Madison Square Garden (USATSI)
MSG will host the first UFC event in New York in November. (USATSI)

Mixed martial arts is officially coming to New York as Governor Anthony Cuomo signed the recently passed bill on Thursday, ending a 20-year ban on the sport. The New York State Athletic Commission now has 120 days to adopt sanctioning guidelines and once that happens fights can begin to take place.

The UFC wasted no time in announcing its first fight date as the world's biggest MMA promotion will be heading to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12, 2016. 

As of now, there's no card set for that date, but that November date falls perfectly in line with the expected return of Ronda Rousey. The UFC will certainly look to put together a big card for the first event at MSG, and Rousey is still as big of a draw as they have. Her return would make for quite the New York City debut. 

There are also rumors that the Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier light heavyweight title fight, that had to be rescheduled after Cormier's injury forced him out of UFC 197, could be another target as a main event for the New York City card.