Extreme-fighting law has 'no teeth'

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

A recent state law regulating mixed martial-arts events brings with it a new set of safeguards, but some competitors and promoters insist it isn't enough to bring legitimacy to a sport recently embroiled in controversy.

Super Brawl world champion Falaniko Vitale says tighter regulations are needed to clean up the image of mixed martial arts. Advertiser library photo

The legislation imposed safeguards for the contestants and created penalties for violators.

But not everyone involved in staging the events is satisfied.

"It's a step in the right direction, but there needs to be tighter regulation," said T. Jay Thompson, president of the Honolulu-based Super Brawl organization. "Right now, there's no teeth to the law, and if we want to keep moving toward making this a legitimate, recognized sport, we need to create tougher laws."

Mixed martial arts has become one of Hawai'i's most popular spectator sports in recent years. Professional fights at the Blaisdell Center Arena this year have drawn sellout crowds of around 8,000.

The top fighters in the sport get six-figure contracts. In Hawai'i, main-event draws such as Super Brawl world champion Falaniko Vitale of 'Ewa can make between $50,000 and $75,000 per bout.

Until last week, the sport was not regulated by the state, and recent events involving no-rules combat contests and its participants generated headlines.

One match pitted a 14-year-old boy against a 32-year-old professional at a Dole Cannery event last month. That was followed by reports of a bare-knuckle, no-holds-barred gym brawl in Waimanalo.

Then Hilo's B.J. Penn, an international mixed martial-arts star and younger brother of Jay Dee Penn, president of the Hilo-based Rumble on the Rock organization, was arrested this month for allegedly assaulting a police officer during a melee in Waikiki. There was also a report of a separate beating incident this month in which the assailants were allegedly wearing mixed martial-arts shirts.

Unauthorized mixed martial-arts events are now illegal under the state law that took effect May 16.

"In the past, all these incidents would be linked to our sport as a whole," Thompson said, "and I suppose there are always going to be some not-good people involved in rogue incidents. But at least now we can say those incidents are not part of our sport."

The rules imposed by the law are designed to protect participants, said Christine Hirasa, public information officer for the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, which is charged with enforcement.

All professional mixed martial-arts matches must now be between "medically fit adults." Promoters must also implement other rules to protect the safety of the competitors and provide proof to the department that their events are in compliance with the law.

Violators of the law could be fined up to $10,000 for each offense. The state also can take legal action to stop violations.

Jay Dee Penn of Rumble on the Rock said the regulations are insufficient.

"There still needs to be more research. The regulations put in place are still pretty vague. I'd like to see it reworked," he said.

Rules aside, there is also the matter of cleaning up the image of the sport.

"That's where the coaches and trainers need to step in and create discipline in these athletes at a young age, and for the most part, that's what's happening," Thompson said.

"This sport is still on its way, and I suppose these growing pains are bound to happen. I'm confident we'll get by this. The bottom line is, this is still martial arts. It's about honor and respect."

Vitale, the Super Brawl world champion, said the sport needed regulation in light of the recent controversies.

"If anybody in the sport breaks the law, I think they need to be punished," Vitale said. "I want this sport to be as clean as possible. Any laws that help create structure in the sport and create safety for the fighters is good."

Vitale would go so far as making drug tests mandatory. The new state law does not call for any drug testing.

"There's cheaters in every sport — guys who use steroids and other stuff," Vitale said. "If we want the sport to be legit, we have to clean it up."

Because there is no governing body for the sport, each organization follows different fighting rules.

As just one example, elbow strikes on a downed opponent are legal in Rumble on the Rock bouts, but illegal in Super Brawl bouts. The rings also differ; Rumble on the Rock bouts take place in an octagon-shaped cage while Super Brawl bouts are in a standard boxing ring.

While Super Brawl and Rumble on the Rock are Hawai'i's biggest organizations, there are other smaller organizations on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island. Dozens of others operate around the world, such as K-1 in Japan and Ultimate Fighting Championship on the Mainland.

"One set of rules for everybody would be better," Vitale said. "That way there's less confusion for the fighters as well as the fans."

Some are calling for the creation of a state commission to oversee mixed martial-arts events.

Alan Taniguchi, executive officer of the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission, said he is in the process of drafting a bill that would incorporate mixed martial arts and boxing under one commission.

"Nevada and California are doing it right now, so we'll study what they're doing and see how we can make it work here," Taniguchi said. "Because (mixed martial arts) has become so popular here, I think it needs to be regulated."

However, sports promoters and fighters said mixed martial arts deserves its own commission.

"The boxing commission does a great job with boxing, but this is a different sport and if there is going to be a commission, it needs to be run by expert personnel in this sport," Thompson said.

Jay Dee Penn added: "To an outsider, it will all sound good to be regulated by a commission. But outsiders can also ruin the sport. We need to make sure there are people in place who know and understand our sport."

One such candidate could be Egan Inoue, a former Super Brawl world champion and once one of Hawai'i's top draws in the sport.

He said he would be willing to serve on a mixed martial-arts commission. At the least, he'd like to be a voice for the sport on the State Boxing Commission.

"Boxing guys can't tell you what a submission hold is and how dangerous it can be," Inoue said. "There are moves out there that can tear somebody's ACL or break somebody's neck."

Inoue said his first mission would be to clarify some of the laws put in place by the state. For example, he said the term "medically fit adults" can cover a broad range of competitors.

"Anybody can pass a physical," Inoue said. "There needs to be background checks as well to make sure that all the matches are fair and safe."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.