It’s been two years since Ontario lifted its ban on MMA, clearing the way for the UFC to finally come to town and millions of dollars to flow into Toronto.

When the province first lifted its ban on the sport, it was predicted the UFC alone would generate more than $6 million annually into the local economy.

“We have easily exceeded that,” said Tom Wright, the UFC’s Canadian operations director.

He said the UFC conducted a study after Toronto’s first event, the massive UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre, and determined $30 million dollars flowed into the city.

That includes hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and taxes paid to the province from ticket sales, according to Wright.

“The UFC has a significant economic impact on every city we visit,” he said.

UFC 129 was the company’s first stadium show, so those numbers are skewed.

But Wright said events such as UFC 140 at the ACC last December and UFC 152 on Sept. 22, also at the ACC, typically pump $10-15 million into the economy.

A provincial spokesman said Premier Dalton McGuinty stands by his decision to lift the ban.

“In 2011, there were 14 MMA events held in various locations across Ontario,” said Stephen Puddister, of Ontario’s consumer services ministry. “The 5% gate fee, collected by the Government of Ontario on ticket sales for these MMA events, totalled just under $700,000.”

MMA’s popularity has exploded in recent years, but it’s not only the fan base that is growing. There has also been a rise in people wanting to train in MMA and gyms have popped up all over the GTA.

Revolution MMA was ahead of the curve.

Joel Gerson, owner and chief instructor, said he “took a chance” and opened the club in 2005 when MMA was still a fringe sport. Now he has locations in North York and Thornhill.

“Seven years ago MMA wasn’t something soccer moms were talking about,” he said.

“But I knew it was going to be a life-style sport and people were going to be into the clothing and the training,” he said. “It was just a matter of time.”

Gerson recognized early on that most people just want to train for fun and exercise.

“Even though you get the odd person looking to fight professionally, 99.99% of the people are just sick of the (regular) gym and want to get in shape,” he said.

Revolution MMA even has “a munchkin program” for children as young as three to learn MMA.

“It develops confidence and builds character,” Gerson said. “The self defence aspect is just a residual benefit.”

chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca