Bjorn Rebney on the Battle for MMA in New York: "I've Stayed Out of It"

BELLATOR

The Latin Post doesn't paint an optimistic picture of how things are going this year with the battle to get the New York State legislature to lift the pro MMA ban, but they did a great job in reaching out to Bellator frontman Bjorn Rebney to get his insight.

Everyone is well aware of Zuffa's Sisyphean efforts for the cause. But what has Bellator and Rebney done?

"I've stayed out of it, to a large extent, because I recognize that the issues that are prohibiting the sport here are so much bigger than my perspective or my opinion. I'm the chairman and CEO of the world's second largest MMA organization, largest tournament MMA organization in the world, an organization that is consistently beating the UFC -- Spike versus FS1 -- in the ratings. We're climbing very quickly from that perspective. I could spend 20 hours a day [in New York] and it's not going to move the needle in terms of getting sport into the state of New York," says Rebney.

"Anytime someone calls me to ask me, 'hey can you do this, can you speak on that,' I'd be more than happy to. But I'm smart enough to know that unions are very important to this country. They play too vital of a role in people's lives for them to back off, nor do I think they should back off in their fight that they are putting up against the Fertittas."

Props to Rebney for his candidness. And it's not a bad thing that the lobbying is done by one organization. Many a soup has been spoiled by too many chefs in the kitchen.