NY poised to end fight against MMA?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Pablo Olivera, left, of Amsterdam, grapples with professional MMA fighter Harley Beekman, right, also of Amsterdam, during practice at Montalvo's Extreme MMA School in Amsterdam on Monday.

With a new speaker in town, advocates for mixed martial arts are hopeful the state Assembly will pass a bill this year legalizing professional competition in New York.

Under former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, legislation stalled in the Democratic-led Assembly for years, making New York the last state to legalize professional MMA. The Senate, which houses a majority of Republicans, passed measures to lift the ban on MMA five times.

Newly elected Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat from the Bronx, succeeds Silver following federal charges that Silver took nearly $4 million in kickbacks. Heastie co-sponsored a bill last year, introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, D-Rochester, to allow MMA events in the state and establish regulations for the sport.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, is co-sponsoring a similar bill this year introduced by Morelle to legalize MMA. Santabarbara said he believes support for the bill is growing in the Assembly and he’s looking to discuss the legislation with Heastie in the near future.

“I fully intend to talk with Heastie and express my support, and explain my support and why it’s important to pass the bill this year,” he said. “I look at this like casinos, where other states are doing it and we’re just behind. This is an economic development opportunity to promote competitions here and fill our arenas. Further development would then spur off of that. There is an entire industry I think we’re missing out on.”

It’s unclear where Heastie stands on the measure this year. In response to a request for comment, press secretary Michael Whyland said, “We have to discuss it with our members.” Heastie was previously listed as a co-sponsor of the bill this year, but his name was recently taken off the legislation.

Mixed martial arts is defined as a full-contact sport that allows competitors to strike each other standing up and on the ground. Currently, the practice of MMA is permitted in the state, but professional competitions are not. Some Democrats and groups opposed to the sport argue it’s too violent.

“It’s already a professional sport. It’s all around New York and it’s on television,” Santabarbara said. “The athletes that really want to do this are going to train here while other states take advantage of the competitions. If the state legalizes MMA, there will be regulations and safeguards in place. All sports have a bit of danger, but I think the best way to proceed is with state involvement to make sure we’re doing it the right way and that we have rules.”

Forced out of state

Montalvo’s Extreme MMA and Fitness in Amsterdam offers classes in mixed martial arts along with circuit training, kickboxing and other workouts. Daniel Montalvo, owner of the school, said legalizing the sport would boost interest among kids and professional trainers.

Individuals who compete professionally are currently forced out of state, making it more difficult to get people involved, Montalvo said. Permitting MMA competitions in New York would allow for local events and help local businesses, he said.

“I have two guys right now that are professionals and they have to travel out of state to fight,” Montalvo said. “I used to go to all of them, but now I can’t because with gas and room and board it just got too expensive. These guys pretty much just go on their own.”

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has lobbied for the state Legislature to approve measures legalizing MMA. UFC, based in Las Vegas, is the largest MMA promotion company in the world. Lorenzo Fertitta, chairman and CEO of UFC, said he’s looking to 2015 as the year that New York legalizes the sport with Heastie as Assembly speaker.

Fertitta said UFC is committed to hosting MMA events in New York if the sport is legalized.

“Speaker Heastie has long been a sponsor and strong supporter of the bill to have New York join the 49 other states that legalize and regulate MMA,” Fertitta said. “We are cautiously optimistic that 2015 is the year that New York’s huge UFC fan base will have the opportunity to see some incredible live events from Brooklyn to Buffalo. That’s a commitment we’ve made and look forward to fulfilling, as communities across the state will benefit from the jobs, out-of-state tourism and economic boost that live, professional MMA events provide.”

Montalvo’s MMA school, located on Church Street in Amsterdam, has been offering classes for about 15 years. The mixed martial arts class, which includes 20 people, mostly men, meets three times a week, Montalvo said.

“We do MMA circuit training to get fighters in shape for fights,” he said. “There are also classes for people who just want to be fit and don’t want to fight. Those classes are very popular. I have more people doing those classes than the strict MMA classes. The sport is not well-known because it’s not legal in New York. It doesn’t make any sense to me how it’s illegal here but legal in all of the other states.”

Montalvo said he’s hoping Heastie continues to support the legalization of MMA and allows the bill to come to a vote on the Assembly floor this year. He pointed to Santabarbara as a strong local advocate for the sport.

Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, is also a sponsor of the Morelle bill to legalize MMA this year. McDonald could not be reached for comment Monday.

Another bill in the Assembly this year sponsored by Assemblyman Denny Farrell, D-Manhattan, would establish a Mixed Martial Arts Injury Compensation Fund for participants in the sport to be considered employees and receive coverage for injuries.

“The athletes have the heart to do this, like any other sport,” Santabarbara said. “You have people that are born here, train here and if they want to compete professionally, have to drive to New Jersey, which is not fair because this is their home. You want support from your family and friends, and that’s difficult when you have to go to a different state. Forty-nine other states are doing this sport professionally. We should too.”