Comments about ‘West Valley seeking to discourage ultimate fights’

This is pure economic protectionism--why go to a Grizzlies game (now 40% owned by WVC) when you can watch just the fights without the ice soccer?

Hey, let's get government involved. City officials should be allowed to do what they do best -- sit around and think of the most unlikely scenarios, then draw up complicated regulations to reduce the likelihood of anything negative ever occurring. This is an especially important role if the regulated activity either draws income or creates enjoyment for participants or spectators. I would wager that pickup basketball has caused more serious injuries than cage fighting nationwide and even in West Valley. So let us require helmets for basketball players, pre-game HIV tests, psychological tests for spectators, and physical exams for players, some of whom have unknown heart problems. Also, in case a player suddenly loses his temper and hits a referee or opponent, all participants should be required to wear boxing gloves during all basketball games. Also, teams should be required to purchase liability insurance because somebody might sue the city for not providing enough police officers at church basketball games. Once we get b-ball under control, we're turn our attention and our fury toward ultimate fighting.

I think that comparisons to ball-sports is comparing apples to oranges.
The object in a fight is to either cause traumatic brain injury (TKO) or to beat someone into submission.
The only accurate comparison is to boxing.

Ball sports don't have causing brain injury as a primary goal.

I guess this is one way to weed out the gene pool.

First off its not anyones goal in MMA at any level to cause permenant harm or serious brain injury to their opponent. People who believe that have never watched a UFC fight and witnessed the comradery between fighters. Secondly having played "ball" sports, college football in particular I've seen first hand traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, more than enough concussions etc. Not to mention many muscle and skeletol ijuries. I myself sufferred a torn ACL. When engaging in any physical sport there is a risk of injury which the athletes who choose to participte in their sport are well aware of. We choose to take those chances because we love the sport and most will find a way to participate in the sports we love no matter the condition or cost.

My frustration would be about the city officials making this decision. Where are they gathering their facts and what do they know concerning MMA? Most of these people aren't qualified in making such decisions but yet government officials love to get their hands involved. Our country is slowly losing its freedoms because of bureaucrats and litigators who believe government is the solution.

Way less dangerous than boxing.

And I thought ultimate fights in West Valley were determined by drive-bys.

I work as a Public Safety Officer for an Inian Tribe in Southern California. We have had many of these mixed martial arts cage fights on the reservation. We put in place a very extensive security program during these events. We still end up with unscheduled bouts (fights) among the spectators. Some of the fans that attend these events don't always go home peacefully. However, that fact is not representative of all the fans.

As is evident in the case of actress Natasha Richardson- it often doesn't take much of a blow to the head to cause death. I worry that a fully-sanctioned fight to the death is the next logical step from those entertained by violence.

The local MMA studios should offer some free lessons to the city council members so they can get a better understanding.

I look forward to hearing both sides at the public hearing tomorrow night. The police have concerns with the fights, the promoters have concerns with the regulations. Please come share with us your thoughts so that as city councilmembers we can make an educated decision.

We can't be there, but this is an issue of your city's reputation.

I believe all of Salt Lake County should be concerned with violence, and yet WVC is considering sanctioning the most violent type of entertainment?

UF is a "basic form of human competition that's been around since the gladiators of ancient Rome" This is one of the great aspects of this sport--comparison to one of the most sadistic and corrupt societies in the world's history . . . I know we get excited every time we travel south to the WVC area for the weekend. We get to see UF on any given street corner in WVC on a Saturday night, and it's free entertainment!

Ultimate fighting as a symptom of the worst aspect of social disease. Any government that would sanction this display of violence and hatred should be ashamed of itself. Is West Valley willing to pay the added social cost to the whole county that sanctioning this violence will create?

Why did this article fail to mention that Stidham has been charged with a first degree felony aggravated assault? He is a good example of the kind of people who associate with this mockery of sport.

The reporter failed to do his homework on the promoter. Stidham is a FORMER cop, an EX cop. There is a good reason for the FORMER status. Dig a little. He's not the only one. The Utah Highway Patrol employs a couple of the cage fighters.

There are a lot of CURRENT cops that do this including several of West Valley's finest. I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.

Stidham was charged with a crime that occurred- not at fights, but at a bar. It had nothing whatsoever to do with this story.

If you do your homework, you would know that fights do not happen in the stands at these events. They are held weekly, and in 7 years there have been less fights than occurred this past season in little league football matches in West Valley.

The comparison to Ancient Rome was a portion of the quote given. MMA is deeply rooted into just about every culture since the dawn of man. It is the truest form of athletic competition.

The irony here is that WVC just bought part of a hockey team. It reminds me of the old joke about...'I went to a fight last night, and a hockey game broke out.' MMA is no more violent than Hockey or football. Compare stats of injuries between the two.....you will be astounded.

Yes, this is Mike Stidham.

It's no worse than WVC streets.

I attend these events all the time, I have seen more fights at rock concerts and hockey games. WVC has no problem bringing music to town or owning a hockey team but Ultimate fighting is a safety concern????