UFC’s April 23 event in New York hinges on injunction from judge

New York is the only state with a formal ban on MMA, which has led to a groundswell of criticism as the sport’s grown in popularity. The UFC also submitted a new case to federal court on September 28, “reiterating its claim that the New York law banning MMA events is unconstitutional”. For years, Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, has lobbied to see the sport legalized and placed under the jurisdiction of the New York State Athletic Commission, but a bill that would accomplish that has never reached a state Assembly vote.

In Monday’s lawsuit, the UFC said it had signed a contract to hold an event at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and that the ban was costing it millions of dollars in revenue. “Professional MMA is legal around of the world and it is about time New York followed suit”. 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. No further details were announced regarding the event, which the UFC acknowledged may have to be canceled.

The hope is – as it was in 2013, 2014 and each of the six years prior – that the state senate will pass the bill that will allow the sanctioning of mixed martial arts in the state. Earlier this year its suit filed for almost identical reasons in 2011 was dismissed on technical grounds.

Currently, amateur MMA is legal in New York.

The promotion announced Monday that it intends to file a preliminary injunction this week “against New York state officials enforcing its unconstitutional law”, essentially asking a federal judge to grant the UFC the right to circumvent state laws and stage an event in New York on April 23.

The latest chapter in the fight to legalize professional mixed martial arts in New York state has begun.

Monday’s statement from UFC says the organization filed the lawsuit because New York’s law is out of date and “too unclear for the public to understand, and has allowed regulators in New York to pick and choose arbitrarily what events they will permit”.

So, yes, the UFC will be hosting an event at Madison Square Garden on April 23, and while undefeated middleweight champion and Long Island native Chris Weidman will probably be there, he is more likely to be wearing a suite than his fight trunks.