UFC Illegal: The New York Idiocy
By Sean Farrell
How’s it going MMA world? Usually when I write an article, it’s to cover major topics going on in MMA but never have I written a piece on the places the fastest growing sport in the world is illegal.
This article is about MMA being illegal in New York, although there are other states where this sport is illegal in the United States of America New York needs to be addressed first and fast. As of 2010 there are currently 19,378,102 people in the state of New York the third largest population in the US.
As of 2008 in New York however crime is decreasing but is still unexplainably high. Per 100,000 people in population this is the crime rate reported in New York:
Crime type
Homicide: 6.3
Forcible Rape: 10.7
Robbery: 265.9
Aggravated Assault: 297.6
Violent Crime: 580.3
Burglary: 238.1
Larceny-Theft: 1,410.2
Motor Vehicle Theft 149.1
Arson: N/A Arson crime rates were never recorded by the state.
Property crime: 1,797.3
These numbers are astounding which leads to my argument for legalizing MMA in NY. The ins and outs of the New York state budget are best if left to Gov. David A. Paterson, the state legislature and its voters. Whether severe cuts in the education system are permissible is a question only the people of New York and their elected representatives can answer for themselves.
There is one part of this whole process, however, that is of relative significance to mixed martial arts fans not only in “the Empire State”, but throughout the US as a whole and around the globe. MMA being illegal in New York in 2010 yet alone 2011 is beyond absurd. A small but vocal minority in the state’s population have done everything under their working power to spreading misinformation about the sport and keeping its legalization and sanctioning from a vote before the full legislature of New York.
Let us start off with this issue MMA safety, more high school football players (which are children) die in competition more often in a given year than competitors who have died in a sanctioned mixed martial arts event. Since the year 1993, when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was founded and what has been known as the MMA era began, there have been two recorded deaths in sanctioned fights. Sam Vasquez died of injuries sustained in an Oct. 20, 2007, fight in Houston; and over the weekend, Michael Kirkham died of injuries sustained in a South Carolina fight.
NO FIGHTER HAS DIED IN A UFC SANCTIONED EVENT
But here is the kicker according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, in 2009 alone there were three deaths among high school football players and there have been 63 since 1993, the year modern MMA was accepted into the mainstream. Where is this oh so rational reason to keep MMA illegal? There isn’t one. In a sport that is made up largely of widely accepted Olympic events why should it be deemed illegal? MMA is primarily a mixture of multiple Olympic events such as boxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, though some fighters also go as far as to employ judo, taekwondo and karate, as well many other martial arts. Boxing, wrestling, judo and taekwondo are Olympic sports and aren’t illegal to participate in.
The safety record of the sport of MMA is unparalleled compared to any other. There have never been cases of long-term traumatic brain injury noted as a result of competing in MMA, largely because there are so many different ways to win other than punching your opponent into unconsciousness unlike boxing. Punching the opponent is the only technique in a boxing match, punching an opponent in the head repeatedly can and does have a significant negative affect and leads to Dementia Pugilistica.
There have been literally thousands of deaths in sanctioned boxing matches and just as many, if not more, cases of traumatic brain injury than any other sport in the world the only sport behind boxing in this category is football.
That fact is not meant to indict anyone who takes part in football or boxing. They’re tremendous sports and have greatly benefitted millions of people who have competed in them since the sports were born. It is used however to point out that the argument against MMA is without merit or any credibility what so ever.
Not everyone on this planet is a fight fan, but in the same right not everyone is a hockey fan, a baseball fan, a basketball fan, a football fan or a Justin Bieber fan for that matter. The state of New York, however, doesn’t outlaw or deem any of them illegal sports despite the distaste among many for them.
Now lets talk recession and revenue, a UFC event in New York City WILL generate millions of dollars for the state as well as its businesses. It’s not just that a UFC show would benefit the New York economy it would benefit the economy tremendously. California, began regulating and sanctioning MMA back in 2006, now the state sanctions more than 100 shows a year and it’s more than reasonable to believe New York would attract a similar number if not a much larger one. The UFC has had a study done to illustrate the significant impact it can have on the NY economy. This is only the UFC this doesn’t include other promotions such as Strikeforce, King of the Cage, or many other smaller promotions. Below is the study:
New York City:
* The study found that a UFC event in New York City would generate $11.5 million in ‘net new’ economic activity: $5.3 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in non-lodging visitor spending, and $4.9 million in indirect/induced benefits.
* The study also found that significant demand exists within the local New York City area for UFC events. Of the 134 UFC events held nationwide from November 1993 to January 2009, only 12 have been within New York regional area.
Local Jobs
* UFC events would produce substantial employee compensation: UFC events require over 300 staff working on the event, equivalent to the creation of 88 full-time local jobs per event.
* The creation of over 88 local jobs injects $4.2 million dollars in compensation to the local economy.
Local and State Taxes
* There will be direct revenue benefits for both local and state governments worth almost $1.0 M of total fiscal impacts to New York City and New York State.
* Each event would generate $400,000 in tax revenue for New York City and $555,000 in tax revenue for New York State (from sales tax, hotel occupancy tax, personal income tax, business income tax, boxing/exhibitions tax, auto rental tax)
Other Local Impacts
* UFC events would result in an additional 1,850 hotel night stays in New York City.
* UFC events would also create additional tourism and media exposure.
Buffalo:
* The study found that a UFC event in Buffalo would generate $1.7 million in direct event spending, $1.4 million in visitor spending, $2.1 million in indirect/induced benefits.
Local Jobs
* An event would produce substantial employee compensation: Every UFC event requires 300 staff working on the event, equivalent to the creation of 57 full-time local jobs.
* The creation of 57 local jobs injects $1.7 million dollars in compensation to the local economy.
Local and State Taxes
* There will be direct revenue benefits for both the local and state governments – worth nearly $.4 million of total fiscal impacts to Buffalo and New York State.
* Each event would generate $30,000 in tax revenue for Buffalo and $320,000 in tax revenue for New York State (from sales tax, hotel occupancy tax, personal income tax, business income tax, boxing/exhibitions tax, auto rental tax).
Other Local Impacts
* There will be a significant net gain in Western New York hotel occupancy: The study estimates that UFC events would add 4,100 hotel night stays representing an additional occupancy of 11%.
The study was conducted by HR&A Advisors. Information on methodology is included in the full report, available for download at MMAFacts.com
Unregulated MMA events in NY are already occurring weekly underneath the noses of New York athletic commission officials, who lack the budget or the manpower to shut them down leaving many fathers, husbands, sons, and daughters far more at risk as fighters in an unsanctioned show. Unsanctioned bouts contain many horrific things which include no proper medical procedures if there is they are less likely to be followed which leads to the referees not being as educated as they should be and would be in a sanctioned show.
Also, unsanctioned shows rarely if ever test fighters for brain problems. No one looks for steroid abuse or if a contestant has a disease such as HIV. There usually won’t be a doctor at ringside and there’s often never an ambulance at the venue ready to take a troubled fighter to a hospital if need be. All of that, and much more, is in place at sanctioned MMA events. Professional MMA doctor’s are so good fans regularly get mad at his decision to halt a contest.
So where is this “Human Dog fighting” I’ve heard so much about?
In unsanctioned fights maybe that is the case but never in a sanctioned bout. MMA shouldn’t be sacrificed as part of reaching a budget deal in any state, mixed martial arts is a major professional sport with highly conditioned, world-class athletes. It deserves to be treated as such by New York which would benefit handsomely by its legalization and the numbers solidify that point.
Since we have now gotten the revenue, finance and logic out of the way lets address what I feel is the number one concern for New York residents. There safety. With the crime rate the way it is considering the dense population of the state, MMA should be legal for the sole purpose of opening up MMA academies, dojos, or schools for residents to come and take part in learning how to defend themselves. I’ve recently received an email with one of the most heart felt stories in a long while. Many people downgrade mixed martial arts and say its nothing more than a “bloodsport” or that its “not a sport its barbarism” or my personal favorite degrading comment “Its human dog fighting.”. Below I have posted the message I received and if it does not inspire you as an individual and make you an immediate fan of MMA or at least a follower of the sport you have no heart or you simply aren’t human. The message read as follows:
Dear MMA Fans:
We just wanted to quickly share this great story with you:
Over the weekend, Joe Lozito, a father of two young children, came face to face with Maksim Gelman, the Brooklyn man who is accused of going on a 28-hour stabbing and carjacking spree that left four people dead.
Lozito helped subdue Gelman on a subway car and almost died for his heroism; Gelman is accused of repeatedly slashing Lozito with a knife after saying he was going to kill Lozito. Lozito said he learned the moves he used to take down Gelman by watching Ultimate Fighting Championship on television.
On Monday night, Lozito got a great surprise: A meeting with Dana White…
That e-mail should’ve done nothing but inspire you to become at least partly affiliated with MMA. A mixed-martial-arts fan who helped subdue a man accused of killing four people during a weekend stabbing and carjacking spree in New York City got a surprise from the UFC’s president isn’t the major news. The major news is that being MMA saved a life and had the four victims known MMA to some extent they may still be with their families and friends today.
On Monday UFC President Dana White met with Joe Lozito, who tackled alleged killer Maksim Gelman with a leg sweep on prior to his arrest.
Myfoxny.com has posted a video in which White offers the man his appreciation and gratitude and also invites Lozito and his wife to an upcoming UFC event as his special guest.
In further detail, Lozito helped subdue Gelman who also wounded five others during his onslaught. Lozito was attacked and in the video, can be seen with stitches from the side of his head to the base of his neck. He also received a nice “mouse” or a black eye, facial cuts and stitches on his upper arm after Gelman attacked, stabbed, and slashed him during the subway confrontation. Joe Lozito was unaware of the crimes Gelman allegedly committed previously, but knew there was something “shady” about him. Gelman then allegedly threatened to kill the UFC fan and lunged at him with the knife. “I want to have you both down to a fight and have you sit at my table for the fight in New Jersey,” said White, referring to a UFC 128 card at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on March 19.
Lozito, is a Philadelphia native who calls himself a longtime MMA and UFC fan. Although he said he’s never trained in the sport he stated in multiple interviews that he learned enough information to knock Gelman off balance so he could subdue him and eventually have him arrested. In the last few days, Lozito has praised mixed martial arts for having the best-conditioned athletes in all of professional sports, which has brought positive MMA publicity to a state that still bans the sport.
In closing, for a sport to be illegal in a state where madmen run rampant with knives and slay people at will, it makes no sense at all for mixed martial arts to be illegal in the state. New York needs to legalize MMA ASAP not for UFC events and revenue but so people can open up academies and start teaching MMA to everyday people. One thing my father taught me when I was younger was this saying “People should learn two things in life that are just as important as breathing. Those two things are how to swim and how to defend yourself.” That statement really hits hard when things like this occur.
RSR is Now Hiring Boxing Writers (2 Slots Open)