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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. Cheapest Yeezy 350 V2 . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Fake Air Max 270 .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. http://www.cheapestairmaxstore.com/fake-yeezy-350-cheap.html . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Nike Cortez Store . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Air Max 90 Store . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons have relied heavily on a 1-2 punch at running back.Devonta Freeman may have to carry the load for a while.Tevin Coleman is hobbled by a hamstring injury, keeping him out of practice Wednesday and raising doubts about his status for Sundays game in Atlanta against the Green Bay Packers.The Falcons (4-3) already juggled the 53-man roster to bolster their depth in the backfield, promoting Terron Ward from the practice squad and signing another NFL-tested running back, Stevan Ridley.But Freeman figures to get most of the carries if Coleman cant go.You know how the NFL is, Freeman said with a shrug. Next man up.Coleman, who was hurt in last weekends overtime loss to San Diego, will likely be rehabbing his injury the rest of the week. Coach Dan Quinn isnt ready to rule him out against the Packers.We dont know the extent of where Tevins injury will be, Quinn said. Well take it all the way through the week and then make our determination.The coach is optimistic that Coleman wont be out for an extended period.Were hopeful its going to be shorter than longer, Quinn said. He felt better today. Hell participate in some running and rehab, but he wont practice.Freeman has rushed for 508 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns, while Coleman has run for 234 yards with a 4.0 average and five TDs. Both are also key members of the passing game, with Freeman ranking third on the team with 22 receptions for 169 yards and Coleman going for 330 yards on 19 receptions.Atlanta would love to have them both on the field against Green Bay (4-2), which has allowed just 71.8 yard per game to rank first in the NFL against the run. No matter what, dont expect the Falcons to abandon the balance that is a halllmark of their high-scoring offense.dddddddddddd They lead the league with an average of 32.1 points a game.Theyre a great defense, Freeman said, but I feel like were a great offense.If Coleman cant go, Ward figures to be the top backup. He played in 13 games as a rookie, rushing for 95 yards and catching nine passes, only to get forced to the practice squad in his second season when Coleman claimed a more substantial role and a rash of injuries at linebacker left the Falcons needing an extra roster spot.Ward took his demotion without complaint and is eager to show hes capable of stepping in when needed.You work to play on Sundays, he said, sitting at his locker before practice. Its another opportunity, and Ive got to make the most of it.The 27-year-old Ridley was a key contributor at New England his first three seasons, rushing for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. But a severe knee injury two years ago sidetracked his career, and he hasnt played at all this season after getting cut by both Detroit and Indianapolis during the preseason.He impressed the Falcons during a workout Tuesday, though his tenure with the team will likely be determined by how long Coleman is out.Quinn cant wait to have his top two backs together again.They make a terrific tandem, the coach said. We love the back and forth. Were bummed that Tev got banged up in the game the other day, but Free is totally capable of handling the workload.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL