The sport of mixed martial arts was victorious in a vote by the House of Representatives in the state of Massachusetts that would approve a bill to sanction a sport that's already regulated by 40 states.

With the House's approval, it will now be the Senate's (alongside the House) turn to approve the same bill which will then be followed by Governor Deval Patrick's final approval.

According to the Boston Herald, Gov. Patrick would not hold any veto power due to the enormous amount of support that the bill had received in a successful 114-10 vote.

It's still highly unlikely that MMA will be sanctioned by the end of 2009 due to the legislative calendar.

A 2010 sanctioning seems more realistic, which gives the UFC some more time to plan a possible event at Fenway Park.

UFC president Dana White has already stated that the home of the Boston Red Sox will host the UFC's first event in the state of Massachusetts.

Source: www.fightline.com