By Nigel Maxwell

Fight fans will welcome new provincial rules

Mar 11, 2015 | 12:08 PM

The door is now open for a major mixed martial arts sporting event, such as the UFC, to come to Saskatchewan.

The provincial government has proclaimed the Athletics Commission Act.  The legislation, which has been years in the making, provides the province with the authority to establish an Athletics Commission. 

Once the commission is fully operational, it will have the ability to sanction professional combative sporting events, in the province such as mixed martial arts or boxing.

Lucien Phillips is the head instructor at LDP Martial Arts in Prince Albert. He has been following the process closely since it was first discussed in 2013. He said he’s happy to see it finally moving ahead.

“We’ve been having to travel to Vancouver and Montreal while the government has been sorting things out so now it just gives us an opportunity to compete at home,” said Phillips.

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The government says the commission should be ready to start accepting applications for licences as early as April. Phillips said he has already rumours of several big events being planned.

In terms of whether an MMA event could draw a crowd, Phillips said he is not concerned.

“I think it would fill up the place. Before the commission, there were pro shows going that were selling out in different cities around the province, so I know if the UFC came into Saskatoon for example, they would easily get 10 to 12 thousand people,” said Phillips.

The establishment of an athletic commission could also be very good news for the organizers of the annual R U Tuff Enuff Event in Prince Albert, who have been forced to make big changes to the event the past two years due to not being able to get the proper sanctioning.

The commission will oversee all administration related to professional combative sporting events.  The commission will also be in charge of ensuring that qualified personnel — medical staff, judges, time keepers etcetera — are hired for the events.

Assistant deputy minister of parks, culture and sport Scott Brown will be appointed as the chairperson of the commission.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell