NY State Athletic Commission chairwoman supports legalization

In yet another sign that MMA is getting closer to legalization in New York, we now have word that Melvina Lathan, NY State Athletic Commission chairwoman, supports lifting the ban:

“It’s not something I rush home to see, but I recognize its athleticism,” she said. “I like the intelligence needed to get out of holds where so many disciplines are used. When they’re grappling, I grab the edge of my chair.”

The story is noteworthy for several reasons.  First, and perhaps most importantly, is that MMA is closer to legalizetion in New York.  Luke told us back in January that one driving force behind legalization efforts is New York's budget shortfall, and we see the same in today's New York Times story:

Legalization may come soon, 13 years after Gov. George E. Pataki scorned the sport as too dangerous and it was banned by the Legislature. In his proposed 2010-11 budget, which has an April 1 deadline, Gov. David A. Patterson included legislation to repeal the ban, a maneuver that is designed to accelerate approval and help raise tax revenue for the deficit-strapped state.

After the jump, I discuss a few reasons why this story is even more important for the future of MMA.

As everyone on Bloody Elbow knows, MMA has not been fully embraced by mainstream media.  The fact that this story is published in the New York Times is itself a sign that MMA is gaining mainstream credibility.  Moreover, this is a well-written, accurate, and positive presentation of MMA in arguably the most important newspaper in the US.

Two other important issues jump out at me from the story: safety and the fact that MMA is not boxing. 

Advocates of legalization have long known that legalization leads to improved fighter safety.  I suspect that the MMA community has hesitated to push this issue more strongly because it requires - implicitly or explicitly - acknowledging that unregulated shows are occurring (such as the UCL in New York).  It's hard to argue that MMA should be legalized because it has left behind its no-holds-barred roots in favor of rules for fighter safety while simultaneously arguing that fighter safety will be improved by legalization because these no-holds-barred shows still exist.  However, the issue - and chairwoman's comments - are not spun in a negative way (which is not what MMA fans are used to from mainstream media):

But she said her enthusiasm for repeal was focused largely on improving safety for the fighters and to limit — or eliminate — illicit shows around the state.

“You don’t want underground smokers,” she said. “There is no pre- and postfight examination or on-site ambulance. They can get knocked out today and fight tomorrow.”

Finally, it's nice to see an athletic commission pushing for regulation of MMA where commissions, notably the chair of the commission, understand the distinctions between MMA and boxing.  One of the big problems with current regulation is that athletic commissions, judges, and referees often do not have an appropriate background or knowledge of MMA.  It doesn't look like we will see the same problems when MMA is finally legalized in New York.  Aside from the obvious benefit of having a good commission in place, it is especially important that this is happening in a state which will certainly be home to major MMA events and therefore be under the spotlight.  Having a good commission in New York may help in forcing some of the horrendous commissions to clean up their acts.