Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies is offering a class, taught by Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale Partner Carla Varriale, that addresses the unique position of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in New York. Varriale is an adjunct professor who teaches Sports Law and Ethics in the Sports Management program.
The class, the first of its kind in a law school or sports management program setting, is timely as the sport grapples with several challenges. Last year, a lawsuit seeking to legalize the sport was dismissed and legislation to lift the ban on professional MMA and to regulate amateur MMA was passed in New York’s Senate. But the Assembly declined to vote on it. While some critics claim MMA is barbaric and unsafe, proponents cite to the evolution of the sport and its embrace of Uniform Rules since it was banned. In addition, there are potential economic benefits associated with lifting the ban on professional MMA that have been highlighted and make its legitimacy attractive.
New York banned professional MMA in 1997. However, amateur MMA was not banned and it exists in New York with scant oversight and regulation. To the extent New York’s ban was premised on a concern that the sport was too dangerous, the existing ban leaves amateur fighters exposed to greater risks. Neither the courts nor the legislature have addressed this gap in the law.
“New York enjoys a plethora of professional sports-including football and boxing. Why is this sport has become a lightning rod and, importantly, whether the concerns about the sport and its safety be overcome so that New Yorkers can get the same access to the sport as the rest of North America are questions the class will study,” said Varriale. “Although MMA is a controversial sport, it is a popular sport that New Yorkers have an interest in and they will travel to other states in order to watch it or are they are spectators via television broadcasts. It makes sense to lift the ban and to regulate the sport so that safety concerns are addressed”
The students will examine the reasons the sport was banned, whether it should now be permitted and, if so, under what sort of regulation in order to address safety concerns, particularly the risk of concussions and brain injuries. The class will culminate in a symposium at Columbia University this summer. For information, please contact carla.varriale@hrrvlaw.com.
