The head of Madison Square Garden Sports is ready to spar with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature to allow controversial professional cage fighting at the world's most famous arena, the New York Post reported Friday.
MSG honcho Steve Scott O'Neil joined promoters of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on Thursday to persuade the state to legalize mixed martial arts bouts that include punches, kicks, slams, chokeholds and elbow and knee strikes.
A UFC analysis said sanctioning the fights would generate $23 million in economic activity for the state by holding two major UFC fight nights -- one at the Garden, another in Buffalo -- and several smaller events around the state.
The study said the fights would draw 145,000 fans, generate $12.9 million in ticket sales and create 212 new jobs.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to host one hell of an event," O'Neil said at Garden press conference, adding that he was "blown away" by the skill of the fighters he saw compete last year in New Jersey
Fighters specialize in boxing, kick-boxing, wrestling and martial arts skills such as judo and jiujitsu.
"There's no better place to have the world's fastest growing sport. We're excited to host it," O'Neil said, adding that he would "absolutely" trek to Albany to help make the case.
Forty-four other states sanction mixed martial arts bouts -- including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
UFC light-heavyweight champ and New Jersey native Frankie Edgar -- who in November gave a motivational pep talk to the hometown football Jets -- said fighting at the Garden "has always been a dream ... It would be an honor to fight in New York. I know the fans are hungry for it."
Last year, then-Gov. David Paterson pushed to legalize the bouts to generate $2 million in taxes for the state. A proposal narrowly passed the state Senate, but was blocked in the Democratic-run Assembly, where many claim the fights are too brutal and violent.
"I'm a little baffled," said UFC President Dana White, who noted that the bouts are strictly regulated like boxing. "People who are opposed need to do their homework."
UFC promoters admit they have to overcome a bad rap that lingers from the industry's early days of the 1990s, when there were few safety rules and organizers glorified blood and gore in marketing the sport.
