(Radio Iowa) — The Athletic Commission of the State Labor Division issued 101 licenses for events in the last fiscal year and many of those were for M-M-A or Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro says they have to do inspections of the fight sites. “M-M-A is very interesting, I find that interesting because we are a health and safety agency. We are trying to protect peoples’ safety and health in the workplace,” Mauro explains, “But what I’m really trying to do there is to make sure they don’t kill each other in the ring.”

He says they have a variety things to go over to determine a bout is safe. “Check the ring, check the rules, check the gloves, we check the whole thing. Make sure they have nothing in the gloves, make sure they have their drug tests and things like that — so we make sure they have a safe environment,” Mauro says. That’s what he finds the most peculiar — is they make sure everything is safe so two fighters can go at it.
“We’re here for safety and health, and I’m trying to make sure nobody gets killed in the fight,” according to Mauro.

Mauro made his comments following a recent state budget hearing.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Safety Jake Gervase made an interception in the end zone to help preserve a late lead, and Iowa beat No. 18 Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl 27-22. Gervase also batted down an errant fourth-down pass to end the Bulldogs’ final drive at the Iowa 32 with 25 seconds left. Two earlier Mississippi State threats in the fourth quarter led to only three points.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is going out a winner after Dwayne Haskins passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns in the fifth-ranked Buckeyes’ 28-23 victory over Washington in the Rose Bowl. Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Rashod Berry caught TD passes in the first half for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes, who carried a 25-point lead into the fourth quarter. Myles Gaskin ran for two scores and threw for another in the final game before OSU won its final game under Meyer.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — UCF’s 25-game winning streak is over after Joe Burrow passed for 394 yards and four TDs to lead 11th-ranked LSU to a 40-32 victory over the No. 7 Knights at the Fiesta Bowl. A depleted LSU team rolled for 555 yards, easily the most allowed by the Knights this season. Burrow had touchdown passes of 22, 49, 33 and 32 yards, while the Tigers held Central Florida to 250 yards after the Knights entered the game ranked third nationally at 545 yards per game.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sam Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns and 14th-ranked Texas completed its first 10-win season since 2009 by beating No. 5 Georgia, 28-21 at the Suger Bowl. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound sophomore finished with 64 yards rushing on 21 carries and also threw for 169 yards. The Longhorns stretched their lead to 28-7 on Ehlinger’s third TD run, a 1-yard burst with 11:49 to play.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Benny Snell Jr. became Kentucky’s career rushing leader by providing 144 yards and two touchdowns in leading the 16th-ranked Wildcats past No. 13 Penn State, 27-24 in the Citrus Bowl. Snell scored on runs of 2 and 12 yards in the second half, then carried for a couple of crucial first downs to help the 10-3 Wildcats run out the clock. Trace McSorley threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and the Nittany Lions’ career passing and wins leader also rushed for a team-high 75 yards on 19 attempts.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Safety Jake Gervase made an interception in the end zone to help preserve a late lead, and ball-hawking Iowa Hawkeyes beat No. 18 Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl 27-22 Tuesday. Gervase also batted down an errant fourth-down pass to end the Bulldogs’ final drive at the Iowa 32 with 25 seconds left. Two earlier Mississippi State threats in the fourth quarter led to only three points. The Hawkeyes totaled just 199 yards, with 75 coming on a touchdown pass from Nathan Stanley to Nick Easley, but they converted three takeaways into 17 points.

Stanley threw for 214 yards and three scores. The Hawkeyes won despite netting minus 15 yards rushing, and their three running backs totaled 4 yards in 15 carries. Iowa (9-4) earned its biggest postseason victory since an Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech to cap the 2009 season. Mississippi State (8-5) lost to a team outside the top 15 for the first time.

Trailing 24-19, the Bulldogs had a first down at the Iowa 1 early in the fourth quarter, but three quarterback draws lost 2 yards and they settled for a field goal. They were again on the verge of taking the lead with nine minutes left, but receiver Stephen Guidry bobbled a pass in the end zone, and Gervase snatched it away. The Hawkeyes then drove 50 yards for a field goal to go up 27-22.

The Hawkeyes scored two touchdowns in 97 seconds for a 17-6 lead. The Bulldogs rallied with two touchdowns in 18 seconds to go up 19-17, with quarterback Nick Fitzgerald giving them the advantage on a nifty 33-yard touchdown run — his 100th career score rushing or passing.
But on their next possession, Fitzgerald’s tipped pass was intercepted by defensive lineman Chauncey Golston. Stanley then scrambled to convert a fourth and 1, and on the next play he hit Easley to put Iowa ahead to stay, 24-19.

The Hawkeyes won because they kept the game close early despite a slow start. They trailed only 6-0 after one quarter even though they had minus 8 yards and a 12-yard punt. Mississippi State tried some trickery in the first quarter by throwing down the middle to quarterback Keytaon Thompson, but he dropped a potential touchdown pass and the Bulldogs settled for a field goal.
COSTLY INFRACTIONS
The Bulldogs had 90 yards in penalties while Iowa had none. Targeting and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Mississippi State jump-started the Hawkeyes’ offense and led to a field goal for their first score. A 51-yard completion for the Bulldogs was negated by a holding penalty.
TAKEAWAYS
Iowa will likely finish in the Top 25 for only the second time in the past nine seasons. Coach Kirk Ferentz concluded his 20th season at Iowa and improved to 152-101, including 8-8 in bowl games.
The down-to-the-wire finish was a rarity for the Bulldogs, who had only one other game decided by fewer than 14 points.
UP NEXT
Stanley will be a third-year starter returning to lead the 2019 Hawkeyes, who also will have their top three rushers back. They open the season Aug. 31 at home against Miami (Ohio).

(DES MOINES) – To highlight today’s Outback Bowl game between the University of Iowa and Mississippi State University, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant have decided to make a friendly wager. Reynolds has pledged to send fully cooked turkey breasts from West Liberty Foods to the Food Bank of Iowa if the Bulldogs prevail. Gov. Bryant has wagered a feast of Simmons Farm Raised Catfish from Yazoo City to Stewpot Community Services in the event of a Hawkeye victory.

Gov. Reynolds said “Iowa and Mississippi have a strong heritage in both producing great football teams and producing the food and fiber to fuel our country and our world. But only one state will rise to the challenge in this bowl game, and I know our Hawkeyes, with an estimated 15,000 fans traveling to Florida to cheer them on, along with a big Hawkeye Wave back in Iowa, will bring home the win in the Outback Bowl. Go Hawks!”

Mississippi Gov. Bryant said “Iowans and Mississippians know the value of a hard day’s work and feeding America. Football and family is in our blood. Both the Bulldogs and Hawkeyes have had a great year on the field, and it’s an honor for them to be the first college football game of 2019. I’m confident Mississippi State will be victorious in the matchup, and bring back the Outback Bowl trophy to the Magnolia State. Hail State.”

(Radio Iowa) — Many Iowans are making resolutions to exercise more in 2019 and an Iowan who recently won the U.S.A. Marathon Championship has some advice for those who plan to make RUNNING part of their health improvement plans. Brogan Austin says it’s important to “keep it fun” and be patient. “I know a lot of people feel like they need to run fast or just get right after it right away, but I think the biggest thing is making sure you enjoy the process,” Austin said. “It’s okay to run slow and just gradually build up your miles. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.”

Austin, a Boone native who now lives in West Des Moines, won the national marathon championship in Sacramento, California on December 2. He finished the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 12 minutes 38 seconds. The 27-year-old Austin suggests Iowans who want to take up long distance running set an initial, reasonable goal. For instance, getting above the three-mile mark. “Because that’s when you can really start to zone out, daydream, or as the running community calls it – the runner’s high,” Austin said. “Running is such a great exercise activity and it releases a lot of stress. I think people put too much of an emphasis on making it a workout, but it can be an enjoyable thing too.”

Austin has a new goal for himself – to make the U.S. Olympic team in 2020. “I think that’s a lot more feasible now. I think I have a good shot at that,” Austin said. “In the build-up to that, I’d like to get back on the track this spring – try to run some fast 5K to 10Ks. I’ll probably run another marathon at some point, maybe in October. You know, all with the big picture in mind that I want to try and qualify for the 2020 Olympics in the marathon.”

Up until a month ago, the Drake University graduate’s biggest accomplishments included qualifying for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships and winning the Drake Relays 5-K in 2013. Austin described his win at the U.S.A. Marathon Championship as “a whole other level of euphoria.” In order to make the U.S. Olympic marathon team, Austin would need to finish in the top 3 in the Olympic Trials race scheduled for February 29, 2020 in Atlanta.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — In his 20 seasons leading the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kirk Ferentz has coached as many games in Tampa as in Ann Arbor, Michigan, or Columbus, Ohio. And he’s back for another one. The Hawkeyes make their sixth Outback Bowl appearance Tuesday when they face No. 18 Mississippi State.

UNDATED (AP) — The No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs have a shot at their biggest bowl win in eight years when they face Iowa in the Outback Bowl. The Bulldogs have a chance to finish in the Top 25 for the third time in five years. The Hawkeyes Tuesday are seeking their biggest bowl win since the 2009 season.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Fourth-ranked Virginia begins pursuit of a second straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship by meeting No. 9 Florida State to headline the week’s AP Top 25 schedule. The schedule includes three matchups of ranked teams in the Big Ten, while top-ranked Duke returns to action after nearly two weeks off in ACC play.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Taylor Cornelius tied a Liberty Bowl record with four touchdown passes and Kolby Peel made a critical fourth-down stop with 1:01 left as Oklahoma State edged No. 24 Missouri 38-33. Missouri faced fourth-and-1 when Peel stopped quarterback Drew Lock on fourth-and-1.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was humbled by the chants of “MVP!” that rang out in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. After a record-setting season helped the Chiefs to the AFC West title and No. 1 seed, the MVP just might be in his sights. He’s among a handful of front-runners whose seasons have defied any expectation.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Ty-Shon Alexander scored 18 points and Mitch Ballock added 17, including five of Creighton’s 13 3-pointers, to help the Bluejays beat Providence 79-68 in the Big East opener for both teams. Martin Krampelj had 16 points and nine rebounds and Marcus Zegarowski scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half for Creighton (10-4).

UNDATED (AP) — In case you missed it in NFL Week 17: All the Ravens had to do to make the playoffs was beat the Browns. It’s not as easy as it used to be. It took a late, fourth-down interception for Baltimore to stifle Baker Mayfield’s momentum, secure a 26-24 victory over Cleveland and wrap up the AFC North.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release trout in seven locations this winter in areas that would not support them during warmer months. The winter stockings are a great place to take kids to catch their first fish. A family friendly event is paired with most of the stockings to help anglers have success and fun while fishing. The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit. The child can purchase a trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit. Winter stocking events are dependent on favorable weather and ice conditions. Check the DNR Trout Fishing website at www.iowadnr.gov/trout for possible changes.

The 2019 Winter Community Trout Stocking Schedule includes:

Jan. 12, Bacon Creek, Sioux City, at 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 19, Big Lake, Council Bluffs, at 2:30 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball Coach Steve Alford has been fired as UCLA basketball coach after six seasons, with the Bruins mired in a four-game skid that included losses at home to Belmont and Liberty. Athletic director Dan Guerrero said today (Monday), that assistant Murry Bartow will serve as interim coach through the end of the season. UCLA is 7-6 and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament despite a talented roster that includes sophomore Kris Wilkes and freshman Moses Brown.

Alford’s final game was a 73-58 loss to Liberty on Saturday, the worst home defeat in his tenure. Alford called it the most disappointing loss in his 28-year coaching career. Guerrero says former Bruins player and current Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will assist in the search for a new coach. Alford served as Head Coach for the Hawkeyes from 1999 through the 2006-2007 season. He resigned at the end of the season to take a coaching job at the University of New Mexico before moving on to coach at UCLA.