Ont. Premier ‘Tapping Out’ Of Fight Over Mixed Martial Arts
Posted March 23, 2010 5:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’s “tapping out” of the fight on mixed martial arts in Ontario.
The embattled premier has been on the ropes for weeks over his refusal to sanction the popular sport in Ontario, which supporters say would boost the province’s troubled economy and tourism industry.
The debate over MMA is a “distraction” and allowing the sport just isn’t on his agenda right now, McGuinty said.
“If I was to knock on 1,000 Ontario family doors and ask them for their top three concerns, I’d be surprised if anybody said, ‘Well, my top three, one of those is we gotta start this new kind of mixed martial arts in Ontario – that’s going to mean a lot for me and my family and our future together,”‘ he said.
“So it’s just not a priority for our families, so it’s not a priority for me.”
There are more important issues the governing Liberals must focus on, such as harmonizing sales taxes and developing clean-water technology, McGuinty added.
“In ultimate fighting, you can tap out,” he said. “I’m tapping out on this.”
Fans were quick to condemn McGuinty’s decision, with some saying it could cost him the next election in 2011.
“Its more like McGuinty is tapping out of office,” sneered one poster on TSN.ca.
Wrote another: “The way this is dragging on the UFC will be visiting the Vatican before Toronto.”
“Who gives up millions like that?” wrote one fan. “Why doesn’t he ask the people what they want instead of assuming?”
MMA matches are already allowed in five other provinces and 41 states, said Opposition Leader Tim Hudak.
“I just think this reflects a premier who is hanging around an elite crowd and is dramatically out-of-touch with what is the fastest growing spectator sport in North America,” he said.
“You can’t get into a sports pub when there’s a UFC event on. If I were premier, this would’ve happened by now.”
UFC president Dana White was expected to remind the provincial Liberals about the popularity of the sport during a question-and-answer session in Toronto on Tuesday.
Mixed martial arts matches are permitted by provincial athletic commissions in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba. Municipal athletic commissions in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Prince George, B.C., and several other B.C. communities also sanction MMA events.
Ontario residents have to travel to Montreal or Vancouver if they want to attend matches of the sport, which combines elements of fighting sports such as boxing, wrestling, kick-boxing, karate and jiu-jitsu.
