By NOEL MURPHY
GEELONG could cash in on a $45 million purse if cage fighting was legalised in Victoria, according to Geelong mixed martial arts pro George Sotiropolous.
The former UFC fighter and Australian Ultimate Fighter coach slammed opposition to the sport or cages as “ridiculous and outrageous”.
He said the State Government’s refusal to overturn boxing ring bouts for cages was unsafe, ineffective and outdated. The State Government has refused to fall in line with other states and give the nod to cages over boxing rings.
“MMA is a sport. It’s not illegal, immoral or wrong,” Sotiropolous told the Independent.
“Opposition to the sport or the cage is ridiculous and outrageous. Those who oppose it do so with irrational notions.
“It would be equally irrational to blame or associate the state or national road toll with the Melbourne Grand Prix.”
Sotiropolous said the potential benefits from MMA bouts, in the order of $45 million a tournament, “must be grasped, supported and leveraged for the community’s betterment”.
“I don’t think any person, institution, organisation or government can ignore that kind of capital,” he said.
Sotiropolous said Geelong had the resources to “accommodate this kind of event”.
“The impact on the community would be positive and would expose Geelong to the world,” he said.
Sotiropolous’ call was backed by Lara MP John Eren who said caged bouts would be safer for competitors and criticised the Government for failing to capitalise on a remarkable potential for major events sporting dollars.
Mr Eren attended a bout where competitors fell through the ropes of a boxing ring because of the lack of a cage.
“This sport is not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s the fastest growing sport in world,” he said.
“People do this sport for various reasons, some girls for self-defence, some kids to do it to tackle obesity. MMA is legal, but what’s illegal is the cage which makes sports safer.”
MR Eren, the shadow minister for sports, recreation and major events, said the Government had been advised by the Professional Boxing Combat Sports Board to lift the cage ban because of the “dangers of fighters falling through the ring and hitting their head on concrete floors”.
“Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty’s own board is saying you must change the law because it’s dangerous, because of public liability, due diligence and duty of care.
“The minister has two options: one is ridiculous, ban the sport altogether, which means it could go underground and criminal elements might take it over and deprive public of the fastest-growing sport.
“The second is the sensible option, make it safe as you can and lift the ban.
“We need the economic and tourism benefits at a time when we’re losing jobs, when the economy’s leaking like sieve.”
