Not Looking Good for MMA in NY

LARRY PEPE: "(What) is your opposition to (MMA) exactly?"

ASSEMBLYMAN REILLY: "Well, first off, there’s many, you know, Larry as you can I think understand I’ve heard all the pros and cons of Mixed Martial Arts, including you know ‘I just don’t understand.’ I do understand, I just disagree with the advocates on many points and one I hear many times, ‘well, the rules have changed.’ Well, the rules have changed or rules have been instituted, but the rules are not sufficient for the protection of the fighters or for the, um, welfare of our society as far as its violence in the sport and I would only point out how Michael Kirkham was killed recently in South Carolina on the old ground ‘n pound move where he was knocked to the ground, lay on his back, the other fighter came and proceeded to pound him in the head. That is not safer than boxing, another irrational, I believe, um… advocation for Mixed Martial Arts, but that is obviously a very dangerous move. But when a man or woman can take another man or woman, grab them by the head, and knee them in the head, when you can jump on somebody from a standing position as they lie on the ground and pound them in the head when their head is against the floor or the mat, um… this is brutality and danger beyond what’s acceptable. So I don’t find, in some way, I don’t find the rules acceptable today."

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ASSEMBLYMAN REILLY: "But step back and look at the rationale. To say, ‘well, 10 people a year are killed in boxing and not that many are killed in Mixed Martial Arts, therefore we should sanction Mixed Martial Arts.’ It’s just a horrible, irrational argument. Now, on looking at this sport for the last three years and having the idea of boxing come up, come up many times as ‘it’s less dangerous than boxing’ which I don’t agree with and I have studies that show that, um… the fact is, I grew up being a boxing fan, all right? Muhammad Ali, in fact I go back to Rocky Marciano, but all of our great fighters and I enjoyed it and thought it was a great sport, but today I don’t think professional boxing, as opposed to amateur boxing, professional boxing I don’t think would be legalized in many states today because of the danger to the fighters. So, I just dismiss that argument of ’safer than boxing.’ One, I don’t, you know, boxing has a much longer history, there are many more boxing matches than there are MMA matches. And it’s something, as I say and this is not entirely facetious, more people are killed fishing than in boxing, so let’s eliminate fishing. Well, no. What we do is we put in safety measures. For example, in New York state, we have rules where in certain boats you have to wear a life preserver."

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Villante-Footballs-10-Times-More-Dangerous-Than-MMA-30032


Villante: Football’s ‘10 Times’ More Dangerous Than MMA

After tryouts with various NFL teams didn’t work out, Gian Villante decided to try something he sees as safer: MMA.

“I feel like football’s 10 times more dangerous and savage than MMA is,” Villante said Monday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I’ve got 10 times worse injuries playing football than I did with MMA.”

The 25-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., was a standout linebacker at Hofstra University. Since transitioning to fighting, he has compiled a 7-1 record and earned prospect status as Ring of Combat’s heavyweight champion. He fights Chad Griggs on Saturday in an alternate bout for Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament.

“In [MMA], we have weight divisions. We see the shots that are coming,” Villante said. “In football, you don’t see it. It’s a 400-pound guy coming as fast as a car can move sometimes, and you don’t see him. He’s coming to clean your clock, and you’re not even looking at him. … That’s why these guys are getting these head injuries and shoulders are dislocating and all that stuff.”

Villante has cleaned a few clocks himself. All seven of his wins have been finishes, including a knockout via a head kick. Clearly the athleticism he used on the football field has translated to the ring.

“If we don’t feel like we’re getting the right opportunity somewhere, why not take your talent somewhere else? Football players, most of us are pretty good athletes,” Villante said. “Big, strong guys that are explosive, fast athletes. In mixed martial arts, that bodes well for knockout power.”

Of course, Villante was not just a football player. He also wrestled at Hofstra.

“I think wrestling’s very important too,” he said. “If you get a guy who just played football and has no wrestling experience, you’re going to have some trouble in there. I think that’s where it kind of helped me mix in and start off my career real fast and in the right direction.”

Villante has a two-year, six-fight deal with Strikeforce. Although he sees his future in the light heavyweight division, he said the alternate matchup against Griggs and a possible slot in the heavyweight tournament was too good to pass up.

“Chad Griggs isn’t a huge heavyweight,” Villante explained. “He’s 235, I believe. Nothing too big. He’s a guy that I think is a good fight for me.”

Griggs is coming off an upset win over Bobby Lashley last August. Villante was impressed with the fact that Griggs was not scared of his larger opponent.

“He’s a guy that comes to fight,” Villante said. “I’m not going to intimidate him if I flex at him because I guess Bobby Lashley is a little bigger than I am. ... I think you can expect fireworks because we’re two guys that have pretty much finished every fight we’ve been in.”

Villante is expecting another finish and another win on Saturday as well.

“Like a football linebacker, if I see a hole, I’m going to go through. If I see an opening, if I see a guy hurt, I’m going to finish it,” Villante said. “If I get on him and I can catch him with something early, then I’m not going to take it easy. I’m going to try to finish the fight right away.”

There will be several members of the New York State Legislature in attendance at next month’s card in Newark, as well as members of the New York State Athletic Commission.

I think the UFC should just thank all the people that worked with them in NY and quit investing time and money into legalizing it in the state. Just keep doing what you are doing, leave it alone and one day, they will legalize it and they will kiss the UFC's ass to come to NYC and Buffalo and the day that happens, tell them you'll consider it and don't show up for three years while they suffer with KOTC and other small timers. Does it punish NY fans? Sure, but they should have voted better.