MMA Expo BC Secures Approval for MMA Fights on the Show Floor
Press Release
March 17, 2010
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 14, 2010 – Mixed Martial Arts Expo, Inc. - The Original MMA Expo since 2005 – has obtained approval from the Abbotsford City Council to hold amateur mixed martial arts competitions on the show floor of MMA Expo taking place at the TRADEX Exhibition Centre on April 10-11.
MMA Expo founder and president, Gerald Chopik, and his British Columbia supporters are obviously pleased to have secured approval for this amateur card. “This is never an easy process”, said Chopik. “When you mention MMA to government officials there are often so many negative perceptions on the front-end that it takes time to deliver the necessary education as to how this sport really is conducted with competitor safety in mind, especially at the amateur level. And this is where our BC supporters did an outstanding job.”
As an Ontario-based company, MMA Expo relied heavy on BC-based relationships to present its proposal to Abbotsford City Council.
“The real credit for getting this done goes to The TRADEX Exhibition Centre, who from the very beginning saw no problem in adding this program to MMA Expo, and to the executives of the BC Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Association – specifically Paul Lazenby and Bill Mahood – who had already invested a tremendous amount of time developing a comprehensive set of rules and guidelines that clearly demonstrated amateur MMA competition is in fact a tightly controlled sport with fighter safety as its number one priority.”
Chopik also gives much of the Credit to the Abbotsford City Council and a final sign-off from the Abbotsford Police Department.
“Admittedly they were initially reserved about the concept. But to their credit they kept an open mind and took the time to meet with BCAMMAA representatives and other local authorities and concluded that so long as the event was conducted under BCAMMAA rules, we could proceed.”
The irony of an Ontario-based company getting an amateur card approved for MMA Expo in BC is not lost on Chopik. “We are obviously extremely pleased with Abbotsford’s decision. Allin it took about five weeks to see this through.”
And the Province of Ontario? According to Chopik, five years plus and counting.
“It really is incredible how far behind the times Ontario is on the legalization of MMA despite all of the lobbying and public opinion. Sadly, this scenario is no different than a number of other positions held by the province in the past. The best examples would be Ontario’s decades long and expensive battle with consumers against the right for Sunday shopping, and an option to have an alcoholic beverage with a meal. Years of protests! Retailers were fined tens of thousands of dollars! And then one morning the province woke up and said – ‘Hey! Why not.’ Can you imagine not having those options today? MMA is in the exact same position.”
Showdown Joe Ferraro, the National Mixed Martial Arts Analyst and host of Rogers Sportsnet’s “MMA Connected” was also pleased to hear the news.
“I am not surprised that the team of Bill Mahood, Paul Lazenby and Gerald Chopik was able to resolve this. And kudos to the Abbottsford council for listening to its constituents and keeping an open mind on Mixed Martial Arts. I firmly believe that it’s just a matter of time for Ontario officials to wake up, but in the meantime, two thumbs up to all of the other areas in the country that continue to embrace this incredible sport.”
Mixed martial arts is considered the fastest growing sport in North America and opening the door for more amateur competition is key to helping MMA practitioners hone their skills. For Chopik, adding MMA bouts to MMA Expo complements what was already a compelling weekend for MMA fans - Gi and NoGi Submission Grappling Tournaments, on-the-mat seminars, demonstrations, exhibitors with apparel, gear, equipment and nutrition, the MMA Expo Hotties, an MMA Referee and Judging Clinic, accredited fitness and conditioning seminars, MMA Fighter Tryouts and an ever-growing list of MMA celebrities.
For more information about MMA Expo BC visit www.MixedMartialArtsExpo.com and select Vancouver.
About BC Amateur MMA Association (BCAMMAA)
The BC Amateur MMA Association (BCAMMAA) has structured a multi-tiered classification system that allows martial artists to start at a level of competition that is appropriate to them, and to elevate that level only when their abilities warrant doing so. This improves upon the current system of placing aspiring fighters directly into full-contact competitions under the same conditions as much more experienced professionals. Any athlete competing in a BCAMMAA-sanctioned event will be required to wear gloves containing 50% more padding than those worn by pros, with the less-experienced amateurs also wearing padded shin/instep guards. Lower-level fighters will also be subject to a much more restrictive rules structure until they have shown that they can execute certain techniques with the required level of control. Refereeing will be more stringent than it is in the professional ranks, with fights being halted as soon as a fighter looks to be in distress and incapable of defending themselves. The BCAMMAA rules are specifically geared toward growing the sport of MMA by ensuring a safe and healthy environment for those who are just starting out as competitive athletes.
About Mixed Martial Arts Expo
The concept for MMA Expo came about as a result of president Gerald Chopik’s experience as a trade and consumer show producer and martial artist. Since its launch in 2005 Mixed Martial Arts Expo has hosted hundreds of exhibitors and martial arts instructors, and brought MMA fans together with many of the top names in the game including popular ring girl Arianny Celeste, PRIDE fighter Gary Goodridge, striking Coach and trainer of UFC Champions Sean Tompkins, UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn, James Irvin – record holder of the fastest KO in the UFC, current and former UFC fighters Ben Rothwell, Denis Kang, Jason MacDonald, Matt Hamill, Patrick Cote and Pete Sell, as well as former MMA champions Frank Trigg, Carlos Newton, Dan Henderson, Matt Serra, Andre Arlovsky and many more. Mixed Martial Arts Expo, LLC and Mixed Martial Arts Expo, Inc. operate in the USA and Canada respectively.
Media Contact and Exhibitor Inquiries:
Mixed Martial Arts Expo
President: Gerald Chopik at 905-677-5910 Ext. 222
gchopik@MixedMartialArtsExpo.com |
