Why is the state of New York cock-blocking the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA)?

"Big Apple" politicians (like this meanie) will tell you it's to keep cage fighting away from impressionable youth, as violence begets violence. That's a sentiment echoed by Unite Here, the culinary union hellbent on sticking it to ZUFFA every chance they get because of a Las Vegas grudge.

But it may be as simple as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White's inflated ego, according to former middleweight and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 coach Jason Miller, who is apparently still bitter about the way his former employer handled his bum knee (details here).

"Mayhem" rants on Twitter (via Bleacher Report):

I already know why it's not legal in NY, @danawhite. You keep blocking every attempt at a fighters union, firing everyone who suggests one. The unions are headquartered in NYC, and you can't get in without bowing your head to them. Your inflated ego won't allow you... so you resort to getting smart people to write spin-propaganda, painting them in a bad light, while your monopoly marches on.

There are, however, two sides to every story.

White maintains his indifference to a fighter's union, but suggests top draws like reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva -- as well as welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre -- aren't going to "give up big chunks of their money to guys who won't make two fights in the UFC."

See his argument here.

MMA failed to get legalized in "The Empire State" (again) when the state Assembly failed to vote on it before its most recent legislative session ended. That means fight fans can forget about a UFC event in "The World's Most Famous Arena" in 2013.

Who's to blame? That depends on who you ask.