People that want to say there are 50 states or more get slapped (where I come from). Save your Obama jokes for your newsletter pals. For the record Alaska and Montana don't have athletic commissions so sanctioning is not possible. Wyoming became the 45th state to (enthusiastically) sanction mixed martial arts this week. Sanctioning is important because it prevents unregulated, illegal underground MMA from taking place (sorry B action movie fans), sets out rules for promoters that help ensure the safety of the fighters, and creates an environment where drug testing and background checks are the norm. The remaining states are New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. CT and VT are very close to regulation. New York is an ongoing battle--the culinary workers union is putting pressure on New York politicians to keep blocking MMA regulation as a result of a dispute they have in Nevada with UFC parent company Zuffa, run by the Fertitta's, who operate Station Casinos, the largest non-union casino chain in the state.
