GREATER Saint John Telegraph Journal - News - Local News :: MMA promoter not giving up fight Ryan Melanson Telegraph-Journal 16 Jul 2013 11:00AM MMA SAINT JOHN – If everything goes the way he hopes, Ed Hoyt says Saint John will see live mixed martial arts coming to the city by January of next year. Hoyt, a local businessman, recently organized his first mixed martial arts event, with six fights, the crowning of his first heavyweight champion, and a hugely enthusiastic crowd. The only problem, Hoyt said, is that the fights weren’t held in the right city. “Right now, I’m giving business to Moncton, and I want to be doing this in Saint John.” The Atlantic Warriors MMA: Invasion card was held at the Moncton Lions Club on June 22, and their next event, through Hoyt’s Hoyco Productions, will be held in October at the same location. Hoyt attempted to put on his first fight card at the Lord Beaverbrook Rink last year, but was shut down due to a federal law that prohibited the fights unless regulated by a city commission established by a municipal bylaw, as is done in Moncton. A federal Senate Bill passed in June, however, gives provinces the ability to regulate the popular sport by establishing a province-wide commission, which will open the door to holding events in the Port City. Coun. Ray Strowbridge was disappointed to learn the city couldn’t legally hold a mixed martial arts bout last year, and says he’ll be fully supporting any efforts to move ahead, as long as it’s legal. “We’re a major centre here in the Maritimes, and the other major centres are having them. This is an extremely popular sport, so when I see other cities getting the revenues, and Saint John isn’t, that gets me interested.” Local clubs are also extremely interested in seeing MMA athletes competing in Saint John. Britt Nickerson Britt Nickerson is a co-owner and instructor at the Okuden Martial Arts Academy on Prince William Street. He said he’ll expect a boost to business if opportunities for fighters open up in the city. “Everytime this comes up in the news I get a huge inflow of people,” he said. Nickerson said the majority of New Brunswick athletes are amateur fighters, meaning they don’t get paid for competing. By having to cover their own expenses, many find difficulties in trying to compete in Moncton or Halifax. “I think people really want to be able to train and showcase their talent in the city they live in. There’s just not much opportunity here now,” he said. The sport was revived from its early days of no-rules cage fighting in 2001, when new owners began building up the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion to the mulit-billion dollar company it is today. Fighting men and women generally use a mix of traditional kickboxing, amateur wrestling, Brazilian ju-jitsu and a multitude of other styles to defeat opponents. Nickerson said he knows there’s a large fan base in the city, and expects to see any local MMA event draw big crowds. “At first at small venues like the LBR could be great, but I could see it quickly growing to the point where we could get Harbour Station packed with people.” The issue isn’t settled yet, though. For any fights to happen outside of Moncton, a provincial regulatory body still has to be established, which likely can’t happen until the legislature’s fall session. Hoyt said he’s quite confident he’ll see the legal framework and the regulatory body established by the end of the year. “I’ve actually met with some of the people who want to be on this commission, I’ve had some very positive conversations all the way up to the Premier’s office about this,” he said. Dave Vautour, a Richibucto RCMP officer, MMA coach and former professional kickboxer, said he’s been following the law and pushing for the sport’s legalization for years, and the new change has him excited. “I know first-hand the premier is very interested in this. I’ve emailed him several times, and he’s responded asking for follow up because he’s very serious about this occurring and wants it to happen,” said Vautour, adding there’s a knowledgeable and capable group of individuals, including RCMP officers, who want to sit on the commission. Hoyt said he’s been unimpressed with the way other promoters in Moncton have conducted their business, and hopes an official body will help make the sport more professional in the province, as well as letting him bring his events, and any economic benefit, to his home city. “If we legitimize it, it’s going to be a good thing for the sport, the athletes and it’s a good thing for the promoters too.”
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:24:57 +0000
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