MMA fans, fighters, and media from all over the world tuned into a live stream as the motion for legislation of MMA in New York reached the floor of the State Assembly, hoping to hear a positive outcome.
Instead, they heard some of the most ridiculous arguments against MMA imaginable.
This is the final stage after the motion passed the first two hurdles, and if the State Assembly votes in favour this time then we will soon be seeing UFC events in the likes of Madison Square Garden.
Those who tuned in were curious as to what reasons those who did not want to see MMA in New York had for feeling that way, and they were treated to some absolutely farcical points that made little sense at all, but the top three would no doubt have to be:
- It's like when slaves were forced to fight to the death.
- It's gay porn with a different ending.
- MMA gym owners might be peadophiles looking for a clever way to molest kids.
Yes, this points were actually made by people who are in a position to decide on these matters.
NY Assembly member Charles Barron likened MMA to a time when slaves were “thrown in a cage" and forced to fight. pic.twitter.com/YrzkItUwtD
— FIGHTLAND (@FIGHTLAND) March 22, 2016
The Hon. @DanielJODonnell, who reps Manhattan's 69th district (and Rosie's brother), just called MMA "gay porn with a different ending."
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) March 22, 2016
Dear god, this isn't happening. Angela Wozniak says MMA gym owners could be undercover sex offenders looking for a clever way to molest kids
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) March 22, 2016
So lets discuss these one by one.
Like slavery?
Perhaps, if the slaves were allowed to submit and end the fight at any point, were being paid for their actions, and wanted to be there more than anything else. Actually, no, that doesn't sound like slavery at all.
Gay porn with a different ending?
What? Does gay porn have a set ending? This point was made by a man named Daniel O'Donnel, brother of Rosie O'Donnell (who is a big fan of MMA by the way), and is honestly an embarrassing thing to say. It makes no sense at all, and screams of someone who doesn't like MMA and is terrified of gay people being gay with him and him liking it, or something equally as childish as O'Donnell's argument.
Child molesters opening gyms?
In what world is that a sensible thing to say? Keep in mind that this woman herself was recently accused of sexual harassment, she's invented a hypothetical situation where a paedophile has become a jiu-jitsu black belt and opened his own gym so that he can roll with the children. Again, embarrassing.
There were, of course, some more reasonable individuals in attendance as pointed out by Ariel Helwani:
Look at Hon. Steven F. McLaughlin acknowledging that while he isn’t a fan of the sport, he will support it. How about that?
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 22, 2016
“The time has come. It’s time to take the vote. It’s time to pass this. It’s time to legalize MMA in the state of NY,” Murray said.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 22, 2016
Look at @DeanMurrayNYAD3 actually going to amateur shows and doing his research. I’m Canadian, but I think he should run for US Prez.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 22, 2016
Should the bill pass the Assembly floor, it then would go to the governor's office for his signature, but hopefully he doesn't have to listen to the bile that has been spouted throughout the day.
