UFC May Be Targeting Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 3 For Madison Square Garden
In today’s day and age, the UFC and MMA in general can be seen in almost every state in America, and in many international markets around the world. However, there is still one very big market where MMA is outlawed. That market would be the empire state: New York.
It has been nearly two decades since a professional MMA event was hosted in New York, and every year the UFC tries to get the bill passed that would legalize their sport, and every year they come up short. However, 2015 may be the year when things change.
Recently, one of the top New York house speakers against the legalization of mixed martial arts in New York, Sheldon Silver, was investigated and arrested, leaving the UFC confident that the bill may finally be pushed through with Silver out of the way.
If this were to indeed finally happen, the UFC is already thinking ahead and may be already planning their first show in the Empire State which would of course be at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden. MMAFighting’s Dave Meltzer reported on the potential event which could include one of New York’s champions as well as the return of a certain big man (quotes transcribed by Bloody Elbow):
“The bill to legalize professional MMA (yes, the silly laws of New York allow MMA, as long as the fighters DON’T get paid) passed through the New York State senate tourism committee. The bill has passed in the senate the past several years, but always stalls in the assembly. With Sheldon Silver out of power, there is the hope that they can get it passed this year and run Madison Square Garden in the fall. An idea that would make sense, if Lesnar actually signs, would be to put Lesnar vs. Mir as part of a double main event for the MSG debut show. With Jon Jones and Chris Weidman both from New York, one or the other would be the likely first main eventer if both are still champions if/when they are allowed to run there.”
Now of course we don’t know if this bill will go through, and we really don’t know if Brock Lesnar will make a return, but one thing is for sure, if all of these things go through and The UFC puts on a show at MSG double headlined by Jon Jones or Chris Weidman and Lesnar vs Mir 3, it would arguably be the biggest event of all time.
Jones and Weidman are both New York natives and would bring an enormous amount of attention to the card, especially Weidman who still currently lives and trains in New York. As for Lesnar and Mir, it’s a trilogy bout that I assume fans around the world would love to see.
Right now this is just a far-fetched idea, but fans can dream. Do you see the Octagon coming to New York next fall?
