What Bill S-209 means for MMA in Canada

Though there were no knockouts or submissions to speak of, Thursday did deliver a big win for the sport of MMA in Canada.

Bill S-209, an act to remove the Criminal Code prohibition on mixed martial arts, was introduced into the House of Commons by Liberal Member of Parliament Massimo Pacetti. One of the MPs to second it was Conservative Ryan Leef, who is no stranger to MMA as he has competed in the sport and serves the chair of the MMA Caucus.

The bill is an amendment to Section 83(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada — a section that has not been updated since 1934 — which concerns the regulation of prize fighting. The amendment would clarify the propriety of promoting MMA throughout Canada, as the current section only lists boxing under the prize fighting category.

“It was an important day for our sport,” UFC director of Canadian operations Tom Wright told (Showdown) Joe Ferraro Thursday on UFC Central Radio on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “This is a very important step to get part of the Criminal Code changed and get it contemporized and reduce this ambiguity that surrounds our sport and really provide a consistent regulatory environment for our sport to be taken care of provincially and territorially across the country.”

The bill has already passed through the Senate and it must now pass through three readings in the House of Commons before it becomes law. Wright added the complete process of passing the bill could take as little as three months or as long as nine months.

The introduction of Bill S-209 is a major step forward for the sport in Canada, but there are still several barriers at the provincial and territorial level that MMA must overcome before the sport is legal everywhere in the country.

MMA is not currently sanctioned in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, or the three Canadian territories. In British Columbia, the province has left it for the individual municipalities to handle sanctioning.

Wright said it’s something he and the UFC are working on see regulation in every province — not only to build their brand but grow the sport.

“I presented a business plan down in Las Vegas two or three months ago and one of our goals is to have our sport sanctioned in all 10 provinces and three territories by the end of 2015, so that’s what we want to do,” Wright explained.

The UFC returns to Montreal on Nov. 17 for UFC 154 and Wright said the UFC will hold at least four Canadian events in 2013.

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