Props: MMA Fanhouse
Quoteworthy:
"New York is a very big legislative district and there's a lot of money going through here ... [MMA] is an easy target for a politician to make it seem like he's working for the money he's gobbling up into his pockets through special interests and greasing palms, the old-boys network. Politicians aren't really there to serve us, they're there to serve themselves and to work and live in the political circle that it is and live off the political money that is in that circle. When the day comes that it's more beneficial for them to have MMA (in New York) instead of attacking it, then things will change. Until they think they can get rich off it, they're going to use it as their Rock'Em, Sock 'Em Robot."
Top-ranked heavyweight contender Josh Barnett echoes the sentiments that most of us have already discussed regarding the remaining states with a strong opposition to mixed martial arts, specifically New York. The "Empire State" has its own Town Crier in Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who vehemently opposes any sort of legalization that would allow promotions like the UFC to stage huge pay-per-view events at Madison Square Garden and beyond. Bill A.2009-B, created with the intention to legalize and regulate MMA in the state of New York, passed 14-6 in the Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports on Wednesday and will now find it's way to the Codes committee -- with Reilly hot on its trail...