Cage Ban Confirmed for Western Australia MMA

The Western Australian government has passed legislation for the cage to be banned for all local MMA fights as of March 1, 2013.

The government announced its intentions midway through January 2013, and Minister for Sports Terry Waldron confirmed the decision after the Department of Sports and Recreation commissioners met with promoters to inform them of the new law change. The decision was based upon “image” concerns, not on fighter safety.

“We just don’t want to see cage fighting in Western Australia,” Premier Colin Barnett said. “It’s been a policy decision of the state government.”

Director of UFC Operations in Australia Tom Wright was recently in Perth vowing against the ban. He said it’s only a matter of time until Perth hosts a big UFC event, and has 2014 in his sights.

“It’s okay if our sport is not your cup of tea. It’s okay if you don’t like it, but don’t say you don’t like it because there are no rules. Frankly, there are a a lot of rules,” Wright said. “I believe in time the government will change its policy.”

Western Australia now joins Victoria as the two states that ban fighting in a cage in Australia.

(Follow @AndrewPMMA on Twitter).

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