IMMAC will return to the cage By Erin Tully (ILA). 'prize fighting'. BRANTFORD Charges were eventually Other province's interpretation dropped against Jason King (CEO of section 83 has left room for pro­ t is a rare occasion that a court­ and matchmaker of the Grand Riv­ fessional mixed martial arts fights Iroom breaks out into applause er Athletic Corporation), James P to rim in.their jurisdiction. and cheers but tbat is what hap­ and Dave Mair (Canadian Olym­ Ken Hayashi, Ontario Athletics pened in a Brantford court last pic wrestling coach). Commissioner, has said that in or­ Wednesday. "They (the Crown) didn't even der for him to support MMA fights Bill Monture, president of the know who they were charging in Ontario the federal legislation Grand River Athletics Corporation or why," said King. "They just would have to change. and Delby Powless, co-owner of looked at the IMMAC website and It was Mr. Hayashi who initi­ the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, had picked names. They didn't know ated the complaint to the Six Na­ their charges (pertaining to mixed what role the people played." tions police about the fights. martial arts fights) dropped. Eventually charges against The night in question at the The Crown had initially charged King, James P and Mair were Brantford court was the first five men with their involvement in dropped. IMMAC fight in November of the Iroquois Mixed Martial Arts Monture and Powless still 2007. Championships (IMMAC) held faced charges under section 83 of The ILA was packed with at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena the Canadian Criminal Code for Continued on pa1e 3 -Charges disIDissed. ment in New Orleans at the North American Boxing Com­ MMA fans 1U1d two home­ missioners annual meeting. town men; Chuck Monture Justice Martha Zivolak and Todd Kick represented askecl for an explanation for Six Nations. ,. their tardiness. The drug and alcohol free '"There is no legit reason event ran smoothly and proved OI' excuse why service was so to the Corporation and Grand late," replied Brock. River Athletic Commission Brock uked the" judge for an that the fights were a hlcra­ adjournment Wltil they could tive idea. getber evidence and witness­ "MMA is the fastest grow­ es. ing sport in North America and Defense lawyer Paquette we want to be a part of that," immediately responded say­ said King. 'This is a good op­ ing that they have had ample portunity for us (Six Nations) time to prepare an argument as a community but also sur­ given the charges were almost rounding communities. The two years old. amount of tourism that these "I am opposed to an ad­ fights can bring can benefit ev­ journment, I just found out eryone." about this proposed adjourn­ Although ~ Crown may . ment shortly after five last not have agreed that running night," said Paquette. 'The fights in Ontario is legal, they event is question goes back to offered no evidence to prove November '2007 ." otherwise. He told the_court that these Bill Monture (Grand River Athletks Corporation president),Jason King (CEO and Matehmalcer ofthe Corporation), Wes Monture and Powless ar­ charges had been hanging over Elliot and Chuck Monture (Team Iroquois coach) attended Bill's court dale on Wedneaday in Branqortl. Bill Mo,u,,re and rived at the Brantford court them ,;nen long enough and it Delby Powless wn charged with their invoh,ement with the Iroquois Mixed Martial Arts Championship, held al the ILA. with lawyer Dean Paquette was mentally exhausting as Bill and Chuck Monture and Jason King have been invomd with the fights since coneeption. (Plaoto by Erin Tully) ready to defend their case. · well as qnancially. Mudi to eve one s sur- Justice Zivolak agreed oo aoo said that an adjourn­ evidence. Their star witness ment would be prejudice Ken Hayashi did not attend against Monture and Powless. the proceedings. '"fl:le Crown today is not in a Larry Brock, Crown attor­ position to proceed with no ac­ ney said that Hayashi's office ceptable reason," said Zivolak. had not been served a sum­ "Clearly the charges the men mons to appear in court until face have a tremendous effect approximately 4 days prior to on their lives. It would appear the case. that the individuals before.the Hayashi had a prior engage- court have done what tliey had

Bill Monture and Delby Powless had a small entourage offamily andfriends who supported the Iroquois Mixed Martial Arts Championships held al the ILA. Their applause and cheers filled the courtroom at Justke Zivolalc announced that because there was no evidence offered by the Crown that their charges were dismissed. (Photo by Erin Tully)

to do; they_ are here ready to 20 IMMAC supporters in the Monture said that through supporters in and around our defend. courtroom. the long ordeal he never community," said MQnture. At this point the only result Outside the courtroom Mon­ wavered from his right as a "They stuck by us and I ap­ from granting an adjournment ture said that he felt a huge re­ Haudenosaunee man to fol­ preciate that." would be prejudice to the de­ lief taken off his shoulders. low his government and as­ King, who was there as fendants." • "I feel awesome, this is sert his rights. a supporter summed up his The justice took into con­ great, it was a long time com­ "This (the fights) has no feelings with one word, "vin­ sideration not only the mon­ ing," said Monture. place in the Ontario or federal dicated". etary hardship the men faced He said that he was close to courts, this is not their juris­ King said that the fights for having to have a lawyer $100,000 in the red because diction," said Monture. "We are back and going to be bet­ retained but also the men­ he had to wait for this judg­ have a letter from the Haude­ ter than ever. With a new life tal hardship for having. the ment before proceeding with nosaunee ConfederacyChiefs breathed into the Corpora­ 'charges looming over them'. more fights. Council that says we are un­ tion and Commission a com­ She concluded that the court Monture, family and der their jurisdiction and they mitment has sparked to run a could not indulge the prosecu­ friends gathered outside the don't say the fights are ille­ fight as soon as October. . n with an adjournment. · courtroom and talked with a gal." "Our fans and fighters want "There is no evidence for sense of p~de that although Monture also thanked the us back," said King. 'They to consider, charges are the court didn't 'ok' the fights, community for all their sup­ didn't ever leave, they were ~mis·sed:' said Zivolak. they stuck to their Haudeno­ port. just waiting this court case out Applause broke out from saunee law and say it was as "I really want to thank my like we were, and we are back crowd of approximately · a victory. family and friends and all o~ and ready to do it again."