Mixed martial arts was born the child of a laudable attempt to prove what was the world’s most effective martial art, and the need to sell that attempt to as many people as possible for $14.95. The latter impetus led to some infamous marketing attempts that can be summed up in eight words – “Anything can happen, and probably will. Even death!”
It was a line inspired by language in the event release, that you will find in any health club. But the rules were, in fact, wanting, with dick punching and soccer kicks and head butts. In response, Randy Gordon, then chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, reached out to his friend Marc Ratner, then executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. When the highly respected Ratner indicated he was not on board, Gordon banned MMA in New York. It would stay banned for nearly 20 years, until 2016
Gordon, who nowhosts “At the Fights” from 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Fridays on SiriusXM Radio, spoke to Bucky Gleason for The Buffalo News about the sport then, and now.
“It was the most violent exhibition of combat sport I had ever seen,” said Gordon. “There was no way I was going to let it go in New York. To me, it was nothing more than a street fight without a beer bottle.”
“I saw kicks to a downed fighter’s head, soccer-style kicks. I saw a 12-to-6 elbow where a guy is laying on the canvas and the other guy drops and elbow from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock. It was like getting hit with a ball-pein hammer.
“I told the legislature, ‘If you pass this, there’s going to be bloodshed in New York, and it’s going to be on your hands – not mine.’ And they banned it.”
On Saturday night UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier defends his title against Anthony Johnson in the main event of UFC 210 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The sport has evolved hugely since its birth, and
“[Fighters] totally understand what I did,” said Gordon. “They say, ‘You made it safer for us.’ Every one of them, 100 percent, understands where my head was back then. Dana totally understands what I did. You talk about a 180? I hated it then. I didn’t want to see it anywhere. Now, I think it’s terrific.”
