New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to Sign MMA Bill on Thursday in Ceremony at Madison Square Garden

While it’s mostly a formality at this point, mixed martial arts is expected to officially become legal in New York on Thursday.

According multiple reports, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sign the bill legalizing MMA on Thursday in a special ceremony at Madison Square Garden. The bill passed with a 113-to-25 vote on the State Assembly floor last month, ending a ban that was initially adopted in 1997.

Once Cuomo signs the bill, the New York State Athletic Commission will have 120 days to draft guidelines and regulations as the state’s sanctioning body. Ronda Rousey, as well as numerous other UFC stars are expected to attend the ceremony, according to a report from the New York Daily News.

The Las Vegas-based promotion is also expected to formally announce that its first New York-based event will take place at Madison Square Garden before the end of the year. The UFC has reportedly already reserved a date to host a fight card at the renowned arena in November.

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta previously stated that the promotion was aiming to host two events in New York before the conclusion of 2016. After that, the UFC is planning to hold four events per year in the state for the first three years that MMA is legal.