A plan to lift the Vancouver ban on mixed martial arts events -- which include Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts -- was slammed to the mat on Thursday.
The majority Vision Vancouver slate voted to keep the ban in place, punting the issue to the provincial government for regulation.
"If we're going to say yes, we need to protect Vancouver taxpayers and have the legal liabilities taken care of ahead of time," said Vision councillor Heather Deal.
Mixed martial arts events are a mix of boxing, kickboxing, ju-jitsu and wrestling. They look brutal -- but they are also growing quickly in popularity, with sold-out shows in Montreal and Edmonton.
Right now those bouts are banned from Vancouver venues. Supporters took the fight to repeal that ban to city council.
"I ask that you put aside your personal feelings," said Dr. Rajinder Sandhu of the Vancouver Athletic Commission to the councillors. "This is an evolving sport and you have appointed a commission to regulate the sport so that it does not go underground with all of its consequences."
After the council voted no, another commissioner, George Angelomatis, told CTV that regulation is the only way to keep the smaller fights safe.
"To hide your head in the sand doesn't resolve it; the danger is that someone will be seriously hurt," he said.
No one from the provincial government could answer CTV News's questions about which ministry would regulate the events.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward
