Mike Stidham
Mike Stidham, owner of Utah’s biggest MMA organization, ‘Ultimate Combat Experience’ and nd two local MMA fighters Salvador Sanchez and Aaron Sawyer found themselves in trouble back in 2009 after attacking a bouncer at the Southern X-Posure strip club in Salt Lake City.
The three men had went to the club to celebrate some new signings to their promotion, but Stidham became increasingly drunk as the evening progressed and ignored the club bouncer Jacob Alba’s warnings to calm down.
“[Stidham’s] conduct deteriorated even further however, and at one point he reportedly unfastened his pants, exposed his genitals, and began clutching and stroking his penis as he watched the club’s dancers perform,” the prosecution’s complaint states.
It was at this stage that Alba asked the men to leave, but things turned violent as he shoved Stidham, leading the promoter and two fighters to swarm on him in an attack that was partially captured on CCTV.
“Defendant Stidham can be seen punching Mr. Alba, knocking him to the concrete floor, and thrashing him on the floor while his friends swarmed in and repeatedly kicked Alba in the head and abdomen,” during a violent assault that lasted a minute.
Alba was left with nasal fractures, a broken orbital bone, lacerations, contusions and bruises as a result of the attack, which would lead to Stidham and his co-defendant Sanchez being found guilty of assault and sentenced to 30 days in jail and 70 hours of community service, while Sawyer received one year’s probation.
