ALBANY, N.Y. -- Professional mixed martial arts are off to a rollicking start in New York state, two months after lawmakers ended its status as the only state to ban the popular sport.While there have been a handful of bouts in the state since the change took effect, an upcoming UFC event at Madison Square Garden is expected to be the true coming-out party. Promoters say its likely just the start of a long relationship between New York City and mixed martial arts.It should have been legal in New York 15 years ago, said Scott Coker, president of promoter Bellator MMA, which is hoping to hold an event next year at the Garden or at Barclays Center. Were going to bring a big, big show, probably the biggest card in the history of Bellator.The homecoming is particularly sweet for fighters from New York state who have had to travel elsewhere to fight professionally.This is a dream come true, middleweight Chris Weidman said in September. A native New Yorker, he who will be one of several fighters in Saturdays pay-per-view UFC event.With its prominent place in boxing history, Madison Square Garden is a natural for mixed martial arts. Joel Fisher, an executive vice president at the Garden, said its only fitting that the first UFC fight in New York state is taking place at `The Worlds Most Famous Arena, one of its nicknamesState lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed in April to end the two-decade old ban following years of failed efforts by MMA supporters. The law authorizing the sport took effect in September. Cuomo concluded the move would boost the economy by luring bouts to the nations largest city as well as upstate venues, with one estimate that MMA could generate $137 million in annual economic activity.In response to critics concerned about the sports violence, lawmakers added provisions that raise the insurance required to $50,000 for fighter injuries, a $50,000 death benefit and $1 million for life-threatening brain injuries.The law was also intended to regulate existing amateur mixed martial arts events. KTFO Fights, a Long Island-based promoter, held the first MMA event under the new law, according to KTFO President Nic Canobbio. He said that while UFC and other big promoters might be able to absorb the higher insurance requirements, many smaller promoters cannot.Its a huge expense for promoters like us, and that prevents guys just starting their career from being able to fight in New York, he said. He would like lawmakers to consider tweaking the law to reduce costs on smaller operators.Still, he said, ending the states long ban on professional MMA has been a great win for the sport.New York has some of the best fighters, the best gyms in the country or maybe even the world, he said. These guys who had to go to Jersey or Pennsylvania to fight they can now fight in their backyard.---This story has been corrected to show the last name of the KTFO president is Canobbio, not Cannobio. Wholesale Jerseys 2022 . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Wholesale Jerseys . 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Wholesale Jerseys China . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice.Pat Symonds believes that while Haas successful start to life in Formula 1 is damaging for independent teams like WIlliams, their achievements have been fantastic. The American outfit have 18 points from their first three races but have benefited from a partnership with Ferrari, taking staff and non-listed components from the Scuderia as well generating data through their windtunnel.Wiilliams, in comparison, create almost everything on its cars from scratch, the design based on data it has generated from its own wind tunnel and personnel. But the teams chief technical officer says that Haas have made perfect use of the F1 rules and admires their achievements on a much smaller budget. Symonds reverse grid theory Symonds reckons a mixed-up grid format would force teams to address the sports overtaking problems. I think its fantastic, Symonds told Sky Sports F1s Ted Kravitz. People might know that I do feel that the way Haas have gone about things - which of course is totally legal, its what the rules allow you to do - I think it does erode the status of being a constructor a little bit. But good luck to them, thats what the rules are. Theyve used them well.Mark Hughes: Are Haas a role model for the future?Theyve really surprised me and I have a lot of admiration for them. Haas are just 11 points behind Williams in the Constructors Championship despite a disappointing showing in China last time out, and Symonds adds that their race strategy deserves credit.ddddddddddddHe said: Whats really impressed me is that they havent just produced a good car but theyve raced it well and thats a very difficult thing for a new team to do.I think they did have personnel from Ferrari but theyve also recruited a lot of new people into Formula 1 who havent been there before and theyre doing a good job. Whens the Russian GP on Sky? The Russian GP is live and exclusive on Sky Sports - and there are a host of ways you can watch it. Operating an F1 car in a race is not an easy thing to do, its very complex set of circumstances that you have to take in. You have to have immense situational awareness and you have to react to it.We get it wrong sometimes, but theyve actually done it pretty well in their first few races.Dont miss the F1 Report on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1 for a preview of the Russian Grand Prix. Natalie Pinkham is joined in the studio by Marc Priestley and Dominic Harlow. Also See: Symonds reverse grid theory Whens the Russian GP on Sky? ' ' '