Din Thomas Arrested In Florida For Hosting Illegal Fighting Event


Din ThomasUFC veteran Din Thomas, who runs an American Top Team school in Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested for allegedly hosting unsanctioned MMA fighting events at the training center.

Din Thomas has been charged with “felony prohibited competitions” charge.

Officers in plain clothes were at American Top Team Port St. Lucie on Tuesday, according to a warrant application filed by officer Brian Kenny stated:

“Once on scene I observed… a large caged octagon ring with two men inside fighting. There was a third male in the octagon acting as a referee. Around the octagon there were several people (approx. 150 men, women and minors) sitting and standing on make shift stands and chairs facing the octagon cheering while watching the two men fight. Both fighters wore gloves but did not have any protective headgear on. At the front door to the location there was a table with a small sign stating ‘$10.00 per person.’ Also located on the table was a roll of raffle tickets.”

Ordinarily, this wouldn’t surprise me, because Florida doesn’t allow amateur MMA matches in the state, so it’s common for schools to have “smokers”, which are MMA fights used to get amateurs accustomed to fighting in front of a crowd, but according to the police report Din Thomas said these fights were primarily sparring matches. However, officer Kenny stated that each match had timed rounds, a referee that determined a winner, and that he saw fighters using “punches and kicks to the body, face and head of their opponents.”

Well, I would certainly hope he saw punches and kicks to the body, face and head, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been an MMA fight and Din Thomas wouldn’t have been arrested.

It also brings to mind the recent episode of “Human Weapon” on the history channel, where Jason Chambers and Bill Duff both fought MMA fights at John McCarthy’s school, and McCarthy acted as referee and judge. I suppose the primary difference is that Din Thomas was charging admission to the event and admittedly didn’t have any medical personell present.

I think the fact he was charging $10 admission at the door is what is going to cause him the trouble, otherwise, there is nothing unusual about fighting at a fight school. It happens all the time.

Written by admin on October 30th, 2007 with comments disabled.
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