The Edmonton Sun has an article about ‘wanna be fighters’ in Canada’s Oil City being exploited by ’sleazy promoters’ due to the growing interest in MMA:

Some wannabe fighters in Edmonton are being used as punching bags by promoters exploiting the growing interest in mixed martial arts bouts, say locals in the industry.

One martial arts instructor said he has seen some guys signed to fight before they’ve even fought in training. Another green student was plucked from his task setting up the ring to fill a hole in a fight card, said instructor Michael Woodford of Edmonton Mixed Martial Arts, 7361 104 St., yesterday.

“I think (the promoters) either just trying to get some blood, or trying to pad someone’s stats,” he said, adding that a number of his inexperienced students have been recruited. “I think it’s commonplace right now.”

He said he was shocked by one student who showed up with a fight contract almost as soon as he joined his program.

“I’m like, ‘who would sign you to a contract? You haven’t even sparred here yet,’ ” said Woodford.

The student replied: “Oh no, they said they’ll match me with someone at my level.”

“Well, someone at that level, you guys won’t even know how to block,” said Woodford.

“It’s bothering me because what are the ethics of throwing (inexperienced) people in the ring? Wouldn’t you want to check out if they’ve fought - if they know how to fight?” he said.

Novice fighters who take bouts with sleazy promoters are putting themselves in unnecessary and unpredictable danger, said the president of Canada’s largest MMA league, based in Edmonton.

“When I go to a hockey game, I get 20 guys coming up to me asking about fighting,” said Mark Pavelich, president of Maximum Fighting Championship. “I say show up to the gym.”

Rookies in the ring @ Edmonton Sun