Michigan House Bill regulates amateur mixed martial arts fights

Amateur mixed martial arts fights may soon be regulated by the state. A bill introduced to the Michigan House would require both promoters and fighters to be licensed by the state. The bill would also create a commission to enforce the rules and investigate complaints.

State Representative Dave Agema introduced the bill. He says he wants to make sure mixed martial arts fights are safe for everyone involved:

“If he does it in Grand Rapids or Detroit, the rules are the same, you’re going make sure that you have a qualified referee who knows when to stop the fight, a qualified time keeper and to make sure there’s a doctor present. And these people have some kind of basic insurance so if these kids get hurt, they can go to the hospital.”

Todd Allee is the owner of Mash Gym in Redford, a school for mixed martial arts. He says changes should be made to amateur mixed martial arts fights, but doesn’t think the state should do it:

“They would make blood work mandatory, maybe certain medicals mandatory. They would make insurance mandatory to have. Which, that would out price a lot of these other small scale shows. And I think that’s a good thing to a certain extent, but I would like it to be regulated by a body of just people involved in the sport.”

Allee estimates there are at least six amateur mixed martial arts fights a week in Michigan.

Professional mixed martial arts fights are already regulated by the state.

-Bridget Bodnar, Michigan Radio News