Compromise found so fight can go on

YAKIMA, Wash. - Cage fighters will get to square off in Yakima Avenue on Friday evening after all.

After asking the promoters of an outdoor cage-fighting competition to move, the city will let them set up cages for about 12 bouts in a closed section of Yakima Avenue.

They will just have to set up later in the day.

“It’s obviously going to cause us some duress,” said Rich Guerin, owner of Yakima Mixed Martial Arts.

Promoters had begun planning for an amateur cage fighting competition, similar to the Ultimate Fighting Championship seen on TV, in front of their shop at 419 West Yakima Ave.

They received permits from the city on June 3, Guerin said, allowing them to close the street at noon for set up. Fights are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

But after a news story was published in the Yakima Herald-Republic this morning, Joe Caruso, the city’s acting code administration manager, told city department heads and council members in an e-mail today that the tournament may move from Yakima Avenue to South Fourth Avenue because of traffic concerns.

“Yakima Ave. experiences about 17,800 vehicles daily and to close at this time will be drastic,” the e-mail reads.

Council members Micah Cawley and Kathy Coffey said Wednesday they had not been aware of the scheduled street closure or the details around Friday night’s cage fighting event.

Organizers say four local bands will provide entertainment and that there will be a beer garden and food vendors. Dream Girls baristas will be on hand to serve beverages.

Today, the city agreed to let the martial arts club hold the tournament on Yakima Avenue if organizers close the street partway at 4 p.m., leaving two eastbound lanes open. The promoters may close the street all the way at 6 p.m.

Guerin said the change will make it harder for him to set up but that he understood the concerns about traffic for the sake of neighboring businesses. However, he bristled at the city’s idea of changing locations at the last minute.

“Logistically it would be a nightmare, financially it would be a nightmare,” he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the street that was being considered as a compromise location for the cage-fighting event.