Vancouver to decide on role in sanctioning ultimate fighting

Vancouver is considering whether it should continue to sanction hugely popular ultimate fighting and mixed-martial-arts contests in the city.

The risks associated with the sports may be more than the city's Athletic Commission wants to take on, municipal staff say in a report to citycouncil.

In the past, the events have been sanctioned by the Athletic Commission, which also controls and supervises professional boxing, kick-boxing and wrestling contests or exhibitions in the city.

The council will consider next week whether to changethe city'sposition on ultimate fightingin light oftheliabilities involved, said Patricia Doge, the city's director of risk management.

"The Vancouver Athletic Commission was started to do only boxing and wrestling, and now they're looking at a different type of sport," Doge told CBC News on Wednesday.

"It's up to council to make the decision about whether they want to broaden the scope of their authority in that area," she said.

There have been no serious injuries to any fighter in a city-sanctioned event, and Gerry Gionco, a boxing promoter in Vancouver, said he doesn't believe ultimate fighting is more dangerous than other contact sport.

"Then they are going to go after hockey because there's a real good chance guys can get hurt there," Gionco said. "And what about football … Half of those guys are crippled by the time they're finished."

Last week the British Medical Association called for a complete ban on ultimate fighting, saying the sport can cause traumatic brain injuries.