MMA

Hawaii makes MMA official

Posted By MMA WW Staff on the Jun 29 2009

An island that's long had a tradition of prizefighting -- with some accompanying crowd melodrama that's sometimes turned public officials cool to the idea -- Hawaii has put up with MMA in the same manner as a neighbor might put up with a nuisance kid.

Effective Wednesday, the sport will be a sanctioned, licensed event with rules and regulations that mirror Nevada's.

Fighters, judges, referees, and promoters will now undergo a licensing application; blood and drug testing will be instituted; gate and pay-per-view receipts will be taxed.

All good news for the physical well-being of athletes, obviously -- and a likely boon for the UFC, which could see a B.J. Penn-headlined show in Hawaii become a tsunami of cash.

Source: Espn.com