New York State Senate passes Amateur MMA Bill

A bill to establish protocols for amateur MMA has passed the New York Senate and is being delivered to the New York Assembly for the possibility of a vote to make it a law.  Newsday’s Mark La Monica first reported the passage of the bill.

The bill, sponsored by New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, provides rules and regulations for amateur mixed martial arts in the state.  Griffo is a proponent of lifting the ban on professional MMA in the state.

Via Senator Griffo’s News Release:

“In my advocacy for mixed martial arts, I’ve met many fighters and promoters. All want to make the bouts as safe as possible – not just for the fighters, but for the judges, refs and fans,” said Griffo, R-Rome. “However, there was a lack of consistency among amateur contests. Most promoters would ensure their bouts were sanctioned by an established and reputable organization. A few, however, put profit over safety and held bouts that put fans and fighters at unnecessary risk.”

“This bill brings the entire amateur realm under the oversight of the New York Athletic Commission,” said Griffo. “It will put the emphasis where it should be – creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

The bill would establish a medical advisory board and commission to have jurisdiction over amateur matches. It would require participants to undergo a thorough physical examination, including neurological and neurophysical examinations, prior to being approved for a fight. No one could fight unless they were 18 years of age or older.

The bill would also prohibit fighters who suffered a KO or TKO – or were rendered unconscious – from participating in a match for 90 days. It requires promoters to provide insurance for participants and reimburse athletes for medical, surgical and hospital care that was a result of participating in the program.

Without mandating it, the bill gives the Commission the ability to require medical personnel and an ambulance at the site of match.

Any fighter, referee or judge who participates in an amateur match without being licensed by the Commission would be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Payout Perspective:

If you read, Jim Genia’s piece on Deadspin a month ago, you might be thankful that this legislation is moving along.  Genia provides an analysis of the bill here.  Genia points out the potential ramifications of the bill which may include the NY Athletic Commission’s refusal of granting licenses to promoters to hold amateur MMA events, the NYAC could staff the amateur MMA events, there could be the interpretation that MMA is now a “single discipline art” and allow an MMA organization to oversee and/or someone could challenge the bill in court.  We shall see whether the bill is passed and what the ramifications could be.

In the end, this does nothing for professional MMA in the state at this point.