New York State, last to resist, opens its doors to MMAs

“It took a while to get done, but it was worth it,” New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference in the Great Hall of Madison Square Garden.

The first text legalizing the professional practice of MMA, banned since 1997 in this state, was indeed adopted in 2010 by the New York Senate.

But the state assembly refused to examine the text, several elected officials expressing reservations about the violence of this discipline, a mixture of several martial arts.

At the instigation of Governor Cuomo, the lower house finally took up a text it voted overwhelmingly at the end of March.

In New York from November

New York was the last US state to ban professional MMA fights.

“So far, the first thing people said who opposed the sport was, you’re not even allowed in New York. This argument does not hold any more, commented to AFP Lorenzo Fertitta, president and general manager of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He announced Thursday that the first meeting of the UFC in New York State will be held on November 12 at MSG.

“New York being the most important city in the world in many ways, especially when it comes to the media, I think it will change the perception of people,” said the one who is also co-owner of the UFC.

“Judge us once you have had the chance to experience this sport,” asked Lorenzo Fertitta.

MMA is played with padded gloves according to unified international rules.

There are many restrictions which prohibit in particular, under penalty of penalty, bites, blows to the head when the adversary is on the ground, or blows to the throat.

Victory is obtained by knockout, immobilization or by decision of the judges after three rounds (five for championships).

The fights occasionally result in broken bones or injuries, but the UFC has never recorded any fatalities.

“It’s going to be done well, in a secure manner, under the control of the New York State Combat Sports Supervisory Authority,” said Lorenzo Fertitta.

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