UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta promises at least 4 events per year if MMA is legalized in New York

With the Business Council of New York State finally starting to support the legalization of MMA, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta promises a massive slate of events if/when the sport is finally legalized in the Empire State. 

"I've said it before but I want to say it again to be clear, Fertitta told MMAFighting.com's Dave Doyle. "The UFC is prepared to demonstrate its commitment to our New York fans, who've waited longer for legal professional MMA than our fans in any of the other 49 states. We are prepared to launch the most intense and epic series of major events over the next three years that the Empire State has ever seen."

New York has long been the major holdout during MMA's expansion across the United States, but with former New York assembly speaker Sheldon Silver - one of the sports' harshest critics - stepping down on corruption charges, MMA is on the precipice of state legalization.

"If New York legalizes and properly regulates MMA in 2015, the UFC will hold a minimum of four events per year for the next three years," Fertitta said. "Yes, we will hold events in New York City - our fighters and our fans have been clamoring for the Garden and the new Barclays Center - but we are also looking forward to hosting at least three events annually in Upstate cities, where we will smash local box office records and bring in fans from Canada and states throughout the Northeast."