Dukes up: P.E.I. explores MMA regulations as coach urges for nuance with legislation

Cameron Nelson, right, is an MMA fighter from P.E.I. (Source: Cameron Nelson)

The Prince Edward Island government is exploring regulating combat sports, which could bring professional mixed martial arts (MMA) events to the Island, but one coach is urging for nuance in the proposed legislation to protect safer forms of fighting.

The province is seeking feedback on its proposed Combative Sport Commissioner Act, which, if passed, would create a regulatory framework for MMA, kickboxing and similar sports. P.E.I. is the only Maritime province that does not have a fight commission.

“The Act is required because under Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Canada, prize fighting is prohibited unless specific exemptions apply or the activity is authorized by a provincial or territorial government,” a consultation report from the province reads.

“Across Canada, provinces or territories that regulate professional combative sports use definitions that may vary slightly but generally include activities such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai kickboxing, and professional boxing.

“At present, professional combative sports are not permitted in Prince Edward Island. Certain amateur events are allowed under an Order in Council issued in 2014.”

In 2013, the federal government passed Bill S-209, which updated the Criminal Code to put combat sports like MMA, karate and taekwondo under the banner of “prize fights.”

Zack Bell, P.E.I.’s minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture, said he initially proposed the legislation when he was a private member of the legislature. Since then, he’s spoken with fight commissions in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Manitoba to improve the bill.

“We’ll try to incorporate what they have,” he said. “We did consultation with some groups and we’ve sent the legislation to other provinces as well.”

Jason Saggo, a former fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and owner of the PEI Martial Arts Academy, said the legislation and the possible fight commission for P.E.I. need clarity about the differences between the types of combat sports.

“If you have people on the council who haven’t trained at all, they’re going to lack understanding and that can lead to people getting hurt,” Saggo said. “If you have a mismatch in martial arts, someone could get really hurt.

“There’s a problem with the new proposal in that they’re trying to group all martial arts together. Martial arts with strikes shouldn’t be grouped with martial arts with grappling.”

The draft of the Combative Sport Commissioner Act says it could authorize professional bouts in MMA and kickboxing along with amateur matches in judo, karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and taekwondo. It would set regulations for licensing, event permits and mandatory standards for professional and amateur contests.

Saggo runs Brazilian jiu-jitsu events for kids in P.E.I. He notes the sport is much safer than MMA, but if both fighting styles are treated the same under the proposed act, the burgeoning BJJ scene could suffer.

“In MMA I understand they need regulations for a ringside doctor, but you don’t need a ringside doctor for a BJJ event,” he said. “It lets kids compete. If it gets regulated, it could introduce more barriers. Regulation can be good where it provides greater safety when you put the right people in power. Regulation can also stifle the sport and growth.

“I feel comfortable running BJJ because I know how safe it is. We know how to run a BJJ event, and now someone potentially with no experience could come in and change it.”

The consultation report says the act would establish a single-person commissioner along with an advisory council comprised of a lawyer, a doctor with sports or emergency medicine experience, an athlete in a combative sport, an official in a combative sport and someone with experience on the board of a provincial sport organization or sport federation.

Saggo said he’s emailed the province with his concerns and is waiting to hear back.

“It’s good it’s sparking that debate,” Bell said. “It’s been a while in the making. Hopefully now is the right time. We’ve put together something we feel will really benefit Islanders in this space.”

Bell said he hopes to bring the proposal to the P.E.I. legislature for the spring sitting in 2026.

Homegrown talent

For Jon Foster, the introduction of professional MMA events to P.E.I. has been a long time coming. As one of the founders of Fight League Atlantic, he’s been heavily involved in growing the MMA scene in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and he’s eager to expand onto the Island.

“It looks more promising than ever,” he said. “They’ve been to our events. They understand combat sports is a growing thing.

“We’ve got so many athletes from P.E.I. They never get to compete at home. I think it’s a great thing. It’s only going to help grow a booming scene.”

Cameron Nelson is one of those homegrown fighters from P.E.I. He started his amateur MMA career in 2022 before transitioning to professional bouts in early 2023. In all that time, he’s never fought in his home province.

“You want to compete in front of friends and supporters,” said Nelson. “We have a ton of support here.

“I’ve been competing for close to four years and I haven’t been able to compete on my home turf. It’d be a blessing to be able to do so. We have quite a number of fighters who are committed and established. It’s due time.”

Bell said one of the goals of the legislation is to allow local athletes to compete in their home province.

“Especially in sport, you don’t want impediment,” he said. “P.E.I. is a small place, but at the same time, we don’t want our Island athletes to travel out of province. We should be able to do this on P.E.I.”

Nelson said he’s talked with MLAs about bringing MMA to P.E.I. and he plans on offering his input as the province continues its consultation process on the proposed legislation.

“These events bring in upwards of 2,000 people,” he said. “You have people coming from all over booking hotels and going out afterwards. There’s not a whole lot going on in P.E.I. in the wintertime. This would be massive for these venues. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

P.E.I. residents can submit their feedback on the act by emailing [e-mail]. The consultation period will wrap up on Dec. 5.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.