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Adding to the growing list of states now regulating mixed martial arts, Pennsylvania officially ratified the rules and regulations governing and allowing the participation of the sport, which will officially go into effect on Feb. 27, 2009.
The state passed the regulations to allow the sport in July 2007, but they had to undergo review and be ratified. Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes made the ruling official on Monday.
"I commend the work of the State Athletic Commission on the regulations," he said in a press release. "These efforts will ensure licensing and testing of participants for communicable diseases, as well as require emergency medical care and insurance for participants. Regulation of the sport also will help ensure that events are orderly and crowd control is maintained."
Cortes also noted that the sport of mixed martial arts has heavily sought regulation and the state of Pennsylvania adds to the growing list of areas in the United States that permit MMA.
In the statement from the commission, the state expects to regulate four to five MMA events per month, which could generate as much as $80,000 in revenue for the commission per year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission currently receives no taxpayer dollars from the state's general fund.
The state will require specific rules when it comes to fighter safety including that all combatants must participate in a pre-fight medical screening by a commission approved doctor, and that insurance is required for all fighters and referees in the events. All fighters must be at least 18 years of age, and other testing may be required for athletes participating in the events, particularly for anyone over the age of 36.
The other rules, such as cage or ring size, are standard with most other athletic commissions currently regulating the sport. The state will govern under the standard unified rules of mixed martial arts used in other states such as Nevada and New Jersey.
The state of Pennsylvania is an obvious target for many MMA promoters looking to move into sports heavy cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Many top ranked fighters hail from the state, including top five lightweight Eddie Alvarez, who trains just outside of Philadelphia and others like Josh Koscheck, who is from the state and wrestled at Edinboro College in Pennsylvania.
Also of note is the opening of the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the 2010-2011 NHL season. The arena will serve as home to the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and could be a home to big time MMA shows such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, or Affliction.
Adding to the growing list of states now regulating mixed martial arts, Pennsylvania officially ratified the rules and regulations governing and allowing the participation of the sport, which will officially go into effect on Feb. 27, 2009.
The state passed the regulations to allow the sport in July 2007, but they had to undergo review and be ratified. Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes made the ruling official on Monday.
"I commend the work of the State Athletic Commission on the regulations," he said in a press release. "These efforts will ensure licensing and testing of participants for communicable diseases, as well as require emergency medical care and insurance for participants. Regulation of the sport also will help ensure that events are orderly and crowd control is maintained."
Cortes also noted that the sport of mixed martial arts has heavily sought regulation and the state of Pennsylvania adds to the growing list of areas in the United States that permit MMA.
In the statement from the commission, the state expects to regulate four to five MMA events per month, which could generate as much as $80,000 in revenue for the commission per year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission currently receives no taxpayer dollars from the state's general fund.
The state will require specific rules when it comes to fighter safety including that all combatants must participate in a pre-fight medical screening by a commission approved doctor, and that insurance is required for all fighters and referees in the events. All fighters must be at least 18 years of age, and other testing may be required for athletes participating in the events, particularly for anyone over the age of 36.
The other rules, such as cage or ring size, are standard with most other athletic commissions currently regulating the sport. The state will govern under the standard unified rules of mixed martial arts used in other states such as Nevada and New Jersey.
The state of Pennsylvania is an obvious target for many MMA promoters looking to move into sports heavy cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Many top ranked fighters hail from the state, including top five lightweight Eddie Alvarez, who trains just outside of Philadelphia and others like Josh Koscheck, who is from the state and wrestled at Edinboro College in Pennsylvania.
Also of note is the opening of the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the 2010-2011 NHL season. The arena will serve as home to the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and could be a home to big time MMA shows such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, or Affliction.
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