Alabama: Sweet home for MMA

Forty-six down, four to go.

The state of Alabama has finally legalized mixed martial arts action leaving only Connecticut, West Virginia, Vermont, and of course, New York as the only states who don't want to make any money, err, I mean who refuse to sanction MMA.

Dana White tweeted the good news yesterday.

It's a good thing Alabama has now decided to regulate the sport of MMA because the state was quickly turning into the preferred home for freak show fights across the country.

If you recall correctly, "The Heart of Dixie" played host to Tim Sylvia's now infamous fight with Ray Mercer last year because the state of New Jersey, for good reason, refused to sanction it.

Alabama was also scheduled to host the "Alabama Pride"  event featuring contests between Butterbean and Tank Abbott and the debut of rising MMA superstar DMX. Luckily for all of us, the show was canceled due to poor ticket sales. 

Another not so appealing fight featuring congenital amputee Kyle Maynard made it's home in Auburn, Alabama after the state of Georgia said no thanks.

The legalization of MMA in the four remaining states is now just an inevitability. With the kind of financial impact one visit from the UFC can have on a city in need of an economy boost, as New York Governor David Paterson is well aware, it's just a matter of when, not if, New York, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Vermont join the party.