Officials: State MMA rules more stringent than Sioux Falls'

A Sioux Falls official looking to do away with the city's ban on mixed martial arts competitions has the police department and a state athletic board in her corner.

City Councilor Christine Erickson gave her colleagues their first peek at a proposal to lift a decade-old ordinance that prohibits mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts from being held at city-owned properties like the arena, events center and parks during an informational meeting Tuesday at Carnegie Town Hall. It also required fight promoters to meet certain guidelines before hosting events on private property.

With the recently-formed South Dakota Athletic Commission now overseeing all boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts events held in the state, including Sioux Falls, Erickson, commission officials and Sioux Falls Police say local rules are no longer necessary.

"State regulations have 48 pages of rules and regulations that this athletic commission must adhere to," Erickson said. "The repeal of the ordinance … isn't about if you enjoy a particular event or not, this is simply allowing it at a city-owned facility."

When the city council in 2005 passed the ordinance, it also required privately-held MMA events to be licensed with the police department, which screened fight promoters to ensure they carried liability insurance, had qualified medical personnel on site and adequate event security. Jennifer Stalley, executive director of the S.D. Athletic Commission, said state rules are in most cases more stringent than the Sioux Falls ordinance.

"In nearly every instance we are at least as strong or stronger than the current city ordinance," she said.

State regulations also require certified referees and judges to officiate bouts, and at least two members of the athletic commission must be on site for every MMA event held in South Dakota.

"At any time, the commission has the right to stop the event, whether that's for not following our rules or not having everything in place before it's time for the event to start or, in the case of fighters, if they're not participating in the way they're supposed to," Stalley said.

The only aspect of Sioux Falls' ordinance not included in the state rules is the required event security. While that's not required by the state, Stalley said all fights sanctioned by the commission have been at facilities that provide their own security.

"If that's something the council feels strongly about, that's something we'd certainly be open to including that or making sure that there is a security plan," she said. "But for all the venues we've worked with, security is usually provided by the venue and it hasn't been an issue."

Sioux Falls Police Captain Rich Miller said the city has processed less than 10 permit applications from promoters looking to hold MMA events in Sioux Falls, none of which have been denied. Now that they would have to meet state requirements that "even go further" than the city ordinance, a repeal has merit, he said.

"The state covers everything that needs to be covered," he said. "And since it is an athletic commission they are able to follow up more."

Not only would repealing the ordinance remove a licensing obligation from the police department, there are also potential economic benefits as well, Erickson said. While MMA fights are already taking place within city limits, they aren't allowed to happen at places in Sioux Falls' largest venues like the arena and the events center, which she said is keeping high-profile promoters like Ultimate Fighting Championship from considering hosting events here.