Article contentBell said P.E.I. gyms that run the programs are going to make sure it is done the right way.Article content Zack Bell, the minister responsible for sport in P.E.I., plans on introducing legislation that would make combat matches legal in the province. The province is currently seeking input from the public. Photo by Dave Stewart /The GuardianArticle contentExtra costs, timeArticle contentMatt MacGrath, who owns the Renzo Gracie P.E.I. gym in Charlottetown, said the legislation that Bell proposes is long overdue.Article contentMacGrath said P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador are the only two Canadian provinces that do not have a combat sports commission.Article contentMacGrath said his athletes have to drive to Moncton and Fredericton in New Brunswick and Pictou or Bridgewater in Nova Scotia to complete locally and that can be costly and time-consuming in the wintertime when the P.E.I.-Nova Scotia ferry is not operating.Article content“We have 300 to 400 fans supporting us … and a lot of times I have had five to six people on the card travelling and their families are travelling,” MacGrath said. “I just think this is long overdue.”Article contentMacGrath suggests a combat sports commission could be created so decisions are not falling on just one “dictator”. He would love to see someone like P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame’s Howard Watts on the commission.Article contentArticle content“I’m optimistic about the legislation,” MacGrath said. “It just means that guys can fight on home turf, basically, and it means more exposure for the gym.”Article content R.J. Heatherington, left, gets in some training with gym owner Matt MacGrath at Renzo Gracie P.E.I. gym in Charlottetown on Nov. 13. Heatherington has his first MMA amateur fight on Nov. 15 in Moncton. Photo by Dave Stewart /The GuardianArticle contentDifferent rulesArticle contentJason Saggo, a former competitor in the UFC who now runs the P.E.I. Martial Arts Academy in Stratford, Summerside and O’Leary, said he has lots of questions.Article contentSaggo said he has reached out to Bell’s department and had not heard back as of the Nov. 13 interview. He said the new rules are unclear.Article content“Are they trying to propose that all sports that involve combat (such as) taekwondo, karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts … are they trying to group all of that together?” Saggo asks.Article content“If that is the case, it doesn’t seem right to me because it’s a completely different ruleset. Some martial arts involve striking and are inherently way more dangerous. You have to deal with head trauma versus grappling martial arts (which) is a lot safer to run.”Article contentArticle contentSaggo said all of his events have run safely and without injuries and he does not want extra government interference.Article content“Sometimes too much involvement with the government can slow down the growth,” Saggo said. “There are too many hurdles to jump through.”Article contentSaggo also worries that a combat sports commission will be created without representation by people knowledgeable in combat sports.Article contentPublic consultationArticle contentBell said the public consultation phase ends Dec. 5, so there is a chance his proposed legislation makes it to the floor of the legislature in the fall sitting, but he said that is not likely.Article contentBell said he is more optimistic this will face a vote in the spring sitting of the legislature in 2026.Article contentArticle contentAt a glanceArticle contentFollowing is information on how to provide input into proposed combat sports legislation:Islanders are encouraged to review the discussion paper and share their feedback by emailing consultFTSC@gov.pe.ca. The consultation is open until Dec. 5.The proposed legislation is available to view online.Article contentArticle contentDave Stewart is a reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at dstewart@postmedia.com and followed on X at @DveStewart.Article content
P.E.I. mixed martial arts fighter looks forward to day he can compete at home
