Lorenzo Fertitta: UFC scouting venues in New York

Should the state of New York finally pull themselves out of the stone age and legalize mixed martial arts, the UFC will be ready to hit the ground running.

According to UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, two UFC executives spent time touring venues across the state recently in order to prepare the promotion for the possibility of the sport's legalization in The Empire State.

"Let me reiterate what I’ve said publicly before, the UFC is committed to bringing some of the best and biggest events we’ve ever held to New York State if they legalize and regulate professional MMA. Over the next three years - assuming passage this year - UFC will hold a minimum of four events per year in New York, with at least two upstate events every year," Fertitta said, according to UFC.com. "We are as excited to host events in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Albany as we are in finally bringing UFC to downstate arenas, such as the iconic Madison Square Garden and new Barclays Center."

A bill to legalize MMA has already passed through the state senate, but still needs to pass through the assembly, which has proved to be a major stumbling block in the past. 

"We continue to have strong and growing support from New Yorkers who want to bring the fastest growing sport in the world to their home state," Fertitta said. "We are doing everything we possibly can to be ready to promote events across upstate and downstate New York.  All it will take is for the New York State Assembly to join with every other state legislative body in the nation and say ‘yes’ to making the sport legal, regulated and safe."