If you're in the mood for ultimate fighting, it looks like you'll have to go to Wichita or Salina.

The Hutchinson City Council Tuesday voted to continue to prohibit in Hutchinson sports contests regulated by the Kansas Professional Regulated Sports Act, including professional boxing, sparring, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and full-contact karate.

The council voted 4-1 to deny approval of a resolution approving such contests in Hutchinson after Police Chief Dick Heitschmidt and others voiced opposition.

Mayor Trish Rose voted against a motion to deny the request, saying she wanted more time to gather public opinion and to look for ways to mitigate concerns about the rowdy crowds associated with the events.

Councilman Ron Sellers, who said he was unwilling to support a type of event the police chief had concerns with, countered that if there was a public outcry at the council's decision to prohibit the events, the council could take a second look at the issue.

The issue arose after Hutchinson resident Michael Edwards proposed a mixed martial arts event at Memorial Hall in January. Edwards, who has promoted MMA events at the Cotillion Ballroom in Wichita, said the sport is safer for its participants than boxing and is well-regulated by the state.

At the events he's promoted, Edwards said, there were no problems in the ring or in the crowds. He also cited events he had attended at Salina's Bicentennial Center that had "not one problem."

He added that the sport has gained popularity and would be beneficial monetarily for Hutchinson businesses as it would draw in outside visitors.

"It's almost un-American not to allow it," Edwards said. "These events happen across the country and I don't know why they shouldn't happen in Hutchinson."

Heitschmidt and Capt. Troy Hoover both agreed Edwards would put on a good, clean event.

However, they opposed allowing extreme fighting events in Hutchinson because not all promoters would go to the same lengths Edwards does to ensure a safe and professional event.

Hoover recounted problems the police had with two MMA events that took place at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center over the summer.

These events, while regulated by the state, were not legal in the city because the city had not adopted a resolution approving the holding of such contests.

Police had multiple issues with both events - not with the professional fighters who were fighting inside a cage - but with the large and intoxicated crowds that came to watch the fight.

"Inside the cage is not my concern," Heitschmidt said. "What is outside the cage is my concern. It's safe inside the cage. It's not safe outside the cage - that's my point."

Hoover said the events took several officers off of their regular patrols for several hours. Edwards was not connected to either event.

Mary Hemmings, who as the manager of the Fox Theatre is also contracted with the city to manage Memorial Hall, also spoke in opposition to extreme sports contests, saying they exhibit "base brutality that appeals to an animal nature."

She said the events, if hosted at Memorial Hall, would require extraordinary efforts by staff and would take a toll on the facility because of what she expected would be "unruly" crowds.

City Manager John Deardoff expressed a more supportive opinion, saying the events would provide an opportunity to use Memorial Hall, which he believes is "totally underutilized."