CRANSTON, R.I.—Twenty prison inmates have been disciplined for participating in "ultimate fighting" contest after claiming they were gathering in a dorm room to play chess, according to a published report Saturday.
Instead of playing chess, the inmates were pummeling each other in an "ultimate fighting" contest, emulating professional tournaments that have a loyal television following, The Providence Journal reported.
The fights took place at a minimum security prison in Cranston, where one correctional officer is assigned to watch 140 inmates of the E dorm.
"It's very possible that something like this could happen without the staff being fully aware because it took place in a room," Department of Corrections spokeswoman Tracey Poole said.
An investigation was launched when correctional officers noticed inmates with bruises on their heads and knuckles.
Investigators learned that some inmates were injured and others were gambling on the matches, Poole said. Inmates also had a makeshift championship belt, cut out of a magazine and given to the best fighter.
Prison officials on Dec. 9 disciplined 10 inmates by transferring them to higher-security facilities and sending them to segregation cells for 10 days.
But the fights continued. On Dec 19, another 10 inmates were transferred out, and given 30 days of segregation.
Officials are investigating whether any staff condoned the activity.
It's possible, Poole said, that inmates posted a sentry at the door of the fight room, so that the fighting would stop when the guard approached.
"This is the first time we have been aware of any ultimate fighting going on," she said.
Poole told the newspaper that the winner of the contest was Christopher Suarez, 22, of Woonsocket. He's serving a 16-month sentence for felony assault. The newspaper reported that Suarez was among four men who beat up a young man and his girlfriend in January.
