UFC’s Mark Ratner Discusses MMA Regulation In New York and Massachusetts

Posted by Larry Csonka on 07.02.2009

“I'm very cautiously optimistic”…

UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner was a guest on MMA Junkie Radio and discussed numerous topics, including possible MMA legislation in both New York and Massachusetts. He was optimistic on both states. Here are the highlights of what he had to say…

On MMA Legislation In New York: "This is really an unfortunate thing that happened there. This has nothing to do with the sport. They had a political upheaval there. A couple of Republican senators decided to vote with the Democrats, so it's complete chaos. It's dysfunctional as can be, and the Senate has not come back into session. It's not dead yet, but there's so many bills they have to pass that will keep the state of New York running, and ... we were caught up with everything else. I really believe we would have gotten out of committees this year and on to the Senate floor, on to the Assembly floor, and got to the Governor's desk. But, unfortunately they're not meeting. We're still going forward, and hopefully there will be a special session and they'll listen to it. I certainly am not (giving up on 2009). I'm very cautiously optimistic, but we may not be heard."

On MMA Legislation In Massachusetts : "It's still a possibility that it could happen, I'm very bullish on Massachusetts. We had a conference call with our lobbyists and our supporters there. One again, it's a process. The legislator is in session now, and I'm hoping by the end of July, maybe August, we can move it along and get it to the Governor. If that would happen, it takes some time for the commission to get up to speed, too. But there's a possibility for a December fight, November fight possibly."