MMA Fighting reports Dana White is looking to have an event in New York’s Madison Square Garden for its 20th anniversary show in November 2013. The only problem: MMA is still not legal in New York state.
White revealed his plans at the post-UFC 155 press conference. Despite the fact that MMA is prohibited by law, White has a date for the event and a main event planned. You may recall that Zuffa brought a lawsuit against the state citing the state’s ban on MMA was unconstitutional. This fall, New York brought a motion to dismiss Zuffa’s lawsuit to strike down the state law. The court has yet to rule on New York’s motion.
Notwithstanding the lawsuit, the only other way for the state to legalize MMA would be through the legislature this year.
Payout Perspective:
Is revealing plans for an event at MSG a sign that this may be the year that a bill is passed? Or is this just thinking out loud? The legal case could take years if the court denies New York’s motion to dismiss. The quicker way would be through the legislative process although Zuffa has been unsuccessful in prior years. Last year’s legislative session was disappointing as the UFC indicated that it had votes for a law to legalize MMA in the state but a vote never occurred.
A show at MSG would be on par with UFC 129 in terms of milestone moments for the company.
Oh? Doing something boxing has done since the inception of MSG?
UFC is cute
Biggest thing this year will be determined soon — how Dana White reacts to the surgery for his Meniere’s Disease. He’s having it in a couple weeks. Whether it goes well or poorly could have a huge effect on UFC’s future. And even if it goes well there is a serious recovery period that would, most likely, keep Dana home and not flying around the world.
Hopefully it goes as well as possible. I’m surprised more MMA news sites aren’t discussing it. Hard to be the tornado like force of personality that Dana is without a working sense of balance.
In the last year or two you can totally see in the post-fight press conferences when Dana has had attacks — you see him death-gripping the podium. He’s basically holding himself up as his sense of balance is going haywire. And those are the moderate attacks. The severe attacks and he had to miss events cause he could barely stand.
Key opponents in the state legislature will be gone this time around. Maybe it finally happens.
give it up already
Will Sheldon.Silver pull another backdoor power play? At least bring it to a PUBLIC vote.