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IMMAC will return to the cage By Erin Tully, BRANTFORD It is a rare occasion that a court­room breaks out into applause and cheers but that is what happened in a Brantford court last Wednesday. Bill Monture, president of the Grand River Athletics Corporation and Delby Powless, co-owner of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, had their charges (pertaining to mixed martial arts fights) dropped. The Crown had initially charged five men with their involvement in the Iroquois Mixed Martial Arts Championships (IMMAC) held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). Charges were eventually dropped against Jason King (CEO and matchmaker of the Grand River Athletic Corporation), James P and Dave Mair (Canadian Olympic wrestling coach). "They (the Crown) didn't even know who they were charging or why," said King. "They just looked at the IMMAC website and picked names. They didn't know what role the people played." Eventually charges against King, James P and Mair were dropped. Monture and Powless still faced charges under section 83 of the Canadian Criminal Code for 'prize fighting'. Other province's interpretation of section 83 has left room for professional mixed martial arts fights to rim in. their jurisdiction. Ken Hayashi, Ontario Athletics Commissioner, has said that in order for him to support MMA fights in Ontario the federal legislation would have to change. It was Mr. Hayashi who initiated the complaint to the Six Nations police about the fights. The night in question at the Brantford court was the first IMMAC fight in November of 2007. The ILA was packed with (Continued on page 3)