Blake’s Blog

At first blush, there won’t seem to be much similarity between college wrestling, a sport with rules derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans, and the glitz and gore of professional cage fighting matches.

Two state senators from east Tennessee are trying to make such a connection, though, and one Shelby County legislator isn’t too happy about it.

State Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, introduced a bill this year that would update the state’s boxing regulations, create the Tennessee Athletic Commission and legalize mixed martial arts and kickboxing matches in the Volunteer State.

Todd believes the combative sports could bring big bucks to Tennessee, particularly at a time when state government is hurting for money.

His bill easily passed in the House this week, but it’s run into a snag in the Senate.

Two senators from the Chattanooga area have attached an amendment to the bill that would funnel revenues generated from event fees that aren’t needed to support the commission’s operations to any NCAA-approved collegiate wrestling programs in the state.

Conveniently enough, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is the only school in the state with such a program. (I hope my mother and sister, both UTC alumnae, will forgive me for writing about this, by the way.)

Todd said he’s not in favor of the Senate amendment because, among other reasons, it would violate NCAA rules.

The amended version of the bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee Monday. Todd is hoping the amendment will get taken back out before the full Senate takes up the issue, which could be sometime later next week.

So what would it mean for Memphis if Todd’s bill passes?

Well, FedExForum officials are hoping to make a deal to book a mixed martial arts bout involving Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight champ who grew up in South Memphis.

Given the popularity of the UFC in general and Jackson in particular, expect for Todd and some of his allies to do some serious arm-twisting in the next couple of days.