Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, legalizing professional mixed martial arts in New York State, opening up the possibility of contests in the North Country.

There have been amateur mixed-martial-arts contests in Massena in recent years, but no pro bouts, so the North Country could benefit from the new law.

“Today, MMA athletes can finally compete professionally in their home state as New York joins the rest of the nation in legalizing and regulating these mixed martial arts competitions,” Griffo said.

Griffo’s district includes a swath running through the middle of St. Lawrence County, from Massena to Fine, including Potsdam.

The legislation reverses an effective ban that had been in place since 1997, and provides for mixed martial arts contests to be supervised either directly by the New York State Athletic Commission, or by a sanctioning entity approved by the Commission, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“It will close a statutory loophole under which unregulated and unsupervised ‘amateur’ mixed martial arts competitions had been occurring in New York State. New York will now join the 49 other states authorizing mixed martial arts,” the governor’s message said.

“As this sport continues to grow more popular with every year, communities that will host professional MMA competitions are bound to experience an economic boost with the crowds of spectators that have been waiting for the day they could finally attend these events in New York State,” the senator said.

“For years we were losing tourism and revenue as fans and fighters alike went to other states that had embraced MMA. Thankfully, starting today, those days are over,” Griffo said.

“I am proud to have led this charge through the Legislature over the past seven years, to ensure that these dedicated athletes can compete safely under the same standards that other sports are regulated by,” he said.