(Most honest post-fight reaction…eva.)
Strong Island native Matt “The Terra” Serra has penned a piece for Newsday appealing to New York legislators to lift the ban on MMA and regulate events in his home state. He makes some of the same arguments we’ve all been making/hearing for years – it brings in money, it isn’t that violent, it’s not as bad as boxing, etc. – but Serra is in the unique position of being able to lead with this very personal appeal to emotion:
Last April, I fought Georges St. Pierre in a rematch of the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title match. Our sport is banned in New York, and this fight was held in Montreal, St. Pierre’s hometown. The sold-out crowd of 21,000 was less than welcoming – everywhere I went that weekend, I heard jeers and boos. When I eventually lost the match, the cheers for my opponent were deafening.
In my eight-year career with the UFC, the world’s largest mixed martial arts league, I’ve fought in New Jersey, Connecticut, Las Vegas, Texas and Montreal. But because of New York’s ban, I’ve never competed in my home state.
I’ve never had the excitement of hearing a sold-out crowd at Nassau Coliseum chant my name as I entered the Octagon – our sport’s answer to the boxing ring. I’ve never been able to compete in front of all my friends and family.
Seriously, New York. What is your problem? That nice Matt Serra just wants to be bathed in the warm and unconditional love of an arena full of fight fans. Where is that supposed to happen if not in his own backyard?
Serra also cites the study from Johns Hopkins that found MMA to be no more injury-riddled than boxing (though with fewer brain-damaging knockouts), and extols the virtues of Bruce Lee movies. It’s a well-written argument. But something tells me Bob Reilly isn’t going to be swayed by "Enter the Dragon." Now "Black Belt Jones," I dare Reilly to sit through that and not be moved.
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Comments
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:23
War Machine Vs J-ROQ to headline the Garden!!!!!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:24
fiiiiiiiiiiiiirst haha
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:25
"BLACK BELT JONES" RULES! ...I loved that flick.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:26
fuck serra!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:39
Hey Reilly! Oh Buddy Oh Pal! How yous gonna disrespect us fighters you friggin mook? You definitly ain't showin us New Yorkers much needed love ya! You know, me and the boys been thinkin that a dip in the east river is maybe what ya gonna need to help clear your thoughts. By the way... what size shoe do ya wear? I got a nice pair of water shoes made by Sea-Ment that i would like for you to try out, if ya know what i'm sayin?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:40
Black Belt Jones was a cool flick. I hope NY opens their minds and let's MMA in, it's no worse than watching the Douche bag Yankees all summer.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:41
IF YOUR GOING TO SAY FUCK SOMETHING, ATLEAST HAVE THE FUCKING COURTESY TO CHANGE YOUR NAME TO WAR MACHINE NUMB-NUTS!!!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:42
Your pussy still sore because Serra KTFO your man love georges?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:45
Who's Matt Serra?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:46
Logic, facts and and intelligence against politics? Gee...I wonder who wins that one? Fuck you New York, fucking shithole.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:46
Fuck a google. ;)
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:48
As a "Strong Island" native, I can say that a majority of the people would like to see MMA legalized. However, I wouldn't condone anyone having to watch anything in that shit heap they call Nassau Coliseum. WAR SERRA!!!!!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:52
That's a very effective and moving letter. Too bad it was accompanied by this letter from Pete Sell, written in big purple crayon: Me too want to fite in Noo York Love Drago
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:54
"El Famous Burrito Says: Fri, 03/20/2009 - 10:52 That's a very effective and moving letter. Too bad it was accompanied by this letter from Pete Sell, written in big purple crayon: Me too want to fite in Noo York Love Drago" WIN!!!1 :D
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:56
@burrito l-thefuck-ol
Fri, 03/20/09 - 10:58
what happened to serra's bicep?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:00
war machine is a douche bag for life...
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:00
That is possibly the funniest comment I have read on here EVER!!!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:00
Yeah, it was nice seeing Serra knock the fuck out of georgie. Serra-St Pierre 3 in Madison Square Garden anyone?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:01
The El Famous Burrito comment...
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:08
OMG I spit water across the room and out my nose when I read this!!!!!! Best comment ever!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:14
thats more like it!!!!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:18
Are New Yorker's really that interested in MMA that they are going to pack an arena to see Serra? I mean between the Giants, the Jets, the Yankees, the Islanders, the Rangers and those street mimes do they really have time for MMA!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:32
We've been here before! Hammafist elbows, shonie!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:46
Pete Sell. LOL.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:54
"Yeah, it was nice seeing Serra knock the fuck out of georgie. Serra-St Pierre 3 in Madison Square Garden anyone?" nah dude, it would be total annihilation.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 11:58
Serra's a bonesmoker. When Drago's your sensei it's time to find a real camp and drop down to lightweight. In that picture he's sporting the classic "Tufguy's Saturday night kneeling in the truck stop bathroom stall" facial expression.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 12:00
HA. I say Jon "Bones" Jones changes his nickname to BLACK BELT JONES. That would be the shit.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 12:28
He should try and emulate Marcus Davis,get a fight in Italy in ufc 111..tell everyone he's Italian the crowd will go wild when he comes out to the Mario brothers theme tune.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 12:47
I am waiting for this man in hell.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 01:03
LMAO stfu matt no one likes you. lol
Fri, 03/20/09 - 01:49
You guys are priceless on here. Bunch of 'never fought' Marc Laimons.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 02:31
Matt serra is a champ, good sport and pretty humble down to earth dude considering he could wipe out 90% of this sites readers in under 2 min.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 02:32
I think Serra's letter was too nice, they need Baroni to write a letter like "yo New York stop being pretty boy faggots and let me fight at the garden. Sincerely yours, the Brooklyn brawler comin straight outta New York, AKA the man AKA, the best EVA!!! AKA Phillip Baroni.
Fri, 03/20/09 - 02:45
@ And as El Guapo always: Fuckin Aye, lol!
Fri, 03/20/09 - 03:22
I actually do respect Sera a lot...should he be fighting @ 170 but?
Fri, 03/20/09 - 05:56
Fuck Bob Reilly! WAR Serra!
Sun, 03/22/09 - 10:22
he said something intelligent for once in is life
Sun, 11/13/11 - 06:26
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