Is It Enough?

WaPo did an article on MMA and the UFC a couple days back. A bit of it really caught my eye.

Mixed martial arts still faces the stigma of being lumped with the old toughman contests and the old UFC events, which were less structured and regulated than they are today. And there is a fear that, as mixed martial arts spreads via hundreds of local shows around the country, an accident during a fight could have a devastating effect on the industry.
Ratner has been going around the country, meeting with state officials in various jurisdictions to get mixed martial arts licensed and regulated.
"Pennsylvania just came on board," Ratner said. "They still have to adopt regulations, but they have approved the sport to regulate. We are having bills introduced in Michigan and Illinois in the next week to 10 days...."

He's going to introduce a bill into the legislature in the next two weeks. While this is a step in the right direction and I thank Ratner for stepping in, I really have to ask...is that enough? Just introducing a bill and see if it sticks? And once it does pass, what are we going to do between the time of legalizing and regulation? I know there are real itchy fingers who will look for any and all loopholes to make a profit off it when ever possible. Yes Mr. Dore. I am looking in your direction.

Another thing that worries me is if we do get this regulated, how smart would the MSAC be in handling such events. As I have shown, the same people who have shut down Dore's illegal activity and have started proceedings to stop MMA in Michigan had a picture of Tito Ortiz on their homepage. That either tells me that MSAC fully welcomes MMA or that someone really doesn't know how to build a page for athletic commissions. How are we supposed to trust these guys to be sure they won't pull an Ebersol situation? I really don't like going up north to have to talk down to a lot of boxing officials just because they suspended a fighter indefinitely based on the evidence that the Anaconda choke looks "hokey".

Here's what I like to see. Ratner sends the bill. If it doesn't pass, fine. If it does, I want to see a moratorium on all Amateur MMA events until a regulating party can be formed and educated on the basics of running and licensing MMA events. Anyone who tries to run a show will loose licence privileges and will have to pay a thousand dollar fine. This will make sure nothing happens until such a time the commission is ready.

That's just me though.