It looks like the New York State Senate is going to approve their half of the MMA legislation soon, while the Assembly will continue to do fuck all - leaving us New Yorkers with lots of amateur MMA but no pro MMA.
WHAT DO, UFC? WHAT DO?!!
IMHO, the UFC needs to stage an amateur MMA event in the middle of fucking Times Square.
Agree or disagree?
That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up. 
bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.
Agreed.
When I went to the Strikeforce event the line was around an entire New York block.
New York gets everything else in the world.
Who cares if they don't get UFC?
It would be a novelty for the first time as NYers pack the place but in time NYers would only go if it were a WrestleMania or Super Bowl equivalent.
Let places like Baltimore and Cincy get some UFC.
New York has everything else.
I fail to see why this is such a big deal.
It's not like you don't already head to NJ to see events anyhow.
I get the UFC wanting revenue but aside from that I fail to see why NJ isn't enough. 
you want mma in NY you have to go after the cullinary union... each high ranking person one by one... until they say uncle.
bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.
There's a difference between the interest of people who are already MMA fans and the interest of those who don't know enough about the sport to know that pro MMA is illegal in New York. That ignorance by non-fans is what needs to be fixed.
ABE FROMAN -bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.
Agreed.
When I went to the Strikeforce event the line was around an entire New York block.
Watch Bellator on Spike -you want mma in NY you have to go after the cullinary union... each high ranking person one by one... until they say uncle.
The Culinary Union can't do shit if the constituents of the dissenting politicians speak up and express their desire to have pro MMA legalized. Those constituents just don't know that the sport isn't allowed here.
siouxNYC -So if Zuffa holds an ammy event in NY the Culinary Union trying to unionize Station Casinos in NV will will stop lobbying against pro MMA?It looks like the New York State Senate is going to approve their half of the MMA legislation soon, while the Assembly will continue to do fuck all - leaving us New Yorkers with lots of amateur MMA but no pro MMA.
WHAT DO, UFC? WHAT DO?!!
IMHO, the UFC needs to stage an amateur MMA event in the middle of fucking Times Square.
Agree or disagree?
As far as I'm concerned, it will never happen. I've gotten my hopes up too many times now.
I don't care either way. It takes like half an hour for me to get from NYC to the Izod Center. Not that much farther to Prudential or even Philly/DMV area if the card is good enough.
For those who live more upstate, a good card in Montreal= fun little road trip with friends.
Sucks for the businesses who lose out on big $$$ a packed UFC card can bring, but if politicians don't care enough about the local economic benefits to legalize it, Zuffa should continue to just show love to surrounding areas and let NYers spend their money out of state.
siouxNYC -ABE FROMAN -bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.Agreed.
When I went to the Strikeforce event the line was around an entire New York block.
Getting the vote of the MMA fan is easy. Getting the vote of people who don't follow the sport is the trick.
I'm not entirely sure that's the case. If we had a tidal wave of fans in NYC I'm not sure it would make the difference. I think we've covered interest, money and viability. The UFC has been pumping NY with grease-palm money for a few years now.
It's just down to being stubborn now. The question is what can put pressure on Sheldon Silver and his cronies enough that there will be consequences? What can make the Unions back off?
Seems to me that an expose of some sort detailing this fiendish little accord to block everything UFC needs to go public. Perhaps somebody needs to make a video putting the faces to the facts and put it out there.
They've been able to hide in the shadows up to this point.
CindyO -siouxNYC -So if Zuffa holds an ammy event in NY the Culinary Union trying to unionize Station Casinos in NV will will stop lobbying against pro MMA?
It looks like the New York State Senate is going to approve their half of the MMA legislation soon, while the Assembly will continue to do fuck all - leaving us New Yorkers with lots of amateur MMA but no pro MMA.
WHAT DO, UFC? WHAT DO?!!
IMHO, the UFC needs to stage an amateur MMA event in the middle of fucking Times Square.
Agree or disagree?
Cindy
If Zuffa holds an ammy event in Times Square, it won't matter what the Culinary Union does. The Culinary Union is getting away with exerting its current level of influence because not enough New Yorkers (i.e., voters) know that pro MMA is illegal and therefore don't voice their opinions on the issue.
MMA is huge to us, it's huge to even just the casual fan. But to the average Joe who just knows of its existence in passing, the pro MMA ban isn't even on their radar. A big, legal amateur MMA event in a popular public space would garner tons of attention - from the media, from politicians, from everyone - and boom, suddenly the MMA ban is on the average Joe's radar. Especially if in between every fight Joe Rogan, Dana White, Jon Jones, Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey are talking into the camera saying, "New Yorkers, get out there and make your opinion on this sport known..."
Take away the ignorance and complacency surrounding the issue and the Culinary Union would have no more room to operate. All the free lunches and memos in the world to shady politicians mean nothing when the voters mobilize.
ABE FROMAN -siouxNYC -ABE FROMAN -bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.Agreed.
When I went to the Strikeforce event the line was around an entire New York block.
Getting the vote of the MMA fan is easy. Getting the vote of people who don't follow the sport is the trick.
I'm not entirely sure that's the case. If we had a tidal wave of fans in NYC I'm not sure it would make the difference. I think we've covered interest, money and viability. The UFC has been pumping NY with grease-palm money for a few years now.
It's just down to being stubborn now. The question is what can put pressure on Sheldon Silver and his cronies enough that there will be consequences? What can make the Unions back off?
Seems to me that an expose of some sort detailing this fiendish little accord to block everything UFC needs to go public. Perhaps somebody needs to make a video putting the faces to the facts and put it out there.
They've been able to hide in the shadows up to this point.
siouxNYC -ABE FROMAN -siouxNYC -ABE FROMAN -bigtreechris - That would work if public interest is what's stopping mma regulation, but the public interest is already there, it's pure politics that's holding this up.Agreed.
When I went to the Strikeforce event the line was around an entire New York block.
Getting the vote of the MMA fan is easy. Getting the vote of people who don't follow the sport is the trick.
I'm not entirely sure that's the case. If we had a tidal wave of fans in NYC I'm not sure it would make the difference. I think we've covered interest, money and viability. The UFC has been pumping NY with grease-palm money for a few years now.
It's just down to being stubborn now. The question is what can put pressure on Sheldon Silver and his cronies enough that there will be consequences? What can make the Unions back off?
Seems to me that an expose of some sort detailing this fiendish little accord to block everything UFC needs to go public. Perhaps somebody needs to make a video putting the faces to the facts and put it out there.
They've been able to hide in the shadows up to this point.
A big spotlight on the issue would dispel all shadows.
As a fan I would welcome any MMA show that comes here, I just can't shake the feeling that without knowing the background story nobody will follow up.
People have a way of mobilizing when they feel like somebody is getting away with something, but I'm not sure the simple fact that MMA is illegal here will make the difference.
Perhaps the story framed around the show would work. I would personally love to see 'THESE ARE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE' so they can get enough hate mail that they become the targets. NY understands dirty politics, it causes people to move here.
I think any show has to be pointed squarely at the people preventing it, otherwise it becomes just like the Strikeforce event, lots of noise but no where to voice your complaint.
caposa -As far as I'm concerned, it will never happen. I've gotten my hopes up too many times now.
I can envision Lorenzo renting an ocean liner and anchoring close to NYC, but outside NYS AC jurisdiction.
First UFC event on a ship.
I don't care about MMA in NYC. I live upstate, Uncle Dana said they'd do some shows in Syracuse and Buffalo.
Instead of doing a big amateur fight they should hold one of their fight expos in nyc.
Have some grappling matches between fighters. Bring some legends in, invite the government figures against the regulation to it so they can see everything first hand.
They should shame the people behind this disgrace on every single PPV. Let everyone know who's denying the state millions in taxes and it's fans the right to not have to go to NJ. They've played it nice put these scumbags who are on the unions payroll on blast. Corrupt politicians. They're not doing what's the best for their constituents they're doing what's best for their special interests and pockets.