MMA Regulation in New York Facing More Opposition, Fighting an Uphill Battle

Well, it looks close to official. Newly elected New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently released his budget, showing how he will close the $10 billion budget deficit.

Missing from his plan? The regulation of the sport of MMA.

Reports show that allowing MMA to be regulated in the state of New York would generate $23 million if they were to hold two UFC events in a year.

Of course, the leaving out of MMA has drawn the ire of UFC President Dana White, who simply said that he is "Done with predictions in New York."

The sport has come a long way, facing major opposition and rule changes to help legalize the sport in many states.

In an interview on Pro MMA Radio today, assemblyman Bob Reilly argued every point imaginable. 

Larry Pepe of Pro MMA Radio asked Assemblyman Reilly why he was opposed to the idea of MMA in New York.

"Well, the rules have changed or rules have been instituted, but the rules are not sufficient for the protection of the fighters or for the, um, welfare of our society as far as its violence in the sport, and I would only point out how Michael Kirkham was killed recently in South Carolina on the old ground 'n pound move where he was knocked to the ground, lay on his back, the other fighter came and proceeded to pound him in the head," Reilly stated.

Just to point out, Kirkham is the second death linked to sanctioned MMA in U.S. history. Deaths linked to boxing have been pointed out to be higher than that of deaths linked to MMA.

Assemblyman Reilly seemed to go on and on, grasping and clawing to make points in opposition to MMA.

At one point, he tried to make a tear at the unified rules in MMA by saying that somehow MMA judges judge the "striking force of the blows" in a fight.

What he could have meant is that MMA judges judge the "effective striking" of the fighters, which, again, exists in the sport of boxing.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has snubbed the sport of MMA, and the sport has just three more chances this year to get something passed. They have two bills in the Assembly of New York and one in the Senate. 

However it gets done, New York should allow MMA. The money it would generate would significantly close a gap in their financial area.

Not only do they make money off the events, but the events pull in tourism that helps the small and local businesses flourish.

New York, the MMA world has its eyes on you to finally give in. Seriously, you would be making the best decision by allowing MMA.