Online Fight Clubs Increasing In Metro Atlanta

**Airman Kai** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 10:04am

Courtesy of CBS Affiliate WGCL Atlanta:

The number of online amateur fight clubs in metro Atlanta is growing.

The clubs stage fights that are patterned after professional mixed martial arts, but parents and students are concerned the fights are getting too dangerous.

A 17-year-old Cobb County high school student who fights agreed to speak with CBS 46 if he remained unidentified. He said he’s nervous about getting in trouble. He’s unsure if the fights are illegal and either unaware or unafraid of the potential danger.

“We don't really hurt each other that bad. We have a bruised lip or a swollen eye, but we haven't broken any bones yet,” the teen said.

As portrayed in the Brad Pitt movie “Fight Club,” the teen said there’s an understanding that the fighters won't do anything to hurt the club.

“We basically make sure that no one is going to be a punk butt,” the boy said.

Off-camera, the teenager’s mother said she'd prefer her son not fight, but she also wants him to be honest with her. Family members would like him to train professionally.

Clay Harvison, a professional MMA fighter and instructor at an Atlanta fitness club, said he has seen the online video of the junior fight club and sees imminent disaster.

“Somebody is going to get hurt at some point in time, that's a given,” Harvison said.

Harvison said when he trains fighters, he makes sure they have heavy-duty gloves, mouth guards, and in some cases, shin guards.

CBS 46 News contacted Cobb County police about the fight club the 17-year-old takes part in, but a spokesperson said police know nothing about it.

Somebody could get hurt, guys!

**mrblackmagic** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 10:29am

I saw this report on the news last night. It's backyard mma not a fight club. The news just wants to play up the Fight Club slant. Thankfully.

**Matt W.** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 2:09pm

lol When I first saw this I actually thought it was going to be about all the ATL Throwdowns!

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 4:54pm

Eh, eventually someone's going to get a broken bone or some other more serious injury and then those kids would probably get in trouble.

**Kid Miracleman** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 5:09pm

"Punk butt?"

**bad credit** · Posted On: 5/02/2008 7:12pm

Our fight club here has teens and girls fighting in it. So far we've had a broken nose, knocked out tooth, broken hand, cracked ribs, a concussion and probably some other stuff I can't remember. We haven't been caught, but our Tyler Durden had somebody break into his home and then not have the decency to steal anything. He got real paranoid it was the cops, freaked out, and took down all our fight clips off of our webpage.

I tried to explain to him that the cops would've used a warrant and kicked in the front door, but he wouldn't listen. Now he has cameras all over his place. I blame the weed.