Mixed Martial Arts Going To Be Legalized In New York State
- May 26th, 2011
- Posted in MMA
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To legalize professional mixed martial arts in New York, the state Senate voted 42-18 on Monday. As it was considered too violent, after an Ultimate Fighting Championship in Buffalo, MMA has been banned since 1995.
The Senate voted for the bill authorizing the New York State Athletic Commission to regulate the mix of boxing, grappling, judo and kickboxing the way it regulates boxing with new Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, a Rochester native, on hand.
A Utica Republican and sponsor Sen. Joseph Griffo said with rules and protections for fighters, 45 other states have sanctioned the popular sport that has evolved from its rough early days. With events at New York venues it will generate money for the state he further added.
By saying injuries to fighters in other states appears underreported and that the sport is a bad example for children, Sen. Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, voted no. Studies have shown that so called “ground and pound” punches, where a fighter punches an opponent already on the ground, can result in bruising blows, some at 910 kilograms of force, she said.
Before the vote, the 6 foot 4 inch, 205 pound Jones, 23, known for stunning strikes with his elbows, met several senators with a gentle handshake.
Supporters said the sport will bring in much needed revenue to the state as well as would help create jobs. To lift the ban on the sport in the past lawmakers there have killed several bills. The Assembly may yet vote out the measure.
