NY MMA back to the beginning

**Lampa** · Posted On: 5/26/2010 11:50am

So, I got to break a news story, today, regarding the progress of MMA in the state of New York. For the more traditional news story you can check out what I wrote here. But this be my bullshido commentary.

Short version: The MMA bill was put on hiatus because MMA was also in the budget being negotiated. Today it turned out that the budget was so funked up that they just sent it back to the Assembly to vote on it. First of three rounds of voting starts next week.

Back in February when I found out we were in a budget cut year and that MMA was added to Paterson's budget proposal I was pretty sure something like this would happen. It's a needless stall but, unless anyone has done a 180 on their thoughts toward MMA this should steamroll its way to the final round of voting with the general assembly.

My sense from talking to individual offices is that an MMA sanctioning bill would pass overwhelmingly in the final round. However, Bob Reilly seems to feel that he can get the entire democratic caucus behind him to vote against it if push comes to shove.

**shelbydeth** · Posted On: 5/29/2010 9:50am

FFFUUU- This better work out. Ontario next plz.

**Travis17** · Posted On: 5/29/2010 11:58am

Has anyone shown these people who are against legalizing MMA videos of MMA and how it compares to Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling, and BJJ as their separate sports which I'm guessing is legalized everywhere for competition? (Not sure about Kickboxing) Then show them what random, street fights with random people in the world that got video taped are like. That way they can see it as a more of a sport and less of just a random brawl or that it encourages violence.

Sort of commenting also on the other thread that was made about a month ago where there was a politician saying something about it encouraging violence. Unless these guys are also against boxing too and think it encourages violence too, I don't see how a convincing argument can't be made for legalizing MMA with the proper evidence shown to them.

Maybe they're just using the issue to get something out of it before legalizing it.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/29/2010 12:03pm

Originally Posted by Travis17

Sort of commenting also on the other thread that was made about a month ago where there was a politician saying something about it encouraging violence. Unless these guys are also against boxing too and think it encourages violence too, I don't see how a convincing argument can't be made for legalizing MMA with the proper evidence shown to them.

On a similar note, it is my firm belief that any jurisdiction which allows professional wrestling must also allow MMA. If you're going to allow bullshit which hides the consequences of violence, you should also allow real violence which illustrates the consequences of actual hand-to-hand combat (this principle does not extend to recreating professional wrestling events with actual violence).

**Travis17** · Posted On: 5/29/2010 4:43pm

Originally Posted by Robstafarian

On a similar note, it is my firm belief that any jurisdiction which allows professional wrestling must also allow MMA. If you're going to allow bullshit which hides the consequences of violence, you should also allow real violence which illustrates the consequences of actual hand-to-hand combat (this principle does not extend to recreating professional wrestling events with actual violence).

I agree.

I'm curious what the UFC and other MMA groups do to convince these politicians this is just another sport.

**BaronVonDingDong** · Posted On: 5/29/2010 6:38pm

I'm pretty convinced that the issue of MMA is uncontroversial in New York State, it's just that the budget situation here is so irredeemably screwed that all legislation moves at a glacial pace.

The state has a $9.2 billion budget deficit, and because no one can agree on what to cut, we lurch from one weekly emergency spending bill to another. If this is tied up with that, then God help it.