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Mixed Martial Arts finally legalised in the state of New York

By on March 22, 2016

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After years of politicking, canvassing and debating to get mixed martial arts legalised in the state of New York it has finally happened.

Last week news broke that the MMA bill would be voted on by the state assembly for the first time ever having been blocked by speaker Sheldon Silver for years. Many put that blockage down to Silver and his connection to the culinary unions of America who are long time rivals of the UFC and more specifically the UFC’s parent company Zuffa.

Now, with Silver out of the picture and a new speaker in the job, the bill was put up for a vote on the floor today. Before that vote, though, a long and bizarre debate took place where MMA was compared to gay sex and pre-ordained kickboxing as seemingly every assembly member had to have their say – no matter how ridiculous.

But in the end the vote did eventually happen and passed with flying colours to the joy of many people who have worked for years to have MMA legalised in the very last state in the US where it was banned.

The decision leaves every MMA promotion open to hold events in the Empire State but the UFC will obviously draw the most attention having, in the past, promised to make the first event in the city one to remember.

With local fighters like Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar and Chris Weidman all pushing to fight on the maiden card rumoured to be happening in November, it is definitely one to look forward to.

Podcaster, lead MMA writer and analyst for SevereMMA. Host of the SevereMMA podcast, out every Sunday. Economics and Mathematics graduate from UCC. Also write for Sherdog. Previously of hov-mma and fightbooth. As heard on 2FM, Red FM, Today FM and more. Follow me on twitter for updates @SeanSheehanBA and on Facebook Facebook.com/seansheehanmma
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