For the seventh year in a row, the state Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph Griffo that would legalize and regulate mixed martial arts in New York State.

The bill now goes to the Assembly, where it did not come up for a vote during the 2015 legislative session.

Griffo says he's optimistic that it could be different this year, since Governor Cuomo called for legalizing MMA in his budget address last month.

“There is mounting energy in support of this legislation, coming from the Governor and within the Assembly,” Griffo said. “The momentum looks promising to me, and I think it really helps that there are parallel paths of support for legalizing MMA in Albany. The Assembly should allow its members the chance to finally vote on this bill once and for all, so that their voices can be heard.”

New York is the only state that does not allow MMA bouts.

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