It's called mixed martial arts for a reason.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, the sport's largest promoter, is suing to overturn New York's ban on live bouts, saying the 1997 law runs roughshod over its freedom of expression, a novel argument that likens MMA to live ballet, music or theater.

Zuffa LLC, which owns the UFC, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. district court against New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. seeking a declaration that the ban violates the First Amendment.

Spokesmen for Schneiderman and Vance declined to comment.

The company was joined in the lawsuit by fans of the sport and a group of mixed martial arts fighters -- Jon "Bones" Jones, Gina "Conviction" Carano, Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, Matt Hamill (also known as "The Hammer") and Brian Stann ("All American") -- who "have suffered, and will continue to suffer, irreparable harm" under the ban.