Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on May 30, 2007, to allow "ultimate fighting championships" or "mixed martial arts" events, which are defined as unarmed combat involving a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts including grappling, kicking, jujitsu, and striking. The bill revises the existing fees, licensure standards and regulations on boxing matches to incorporate ones for these events

The vote was 94 in favor, 14 opposed and 2 not voting

(House Roll Call 269 at House Journal 73)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Bieda, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: "Mr. Speaker and members of the House: After much consideration, I voted 'no' on House Bills 4869 and 4870 because I do not believe this change in the law either benefits society, nor advances the culture of our state. I would not feel comfortable with children being exposed to this type of violence, and I sincerely believe that a civilized society would not recognize this as a legitimate sport. 'Ultimate Fighting Championships' glorify violence, and appeal to the baser instincts of human nature. I know the long-term as well as the short term health risks of more traditional fighting sports such as boxing, and I am sincerely concerned with expanding our definition of sport to include this type of activity. Because of these concerns I voted 'no' on both bills."

Mr. B doesn't know what he's talking about. I hope you read this. There has NEVER been a death or serious injury in a MMA fight. There have been several deaths in boxing. Of course there have been cuts and broken bones, but it pales in comparison to the severe head injuries and death that results from boxing. As a MMA fan, I'll remember this vote when its time to vote.

I find it both sad and disturbing when elected officials, such as Rep. Bieda, take such an uninformed and uneducated view. It makes you wonder what other issues that they feel they do not need to understand before voting on.

You mental morons want to outlaw smoking to keep us healthy and at the same time you want to put two guys in a cage to kick the schit out of each other???????Time for a parttime government NOW

I am a Warren resident and I am saddened and appalled by Mr Bieda's statement. Rep. Bieda's comments clearly indicate his lack of support for a citizen's freedom of choice. Mr Bieda, if a parent believes that a particular form of entertainment is too brutal to expose to their children, then it is up to that parent to censor it from their children...it's NOT 'big brother's' job to censor it for everybody else! Mr Bieda, perhaps you believe that your constituents are too stupid to decide for themselves what they choose to expose themselves to? Mr Bieda, have you ever heard of a channel selector on a TV remote control? Mr Bieda, SOME people view high school & college free-style wrestling as being too brutal & dangerous...according to your logic then, I guess that wrestling should be outlawed. Mr Bieda, SOME people view high school & college & pro football as being too brutal...according to your logic then, I guess that football should be outlawed. Rep. Bieda, you are clearly out of touch with what it means to live in a FREE society where each individual has the right to decide for themselves what they choose to view/participate in! I will remember this come election time.

just scream "PART-TIME LEGISLATURE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!" ...

The bill sets up a monopoly for the UFC as it does not provide any regulation of amateur mma and also sets high bonds, etc so that only large corporations like the UFC can do business.... the bill went through due to large donations made by lobbyists for the UFC.. this bill also does nothing to protect the fighters as its insurance is set at 1/10th the rate for pro boxing.....

I am a huge MMA fan and hope to be a fighter soon i came across this looking for a small show and discovered it a banned sport.. How disgusting is it when somebody can tell you a mildly tempered individual that you cannot engage in something that is of a basic human nature "in their language satan's will" because their ignorant archaic faiths of horrible deitys that slaughter homosexuals and whole citys tell them its not right.you guys dont have the heart to step in the cage and control opponents so you control citizen

go to sherdog, read about sam in texas.... devastating... so much for that argument

Senator Van Woerkom, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of House Bill No.4869 and moved that the statement he made during the discussion of the bill be printed as his reasons for voting "no." The motion prevailed. Senator Van Woerkom's statement is as follows: I am concerned about the direction we are going in, in the name of sport. Even though we do allow boxing, we allow karate. We allow different types of martial arts here in the state of Michigan. I have seen some of these matches and they are pretty rough. I would just as soon draw the line, I guess, where we are at. I am concerned where the direction is going to be five or ten years from now. If we do this, what do we do next to be entertained? We have hockey, we have football, and we have boxing--all of those have afforded the opponents many injuries, even some deaths. With this sport, there has been a death, on November 30, from a martial arts entertainer, who had a blood clot down in Texas. The reaction in the newspaper was, "Well, you know the promoter had a license from the state of Texas and this is just one of the outcomes." I guess we can expect that from a sport like this. I would say let's draw the line here in the state of Michigan. If they want to do it in other states, fine. I know it's almost heresy here to say let's not take those kinds of jobs here in the state of Michigan. I guess it is, in fact, a jobs killer if we don't take those jobs here in Michigan. I say let's draw the line. Let's not bring this to our state.