Salem bans caged fighting events, allows training

SALEM, Utah County — Sports television producer Dennis Lisonbee has never been involved with caged fighting events, but he has seen the results.

While preparing to produce a boxing match in Reno, Nev., the Utah Valley University audiovisual professor saw an empty caged ring and a pattern on the mat and cage, which he discovered was blood spatter.

Lisonbee shared that experience with the City Council on Wednesday in an attempt to dissuade leaders from allowing extreme fighting training in Salem, a city whose moniker is "the city of peace."

"Even the training is not in accordance or within the beliefs of this community," he said.

Other residents also spoke against the sport, but the council already had decided in a work session prior to the meeting to approve an ordinance that allows training but bans extreme or caged fighting events.

The vote was unanimous, with Councilman Todd Gordon abstaining. Gordon is the builder of the gymnasium but said he's not involved with the facility in any other way.

Some Salem residents have been alarmed that a gymnasium under construction in Salem is expected to cater to extreme fighting training in a small, second-story room.

Last month, the City Council failed to pass an ordinance regulating the sport. The ordinance approved Wednesday prohibits a cage but allows a fence, restricts training to 20 percent of the building, and mandates protective padding and headgear. Violating the ordinance is a class C misdemeanor.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com