Naperville considers restrictions on MMA fights
State law prohibits municipalities from banning mixed martial arts fights, but Naperville City Council members are expected to do what many of them consider the next best thing: impose regulations on attendance, event timing and alcohol sales.
Naperville is poised to amend several sections of its code to prohibit alcohol sales at mixed martial arts fights, require attendees younger than 18 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, mandate events be held during the day and require fights to be licensed as major special events.
“These (fights) can take place without a lot of damage to the community, and I'm not willing to step in and ban them completely,” council member Robert Fieseler said. “But I do agree we need to take this a step at a time. Let's refrain from serving alcohol and see how it goes.”
The regulations could be approved as soon as Dec. 17, when the city council is set to bring them to a vote during a meeting at 7 p.m. in the municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St.
Council members who originally wanted to ban mixed-martial arts, often referred to as MMA, eventually were advised such action is not possible under the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, which licenses the sport.
But many had concerns about the violent nature of MMA and its potential to create a scenario of spectators watching fights, listening to loud music and drinking alcohol that could lead to unsafe conditions on the roads and in downtown Naperville bars.
“There is a concern of spectators spilling out without their senses about them,” Fieseler said Tuesday during preliminary discussions of the regulations.
One resident spoke and urged the council to make it difficult or undesirable for MMA promoters to host fights in Naperville.
No one spoke against the proposed restrictions or in favor of MMA fights, one of which has taken place in Naperville at a hotel.
The topic hasn't drawn many public speakers since it first came to the council's attention in August, when local MMA promoter American Predator Fighting Championship requested use of a city-owned lot as extra parking for a fight scheduled for Oct. 19. The council denied the parking request and a couple members suggested the city explore a ban on MMA fights, leading organizers to consolidate the fight with another held elsewhere.