New York Closer to Allowing Mixed Martial Arts

In a move supporters say will bring millions in annual new revenue to New York, lawmakers have advanced legislation to legalize professional mixed martial arts, nearly two decades after the combat sport was banned in the Empire State.

The New York State Assembly overwhelmingly approved a bill 113 to 25 Monday to legalize MMA, which paves the way for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to hold events and build new training centers throughout the state. The same bill already cleared the State Senate and Gov. Andrew Cuomo expressed support for the legislation Tuesday. The Democratic governor included revenue from MMA events in his proposed 2017 fiscal budget.

MMA combines various fighting disciplines including martial arts, boxing, kickboxing and wrestling. Former New York Gov. George Pataki led efforts to ban the sport in 1997 due to safety concerns.

Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, D- Irondequoit, sponsored the bill to legalize MMA.

“Over the past five years, I have sought to build a consensus on the merits of regulating MMA, which would enhance the safety of all participants and bring the sport, with its many economic benefits to the mainstream in New York State,” said Morelle in a statement after the vote. “MMA is already one of the fastest growing sports in the nation as evidenced by television ratings, attendance at amateur events and participation at existing training facilities.”

The UFC released what it called an independent report in late 2013 prepared by HR&A Advisors arguing that professional MMA in New York would generate $135 million in economic activity. The study said $68 million would result from mixed martial arts contests including UFC bouts at venues like Manhattan's Madison Square Garden and the First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The HR&A Advisors report also estimated $67 million would be generated from the expansion of UFC training centers, which would include 35 clubs with 69,000 members and 955 total employees, generating $960,000 in income taxes.

Under the bill approved Tuesday, New York State would collect a 3% tax on gross receipts of ticket sales and broadcast fees. UFC Chairman Lorenzo Feritta said on a conference call after the Assembly passage that he hopes to schedule one or two events at Madison Square Garden in 2016. He also said UFC looks forward to holding other fight cards in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany and Brooklyn.

"New York's amazing arenas - upstate and downstate - have worked with us to advocate passage of this bill,” said Feritta in a statement. “So, too, have restaurants, hotels, businesses and others who recognize the economic value professional MMA can bring to New York.”