House Bill 5277, which would end the state’s prohibition on mixed martial arts, an intense sport that blends boxing, wrestling, karate, jujitsu and other forms of fighting, cleared the chamber on a vote of 117-26.

“It looks violent, it looks more violent than boxing, but it’s a lot safer,” he said.

But Hovey said lawmakers need to be careful about the messages they would send by legalizing the sport.