PEIPrize fighting in sports like boxing and mixed martial arts could be coming to P.E.I., as the province proposes to make some combat sport tournaments legal.’It should have been here a decade ago,’ says Charlottetown gym ownerRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 11, 2025 4:00 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.P.E.I. proposing legislation to make prize fighting in some combat sports legal in the provincePrize fighting in sports like boxing and mixed martial arts could be coming to P.E.I. Right now, it’s not allowed – but the province is looking at changing that. CBC’s Connor Lamont explains. Prize fighting in sports like boxing and mixed martial arts could be coming to P.E.I., as the province proposes to make some combat sport fighting competitions legal.P.E.I.’s criminal code bans prize fighting — when two people meet to fight with their hands or feet — in many cases. But the government is seeking public input on legislation that would regulate professional and amateur boxing, kick-boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA).Neighbouring provinces Nova Scotia and New Brunswick already allow tournaments in these sports, and Matt MacGrath, who owns Renzeo Gracie Gym in Charlottetown, said it’s long overdue for P.E.I.”I’ve (got) a number of amateur and pro fighters from the gym that have to travel to other provinces, it would be kind of nice for them to fight in front of their moms and dads and grandparents,” he said.”There’s no need to be travelling like that. It should have been here a decade ago, like other provinces… It’s really doing a disservice to the province overall to not have it here.”Matt MacGrath, owner of Renzo Gracie Gym in Charlottetown, says the province is missing out on many streams of revenue that could be generated through prize fighting tournaments and events. (Connor Lamont/CBC)MacGrath said that prize fighting can also bring in a lot of revenue, from many sources.”[It’s] something that the province is missing out on,” he said.”Hotels, restaurants, nightlife, all kind of missing out, let alone the event itself.”Zack Bell, P.E.I.’s minister of fisheries, tourism, sport and culture, agrees the proposed legislation is overdue. “I just feel for those families and those people that would like to be able to do this on P.E.I., it’s a bit of a roadblock right now, and I don’t want that roadblock there for them,” he told CBC News.Zack Bell, P.E.I.’s minister of fisheries, tourism, sport and culture, says this proposed legislation is long overdue, noting that sports like MMA have been growing in popularity worldwide. (Connor Lamont/CBC)The province said the proposed legislation is meant to protect participants, ensure proper oversight of organizers and governing bodies, and align with best practices in other provinces.”You want anyone who’s competing to have that safety,” Bell said, noting that he also sees a potential for bringing in more tourists.”I do think that there is probably a tourism piece, I do know that… specifically with MMA, it’s a growing sport right across the country, right across the world,” he said.”We kind of take it for granted that if our kids are playing in a sport here, in our hockey rink, that you know, anyone can go and watch them, no big deal,” he said.”But if your sport that you were interested in is MMA, and you want your family and friends to come watch you, unfortunately you have to go across the bridge… or the ferry.”MacGrath said that he hopes Islanders will see MMA and other combat sports as just that: sports.”I know that there’s a large number of, maybe, older residents that might see it as barbaric, but it’s not. It’s a sport,” he said.”[They] train and prepare themselves, yeah there’s winners and losers, and sometimes people get nicked up, but it’s no more dangerous than boxing, you know, or Taekwondo, or karate… “The referees do a really good job at protecting the fighters.”ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Connor Lamont
Province proposing legislation to bring prize-fighting sports like MMA and boxing to P.E.I.
