Hawaii and Indiana Become Latest States to Regulate MMA
Hawaii and Indiana have both begun to regulate mixed martial arts this week, boosting the number of states which officially sanction the sport to 39.
Pennsylvania also began regulating MMA in recent months, with Pittsburgh’s first event taking place last weekend and the UFC’s “Keystone State” debut slated for August 8 with UFC 101 in Philadelphia.
One of the last major holdouts on the list of 11 states which have yet to legalize the sport is New York. Though a bill to regulate MMA is making progress in the state’s legislature, it won’t be until next year at the earliest until it could be approved with the first UFC event in the state unlikely until 2011.
A UFC event in Indianapolis, Indiana appears most-likely with the new regulation now in place, with an event in Hawaii, the home state of UFC lightweight champ BJ Penn, likely on hold for the time being due to steep taxes and fees that accompany the state’s regulation.
Un-sanctioned MMA events have been frequently held in both Indiana and Hawaii in the past, but the official regulation of MMA opens the doors for major promotions such as the UFC and Strikeforce to hold events in the states.
[Pictured: BJ Penn]
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good stuff!
Always glad to see more states jumping onto the MMA bandwagon. I have to confess I was unaware that MMA wasn’t sanctioned in Hawaii. I’ve been to 2 shows in Hawaii over the last few years, one of which an Icon deal, and they were really well run and put together. The promoting and presentation for those shows was very above board and professional, which surprises me considering the sport wasn’t legalized presumably until today. At the Icon show Frank Mir was there making an appearance and basically selling t-shirts, and was shaking hands and posing for pics with everyone. Great event in spite of its “legality”.
I’m assuming that we’ll see a Penn fight, possibly a title defense, somewhere down the line in Hawaii? Also, I’m thinking it would be awesome for Chris Lytle, a great MMA veteran, who I believe is an Indianapolis resident and fire fighter, to get to show his stuff in front of a hometown crowd.
Being an Indiana resident… this news ROCKS!!!
We’ve had small events here for some time. Dan Severn has put on shows and fought both in Ft Wayne and Lafayette that I know of. And Indiana has grown some great fighters like Chris Lytle and Jon Fitch. It will be awesome to be able to get to a UFC card without having to drive hours to do it!
BJ Penn for sure will headline the first Hawaii event, but he has to get passed Kenny Florian for it to be a title denfense.
Good point, MK4.
Question for the collective as a follow-up.
Does anyone out there think that Florian can beat Penn if BJ comes to the cage in shape, focused, and ready to go?
From everything I’ve seen and read, at 155 Penn basically beats himself with poor attitude, poor cardio, poor mindset, shady training camp, etc.
When he’s on, he’s ON, and it seems no one can touch him.
Agreed? Dissenting opinions?
I thin Florian has a chance, just like anyone else. I’m not sure how much of a chance, but it should be a good fight. Florian has really stepped up his game recently, and BJ is still basically the same, as good as that is. I’m not really sure where this fight will play out, if it will be on the feet or on the ground, and if on the ground who will take it there. Kenny is good on the ground, but I have to believe BJ is better. Kenny is good on his feet, but I still think BJ is better there as well, but we shall see about that.
I think it will be a good fight even if BJ is in the best shape of his life. I see Florian being very illusive and wiining the stand up exchanges taking Penn to the later rounds where he can put the pressure on him in an attempt to finish the fight or ride out a decision win. I think Florian wants this 10x more then Penn does and that will tell a huge tale come fight night.
Honestly I think Florian wins at least 7 out of 10 times against Penn. Even when Penn’s game is at its peak, which is hit and miss.
And that’s why that is YOUR opinon because I strongly disagree and well I just don’t see KenFlo beating Penn 70% of the time.. but hey to each their own I guess
i favor kenny in this even if bj “shows up”. kenny seems like he has the desire to be the best, and although bj has been blessed with amazing skills he doesnt push himself, until bj brings in better talent in his camp, or goes to another camp he will never be pushed to the limit and challenged. this was the same discussion we had leading up to the gsp superfight in januarary. bj didnt train hard for gsp, i highly doubt he will train hard for kenny. bj has a kid that he wants to spend time with and he takes days off of training to go hang at the beaches. we saw and heard that from multiple people leading to the gsp fight. kenny wins this in the 3rd by muay thai knees, and then a rear naked choke.
Wow chris i didnt even read your post until id finished mine Im with ya all the way dude. man it looks like i just copied your post lol. sorry man
Excellent call on Kenny by muay thai and a choke in the third. I think that is an outstanding realistic prediction. He could end it earlier if BJ looks past Kenny like he has done in the past or Kenny really pushes the pace and BJ gases.
BJ has actually spent at least some of his time training in Sacremento with Urijah Faber’s camp, and has brought some people in to help him train, including a KenFlo look alike (really).
As I said above, I think BJ will win. If Machida couldn’t beat finish BJ standing, I doubt KenFlo will, and there is no way I see KenFlo being able to GnP BJ the way that GSP did.
How do you see the fight playing out Justin? Cause im thinking Kenny by decision right now.
I doubt this fight will go to a decision. One of them will either T/KO the other or submit the other, and I think it will be BJ who is victorious.
Who do you see beating BJ then if ever?(at lightweight)
Not sure who I see beating BJ. I honestly haven’t seen anyone who I think can will beat him. There are people that can beat him, I think Kenny can beat him, Maynard can beat him, Sanchez can beat him, but will beat him is another story. Aoki or Joachim Hansen are the best lightweights not in the UFC and I don’t think either one of them would beat BJ either. (Since JZ and Alvarez have both lost to one or both of those two that’s why I ranked them higher, even though you might be able to throw Alvarez into the conversation.) Then you have to consider that neither of them are interested at all in joining the UFC, so that fight will probably never happen. Maybe one day Alvarez will join the UFC, and he may have the tools to beat BJ, but even that I’m not sure would happen.
Ya i could see Alavarez coming over to the UFC one day. Alot of great matchup possibilties there.
UFC coming to my home state Indiana, thats awesome!