The Illinois House of Representatives has voted to regulate mixed martial arts in the state, meaning an Ultimate Fighting Championship event could be held in Chicago as soon as this year.There are already small mixed martial arts shows in Illinois, but they're only conducted under special waivers, not sanctioned by the state's athletic commission. The legislature's action would legitimize the sport in the eyes of the state government, which is what UFC has pushed for.
Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs, described UFC as "bullish on bringing an event to Illinois by the end of the year." It sounds like it's going to happen soon.
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