Is MMA Really STILL Illegal in New York?!?

Is MMA Really STILL Illegal in New York?

It still boggles my mind that it is ILLEGAL to promote a Mixed Martial Arts show in New York State! The fastest growing sport on the planet is BANNED in the greatest and most influential city on the planet. Can I be the only person that this seems strange to?

Meanwhile, on March 27th, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, UFC 111, a HUGE, sold-out MMA event is being staged. Realize that the venue in question is just a mere 10 miles outside the borders of both the city and state of New York.

Realistically, more than half the crowd in attendance will be residents of New York but the state of New Jersey will be the one benefiting financially. Our pockets (New Yorkers) will be drained at every bridge, tunnel and highway toll booth, as well as at every New Jersey Transit bus and train station. It just doesn't make sense in any way.

Sure, we're happy to have a big show taking place in close proximity, but we (New Yorkers) NEED to be able to go to shows inside our state's borders.  

Even more irritating, and hypocritical, is all the event related promotion of UFC 111 that is happening in NYC during this pre-show week. It's illegal to actually stage the show within our city's and state's borders, but we can PROVIDE the greatest backdrop on the planet to promote it from? INSANITY!

• On Saturday, the 27th, there is a live viewing of UFC 111, on a 70 foot screen, at the world renowned Radio City Music Hall.

• There is a fan and press event on Wednesday, the 24th, also at Radio City Music Hall. Dana White will host the public press conference, along with UFC superstars Georges St-Pierre, Dan Hardy, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin. Immediately following the event, White, St-Pierre, Hardy, Mir and Carwin will take part in an unprecedented hour-long Q&A.  

• On Thursday, March 25th, St-Pierre, Hardy, Mir and Carwin will perform afternoon workouts for members of the Tri-State and International press at Peak Performance Strength & Condition Center located at 54 West 21st Street.

Besides those specific promotional events, bars all over the city and state will be airing UFC 111 live. Hooters in midtown is a perfect spot to watch the fights for those of you who like to mix your MMA with scantily clad waitresses, curly fries and beer.

The always outspoken Frank Mir recently commented on the situation, saying, "I don't think it's a coincidence that UFC 111 is taking place 15-20 minutes away from Manhattan. A lot of people who might be on the fence about the sport can see how it could help out the economy in New York. And if there's a stigma about fans that go to an MMA event being rowdy or always drunk or not being real fight fans, the best way to dispel those myths is to have an event right there."

Obviously, politics are heavily to blame here. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) is already reeling from the decline in boxing's popularity and lack of high quality fights on the horizon. There aren't many BIG boxing fights out there to begin with and the few left that have any real earnings potential seem to be having problems getting signed. Again, more politics. The "powers that be" behind all this are slowly ruining the great sport of boxing and are also doing their damnedest to hold back the inevitable tsunami that is the legalization of MMA in New York.

Melvina Lathan, the chairwoman of the NYSAC, appreciates MMA enough to want the State Legislature to legalize the sport it banned. “It’s not something I rush home to see, but I recognize its athleticism,” she said. “I like the intelligence needed to get out of holds where so many disciplines are used. When they’re grappling, I grab the edge of my chair.”

A study for the state said that one mixed martial arts show in Buffalo and one in Manhattan would generate $1.2 million in state and local taxes. Lathan said the study underestimated the economic impact of legalization, which would almost certainly lure New York fans who are attending combat cards held in states where the sport is legal. “Those are our revenues going outside the state,” she said.

Another revenue estimate came up with the following numbers: A UFC event at Madison Square Garden could generate $12 million in economic activity along with $400,000 in tax revenue for the city and $555,000 for the state. All that money will now end up in New Jersey's coffers.

When MMA does finally get sanctioning in NYS (which will happen sooner rather than later), it will be a huge economic boon for the sport and for the state. There is too much money to be made for Albany to just ignore the sport much longer. Besides all the spots in "the City", there are venues all over the state, from Long Island to Upstate, that are more than ready to hold events, and able to add revenue to the state's bottom line.

As a native and lifetime resident of NYC, as much as I will enjoy the big shows (UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, etc.), I really look forward to attending the smaller shows. The Roseland Ballroom in midtown Manhattan is a perfect venue to hold a smaller show. With a capacity of approximately 2000, (depending on how much space the cage will take up on the main floor) its a perfect room for an MMA show. I've seen both boxing and muay thai shows there that were excellent and very well received. Roseland is just one example of smaller venues all over the state that can host excellent MMA shows.
Its absolutely INSANE that New York is one of only 4 states where mixed martial arts events are OUTLAWED!!!
 
For the time being, we (New Yorkers) just have to keep giving New Jersey and Connecticut our money until the EMPTY suits in Albany gets off their asses and decide to join the party!

I'm confident it will happen soon, but this should have been done MMAny years ago!

Newark, or New York?!? 
Mind boggling!!!!!!!

www.BUDO-MMA-NYC.com