MMA avoids ban in Delaware
Amendment to new legislation will allow regulated competition
By ALEXANDER PYLES • The News Journal • July 2, 2008

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Mixed martial arts fighters and promoters in Delaware said Tuesday they were relieved that legislation originally written to ban MMA in the state was amended late Monday night.

The “Toughman Legislation,” which the General Assembly approved before its session ended early Tuesday, will ban Toughman competitions throughout the state. But rather than also banning MMA, the legislation will allow for an MMA adviser to be placed on a Combative Sports Advisory Council, which would be created by the legislation.

Rep. Robert J. Valihura Jr., R-Beau Tree, House Bill 501’s primary sponsor, said many MMA participants complained to him about the bill’s original language.

“So, we tried to reach a compromise,” he said.

If Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signs the bill into law, the council will identify a national sanctioning organization to oversee MMA in Delaware, according to James Collins, director of the state Division of Professional Regulation.

The United States Kickboxing Association regulates amateur MMA in New Jersey, for instance.

Collins said that because the governor has not signed the bill, there is no timetable for beginning the search for a sanctioning organization. It is unlikely, he said, that the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission will oversee MMA in Delaware, as it does boxing.

“I’m thrilled. It’s going to protect the public,”

Valihura said. “After the body meets, they will be able to sanction these things similarly to the way boxing is regulated in the state.

“There will be no more unregulated MMA exhibitions in the state.”

Nick Perez, a New Castle mixed martial artist, said he left a message for Valihura on Sunday urging the lawmaker to reconsider the proposed ban of MMA.

Perez, 33, was happy to hear that the bill was amended to reflect the distinction between Toughman and MMA.

“We’re not guys coming off the street to go fight one night,” Perez said. “That [revised bill] seems a lot more fair to the people who compete in the sport.”

Toughman features elimination tournaments between amateur participants who have no boxing experience or training.

Jack Murphy, the owner of Jack’s Kickboxing Gym in Newark, said he is pleased that legislators seem to be moving toward regulation of the sport.

“I think it’s great; this is what I’ve been pushing for for the last several years,” Murphy said, adding that he has appeared before the House and the Senate twice to discuss the regulation of MMA in Delaware.

But with no timetable for regulation, Murphy is only cautiously optimistic.

“I brought it up to them three years ago, and I’m still sitting here,” he said. “But at least now their eyes are open.”

Perez, meanwhile, is concerned that having to travel outside Delaware for fights, even temporarily, will make it more difficult for him to advance his MMA career.

“I had a mind-set to establish pro status in the next two years. In order to do that, I have to compete,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger. It’s kind of hard to put my life on hold for them.”

Murphy said he is glad the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission will not govern MMA in Delaware. He said there are enough knowledgeable instructors of MMA disciplines in Delaware to form a state-based regulation committee.

Murphy also said it’s unnecessary to enlist a national organization to regulate the sport in Delaware.

“Out of this gym alone, we could fit that bill and handle it,” he said. “We are our own state; why don’t we be our own state?”

Jeff Mitchell, an instructor at Elite Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Newark, said that quickly regulating MMA in Delaware is important so the state’s youths can continue to learn about the sport.

“It’s a good sport, it’s a safe sport,” Mitchell said. “I just hope they don’t sit on it.”

Contact Alexander Pyles at 324-2805 or apyles@delawareonline.com.

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Frankly, I’m ashamed to live in Delaware. Maybe that’s why I work in Maryland. But I’ve trained MMA for a short while… I cannot understand why lawmakers are so afraid of the sport.

Looks like I’ll be writing TWO letters to two different members of Delaware’s legislature this week.

On behalf of the stupid state I live in, I apologize to everyone else. We suck.

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“It’s no different for MMA than it is to get the pothole in your road fixed,” Paton said. “One, find out who your representatives are and call them. Just let them know what you think. Two, this is an election season not just in Arizona but in New York and around the country. The best way to get your way is to get the right person elected in the first place.”
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Its pretty simple and Sam made it even easier for everyone by providing the contact info for the Rep.

Contact your local the rep. in your area and let your voice be heard, They won’t ever know any better until the people in their districts inform them.

Stay on top of your elected officials or they are bound to go off in do something stupid like up there in Delaware

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And before we get too tough on McCain, hasn’t he backed off his comments, which were made in the old days before there were uniform rules, etc.?

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