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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC has continue their push to legalize MMA in the state of New York in 2013, but while their efforts have seen a more positive step forward, the slow moving process has them doubting they can make their debut this year. After previously discussing tentative plans to bring their 20th Anniversary event this November to Madison Square Garden, UFC President Dana White isn't so sure that happens anymore.
"Anything can happen," White said on Thursday ahead of UFC on Fox 7 (transcribed by MMAJunkie.com). "But I'm not as optimistic as I was a few weeks ago. We'll see what happens. I'm just not as optimistic as I was."
One point of contention continues to be brought forward by the Las Vegas Culinary Union, which has had issues with the casinos owned by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, but White continues to fire back against them all the same.
"Everybody wants [MMA in New York] except the culinary union," White said. "Let me tell you this: Every time we try to move forward and progress in New York, the Las Vegas Culinary Union starts hammering everybody with letters, and they're working the politicians and everything else.
"I have a question for you: In Las Vegas, we put on however many fights a year. How come they're not writing any letters in Las Vegas? They're from Las Vegas. And if the UFC is this horrible thing that they write about, why aren't they sending letters to the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Nevada State Athletic Commission – and the list goes on an on? Why are they only writing letters to New York? Does that make any sense to anybody? So what's good for Vegas, Vegas can reap the benefits of all the economic impact we have, all the good things that happen when a UFC event comes in to Vegas, but New York can't? Why is that? Dirty, rotten scumbags."
Ultimately, the UFC has some big plans for their 20th anniversary, as it will be a historic moment in the history of the sport, but White no longer believes it will come to New York City as initially hoped.
"There's going to be a 20-year anniversary," White said. "It's just not going to be at MSG. ... But wherever we go for the 20-year, it's going to be big."
Penick's Analysis: There's still a very good chance the sport finds legalization in New York this year. There's a lot more support than has been expressed in recent years, and it may just need to be brought to a vote. Of course, that vote may not come until early this summer, and it could take time to then implement regulations in order to bring the UFC in. But there's also the possibility that things get delayed another year. At this stage, it's just an inevitability for MMA to be legalized in New York, but it might not be imminent.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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