SHOCKING video shows chairs flying and punches thrown as a violent brawl breaks out at a charity MMA event.

Security struggle to keep the smartly dressed crowd at bay, with one man hitting another over the head with a metal chair.

At another point, a man is seen choking another in a headlock until he is hauled away.

The footage was taken at a charity event for Cancer Research UK, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on Saturday evening.

Men wearing suit and ties, and women wearing dresses, arrived at the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, for a “training” session evening organised by Ultra MMA.

Participants sign up for an 8 week training course, and attend the event as part of this, having to pledge at least £50 to Cancer Research UK.

The clip begins with chaotic scenes in the leisure centre, as a mob has escalated in front of the MMA cage that is set up.

Showsec security, wearing yellow and black tops, can be seen trying to intervene and block any trouble to no avail.

METAL CHAIR MADNESS

Members of the crowd throw metal chairs and drinks across the room at one another, as there appears to be a parting with two vague factions.

One member of security falls to the ground, and a woman in a dress can be seen holding back a man as he gets involved in a scuffle.

There is pulling, shoving, punching, and violence all around from numerous sharply dressed men.

At one point, a man holding a metal chair suddenly swings it and smashes it into the head of another man who is facing the other way.

During this another two men have locked each other in a headlock on the floor as others try to split it up.

Once they are removed from one another, two men argue in the foreground, with one punching the other in the face, before security then attempt to split them up.

Looks like a bunch of animals

Facebook user Lisa-Marie Fisher

In the background a man can be seen being violently choked as numerous people and members of security try to break it up.

The video ends as one sane voice in the chaos calls out: “It’s for f-ing charity, for f***'s sake.”

Facebook users were gobsmacked by the violent scenes.

Robert Burland wrote: “Crazy.”

Matt Newton commented: “What a lovely society we live in.”

Lisa-Marie Fisher said: “Looks like a bunch of animals.”

Scott Johnson wrote: “Bunch of c***s. That will be the last of the MMA charity nights raising money for good causes like Cancer Research and other good charities.

"I done this last year after my fight and a lot of others we hugged and bought each other a beer after. You lot are a bunch of jumped up c***s.”

We understand it must be very upsetting for the people who came along

Organisers Ultra Events

Jon Fuga remarked: “Security look like they get good training.”

A statement from organisers Ultra Events told SunSport: "On Saturday in Portsmouth a number of members of the audience became involved in an incident at an event.

"We understand it must be very upsetting for the people who came along to support their friends and family taking part in the event.

"Since 2015, we have staged 15 events in Portsmouth with, in excess of 10,000 spectators which have all taken place without incident.

"Ultra Events were not responsible for the security on the evening, this was the responsibility of BH Live, who run the venue.

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"A total of £156,675 has been raised for Cancer Research UK in Portsmouth through Ultra Events with over 750 taking part, those taking part in Saturday night’s event raised over £8,500.

"This weekend Ultra Events staged 40 events and over the course of the year we stage a total of 450 such events.

"So far our events have raised more than £17 million for Cancer Research UK."

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