In the mid-1990's, a new sport was introduced, called "No Holds Barred" fighting. While "NHB" thrilled many fans, the savagery and brutality of this Mixed Martial Art turned off many state regulators, and the sport was quickly banned in virtually every state. Most of its major matches took place in Russia and Europe. In the late 1990's, under the banner of the "Ultimate Fighting Championships," Mixed Martial Arts was licensed in the state of New Jersey when that state's athletic control board presented the UFC with a set of rules, regulations and guidelines for the sport to follow. When they complied, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) went from being a spectacle to becoming an exciting and legitimate sport. State after state began to license and regulate MMA. Today, New Jersey, Nevada, California, Florida, Michigan, Connecticut & Ohio are among nearly 30 states which now regulate through licensing, medical examinations and taxation the rapidly-growing, vastly-popular sport of MMA. Sadly, New York State, has shown no movement towards the regulation of MMA. The New York State Athletic Commission has passed the buck and said "it's in the hands of the state legislature." However, the legislative committee which ultimately will vote on repealing or upholding the ban needs to be requested to do so. With the New York State Athletic Commission refusing to move on this subject, MMA will remain banned in New York State. Bringing MMA into New York State will do much more than give New Yorkers a chance to see the world's fastest-growing sport on something other than Pay-Per-View. It will bring a tremendous influx of tax dollars into the state. We ask you to support our fight to allow the sport of Mixed Martial Arts into the Empire State, New York. The sport has changed from the street-fighting spectacle it was in the early 1990's to an exciting, thrilling sport which features some of the best-conditioned athletes in the world. If they can change, so can we. As New York State's motto says: "Excelsior." "Onward and Upward."