Count Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Pat Fiacco as one of those interested in seeing Ultimate Fighting Championship fights in Saskatchewan.
But Fiacco says, "in order for that to happen we need a combative sports commission, because it's categorized as prize fighting and it's illegal if you don't have a license."
Those involved with the sport of mixed martial arts have been calling for a commission to be set up to sanction professional fights and allow the UFC to hold events.
MMA is currently unsanctioned in Saskatchewan. That situation has prevented major professional MMA cards including the UFC from entering the province, although smaller amateur cards have been largely free to operate. One such amateur MMA card was the XCW Fighting Championship event held at North Battleford Civic Centre last year.
Hopes of attracting high-level MMA fights to the province were raised when UFC's director of Canadian operations Tom Wright was in Saskatchewan in March. Wright was looking into the possibility of bringing a UFC event to the province.
Fiacco told reporters at a Battlefords Tourism and Convention Association event last week he knows the province had been looking at ways "at which a commission could be developed, whether it is a provincial commission or whether it be a municipal commission."
He said his own interest stems from his involvement in amateur boxing.
"It's a big piece for us, because wearing my other hat with the International Boxing Association, we've now gone into pro boxing. And it's going to be important that many jurisdictions across Canada actually have a combative sports commission."
Fiacco expressed hope a commission could be set up in Saskatchewan soon. "As soon as that happens you might see something," said Fiacco.
As for a potential venue for a UFC event should it happen, Fiacco had his home city of Regina in mind.
"I'd love to see it in the new stadium", said Fiacco, "or obviously there are smaller MMA events that you don't have to worry about hosting them in a large centre, so you could easily host them here."
