UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is lobbying for the eventual legalization of professional mixed martial arts fighting in New York.
Citing that New York is the most dangerous place in the US to fight because of lack of regulation, Rousey met with New York Governor Andre Cuomo and several political leaders of the state to push for the legalization of MMA in the professional level, notes Yahoo! Sports.
While the professional sport is not regulated and is considered not legal in New York, there are plenty of mixed martial arts fights happening in the state and all of them are being done below the authorities’ radar or underground.
Rousey believes that this is the reason why it is dangerous not only to the sports but also to the MMA fighters as they would not be entitled to any kind of security or protection as they continue to do fights illegally in New York.
Optimistic it would finally happen
The women’s bantamweight champion guested on “Good Morning America” on March 26 where she talked about the status of the legalization of professional MMA fights in New York.
She told show host Robin Roberts that she is quite optimistic that the legalization of the professional sport would finally happen this year. Rousey disclosed that she has already talked to the New York Governor and she felt that the politician is very supportive of what she and the others are lobbying.
Rousey explained that the lobby has been passed for six consecutive years in the Senate but the issue has never been put into a vote yet in the Assembly. But she is confident that it will be finally voted upon in the Assembly this year.
She also told the host that MMA fighting in New York is not banned in its entirety. Only the professional level play is not allowed. She says that she finds the situation quite absurd considering that there are over 1,600 New Yorkers who have competed in the MMA just last year, mostly in amateur events.
Without the proper legalization, or no athletic commission to govern the conduct of the professional sport, there will be no such thing as medical or drug testing. Rousey said that even the referees are not educated so it is very risky. And if nothing is done for the sport soon, and someone gets hurt, it would surely be on the hands of the politicians who did not do anything to legalize it and protect the fighters, she elaborated.
Ready to fight again
Ronda Rousey did the personal lobby for the legalization of MMA professional fights in New York after she arrived from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil last week where her next fight with Bethe Correia was announced.
Both undefeated women fighters, Rousey and Correia will headline the main event of UFC 190 scheduled on August 1 to be held in Brazil.
In addition to lobbying for the legalization of MMA professional fights in New York, Rousey also recently guested on Tonight Show where she played around with host Jimmy Fallon, appeared on the “The View,” and also squeezed in an interview with WrestleMania 31 championship contender Roman Reigns for Sports Illustrated.