A bill to sanction mixed martial arts in the state of New York has failed to make it onto the assembly floor for a vote…again.
As always, there will be lots of questions: Why didn’t the bill make it to a vote when the support for it is actually growing?
Was the indomitable Bob Reilly behind the killing of this bill? And does it have anything to do with the long-running feud between the UFC’s principle owners, the Fertitta brothers, and the Culinary Workers Union?
Those are all valid questions, if this song and dance even interests you any longer. Really though, the only question that matters anymore is: Who cares?
MMA is regulated in 46 American states. The UFC has brought the sport global in recent years. They have their FOX deal that will guarantee MMA reaches the widest audience possible. We will get about 25 UFC events this year, seven or eight Strikeforce events, and 20 or so Bellator events.
Do the math and that averages out to a mixed martial arts event just about every week of the year.
Why on earth does it matter that one state won’t allow MMA? The sport is doing just fine, and will continue to thrive with or without New York.
So what’s all the hubbub about?
Well, New York is the media capital of America. And Madison Square Garden is a historic venue that would make a fine host for a huge UFC event. But getting sanctioned in New York would be mostly just a symbolic victory.
It wouldn’t magically transform casual fans into hardcore fans. It wouldn’t send pay-per-view sales skyrocketing. It wouldn’t mean more events on free TV. The heavens wouldn’t open up and shower beer and Buffalo wings on us.
It would create a little buzz, and positive media attention is never a bad thing, but for the most part, it wouldn’t change much.
Presumably, the UFC’s seemingly simple effort for legalization in New York has morphed into a political urination contest. You can read all about it here and here.
Draw your own conclusions, but ask yourself this: Why else would New York deny MMA other than to appease some special interest?
To protect children from violence? In the year 2012, no one can afford to be that naive.
New York gets nothing out of not allowing MMA. They would, however, get something out of allowing it: revenue, Recovering from the worst financial catastrophe since the Great Depression, revenue seems like a mildly important issue.
Eventually mixed martial arts will be sanctioned in New York. It’s just a matter of time. Until then though, who cares?
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