10. UFC Events Are Illegal In New York Because Of Kitchen Staff
That headline sounds pretty astounding right? UFC can't run in New York City because of disgruntled Las Vegas chefs? It's true though, it's all to with the legalisation of MMA, which needs to be approved by a political vote to get licensed in any given state. Without getting too bogged down in the intricacies of politics, this vote is allegedly getting blocked by the Las Vegas Culinary Union's influence amongst New York politicians. Other states are desperate to bring in UFC and the economic benefits it brings, but NYC remains strangely at odds with licensing the MMA brand. The reason the Culinary Union is using their influence to block UFC is because they're in a dispute with UFC owners the Fertitta brothers. This relates to the Fertitta's business conduct in their other business, Nevada Station Casinos, which the Culinary Union is at war against over hotel employee rights. It's all a petty dispute which is playing out on a massive level. For the UFC not to be able to promote events in the vaunted fight mecca of Madison Square Garden is a massive shame. The politicians of New York should be representing their state, not shadily be operating in the interests of unions. It remains one of Dana White's biggest frustrations and every year he makes his passionate case to bring UFC to New York City, so here's hoping one day we see the Culinary Union vs Fertitta war resolved.
