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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=450212" target="_blank">
Lorenzo 'cautiously optimistic' about MMA in NY
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=450212" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=33&q=75&x=-1&y=60&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=statue-of-liberty-06-19-13-10-29-35-147.jpg" /></a>
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<p>Mixed martial arts is regulated in every State and Province in North American. Except for New York, where it is a despicable mess. Amateur MMA is legal in The Empire State, but unregulated, so <a href="http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/444123/Fighters-with-HIV-and-Hep-C-are-competing-in-New-York/" target="_blank">fighters with HIV, hepatitis, and a host of other conditions</a> that prevent them from being licensed anywhere in North America are fighting in New York. Professional MMA is prohibited, so the countless fight fans have to go to NJ and beyond, the state misses out on the millions of dollars that a UFC brings in.</p>
Four times, year after year, forward-thinking politicians have tried to get the sport legal and regulated, but Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Silver never allowed the measure to come to the floor for a vote. The UFC spent millions in lobbying, to no avail. Now the witch is dead - Silver was arrested on federal corruption charges and is gone after 21 years as speaker.
UFC Chairman & CEO Lorenzo spoke with Jon Campbell, and expressed cautious optimism that after 18 years, MMA may again become legal and regulated in New York.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, was forced to resign his powerful post after he was arrested last month on federal corruption charges. And the man who replaced him, Assemblyman Carl Heastie of the Bronx, says he's a "personal supporter" of the sport.
"Speaker Heastie has long been a sponsor and strong supporter of the bill to have New York join the 49 other states that legalize and regulate MMA," Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC's chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "We are cautiously optimistic that 2015 is the year that New York's huge UFC fan base will have the opportunity to see some incredible live events from Brooklyn to Buffalo."
Heastie had been a co-sponsor of the legislation, which would repeal the ban and allow the state Athletic Commission to regulate bouts. But in the days after he was elevated to speaker on Feb. 3, Heastie removed his name from a number of bills.
He's pledged to work by gauging the consensus of Assembly Democrats.
"I'll still give my preference, but really it's the conscience of the conference," Heastie said. "If the conference wants to move the bill forward, we'll do that. And if not, then we won't. But my personal opinion is I'm still a personal supporter of MMA."
Lawmakers are split on the issue.
The Assembly's 105-member Democratic Conference is expected to meet in private later this year to discuss whether the bill should be put to a vote, though no date for the meeting has been set. In previous years, the conference has discussed the issue behind closed doors in June, with Silver emerging to announce a consensus that no vote would be taken.
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, the lead sponsor of the bill, said he has yet to speak to Heastie about it. But he said younger members of the conference appear supportive of the bill.
Morelle said the goal would be to legalize MMA but to also regulate it to ensure safety and cut down on illegal matches.
"I'm certainly optimistic that it's going to be given a new look, and a lot of the newer members seem to be very enthusiastic about it," Morelle said.
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