Congratulations, South Carolinians:

South Carolina, one of a declining number of states that currently outlaws the sport of mixed martial arts, has taken a significant step to lift the ban.

Earlier this month South Carolina's House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee passed a bill to eliminate the ban.

On Thursday it hit the House floor, and with no debate, legislators passed the bill with a unanimous 57-0 vote.

The bill next heads to the Senate, where it's expected to pass easily.

That would open the door for the South Carolina State Athletic Commission to begin regulating events. However, as with Pennsylvania, Tennessee and other states that recently passed legislation to regulate the sport, it can take more than a year between the time the legislation passes and when the first event is held in the state.

One step at a time. This is how we move forward.