Cage fighting will remain legal in Victoria if Coalition wins state election

Cage fighting will remain legal in Victoria if the Coalition wins the state election, with Matthew Guy set to reverse his party’s opposition to the controversial events.

Cage fighting will remain legal in Victoria if the Coalition wins the state election, with Matthew Guy set to reverse his party’s opposition to the controversial events.

The Herald Sun understands a Liberal/Nationals government would not seek to reinstate a statewide ban on the enclosed “octagon” ring used for Mixed Martial Arts.

In 2014, the Liberal Party campaigned against legalised cage fights, saying such events risked “glamorising” violence.

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But Labor’s Sports Minister John Eren said holding legal mixed martial arts events in the octagon reduced injury risks compared with holding them in boxing rings.

Ultimate Fighting Championship events have been held in Melbourne this term, including a bout between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm that saw 56,000 fans flock to Etihad Stadium.

UFC international senior vice president David Shaw welcomed the Liberal move.

Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm’s bout saw 56,000 fans flock to Etihad Stadium. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“Athletes’ health and safety is UFC’s foremost priority, so we are pleased to see bipartisan government support in Victoria to best serve athletes competing and training in all forms of mixed martial arts,’’ he said.

Despite the Victorian Liberal Party’s initial opposition to use of the “octagon” enclosure used in UFC, Mr Shaw said the sport had become a hit in Victoria.

“As a result of Victoria amending its regulation of MMA to a worldwide standard, Melbourne has since played host to the largest UFC event in its history with 56,214 fans filling Etihad Stadium for UFC 193 in 2015,’’ he said.

Mr Shaw said the event delivered more than $100 million dollars in total economic impact to the state’s economy.

UFC will return to Melbourne for the third time in February with a capacity crowd expected at Rod Laver Arena.

Labor’s promise to lift the cage fighting ban it established in 2008 was popular with swinging votes in outer suburban seats in 2014 — seats the Coalition needs to win to form government this year.

The Liberal backflip is likely to spark controversy in some party branches, and comes as the Coalition wages a war on violent crime.

Retired police chief Ken Lay once branded cage fighting as “extreme violence masquerading as entertainment”, and doctors group the Australian Medical Association has slammed events as dangerous because of the risks of traumatic head injuries.

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