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New Video Makes the Case for Legalizing MMA in the State of New York

As the battle continues to legalize mixed martial arts in the state of New York, a new video released yesterday takes a deeper look into what’s preventing the fasting-growing sport in the world from entering the Big Apple.In the video above, comedian a…

In the video above, comedian and MMA proponent Steven Crowder, accompanied with a host of industry leaders, takes an in-depth look into the history behind the battle to bring MMA to New York. UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, former UFC champion Pat Miletich, Renzo Gracie and Ariel Helwani are featured in the video, as they discuss the tumultuous situation between the politicians and unions involved with the banning of MMA in the state.

“Basically, it comes down to the fact that in the state of Nevada, the Fertitta brothers—who own the majority of the UFC—also run the Station casinos. They have been battling with the culinary union over in Nevada for a very long time,” Helwani says in the video. “New York, being a very strong union state, they have influence here, their parent company is this group Unite Here which are the ones who are lobbying against MMA.”

The video further details the relationship between the unions in New York and their support of politicians such as Assemblyman Bob Reilly, an outspoken critic of the sport. Crowder and company call into question how big of an influence these unions have over MMA’s legalization in the state.

Also, the segment goes on to debunk some of the common misconceptions associated with the sport. Topics such as MMA’s safety and levels of violence when compared to other sports are also discussed.

Be sure to “Like” Matt on Facebook or “Follow” Matt on Twitter @MattJuulMMA.

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Forget MMA, New York Should Ban Cheerleading If It Really is Concerned About Safety

(Video courtesy of YouTube/

With all of the resistance New York and it’s crooked supporters have put up against the legalization of MMA in the Empire State, it’s surprising that none of these do-gooder groups have ever raised a stink about any really dangerous sports like football, or cheerleading — the latter of which accounts for nearly 67 percent of catastrophic sporting injuries in females.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/katrinaberarducci)

A recent report showed that between 1982 and 2007, there were 103 fatal, disabling or serious injuries and three deaths recorded among female high school athletes, with the vast majority occurring in cheerleading. The study went on to say that 25% of NCAA Insurance program funding went towards cheerleading-related injuries.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/

(Video courtesy of YouTube/katrinaberarducci)

What’s funny is that the sport, which basically has no regulation in terms of what level of expertise coaches and trainers must have (outside of a handful of schools who recently begun checking), nor does it have a set minimum training or experience requirement for its participants, is accepted across North America and has never faced a possible ban like MMA did in New York in 1997.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/TheNCSF)

Most cases for the legalization of MMA have included the staggering statistics of cheerleading-related injuries to point out the hypocrisy of opponents of the sport, who claim that fighting is unsafe because of the number of injuries incurred by its athletes. Such arguments often fail when stat sheets are brought out to demonstrate just how few mixed martial arts bouts end in injury, besides minor ones like finger and hand sprains or dislocations.

You can bet we’ll never see Bob Reilly supporting a bill to ban cheerleading in New York, mostly because it won’t get him the votes of his constituents with ulterior motives or campaign contributions from conflicting parties like the Culinary Union.

Aren’t politics great?

MMA Regulation: What Needs to Happen to Get the Sport Legalized in New York

It is 2012 and yet it is still impossible to see live mixed martial arts in Madison Square Garden. There seems to be some kind of oddity in that.For a long time, MMA has faced opposition from New York about the legalization of the sport.It certai…

It is 2012 and yet it is still impossible to see live mixed martial arts in Madison Square Garden. There seems to be some kind of oddity in that.

For a long time, MMA has faced opposition from New York about the legalization of the sport.

It certainly was head-scratching. Here was a way for a state in the middle of a bad economy to generate serious income for its constituents and, at the same time, become a destination mecca for one of the biggest growing sports in the world.

It seemed like a no-brainer.

And then it was revealed that some of those who were voting against the sport were doing so because of pressure from the culinary union. They have even stated that the UFC is homophobic.

It’s a bit ridiculous considering that the UFC is so global that being homophobic would only remove clientele, but it shows that unless the UFC and MMA have a lot of things to overcome.

So what is it going to take for MMA to become legal in New York?

Pressure and a lot of media attention.

In the history of most legal cases it comes down to interest groups. The culinary union obviously most hold some serious leverage with the New York legislature.

The problem for them is they only have so much. If enough New Yorkers and journalists alert people to what is going on and demand to see MMA legalized it will happen.

And that is because politicians are only friendly to those that help them stay in power. The culinary has some power, but if the very people who keep those politicians in office show anger over the lack of MMA fights in their state then it will change.

So for once MMA fans have to find the time and energy to do what seems to come natural to them.

They have to complain.

Except this time they have to put that aggression towards those that they elected to serve them. That might mean writing a letter or making a phone call, but it shouldn’t be an e-mail.

A letter or a phone call shows that the person spent time on that task and that task alone to make sure it conveyed their feelings.

The other thing that fans can do is call their local media news outlets. If enough people demand a story, the media will deliver because it will mean either ratings or papers bought.

Fans have the power with their vote and their dollar. All they need to do is flex it and MMA will be legal before the year is out.

It is the single greatest thing about America. Democracy.

Now we just need to see it take place in the very heart of the nation.

We just need to see New York legalize MMA.

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Zuffa, Fighters Versus the State of New York

Exercising their constitutional rights, Zuffa filed a lawsuit along with several MMA fans and fighters including Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, Gina Carano and Matt Hamill on Tuesday U.S. District Court in the Southern District of.

Exercising their constitutional rights, Zuffa filed a lawsuit along with several MMA fans and fighters including Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, Gina Carano and Matt Hamill on Tuesday U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York against state attorney general Eric Schneiderman and Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Zuffa attorney, Barry Friedman explained to Yahoo! Sports that the reasons given for banning MMA events in New York are a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendmants. Friedman stated:

“They banned it because they thought MMA conveyed a message of violence. We don’t think that is the message that MMA conveys. I just spent the last few days with a lot of fighters and I spent a lot of time with them over the last few months. They will, as you can see in the complaint, talk about a lot of other values that are present [in MMA] like discipline, courage and respect for an opponent…. But even if violence was the message, New York still can’t ban MMA because it doesn’t like that message.”

“On safety, what they’re saying is, ‘You can’t do this because it’s not safe. Any time the government says you can’t do something that involves your liberty, that is a 14th Amendment claim because it is denying people of their life or liberty without due process. And it’s also a discrimination claim… Why ban mixed martial arts as unsafe when the data shows it’s at least as safe, or safer than a lot of other sports, like boxing, football, ice hockey, Alpine skiing, equestrian sports? It turns out the most dangerous thing you can do is be a flyer in cheerleading. So you ask, what parts of the Constitution cover that, and it’s the equal protection clause.”

The man has a point.

MMA in New York: UFC Files Lawsuit to Legalize MMA on Constitutional Grounds

Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the UFC, has filed a lawsuit against New York State Attorney General Eric Shneiderman and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance with the ultimate purpose of legalizing MMA in New York, according to the Wall Street Jou…

What’s the crux of Zuffa’s argument?

That the banning of MMA in New York tramples over the right to freedom of speech given by the first amendment, although the amendment is interpreted to include more than just speech.

One such case that Zuffa bases its argument on is Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, a case in which it was determined that banning the sale of violent video games was an infringement on first amendment rights.

Zuffa has brought on a veritable who’s who of plaintiffs, including Jon Jones, Gina Carano, Frankie Edgar, Brian Stann and Matt Hamill.

The man representing Zuffa and the other plaintiffs—New York University School of Law professor Barry Friedman—is making full use of the fact that the sport is called mixed martial arts in his case against New York State.

“It’s martial artistry,” said Friedman. “The nature of martial arts is a lot like dancing…As is true of ballet, music, or theater, for an audience, attending a live MMA event is an experience that cannot be replicated on a screen.”

So will attacking the law that bans MMA succeed with this new strategy?

Jonathan Snowden, MMA writer and lawyer, is pessimistic.

He tweeted: “UFC’s fifth cause of action is that the law is ‘Unconstitutionally Irrational.’ More than 100 pages in and only two cases cited. Hmm…”

He then tweeted that despite his long time away from law school, he though that Zuffa “doesn’t have much of a case at all.”

The UFC has tried to lift the ban on MMA in New York on multiple occasions and was met with failure each time, despite donating over $70,000 to the campaign of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Only time will tell if the UFC can be successful this time around.

The legal documentation regarding the case can be read here.

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UFC: The Top 10 Venues to Never Host an Event

The UFC is the fastest-growing organization of the fastest-growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts.In the past two years, venues such as the American Airlines Center, the TD Garden (formerly the Boston Garden), Conseco Fieldhouse, the Palace of …

The UFC is the fastest-growing organization of the fastest-growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts.

In the past two years, venues such as the American Airlines Center, the TD Garden (formerly the Boston Garden), Conseco Fieldhouse, the Palace of Auburn Hills and Rogers Centre have all hosted their their UFC Events.

With the UFC recently signing a network deal with Fox, it continues to grow, and is working to be sanctioned in all 50 states, as they look to expand into international markets.

This list will cover the 10 most famous venues who have never hosted a UFC event that would make for an awesome experience.

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