When it was reported yesterday that a bill to legalize MMA in New York was passed by the Assembly, fans and fighters everywhere couldn’t have been more delighted. But it seems as though some may have misunderstood the situation.
Although the sport is extremely close to being made officially legal in the ‘Big Apple’, there are still some final steps that need to be cleared before the UFC and other promotions can hold events in the state.
“We’re hopeful that the Governor (Andrew Cuomo), who has been supportive in the past and said he will sign this bill, will sign the bill in fairly short order,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said during a UFC conference call. “Once that happens then the New York State Athletic Commission will have to promulgate rules, adopt rules and regulations, and we are hopeful we will be holding one – possibly two – events before the end of the year here in 2016.”
Though it may not be a 100% done deal just yet, all signs indicate that MMA will finally be legal in New York in the very near future. Once that happens, fans expect the UFC to announce a landmark event at NY’s famous Madison Square Garden venue.
