Michigan promoter passing MMA off as karate ordered to stop

Michigan long regulated professional mixed martial arts, but not amateur. The State so egregiously failed to adequately regulate amateur MMA that in 2012 the Association of Boxing Commissions took the unprecedented step of asking member commissions to bar amateur Michigan fighters or those who have recently competed in Michigan.

In Michigan, pre-fight screenings for amateur MMA fighters were minimal or non-existent, as all safety regulations were left entirely to the discretion of the promoter. Fighters under 18 could and did fight. There were no extra medical requirements for fighters 35 and over. No ringside physician was required, or even an ambulance.

Then in June of 2013, Felix Elochukwu Nchikwo, a 35-year-old Nigerian living in Hamilton, Ontario, on a student visa died following his participation in an unregulated amateur MMA bout in Michigan.

In November of 2015, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) finally signed a bill into law. But some unscrupulous promoters are still trying to get around regulation.

Emily Monacelli for MLive reports that the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has ordered Battle Creek’s Kit Lykins to stop violating the Michigan Unarmed Combat Regulatory Act. Lykins had reportedly been calling his MMA events karate, to avoid the costs of being a responsible promoter.

Alleged violations of state law include:

•Conducting a televised mixed martial arts event at The Pizza Parlor in Battle Creek without a promoter’s license.
•Failing to apply for and obtain a promoter’s license, submit the required bond, pay the appropriate event and regulatory and enforcement fees, and submit any contract subject to the regulatory and enforcement fee before the event.
•Failing to submit a request for approval of the event.
•Allowing contestants to compete without proper licensure; allowing contestants to compete without the proper medical clearance.
•Allowing contestants to compete without submitting the results of required medical tests.
•Failing to provide medical and life insurance for contestants.
•Failing to ensure that an inspector and a trained, licensed referee were present during the event.
•Failing to ensure that there were three licensed judges present to evaluate the contests.
•Failing to report the results of each contest, including physician recommendations.
•Failing to provide contracts between the promoter and the contestants to the state
•Falsely advertising the event as “Karate” or Kumite” rather than kickboxing or mixed martial arts.
•Participating in a sham or fake event.
•Engaging in fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in performing the duties of a promoter
•Engaging in conduct that is detrimental to a contest or event

Commission investigators filed a formal complaint against Lykins. He has the right to submit a written request for a hearing. Proceedings will be initiated to determine further appropriate regulatory action, which could include referral to law enforcement. If charged, Lykins faces up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.

Lykins told Dillon Davis for the Battle Creek Enquirer that he plans to appeal, and called the allegations “laughable.” Then the promoter doubled down, and conceded that the state regulates MMA and boxing, but said that his event was in fact “kumite,” a freestyle form of martial arts.

There is even a poster for the event at Pizza Parlor at 3301 W. Michigan Ave, Bedford Township.

28 years after the documentary Bloodsport, and a Kumite finally happens, and it’s at Pizza Parlor in Battle Creek, Michigan, and we missed in.

“When somebody says something, right, it doesn’t mean you’re guilty of that,” explained Lykins. “It means you’ll present your matter to court. I wouldn’t rush to any judgment until we’re in court.”

Kit ‘The White Dragon’ Lykins claims an MMA record of 22-0, an amateur boxing record of 113-1, an amateur kickboxing record of 123-2, a professional kickboxing record of 100-3, and a pro boxing record of 22-0. Lykins is also reportedly the IKF Snake Class Champion since 1994. He has no record on BoxRec for boxing or on mixedmartialarts.com for MMA.

The Pizza Parlor has been closed since early September, but is reportedly reopening soon as The Pizza Hut!