MMA Suffers Set Back In N.Y. Mid-Term Election

Added on Nov 03, 2010 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

Mixed Martial Arts was dealt a blow in New York, and it may take sometime for them to recover. Democrat Bob Reilly retained his New York State Assembly seat last night by defeating Republican opponent Jennifer Whalen 53.56% to 46.39%. Reilly is vehemently opposed to regulating MMA in the state of New York. Reilly isn’t the only one standing against it, but he is on the committee that would need to vote on it in order for it to pass. With him being around for two more years, it will be hard for MMA to be regulated in New York

What most people do not know about MMA in NY, is that they made a law against MMA fights. Which means its not like sanctioning it for the first time, as you have to go through and change the laws that made it illegal. This creates dozens of hurtles for the bill to be passed. Even though New York Governor Patterson has put it in his budget to start to regulate it, it still must go through these steps in order to get passed.

Reilly’s main complaint, or excuse, with MMA is that “Violence becomes violence.” Meaning we are just encouraging more violence in our world by displaying MMA competitions. This is the famous fall back phrase for most people when they are conservative on an issue. We needed to make video games less violent, because kids were going to go on multi city rampages like grand theft auto. Rap music needed to become less violent, or our teenage sons will be cocaine moguls that murder people in the streets. One by one, these ridiculous stereotypes drop off as time and empirical data proves them to be out right lies.

Reilly seems to think what makes MMA more violent then Boxing, is that in MMA you can strike a grounded opponent. Firstly, if you want to bring boxing into this thats fine, but Boxing is a fight too. Fighting is “violent” by the definition he uses. However, because the guy is on the ground its more violent when he is hit?

His other complaint is “MMA is the only sport that encourages damage.” Really Bob? Have you seen a pro boxing match? Do you think a defensive back isn’t going to get a round of applause in the locker room when he knocks out the all star offensive player from the opposing team? Also,Lets not forget to mention the standing 8 count in boxing. Lets say I get punched in the face, and I get dropped in a flash knock out. I suddenly wake back up, and I am given ten seconds to recover. News flash, my brain just rebooted in the 8 seconds, and more then likely I just suffered a concussion. I get ten seconds to recover, and of course since millions of dollars are on the line I am going to say I’m fine, and I can continue. Thats not only damage, but that might be life long damage. The stakes are high in MMA as well, but thats a ridiculous argument Mr. Reilly.

Marc Ratner, Vice President of Regulating Affairs for the UFC had this to say on Reilly’s comments, and actions. “Its not a matter of how MMA will be regulated in the state of New York, It’s a matter of when.”