It’s a story you will only see on CBS47. A real life fight club is shut down in Madera County.
A dozen fighters were scheduled to take part.
The fighters were all local, from Oakhurst and mountain communities.
They're all friends.
According to organizers it started out small, but then hundreds were invited to watch.
This private home near Oakhurst was supposed to be site of 'Mountain Fight Night,’ the first weekend in February.
An event similar to the practice made famous in the movie ‘Fight Club.’
It started with a group of friends.
“We were just trying to hold a little event that was an alternative to partying and alcohol,” said Cody McClour. McClour stepped in as organizer.
He wants to be a professional mixed martial arts fighter.
He signed up a dozen fighters to spar in the ring.
'Mountain Fight Night' got a Facebook page.
More than 200 people were invited to attend.
“I didn't think many would come, maybe 20 at the most, but it kinda blew up,” McClour said.
Madera County code enforcement stepped in.
A cease and desist order was served on the property owner.
Oakhurst residents we spoke with said, unfortunately, fighting is common in this mountain community. But it's not usually organized.
“Somebody could say something that upset someone else. Or it could be ‘Hey we don't like that kid’ so we're gonna jump them,” said Kimberlee Mecchi of Oakhurst.
“I like MMA. I support it but if its going to be illegal then I'm not because people do get hurt,” said Jessica Steinhauer of Oakhurst.
McClour said he was making arrangements to have medical personnel on scene.
“Everything seemed pretty safe but when it comes to fighting you never know what could happen,” McClour said.
But in the end it was the first rule of fight club that shut this one down.
“The first rule of fight club is that you don't talk about fight club,” said Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden in ‘Fight Club.’
