MMA Lawsuit Dismissed on Technicality
(ufc.com)Judge Kimba Wood of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on UFC® and other Plaintiffs’ claim that New York’s mixed martial arts (MMA) law is so vaguely written that reasonable people could not understand what it prohibited.
While avoiding ruling on the legality of New York’s MMA statute on technical grounds, the judge advised UFC to “consider filing new vagueness claims.” She said that the Attorney General’s “recent statements that the Ban prohibits sanctioned MMA” were made “despite [the law’s] plain language to the contrary.”
The Court’s decision confirms that New York law allows sanctioned professional MMA and that the AG is wrong in prohibiting it. UFC is a responsible corporate citizen and has chosen not to act contrary to the AG’s position, even though that position is legally unsustainable.
(Courtesy of on Twitter)
Josh Thompson vs Tony Ferguson set for UFN 72
(mmajunkie.com)
The UFC’s July visit to California has its first official fight, as Tony Ferguson (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) meetsJosh Thomson (20-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC).
UFC officials today announced the contest, which takes place at UFC Fight Night 72 on July 15 at San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center. The UFC announced the event earlier this month but did not reveal any matchups for the card.
Ferguson currently sits at No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, while Thomson is an honorable mention.
“El Cucuy” Ferguson, “The Ultimate Fighter 13? winner, is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and has lost just once in nine octagon appearances. Most recently, Ferguson earned an impressive first-round submission over longtime veteran Gleison Tibau at February’s UFC 184 event.
“The Punk” Thomson looks to snap a disappointing run of back-to-back split-decision losses to Bobby Green and Benson Henderson. He was expected to compete earlier this month at UFC Fight Night 62 against Gilbert Burns, but injury forced Thomson to withdraw from the matchup.
UFC Berlin main event will be Alexander Gustafsson vs. Glover Teixeira
(bloodyelbow.com)Alexander Gustafsson's next fight will apparently headline the UFC's latest trip to Berlin. According to a report from Swedish MMA website Kimura.se, Gustafsson will take on Glover Teixeira in a five-round light heavyweight fight on June 20th in the German capital at The O2 Arena. UFC officials haven't confirmed the fight themselves but according to Kimura's sources an announcement will be made later this week.