There is good news rippling through Edmonton's MMA community at the moment.
The moratorium on combat sports that came into force back in December has now been officially removed, paving the way for sanctioned combat sports competition to return to Edmonton, including Unified MMA.
Unified MMA president Sunny Sareen played a central role in pushing the moratorium to be lifted.
Sareen explained that he attended every meeting with Mayor Don Iveson, city council members, and municipal staff, providing them with all the relevant information and clarifying precisely how events would operate moving forward.
"The main concern of city council and the administration was they just wanted to make sure these events were put on safely," said Sareen in an interview.
"They just wanted to make sure the guidelines they requested were implemented going forward. They just wanted to move forward with a safe haven for the fighters in these shows."
Even though the situation appeared bleak when the ban was first imposed, Sareen recognized that simply sitting down with Iveson and the councillors to walk through the specifics would eventually lead to a resolution.
As the meetings progressed and momentum built, Sareen noted that indicators started pointing toward a swift resumption of combat sports competition.
"Once we were able to meet with them, they understood that livelihoods were on hold over this decision," said Sareen.
"I could see they wanted to support us and weren't trying to take away the industry. They were just trying to make a safe decision."
Unified MMA 33 Was Always a Go
Alongside the moratorium announcement, Sareen revealed that Unified MMA's next outing, Unified 33, is set for May 11 at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alta., just outside Edmonton.
⚠ #Unified33 goes down May 11 at beautiful @RiverCreeCasino in #Enoch! pic.twitter.com/c4Dfm9yVkm
— Unified MMA (@unifiedmma) March 3, 2018
Though the two announcements came at the same time, Sareen clarified that Unified 33 would have happened whether or not the ban was lifted. Because the venue sits just beyond Edmonton's borders, the event falls under the Central Combative Sports Commission's jurisdiction, which was never impacted by the Edmonton moratorium.
But Sareen said that moving forward, knowing he can keep giving local athletes a stage to display their talents the way he has for years is a welcome development.
"This is huge. Look at all the major fighters we have coming up now, including guys like Shane Campbell, Mike Scarcello, and Stephen Beaumont. These guys are making an impact on the international scene, so it's great to be able to provide them a platform to perform on."
Unified 33 was initially booked for Dec. 15 before the ban forced its cancellation on Dec. 13, following the tragic death of Tim Hague.
Beaumont vs Campbell Rescheduled
Beaumont and Campbell were lined up to battle for the Unified lightweight championship, one of two title bouts slated for the night. The same title fight has now been confirmed as the headliner for the rescheduled Unified 33 on May 11.
Beaumont expressed his excitement over the lifting of the ban, saying it means he can keep doing what he loves in front of his hometown crowd.
"I just love competing in front of my loved ones and friends," said Beaumont in an interview.
"It's a really cool feeling getting a win, walking to the edge of the cage and looking out to see everybody's happy faces cheering. There's nothing else like that."
Since hearing the good news about the ban, Beaumont said the mood inside his gyms (Frank Lee's and Little Sweat Shop) has shifted noticeably.
He added that people are refocusing and getting ready to hit the ground running once again.
"You can see more faces around the gym now. Everyone's getting serious again."
