NO HOLDS BARRED

From the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York:

On Tuesday, February 8, at 12 noon a rally will be held for the support of legalized and regulated mixed martial arts in New York State*. We will gather at 250 Broadway, Manhattan, New York, 10007 (Across the street from City Hall).

This rally is being organized by the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York, a non-partisan volunteer group of organizations, gyms, business owners, and individuals who support the legalization and regulation of mixed martial arts in the state of New York.

In 2010, with the support of Governor Paterson and former Governor Pataki, legislation to legalize and regulate mixed martial arts was approved by the New York State Senate, but not the Assembly. We thus have chosen to rally at 250 Broadway, which houses the district office of Sheldon Silver, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly.

We ask that you bring picket signs. Please keep your comments and images respectful. Do not bring signs made of wood, metal, or plastic. If possible, bring a pair of focus mitts. Please DO NOT bring any audio projection equipment.

"If you are a fan, fighter, gym owner, business owner, or organization official who wants to start the 2011 New York State legislative calendar by letting our government know we want legalized and regulated mixed martial arts in New York State, please come show your support! Let's gather together to show our legislators that New York State is not respecting the wishes of its voters! Let's remind our legislators that mixed martial arts is a professional sport and in need of regulation! Let's remind our legislators how much business our state loses and how many jobs are lost to neighboring states where mixed martial arts is properly sanctioned! Let's remind our legislators that we care about the safety of our athletes! Let's remind our legislators that it is the people of New York State who vote for them, and that WE WANT LEGALIZED AND REGULATED MIXED MARTIAL ARTS IN NEW YORK STATE!"

-Stephen Koepfer of the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York.

For more information please contact Stephen Koepfer at NYMMANOW@gmail.com or 718-728-8054. Be sure to subscribe to the blog at http://nymmanow.blogspot.com/ and join our Facebook group!

Confirmed Speakers:

Event MC: Kevin Garvey (The Garv).
The Garv is ring announcer and commentator for mixed martial arts shows in the tristate area including DaMMAge Fight League, Ring of Combat, Asylum Fight League, Evolution MMA, M1 Global, and others. The Garv also runs a very popular MMA new blog (thegarv.com).

Speaker: Michael Benjamin.
Michael Benjamin has more than 25 years experience in progressively responsible positions in the fields of Government, Human Services and Politics. He was elected to four terms of office as a Member of the New York State Assembly. Before entering the State Assembly, Michael headed the Bronx Board of Elections. He has twice served as parliamentarian on the Bronx Democratic County Committee.

Over his professional career, he worked for Members of the New York State Assembly, New York City Council and the United States Congress. He has also worked for Affinity Health, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center, and the Hunts Point Multiservice Program Center. He has delivered speeches, talks and lectures on government, education policies, electoral politics, and race.

Michael graduated from The Bronx High School of Science and Syracuse University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He has done graduate work in public administration, community public health, and urban affairs at SUNY-Binghamton, NYU, and Hunter College. In February 2007, they were profiled as one of NYC’s Power Couples in City Hall magazine. Co-sponsor of the Assembly MMA bill in 2009, Benjamin has been become an advocate for the legalization of the professional sport of mixed martial arts.

Speaker: Tara LaRosa.
LaRosa is currently the #2-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com. and the current DaMMAge Fight League 125lb Women's Champion. Tara LaRosa grew up on a farm in a small town in South Jersey. She played field hockey, basketball and softball in grade school and high school and field hockey for Catawba College in Salisbury, NC (96-2000). In college, Tara trained and competed in judo and then went on to compete in jiu-jitsu and submission grappling tournaments, quickly accelerating to training in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), or Ultimate Fighting.

Tara began training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing in Sept. '01 at Team ROC, a Royce Gracie affiliated school. The head instructor, Greg Thompson, was a black belt under Royce and the next highest ranking instructor was Aitor "Spenser" Canup, a brown belt, and Tara's main instructor. Tara received her purple belt in Oct. '05 from Royce Gracie, and was brought on as an assistant instructor at Team ROC Fayetteville, in NC. During her time in Fayetteville, Tara also taught Modern Army Combatives and is level 2 certified. In April 2006, Tara moved to the Pacific Northwest to concentrate on her MMA career. She trained and fought out of Yakima MMA in Yakima, WA., owned by Rich Guerin. In April 2007, Tara moved to Boca Raton, FL., where she trained for 6 months at Charles McCarthy's ATT affiliated school.

Tara returned to her hometown in September 2007 after the death of her boyfriend SFC Adrian M Elizalde who was killed when an IED hit his truck on Thursday August, 23rd 2007 in Al Aziziyah, Iraq. He was 30 years old. Tara is currently a member of a MMA team in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fight Factory, coached and lead by Steven Haigh that had produced Eddie Alvarez, who current Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion.

Rally Schedule:

-Rally starts at 12 noon
-Speakers begin at 1pm
-Rally concludes by 3pm

What people are saying:

We'll definitely have a voice there. - Scott Coker, President and CEO of Strikeforce

February 8th is a important date for you New Yorkers who claim to be MMA fans. You have an opportunity to step up and really show your support by attending the upcoming rally in Lower Manhattan. - Guy Mezger, UFC Champion, King of Pancrase, MMA Legend

A big day next February 8th, 2011 for all MMA fans!!! I support 100% MMA in NY State and its legalization. - Jean-Francois Court, Olympic wrestler and Dollamur International Sales Manager

At FIGHT! we support the legalization of the great sport of Mixed Martial Arts in New York. We plan to cover the demonstration and perhaps some of us may even attend. - Donovan Craig, Editor In Chief of FIGHT! Magazine

The rally on February 8th marks another pivotal date in the growth and acceptance of mixed martial arts as a legitimate sport, not only in the United States and North America but also on the global scale. - Evgeni Kogan, M1 Global Director of Operations

We are pleased to endorse the upcoming rally that will take place on February 8, 2011, inNew York City. This is certainly a great opportunity for MMA fans and MMA professionals to voice their support for sanctioning MMA in New York and attract attention of politicians, media and ordinary citizens. - Ilya Fayerman, Esq., Roman Leonov, Esq. mmacontracts.com