SOCORRO – It’s formally known as mixed martial arts, but is commonly referred to as cage fighting, a full-contact combat sport that includes a wide array of fighting methods.
Is a city-owned facility, specifically Finley Gym, a proper venue to hold such an event? That’s the question the Socorro City Council discussed at Monday night’s meeting.
Five years after city-owned Clarke Field was denied as a venue for a mixed martial arts event, the council is revisiting its position.
In 2004, the council voted not to allow promoter Jim Burleson’s King of the Cage event the use of Clarke Field. Burleson eventually got approval from the Socorro County Fair Board to hold his event at the fairgrounds.
Local MMA trainer Bill Partridge asked the council for permission to use Finley Gym for an upcoming one-night event.
“We have always had a problem with using city property for martial arts,” Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker said. “But the council wants to hear your presentation. What you are planning?”
Partridge told the council he trains local fighters and he wants the community to support their hard work.
“Mixed martial arts has come a long way, and it’s not a blood sport anymore,” Partridge said. “These competitors who are training every day have learned to shake hands with their opponent afterwards and not take the fight out of the venue.”
Bhasker voiced concern over past experiences with cage fighting.
“There have been worries about fighting between rival gangs,” Bhasker said. “Fighting in the street. Fighting in the homes. Fighting in the schools. The rivalry became very aggressive.”
Partridge said he has scheduled the bouts so that all Socorro competitors will be matched against out-of-town fighters.
“Local rivalries are avoided,” he said. “You can’t do anything but shake the other guy’s hand if you lose.”
Partridge said the sport has become more accepted by the public, and is looked upon as in the category of boxing or wrestling.
“This is something the children will get involved in, and they will get involved,” he said. “This event will show them how it’s supposed to be competed.”
He said MMA fights have normally been held at the National Guard Armory.
“We prefer Finley Gym because at the armory, everybody is standing, and it’s not a comfortable event to go to,” Partridge said. “We want to have it a little more spaced out for the audience. The cage size is bigger – 18 feet – so we need a little bigger area.”
He said he would meet all requirements for safety and liability.
“Security will be present there at the venue. Anything that is needed, we would provide,” Partridge said. “We will have insurance for the crowd and combative insurance for the competitors. There will have an EMT and a ringside physician. Whatever requirements to get a license will be met on our end.”
He also said competitors are required to sign an agreement that they won’t get involved in trouble or in fights outside the gym.
“We have a chance to clean up the reputation of mixed martial arts here in Socorro,” Partridge said. “I am looking at Sept. 19 for putting on the show.”
Councilor Ernest Pargas commended Partridge on his efforts but voiced concern over any extra activities “that cause a lot of problems.”
Councilor Michael Olguin Jr. said mixed martial arts has gained some respectability recently.
“It is a growing sport,” Olguin said. “It is a professional sport, and the way things are going this is what Socorro is trying to attract. I think it will benefit the city in the long run.”
Councilor Gordy Hicks said he has attended MMA bouts but has “trouble with going toward what we’ve been trying to stay away from.”
Councilor Donald Monette said he was hesitant to have the city get involved.
“I feel like we’re going backward. In the past we’ve always been afraid of it,” Monette said. “We’ll have to get into the security issue, the rent issue. I don’t know if this is the direction we’re heading. Once the convention center is built, it would be a different issue.”
The council voted 7-1 to turn the matter over to the administration to look into feasibility and legalities. Monette cast the dissenting vote.
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