State Senators are hoping this will be the year the State Assembly takes up a vote on legalizing professional Mixed Martial Arts events in New York. The Senate passed a bill by a vote of 47 to 15 this week in favor of the move. New York is one of only three states that doesn't allow pro MMA fights.
The Senate has signed off on similar legislation for four years, but the bill has historically been stalled in the Assembly. Republican Buffalo Senator Mark Grisanti, a sponsor of the bill, is urging Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to bring it up for a vote, calling it a "no-brainer."
Critics say MMA fights are violent, but Grisanti says they are no more dangerous than other sports.
"Over a decade ago, there was problems with MMA and UFC. Those have changed," Grisanti said on the Senate floor Wednesday.
"If violence and the risk of serious injury is a concern, maybe we should ban boxing, football, ice hockey, downhill skiing, rodeo, and even tightrope walking across Niagara Falls," Grisanti said, referring to 2012's Nik Wallenda walk.
Silver Wednesday said he expects mixed martial arts will be approved in New York, but he’s not sure how soon that will happen. He said the issue will be discussed among his conference, though he remains personally opposed to the sport.
Mixed Martial Arts events bring with them a significant economic impact on host localities. Grisanti says an exhibition last spring in Toronto had a $35 million impact on the city over a three-day weekend.
Under the bill, New York events would be regulated by the state's Athletic Commission. Governor Andrew Cuomo, in comments made Thursday, appears to be warming up to the idea of MMA events in the state.
"I think it's making progress and it's something we're looking at as a possible source of revenue, and we are all about looking for revenue in this state," Cuomo told reporters in Westchester County.
An independent study has indicated the City of Buffalo could reap roughly $5 million from a single MMA exhibition.
