Jewish group call for MMA not to be legalised in New York, link UFC to anti-Israel attacks

A Jewish group are trying their best to stop MMA being legalised in New York.

The group has written a letter to “friends of the Jewish community” that they will send to to the state lawmakers which highlighs the fact that the Abu Dhabi government owns a 10% stake the UFC. Abu Dhabi is part of the U.A.E, which the Anti-Defamation League is one of the most anti-Semitic countries in the world, according to the letter. The group are asking the state of New York not to pass any legislation that benefits the promotion, because of its ties with the U.A.E.

“This is a country that refuses to recognize Israel as a nation, refuses to allow Israeli citizens to travel in their country, and has banned the teaching of the Holocaust in their schools." “At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, we cannot stand by while Albany cuts a deal with a company whose profits will go directly into the hands of an enemy of Israel." "It is our hope that New York will continue its proud tradition as a staunch friend to the Jewish community by rejecting the legalization of mixed martial arts and saying no to a company and country that is clearly no friend of Israel.”

UFC spokesman Steven Greenberg fired back at the letter at the weekend.

“This desperate, misinformed, last-minute attack borders on racial and ethnic stereotypes that have no place in public discourse."

New York assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, who is an Orthodox Jew and a co-sponsor of the mixed martial arts legalisation bill also revealed his disappointment in the group's action.

“It offends me that there are those who will use any excuse to play politics with our economy. This is just another tactic by the opposition to cloud the real issue.”

The Senate has passed an MMA legalisation bill every year for the last five years, but every time it was bloacked by the New York Assembly. UFC president Dana White has revealed the promotion have booked Madison Square Garden for a date later in the year, which indicates they're hopeful the bill will be passed this time.   Hat-tip to NY Daily News