MMA legal in which states now?

[LeeCasebolt]

I don't know a full list, but I know it's legal in the following states:

Texas
Mississippi
Louisiana
Nevada
California

You can add Iowa, Illinois, Missouri (amateur only, I believe), Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington to that list, just off the top of my head.

[GeneChing]

So this article gave me an excuse to ttt this thread. I'm still curious. Now I'm also curious to know what the legal status of amateur MMA fights is in other states too.

Anyone?

Amateur mixed martial arts shows illegal in state
By DENNIS TAYLOR
Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/26/2008 10:03:39 AM PST

Salinas promoter Michael MacNeill said Friday that today's amateur mixed martial arts show at Palma High was shut down in a 11th-hour ruling from California State Athletic Commission chief Armando Garcia, who told him amateur MMA shows are illegal in California.

The ruling, he said, came as a complete surprise particularly since he has staged previous amateur MMA shows in California with the blessing of the commission — and also because he had received a green light for this show from another commission official.

"We had received full approval from (commissioner) Frank Munoz, who was familiar with the other shows I've done," MacNeill said. "Frank said we had done a great job in our other shows, followed all the rules, and he sanctioned us for this one.

"But Armando Garcia called me Thursday, said the show was illegal, and told me he was pulling the plug. This was going to be a very safe event, with full headgear and protective equipment, no knees or kicks to the head ... we were taking every precaution. I respect Armando — he's just doing his job — but I wish he hadn't waited until two days before my show to make his ruling."

The event, more than two months in the planning, would have featured about a dozen MMA bouts, featuring fighters from 18-35 years old representing most of the martial arts academies from Central California, the Bay Area and as far away as Denver.

MacNeill said 1,400 people had purchased advance tickets, and he had invested more than $6,000 in the promotion that cannot be recovered.

"People who bought tickets can get a full refund at the place of purchase," said MacNeill, who plans to obtain a license to promote professional shows in the coming months. "We're honest people and they're all going to get their money back. We tried very hard to make this happen, and I want people to understand that (the cancellation) wasn't my fault."

· MMA promoter Michael MacNeill, IBF world cruiserweight champion Steve "USS" Cunningham, and Salinas junior welterweight contender Jesus "Chuy" Rodriguez will be this week's guests on The Ringside Boxing Show, which airs from 9-10 a.m. every Sunday on KNRY 1240-AM and www.knry.com. Listeners may join the conversation by calling 373-1234 or 1-800-887-3414.

The show is co-hosted by Dave Marzetti and Herald boxing columnist Dennis Taylor.

[1bad65]

Amateur MMA is legal in Texas.

[GeneChing]

Ain't drivin' w/an open container of beer and citizen's packing pistols legal in Texas too?

[1bad65]

Open containers are illegal. You can carry concealed handguns here, but only legally with a CCW permit.

[brothernumber9]

Is it just amateur events that are illegal in California? Because I could have sworn that Showtime Elite XC has had atleast a couple Strikeforce events in San Jose, and isn't that where they are trying to hold the Cung Le, Frank Shamrock fight?

P.S. MMA events are legal in Maryland too.

[lkfmdc]

amateur vs pro

In a lot of states, the original legislations banned amateur MMA. that was because people were promoting amateur MMA the same as professional, minus the pay, the medical requirments and the safety features (medical staff on site, etc). Obviously, just calling it "amateur" but it being the same as pro wasn't going to fly

The USKBA introduced a set of amateur MMA rules first in NJ. They were patterned after the amateur Shooto rules from Japan. They were sold like boxing, ie amateur boxing has headgear and different rules for fighter safety. It won acceptance in NJ (where amateur had been illegal) and then won acceptance in a great number of states and in several tribal casinos. I think their version of amateur MMA will be the future... a way to build up fighters who can THEN go pro