MMA in N.Y. hits another snag

2009-01-29T22:14:22-05:00

The fight to have MMA sanctioned in New York hit yet another snag. If you'll recall, Assemblyman Steven Englebright introduced a bill last week that would legalize the sport in New York. Included was a three-year "Sunset Clause," which essentially allows the legislature to examine MMA's social and economic value down the road. The government would have the option to extend or repeal the law at the end of the third year. But all the talk hasn't produced anything, and it doesn't look like it will for quite some time. As <a href="http://mmaweekly.com/blog/index.asp">MMAWeekly.com</a><a href="http://mmaweekly.com/blog/index.asp">'s Insider Blog</a> reports: "For now, it's not on the table," he said. "Everything is so crazy with the budget and the budget cuts...there's nothing at this point on it being on the agenda. The budget's going to take up the entire time of the session. It'll get on there, but I only know so much." Englebright hosted the first meeting on Nov. 12, in which several proponents of the sport, including representatives from the UFC, spoke on the its behalf. Assemblyman Bob Reilly, a vocal critic of the bill who represents Albany and Saratoga counties, said most members of the Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development Committee--tasked to make the first vote on the legislation--were not invited. The cancellation comes as the UFC's New York lobbying firm, Global Strategy Group, has ramped up efforts to garner public support for the bill. In recent weeks, the bill has caught the attention of several mainstream news outlets, including the New York Times and Newsday. A petition to legalize the sport, drafted by MMA blog site Cage Potato, has made the rounds online.  Kimm was confident the bill would be placed on the agenda for a vote before the close of the session in June.  "It's only a matter of time..we'll get there soon enough," he said.   <ul> <li>Budget issues force delay to vote for MMA bill (<a href="http://mmaweekly.com/blog/index.asp">Insider Blog M</a><a href="http://mmaweekly.com/blog/index.asp">MAWeekly.com</a>)</li> </ul> MMA in N.Y. hits another snag

2009-01-28T15:30:38-05:00

2009-01-29T22:14:22-05:00

Logue13

Nutley 599174

2 This sucks! I was hoping for UFC 100 this summer Lesnar v. Mir at Madison Square Garden. Oh well. They have to come back the area soon though. Hopefully the Prudential Center in Newark. There are too many Jersey fighters now for them not to have a show here soon. 4159492

2009-01-29T09:42:48-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/328/641/thumb/untitled2.bmp 22062 TX

RobertMenn: You stole my rake

San Antonio 329021

1 Reily and his loyal followers just wanna get paid off. There is absolutely no reason not to have MMA in NY. They just know that Dana wants the UFC in NY really bad, so they have leverage. All they want is to be paid. Dirty, crooked, politicians. 4149094

The SI Staff

New York City 21244