MMA in NY could get resolved this summer
A judge has put her foot down on timing, so look for a settlement or decision that could have NY saying it’s okay for the UFC to use third-party sanctioning to run shows.
New York is the only state or province in North America where professional MMA is illegal. A bill to legalize and regulate MMA in New York has passed the Senate for five consecutive years by large bipartisan majorities. However, due to bizarre opposition from a Las Vegas culinary opposition, the bill has never passed.
Good news may be on the way however, thanks to the brilliant and hot Federal judge Kimba Wood. The UFC has been involved in an extended lawsuit against New York over MMA regulation, a separate effort from the continuing drive to pass legislation.
Jim Genia who knows more about MMA in NY that anyone, or maybe anywhere, has the story.
It seems like a resolution to the UFC vs. New York lawsuit could be soon – soon as in sometime this summer. The judge has put her foot down on timing, so look for a settlement or decision that could have the state saying it’s okay for the UFC to use third-party sanctioning to run shows.
There are a few ways this could play out, with some likely possibilities including the state losing (or settling) and calling an emergency legislative session to change the law so they could earn tax money off of pro MMA; the decision/settlement coming down and Bellator and other organizations holding shows in NY before the UFC can (this is very likely); or the UFC doing shows with a third-party org and bolstering that org with their own people like they do when they go to Macau or Brazil or wherever there’s a weak commission.
If anyone was bummed over the legislature not doing their thing to change the law in 2014, it’s time to jump up and say “YEAH BITCH! YEAH!”
