SAINT JOHN, N.B.- Common Council has been told current laws in Saint John don’t permit mixed martial arts events to be held in the city.
 
Local promoter Ed Hoyt had booked the LBR for an MMA event on September 23rd but city lawyer Francois Beaulieu says current legislation doesn’t permit it.

Councillor Ray Strowbridge says other municipalities in Canada, including Moncton, have hosted similar events. “I appreciate your opinion but when everybody else is, I can’t accept it”, says Strowbridge. “I would ask you(legal department) to please, if you could, dig deeper, call these other municipalities and say ‘How are you doing this when according to the books it’s illegal. What don’t we know’”.

Strowbridge is expected to ask city staff at the next council meeting to find out how other cities are able to host MMA events.