After three successful events in Sydney over the last three years, fight fans in Melbourne are ready for their chance to welcome the UFC Octagon.
Unfortunately, that is not a possibility right now due to a government ban. But rather than just continue to lament the situation, we’re ready to present you with a potential means to change things.
UFC Australia has put together a little information pack explaining the current landscape in the State of Victoria, and how you can get involved in trying to help convince the government to lift the ban.
Being the concerned, caring lot that we are here at The Roar, I thought we should pass it along.
And don’t think for a moment that your individual tweet and effort will go unnoticed.
In the last two years, I’ve seen both my home province of Ontario and the province I currently live in, British Columbia, both yield to public pressure and change their stance on the sport of mixed martial arts.
Take the time to read the material below, and follow the directions on how to help bring the UFC to Melbourne!
BRING THE UFC TO MELBOURNE
The Facts
The Minister for Sport and Recreation for the State of Victoria is stopping the Ultimate Fighting Championship® from staging UFC® events in Melbourne – Australia’s sporting capital.
The Government is sticking to a ban that was introduced four years ago, a ban that was implemented without consulting the Government’s own regulator, the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board.
The ban is out of date and it is time for the Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Honourable Hugh Delahunty, to review it in the interests of fighter safety as well as giving UFC fans the chance to see our favourite sport in our favourite city.
The UFC is committed to providing the safest possible environment for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events.
Under current Victorian rules, MMA contests are being staged in traditional rings where there is a risk of fighters falling through the ropes, being thrown over the ropes, sliding or being forced under the ropes and possibly even becoming entangled in the ropes.
This does not occur in a fenced-in structure, such as the UFC’s trademarked Octagon.
In addition, UFC fighters are given more care and precaution than athletes in any other sports organisation in the world.
The UFC makes every effort towards athlete safety, from medical and drug testing, to weight classes to prevent mismatches, having trained referees and judges, consistent rules, standardised rounds, approved gloves and many other elements necessary to protect the health and safety of the UFC’s athletes
The UFC is urging the Victorian Government to hold an independent inquiry into the ban on staging MMA bouts in fenced-in structures.
What you can do?
Show your support by writing to the Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon Hugh Delahunty.
Dear Minister,
I request you take whatever steps are necessary to review the ban on the use of a fenced-in structure in the sport known as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Contact details
The Hon. Hugh Delahunty
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Level 22, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne
Victoria, 3000
Fax: 03 9096 3611
hugh.delahunty@parliament.vic.gov.au
http://au.ufc.com/victoria
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