在此之前，安大略省和魁北克省曾一直把UFC终极格斗锦标赛划定为拳击比赛，以避免与法律发生冲突，而新通过的法案将可以使省级监管机构更好地管理专业和业余的格斗运动，更好地保护运动员的健康和安全。
一位体育评论家说，George St-Pierre等人是加拿大混合武术/格斗的大使，他们使混合武术/格斗成为越来越流行的运动。
加拿大医学协会一直反对把混合武术和拳击合法化，主要理由是这些运动带来的头部伤害。
UFC终极格斗锦标赛在世界范围内越来越成功，这是导致加拿大议会提出上述法案的主要原因。
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Commons passes law to legalize MMA, other contact sports
The House of Commons has passed a bill legalizing contact sports such as mixed martial arts.
The legislation, which originated in the Senate, takes certain fighting sports, including taekwondo and karate as well as the popular MMA, out of legal limbo.
The sports were not technically covered under prize-fighting law, making it difficult to regulate them and protect the safety of fighters.
Some provinces essentially turn a blind eye and allow MMA contests.
Senators and MPs who favoured the bill said it would end the staging of often-clandestine matches which don't come under any standards.
The bill passed the Commons easily with 267 MPs in favour and only nine opposed.
The Criminal Code section on prize-fighting was last changed in 1934, long before the rise of the new fighting sports.
Liberal Massimo Pacetti, who supported the bill, said it's an important move.
"We are laying the groundwork for the general acceptance of these sports across the country," he said during the debate.
Supporters say MMA bouts are no more dangerous than boxing matches. Others say they may be safer, because MMA fighters can quit when they want, while boxers tend to fight until there's a knockout or the referee steps in.
①Georges St-Pierre, from Montreal, celebrates after defeating Josh Koscheck, from Waynesburg, PA., with a unanimous decision to retain his welterweight title at UFC 124 Sunday, December 12, 2010. MPs have passed a Senate bill that will make mixed martial arts and other combative sports legal. (PC / Ryan Remiorz)
②xren, left, lands a blow to x-ren from the United States during their UFC 158 welterweight title fight in Montreal on March 16, 2013. (... / THE CANADIAN PRESS)