New York Fight Scene: NY MMA Expo Edition

Lil Warren

Saturday, August 2, 2009. First ever New York Mixed Martial Arts Expo. Uniondale (Long Island), NY. Pouring rain…on and off. As I await the arrival of my friends, one of the most famous rappers in the world passes by me. I say, “What’s up Wayne?” He looks a bit confused, then nods. I had a camera and an iPhone on me, but couldn’t get a picture off. I wonder if I could have sold that picture. I wonder what it might be like to be that famous. My boys arrive. We enter the expo. Jens Pulver (pictured above with AMG) is in the cage in the middle of the room taking shots with fans. He’s energetic and a bit goofy. He refuses to take a picture with a straight face, which is the shit. There’s a sign in the cage that reads, “HELP LEGALIZE MMA IN NEW YORK”. It’s the only indicator of the day that this event has something expressly to do with assisting in the legalization of the sport here. I take a pic of Chuck Zito. I am informed by event organizers that Clay Guida will not be attending the expo as planned because his management, MMA Stop, would not allow it…which allegedly pisses off Silver Star. Sidebar: I believe Silver Star (who’s booth was dead throughout the event) could actually be the next big thing if they would go with their more innovative designs (I dig the Rich Franklin and Urijah Faber’s Tees) and scrap all that played-out skull shit and Affliction-rip-off crap. Jamie Varner hops from booth to booth, signing stuff and taking photos with fans. I take a pic of Tim Kennedy. My friends and I speak with Dan Ostrower of Manumission Fightceuticals. He sends us away with a big bag full of soap and other products. Dear Dan: If I end up beating someone to death with said bag of soaps, I believe you to be an accomplice. There. Fair warning. Big line to take pix with the great Andrei Arlovski. Huge line to take pix with Sean Sherk who was the last fighter to arrive (12:30-ish?). Then we bounced. I hear no demos were performed in the cage as advertised. Not sure why. Perhaps someone could shed some light on that subject. Thx to the organizers for holding this event. I believe the fans in attendance really appreciated the opportunity.

Check out my few pix from the event here. Oh, and here.

New York MMA Expo This Sunday: Be There or Be Octagonal

NYFS will be in the house; live-blogging/twittering/facebooking and just being on the phone in general (so if you can’t make the event, tune into this site…although you should really try to attend…this is all/mostly about promoting the legalization of the sport we love in the state we live in…and yes, I realize that the content within parenthesis should theoretically be shorter than that of the content outside of parenthesis, but I’m a fucking rebel yo!). Politics and grammar aside, this should be a great event for any MMA fan and a chance to meet, greet and take pix with some sick fighters (Jens Pulver, Andrei Arlovski, Clay Guida, Jamie Varner and Tim Kennedy to name a few). PLUS…this just in…Jean-Claude Van Damme’s arch-nemisis, Chuck Zito, will be making an appearance. For more, go here and we’ll see yous there.

NYBA Extends New York Fighter Losing Streak

W. Piece

This fuckin’ guy. Baroni continues where UFC 98 left off, extending the dissapointing streak of loses currently being suffered by New York based and/or born fighters.

Let’s just hope Jon Jones, Amir Sadollah, Tamdan McCrory and George Sotiropoulos can turn the trend around with wins at UFC 100 and 101.

Click on the fashion victim to the left for the full Baroni vs Riggs video.

Exclusive Artist’s Rendering of Today’s NYS Assembly Vote

W. Piece

As you already know (if you don’t already know, it is strange that you visit this site), the New York State Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports passed a bill today to legalize MMA in NY by a vote of 14 to 6. YAY. The legislation must now pass through two additional committees before it is voted on by the full Assembly. AND don’t forget that a mirror bill must travel a similar path through the the Senate.

So since you already know all of this, what can we offer you that the other sites cannot? The below EXCLUSIVE artist’s rendering of the scene at today’s Committee vote…that’s what! Our official interpretation of the drawing is that Assemblyman Bob Reilly (the bad guy) is the man holding the pointy stick and Assemblyman Jonathan Bing (the good guy) is the man holding fireplace tongs and yelling. We are uncertain as to who the man with the gigantic head is as well as who the owner of the dog in the bottom left-hand corner is, but we will do our absolute best to find out.

Tristate Fighters go 1-5 at UFC 98

Creator: Warren Piece

Combatants hailing from New York and New Jersey had a spot of trouble finding Lady Luck in Vegas this past weekend. Of the six bouts featuring Tristate fighters, only NJ’s Frankie Edgar took home a big, shiney W. “The Answer’s” unanimous decision victory over “The Muscle Shark”  should put him extremely close to a lightweight title shot…perhaps against the winner of Penn vs Florian at UFC 101. Though it will not be mentioned in the record books, NY’s Matt Serra earned a moral victory after going toe-to-toe for three rounds with his mortal enemy Matt Hughes. It was a thrilling back-and-forth battle that earned both Matts F.O.T.N. honors. Sadly, the other four fellas reppin’ NY/NJ (Andre Gusmao, Phillipe Nover, Dan Miller and Rashad Evans) all went home empty handed.

BIG NEWS! FIRST VOTE TO LEGALIZE MMA IN NY SET FOR JUNE 3RD!

Creator: Steve Marrocco for MMA Weekly 

Eleven is the magic number. 

On June 3, the New York State Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports will debate and vote on bill 2009-B, which would regulate the sport of mixed martial arts in the state. 

Michael Kim, a representative from committee chair and bill sponsor Assemblyman Steve Englebright’s office, informed MMAWeekly.com of the news Wednesday morning. 

“It will be a pretty significant first step,” said Kim. 

Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, a Democrat representing the county of New York, will present the arguments in favor of the bill. 

Assemblyman Bob Reilly, a Democrat representing Albany and Saratoga counties, will present the arguments opposing the bill. Mr. Reilly has been a vocal critic of the sport and last month released a document to committee members that outlined his arguments against legalizing the sport. 

Out of 21 committee members, 11 votes are needed to pass the bill out of committee with a favorable review. If it passes, it then heads to the Codes Committee (for bills with legal implications) followed by the Ways and Means Committee (for bills with fiscal implications). Both committees will vote on the bill before passing it to the Assembly floor for a general vote. 

A Senate companion bill to the MMA legislation is currently in its Cultural Affairs Committee.

Renzo Gracie Interview: His Future, Matt Serra, Andre Gusmao, etc.

Creator: John Moody

Open Letter to Rashad Evans and Matt Serra re: MMA to NY

Dear Sirs:

I will be brief.

On May 23, 2009, you will undoubtedly defeat Lyoto Machida and Matt Hughes in the Main and Co-Main Events (respectively) of UFC 98 and, as always, will then participate in a post-fight interview with Mr. Joe Rogan (perhaps even under the disappointing circumstance in which you do not win your bouts).

As a self-appointed representative of the movement to lift the ban on Mixed Martial Arts in New York State, I ask this of you: Please be sure to mention the issue and let all of the fans watching and in attendance know what they can do to help the cause (write letters to the appropriate NYS legislators, etc.).

As I’m sure you know, a bill to legalize the sport is expected to be voted upon in the NYS Assembly’s Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee this May if not sooner, which does mean that the legislation may have passed or been defeated prior to UFC 98. However, assuming the bill clears the abovementioned hurdle, it shall require additional support as it heads to the full Assembly and then the Senate.

I cannot imagine a greater opportunity to bring this issue to light with two of the greatest fighters from New York headlining a brilliant MMA card. I have to assume that you already have plans to mention the situation and/or that Dana White or Mark Ratner have already or plan to ask the same of you, but just in case they do not, I thought this letter appropriate.

Thank you.

Warren “Human Swine” Piece
Newyorkfightscene.com

P.S. to all other NY based/born fighters: I implore you to do the same when and if the opportunity arises.

P.S.S. to Nick Diaz: A bill to legalize the use of medical marijuana has also recently been introduced in the NYS legislature, so after you defeat Scott Smith on June 6th, I’d appreciate your support on that front.

Ray Longo is the Mitt!

Creator: The Fight Nerd

Ray Longo, a staple of the New York boxing/MMA scene and coach to fighters such as Matt Serra, Pete Sell and Luke Cummo gives our new buds at The Fight Nerd some tips on holding focus mitts:

Phillipe Nover is Cold and Selfish…

…which is just the way it’s gotta be in order to win and become the best, according to “The Filipino Assassin” in John Moody’s video piece on Nover and his upcoming fight vs Kyle Bradley at UFC 98. Click the pic for the vid, kid: