NY district said opposed to legalizing mixed martial arts, poll finds

While mixed-martial arts spectators and supporters continue their bid to legalize the sport in New York state, at least one local lawmaker is unlikely to be moved into agreement.

Assemblyman Bob Reilly (D - Newtonville) released Friday the results of a poll he had commissioned to measure his district's support for legalizing mixed martial arts (MMA), which critics deem bloody and brutal.

"The poll found overwhelming opposition to making Mixed Martial Arts legal in New York State," said Reilly in a press release announcing the results. "Of those surveyed, 67 percent said they opposed making MMA legal in New York. Just 18 percent said they supported making ultimate fighting legal."

"I believe my district is reflective of the state as a whole and am confident a statewide poll would yield similar results," said Reilly.

But a spokesperson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization said the poll wasn't administered fairly or evenly, pointing out that prefacing the survey question by saying the sport was "banned" automatically put a negative slant on  it (see poll question at bottom).

The spokesperson, Julie Wood, also said the sample wasn't representative, given the sole method of polling was through telephone. The firm that conducted the survey, Gramercy Communications, said in its report the phone numbers called included all demographics and political parties.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization sent several of its high-profile fighters to Albany last May to advocate legalizing the sport in New York, arguing the sport has adopted stricter regulations and that sporting events could help bring in revenue to the state.

Reilly said he became the "accidental opponent" when during a committee meeting last June he spoke in opposition to a bill legalizing mixed martial arts in New York. The committee voted against the bill.

Another vote on the bill is expected this year.

The poll conducted by a local communications firm was an automated telephone survey that called over 8,500 phone numbers in the 109th Assembly district, which includes the towns of Colonie, Clifton Park and Halfmoon. Of those, some 468 people responded to the poll.

The participants were asked: "Ultimate fighting, or mixed martial arts, is currently banned in New York State. There is current debate whether ultimate fighting should be permitted statewide. Do you think ultimate fighting matches should be allowed in New York State? Press 1 for yes, press 2 for no, press 3 for undecided."