Saturday, April 11, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Legislative Scorecard: More Crucial Assembly Members to Be Swayed
NEW YORK
It cannot be overstated how important it is to sway those Assemblymembers who have yet to take a stance on MMA legislation. After all, when the 100-member Democratic conference convenes after April 21, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie wants to see who's in favor of letting the MMA bill going to the floor for a vote, the fate of the sport will literally rest in the raised hands of the Democrats in that chamber who are still on the fence.
Below are more names of those "undecideds". At this very moment, the opposition is calling each one individually and giving them various outlandish reasons why the sport shouldn't be sanctioned in New York. Really. So call or email them, because the scales need to be tipped the other way.
Below are more names of those "undecideds". At this very moment, the opposition is calling each one individually and giving them various outlandish reasons why the sport shouldn't be sanctioned in New York. Really. So call or email them, because the scales need to be tipped the other way.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Legislative Scorecard: The Undecideds
NEW YORK
The Assembly is on Easter break right now, but when they return on April 21 one of the items they'll tackle is the MMA bill, which will be discussed in a closed-door Democratic conference. An informal "for" and "against" tally tells us that seven of the 23 Assemblymembers who are undecided about MMA must be swayed for the bill to make it from the conference to the floor. Just seven. And then the UFC can come to Madison Square Garden in December like they want to.
Here are some of the Assemblymembers who have yet to give the sport the thumbs up or thumbs down. Each of them holds a position of leadership. Remember: If you reach out to them, BE RESPECTFUL.
Here are some of the Assemblymembers who have yet to give the sport the thumbs up or thumbs down. Each of them holds a position of leadership. Remember: If you reach out to them, BE RESPECTFUL.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Legislative Scorecard: Those Against MMA in New York
NEW YORK
The UFC's lawsuit is on ice. The Senate has passed their version of the MMA bill. Ronda Rousey has supposedly charmed the governor into supporting MMA legislation. And now, with the task of ironing out the state budget out of the way, the Assembly is on vacation and will return on April 21; shortly after they return, they will mull over the subject of sanctioned cagefighting in a closed-door conference. We have roughly 69 Assemblymembers ready to vote for MMA in that conference, about eight very much against it, and 23 undecided. Since we need 76 votes in favor, that means seven of those who are sitting on the fence must be converted.
I don't follow any other sports so maybe this analogy is a little off, but it's the bottom of the ninth inning, we need to score a touchdown, and someone just passed us the puck.
I don't follow any other sports so maybe this analogy is a little off, but it's the bottom of the ninth inning, we need to score a touchdown, and someone just passed us the puck.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Analyzing the UFC's New York Lawsuit: What Went Wrong, What Went Right
NEW YORK
One of the most aggravating things in the world is the Monday Morning Quarterback, who freely gives out his opinion on matters he observed while sitting comfortably in his La-Z-Boy recliner. But on the flipside, there's a reason military operations culminate in debriefings and after-action reports, and that reason is to learn something. This analysis - which will examine what went wrong as well as what went right with Zuffa's lawsuit against the State Attorney General of New York over the ban on pro MMA - is meant to be more of the latter.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Official Statement From the UFC on Dismissed Lawsuit
UFC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2015
Judge Kimba Wood of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on UFC® and other Plaintiffs’ claim that New York’s mixed martial arts (MMA) law is so vaguely written that reasonable people could not understand what it prohibited.
While avoiding ruling on the legality of New York’s MMA statute on technical grounds, the judge advised UFC to “consider filing new vagueness claims.” She said that the Attorney General’s “recent statements that the Ban prohibits sanctioned MMA” were made “despite [the law’s] plain language to the contrary.”
The Court’s decision confirms that New York law allows sanctioned professional MMA and that the AG is wrong in prohibiting it. UFC is a responsible corporate citizen and has chosen not to act contrary to the AG’s position, even though that position is legally unsustainable.
UFC, through the legislative process, has worked for years to have professional MMA legalized in New York, as it is in every other state in the nation. New York’s law was passed in 1997, when MMA was in its infancy and lacked the safety regulations that the UFC has introduced over the last decade.
The poorly written law, as interpreted by the State Athletic Commission, prohibits professional MMA, but allows (without State regulation) martial arts events that combine martial arts styles, like K-1 and Muay Thai. Also the law – which the AG conceded in this lawsuit does not prohibit amateur MMA – leaves amateur MMA wholly unregulated, a fact the Association Boxing Commissioners have condemned.
UFC and the Plaintiffs are considering all options, including an appeal of the decision and the Court’s suggestion that they file new claims challenging the law.
The plaintiffs are being represented in this action by Barry Friedman, the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and Jamie A. Levitt of Morrison & Foerster LLP in New York.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2015
Despite Finding that New York is Misapplying Its MMA Law,
Court Dismisses on a Technicality UFC’s lawsuit Challenging the Law
Judge Kimba Wood of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on UFC® and other Plaintiffs’ claim that New York’s mixed martial arts (MMA) law is so vaguely written that reasonable people could not understand what it prohibited.
While avoiding ruling on the legality of New York’s MMA statute on technical grounds, the judge advised UFC to “consider filing new vagueness claims.” She said that the Attorney General’s “recent statements that the Ban prohibits sanctioned MMA” were made “despite [the law’s] plain language to the contrary.”
The Court’s decision confirms that New York law allows sanctioned professional MMA and that the AG is wrong in prohibiting it. UFC is a responsible corporate citizen and has chosen not to act contrary to the AG’s position, even though that position is legally unsustainable.
UFC, through the legislative process, has worked for years to have professional MMA legalized in New York, as it is in every other state in the nation. New York’s law was passed in 1997, when MMA was in its infancy and lacked the safety regulations that the UFC has introduced over the last decade.
The poorly written law, as interpreted by the State Athletic Commission, prohibits professional MMA, but allows (without State regulation) martial arts events that combine martial arts styles, like K-1 and Muay Thai. Also the law – which the AG conceded in this lawsuit does not prohibit amateur MMA – leaves amateur MMA wholly unregulated, a fact the Association Boxing Commissioners have condemned.
UFC and the Plaintiffs are considering all options, including an appeal of the decision and the Court’s suggestion that they file new claims challenging the law.
The plaintiffs are being represented in this action by Barry Friedman, the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and Jamie A. Levitt of Morrison & Foerster LLP in New York.
UFC's Lawsuit Against New York Dismissed
NEW YORK
The federal lawsuit filed by Zuffa LLC against the State Attorney General, a suit that was meant to strike down the statute that kept MMA competitions out of New York, was dismissed today by presiding Judge Kimba Wood on the grounds that Zuffa lacked sufficient standing for the suit.
NYFE 6 and the Efficacy of the Amateur Scene
NEW YORK
If the purpose of an amateur scene is to fine tune future pro fighters into well-oiled machines of martial combat, than Saturday night's New York Fight Exchange 6 in Jamaica, Queens, was proof positive that the scene works. Two champs capped off flawless amateur careers with victories that left no doubt that they're ready for the pro leagues, while others on the card stepped into the fire and got a taste of what they needed if they wanted any kind of success. But when all was said and done, the true sign of the efficacy of New York's amateur circuit took the form of an underdog's amazing performance against a former champ.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
How to Fix a Bill, New York MMA Edition
NEW YORK
Yesterday I wrote about how the pending Assembly bill to lift the ban on pro MMA would effectively kill amateur MMA in New York. What I neglected to point out is how this bill can be fixed.
My bad, people. My bad.
My bad, people. My bad.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
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