Boxing, pro wrestling and MMA in Oklahoma on hold because of threatened lawsuit

The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has temporarily suspended granting any new permits for boxing, professional wrestling or mixed martial arts events in the state because of threatened litigation by the UFC.

In a March 5 letter to promoters in the state, Joe Miller, the executive director of the commission, said the commission will not grant any more permits for events scheduled after March 31.

However, bouts scheduled after March 31 that already have received permits from the commission can go on as scheduled.

At issue is a 4 percent fee charged to promoters for pay-per-view events shown in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission receives 4 percent of the money that is paid by pay-per-view customers in Oklahoma to watch those fights.