ALBANY – Once called “barbaric” by then-Gov. George Pataki, Ultimate Fighting is getting a second look in New York.
The no-holds-barred extreme fighting – or mixed martial arts that critics liken to “human cockfighting” – was banned by the state in 1997 at Pataki’s urging.
But a bill now working its way through the Legislature would allow the sport to be sanctioned by the state Athletic Commission.
“I’ve never witnessed [Ultimate Fighting],” said Assembly bill sponsor Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale). “Initially, I thought it was gross. But I’ve learned that they are regulating themselves, so perhaps it’s not as barbaric as it had been.”
It appears clear that the sport’s organizers have zeroed in on New York as their next venue, having donated $25,000 to the state Democratic Committee in January and paying $30,000 from November through February to high-powered lobbyist David Weinraub, according to state records.
Madison Square Garden has already expressed interest in hosting the sport, as have upstate venues, backers said.
Ultimate, or extreme, fighting was originally an anything-goes sport. But when the Las Vegas-based Zuffa LLC purchased the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization in 2001, it implemented new safety regulations that outline 32 fouls, including groin kicks, hair-pulling, throat shots and the breaking of fingers.
The sport has since seen an explosion of popularity. It is currently regulated in 32 states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Florida and California.
The steel-cage bouts allow punching, kicking and choke holds and end with knockouts, submission by a fighter or a referee’s or doctor’s order.
“We’d love to have a show in New York,” said UFC Vice President Marc Ratner, a former director of the Nevada Athletic Commission. “It’s the center of the world for us.”
To date, there has been just one letter of opposition to the bill, which passed the Assembly unanimously last year, according to Paulin’s office. The bill’s Senate sponsor is Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn).
In its opposition letter, UNITE HERE, a union representing 90,000 hospitality, restaurant and other New York workers, noted that the American Medical Association opposes Ultimate Fighting.