BOSTON -- Mixed martial arts is coming to Massachusetts.

The Legislature recently passed a bill to allow the sport, making Massachusetts the 42nd state in the country to allow the regulated competitions. The Department of Public Safety will oversee safety and medical requirements.

Mixed martial arts includes Ultimate Fighting Championship events, which are run by parent company Zuffa LLC. The sport's programming is distributed in 132 countries in 20 different languages, according to a statement.

Massachusetts natives Kenny Florian and Dana White lobbied state legislators to bring the sport to Massachusetts. Florian is a lightweight UFC fighter, and White -- who grew up in Boston -- is president of the UFC.

Events could be held as early as the summer.