Following a press conference this morning in Albany held by members of the UFC organization, Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) is calling for legalization of mixed martial arts (MMA) in New York State. McDonough has sponsored legislation for several years, along with high-ranking members of the Assembly leadership, to establish safe and responsible protocols for combative sports and construct requirements necessary for MMA to become legal in New York.

“New York is currently the only state in the nation that does not allow professional mixed martial arts,” McDonough said. “Yet, we have hundreds of gyms and training centers across the state that safely and responsibly teach people MMA and further the proliferation and growth of the sport. Each year that we continue a moratorium on MMA is another year the state loses out on millions in revenue that could be used toward our struggling schools and failing infrastructure. Imagine high-profile MMA events hosted at Madison Square Garden or other venues. This opportunity and the benefits our state would accrue are too big to let pass by another year.”

In its most successful year since 2010, it is estimated that UFC events had 7.65 million pay-per-view buys in 2015 due to the popularity of such stars as Ronda Rousey and Connor McGregor.