Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation yesterday that will regulate MMA.

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MMA Mania has the story:

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (yesterday) signed a bill into law that regulates mixed martial arts in the "Bay State," paving the way for the sport's top brand, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and other promotions to host events in 2010 and beyond.

UFC President Dana White, a Boston-area native, has gushed for years about the possibility of promoting a show in "Beantown." In fact, during the UFC 101 post-fight press conference he revealed his grand plans to stage a major event in the historic and beloved Fenway Park in mid to late 2010.

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UFC officials stormed Massachusetts earlier this year, attempting to convince lawmakers that MMA regulation is good for them and the state economy … to the tune of $12.3 million in just one weekend.

The dog and pony show was apparently very effective -- the bill breezed through the State Senate by a vote of 34-1. It then headed to the House Ways and Means Committee for additional consideration, where it sailed through by a vote of 144-10.

This is huge. Boston is the second most important media market on the east coast and the regulators in New York will be paying close attention. First New Jersey, then Philadelphia, Pennsylvania now Boston, Massachusetts. Next stop: New York, New York.

UPDATE [from Luke Thomas]: Full UFC press release on the signing after the jump.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS COMES TO MASSACHUSETTS

The 42^nd State to Regulate the Fastest Growing Sport in the World

UFC^® Will Now Hold Events in Massachusetts

(Boston) – Massachusetts has become the 42^nd state in the country to bring regulated mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, including Ultimate Fighting^® Championship^® (UFC^®) events, to thousands of Bay State fans.  The Massachusetts Legislature recently passed a bill that would allow the Department of Public Safety to oversee regulation of the popular sport in the state.

Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC^®, does not conduct events in any state that does not properly regulate MMA. This legislation will now enable the company to hold events in Massachusetts. Specifically, the legislation mandates safety and medical requirements for every MMA fighter and event held in the state. The events will also bring an economic boost to local communities across Massachusetts that hosts them.

The UFC^® has worked with members of the Massachusetts Legislature and the Department of Public Safety for over two years to pass legislation to regulate the sport so it could bring events to the state.  The UFC^® is the largest live pay-per-view event content provider in the world and the fastest growing mainstream sports organization in history.  Its programming is distributed in 132 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

Kenny Florian, a Massachusetts native and one of the UFC^®’s premier lightweight fighters, campaigned to get the legislation passed said, “The chance to fight in front of my hometown crowd has always been a dream of mine.  Now it looks like my dream will finally come true”.  The Boston College graduate testified before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security supporting regulation of mixed martial arts.

“Mixed martial arts events are enormously popular in Massachusetts and held in venues across the state every day.  That is why passing legislation to regulate the sport was so important:  We want it to be safe for everyone” said State Senator James Timilty, chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security who led the effort to regulate MMA.

Dana White, the President of the UFC^®, who grew up in Boston, expressed the reaction of many fans as well when the legislation passed, “I am so pumped that the UFC^®  is finally coming to Massachusetts.  I guarantee that we will put on an incredible UFC^® event for Boston in 2010” he said.

The first UFC® fight in Massachusetts could be held as early as Summer 2010.