Viral video spurs unregulated event investigation
Xplode owner Gregg Sharp saud that he is considering legal action against BJPenn.com, the website that originally used the “Soccer Mom” terminology.
You have probably seen the video of Katie Castro, dubbed “soccer mom,” getting knocked out in 10 seconds by Ilima MacFarlane at an unregulated Xplode Fight Series event, held on an Indian reservation in California, out of the reach of regulators.
Xplode events are held on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation, in the backyard of an Indian family, under a metal overhang. There is no regulating tribal AC, and the events are not supported in any way by the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, according to chairman Allen Lawson.
Now the California State Athletic Commission is conducting an investigation, and may take steps against the unregulated contests. Fighters who compete in the events may face sanction, and a determination of whether promoters are committing criminal acts is being sought.
“We have a lot of authority over our licensees and if we feel like they’re engaging in unsafe activities, we will look at that license very closely,” Carvelli told Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting.
Xplode owner Gregg Sharp is adamant Castro is not a soccer mom and he believes the “soccer mom” moniker is what has caused all the fuss. Sharp told MMA Fighting that he is considering legal action against BJPenn.com, the website that originally used that terminology, as well as whoever tipped BJPenn.com off to the video.
“We’re looked at under a microscope,” Sharp said. “If my promotion was going on in Idaho, no one would care. It’s definitely true. The only reason this video made it to the surface is because somebody had a hard-on for me. That’s it.”
MacFarlane was making her pro debut in the Jan. 17 fight and Castro came in 0-3, so the matchup didn’t look bad on paper. However, all of Castro’s losses have come by TKO in under 30 seconds. Sharp said Castro was a last-minute fill-in.
“The quality of the fight turned out to be poor and unfortunately we’re in the position we’re in now,” Sharp said. “If that fight ended in a rear-naked choke in 42 seconds, this wouldn’t be the same case.
“Katie’s not a great fighter, but she’s a street fighter. She’s far from a soccer mom. The reason why this has gone viral is because of that word. If they put ‘Street fighter loses to MMA fighter,’ this thing gets 12 hits on YouTube.”
Xplode features competitors with records like 0-20, 0-15 and 1-16. Most lose by knockout or submission within one or two minutes of the first round.
Sharp maintains that his shows don’t differ much from sanctioned ones across the country.
“There are plenty of 3-22 guys out there fighting in CSAC all the time,” he said. “There are plenty of 1-9 guys. There are tons of 2-12 guys in all athletic commissions. They’re out there. It’s the way it is. That’s just regional MMA.”
MacFarlane has since signed with Bellator MMA. Sharp said he’ll no longer allow Castro to fight for XFS.
Part two of this three-part special report runs Saturday morning.
