Georges St-Pierre has endured his share of elbows. But even the Ultimate Fighting champion has not seen anything like the moves coming from Shelly Silver.
Mixed martial arts is legal in 48 of 50 states. But not in New York. It’s not for lack of support. Far from it: The latest bill to clear the state Senate has 64 Assembly co-sponsors (almost a majority itself), not to mention encouraging words from Gov. Cuomo. But Speaker Silver has never allowed a vote.
As a consequence, millions that might flow into Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center now go to Newark’s Prudential Center. Ultimate Fighting Championship generates $500 million in revenue each year and has an estimated worth of $2 billion when its TV contracts with networks such as USA, Fuel and Fox (owned by the same parent company that owns The Post) are factored in. Shouldn’t New York get a slice of that pie?
That would be especially valuable upstate. Venues from Albany to Syracuse to Rochester all stand to benefit from the audiences, revenues — and jobs — that these events generate. Just think of the Canadians who would flock to Buffalo for a fight featuring fellow Canadian St-Pierre.
What makes the status quo even less defensible is that while professional MMA is banned, New York permits its amateur version. Surely that’s more dangerous. Unlike the pros, who comply with an array of safety regulations, amateurs are exempt.
Right now New York is running ads nationwide with the tagline that it’s “open for business.” Yet, like the dragged-out decision-making over fracking, when it comes to industries that create jobs and revenues, the state fiddles.
And Shelly won’t even give a reason.
Even by the rough and tumble of mixed martial arts, that’s a cheap shot.