2014 Legalize Pro MMA Movement Goes Out With a Whimper

NEW YORK

There are four days left in the 2014 legislative session, no signs whatsoever that the Assembly will even consider the MMA bill this year, and this morning in lower Manhattan - on the patch of sidewalk in front of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's office - there was a "rally" comprised of three interns that drew only slightly more attention to themselves than the man wearing a "Cash4Gold" placard two blocks north. But only slightly.

It's safe to say that as the annual battle for sanctioned MMA in New York goes, 2014 is going out not with a bang but with a whimper.

MMA in New York Rally in Manhattan

via IFTTT

UFC 174 Primer: A Bunch of Vids to Get You Excited

UFC

UFC 174 is on Saturday night, and the event will be headlined by the little guys, i.e., champ Demetrious Johnson and challenger Ali Bagautinov. Now, maybe you didn't see how "Mighty Mouse" defended his belt the last time around, or maybe it's just that the flyweights don't thrill you, but I bet there's probably some reluctance to shell out the dough for this pay-pay-view. Well, here are some videos to convince you that it will be worthwhile.

Ah What the Heck, Here Are Some More NYFE 3 Fights

NEW YORK

Last Saturday's NYFE 3 show had a ton of good fights, so why not check out some more of them? First up is LIMMA stud Eric Ott, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and earning himself a championship belt in the process.

UFC to Sponsor New York Amateur MMA Event

UFC

It isn't exactly the idea that I had suggested, but the UFC is sponsoring an amateur MMA event. The Liberty Games - which is a sort of New York Olympics, but with more interesting events than the regular Olympics - will be hosting an amateur MMA event on July 19 in Upstate New York, and the good people at the UFC are one of the sponsors.

Throwback Thursday: New Jersey's First Amateur MMA Event

NEW JERSEY

Sometimes history is made where you least expect it. Battle at the Boardwalk was a pretty big, pretty forgetful martial arts expo that took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center, on a chilly weekend in February back in 2006. There were demos, seminars and competitions of all sorts, including a grappling tournament, stickfighting, boardbreaking, and some sort of contest where overweight "masters" beat on each other with foam replicas of weapons from feudal Japan. But tucked away amidst all the martial arts nerd-dom was a new thing the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (working closely with the United State Kickboxing Association) was going to try, and that thing was amateur mixed martial arts.

In Case You Missed Saturday's Kayo Kickboxing Show...

NEW YORK

While NYFE was rocking out in Jamaica, Queens on Saturday night, Kayo Promotion's Muay Thai show was going down on Long Island. Sadly, with cloning technology where it is, I was unable to cover the event, but the good folks at StandUp Sprawl have got our backs with this video montage.

Check it out.

Adios, Chael Sonnen

UFC

After 17 years of kicking ass, getting his ass kicked, talking trash, selling pay-per-views and failing drug tests, UFC star Chael Sonnen has retired.

Here's Sonnen making the announcement on UFC Tonight last night:

MMA in New York Rally on Friday - You Going?

NEW YORK

More Great Fights From NYFE 3

NEW YORK

In terms of action, Saturday's NYFE 3 show delivered in a big way. Without even counting the thrilling championship bouts, there were some hard-fought battles and brutal beatdowns peppering the card that had the crowd going wild.

Here are a few examples.

From the UG: A Debate Over Who is to Blame Over the Failed MMA Bill

NEW YORK

Yeah, so it looks like the MMA bill isn't getting done by the State Assembly this year, and discussion about who is culpable for that sad - yet by now pretty routine - turn of events erupted over at the MixedMartialArts.com Underground forum. Some blame Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for the annual impasse. I added my two cents, and I figured it was worth re-posting here.

Check Out the Latest Episode of the East Coast MMA Show

NEW YORK

On this week's episode, Grapplers Quest gets a good bit of love, while the seething anger at me seems to be decreasing. Check it out.

Battle at the Aviator Primer: Someone Named Izzy is Fighting

NEW YORK

We've got a few weeks and a Golden MMA Championships show to enjoy first, but Christian Difiris' Battle at the Aviator show in Brooklyn will be upon us soon, so why not start with the advance press on it?

Here's a short video on someone named "Izzy", who is apparently going to be fighting at the show.

Marc Ratner Doesn't Think New York Will Lift the Ban This Year

NEW YORK

Time in this year's legislative session is quickly running out, and with those disappearing sands in the lawmaking hourglass go the chances of the State Assembly putting a stamp of approval on their half of the bill that would lift the ban on pro MMA in New York. (If you'll recall, the Senate approved their half just a few week ago.)

This has Marc Ratner thinking the law won't change this year. As per MMAJunkie:

Live to Fight Poster

NEW YORK

Manup Standup Poster

NEW YORK

New York Post Editorial on MMA in New York

NEW YORK

In case you're not from around these parts, you might not know where the New York Post stands in relation to news publications that command respect. If the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Observer, et al. reside in a house built upon solid journalism, the Post stands in a puddle outside peering in through a window. Regardless, there was an op-ed in yesterday's paper about Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's stranglehold on MMA in New York, and you know what? At this point, any press on the issue is good press.

Here's the New York Post op-ed in its entirety.

NYFE 3 Postscript: Kevin Wall Wins

NEW YORK

NYFE 3 was a momentous show that was made all the more memorable because New York MMA stalwart Kevin Wall - who's been fighting anyone and everyone for years - notched a win. To put things in perspective, if there are six events in six months, Wall will fight on five of them. Oh, and he's pushing 60-years old.

Watch This Video About One of New York MMA's Most Dominant Teams

NEW YORK

They kicked some serious ass at Saturday's NYFE 3 show, so maybe it's worth taking a closer look at what's going on at Long Island MMA. Is it true that 100-man kumites are a part of their daily routine? Are their facilities really built with the bones of the vanquished? Watch the following video to find out!

Buy Joe "The New York Subway Hero" Lozito's Book Now

NEW YORK

Joe Lozito - the man who on February 12, 2011, stopped a madman's killing spree with techniques learned from watching UFC events - has put his story down on paper, and the resulting book is available starting today. Here's what the sales page says:

"You're gonna die....YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!" the killer hissed, and with that, my usual commute to work turned into a living nightmare. In the 28 hours prior, Maksim Gelman had paralyzed the five boroughs with a fear only a deranged spree-killer is capable of. After four cold-blooded murders and numerous other assaults, Gelman was a wanted fugitive eluding police . Now here he is standing before me on the uptown 3 train predicting my untimely demise. My name is Joseph Lozito and this is the story of how I went from being an "average Joe" to being dubbed "The New York Subway Hero".

"The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!!" is a harrowing tale of murder, deception and the realization that the line between good and evil is indeed a very thin one. I'll place you face to face with a murderer in that subway car. You'll experience the utter chaos of the ensuing battle with a madman trying to take my life and attempting to add me to the li st of his victims. The unfortunate twist to this story is that all this happened in full view of two uniformed and armed NYPD officers who were on the train specifically to arrest Gelman.
"The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!!" will take you through the series of lies spewed by the City of New York, starting with those uttered from the lips of the Mayor. You'll be front and center to the media frenzy that followed once the actual details were exposed. You'll read in full detail the disgraceful depths legal representation for the City of New York will go to dismiss my case and cover-up the cowardly behavior by two of their officers.

"The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!!" is a real-life "David vs Goliath" story. Every human emotion capable of being stimulated will be as you accompany me on my quest for justice in "The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!!". Buckle-up and prepare to have your mind blown!

Joe is an extremely cool, down-to-Earth dude who can sometimes be seen at local combative sporting events. Check out his book because his story is interesting, or check it out because he's a fight fan just like you and me (only braver). Links for it are here and here.