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[atj-lucko]

CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Fighting - UFC: McGuinty body slams UFC

McGuinty body slams UFC
Ont. premier has other priorities
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QMI Agency



Ontario would need to be convinced that UFC is safe for the public and participants before it would make amendments to the Athletics Control Act. (QMI Agency/Jack Boland)


Does MMA have a future in Ont.?

TORONTO -- Premier Dalton McGuinty has dealt a stunning blow in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's battle to come to Ontario.

"It's just not a priority for us," McGuinty said Wednesday. "We have other things on the go right now and we'll stay focused on those."

The premier's comments indicate that despite the incredible popularity of mixed martial arts in this province, Ontarians will have to continue to travel to Quebec or elsewhere if they want to see a live match.

The federal Criminal Code prohibits prizefighting but individual provinces can choose to exempt sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts.

According to a consumer services ministry spokesperson, Ontario would need to be convinced the UFC is safe for the public and participants before it would make amendments to the Athletics Control Act.

But while the government has been saying it continues to monitor the development of the sport, McGuinty appeared to shut the door on any changes in the near future.

Mixed martial arts is a combat sport that combines boxing, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling. The UFC is the sport's largest promotion.

The UFC hosted an event in Montreal in April 2008. It was the promotion's fastest sellout ever and drew a crowd of 21,390.

The UFC is returning to Montreal in May, and will host an event in Vancouver in June.

President Dana White had previously expressed confidence the sport would get sanctioned in Ontario. He often talks about how Canada is one of the UFC's strongest markets.

"I never saw Canada coming," he recently told QMI Agency. "There are so many passionate fans and, not only that, a lot of talented people coming out of Canada in MMA."

"No matter what state I'm in, in the U.S., or what country I'm in, there are so many Canadian fans there. It's incredible," he continued.

[the_dark_angel_4ever]

Originally Posted by atj-lucko

CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Fighting - UFC: McGuinty body slams UFC

Being from Toronto I'd love MMA here as much as anyone, but he does have a point. There are other things to focus on right now

[captonion]

Originally Posted by the_dark_angel_4ever

Being from Toronto I'd love MMA here as much as anyone, but he does have a point. There are other things to focus on right now

True enough. He has to finish raping the tax paxers of Ontario first!

[GL Jeff]

"It's just not a priority for us," McGuinty said Wednesday. "We have other things on the go right now and we'll stay focused on those."

Really,you have other things then making jobs, and bringing in income to the province for minimal work involved? Please tell me what other pressings matters you have that accomplish that.

Fucking clown shoes.

[dudefella]

This guy is even worse than Mike Harris... "Liberal" my ass (not just referring to the MMA snub).


Don't know if any of you other Canadians caught this, but on the National yesterday whatshisface was repeatedly calling MMA "Ultimate Fighting", and their news bulletin had the same title... please tell me I'm not the only person that flips the fuck out when MMA is called ULTIMATE FIGHTING....

[Xanatos]

Originally Posted by dudefella

This guy is even worse than Mike Harris... "Liberal" my ass (not just referring to the MMA snub).


Don't know if any of you other Canadians caught this, but on the National yesterday whatshisface was repeatedly calling MMA "Ultimate Fighting", and their news bulletin had the same title... please tell me I'm not the only person that flips the fuck out when MMA is called ULTIMATE FIGHTING....

That's what bugs me the most about the people in the media and in day to day conversations who criticize mma. For the most part, theyre all so misinformed. They don't know any of the terminology, and they have this rediculas notion that it's two guys in a locked cage fighting to the death like dogs.

I remember joe rogan talking about the reasons why mma is safer then boxing, it was a good little rant he had. i really dont want to see ontario holding out forevor because theyre too stubborn and stupid to learn a little bit about the sport. especially since it could make the province some money.

[Bloodbeard]

Originally Posted by dudefella

This guy is even worse than Mike Harris... "Liberal" my ass (not just referring to the MMA snub).


Don't know if any of you other Canadians caught this, but on the National yesterday whatshisface was repeatedly calling MMA "Ultimate Fighting", and their news bulletin had the same title... please tell me I'm not the only person that flips the fuck out when MMA is called ULTIMATE FIGHTING....

That is mental. I don't flip out when noobs call it Ultimate Fighting but when it is someone who should know what they are talking about before they open their mouths it is definitely annoying. I don't think anyone on these boards would disagree with you there. haha. or is there?

[Xanatos]

I can see where he\s coming from. when americans call hockey ice hockey it makes me mad. theres no real reason why i should be, its not their fault thats what they call it. its just one of those things where you invest yourself in the sport so when someone does it an unjustice you lose your shit.

[Lok Bresnar]

Ah well, maybe another day. Maybe I should set up my own little private UFC event in my backyard. A little garden BBQ/UFC event!
I could probably get Heath Herring to fight for $1,000.

[H33LHooK]

There's a reason that there are many, many people from all the other provinces who have a hate on for Ontario:

The sheeple mentality of the majority of the people living there has made the province into a nanny-state, and since the majority of the population lives east of Manitoba...

Thanks for that.

.