Maine, current and former home to fighters like Tim Sylvia, Marcus Davis and Mike Thomas Brown, recently became the latest state to sanction the sport of mixed martial arts, according to The Bangor Daily News .
A measure passed by the House and Senate will establish the 'Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine' to regulate and promote mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events with five governor-appointed members assigned to the authority.
Events can begin after March 1, 2010, which is the date given to the authority to have all the governing rules in place.
From Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth:
"It’s nice to have an industry sector come and they didn’t want tax incentives, they didn’t want money, they didn’t tell us about the bad challenges we have. They said, ‘Please regulate us, and we will come.’"
The final bill was approved by Gov. John Baldacci, who held a ceremony in his office on August 31 to praise the new legislation.
"When I first learned of the legislation, I was a little skeptical. I have not followed mixed martial arts as it developed into one of the most popular and fast-growing sports, but I have begun to watch it and appreciate it more for the training that people go through. From the perspective of the state the most important part of the new law is to guarantee we have the rules and oversight to protect participants and fans."
Not only does the new legislation give promoters an additional avenue for events, it could also help put pressure on the squatters over in New York who keep pushing the MMA regulation bill to the bottom of the pile, especially if New Yorkers make a mass exodus to spend their money in other states like Pennsylvania — who held a major pay-per-view event at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center back on August 8.
Don’t cry for me Assemblyman Reilly.