We Still Might Get to See MMA in NY This Year

by Donna on Jun 16, 2010 9:52 PM EDT in News

The NY Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to lift the MMA ban in NY state. The State Assembly Ways and Means Committee still has to approve the bill before it will be brought to the entire Assembly for a vote. As anyone who reads our site knows, we've been dying to see MMA make its way to NY. The thought that we might have MMA events in NYC by the end of the year puts me in palpitations. Of course, as soon as the news broke, the insane news stories came out. Some of my favorite quotes from DNAinfo:

"...ultimate fighting permits all manner of below-the-belt actions, ranging from low kicks and knees to the groin, to punches, choke holds and body slams. And while combatants are required to wear gloves, they resemble baseball batting gloves more than the heavily padded gloves worn by boxers."

"For its part, the New York State Catholic Conference called ultimate fighting the equivalent of humans fighting each other like murderous dogs."

"We should be ashamed of ourselves as a legislative body," fumed Republican State Sen. Bill Larson, who dismissed ultimate fighting as little more than a form of training for hoodlums.

Wow. Where to start. First of all, the knees to the groin information is just flat out wrong, and comparing MMA fight gloves to baseball batting gloves is laughable. Of course we're all familiar with the "human cockfighting" argument, but the New York State Catholic Conference took that argument to new heights of ridiculousness with the "murderous dogs" reference. The way they speak of it, you'd expect MMA events to include ritual sacrifice and the winners eating the losers still beating hearts. Finally, Bill Larson, NY MMA's #1 enemy, states that MMA is "...little more than a form of training for hoodlums." Someone needs to tell Bill "Dick" Larson that over 80% of UFC fighters have college degrees. Hoodlums, indeed.

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Yes, because the first thing they teach you in jujitsu is how to knock down an old lady and steal her purse...

People are entitled to their opinion about MMA, and if they don’t like the blood and violence, that’s their prerogative. What bothers me is when these people influence the lawmaking process…and make absolutely no effort to educate themselves regarding the subjects about which they’re legislating. The bit about MMA being a “form of training for hoodlums” really chaps my ass, tho, especially in light of the number of fighters for whom training combat sports was a way OUT of their shitty circumstances, something that KEPT them from becoming the hoodlums Mr. Larson fears… I mean, do we have any doubt that Nick Diaz would probably be in prison right about now if he didn’t channel (most) of his aggression into his training?

Bleh, it’s stuff like this that makes me wish DFW and Co. had changed the name of the UFC when they bought it — because it’s never going to live down it’s origins as free-for-all violence.. To this day, you can still see shows like CSI doing episodes about “underground fighting” without really making any effort to differentiate it from MMA (although to their credit, the show Leverage did an excellent job of addressing the issue, AND featured a ponytailed Christian Kane participating in a “fight” /rawr!)..

by dubiety on Jun 17, 2010 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

Great points

The UFC could infuse 500 million dollars monthly into the NY economy and Larson would still complain. For some reason he picked MMA as his “issue” and he’s going to hold onto it for all that he’s worth.

Gals Guide to MMA

by Donna on Jun 17, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks =)

Doesn’t New York have a long history with boxing? And I’m sure if MMA became THE sport among the wealthy, Larson would have to find another “issue”….like banning light beer and chewing tobacco. =P

by dubiety on Jun 17, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Someones main financial backing doesn’t like MMA. Or perhaps the constituents in his district are comprised mainly of old ppl who think its human cockfighting, or both

Even a broken clock is right two times a day.

by Chris Toffer on Jun 17, 2010 3:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i sending the diaz brother's over to larson's house to change his mind.

they will ask nicely once and if he is stubborn? one ugly stockton beatdown.

I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy. Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c it's a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 17, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions