Is MMA a regulated legal sport in the US?

Is MMA a regulated legal sport in the US?

Bas Rutten (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion) gives expert video advice on: What is 'mixed martial arts' or 'MMA'?; Is MMA a regulated legal sport in the US?; Is MMA more dangerous than professional boxing? and more...

Right now, Mixed Martial Arts is a legal sport in the United States. It used to not be legal. A while ago, it was banned. At the time when I fought, it was only allowed in three states in all of America. Right now, it's pretty much everywhere legal. There's a few states that still have a problem with it, but I think they are going to turn around real fast because money is involved. Once money is involved, then it becomes bigger than boxing, which it already is. They are then certainly going to turn around and say "Ah, we want you too", because it gives great publicity to the cities.