Proposed MMA bill fails again in New York Legislature

Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship’s losing streak in New York state continued Thursday when officials of the mixed martial arts promotion and media organization learned that the proposed MMA bill failed again in the New York Legislature.

Once again, New York remains the sole state in the country where sanctioned MMA fight events are illegal despite UFC’s dogged lobbying efforts.

In a text, outspoken UFC President Dana White used a single word to describe the situation: “Corrupt.”

The bill never reached the state Assembly floor, even though former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver — arrested on federal corruption charges in January — wasn’t in his speaker’s role to block the bill from a vote. The current speaker, Carl Heastie, who has been a bill sponsor in the past, never brought it to the floor.

Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs, said he was “very disappointed” after hearing that the Assembly would not vote on the MMA bill.

“I was cautiously optimistic last week,” Ratner said Thursday. “We thought this would be our year.”

UFC officials believed they had the votes in the Assembly to approve the MMA bill if there was a vote.

Opponents in New York state argued MMA fights are barbaric and anti-woman. But UFC had its top star — Ronda Rousey — visit Albany to lobby the governor and state lawmakers this year.

White has blamed Culinary Union Local 226 in Las Vegas for applying political pressure in New York state to help block the bill. UFC’s top executive, Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, along with Fertitta’s brother, Frank, own Las Vegas-based Station Casinos, which is non-union.

Ratner said UFC will continue its lobbying efforts in New York. “We’re a fight company and it’s not a matter of if but when in New York State.”