MMA bill likely to pass

On the seventh attempt, New York poised to legalize mixed martial arts

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The New York state Senate voted in favor of legalizing mixed martial arts on Feb.1. This is the seventh year in a row that a bill of this nature as been passed in the senate. For the past six years, the bill has stalled in the assembly where the Democratic majority has usually opposed it.

New York is the only state in the union where the sport is banned, yet the region has produced a large number of athletes, many of who compete for the UFC, the largest MMA promotion in the country.

Baldwin native, Chris Weidman had been the middleweight champion for almost three years, until Luke Rockhold at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas dethroned him on Dec. 13. The event was the headline for UFC 194, a pay-per-view program that the promotion holds.

In the months following his loss, Weidman begun to lobby for the MMA legalization bill throughout New York state.

“I’ve lobbied there before,” said Weidman. “It’s different this time. The governor is going to put the MMA in his budget. This is a huge thing for us. There’s hope for a stand-alone bill.”

Weidman said he believed the time was right for a bill legalizing the competition in New York state. “There aren’t too many people against it for any real reason,” he said. “For a while people were saying it’s too brutal.” But, he added, if the state regulated the sport, it would be safer.

Part of this year’s bill has earmarks in place that would be provide suppport for an thlete who is injured during competition. In prior years, there was no safety net for the athletes, which caused some in the assembly to vote against the bill. With these new additions to the bill, it’s passage seems likely said New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, (D-Valley Stream).

“Although I don’t condone sports where people express that much violence,” said Solages, who studied sports medicine at Hofstra University. “I know there’s a fund that will support the athlete in the long run.”

Solages had been an opponent of the bill since she was elected to the assembly in 2010. Her opposition was mostly based on the lack of funds in case of long-term injuries. Such funds are prevalent in sports like, football. The new bill is much better for the athletes than the previous ones, Solages said, and a result she endorses it.

“I think it’s going to get passed this year,” she said. “A lot of people were apprehensive because of that piece where there wasn’t long term funding for injured athletes. Now that the bill has been strengthened and changed, I think there’s a good chance of it passing.”

With the passage of the bill will come more revenue for the state. The UFC has been eager to house events at Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center, according to UFC President Dana White. That increase in revenue has been a main reason for Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) decision to cosign the bill in previous years.

“It brings a lot of people to an area when they’re having their large events,” said Ra. “It would bring a lot of economic activity.”

In addition to UFC coming to the Barclays or Madison Square Garden, smaller promotions are able to run events throughout the state in smaller venues, Ra said.

The bill is expected to be brought to the assembly floor soon, said Ra. When it does, Ra expects it will be approved with little opposition from the Democratic side.

Adrienne Lyons contributed to this story.