White UFC 128 vlog: More N.Y. lobbying

With or without approval from New York, there's little doubt the UFC will prosper and grow. The amount of time and effort put in to convince that state that MMA should be legalized, is beginning to border on ridiculous, but folks from Zuffa made another trip to Albany, the state capital of New York. Strikeforce folks have done their work as well. You almost wonder if it's all worth it.

Dana White's first vlog, in anticipation of UFC 128, starts in Albany. A crew that included UFC lightweight champ Frank Edgar spoke to legislators. Then the promotion held a seminar in the city. Edgar even allowed Nicole Hart, a local news reporter at WTEN to put him in a read-naked choke.

During today's UFC 128 prefight press conference at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, White spoke about the safety of the sport. He also had another New York legislator backing him up. Joel talked about the positives of MMA.

"I grew up watching boxing on TV; I grew up watching WWF, then turned to WWE," said New York City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera during today's press conference (quotes via MMAjunkie). "It motivated me to get into the gym; it motivated me to want to join martial arts. This is the impact that MMA and UFC has on our next generation of leadership, and that's why I think it's important that we bring it here to our great city and to Madison Square Garden where these fighters deserve the opportunity to fight.

Rivera, much like state assemblyman Dean Murray did during a presser an MSG in January, is calling for the N.Y. lunacy to come to an end.

"It's about time that government takes off the shackles, government opens up the doors, rolls out the red carpet, and allows the UFC into New York City," said Rivera.

The vlog also features some cools moments with Diego Sanchez and Joe Rogan/Joe Silva in the Octagon plus White and owner Lorenzo Fertitta giving the fighter props in the bowels of the Yum! Center.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/White-UFC-128-vlog-More-N-Y-lobbying?urn=mma-wp210

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