New York MMA bill’s sponsor explains current impasse on sport’s legalization

By MMAEdition on Jun 30, 2010 with Comments 0

A divide in New York Democrats has stalled the legalization of mixed
martial arts, says state assemblyman Steven Englebright.

Englebright, a Democrat who chairs the assembly’s Tourism, Parks, Arts
and Sports Development Committee, has twice sponsored legislation that
would legalize MMA in the Empire State. Last year, his committee
green-lighted the sport, and this year, the state senate gave the OK.

But after the state assembly on Monday removed language from governor
David Paterson’s budget proposal that would make New York the 45th state
to approve the sport, Englebright is not optimistic that MMA will be
voted on this year.