The Alabama Athletic Commission, AAC, has confirmed that on September 27 the AAC coordinated with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to shut down an illegal, unlicensed combat sports event near Weiss Lake in Cherokee County.
According to authorities, the event–marketed to locals as “The Pit”–created dangerous conditions and violated Alabama law which requires all combat sports events to be sanctioned and regulated by the AAC.
Chief Inspector Shane Sears, who led the enforcement operation, denounced the event in a public statement.
“The individuals behind this event showed reckless disregard for the law and for basic human safety,” Sears said. “Unregulated fights are not sports; they are criminal acts that endanger everyone involved.”
Sears confirmed that the alleged organizers of the event, who identified themselves as Samuel Weaver and Javin Newsome, did not possess the licenses or permits required by state law. The AAC stated that the organizers could now face decades in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, with each violation of AAC rules and regulations carrying a fine of up to $10,000.
Following the operation, the AAC turned over evidence collected at the scene–including photographs, video and fight documentation–to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
“The commission exists to protect fighters and the public by enforcing the standards that make combat sports legitimate, fair and safe,” Sears said. “Anyone who tries to bypass that process will be held accountable.”
Sears said that the AAC investigation remains active and ongoing, and encouraged anyone who might know of other illegal combat sports events in the state to reach out to the AAC.
