ALBANY — Ultimate fighting will be legalized in New York – someday – the state legislature’s top Democrat predicted yesterday.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he sees legalization of professional mixed martial arts as inevitable.
“At some point there probably will be an approval in this state,” Silver told reporters. “I can’t tell you when.”
A bill to legalize the controversial, violent sport passed the state Senate yesterday, as it has the last three years. The Silver-controlled Assembly has remained the stumbling block.
Officials from the Ultimate Fighting Championship have lobbied lawmakers for years to lift New York’s ban and – along with women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey – were at it again yesterday at the state Capitol.
UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta noted 48 other states have already legalized ultimate fighting – and claimed more New Yorkers watch UFC events on pay-per-view than residents of any other state.
Silver’s hand-picked majority leader, Rochester Democrat Joseph Morelle, has long sponsored a legalization bill.
Silver said it will be up to the members of the Democratic Assembly majority to decide whether to bring the bill to a vote.
“We will take it up in conference and we will do what we think our conference thinks is acceptable,” said Silver – who personally disapproves of the sport but has acknowledged it’s on TV and could generate revenue for the state if New York is allowed to hold professional bouts.
Gov. Cuomo has not taken a position on legalization.