Joe Ferraro

After many years of heartache, the province of Ontario has finally legalized the great sport of MMA.

On a personal front, August 14, 2010 will be a date I will never forget.

For the past 12 years, I have done my part to try to help educate anyone who would listen about the beauties of my No. 1 passion -- mixed martial arts. Part of my plight was speaking with politicians, and after over a decade of eliminating the sport's stereotypes, my home province has finally turned the corner and has decided to move forward with legalizing the sport in Ontario.

As I write this article, I am experiencing a heightened sensation that sees my eyesight as blurry and my veins pumping with adrenaline while I smile from ear to ear. I knew this day would come but I never anticipated the emotional rush. Many of my close friends, colleagues, peers and family members are calling this my own personal victory, comparing to having my hand raised in a title fight.

But the real thanks has to be given to organizations like the UFC and the thousands of fans that support the sport in Ontario. My resources and lobbying efforts pale in comparison to what Dana White and company did to get this done. Hiring the esteemed lobbyist firm Cassels Brock & Blackwell -- and specifically Noble Chummar -- who worked tirelessly to educate the provincial powers-that-be that MMA is a real sport, filled with professional athletes who have the right to compete in front of consumers who also have the right to watch and pay for what they want.

Chummar's work coincided with the likes of Tom Wright, whom the UFC recently hired to head their operations in Canada, as well as UFC VP of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner. The team all had their share in proving to Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Consumer Services Sophia Aggelonitis that MMA (and the UFC) is not only safe, but can help provide a substantial economic boost to a province looking for some financial help.

But in speaking with the Chummar in person, his tireless efforts representing the UFC had him gleaming with pride; let's face it -- he will likely go down in Ontario MMA history as the man who made the impossible become a reality.

With the government stating the sport should be ready to see its first event in 2011, there is some work to be done. There has been no mention or change in the public record of the Ontario Athletics Control Act, the doctrine that oversees combat sports in Ontario. My hope is that it will now include the definition of MMA, as well as the additions of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. I am crossing my fingers that they do not attempt to reinvent the wheel -- the wheel is already spinning perfectly fine.

I am also keen to catch up with Athletics Commissioner Ken Hayashi, who has long stated that he will uphold whatever law the government asks him to enforce. I also hope Mr. Hayashi recommends that every official and judge who is licensed in Ontario undergo a strict training regimen, and perhaps be the global leader for making sure the refs and judges actually know MMA. The last thing I want to see is what we currently see in other commissions, where refs and judges are brought in from the boxing world, and cannot ascertain a triangle choke from an arm triangle choke. There have been far too many instances where judges do not respect the importance of leg kicks, a good quality ground fight, where a fighter is dominating from the bottom, while thinking the fighter on top is dominating the bout.

I am also hoping that the Ontario Athletic Commission is give the resources to not only sanction UFC events, but grassroots events on a regular basis. The UFC will only come to Ontario once, twice, maybe three times a year, but there is far more MMA than just the big show. There are 52 weeks in a year, and they should be prepared to sanction a minimum of two MMA events per weekend, for a total of 104 a year. The grassroots scene in Ontario can flourish under the right Athletics Commission and can seriously develop the next Georges St-Pierre very quickly.

If the commission remains the same, the sport of MMA will not properly flourish in Ontario. The model that is used in Nevada, New Jersey and Quebec work very well. They have a commissioner, but many inspectors, referees, judges that work within a structure that is self-sufficient. If done properly, the OAC can pay for its own staff, while still generate thousands (if not millions) for the province.

Today is a great day -- a lot of work has been completed to reach this goal, but it is only one chapter that has been closed.

It's now time to write the next one.