Top 10 UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson blasts Norwegian politicians over ‘MMA ban’ in home country, being unable to get a homecoming event.
On paper, MMA technically isn’t illegal in Norway. In practice, it’s an entirely different story with the approval board for combat sports so far reportedly rejecting all applications to organize events on Norwegian soil.
That’s the frustrating state of reality for top 10 UFC middleweight contender Jack ‘The Joker’ Hermansson, who recently told a local outlet in Norway how “opponents of the sport make up [assumptions] to slow down the growth of MMA.”
UFC contender Jack Hermansson on Norway’s controversial ‘MMA ban’
UFC middleweight veteran Jack Hermansson was a sizable underdog when he faced Joe Pyfer in early February, but utilized his vast experience and tactical awareness to earn an impressive unanimous decision victory over the surging prospect.
“Fighting in Norway would be a highlight of my career, and it would be a huge joy for Norwegian fans to bring UFC to Norway,” he told Nattavisen Sport’s Martin Busk this week.
Unfortunately, a homecoming UFC showcase might never be on the table since whilst MMA isn’t technically illegal in Norway, the governing board has instead rejected all applications to host events in the country – in reality, the sport is essentially banned on a professional level.
“The reason is that MMA allows choking and other fighting techniques in combination with blows to the head,” said the head of the approval board, lawyer Morten Justad Johnsen to Nattavisen Sports.
“I think this is an argument that opponents of the sport make up to slow down the growth of MMA,” rebuked Hermansson.
The 24-8 athlete suggested that the ‘ban’ has nothing to do with fighter safety since there’s little evidence of MMA being more dangerous than other combat sports like boxing, which the board regularly accepts applications for.
“Competitions take place in almost every country in the world, so we know that there is no reason to believe that it is more dangerous for the athletes than other sports that allow knockouts.”
Yet there is a glimmer of hope for both Hermansson and Norwegian fans hoping to bring the UFC to the picturesque nation, such as politician Grunde Almeland throwing his support behind ‘The Joker’ and the promotion:
“I think it’s silly that MMA shouldn’t be allowed. The main problem is that we have this special ban on MMA. They make sure that professional MMA is left out. I think it appears very uninformed by those who oppose this.”
“There are so many exciting things happening in Norwegian MMA these days,” said Almeland.
“Jack shows why he is such a good role model. He is a great athlete and a [has] profile that manages to explain this in a good way. I hope more politicians take the time to listen to what he has to say.”
In the post-fight press conference after his big win against Pyfer, Hermansson called out Nassourdine Imavov and Khamzat Chimaev as his next potential opponents.