Ronda Rousey joins fight to legalize MMA as NY Senate approves new legislation

Mixed martial arts (MMA) regulation in the "Empire State" -- take three.

If at first you don't succeed ... well, you know the rest. Bill No. S.1707-A, designed to legalize MMA in New York, passed the State Senate yesterday by a vote of 43-14 and will (eventually) head to the Assembly floor for a final vote, the UFC announced earlier today.

And Zuffa Co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta (via MMA Fighting) is "convinced it will have strong bipartisan support:"

"We would like to thank the New York State Senate for passing the bill to legalize and regulate MMA for the third time in the last three years. We are hopeful the third time will be the charm with the State Assembly. The bill received overwhelming and bipartisan support and we would especially like to recognize the leadership of the Senate sponsor Joseph Griffo.
 
Over the next two months, we will focus our efforts on convincing Assembly leadership that this bill, now sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Morelle - who is a Monroe County native just like UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones - should be brought to the floor of the Assembly for a vote, where we are convinced it will have strong bipartisan support."

New York is one of just a handful of states that (still) does not regulate MMA, but the UFC continues to keep the pressure on, frequently sending fighters and promotion officials to plead their case.

Wednesday was no exception.

Video of those efforts, which included UFC middleweight Nick Catone and Strikeforce 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey, after the jump.

For more on the struggle to get MMA legalized in New York click here.