Top 5 Stories of the Week
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UFC will have to wait to crack the New York market. | Photo: Dave
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The bid to legalize mixed martial arts in New York has died in the State Assembly for the fourth consecutive year, as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has declined to bring the bill before the floor for a vote, according to a report from the New York Daily News.
The current legislative session ends this week, meaning MMA will remain illegal in the Empire State for at least another year, despite once again passing through the State Senate. According to the Daily News report, Silver held a “contentious closed-door” meeting with his Democratic conference on June 18, after which he verified that the bill would not be placed on the floor for a vote.
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UFC officials have openly pined for the opportunity to host an event at Madison Square Garden, New York City’s most famous venue. Several major UFC talents have also spoken out in favor of regulation in the state, including UFC light heavyweight king and native New Yorker Jon Jones, as well as UFC bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey, who testified before the State Senate in support of the bill in 2012.
The stories of interest on Sherdog.com this week:
Lone Holdout
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Stirring Debate
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