Fighters react on Twitter to MMA’s legalization in New York

Professional MMA is finally legal in New York, which means UFC, Bellator, and other promotions will soon be headed to the Empire State. Read the reactions from pro fighters on Twitter.

In a landmark moment for MMA, the New York State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make the sport legal in New York, a state that has long resisted legalizing the sport. This decision now means that the whole of the United States has legalized professional MMA, and you can expect to see promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, World Series of Fighting, Ring of Combat, and many others head to all parts of the state (not just Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center).

It’s a big day for fighters in the New York and surrounding tri-state area, fans who have always wanted to experience MMA events in-person in their home state, and for the sport to achieve legal clearance in all of the USA. All it took was an unbelievably cringeworthy session in Albany on March 22nd, 2016 to get it done.

Here’s how pro fighters, including many New York natives and residents, reacted to the news on Twitter.

100 percent !! https://t.co/6Hcrws5P3I

— Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo) March 22, 2016

New York has legalized MMA. I know a lot of fighters have dreams of fighting at #MadisonSquareGarden I think this will become a reality.

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 22, 2016

MMA legalized in New York

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 22, 2016

HAHA THE BILL PASSED!!!! Now just have to wait for the governor to sign it off. Hallelujah!! #MMA4NY @ufc #longislandmma

— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) March 22, 2016

Back to @TheGarden then!

— Coach (@CMPunk) March 22, 2016

Was that really so hard?!

— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 22, 2016

Hallelujah. MMA is legal in NYC. If i ever get to fight at Madison Square Garden, I need Patrick Ewing & @HLundqvist30 in my corner @ufc

— Sean O’Connell (@realOCsports) March 22, 2016

I’ve waited a long time for today and couldn’t be more excited to have MMA legal in my hometown of New York!! pic.twitter.com/uoxIpPbcQ4

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 22, 2016

MMA is finally Legalized in the state of New York

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 22, 2016

Bill passes. A crying shame that a major fight card hasn’t happened at MSG. Catch wrestling did 100yrs ago, it can now return. #MMAinNYC

— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) March 22, 2016

Thank you New York City for legalizing MMA. @ufc and the fight fans here we come @danawhite @lorenzofertitta

— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 22, 2016

Wow long time coming! Better late than never! #Repost @ufc with repostapp.
・・・
Thank You NY… https://t.co/0F9VA1vuDE

— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 22, 2016

#MMAinNY finally here and can fight in my home state #bornandraised #NewYork #sohappy words can’t describe…….. #Ufc #mma #MSG #cantwait

— Keith Berish (@KeithBerish) March 22, 2016

Mma is legit now!

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) March 22, 2016

Glad to see NY on the menu now. Unfortunate about the timing.

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 22, 2016

Mma now legal in New York! The growth continues! #MMA4NY

— scott askham (@scottaskham1) March 22, 2016

Finally MMA legal in New York!!! #NewYork #MMA #BellatorMMA #BellatorNation pic.twitter.com/F01wm6TZCW

— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) March 22, 2016

This is a historic day for New York and the MMA community! So excited to fight at home! #ny #MSG #longisland #islip @LIslandStrong @ufc

— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) March 22, 2016

It’s about damn time!! #newyork @ufc https://t.co/BWaq43S5d6 pic.twitter.com/3D36mweUbr

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 22, 2016

What a day! Time for @BellatorMMA and @SpikeSports to come to NY! LET’S GO TO N.Y.!!!!!!! great day for our sport! @Giants @NFL

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) March 22, 2016

Better for Chris I don’t beat him down in his home state.

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 22, 2016

Mma almost legal here in New york! My first dream was to become World Champion and my second… https://t.co/htG4SX1oYT

— Marcos Galvao (@MarcosGalvaoMMA) March 22, 2016

Thank you #NYC now all the fans can see #MMA live. #MMANYC @BellatorMMA @SpikeTV @Viacom https://t.co/3GnGq1V5JG

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) March 22, 2016

Eso Amigos!!! @lorenzofertitta @danawhite #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork https://t.co/fkfPlElVJB

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) March 22, 2016

Professional MMA is finally legal in New York, which means UFC, Bellator, and other promotions will soon be headed to the Empire State. Read the reactions from pro fighters on Twitter.

In a landmark moment for MMA, the New York State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make the sport legal in New York, a state that has long resisted legalizing the sport. This decision now means that the whole of the United States has legalized professional MMA, and you can expect to see promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, World Series of Fighting, Ring of Combat, and many others head to all parts of the state (not just Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center).

It’s a big day for fighters in the New York and surrounding tri-state area, fans who have always wanted to experience MMA events in-person in their home state, and for the sport to achieve legal clearance in all of the USA. All it took was an unbelievably cringeworthy session in Albany on March 22nd, 2016 to get it done.

Here’s how pro fighters, including many New York natives and residents, reacted to the news on Twitter.