West Virginia now 45th state in the U.S. to regulate MMA

We can all now welcome West Virgina into the mixed martial arts fold.

While the plans to take the sport all over the world has been a tedious process, the UFC–which is spear headed by President Dana White, has come leaps and bounds. Recently, the organization sold out the fifty-thousand-plus Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, and have already held an event in Sydney, Australia earlier this year at the famed Acer Arena–another sellout.

However, the MMA powerhouse organization has still seen some resistance here in the United States, however they can now mark West Virginia off the list. Former WEC champ Brian Bowles is among those whom are particularly happy for the newly regulated state.

The UFC recently announced that West Virginia has passed the bill allowing mixed martial arts events to be held in the state, largely due to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

“We’ve worked hard to get this sport regulated all over the world, particularly in the United States,” stated UFC head honcho Dana White. “I’m really excited to see the sport regulated in West Virginia and look forward to one day bringing a UFC event there.”

Former WEC champion Brian Bowles, a native of Charleston, West Virginia, takes a personal stake in the fact that his home state has now been regulated for MMA, as he can happily invite friends and nearby family for future events.

“All of my friends and family in West Virginia always ask when they’re going to get to see me fight in my home state,” said Bowles. “Now that the sport is regulated there, I am excited to know that I could one day compete in the octagon in West Virginia.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Next stop, New York. Sound off in the comment section below.