Issue 080

October 2011

After Big Apple bureaucrats once again stuffed applications to get MMA in the state, we ask…

DOES MMA NEED NEW YORK SANCTIONING FOR FULL CREDIBILITY?

YES

Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs

Absolutely, yes. Our mantra, or goal, has always been at the UFC that wherever there is an athletic commission we want our sport to be sanctioned. Besides, New York is the media capital of the world and there is no reason whatsoever why our sport should not be sanctioned there. It is not a question of if, it is a question of when. New York, in the minds of many, validates so many things in the world of entertainment – be it a play, a baseball game, boxing or MMA. It was, and still is, a very important place in the history of sport. I feel it is very, very important to have the sport of MMA approved and sanctioned in the State of New York. When the sport is finally approved there and we have events in Buffalo, or Albany or especially at Madison Square Garden, champagne corks will be popping. When we have our first fight night event at MSG it will be a blockbuster affair, I can assure you of that. Our mission has already gone through three sessions of New York legislature. There will be no giving up. We will keep fighting until the sport of MMA is approved.

NO

Mauro Ranallo, Veteran Strikeforce commentator

Obviously, New York, and especially Madison Square Garden, has been home to some of the greatest sporting spectacles in history, but not having MMA is their problem. MMA simply doesn’t need to be there. Just look at the growth of the sport we are now seeing all over the world, including my native Canada, which recently held the biggest MMA card ever with 55,000-plus in Toronto. Then look at Europe. The UK has a massive fanbase, while places like Italy are crying out for events. Now look at the agreements with China and India, and even now the UFC are talking about going back to Japan. The one thing about mixed martial arts is that it is a true global sport. And while it may never become as popular as say, soccer, I truly believe that it’s New York, and New Yorkers, that are missing out, not the other way around. With all due respect, if we can’t make it there, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make it everywhere else. MMA is growing and if New York doesn’t join the party soon it will be too late for them.

What you had to say on the matter ...

“Outside of those who follow MMA closely (and thus already have strong opinions) I doubt many even aware it isn’t NY sanctioned.”

@BrianMakas 

“MMA does not need NY for credibility – just like soccer doesn’t need USA and it’s the most popular sport everywhere else.”

@GhostSearch 

“Yes it probably does. A lot of people who know it as ‘cage-fighting’ would sit up and take notice if it became a sport in New York.”

@AlexWattMMA

“If we want mixed martial arts to be the biggest sport worldwide then yes it needs sanctioning in New York.”

@lone_wolf_92