Legalization
Biloxi, Mississipi, 1996
The first regulated MMA contest was held here; it was sanctioned by Mississipi's athletic commision and followed kickboxing rules. It was the first set of MMA to define foul moves.
Other states soon followed the lead.
Athletic Commisions
Athletic Commisions supervise each States' boxing, MMA, and professional wrestling activities. To hold a major sporting event, the promotion must have the commision of its state to approve.
New York, 2016, Today
NY is the only state whose athletic commision does not sanction MMA events. It turns out a powerful union is keeping MMA down. The Culinary Workers Union is unhappy that the principal owners of UFC who also own Station Casinos in Las Vegas do not belong to their union. The official reason is that the Athletic Commission of NY feels MMA is unsafe and the UFC has a monoploy on MMA.
Canada, 2013
Canada officially decriominalized MMA with Bill S-209. The bill allows Canadian provinces to set up athletic commisions to regulate MMA sporting events.