The MMA In New York 2013 Scorecard

Confused by the long and winding road of the NY MMA ban? Check out Jim Genia's rundown and get yourself up to speed:

By Jim Genia | February 27, 2013

www.fightline.com

A law enacted in 1997 banning professional mixed martial arts. Failed lobbying efforts to repeal the law. A lawsuit filed by Zuffa against the state for not lifting the ban. A multitude of hungry fans, homegrown fighters, and promoters chomping at the bit. A Cormac McCarthy-esque nightmare landscape where to see a UFC event in person, residents have to take a PATH train across the Hudson River. If you find the whole mess that is the ongoing struggle to get MMA sanctioned and regulated in New York confusing, you're not alone. It's confusing to everyone. Here, then, is a scorecard featuring all the relevant parties and where they stand in 2013. There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of – from the UFC to the Culinary Union to the athletic commission to the regional promoters. This should help bring you up to speed...

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Dejavu All Over Again - MMA Bill Passes First Hurdle in the Senate

Today, the New York State Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation for overwhelmingly (11 to 3) approved bill S.2755, which would authorize the New York State Athletic Commission to add Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to the list of contact sports that may hold matches and exhibitions in New York.

As in years past, this is just the first of many steps the bill will need to pass through. While passage in the Senate is expected, the Coalitionto Legalize MMA in NY applauds the the legislation's approval by today's Senate Committee. Next stop for this bill will be the Senate Finance Committee.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LEGISLATION

Bill Sponsor: GRIFFO / Co-sponsor(s): GOLDEN, PARKER, AVELLA, BALL, DEFRANCISCO, GIANARIS, GRISANTI, ZELDIN

MMA World Expo 2013- the experience

MMA Judging and Referee Seminars Illustrate Lack of New York MMA Infrastructure

The Fight Nerd
By Peter Lampasona
February 26, 2013

When it comes to MMA, Rob Hinds knows his stuff. In fact, in a room filled with long-time adherents to the sport, including staple UFC official “Big” Dan Miragliotta, there was no doubt that Hinds was the one doing the teaching. With an engaging energy and a succinct answer to every question, Hinds commanded the attention of the gym that was hosting the ABC approved MMA officiating seminars that he was leading.

I had both trained with and conducted interviews with fighters at Tiger Martial in Levittown, New York before I came to the start of the seminars the morning of March 16. I even counted some of the staff as friends, even though as a sports writer I’m not necessarily supposed to. But, in a familiar building to discuss a sport I believed myself to be an expert, I had plenty of new experiences. There were reporters, veteran coaches and fighters such as local fighting pride and UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta. And all of them learned at least some nuance of judging or officiating that they had never seen before that day.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Testimony In the Maryland Assembly Regarding State Regulation of Amateur MMA and Kickboxing

The following video highlights testimony before the Economic Matters Committee of the Maryland Legislature. The hearing regards Bill HB0351 which proposes that the State Athletic Commission regulate amateur mixed martial arts and kick boxing.

The bill (if passed into law) would authorize the State Athletic Commission to license and regulate amateur mixed martial arts and amateur kick boxing; expand the scope of drug testing for specified contestants; repeal specified mandatory sanctions for specified contestants who refuse to submit to specified tests or test positive for the presence of specified drugs; require specified contestants to submit to a specified blood test under specified circumstances; define terms; make technical changes; etc.

Starting at 1:24 of this video, you can observe expert testimony on the matter:
Offering testimony at this hearing are Maryland State Athletic Commissioner Patrick Pannella; Dr. Sherry Wulkun, Rinside Physician; Nick Lembo, New Jersey Athletic Control Board; and David Braslow MMA Official.

VIEW VIDEO

South Dakota Debates MMA Regulation

South Dakota is on of only three states that has no Athletic Commission to oversee combat sports, leaving MMA in a state of unregulation. During a recent discussion on the topic Representative Steve Hickey, who is opposed to allowing MMA into South Dakota and wishes to ban it, showed his complete ignorance calling MMA the "child porn of sports." Check the video here:

http://www.argusleader.com/videonetwork/2185016435001/Rep-Hickey-Mixed-Martial-Arts-is-the-child-porn-of-sports-

Well, Representative Hickey may not want MMA in South Dakota, but the reality is that it is already there in an unregulated (read unsafe) fashion. Maybe is Hickey and Governor Dennis Daugaard, who is also opposed to MMA regulation in South Dakota, would eductae themselves and allow for regulation, they may prevent another tragedy like last year's death of Dustin Jensen in their own state.

Conversely, Senator Mark Johnston is leading a charge to create an athletic commission with the responsibility of regulating mixed martial arts. Needless to say we support Senator Johnston!

Prohibition = Reckless disregard of safety
Regulation = Safety

If any of our readers are South Dakota voters, contact your legislator and voice your support for safe regulated MMA!

Check out Bloody Elbow's report

Mixed martial arts battle starts up again in NY

Debate in Senate begins anew on whether to make sport legal in New York

By Jimmy Vielkind, Albany Times Union

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

ALBANY — Advocates of mixed martial arts say this is their year.

What has become a perennial debate at the Capitol will kick off this week when a state Senate committee takes up a bill that would legalize the spectator combat sport popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship league. New York and Connecticut are the only states that ban professional bouts, though amateur fights have taken place in various parts of the Empire State.

A corps of senior legislators, mostly Democrats in the conference that dominates the Assembly, has blocked professional MMA fights because of moral objections and, according to the sport's backers, as a result of a dispute between the UFC's owners and a Las Vegas labor union. But as the UFC celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year, its fans and backers emphasize that MMA bouts are now well-regulated and an increasingly mainstream attraction, having crept from pay-per-view to broadcast networks.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE