UFC President Dana White, Frankie Edgar, Matt Hamill, and Renzo Gracie at the Washington Ave. Armory at 3pm today

UFC President Dana White is in Albany today to meet with legislators and promote the sport in an attempt to get it legalized in New York State.

White is joined by MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer Renzo Gracie, UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, and Utica resident and UFC middleweight contender Matt Hamill (who despite being deaf from birth has been a contender in two different weight classes).

At 3:00pm, all will be present at the Albany Armory to address the media and present a technique clinic for area students and others.

This marks the first time to my knowledge that the UFC has been a presence in the area. In recent years the sport has gone from niche interest to explode into the mainstream, generating millions in pay-per-view buys and becoming one of the top sports in the country.

MMA’s primary opposition in New York State is longtime New York State legislator Bob Reilly, who has used his position on the State Tourism & Gaming Committee to block MMA at all passes. His confounding statements against the sport have continued despite facts to the contrary, and who also thinks boxing itself has gotten too violent.

Unfortunately, since I work a 9 to 5 and also receive money as an occasional contributor to UFC.com, I can’t be present to provide coverage as media. I urged the Times Union yesterday to send a representative to cover the event, but have yet to hear back as to whether or not that’s going to happen. The impression I was given is that it didn’t seem likely, which is a real shame since it’s rare a sports figure as prominent as White visits the area, especially on the heels of UFC’s acquisition of Strikeforce this past weekend, which further tightened the vice clamp the UFC has on MMA in North America. Hopefully they’ve reconsidered.

The Press Release provided by the UFC is after the cut.

Ultimate Fighting Championship® Comes to Albany to Urge New York State to Regulate Mixed Martial Arts
 

UFC President Dana White, UFC Owner/CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, current Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, UFC athlete Matt Hamill, UFC Athlete & Gym Owner Renzo Gracie to Meet with Legislators Tuesday to Highlight Evolution of Sport, Millions in Economic Impact Across NY
 
*UFC Fighter and Reps to Host Community Expo with Albany Teens at Armory 3:00pm*
 
Ultimate Fighting Championship® President Dana White, UFC Owner & CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, local UFC Athlete and gym owner Renzo Gracie, current UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar Jr, UFC athlete and Utica native Matt Hamill, and local NYU fight Doctor Todd Schlifstein will meet with Albany legislators Tuesday, March 15th to urge the regulation of mixed martial arts (MMA) in New York and highlight the millions annually in revenue the sport would bring to New York.
Renzo Gracie, Frankie Edgar, Matt Hamill and Dana White will then address the media and hold an MMA community expo for teens from Albany’s Journeyman Wrestling School at the Washington Avenue Armory. Albany area youths from the local Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Arbor Hill Community Center and Boy Scouts will attend. 
Forty-five other states currently regulate the sport, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. 
 
WHO:                            Dana White, UFC President
                                Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC Owner & CEO
Renzo Gracie, UFC athlete and owner of New York’s Gracie Academy
Frankie Edgar, UFC Lightweight champion
Matt Hamill, UFC athlete, Utica, NY native
Dr. Todd Schlifstein, NYU/fight doctor
 
WHEN:                  Tuesday, March 15
Legislator Meetings to urge regulation of MMA in NY 9:00am-2:00pm
(Media Availability between meetings)
Capitol Building
 
MMA community expo/autograph signings with Albany teens 3-4:00pm
(Media presentation, photo opportunities)
Washington Avenue Armory
195 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY                               
WHY:                     As the State Legislature considers a bill to regulate the sport of mixed martial arts in New York, officials from the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and local New York supporters are visiting Albany to educate legislators about the sport’s tremendous growth, impeccable safety record and to discuss the economic development that their events would bring to communities around the state.
 
Mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world, and UFC® is the most widely recognized of the MMA organizations. Its surging popularity has made it a coveted attraction for local officials and arena owners around the globe, and it is currently regulated in 44 of the 48 states that have athletic commissions. A study commissioned by UFC® showed that regulation in New York would generate roughly $23 million in economic activity across the state.
 
UFC 128 on March 19th in Newark, NJ is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to the Prudential Center and generate a gate number in the millions. UFC 129 on April 30th in Toronto has set a record with 55,000 seats sold and an $11 million gate.
 
# # #