Lift the Ban on MMA in New York
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Author:
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The New York Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts & Sports Development
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Sponsored By:
Fans, fighters, and supporters of Mixed Martial Arts -
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Dear Members of the Committee:
It has come to our attention that bill 1-11458-A, intended to regulate the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) in New York, is being considered in the State Legislature. While 37 states have passed laws regulating MMA, New York has had an active ban on the sport since 1997. At the time, pejorative labels like "human cockfighting" plagued the sport and they weren't always unwarranted. But MMA in 2009 is a markedly different sport than it was 12 years ago, particularly since the advent of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts in 2001, which outlawed such dangerous techniques as head-butts and kicking the head of a downed opponent. The idea of modern MMA as "no holds barred" competition couldn't be further from the truth.
Seeing the combination of kickboxing and submission grappling within the confines of a caged enclosure may seem alien to some viewers at first. MMA matches are undoubtedly violent affairs which often leave their competitors bloodied, and there's always the possibility of injury. Thankfully, serious injuries remain a rare occurrence in MMA competition, and there's been only one death related to sanctioned competition in the U.S. This is a direct result of the numerous rules and safeguards that are in place to keep the fighters safe everything from the referee's orders to stop a match when a participant is no longer mounting an intelligent defense, to the cage itself, which prevents fighters from falling out of the ring. There's no data to suggest that MMA is any more dangerous than other high-impact sports like boxing, football, or hockey. In fact, a recent Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study concluded that the lower knockout rates in MMA compared to boxing may make MMA fighters less susceptible to brain injury.
Furthermore, it seems irresponsible to deny New York the tax and tourism revenue that high-profile MMA events could bring when the State is facing a $15 billion shortfall. An economic impact study commissioned by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and conducted by HR&A Advisors found that a UFC event in New York City would generate $11.5 million in "net new" economic activity, $5.3 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in non-lodging visitor spending, and $4.9 million in indirect/induced benefits, while an event in Buffalo would generate $5.2 million in "net new" economic activity, $1.7 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in visitor spending and $2.1 million in indirect/induced benefits.
We, the undersigned fans, fighters, and supporters of mixed martial arts, implore you to lift the ban on our sport. Opponents of MMA offer no evidence or data to prove that it is unacceptably dangerous to competitors or harmful to spectators, and the current resistance to MMA, in our opinion, comes primarily from an incomplete understanding of the sport and the positive impact it would have on New York's local economies. Please don't allow legislation to be dictated by emotional reactions rather than a reasonable consideration of the facts.
Respectfully,
Ben Goldstein and Ben Fowlkes
Editors, CagePotato.com
It has come to our attention that bill 1-11458-A, intended to regulate the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) in New York, is being considered in the State Legislature. While 37 states have passed laws regulating MMA, New York has had an active ban on the sport since 1997. At the time, pejorative labels like "human cockfighting" plagued the sport and they weren't always unwarranted. But MMA in 2009 is a markedly different sport than it was 12 years ago, particularly since the advent of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts in 2001, which outlawed such dangerous techniques as head-butts and kicking the head of a downed opponent. The idea of modern MMA as "no holds barred" competition couldn't be further from the truth.
Seeing the combination of kickboxing and submission grappling within the confines of a caged enclosure may seem alien to some viewers at first. MMA matches are undoubtedly violent affairs which often leave their competitors bloodied, and there's always the possibility of injury. Thankfully, serious injuries remain a rare occurrence in MMA competition, and there's been only one death related to sanctioned competition in the U.S. This is a direct result of the numerous rules and safeguards that are in place to keep the fighters safe everything from the referee's orders to stop a match when a participant is no longer mounting an intelligent defense, to the cage itself, which prevents fighters from falling out of the ring. There's no data to suggest that MMA is any more dangerous than other high-impact sports like boxing, football, or hockey. In fact, a recent Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study concluded that the lower knockout rates in MMA compared to boxing may make MMA fighters less susceptible to brain injury.
Furthermore, it seems irresponsible to deny New York the tax and tourism revenue that high-profile MMA events could bring when the State is facing a $15 billion shortfall. An economic impact study commissioned by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and conducted by HR&A Advisors found that a UFC event in New York City would generate $11.5 million in "net new" economic activity, $5.3 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in non-lodging visitor spending, and $4.9 million in indirect/induced benefits, while an event in Buffalo would generate $5.2 million in "net new" economic activity, $1.7 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in visitor spending and $2.1 million in indirect/induced benefits.
We, the undersigned fans, fighters, and supporters of mixed martial arts, implore you to lift the ban on our sport. Opponents of MMA offer no evidence or data to prove that it is unacceptably dangerous to competitors or harmful to spectators, and the current resistance to MMA, in our opinion, comes primarily from an incomplete understanding of the sport and the positive impact it would have on New York's local economies. Please don't allow legislation to be dictated by emotional reactions rather than a reasonable consideration of the facts.
Respectfully,
Ben Goldstein and Ben Fowlkes
Editors, CagePotato.com
4932 Signatures
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Adam Blair P
- City, State
- Brooklyn, NY
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John M
- City, State
- Knoxville, TN
- Comments
- Bob Reiley is an ignorant old man.
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Javier
- City, State
- Mamaroneck, NY
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Daniel B
- City, State
- Austin, TX
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Luke H
- City, State
- Leicester, Leicestershire
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Amy F
- City, State
- North Tonawanda, NY
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chayse c
- City, State
- superior colorado
- Comments
- moving back to albany in summer
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Shane C
- City, State
- Bolivar, New York
- Comments
- I am the Founder and President of American Grappler Fight Wear. A New York state business and clothing brand established to support the Mixed Martial Arts industry. MMA is the fastest growing "sport" in the world, and is already legal in the majority of other states. The MMA industry is a very lucrative and growing industry. One that would bring a lot of money to the state of New York and to many New York businesses such as ours. I am signing this petiton because it only makes complete sense to legalize the sport in our state. It's a safe and well managed sport. A profession for many, and our state is missing out on an incredible opportunity to be a part of helping to shape the history of this growing sport. Respectfully, Shane Cline.
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Tim F
- City, State
- Bimghamton NY
- Comments
- We "fighters" need to push this until we cant push anymore.
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Dave M
- City, State
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Comments
- They can't hold them off forever
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Faruk H
- City, State
- Seattle, Washington
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Khalid
- City, State
- new york, new york
- Comments
- MAKE IT LEGAL!!
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Andrew R
- City, State
- Flushing, NY
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Dustin B
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K P
- City, State
- NY, NY
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Darren J
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Dominic
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Chris P
- City, State
- West Jordan, Utah
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Franics B
- City, State
- Satellite Beach Florida
- Comments
- I don't live in New York, but I wouldn't mind coming up to see a fight
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Bryan A
- City, State
- Austin, TX
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Brett T
- City, State
- Tucker, Georgia
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Sandy
- City, State
- Australia
- Comments
- I don't live in New York, but I support MMA fans who would like to see an event in their home city. (The MMA of today, not the MMA of '97.)
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Luke P
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Dion
- City, State
- West Hempstead, NY
- Comments
- Legalize it
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Chris A
- City, State
- Olmsted Falls, OH
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neil c
- City, State
- new york, ny
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LJ Z
- City, State
- Medford, MA
- Comments
- Bring MMA to NY for the good of the economy! Let baseless biases fall!
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Isabella W
- City, State
- Brookly, NY
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Chad K
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Joe L
- City, State
- Huntington Station, NY
- Comments
- 37 fighters have died boxing since the MMA ban went into effect in 1997. There have only been three deaths in MMA, and none of them have happened in the UFC.
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Johnathan Lewis A
- City, State
- Swanzey,NH
- Comments
- This is Long overdue!!!
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Haven
- City, State
- San Jose, CA
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john p
- City, State
- Bronx, new york
- Comments
- We need this sports here in new york its way safer than boxing so whats the big ddeal with baning it from new york
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Jay M
- City, State
- Taunton, Somerset, England
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Joseph W
- City, State
- Ashburn, VA
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K F
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Jankelly R
- City, State
- Bronx, NY
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Mike H
- City, State
- Effort, Pennsylvania
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Nicholas W
- City, State
- boonville, ny
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Michael C
- City, State
- Chicago, IL
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Matthew L
- City, State
- Northumberland, PA
- Comments
- MMA is a wonderful sport.
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Gary J
- City, State
- Syracuse, New York
- Comments
- Finally!
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- City, State
- virginia beach, virginia
- Comments
- MMA DONT HURT NOBODY BUT THE BROTHAS IN THE RING SUCKA
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miguel r
- City, State
- ny, new york
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James M
- City, State
- Orange, Texas
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Pano B
- City, State
- Dix Hills, New York
- Comments
- I want to be an MMA Fighter one day, im training at Serra Jitsu Academy, owned by former UFC Champion Matt "The Terror" Serra. I want to fight in my home state, i don't want to leave!
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Christopher W
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Pat F
- City, State
- Brooklyn, OH
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Matthew R
- City, State
- Bronx, New York
- Comments
- Its long overdue! It needs to happen.
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Rob L
- City, State
- Bronx, NY
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4932
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