During Saturday night’s 18-fight Mixed Martial Arts SOLD OUT Event at River’s Casino & Resort in Schenectady, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara was recognized by River’s Casino & Resort Schenectady, the Cage Wars MMA Organization hosting the event and local MMA fighter, Amsterdam’s Tommy Marcellino for a number of legislative achievements supporting the legalization of MMA sports in New York State as an economic driver for business and tourism in upstate communities.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara received a special ‘People’s Champion’ award in the form of an MMA Championship Title Belt bearing his name and the New York State Assembly Seal. The award was presented during the intermission inside the octagon at the Rivers Casino Event Center on Saturday night by Tommy Marcellino, MMA Fighter from the City of Amsterdam, Tim Rankins, Cage Wars MMA Executive and Justin Moore, Rivers Casino Assistant General Manager.

“For years, we continued the fight to make Mixed Martial Arts a legal sport in New York State so local athletes could finally get a chance to play the home game and our local communities could see the economic impact it brings,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “When it comes to the local impact of MMA, it doesn't get any more real than this. With a sold out event that brought hundreds of new visitors to our area of upstate New York, this event was a win for tourism and a win for the local economy.”