Cuomo signs legislation legalizing mixed martial arts in New York

UFC announces major event to be held at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12, with second event in upstate New York to be held before the end of the year

MMA projected to yield more than $137 million in economic activity once at full programming capacity

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation Thursday authorizing competitive mixed martial arts in New York. 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. The state will now join 49 others authorizing mixed martial arts.

Following the governor's signing of this legislation, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced it will host a major pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Nov. 12. Additionally, UFC will add 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.

"It's time to bring mixed martial arts competitions to the New York stage," Cuomo said. "With venues like Madison Square Garden, New York truly is the international icon for great sporting events, and we're excited to begin a new chapter of MMA in the Empire State. This legislation will make the sport a better sport for all involved, and bring new economic activity into arenas across the state, and I'm proud to sign it into law."

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 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.

For comparison, Toronto's UFC 129 event in 2011 drew 55,000 attendees and had an economic impact of $35 million; UFC 78, held in Newark in 2007, drew 14,000 attendees with $2.1 million in gross ticket revenue.

Cuomo signed the legislation at an event in Madison Square Garden, alongside UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, 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.

Flanagan said, "Mixed martial arts will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to New York's coffers and create well-paying jobs across the state. This is a win-win for both fighters and fans that will drive economic growth and boost tourism from Albany to Long Island. More than that, this bill will help safeguard the health and welfare of these professional athletes by establishing proper oversight through the New York State Athletic Commission. The Senate has fought long and hard to make MMA a reality, and I applaud Sen. Joe Griffo for his tireless advocacy on this issue and Gov. Cuomo for signing this bill into law."

Griffo said, "For years, we were losing tourism and revenue as fans and fighters alike went to other states that had embraced MMA. Thankfully, starting today, those days are over. I'm proud to have led the fight in the Senate to bring MMA to the Empire State, and I want to thank Gov. Cuomo, leader Flanagan, Assemblyman Morelle, and everyone else who played a role in making today a reality."

Morelle said, "By legalizing MMA, we are finally bringing this already popular sport into the mainstream. Now, New York state will be able to tap into the sport's significant economic benefits, while at the same time standing up to better protect the health and wellbeing of its fighters. I was proud to lead this fight in the State Assembly for years, and I thank Gov. Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, Sen. Griffo and everyone else who has helped make today possible."

Fertitta said, "This is a great day for UFC and an even greater day for New York's MMA athletes and fans. This was certainly a long time coming and there are too many people to thank at once, however, we would like to recognize Gov. Cuomo, Sen. Griffo and Assembly Majority Leader Morelle for their incredible effort in making this day a reality. Of course, a big 'Thank you' also goes to the great fans of the state of New York. UFC is committed to having a major presence in New York over the next few years, and we look forward to hosting world-class events in New York City, Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo."

Rousey said, "Gov. Cuomo, all the legislators who supported this and, most of all, all the New York fans who made this happen, on behalf of all MMA athletes everywhere, thank you. I know this is a huge day for my fellow athletes from New York, but this is also a big day for every professional MMA athlete from across the globe: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."

Weidman said, "As a lifelong Long Islander and New Yorker, I couldn't be happier. It has forever been a dream of mine to fight at Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, and now that dream can finally come true. On behalf of all New York MMA athletes - professionals and particularly amateurs, who now know the sport will be safer - our thanks go to Gov. Cuomo and all the legislators who made this happen."

The signed legislation also 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.

New York's prior boxing law was codified in 1920 - and therefore badly in need of modernization. In addition to providing a framework for the conduct of mixed martial arts competitions under appropriate supervision, the bill also increases the size of the State Athletic Commission by two members. Under the new law, which will take effect in August, 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.