Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of the octagon: it seemed like the page was about to turn for Mixed Martial Arts aficionados—after a long struggle to get their beloved, bloody sport legalized in New York, the MMA bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Assembly Tourism Committee this week. But the bill was then unceremoniously bodyslammed by none other than the heavyweight champion of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver. "There does not appear to be widespread support in the Assembly for this legislation," he told the News.
If Sheldon doubts that the proposal could be approved before the June 20 end of the legislative session, that means it isn't happening. It doesn't matter that it cleared the Senate, it doesn't matter that it is expected to zip through the Assembly Codes Committee next week, and it doesn't seem to matter that it has grown in support in the chamber: "Every other state seems to think this is a good idea," said Codes Committee Chairman Joseph Lentol. Silver's dismissive statement tells the whole tale.
Assemblyman Robert Reilly, who has been one of the biggest critics of the bill, expressed his disappointment that the bill passed the Tourism Committee. But he did point out that even though the bill passed the Tourism committee last year, it was not passed by the full Assembly:
I believe my Assembly colleagues will continue to vote ‘NO’ to an excessively violent activity that has no place in civilized society. We’ve come too far to turn our state into a veritable coliseum. The New York State Assembly will continue its efforts to eradicate all types of violence in our State and will not implicitly condone violence by legalizing ultimate fighting.
Below, you can check out some highlights from deep within the uncivilized society of the veritable coliseum...which has been deemed civilized enough for 45 states, including NJ:
