CUOMO SIGNS LEGISLATION LEGALIZING MMA

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation authorizing competitive mixed martial arts in New York State on April 14, 2016. Joining Governor Cuomo at the event at Madison Square Garden were Ronda Rousey, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Chris Weidman, former UFC Middleweight Champion, MSG President James Dolan, and elected officials who sponsored the legislation. (Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

(April 14, 2016) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation authorizing competitive mixed martial arts in New York State. The legislation reverses an effective ban that had been in place since 1997, and ensures mixed martial arts contests will be supervised either directly by the New York State Athletic Commission, or by a sanctioning entity approved by the Commission. It will close a statutory loophole under which unregulated and unsupervised "amateur" mixed martial arts competitions had been occurring in New York State. New York will now join the 49 other states authorizing mixed martial arts.

Following the Governor's signing of this legislation, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced that it will host a major Pay-Per-View event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Nov. 12. Additionally, UFC will be adding another live event in Upstate New York before the end of the year. The organization has pledged four events per year for the first three years after passage of the bill. The events will be held in Upstate cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany, in addition to Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center.

MMA's expansion into New York is projected to yield more than $137 million in economic activity for the state's economy, roughly half of which is expected to be spent in Upstate New York, and result in $5.4 million in state and local taxes on an annual basis. UFC events in New York State are expected to generate $32 million in economic activity each year, including by capturing revenue and attendance from nearby out-of-state venues. An average of 66 other MMA events are anticipated annually, generating $29 million in economic impact. An expansion of UFC gyms across the state is also anticipated to generate $76 million in economic impact.

The Governor signed the legislation at an event in Madison Square Garden, alongside UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Ferttita, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, and others.

The legislation signed substantially increases, by nearly 700 percent, required insurance coverage promoters must carry providing for medical, surgical and hospital costs to treat competitors injured during a match. The bill adds a new first-of-its-kind insurance benefit of $1 million to cover the medical, surgical and hospital costs associated with the treatment of life-threatening brain injuries-a rare event in New York State.

The bill also increases the size of the State Athletic Commission by two members. Under the new law, which will take effect in August 2016, any combative sports conducted outside the supervision of the State Athletic Commission, or a sanctioning entity approved by the State Athletic Commission, will be prohibited.

In addition, as a result of the Governor's signature, the state will establish a study to evaluate potential funding mechanisms for providing lifetime care to competitors suffering from degenerative brain diseases resulting from injuries sustained in the ring.

 

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