U.F.C. Sues to Lift State Ban on Mixed Martial Arts Fighting

[alp227]

Source: NYT

For four years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has lobbied the New York State legislature to overturn its 1997 ban on live professional mixed martial arts fighting.

But it has failed. So on Tuesday the U.F.C. adopted a new strategy: it sued the state in Manhattan federal court saying that the prohibition is unconstitutional. The complaint accuses the state of enacting the ban because of the violent message it believes the sport conveys.

By doing so, the U.F.C. said, the state has violated its free speech rights protected by the First Amendment. The real intent of the ban, the organization alleges, is to “squelch its expressive element.”

The lawsuit adds: “Live professional M.M.A. is clearly intended and understood as public entertainment and, as such, is expressive activity protected by the First Amendment.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/sports/ufc-sues-to-lift-new-york-ban-on-mixed-martial-arts-fighting.html

[GodlessBiker]

1. Public entertainment? It's an assault with a ref and a timekeeper.

However, if boxing is lawful, I don't see what MMA isn't.

"We need more gladiators!"

[Serve The Servants]

4. Working on it...

Taking a break from training right now, but if all goes well, I should have my first amateur fight by the time I hit the ripe old age of 37.

[Godhumor]

2. The amount of money this could bring to Western NY is staggering, I think

Dana White, the face of the UFC, has said that after MSG the next NY venue would be Buffalo. Running a show with some of the biggest names in the sport who are local (Rashad Evans and Jon Jones) or from Canada (GSP being the biggest) would guarantee a massive gate and a lot of localized spending.

I like MMA, but this would be such a great revenue machine for Buffalo, I really want to see the NY ban removed.

On edit: I don't see why this is moved and lock-out discussions stay in LBN/GD. But, oh well.

[rocktivity]

3. Violent message? As opposed to boxing or football, you mean?

However, UFC has something they didn't have before: Fox Sports. So it might work:

The first fight of the seven-year deal between the UFC and Fox Network lasted 64 seconds. It took just one hard right from Junior Dos Santos to spell the end of the night. The athletic wrestler, Velasquez, didn’t get to shoot a single takedown.

:eyes:
rocktivity