WHAT?!
Politicians in New York have been debating a momentous bill that would legalise mixed martial arts in the state for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The debate has been opinionated on both sides, with those against the bill argued that the sport was too brutal and should remain banned, while others claimed that fights were already going on underground and that regulation would add a necessary shield of protection for amateur fighters.
Things took a turn when Assemblyman Charles Barron equated the sport to forced combat on slave plantations…
My goodness, Democrat Charles Barron compares MMA to slaves fighting on plantations.
— Steven Marrocco (@MMAFightingSM) March 22, 2016
… but that was far from the most outrageous contribution to the debate, as Daniel O’Donnell (not that one!) rose to his feet to speak against the bill.
O’Donnell, the first openly gay member of the NY Assembly, insisted he was a tennis fan, but that he was intrigued to find out more about MMA when he heard about the amount of money being poured into efforts to lift the ban.
He contended that MMA was something he should be a fan of, given that it was “two half-naked men rolling around in a cage trying to dominate each other. It’s basically gay porn, only with a different ending”.
O’Donnell, the brother of actress and talk show host Rosie O’Donnell, then revealed his sister is an MMA fan who had asked him to vote for the bill, but fearing a rise in violence among young people and and increase in gambling, stated he was going home to “take a long shower” after discussing the proposals.
As you can imagine, the reaction to O’Donnell’s comments among the watching MMA community was immediate.
Does this guy know his sister Rosie loves our events and has attended several?
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) March 22, 2016
It's like the Youtube comments section has come to life.
— Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) March 22, 2016
Assm O'Donnell said the tide has turned in favor of legalizing MMA through massive influx of lobbying money; notes 'The FBI is watching us'
— Michael Gormley (@GormleyAlbany) March 22, 2016
@jim_genia daniel j. o'donnell is going full illuminati consipracy theory here. he has to be on drugs right now
— Dan W (@DanWearsShirts) March 22, 2016
A lot of these NY reps seem to be losing the line of where their fears stop and their fetishes begin.
— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) March 22, 2016
After watching this, I'm convinced MMA is far less dangerous than democracy.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) March 22, 2016
