Pros react to the legalization of MMA in New York

It may be more than a decade overdue, but mixed martial arts is finally legal in New York. The New York State Assembly on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to legalize the sport within its borders, passing the bill with a 113-25 bipartisan vote following a painfully archaic debate period which saw MMA compared to slavery, homosexual pornography, public lynching, and pedophilia, just to name a few.

With MMA at last legal throughout all of the United States, a celebration ensued which stretched across the sport. But not before a few New York natives poked fun at the absurdity unfolding around them (along with a parody account who somehow fooled one of the assembly speakers).

Do u know what happened to the man that thought he farted ?? He crapped his pants! Glick is just throwing thoughts around with no facts.

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 22, 2016

2 part question: Free @Torque1net hat for the first one to tell me her name and whether she stinks like poo or not pic.twitter.com/OnFKgiTEbO

— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 22, 2016

Deborah Glick stating her case on why MMA shouldn't be legalized pic.twitter.com/aD063AzI1B

— Coach Edmund (@CoachEdmund) March 22, 2016

@DeborahJGlick Suck a bag of dicks you uneducated twat. You're an embarrassment to New York.

— Coach Edmund (@CoachEdmund) March 22, 2016

pic.twitter.com/xy6W4ztw3H

— jim genia (@jim_genia) March 22, 2016

pic.twitter.com/FmqX9WWmf9

— jim genia (@jim_genia) March 22, 2016

Was that really so hard?!

— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 22, 2016

I've waited a long time for today and couldn't be more excited to have MMA legal in my hometown of New York!! pic.twitter.com/uoxIpPbcQ4

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 22, 2016

Glad to see NY on the menu now. Unfortunate about the timing.

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 22, 2016

Better for Chris I don't beat him down in his home state.

— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 22, 2016

Thank You NY State Legislature! We are one step closer to making MMA a reality in New York! #MMA4NY

— Lorenzo Fertitta (@lorenzofertitta) March 22, 2016

pic.twitter.com/CRtAlvCXnO

— Dana White (@danawhite) March 22, 2016

New York has legalized MMA. I know a lot of fighters have dreams of fighting at #MadisonSquareGarden I think this will become a reality.

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 22, 2016

great MMA news thank you New York! @ufc https://t.co/ba8uB3J1sh

— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) March 22, 2016

I volunteer to fight either Nolan or Wozniak on the 1st MSG card. While using big educated words.

— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) March 22, 2016

MMA legalized in New York

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 22, 2016

HAHA THE BILL PASSED!!!! Now just have to wait for the governor to sign it off. Hallelujah!! #MMA4NY @ufc #longislandmma

— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) March 22, 2016

This is a major step not only as a professional fighter but as a business owner and provider for my family! #MMA4NY #ufc @ufc #limma

— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) March 22, 2016

Thank You NY State Legislature for making MMA in New York a reality! #MMA4NY pic.twitter.com/5fBCsu1nLZ

— UFC (@ufc) March 22, 2016

MMA is finally Legalized in the state of New York

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 22, 2016

FINALLY!!!!!!! #MMAinNY

— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) March 22, 2016

Sweet!! When's the first Bellator!?! pic.twitter.com/n4ldMtZgJt

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) March 22, 2016

That face you make when MMA is finally legalized in NYC. ✊ #PowerToThePeople #LegalizeMMA #AboutDamnTime #MMA4NY... https://t.co/QNgwEPJwEh

— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) March 22, 2016

Let the "Hey @ufc @danawhite put me on the MSG show" requests begin with me. #UFC #MMANY

— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) March 22, 2016

Congrats to all who've worked so hard for MMA to be legal in every state. Universal medical and judging/reffing regulations next, please!

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 22, 2016

Thank You NY State Legislature! We are one step closer to making MMA a reality in New York! #MMA4NY @lorenzofertitta @ufc #NY

— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) March 22, 2016

Yes!!!!! At first you don't succeed try try again! @danawhite @lorenzofertitta @ufc @joerogan… https://t.co/4FBJTJokpq

— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) March 22, 2016

https://t.co/xXWOAfsf6b

— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) March 22, 2016

Thank You NY State Legislature! We are 1 step closer to making MMA a reality in New York! #MMA4NY @ufc

— Ashlee Evans-Smith (@AshleeMMA) March 22, 2016

MMA IS LEGAL IN NEW YORK!

— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) March 23, 2016

Thank you #NYC now all the fans can see #MMA live. #MMANYC @BellatorMMA @SpikeTV @Viacom https://t.co/3GnGq1V5JG

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) March 22, 2016

Great #REsult #mma4ny #ufc pic.twitter.com/vNEv5mbWSf

— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) March 22, 2016

Holy fuck balls https://t.co/EmaZwCtoKV

— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) March 23, 2016

Thank you New York City for legalizing MMA. @ufc and the fight fans here we come @danawhite @lorenzofertitta

— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 22, 2016

This is a historic day for New York and the MMA community! So excited to fight at home! #ny #MSG #longisland #islip @LIslandStrong @ufc

— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) March 22, 2016

Back to @TheGarden then!

— Coach (@CMPunk) March 22, 2016

It's about damn time!! #newyork @ufc https://t.co/BWaq43S5d6 pic.twitter.com/3D36mweUbr

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 22, 2016

Congrats @UFC!!! More importantly the sport of #MMA Awesome to see @lorenzofertitta @danawhite @ikeepstein pic.twitter.com/BplDg9RE1Q

— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) March 22, 2016

Mma now legal in New York! The growth continues! #MMA4NY

— scott askham (@scottaskham1) March 22, 2016

WSOF CEO @csilva and COO Michael Mersch React to MMA in New York! https://t.co/bMGPETKGui #MMA4NY pic.twitter.com/cEDRc1tqyp

— WSOF (@MMAWorldSeries) March 22, 2016

Eso Amigos!!! @lorenzofertitta @danawhite #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork https://t.co/fkfPlElVJB

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) March 22, 2016

@LukeRockhold I will be ready. Will you still be champ? #ynuevo

— Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) March 22, 2016

I bet the culinary union members are PISSED! #MMANY

— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) March 23, 2016

No better way to get out of training to see #mma get legalized in NY. Can't wait to compete under the bright lights at MSG. #MMA4NY @ufc

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 22, 2016

Thank you NYC for legalizing MMA!Can't wait to fight @BellatorMMA in @MSGnyc pic.twitter.com/jLe8tLu8aA

— Joe Warren (@JoeWarrenMMA) March 22, 2016

Here we come New York pic.twitter.com/dS8EhZlU6G

— Pat Curran (@PatCurranMMA) March 22, 2016

Awesome news https://t.co/NLX7YZ4jwu

— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 22, 2016

[Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, Rosie O'Donnell's brother, compares MMA to ‘gay porn with a different ending’]https://t.co/1ef22RkmIF

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) March 22, 2016

And that is likely just 1 reason that Dan O'Donnell is total buffoon. He sounds like a complete idiot w/massive insecurities.

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) March 23, 2016

Now the greatest fighters on earth can compete in the worlds greatest arena #MadisonSquareGarden #MMA

— Ring of Combat (@ringofcombat) March 22, 2016

#MMA4NY https://t.co/vglD86w6uS

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 22, 2016

Took Long enough, now let's see who wins the lottery and gets put on the first New York show B https://t.co/TUvc12XQMk

— Dom Shonuff Waters (@Shonuff89) March 22, 2016

Hey New York, welcome to the 20th century.
(Yes, I know it's the 21st, and you are dumb)

— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) March 22, 2016

Dreams do come true !!!!‼️ @ufc Congrats‼️‼️ https://t.co/IC3btua1Kb

— Sean Spencer (@seanspencer170) March 22, 2016

In support of MMA in NY finally being legal. https://t.co/ZwKjQkxb4v

— Royce Gracie (@realroyce) March 22, 2016

NY legalizes MMA. We all know the best fighters from the east coast @bellatormma https://t.co/wnpcCxPHwH

— Darrion Caldwell (@thewolf_mma) March 22, 2016

MMA legal in New York is huge for our sport! Hope to fight there someday! #bellatornation pic.twitter.com/FTgJfWzUZh

— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) March 22, 2016

What a day! Time for @BellatorMMA and @SpikeSports to come to NY! LET'S GO TO N.Y.!!!!!!! great day for our sport! @Giants @NFL

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) March 22, 2016

Finally MMA legal in New York!!! #NewYork #MMA #BellatorMMA #BellatorNation pic.twitter.com/F01wm6TZCW

— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) March 22, 2016

Mma almost legal here in New york! My first dream was to become World Champion and my second… https://t.co/htG4SX1oYT

— Marcos Galvao (@MarcosGalvaoMMA) March 22, 2016

Jay Z said it best "concrete jungle where dreams are made...big lights will inspire you,let's hear it for New York!Here we come MSG #MMA4NY

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 22, 2016

Mma is legit now!

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) March 22, 2016

New York, New York! Happy days Irish MMA fans, a lot shorter trip than Vegas ❤ let's do this!!

— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) March 22, 2016

Finally! It's about time we as fighters went back to the magical place that Bruno Sammartino called home. https://t.co/lDtBt7yD5q

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) March 22, 2016

I wanna fight in Madison square garden! https://t.co/yFzz4EHBAl

— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 23, 2016

We are legal in New York! Good day for MMA!

— Erik Jon Koch (@NEWBREED04) March 23, 2016

MMA now legal in all 50 states! Exciting news, there's a reason to visit NYC :) https://t.co/HEddT6bonP

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) March 23, 2016

Wow long time coming! Better late than never! #Repost @ufc with repostapp.
・・・
Thank You NY… https://t.co/0F9VA1vuDE

— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 22, 2016