Promoter postpones Cape Girardeau mixed martial arts event set for Saturday

A mixed martial arts event scheduled for Saturday at the Arena Building has been postponed to February.

A "perfect storm" of issues cropped up, according to Paul Farwig, the event promoter, causing them to push the event to Feb. 25. Farwig said tickets for Saturday's Devastation Fight Night will be honored at the February event.

Farwig said there were difficulties with complying with the sanctioning body's requirements in the number of personnel, such as judges, time keepers and physicians.

He said moving the fight is regrettable and this is only the second time he has had to do so in his many years of promoting the mixed martial arts events.

Farwig said the card for February's event will be the same as the one originally scheduled for Saturday. He said it includes 16 mixed martial artists from the area. Of course, he said, that number could fluctuate a little as the date draws near.

"We have a lot of Cape's own mixed martial artists on this card. We're looking forward to the Feb. 25 show," he said. "We do apologize for any inconvenience this has caused for our great fans in Cape Girardeau."

Devastation Fight Night, a mixed martial arts extreme cage fighting event, was originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Arena Building started selling tickets in early January and had sold 84 so far.

"We're hoping that they'll make the February one," Marcia Stone, administrative coordinator for Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation, said about ticket holders.

For fans who want a refund on their tickets, the Arena Building can handle requests if people bring their tickets to the office. Stone said they will credit any charge cards used. Those who paid cash will have to put in a request for a check from the city.

Stone said she could get approval for a special circumstance check and have refunds within two weeks.

Farwig said fans wanting a refund should present their tickets to the Arena Building by Feb. 4. He said if people with tickets plan on attending the new date, their ticket will be good to get them in the door.

Farwig has been scheduling and promoting MMA events at the Arena Building two to three times a year for about four years. Stone said they have never had scheduling problems before and that she hopes this postponement will not deter those who wanted to

come.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

401 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO