By Thomas Gerbasi
Home to the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks, Wisconsin will now welcome mixed martial arts to the fold after Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill into law Thursday that will now regulate MMA in this great sports state, which also doubles as the base for UFC fighters Eric Schafer (Fond Du Lac), Pat Barry (Milwaukee), Ben Rothwell (Kenosha), renowned trainer Duke Roufus, and WEC standouts Anthony Pettis (Milwaukee) and Jameel Massouh (Kenosha).
“We’re very excited that Wisconsin became the 43rd state to approve the sport of mixed martial arts,” said UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner. “We look forward to doing a show there in the next year, either in Milwaukee, Madison, or Green Bay. The process was very smooth and bodes well for the other five states that do not have the sport of MMA approved.”
Also in attendance for the signing were State Representative Pedro Colon, State Senator David Hansen and Wisconsin Boxing Commissioner Hector Colon. The five States with athletic commissions which have not regulated the sport are Alabama, West Virginia, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York, but the legislative process has begun in Alabama, West Virginia, and New York.
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