MMA could be on its way to LI
(Long Island, NY., August 24, 2016) – The sport of mixed martial arts is moving fast, with the state of New York expected to join the fun at the first ever UFC event at Madison Square Garden on November 12. Yesterday, officials confirmed that MMA might be on its way to Long Island, as Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the firm running the new Nassau Coliseum, is in negotiations with the UFC to bring MMA to the arena in 2017.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has already confirmed two fights to be held in New York. The first fight will be held on November 12 at MSG, and the second (announced last week) will be held on December 9 at the Times Union Center in Albany.
When Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the historic bill to legalize MMA in the state of New York in early March, the countdown to November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden, was on. Cuomo made New York the 50th and final state to legalize the sport of MMA after years of conflict. It was originally outlawed in New York in 1997 when the sport was just beginning and many of today’s rules and regulations were not in place.
There was no telling where and how many fights would take place between November 12 and the end of 2017, but as time has rolled on, news is surfacing that the Nassau Coliseum wants in on the action. Currently closed for renovations, the former home for the New York Islanders is being operated by Forest City, with an estimate $260.5 million to renovate and build a neighboring sports and entertainment complex. The new complex would seat approximately 14,000 fans and most likely would be the home for the first-ever UFC event on Long Island.
Yesterday, with the heavy construction going on, former middleweight champion Chris Weidman was on hand to check out the remodeling. Weidman (13-1) , who hasn’t fought since UFC 194 when he was defeated by Luke Rockhold via TKO is anxious to fight and reclaim his belt, but even more excited to fight just minutes away from where he grew up in Baldwin. “It would mean everything to fight here,” Weidman told reporters while wearing a construction hat. “Fighting at the Nassau Coliseum would be special.”
The Coliseum has been closed since last August and it would sure make a statement with an action packed night of fights for the thousands of MMA fans on Long Island. Sources have confirmed that the UFC and the Brooklyn Company have been in talks for months about bringing one of the fastest growing sports to Nassau Coliseum.
Dozens of fighters have already articulated their enthusiasm and hopefulness to be included on New York’s first card (UFC 205). Weidman, who is currently rehabbing from neck surgery, hopes to be healthy enough to make it. Wantagh’s Al Iaquinta (12-3), who hasn’t fought since April 4, 2015, tweeted out he will be on the card, although not official. Fighters such as Uniondale’s Aljamain Sterling (12-1), who is also rehabbing from an injury and, Islip’s Chris Wade (11-2) have been very vocal in hopes of fighting on what will sure be a celebrated night of fights. Wade, who is scheduled to fight at UFC Fight Night 94 in September, was recently quoted as saying, “I don’t care where it is. I just want – I’m born and raised in New York on Long Island, and I don’t care if it’s the prelims. I just want to get out there in front of my people and my family and just put somebody out for them.”
These fighters, who are household names to the dedicated MMA fan, want nothing more to fight in their home state. Now, with news of MMA coming to Long Island and coincidentally, bringing the first-ever professional MMA bout to a venue so close to home, fighters from all across the island unquestionably are thrilled.
In the near future, the Coliseum will be putting the final touches on their brand new arena, and with UFC President Dana White about to announce the fighters to be included on the historic UFC 205 card, the time to be a mixed martial arts fan and fighter on Long Island couldn’t be any better.
MMA Long Island Magazine is published by MMA New York Media Corporation. For more information please visit www.mmalongislandmagazine.com or call (516) 318-2418.
Photo credit: longislandreport.org
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