UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta revealed that the promotion may decide to host two New York shows in 2016.
It appears as though the long-discussed November pay-per-view show at Madison Square Garden may not be the UFC’s first show in New York since MMA was legalized.
According to CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, the promotion may opt to host a Fight Night show in New York ahead of their debut at the Garden.
“We are hopeful that we will be holding one, possibly two events [in New York] before the end of the year here in 2016,” Fertitta said (h/t MMAFighting.com). “We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get in at least two in before the end of the year.”
Following a bizarre circus act of an assembly on Tuesday, New York voted to lift the ban on mixed martial arts with an overwhelming 113-25 unanimous vote. The decision means that every single state can no legally host and regulate MMA events. The UFC can now host their first show in New York since 1995.
Fertitta mentioned areas like Rochester and Buffalo for the initial NY show but later backtracked and added that the promotion’s focus lies with the landmark UFC 200 show.
“We’re gonna put together the best available matches that we can. You’ll have the biggest names that we can possibly put on, the biggest names that are available at the time. Believe me, we want to knock it out of the park and we want to deliver for New York in a big way.”