Legislation to increase the authority of the State Athletics Commission is now on the desk of Governor Dennis Daugaard. House Bill 1049 regulates Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA in South Dakota.
Cage Fighting, as it’s sometimes called, is becoming more popular in South Dakota. Some state residents are now professionals in the sport. The list includes former UFC fighter and Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar from Webster and Female Ultimate Fighter contestant Shayna Baszler from Sioux Falls.
Those backing HB 1049 say the sport needs to be regulated. Republican state Senator Dan Lederman says the legislation gives the athletic commission more authority and oversight. Lederman says last year the commission was created, but then set afloat without a rudder.
"What we didn’t do, is we didn’t give direction for the commission. We created the commission, we told them the main points of what we wanted handled. But we failed to give them the rule making authority and the guidance to go ahead and implement all the things that we wanted them to do, which was administer the rules and regulations of boxing and fighting in South Dakota," Senator Lederman says.
Lederman says this bill allows the commission to set prices, schedule events and layout proper guidelines for athlete’s health and safety. Governor Dennis Daugaard has spoken out against Mixed Martial Arts events in South Dakota. In the past Daugaard has criticized MMA for being too violent. He says he’ll review this new legislation thoroughly.
"It may be too that during the legislative process, opponents or concerns were raised that I hadn’t considered. So I always reserve the right to reconsider and understand positions in opposition to legislation and take those into account before I decide," Daugaard says.
Governor Daugaard says he supported the initial legislation so it’s all about reviewing the final bill and making sure no changes were made.
