MMA in NY Passes Committee (Yay!!!)

Today the New York State Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports passed Bill 2009-B (regarding MMA legalization in NY). After a 20-minute rant by bill opposition leader Bob Reilly (boooo!), including a less than convincing video presentation; followed by a 20-minute speech by Assemblyman Jonathan Bing -who favors the bill- (Yay!!) the bill passed with a 14-6 margin.


Now the bill will move to the Codes Committee who will review the legal side of the bill and if/ WHEN it passes the bill will then be sent to the assembly floor for a final vote.

With the vote today taking less than 30 minutes, the hardest part is past us. In 12 years the bill has never made it passed the Committee.

The state of New York banned MMA in 1997, two years after UFC 7: Brawl in Buffalo took place. When the bill is finalized and MMA is legal in the Big Apple once again the UFC plans to hold an event in NY's Madison Square Garden early 2010.