ALBANY – On Wednesday the state Senate approved a bill legalizing professional mixed martial arts bouts — a measure that has passed the chamber before, only to be blocked by the state Assembly. The vote, which cut across party lines, was 47-14.
Supporters 0f MMA-sanctioned bouts in New York State say the sport is a potential revenue generator that’s no more violent than other professional martial arts or boxing exhibitions. Detractors of MMA call it barbaric and compare the fights that take place in the octagon to the gladiator arenas of ancient Rome.
The legislation places regulation of the sport in the hands of the State Athletic Commission, and creates an 8.5 percent tax on ticket sales as well as a 3 percent tax on gross receipts from broadcasting rights.
The issue has yet to be approved by the Democrat-dominated Assembly, where recently retired Capital Region Assemblyman Bob Reilly was something of a bulwark against the sport.
On Wednesday morning, Speaker Sheldon Silver said the majority Democratic conference would discuss the bill. MMA athletes were in the Capitol on Wednesday to lobby for the bill.
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