HB1228 would eliminate 2 of the 3 approved sanctioning bodies in Virginia, and greatly reduce the availability of MMA in Virginia. Not only would this hurt Virginia athletes, and force them to compete in other states. It would also eliminate the additional revenue generated by these events. Many of these MMA events donate monies to Schools, Civic Orginizations, and Veterans' Orginizations. Not only would this revenue be lost to these orginizations, but the local economies would suffer as well. In my opinion, Virginia is too large and too diverse of a state for one sanctioning body to serve. As long as other sanctioning bodies are meeting current standards set forth by previous legislation, what harm would be done by keeping these orginizations intact?

  To me, this seems like an attempt to create a monopoly in Virginia, and reduce the number of MMA events across the state. Athletes, Promoters, donation recipiants, and communities need to be free to have a choice of approved sanctioning bodies. Just because an orginization is based in a rural part of the state, doesn't mean they are any less capable of providing adequite oversight of MMA events. That is why I oppose HB1228.