| Arizona
Governor Janet Napolitano signed a law Monday that will
see the Arizona State Boxing Commission regulate mixed martial
arts with the adoption of the Unified Rules first initiated
in 2000 by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.
"I
am extremely pleased that we were able to agree on a bill
that will effectively promote commerce and bring a very
popular sport to the state," stated Rep. Jonathan Paton,
who sponsored the bill.
While
mixed martial arts events have been running for years in
Arizona, the uses of elbows and closed fist strikes on the
ground have been prohibited.
UFC
Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, who will open a Lion's Den in
Scottsdale on May 30, worked closely with members of the
legislature to sell them on the benefits of bringing the
sport at a professional level to Arizona.
The
rules will go into effect 90 days after the end of the legislative
session.
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