Bills on ultimate fighting, disaster area crime move through Iowa Senate

Amateur mixed martial arts bouts for ultimate fighters aged 18 years or older would come under state regulation if a bill passed today by the Iowa Senate become law.

“This bill is really about protecting our youth from exploitation,” said Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, floor manager of Senate File 2286, legislation that authorizes the state boxing commissioner to regulate amateur MMA matches. The Senate approved the measure, 48-0, and sent it to the House for consideration.

Iowa currently licenses and regulates professional boxing and professional MMA events held in the state, but allows a well-established association to oversee amateur boxing. State labor commissioner Dave Neil, who doubles as the state's boxing commissioner, said currently there is no such organized Iowa group to provide the same structure for amateur MMA events.

Dotzler said there is evidence that amateur fighters are getting injured, being paid “under the table” and risking health problems because combatants are not pre-tested for hepatitis or HIV/AIDS in the current unregulated environment.

Currently, Iowa's boxing commissioner requires a $5,000 surety bond for professional MMA events that seek a state license, along with medical records and the names of fighters under contract, the supervising doctor and the sanctioned referee. Neil said he or one of his deputies attend pro MMA events and promoters must pay the state 5 percent of the gate to cover costs.

The commissioner proposes a similar structure for amateur MMA matches and events.

Iowa law currently sets a minimum age requirement of 18 for boxers. The proposed legislation initially required that MMA contestants be at least 21 years of age and provide proof but senators approved an amendment to lower the age to 18 years for amateur MMA participation.

Under the bill, promoters of an amateur mixed martial arts event would be accountable for the conduct of all officials and participants at MMA matches. The commissioner could suspend a match or event if a contestant does not pass a required prefight physical exam or fails to present adequate proof of age, and if a promoter, contestant or participant was in violation of any rule.

Promoters would be required to pay state tax on the event's gross receipts and the commissioner would have the authority in certain circumstances to revoke, deny or withdraw a license for or deny participation in an MMA match or event. The commissioner also could impose civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 per violation against someone who posed as a promoter without a license.

Also today, senators voted 48-0 to double the penalties for certain crimes – such as theft, arson, robbery, burglary, and illegal dumping – and civil offenses committed in a designated disaster area in Iowa.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said S.F. 2225 was designed to deal with “the dark parts of the disaster' by applying tougher sanctions against criminals who attempt to “victimize somebody who's already been victimized.”

“I hope this will sound a strong and loud deterrent coming from the Iowa Senate today,” Hogg said before senators approved the measure and shipped it to the House for consideration.