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Age for amateur fights could be lowered

Jan 29, 2018 | 8:43 PM

Amateur fights have been allowed to take place in Grande Prairie for just over a year and the Combative Sports Commission would like to tweak the bylaw.

They are hoping to bump the minimum age for amateur MMA bouts to 16-years-old from the cap of 18-years-old that it is now. Kevin O’Toole, Chair of the Commission and City Councillor, explains the proposed change would bring the Swan City in line with others in the province and across the country. 

“There is a standard age that everyone sort of follows and we [are] just up a little bit higher than that. Individuals that were competing in other provinces could do it at 16. They couldn’t come to Grande Prairie.” 

This will give fighters an opportunity to get experience when they are younger, according to O’Toole.

“To get at this early in the competition world, they need to be in the ring and compete. Sixteen years of age is an acceptable age. They still have to meet all the criteria that they would if they were professional.”

The minimum age for pro fights is 18-years-old and will be staying at that age. 

Mixed martial arts fights were legalized in Canada in 2013, but the decision to have amateur fights was left up to the provinces. Alberta left the decision up to municipalities on what they wanted to regulate, and Grande Prairie decided to allow these type of fights in December 2016