As support seems to be building for the legalization of mixed-martial artsm, the New York State Catholic Conference is pushing to block the legislation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week that he wasn’t opposed to legalizing MMA and wanted to determine the economic impact of holding events, especially in upstate cities that could use the influx of tourism dollars.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship league responded by vowing to hold at least four events a year over three years in upstate cities.

But the Catholic Conference says in a legislative memo the sport is just too violent to be allowed.

We as a state must say no. We can be better than our most base instincts. We must say that New York State – a center of the arts, of legendary sports franchises, and of culture – will not lower itself to looking for dollars by partnering with an industry that promotes excessive violence for violence’s sake. If the Legislature does not take a stand against this so-called sport, it must be willing to take responsibility for the consequences of bestowing its seal of approval.

The coalition-controlled Senate approved lifting the ultimate fighting ban last week, but it’s unclear if the Assembly will take up the legislation this session. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he is turned off by the violence, but concedes that MMA will be legalized at some point.

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