UFC hopes to host first event in New York, whether state likes it or not
UFC has been pushing to hold an event in New York for years. Now, they may be closer than ever before.
By
Brandon Wise
•
1 min read
The state of New York remains the lone holdout when it comes to hosting mixed martial arts events. The state has not held a sanctioned MMA event for decades, and for all intents and purposes, that has kept the UFC out of NYC.
Well, the UFC is tired of waiting. The company announced Monday it will bring the first professional MMA event to New York since the state's ban in 1997. The event will take place on April 23, 2016, at Madison Square Garden, according to the press release.
"We believe fight fans have waited long enough to experience live UFC events in the state of New York and we are thrilled to announce our first event at Madison Square Garden," UFC Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein said. "Professional MMA is legal around of the world and it is about time New York followed suit."
UFC entered a lawsuit into federal court on Monday to overturn the ban, alleging that the law "is so badly written that neither ordinary persons nor state officials are able to say with any certainty what it permits and what it prohibits," according to the New York Daily News.
The UFC will ask a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction against New York state officials. Without it, the UFC will be unable to host its event.
