ESPN reports that a bill to legalize mixed martial arts in the state of New York passed out of the state’s Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation. It now moves on to the Senate Finance Committee with the eventual hope a vote on it comes before the state Assembly.
Last year, a bill to legalize MMA died prior to being voted on after an informal survey of votes revealed it would not pass.
Last month, Zuffa’s lawsuit against the state of New York entered a negotiation phase as the state indicated that a third party sanctioning organization recognized by the state could regulate professional MMA in New York.
Payout Perspective:
The legislative process is in the initial stages at this point as there is no date set for the Senate Finance Committee to meet. It appears that professional MMA may be allowed in the state if a sanctioning organization recognizes the event. Still, a bill to legalize MMA would dispel any concerns about coordinating with a third party sanctioning organization. We will see whether this bill will gain any traction for a vote this spring.
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