Page 8 - ATODAY

U.S. NEWS A7
Wednesday 23 March 2016

New York to end ban on professional Mixed Martial Arts

They punch, kick, elbow, The legislation would put mechanisms for long-term
grapple, knee, trip, tackle, MMA under the control of care of fighters who de-
slam and choke each oth- the State Athletic Commis- velop degenerative brain
er inside a cage. sion, which regulates pro- conditions.
Advocates said it has fessional boxing with drug New York Democratic Gov.
evolved from rougher testing, officials and ring- Andrew Cuomo proposed
early days with more rules side doctors. legalizing the sport in his
to protect fighters. Mean- Recently added legisla- budget for the coming fis-
while, it’s on television, and tive provisions would in- cal year, noting thousands
fighters train and amateurs crease required insurance of New Yorkers already
compete in New York. for fighters to $50,000 for attend dozens of unregu-
Rules prohibit biting, eye injuries and $1 million for lated amateur matches by
gouging, head butts, finger life-threatening brain inju- unlicensed promoters who
bending and many other ries. It authorizes the state would also come under
fouls. to study potential funding government control.q

In this April 18, 2012, file photo, Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn,
right talks with mixed martial arts athletes Ronda Rousey, center,
and Nick Catone at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. The New York
Assembly plans to vote this week on its ban on professional
mixed martial arts, following years of leaving the ban intact after
critics complained the sport is too violent.

Associated Press

ALBANY, New York (AP) in time,” she said.
— New York is poised to The committee voted 15-5
end its ban on professional for it.
mixed martial arts, the last “This bill not only will bring
U.S. state to prohibit the professional mixed martial
combat sport. arts to New York, but just as
Conducted inside a cage importantly it will allow for
or other enclosure with rules and regulations that
a referee present, MMA will offer protections for the
bouts end when one fight- amateur fighters as well,”
er quits or gets knocked out said Republican Assembly-
or when judges decide af- man Dean Murray.
ter 15 or 25 minutes of fight- Democrat Assemblywom-
ing who the winner is. an Pat Fahy noted those
The New York Assembly changes but voted against
plans to vote this week af- it, citing its violence and
ter years of leaving the ban growing evidence of seri-
intact over fears that thes- ous brain injuries and con-
port was too violent. cussions in American foot-
Two Assembly committees ball and boxing.
voted early Tuesday to ad- Ultimate Fighting Champi-
vance it, with a floor vote onship, the sport’s largest
expected later in the day. U.S. promoter, has its eyes
Assemblywoman Marga- on hosting a major fight
ret Market, who chairs the card late this year at Madi-
tourism committee, said son Square Garden and
she initially opposed MMA predicts there will be other
after running into a group professional shows next
of destitute ex-boxers. Add- year in Brooklyn, Buffalo
ed protections for fighters and smaller cities.
have made it “palatable, Fighters wear small, finger-
at least to me at this point less gloves and little else.