The UFC today scored an unexpected victory yesterday in a New York courtroom today as it’s legal team continued their efforts to get the sport of MMA legalized in the state.
The promotion had been seeking to have a ban on MMA in the region removed on the grounds that it constituted a violation of their first amendment rights, but while it still remains to be seen if that will be successful, during the hearing it emerged that there may be a legal loophole that would allow the UFC to hold fights in New York regardless of the outcome.
Essentially it boils down to the fact that as things stand it’s not illegal for an amateur competition overseen by a third-party sanctioning body in the state of New York – a fact confirmed by the Attorney General’s office.
That means that the UFC, or any other professional MMA organization for that matter, could enlist a body such as the World Karate Association or the World Kickboxing Association to oversee a UFC event in New York, effectively sidestepping the current ban.
It’s believed that the UFC still intend to continue their campaign to have MMA legalized in the state, but if that is unsuccessful then they fully intend to use this legal loophole to finally fulfill a long held dream to host an event in New York.
Earlier this year UFC President Dana White vowed that the UFC would host an event at the famous Madison Square Garden venue in NYC this November, and judging by this latest development that’s not going to prove to be an empty promise.
