California MMA event erupts into massive 100-person brawl as 15 arrested, three cops injured
An out-of-control brawl has erupted inside a California convention center, with more than 100 mixed martial arts fans piling each other as security desperately struggled to break up the chaos.
Footage from inside the Visalia Convention Center shows mobs of people rushing into the middle of the venue as the conflict escalates, as others stand back and record the mayhem on their cell phones.
Security personnel can be seen running into the crowd and trying to separate those involved.
The violence broke out Saturday night during the 559 Fights Next Gen 4 mixed martial arts event, according to the Visalia Police Department.
Officers were already working at the event when the fighting erupted, but the major scale of the disturbance forced them to call for backup.
Police said roughly 100 people were involved in the initial brawl, while several other fights simultaneously broke out elsewhere inside the venue.
Visalia Police sent 26 units to the convention center, with officers regain control and clearing the crowds.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Farmersville and Exeter police departments, were also control the rampage.
Fifteen people were arrested in the aftermath and booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Detention Facility on various charges, according to police.
Three Visalia Police officers suffered minor injuries while trying to bring the sprawling disturbance under control.
