Despite legislative action to lift Connecticut's ban on mixed martial arts, plans to bring the sport to venues across the state are hanging in limbo because of a provision making promoters liable for health care costs associated with fighters' injuries.

The state's General Assembly passed the legislation Wednesday on the last day of the session, leaving MMA advocates unsure about their ability to expand their operations in the state.

"We wouldn't promote a show within a jurisdiction that would require that," said Joe Cuff, a promoter at Reality Fighting, which currently organizes MMA events at Mohegan Sun. "You're taking on a ton of liability."

MMA is a form of fighting that features boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, judo and other disciplines. Events around the world typically attract thousands of fans and are broadcast widely on cable television.

Matches are currently permitted at Connecticut's Indian-run casinos, but they have been illegal in the rest of the state since a 2008 ruling by Richard Blumenthal, attorney general at the time.

The health care provision was backed by Senate President Donald Williams Jr., a Democrat who voted against the main bill Wednesday after preventing the Senate from even considering it in previous years.

"Injuries that are incurred by these athletes ought to be the responsibility of the promoters who make tremendous amounts of money off of these athletes," Williams said.

"Let's remember: This is a sport where the ultimate goal is not about scoring touchdowns or shooting baskets or shooting goals," he said. "It's about waling away on another person, hitting them and kicking them repeatedly. That is what the sport is about."

Cuff said it is standard procedure for doctors to provide medical inspections at fight events and for promoters to supply insurance to help defer possible health care costs, as they do in boxing. But Williams said such policies often cover only the night of the fight and have a low cap, leaving fighters personally liable for potentially large, long-term medical bills.

"I don't know as to what level they want covered, but that would be pretty hardcore," Cuff said. "That's kind of, yikes."

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Health care provision could derail MMA in Connecticut