The province’s decision to step into the cage and allow Mixed Martial Arts events in Ontario has local fighters ready to fight for hometown crowds as early as next year says a local gym owner.
The Saturday decision by the Ontario government to allow MMA fights in the province by 2011 means big things for markets like Toronto but with the sport’s raging popularity in Thunder Bay, it also gives Matt Richer’s six local fighters a chance to stay closer to home. Richer, head coach and owner of Leading Edge Gym said in 45 fights since 2007, local fighters have had to travel from Edmonton to Quebec and the Northern U.S. to get their names out there.
"You’re always the guy coming into someone else’s hometown," Richer said. "It’ll be really neat to fight closer to home for sure."
With all of the pressure being put on the province to allow MMA and Ontario fight fans being one the largest consumers of MMA in the world, Richer said it was only a matter of time before the province submitted but he didn’t think it would be so soon.
"I knew it would happen but we’re really excited," Richer said.
Although comparisons such as "human cockfighting" have already been made by MMA opponents, Richer said the sport has come a long way since its beginnings in the early '90s.
Ontario has been cautious with its decision and Richer said the sport is heavily regulated now with fighter safety being the top priority. From numerous medical tests, highly trained officials and weight restrictions, Richer said he guarantees the province will ensure safe fights.
"You don’t see the street fighter walking in and fighting the wrestler anymore these guys are highly highly skilled," Richer said. "You can guarantee that they’re (Ontario) going to have a great commission in place with lots of safeguards."
In his gym’s 45 fight history, Richer said the worst injuries he’s experienced are black eyes and broken noses.
Local fighter Matt Veal has been travelling from Wisconsin to Alberta in his 11-fight career. He said with Saturday’s decision he can’t wait to fight for a hometown crowd. Veal, who’s mother still hasn’t accepted his career choice, said Ontario fighters will now have more opportunity.
Although there are thousands of Ontario hopefuls, Veal said currently out-of-province promoters don’t like to take a chance with their wallet getting Ontario fighters to their events. Veal said he’s happy the province has decided to get on board with the popular sport.
"I think it’s just jumping on the train that’s left the station quite a while ago. Everybody’s seen that there’s a lot of money behind mixed martial arts it’s a huge draw everybody’s going crazy for it," Veal said. " You can’t walk down the street without seeing somebody wearing some type of mixed martial art affiliated T-shirt."
Nathan Gunn agrees.
Gunn, who’s been fighting for almost three years, said he knows Thunder Bay would jump at the chance to host an MMA event. Even Thunder Bay’s hockey obsession has had a violent history sometimes he said.
"I think it would be great I know the public in Thunder Bay would go nuts over an event like this in town," Gunn said.
"You just look back to the days of the Thunder Cats and teams like that where people would spend fortunes in a year just to watch (Mel) Anglestad and (Bruce) Ramsay fight….When you actually have an event that’s basically one person fighting another person in a sport that’s regulated and safe the population of Thunder Bay would support it."
Gunn said the amount of people training for MMA in Ontario is "astronomical". And while some people don’t think the sport has been accepted, UFC pay-per-view fights selling out local bars prove otherwise.
"I think it’s been accepted by the general sporting public it’s just more or less the people who haven’t been opened up to the actual sport itself they just hear what’s been portrayed in the media and things like that which is usually unfortunately only the negative ends of it."
While big markets like Toronto are expected to rake in $6 million from large UFC events, Richer said Thunder Bay will get its fair share of events too. Promoters from places like Alberta and Manitoba are already looking at places like Thunder Bay to host events he added.
"There’s almost a rush on to start booking places right now so I’m pretty sure you’ll see it next year," Richer said.
Some have complained that high insurance costs will prohibit smaller organizations that would come to Thunder Bay from hosting events. But Richer said those costs will help keep "fly-by-night" promoters, something he’s experienced in the U.S.
"You don’t want the guy who doesn’t care about the fighter or the sport and is only in it for the money," Richer said. "When you do have that kind of liability and the insurance needed those guys are weeded out and you will see more of the legitimate organizations that have a good track record."
And with the possibility of a new multiplex arena in the city, Richer said those legitimate promoters will jump at the chance to bring MMA events to Thunder Bay.
The Saturday decision by the Ontario government to allow MMA fights in the province by 2011 means big things for markets like Toronto but with the sport’s raging popularity in Thunder Bay, it also gives Matt Richer’s six local fighters a chance to stay closer to home. Richer, head coach and owner of Leading Edge Gym said in 45 fights since 2007, local fighters have had to travel from Edmonton to Quebec and the Northern U.S. to get their names out there.
"You’re always the guy coming into someone else’s hometown," Richer said. "It’ll be really neat to fight closer to home for sure."
With all of the pressure being put on the province to allow MMA and Ontario fight fans being one the largest consumers of MMA in the world, Richer said it was only a matter of time before the province submitted but he didn’t think it would be so soon.
"I knew it would happen but we’re really excited," Richer said.
Although comparisons such as "human cockfighting" have already been made by MMA opponents, Richer said the sport has come a long way since its beginnings in the early '90s.
Ontario has been cautious with its decision and Richer said the sport is heavily regulated now with fighter safety being the top priority. From numerous medical tests, highly trained officials and weight restrictions, Richer said he guarantees the province will ensure safe fights.
"You don’t see the street fighter walking in and fighting the wrestler anymore these guys are highly highly skilled," Richer said. "You can guarantee that they’re (Ontario) going to have a great commission in place with lots of safeguards."
In his gym’s 45 fight history, Richer said the worst injuries he’s experienced are black eyes and broken noses.
Local fighter Matt Veal has been travelling from Wisconsin to Alberta in his 11-fight career. He said with Saturday’s decision he can’t wait to fight for a hometown crowd. Veal, who’s mother still hasn’t accepted his career choice, said Ontario fighters will now have more opportunity.
Although there are thousands of Ontario hopefuls, Veal said currently out-of-province promoters don’t like to take a chance with their wallet getting Ontario fighters to their events. Veal said he’s happy the province has decided to get on board with the popular sport.
"I think it’s just jumping on the train that’s left the station quite a while ago. Everybody’s seen that there’s a lot of money behind mixed martial arts it’s a huge draw everybody’s going crazy for it," Veal said. " You can’t walk down the street without seeing somebody wearing some type of mixed martial art affiliated T-shirt."
Nathan Gunn agrees.
Gunn, who’s been fighting for almost three years, said he knows Thunder Bay would jump at the chance to host an MMA event. Even Thunder Bay’s hockey obsession has had a violent history sometimes he said.
"I think it would be great I know the public in Thunder Bay would go nuts over an event like this in town," Gunn said.
"You just look back to the days of the Thunder Cats and teams like that where people would spend fortunes in a year just to watch (Mel) Anglestad and (Bruce) Ramsay fight….When you actually have an event that’s basically one person fighting another person in a sport that’s regulated and safe the population of Thunder Bay would support it."
Gunn said the amount of people training for MMA in Ontario is "astronomical". And while some people don’t think the sport has been accepted, UFC pay-per-view fights selling out local bars prove otherwise.
"I think it’s been accepted by the general sporting public it’s just more or less the people who haven’t been opened up to the actual sport itself they just hear what’s been portrayed in the media and things like that which is usually unfortunately only the negative ends of it."
While big markets like Toronto are expected to rake in $6 million from large UFC events, Richer said Thunder Bay will get its fair share of events too. Promoters from places like Alberta and Manitoba are already looking at places like Thunder Bay to host events he added.
"There’s almost a rush on to start booking places right now so I’m pretty sure you’ll see it next year," Richer said.
Some have complained that high insurance costs will prohibit smaller organizations that would come to Thunder Bay from hosting events. But Richer said those costs will help keep "fly-by-night" promoters, something he’s experienced in the U.S.
"You don’t want the guy who doesn’t care about the fighter or the sport and is only in it for the money," Richer said. "When you do have that kind of liability and the insurance needed those guys are weeded out and you will see more of the legitimate organizations that have a good track record."
And with the possibility of a new multiplex arena in the city, Richer said those legitimate promoters will jump at the chance to bring MMA events to Thunder Bay.
