New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a new law legalizing Mixed Martial Arts bouts in the state, making it the last state in the nation to remove prohibitions on professional fights. The new law reverses the ban placed on the bouts in 1997 amid concerns over the safety of fighters. "This is going to be a great economic engine for New York," Cuomo said before signing the law at Madison Square Garden Thursday, flanked by state lawmakers and former UFC Champion Ronda Rousey.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, also present for the signing, announced that UFC would hold its first bout in New York at Madison Square Garden on November 12. He says another bout yet to be determined is in the works for an upstate venue before the end of the year as well.
"We're definitely going to be here, we're going to be here to stay," Fertitta said. "This is a great market for us and we look forward to doing business here."
The New York State Athletic Commission now has 120 days to enact regulations for the sport, after which fights can be held.
