UFC’s Lorenzo Fertitta Releases Statement On Failed MMA Bill

CRAIG L. MORAN/REVIEW-JOURNAL
Business—Lorenzo Fertitta at his West Sahara office Wednesday June 18, 2008.

Well, another year and MMA is still illegal in New York. There was a lot of steam and positive feelings built up and ultimately it was the same old same old. The MMA bill did not get passed.

Obviously everyone pulling for it is disappointed, including UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. We heard from president Dana White, on Twitter, who blamed the ‘corrupt’ politics for the set back, but Fertitta kept it calm and collected in a statement he released on UFC.com.

Excerpt:

“While our disappointment cannot be overstated, our commitment to seeing New York legalize the fastest growing sport in the nation and the world is intact and undeterred. We continue to strongly believe that legalizing and regulating MMA in New York is the right thing for the state economically, the right thing for the millions of fans in New York and the right thing for the safety and benefit of the thousands of professional and amateur MMA athletes across the state.

“UFC is not harmed by not being in New York, as much as we would like to be there for our fans and for the arenas, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses which would see substantial economic benefits from the legalization of MMA in New York.

“However, the thousands of New Yorkers who engage in MMA – at the professional and amateur level – are hurt. Thousands of New Yorkers participate in amateur MMA events in the state every year, and because there is no regulation and oversight, their health and safety are at risk.

There’s always next year guys.

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