Mixed martial arts stars could soon be splattering each other’s blood and teeth all over Barclays Center after the Assembly finally passed a long-stalled bill to legalize the professional cage-fighting sport in New York on Tuesday.
“I think it’ll be good for defense. It teaches people discipline. The ones who take it usually don’t like fighting, I took it when I was young. It does help you through almost everything.”
Assembly members voted 114–26 to approve the legislation. It still needs to clear Gov. Cuomo’s desk, but he has expressed support in the past.
“I think anything and everything should be legal. To each their own, if that’s what they want to do, make a living, go ahead, knock their heads out.”
Big promotions including Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator lobbied for the legalization — New York is the only state where pro mixed martial arts is not legal — and both have said they want to host fight nights at Barclays.
“At this point I wouldn’t mind. To each his own. As long as rents don’t go up. I don’t condone the violence though.”
But is it something everyday Brooklynites want to watch? We hit the streets to find out.
“I dont like it because it promotes a very aggressive attitude and violence”
