The long road mixed martial arts took to stray right through the very heart of it, New York, New York
1995
Sep 8
New York hosts UFC 7. It’s the promotion’s highest-attended show to date and attracts 9,000 fans to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
1997
Feb 7
UFC 12 – originally scheduled for Buffalo – takes place in Dothan, Alabama, after Governor George Pataki signs the bill that bans MMA in the state of New York. Cue 19 years in the wilderness.
2008
Jun 4
After more than a decade in the dark, there’s a ray of hope. A bill to legalize the sport is introduced and referred to the NY State Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks and Sports Development, but it’s shot down by a group of members led by MMA’s arch-enemy Bob Reilly.
2009
Jun 3
The tourism committee votes to pass a bill to enable the NY state’s athletic commission to regulate the sport, but the process stalls in the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee. The process has to start all over again next year.
2010
Jun 16
New York State Senate passes the bill to legalize and regulate MMA by a vote of 32-26, but the legislation gets held up in the Assembly without a vote once more.
2011
May 23
Here we go again. The State Senate does its part by passing the MMA bill by a vote of 42-18. Wait a minute. Haven’t we been here before?
Jun 6
The Tourism committee follows suit and votes in favor of the bill too, this time 16-3. Next stop: the Codes Committee.
Jun 24
MMA supporters experience that familiar feeling of frustration as the year’s legislative session closes with no vote in the Assembly yet again.
Nov 15
The UFC files a lawsuit against New York State claiming its ban on the sport violates the First Amendment, equal protection and due process.
2012
Apr 18
Third time lucky? The State Senate passes the bill to legalize MMA again, this time with a vote of 43-14 in its favor. An upsetting case of déjà vu afflicts fight fans.
May 7
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says the bill will not come to the floor for a vote this year. Boo this man.
2013
Mar 6
Back to square one. The Senate passes the MMA bill for the fourth straight year, voting 47-14.
Mar 12
Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s not opposed to legalizing MMA in New York.
Mar 23
Sanctioned amateur MMA returns to the state, though it’s completely unregulated.
Jun 18
Again, the bill is denied the opportunity of going to the floor for a full Assembly vote. Heads are banged against desks from Albany to NYC.
Nov 21
The UFC tries to twist some arms by claiming live events would generate $68 million in economic impact across New York State.
2014
May 13
Once more the New York State Senate passes the bill, voting 44-16 but… Well, you know the story by now.
2015
Feb 3
Breakthrough! MMA enemy no. 1 Sheldon Silver resigns amid federal corruption charges. MMA supporter Carl Heastie is elected as the new Assembly Speaker.
Mar 24
For the sixth straight year, the Senate gets the ball rolling by passing the bill with a 47-14 vote.
Jun 9
Assembly majority leader Joe Morelle introduces a re-worked MMA bill that’s passed by the State Senate, but despite an overwhelming feeling of optimism, the bill still doesn’t reach the Assembly floor due to time restraints.
Sep 28
The UFC books Madison Square Garden on April 23rd 2016 for a live event, pending the bill’s passage or winning an injunction. It files a suit in federal court to get the “unconstitutional” ban overturned.
2016
Jan 13
Governor Cuomo includes language in favor of legalizing MMA in his budget proposal. Now we’re getting somewhere.
Jan 25
A federal judge denies the UFC’s request for a preliminary injunction against New York State to allow its April MSG event.
Feb 1
The State Senate votes in favor of legalizing MMA for the seventh consecutive year. The vote was 48-14. For once, this isn’t the end of the process.
Mar 15
A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Heastie reveals the Assembly will vote on the bill to legalize MMA in New York the following week.
Mar 22
The MMA bill passes through four committees, and the Assembly votes overwhelmingly in favor of finally legalizing the sport, 113-25, after a three-hour debate. Promotions begin preparations for their first NY shows.
