The Tampa based mixed martial arts promotion Art of Fighting (AOF) will host an amateur International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) kickboxing and submission grappling event, Rumble at the Ritz, at the Ritz in Ybor City on Jan. 30, 2010. This martial arts competition is AOF's first attempt to support the sanctioning of amateur MMA in the state of Florida, which has been on the Florida State Boxing Commission's agenda since early 2009, so far without any results.

“It's an unfair advantage for out of state fighters who fight at pro MMA events in Florida. Some of these fighters have 30 amateur fights before they go professional and are matched up against someone stepping into the cage for the first time. Florida fighters deserve the same opportunity in experiencing fighting before it goes against their professional record permanently," said Nick Smith, AOF match maker.

While Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White officially declared that he is not a fan of amateur MMA at the UFC 104 press conference (see the video after the break!), most of the 44 states sanctioning professional MMA seem to agree.

This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2010.