NEU » Phillies third baseman Andres Blanco

OTTAWA -- The House of Commons has passed a bill legalizing contact sports such as mixed martial arts. The legislation, which originated in the Senate, takes certain fighting sports, including taekwondo and karate as well as the popular sport of MMA, out of legal limbo. The sports were not technically covered under prize-fighting law, making it difficult to regulate them and protect the safety of fighters. The bill passed the Commons easily with 267 members of parliament in favour and only nine opposed. The Criminal Code section on prize-fighting was last changed in 1934, long before the rise of the new fighting sports. Section 83.1 of the Criminal Code only exempted boxing. The section said anyone who "engages as a principal in a prize fight," encourages, promotes or is present at a prize fight as an aid, second, surgeon, umpire, backer or reporter is guilty of an offence -- unless the "boxing contest" is "held with the permission or under the authority of an athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport within the province." The section also allowed "a boxing contest between amateur sportsmen, where the contestants wear boxing gloves of not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass." Some jurisdictions ignored the antiquated wording of the law. The UFC, the largest promoter of MMA fighting, lobbied for the legislative change. As it has done in the U.S., the UFC has pushed for government to sanction the sport. "This is a major development for the sport of mixed martial arts as we now have a consistent legislative framework for Canada and its provinces," Tom Wright, the UFCs director of Canadian operations, said in a statement. Liberal Massimo Pacetti, who supported the bill, said its an important move. "We are laying the groundwork for the general acceptance of these sports across the country," he said during the debate. Supporters say MMA bouts are no more dangerous than boxing matches. Others say they may be safer, because MMA fighters can quit when they want, while boxers tend to fight until theres a knockout or the referee steps in. Since 2008, the UFC has hosted 12 Canadian events split between Montreal (six), Toronto (three), Vancouver (two) and Calgary (one). Winnipeg is set to host UFC 161 on June 15. The Edmonton-based Maximum Fighting Championship is the largest Canadian promoter. In most jurisdictions, MMA is regulated by the same athletic bodies that oversee boxing. Currently, MMA is sanctioned at a provincial level in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec, while it has been sanctioned on a municipal level within Alberta, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories.Blank USA Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Julie Ertz USA Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. http://www.officialsocceruswntshop.com/Julie-Ertz-Usa-Jersey/ . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Lindsey Horan USA Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Tobin Heath Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season.PITTSBURGH -- Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Andres Blanco was removed from Sundays game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a fractured left index finger in the fifth inning.Blanco is expected to be placed on the disabled list Monday, but the Phillies will not make a move until they arrive in Miami.Blanco took a throw from catcher Carlos Ruiz and applied a tag in time to get Gregory Polanco, who was attemptiing to steal third base.dddddddddddd Polancos foot landed on Blancos glove, and Blanco was taken out of the game after a brief evaluation by Phillies athletic trainer Scott Sheridan.Blanco hit a home run in his first at-bat and finished the day 1 for 2. He was replaced by Maikel Franco. ' ' '