Fertitta vows ‘epic’ events if NY goes pro MMA
Lorenzo Fertitta: “We are prepared to launch the most intense and epic series of major events over the next three years that the Empire State has ever seen.”
Mixed martial arts was born in Colorado, because there was at the time no government athletic commission to regulate it, or potentially prohibit it. Sen. John McCain infamously dubbed the new sport “human cockfighting” and many states passed laws prohibiting it.
Then New Jersey and California moved to regulate in, other states followed suit, ZUFFA acquired the brand, and the sport turned around dramatically.
Shamefully, there remains one state where pro MMA is illegal and amateur MMA is unregulated; fighters with Hepatitis and HIV are known to have competed.
For nine years UFC representatives have journeyed to New York’s capitol, to request regulation of MMA. Five times the bill got through the Senate; each time, then Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver refused to bring it to a vote. Now Silver has resigned as Speaker, following his corrupt ass being arrested on, astonishingly, corruption charges.
Now UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has promised an “epic series of major events” if New York finally does the right thing.
“I’ve said it before but I want to say it again to be clear,” said Fertitta as transcribed by Dave Doyle for MMAFighting.com. “The UFC is prepared to demonstrate its commitment to our New York fans, who’ve waited longer for legal professional MMA than our fans in any of the other 49 states. We are prepared to launch the most intense and epic series of major events over the next three years that the Empire State has ever seen.”
“If New York legalizes and properly regulates MMA in 2015, the UFC will hold a minimum of four events per year for the next three years. Yes, we will hold events in New York City – our fighters and our fans have been clamoring for the Garden and the new Barclays Center – but we are also looking forward to hosting at least three events annually in Upstate cities, where we will smash local box office records and bring in fans from Canada and states throughout the Northeast.”
The ball is not in the hands
Bill No. S2159 is sponsored by Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), and went through the State Senate Committee for Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation by a vote of 9-4. It now heads to the Finance Committee for a vote, where it was expected to pass. Then it will likely go to the Senate. At that point, it will be up to new Assembly Speaker by Carl Heastie, a past supporter of the bill.
***Take a second and tweet thanks to Sen. Griffo for sponsoring S2159***
