The Pros And Cons Of Mixed Martial Arts

After beginning in southeast Asia during the early 20th century, mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions made their way to the United States in the early 1980s. Shortly after its introduction in the United States, detractors of the sport labeled it as “human cockfighting” and questioned its legitimacy as a sport. Due to the controversial nature of the sport, few state governments were eager to support mixed martial arts, with many states outlawing MMA competitions within their borders. On March 22, 2016 the New York State Assembly passed Senate Bill S2159, which “established protocols for combative sports and authorized mixed martial arts events in the state” (Senate Bill S2159). The passage of this bill was the result of the efforts of interest

Every subsequent year, the UFC continued to send company brass and fighters to the capital multiple times a year to meet with lawmakers (Snel). In 2016, the company officials and fighters also joined the primary sponsors of Senate Bill S2159, Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle and Senator Joseph A. Griffo, on a tour throughout New York holding news conferences in New York, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo (“UFC’s Chris Weidman…”). The primary talking points at the events were the improved safety of the sport and the potential economic impact of legalizing the sport (McAndrew). As part of their discussion on the potential economic impact, the members of the UFC contingent frequently cited an economic report titled “Economic Impact of Mixed Martial Arts in New York”, which was prepared by HR & A Advisors, a Washington, D.C. real estate and economic development consulting firm (“MMA Would be…”). This report detailed the various sources of economic spending that MMA would produce including event spending, the expansion of training centers, new jobs, etc. In all, the study projected roughly $135 million in annual economic activity. (“Economic Impact