The Canadian Press
8/19/2010

TORONTO -- Joe Doerksen isn't sure what all the fuss is about. As far as the mixed martial arts fighter is concerned, his sport is no more dangerous than most other high-contact contests and might even be safer than many recreational pursuits.

"Ridiculous" is how the 11-year veteran of cage-fighting describes a call by the B.C. Medical Association to have mixed martial arts bouts banned in Canada.

The doctors group wants its national body, the Canadian Medical Association, to consider a resolution at its annual meeting next week that would seek to deliver a knock-out punch to the popular sporting event in Canada.

The CMA has been advocating for a ban on amateur and professional boxing since 2001. But the organization has no policy on MMA and won't comment on the B.C.-sponsored resolution, which may come before delegates -- or not.

Still, BCMA president Dr. Ian Gillespie is counting on the issue being discussed at the Niagara Falls, Ont., meeting, because he believes MMA is an inherently dangerous sport that could lead to catastrophic injuries among participants.

"MMA fighting, like boxing, is distinct from many other sports in that the basic intent of the fighter is to cause harm in order to incapacitate his or her opponent," Gillespie said from Vancouver. "And what distinguishes MMA fighting from boxing is the use of various techniques to do so that aren't limited to punching, and there may be the presence of fewer safety rules."

"For instance, allowing a fighter to continue to attack when his or her opponent is down."

MMA fighters employ a combination of eight martial arts techniques, including boxing, kick boxing, karate, judo and wrestling. The object is to win by knockout, technical knockout or an opponent's submission.

Punches and kicks to parts of the head and body are hallmarks of the rough and tumble bouts, as are choke and arm holds that can cause an opponent to lose consciousness or cause joint damage. Pummelling the back of the head, the spine or groin of an opponent is a definite no-no, but a blow to the temple would be a legitimate hit.

And the risk of concussion -- particularly multiple concussions over time -- is the injury that most worries doctors.

link to entire article http://www.tsn.ca/mma/story/?id=331037 

 With the major announcement that MMA will be sanctioned in Ontario will CMA cause any problems or even worse get MMA in Canada banned? CMA has been trying to ban boxing since 2001 and though they had little success MMA is a sport with many critics and stopping something that has not been established they may have more success with.  I can't see them stopping the bigger organizations myself? But with new regulations the smaller organizations may not be able to afford the cost that may come from new regulations?