CC Minutes - 09/11/06 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Prohibiting Extreme Fighting; Adding Section 4.740 to the Eugene Code, 1971; and Amending Section 4.990 of that Code Assistant City Manager Jim Carlson briefly reviewed the item. Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing and reviewed the procedure for testimony. Jason Georgianna , 765 Mimosa Avenue, stated that he was the owner of Pacific Cage Fights and he was opposed to banning MMA fighting. He distinguished between extreme fighting and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He averred that professional MMA fighting was tightly regulated by the State, but this was not so for amateur fighting. He said there were a wide variety of promoters, and they varied in how conscien- tious they were in protecting fighter safety. He said that he upheld safety standards in his events and would continue to do so. He related that an amateur MMA Association, to be headed by Mr. Hagen (see below) was being formed. He felt that until the State fully regulated the sport on a professional level some checks and balances were needed in the process. The association sought to provide those checks and balances by imposing regulations such as requiring promoters to have a higher bond if they were not members. He listed some of the guidelines that were potentially going to be instituted: only trained referees would be allowed to work the fights; fights would be bound by a list of approved rules that were no less restrictive than those used by the ultimate fighting championship (minus the use of elbows); a medic and medical supplies would be required as well as ambulance or medical transport; and a database would be created for access to a fighter’s record. (A fighter who had lost by a total knock out [TKO] would be disqualified from fighting for at least two months after the TKO.) He compared MMA to football and noted that people were often hurt and occasionally killed while playing football. David T. Hagen , 2065 Myrtle Avenue Northeast, Salem, 97303, stated that he was an official for the State of Oregon, the head official for refereeing and boxing. He said he officiated at the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the International Fight League, and the Pride levels and had competed in approximately 1,800 amateur and 48 professional bouts. He wished to point out that with the advent of safety concerns, boxing officials were transitioning into MMA fighting. He alleged that a doctor who officiated at most of the championship boxing in the world said that MMA was substantially safer due to the types of injuries typically incurred. He asserted that MMA fighters did not suffer subdural hematomas and the other more serious injuries that boxers suffered. Mr. Hagen wanted to acknowledge that MMA was not for everyone and pointed out that he personally did not care for football. He said that people who did not like MMA fighting would not have to watch it. He stated that the Oregon State Boxing and Wrestling Commission, which was approved by the State of Oregon, implemented safety rules that were recognized by the State Athletic Commission. He alleged that the rate of deaths from boxing was approximately 11 per year and that two people had died as a result of MMA events since its advent. He maintained that if a person was no longer able to intelligently defend himself in an MMA bout it would be terminated, but a boxer who could no longer defend himself well was put back in the ring. He averred that MMA was meant to show the athleticism of the individual. He added that 36 states now sanction MMA fights. Heath Howitt , 3842 Willamette Street, stated that he was a promoter of MMA fights in Oregon. He observed that the Agenda Item Summary (AIS) indicated that the City may regulate cage fighting, but the proposed ordinance suggested a ban on such fights. He said, as a promoter, he would like to see amateurs regulated. He provided a list of 28 rules for professional cage fighting. He noted that he imposed MINUTES—Eugene City Council September 11, 2006 Page 3 Regular Meeting