Iowa officials use new law to halt mixed martial arts event

For the first time since a new state law took effect July 1, the Iowa labor commissioner has halted a mixed martial arts event because the promoters failed to comply with new state regulations.

Iowa Labor Commissioner David Neil issued a cease and desist order last week to Midwest Fighting Championships regarding a mixed martial arts (MMA) event scheduled to be held in Bloomfield last Friday.

Iowa law now requires promoters to submit fighter blood work, show proof of medical insurance, submit fighter contracts and ensure that all fighters -- professional or amateur -- are 18 years of age or older.

According to the commissioner's office, Midwest Fighting Championships had failed to provide the documentation as required by law to state regulators at least 24 hours before the scheduled fight, and so the Davis County sheriff's office assisted Neil, who also is the state athletic commissioner, in delivering the cease and desist order.

“The laws surrounding mixed martial arts fights are there to protect everyone involved,” Neil said in a statement. “The required blood work and physicals ensure that fighters are in condition before the match and the required health insurance prevents Iowans from picking up the bill for medical expenses when fighters frequently end up in the emergency room following a match.”

Iowa has issued 37 fight licenses to date for 2010 and most promoters work cooperatively with the department and follow the laws to ensure that all safety and health measures are intact, Neil said. The few promoters who consistently try to skirt Iowa's laws present an unprofessional image that affects everyone involved in the sport, he added.

Promoters who hold fights in violation of Iowa's mixed martial arts laws are subject to a $10,000 administrative fine and a criminal conviction of a serious misdemeanor.

“There are some promoters we've had to chase down to get information but they've complied. This is the first time that they've just flat-our failed to comply with it,” said Kerry Koonce of Iowa Workforce Development. “It's really important that the word is out there because even as a spectator, if you're at an event that's not in compliance, there's no guarantee that the blood work's been done. If you've ever been at one of these fights, the blood can fly.”

State lawmakers last session voted to bring amateur MMA bouts under the same licensing and regulatory framework as professional boxing and ultimate fighting matches. Backers said the changes, which were signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver last spring, were necessitated out of safety concerns after the commissioner's office reported evidence of amateur participants were getting hurt, being paid “under the table,” fighting under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not being treated for hepatitis or HIV/AIDS, and fighting again too soon after being knocked unconscious.