Nearly 20 years ago, in February 1997, Joe Rogan prepared himself for his first broadcast appearance for the UFC in the promotion’s first foray into the Empire State.

But a crusade led by Sen. John McCain caused an 11th hour panic at the upstate venue, forcing the UFC to move the show to Georgia.

The UFC and all pro MMA have been banned from New York ever since. But in the wake of longtime anti-UFC stalwart Sheldon Silver’s resignation as Speaker of the state assembly in a corruption scandal, the future of the sport in New York is finally looking bright.

“So many MMA fans (in New York) have been denied the chance to see UFC in person because of corrupt politics, and now New York is finally doing something about that corruption,” Rogan told The Post.

“The UFC has been forced to go to New Jersey for a long time now because of this, and that’s 100 percent because of corruption.

“Now that this crook is out of the political picture, we may finally see the UFC in New York.”

The thought may seem a tease for UFC fans in New York, the state that produced champions Jon Jones and Chris Weidman, as well as former champion Matt Serra. Just imagine an event at Madison Square Garden.

Silver was the man with final say when proposals to legalize MMA in New York passed his desk. Anytime legislation would seem to pick up momentum, it always was squelched, with Silver proudly taking responsibility. Silver was tight with a Las Vegas-based catering union, which had a vendetta against UFC co-owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta.

“Fans have been waiting for this political BS to be sorted out for so long,” Rogan said. “New York deserves this. The fans deserve it. Fighters from New York deserve it. It’s about time, and I think it’s a tragedy that (allowing the UFC in New York) hasn’t already happened.”

Long Island’s next champ?

Long Island has quickly become a contender-producing machine. In the footsteps of middleweight champ Weidman and former welterweight champ Serra comes lightweight contender Al Iaquinta.

“There are a lot of great fighters on Long Island,” Iaquinta told The Post. “A lot of us know each other from way back in our old high school and college wrestling days. And the talent is definitely there. A lot of our guys are rising to the top.”

Fighting out of Garden City by way of Wantagh, the 27-year-old Iaquinta can’t seem to stop knocking out 155-pounders.

Iaquinta, nicknamed “Raging,” began his UFC career in 2012, when he was a finalist in “The Ultimate Fighter season 15.

Now, coming off of a blistering TKO of lightweight legend Joe Lauzon — following two previous knockout victories — Iaquinta is set to become a top five contender to Anthony Pettis’ belt.

There aren’t a lot of lightweights riding a three-fight TKO winning streak, the thought of Iaquinta garnering a title shot is looking more and more realistic.