Multiple Sides to the Battle For MMA Regulation in New York

The New York Daily News brings less than comforting news to MMA fans hoping to see their sport contested in the United States' largest media market:

New Yorkers are not supportive of Gov. David Paterson's proposal to legalize mixed martial arts - otherwise known as "ultimate fighting" - in a bid to create a new revenue stream for the cash-strapped state, a new Marist poll finds.

A whopping 68 percent of those polled said they disagree with this aspect of Paterson's budget, compared to 22 percent who support the legalization and 3 percent who are unsure.

Eighty-two percent of women are opposed, compared with 55 percent of men. Opposition is stronger in the city - 74 percent - than the suburbs and upstate - 66 percent in both cases.

A portion of the opposition can likely be attributed to the wording of the question asked of the public in the poll:

Ultimate fighting, which is legal in many states, takes place in steel cages and allows punching, kicking, and choke holds. Matches end with knockouts, submission by a fighter, or a referee or doctor's orders. Supporters say legalizing it in New York would result in millions of dollars for the state. Do you agree or disagree with legalizing ultimate fighting in New York State?

The phrasing here obviously sets the sport up as little more than a real life version of a steel cage death match.

Luke Thomas, Editor-In-Chief of Bloody Elbow, has a background in political polling and offered SB Nation his thoughts into the shortcomings of the poll question. "We call this front loading. They juxtapose technically correct yet misleading or incomplete information with vice profiteering. Where are the questions about what registered voters know about ultimate fighting? The polled individuals are being told to evaluate the universe of ultimate fighting as it is being portrayed in the question. It's seriously shoddy work and Marist should be embarrassed."

Basically, the pollsters set up an image of a brutal clash of fists, feet and choking without making it clear that there are safety measures in place.  They describe a dangerous situation without providing any injury data or outlining safety precautions that are in place.

Shoddy work indeed.