New York is poised to end its ban on professional mixed martial arts (MMA), the last US state to prohibit the combat sport.
The New York Assembly plans to vote this week after years of leaving the ban intact over fears that the sport was too violent.
Two Assembly committees voted early on Tuesday to advance it, with a floor vote expected later in the day.
Photo: Reuters
New York Assemblywoman Margaret Market, who chairs the tourism committee, said she initially opposed MMA after running into a group of destitute ex-boxers, but added protections for fighters have made it “palatable, at least to me at this point in time,” she said.
The committee voted 15-5 for it.
“This bill not only will bring professional mixed martial arts to New York, but just as importantly, it will allow for rules and regulations that will offer protections for the amateur fighters as well,” New York Assembly Member Dean Murray said.
New York Assembly Member Pat Fahy noted those changes, but voted against it, citing its violence and growing evidence of serious brain injuries and concussions in football and boxing.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, the sport’s largest US promoter, has its eyes on hosting a major fight card late this year at Madison Square Garden and said there will be other professional shows next year in Brooklyn, Buffalo and smaller cities.
Advocates said it has evolved from rougher early days with more rules to protect fighters. Meanwhile, it is on TV, and fighters train and amateurs compete in New York.
The legislation would put MMA under the control of the State Athletic Commission, which regulates professional boxing with drug testing, officials and ringside doctors.
Recently added legislative provisions would increase required insurance for fighters to US$50,000 for injuries and US$1 million for life-threatening brain injuries. It authorizes the state to study potential funding mechanisms for long-term care of fighters who develop degenerative brain conditions.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed legalizing the sport in his budget for the coming fiscal year, saying that thousands of New Yorkers already attend dozens of unregulated amateur matches by unlicensed promoters who would also come under government control.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
His team were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in agonizing fashion on Tuesday, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DR Congo) human statue Michel Kuka Mboladinga would be remembered as the tournament’s most remarkable supporter. The colorfully dressed Kuka has earned fame as the fan who stands completely immobile throughout his team’s games, looking toward the sky with his right arm raised and palm open. He has become a media star and on Tuesday was accompanied by a delegation of several hundred Congolese supporters whose trip to Morocco was paid for by the country’s government. They took their
RSS