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Madison Square Garden in New York City has hosted some of the most memorable sporting events of all-time. It might soon be able to host a UFC fight as well. As it stands right now New York is one of just six states that still doesn’t regulate MMA. However, there was some huge news yesterday for Dana White and everybody in the UFC. For the third time, the bill that was designed to legalize MMA in New York passed the State Senate by a large vote and it will eventually head to the Assembly floor for a final vote. If it finally passes, look for a UFC card in the “Empire State” in the near future. Jon “Bones” Jones joined 1260 the Score in Syracuse to talk about the law passing in New York to allow MMA in the state, what the benefits will be to have MMA in New York, if he thinks he will get a fight in New York city in the near future now that this law has passed, and how he is recovering from his injury.
On the law passing in New York to allow MMA in the state:
“Yeah absolutely. That was a pretty big vote for us. It wasn’t even close so hopefully it goes well with the Assembly members. I met a few of them today and a lot of them seem very enthusiastic about the fact of martial arts being able to change lives of New Yorkers. I’m excited to be a part of it and excited to be here today.”
Whether or not he has talked to people about the benefits of MMA:
“Absolutely. I got to meet quite a few people, important people here in New York state. I was telling them what martial arts has done for my life, the financial things that can come, and the jobs that can come by the UFC and MMA being welcomed here. It was a great opportunity for me.”
On why people wouldn’t want the UFC in New York:
“I think the biggest thing is what the original UFC that came off the television, before all the regulations that the UFC put upon itself, there would be two guys in two different weight classes fighting, you would see things like eye gouging, grabbing of the groin, hair pulling, and it was a very barbaric sport at the time. I think a lot of the older generation, they were looking at the UFC as what they originally saw. A lot of people have closed their mind to the word cage fighting or martial arts. Now we’re trying to show people the sport has changed a lot and the UFC is the first combat organization to give all their athletes insurance, and there’s tons of rules to protect the safety of the fighter. It went really well today. It was great.”
Whether or not he thinks he will get a fight in his home state of New York in the future:
“Absolutely, absolutely. Right now being the youngest champion and being a New York state resident, I wouldn’t see why Dana White wouldn’t put me somewhere maybe Madison Square Garden in which I can see being totally sold out. (Host: Carrier Dome? Just thinking out loud Jon.) What do they call it the loud arena? (Host: The loud house baby.) Absolutely man we would make some noise in there.”
On the injury that he is recovering from:
“I had to postpone my first title defense against Rashad Evans due to some torn tissues in my thumb. My last doctor’s appointment they told me I should be able to get back to full out training within the next month. I’m excited about that. I’m expected to compete against Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson in maybe October, mid-October.”
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