Opponents of MMA in NY offer poisoned bill
Opponents of the MMA bill in New York are trying to poison it with additions that appear well intentioned, but are in actually intended to keep MMA out of NY.
Mixed martial arts is legal everywhere in North America, except for New York. At present professional MMA is illegal, and amateur MMA, where the fighters are least knowledgeable and most vulnerable, is legal but unregulated. Amateur fights are taking place without blood tests, with fighters known to have tested positive for HIV and hepatitis.
For nine years UFC representatives have gone to NY’s capitol Albany to try to get the sport legalized and regulated. Five time, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver refused to bring it to a vote. Silver has resigned as Speaker, following his arrest on corruption charges. The new Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie, is a past supporter of the bill.
Bill No. S2159, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), passed the State Senate Committee for Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation by a vote of 10-3. However, when an MMA bill passed in Connecticut, opponents of it loaded it up with poisoned provisions that were seemingly reasonable, but were intended not for decent ends, but to keep MMA out of the state. It worked, since the bill passed in Conn almost two years ago, there has not been a single MMA event off tribal lands. Opponents want to do the same thing in New York.
The fight to legalize mixed martial arts in New York resumed Tuesday, with legislation advancing out of committee and some lawmakers advocating a special fund for brain-damaged fighters.
The bill contains a provision that would require fighters to get a neurological examination in advance and a further exam and brain scan if there is “any indication of brain injury.” Sen. Betty Little, a Queensbury Republican who chairs the committee and voted for the bill, said the fund is something that could be looked at.
Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat who voted against the bill, has introduced alternative legislation that would regulate MMA in New York and establish a compensation fund for professional fighters, similar to New York’s jockey fund, which would be paid by the businesses putting on fights. It would tax events with 8.5 percent of ticket receipts and 3 percent of gross broadcasting rights receipts.
“You’re going to get hurt in this sport. The question came up: What does boxing give you? Boxing at least gives you gloves,” said Sen. James Sanders, a Queens Democrat, who voted no. “We’re seeing damage is going to be done. And we’re not preparing for it. Under those conditions, we should not move in this direction.”
Lorenzo Fertitta, chief executive of Ultimate Fighting Championship, the sport’s major brand, said no promises were made and no timetable set, but Heastie wants his caucus to “go through the issue” and proceed from there. He said UFC is open to the idea of a compensation fund and already provides full medical coverage to its fighters and accident insurance when they are not training.
Meanwhile, companion legislation to Griffo’s bill has been introduced in the Assembly by Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, a Rochester Democrat, and more than 50 co-sponsors. A companion to Hoylman’s bill to establish the compensation fund has been introduced by Assembly Ways and Means Chairman Herman “Denny” Farrell. Another bill introduced this year in both houses would continue the ban for two years and require a state health study of the dangers.
