New York Government Turmoil Could Sidetrack MMA Regulation

Just a week ago, it seemed like mixed martial arts was on the fast track to regulation in New York.

Not so fast.

A bizarre series of events in the state's capital that have been characterized as "turmoil" and a "coup" by various New York newspapers, has left the state senate in disarray, leaving the actual governing of the state on the back burner.

Earlier this week, with less than two weeks to go in the current legislative session, two Democrats essentially switched teams to the Republican party. The sudden change gave the Republicans a majority and shifted the balance of power. Not surprisingly, the sudden, shocking move left the Dems angered, and in the time since, the two sides have spent all their time threatening legal action in a power struggle rather than dealing with the business of their state.

Because of that, no issues of actual importance to the running of New York are being discussed, debated or addressed. Instead, all legislation is stalled while the men and women of the senate fight a turf war. When and if they resolve their situation, there are, unfortunately for MMA, many pressing issues that need immediate attention, for example the state's spiraling budget problems.

Because of all that, it is very possible, and probably even likely that the MMA bill that passed the state's committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports will be ignored while other, more important matters are dealt with.

The current session ends on June 22, and with the next two Fridays scheduled as days off, that leaves only six more days to solve the current problem and conduct state business, though Gov. David Paterson has the right to call an emergency session.

The UFC has been asking New York to pass MMA regulation for years, even hiring a lobbyist, and even though it's closer than ever to happening, Dana White and company might have to wait a little bit longer.