Ontario Loves the UFC

While the MMA ban in New York has yet to be lifted the atmosphere within the Empire State has changed to the point where most observers believe MMA will be legal by the end of the year.

That optimistic outlooks means that the UFC is beginning to focus more attention on the other big North American market where MMA is still illegal: Ontario, Canada.

Marc Ratner recently stated that Ontario is overrun with UFC fans.

"When we look at our TV ratings and our pay-per-view buys, on a per-capita basis, Toronto and Ontario are the No. 1 places in the world," UFC executive Marc Ratner tells the Toronto Sun. "It's unbelievably popular in the province of Ontario and especially Toronto."

This is a standard part of the UFC's lobbying playbook. Step one: talk about how popular the sport is within the region. Step two: higher top lobbying firm. Step three: release study trumpeting the economic benefits of legalized MMA. Step four: take pictures of legislatures with strippers and blackmail them until they lift the ban.

It is a tried-and-true method for getting things done in  the democratic process.