Hello everyone,
Here is the status of Amateur Mixed Martial Arts and Amateur Kickboxing in the Province of Manitoba.
In 2018, approximately 1700 people signed a petition addressed to the Manitoba Minister of Sport in favor of the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission (MCSC) regulating and sanctioning Amateur Mixed Martial Arts and Amateur Kickboxing in our province.
There were multiple meetings and discussions on Amateur Combat Sports between the MCSC and the Manitoba Minster of Sport’s office in late 2018 and early 2019.
On January 15, 2019, the Manitoba Minister of Sport ordered a public review of Sport Manitoba and the MCSC. The review was completed but has not been released to the public.
This is the Manitoba Governments position on Amateur Combat Sports:
From: “Benson, Michael C (SCH)” <Michael.Benson@gov.mb.ca>
Date: March 19, 2019 at 12:43:50 PM CDT
To: Giuseppe DeNatale
Cc: “Fingard, Joel (SCH)”
Subject: Amateur Combative Sports Commission
Dear Mr. DeNatale:
I am writing in response to the recent email and petition you submitted to the Honourable Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage. Your petition requesting that the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission (MCSC) regulate amateur combat sports in Manitoba was forwarded to the department’s Sport Secretariat for review and response.
Federal legislation has allowed the Manitoba government to recognize specific provincial combative sport organizations with jurisdiction and governance over their respective sports. Each of these recognized organizations have been granted the responsibility to sanction or regulate competitions or events in compliance with the legislation. At present no such organizations exist in Manitoba for amateur Kickboxing or Mixed Martial Arts.
The MCSC has the legislative authority to regulate and sanction professional combative sport competitions and athletes in Manitoba. At this time, the department’s position is that amateur combative sports are best served and represented by a provincial amateur sport organization.
If you would like more information about what is required to establish a provincial sport organization you can contact Janet McMahon, Director of Partner Funding with Sport Manitoba, at 204-926-8350 or by email at: janet.mcmahon@sportmanitoba.ca.
If you have further questions about the MCSC’s role or the legislation, I would encourage you to continue your dialogue with Joel Fingard.
Thank you for bringing your questions and concerns to the department’s attention.
Sincerely,
Mike Benson
Director, Sport Secretariat
Here are some facts about Mixed Martial Arts events in Manitoba:
Professional MMA was first regulated in our province in 2006. Pro MMA events were widely popular in Winnipeg and we had multiple events being held here yearly.
In June 2013, The UFC ran their first in Winnipeg which brought in a record setting gate at Bell MTS Place.
In September 2013, Canadian Fighting Championship ran their last event.
There were 2 other small events held in Winnipeg before The UFC came back in December 2017. That was the last Mixed Martial Arts event held in Winnipeg.
Mixed Martial Arts events in Manitoba are almost extinct:
Since the UFC first came to Winnipeg, MMA events have dwindled with only 5 events being held in 6 years. Something has be done, and many believe having an Amateur platform for young athletes to compete in Manitoba is the answer.
The MCSC is ready and willing to regulate and sanction Amateur Mixed Martial Arts immediately. We do not need a Provincial Sport Organization to regulate Amateur MMA in Manitoba. All that is needed are simple modifications to the Manitoba Combative Sports Act and Regulations.
To everyone who had signed the petition, or anyone who wants to see Amateur Mixed Martial Arts regulated in the Province of Manitoba, please let your voice be heard and RESPECTFULLY contact the Manitoba Minister of Sport: minsch@leg.gov.mb.ca, and our Premier directly at: premier@leg.gov.mb.ca
Thank You,
Giuseppe DeNatale
CFC Gym Winnipeg
