted in favour of a two-year MMA trial.
The six-to-three vote allows the city to regulate and sanction the combat sport and paves the way for a UFC event at GM Place in June 2010.
“We’re pleased with the vote,” said UFC vice-president Lawrence Epstein, who flew from Las Vegas to Vancouver for the council meeting. “Vancouver is about to host the Olympics, it’s an important city not just in B.C. and Canada, but the world. It’s an important market for us.”
A June date at GM Place has already been held by the UFC for months, and Epstein said negotiations with the arena are at an advanced state.
Under the two-year pilot, promoters like the UFC must ensure the city cannot be held liable for any damages and would require top-rated insurance (which would be in the vicinity of $10 million for a large UFC event).
Epstein said work on liability issues would begin immediately so the organization can move forward with the June pay-per-view date – which could be headlined by Canadian UFC superstar and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
The economic impact of the event has been estimated at around $20 million.
While the majority of council voted in favour of the trial, several councillors were staunchly against it on legal and moral grounds.
Despite federal minister James Moore appearing before council to assure the government won’t stand in the way of MMA in Vancouver, the sport is technically not permitted under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Only boxing is recognized as a permitted prizefighting sport under the Code, although amendments in Bill C-35 look to close the loophole.
“It’s not often that we’re asked to regulate something that is technically illegal,” said Coun. Andrea Reimer while voting nay.
Coun. Ellen Woodsworth and Coun. Raymond Louie also voted against the motion.
The city has imposed a moratorium on the sport since 2007.
Many of the councillors who voted yes this time around supported the ban two years ago.
“I was dead set against this, I didn’t think we should be doing this at all,” said Coun. Kerry Jang.
But after researching the rules, attending an event in person and studying medical reports, Jang has done a complete 180.
“The level of sportsmanship demonstrated by these athletes is exemplary,” he said. “Our policies have to catch up with the rest of the world.”
Coun. Geoff Meggs said regulation is required to, at the very least, ensure unsanctioned, underground events don’t put the city legally at risk.
“It’s an activity we need to regulate,” he said. “If we don’t, the consequences are worse than if we do.”
