If you live in New York and you’re an MMA fan, Tuesday is a very worthwhile day for you to call in sick and take a trek downtown.

There are two big events happening that day in the Big Apple.

First, the Coalition to Legalize mixed Martial Arts in New York will be holding a lunchtime rally at 250 Broadway in Manhattan across the street from city hall at the district office of Sheldon Silver, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly.

Organizers ask that you bring thoughtfully worded picket signs, but no audio equipment.

"If you are a fan, fighter, gym owner, business owner, or organization official who wants to start the 2011 New York State legislative calendar by letting our government know we want legalized and regulated mixed martial arts in New York State, please come show your support! Let’s gather together to show our legislators that New York State is not respecting the wishes of its voters! Let’s remind our legislators that mixed martial arts is a professional sport and in need of regulation! Let’s remind our legislators how much business our state loses and how many jobs are lost to neighboring states where mixed martial arts is properly sanctioned," CLMMANY’s Stephen Koepfer said in a press release sent out in December. "Let’s remind our legislators that we care about the safety of our athletes! Let’s remind our legislators that it is the people of New York State who vote for them, and that WE WANT LEGALIZED AND REGULATED MIXED MARTIAL ARTS IN NEW YORK STATE !"

If rallies and protests aren’t your bag and you have an aversion to the cold, you can head over to the Roseland Ballroom to meet all eight of the contestants in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Besides the opportunity to snag a few fist-pose photos and autographs, there’s also the opportunity to win merchandise and tickets to this weekend’s event in New Jersey.


If you do go, we suggest that you bring ear plugs for the event since it will be hosted by former Yamma Pitfighting announcer Scott Ferrall.

Here are the details of the event:

"Open-to-the-public/media Fan Experience at New York’s Roseland Ballroom (239 W. 52nd Street just West of Broadway, NYC) from 4-6 p.m. (Doors open at 3:30), hosted by Scott Ferrall with special guest deejay, DJ Clue. All eight tournament entrants — Fedor, STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair Overeem, former heavyweight champions Antonio "Big Foot” Silva and Andrei Arlovski, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum, hard-hitting Brett Rogers, talented Josh Barnett and Russian star Sergei Kharitonov will participate."

If you do attend, make sure to wear your CP shirt and get your photo taken with some of our favorite SF personalities to win one of our top secret soon-to-be-released *new* signature shirts. If you don’t have one, get creative.