A Lot of Love in Philly

This past weekend marked the return of UFC at the great city of Philadelphia in almost exactly two years. And from this fan’s observation in attendance, it was initially unclear if this event was a promotional success. However, something was lingering in my mind throughout the night. With the state of New York still pending to see if they would uplift the ban of sanctioning MMA, I’ve wondered whether or not the city that proudly symbolizes the sport of boxing with its famous Rocky statue was ready to accept the possibility of becoming the new landmark of Mixed Martial Arts on the east coast.

It’s been a few days, but I’m not exactly sure if I’ve made up my mind on that answer, just yet.

Unlike most boxing events I’ve covered in recent years (mostly in Atlantic City and New York), I actually bought a pair of tickets to attend this show with a buddy of mine from college, who’s been a long time fan of cage fighting.

While this wasn’t my first MMA show that I’ve witnessed live, it was my first exposure to a UFC event in person. Back in February, the same friend and I made our way up to East Rutherford, NJ to catch Fedor Emelianenko’s shocking upset loss to Antonio Silva in a card promoted by Strikeforce. Earlier this year in March, I had tickets to go see NCAA Division 1 wrestling finals in Wells Fargo Center, the same arena that hosted UFC 133 and also the home of Philadelphia Flyers and Seventy-Sixers.

Around five o’clock Saturday night, we headed our way to the arena and noticed fans tailgating in the parking lot while some gradually making their entrance inside. It was hard to tell then, but I just got the sense that UFC 133 was not a sold-out event. However, that’s not to say that this wasn’t a promotional success. As opposed to long and drawn-out boxing events, the arena wasn’t completely empty until the telecast began. The crowd reaction to fighters’ entrance and knockouts (when they occurred) was still tumultuous. The peculiar breed of fight fans sporting cauliflower ears and wearing Affliction and Tapout t-shirts were visibly ubiquitous throughout the arena.

By the time that Yoshihiro Akiyama and Vitor Belfort were making their entrances to face off in the co-featured bout, I could still notice a handful of empty seats across different seating levels. But the electricity was apparent. After the explosive knockout by Belfort in the opening stanza, attendees were on their feet to exude their cheers in excitement as the evening came to light.

Heading into the main event, there were speculations that Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz could be a lackluster bore-fest and that it wasn’t the appropriate fight to headline in a city full of fans that weren’t shy to criticize. Perhaps the two cage fighters realized what was at stake. It wasn’t just about the W and maybe they felt the pressure to show something special for the fans of Philadelphia. And they did. They delivered.

Considering the circumstances that resulted in several changes to its main card, the improvisation and combining the right elements to regroup this entire lineup actually attributed to a very decent turnout from top to bottom.

Whether it’s boxing or MMA, Philadelphia is a fight town. Based on the unique stock of fans that Philly had produced throughout decades, it’s safe to say that MMA will have a permanent place in the City of Brotherly Love. Hey, even the great Bernard Hopkins had some positive things to say about it and supported his claim by showing his presence at cageside.

Dana White’s made it clear that he wants his promotion to extend beyond Las Vegas casinos. The water’s been tested on the east coast and it’s gradually but surely coming together. Penn State’s Nittany Lion wrestling team won the NCAA championship this year (in Philly), coached by the great Cael Sanderson, a superstar and legend of amateur wrestling. Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have both been the place for the sport that has helped its competitors transition into the world of mix martial arts. Like it or not, the demography is obviously there for UFC to exploit and make its appeal. It’s only a matter of time, before they find their superstars to carry the promotion to its new landmark on the east coast.

MY PERSONAL TAKE

I’ve always been impartial to the argument of boxing vs. MMA and I still stand by the fact that one’s comparing apples to oranges when measuring the impact and popularity of the aforementioned two. As a fan of both, I think they each have a lot to offer in terms of producing excitement whether it’s at a high level between upper echelon competitors or a slugfest between low tiered B level opponents. While I understand one doesn’t quite suit one’s appetite like the other, it’s now at a point where one should simply accept that both sports bring elements that no other sports can generate. Having said that, my interest in MMA has grown exponentially in the past six or seven years after the sport had integrated proper regulations that followed closely to that of boxing itself.

As for this past weekend’s event, I have to admit, I didn’t necessarily go out of my way driving from Northern Virginia to Philadelphia which is only a 3 hour drive barring little traffic on the way. I’ve covered many boxing events from local cards to major HBO/Showtime productions in the tri-state area and I thought it was a tremendous opportunity to see what UFC had to provide in a city I was so familiar with.

Having been a huge fan, it was also one of the last times I’d ever get to see Yoshihiro Akiyama live. But off course, it was rather a saddening experience based on the outcome of his fight against Belfort. Another memorable moment was to see one of the pioneers of UFC in Tito Ortiz, who at one point was a monumental figure in the development of the promotion itself. In addition, it was pure debauchery in a city I love and frequently visit to indulge in cheese steaks and beer, and hanging out with my old pals from college.

OCTOBER F-EAST

While taking a break near the bar in Well Fargo Center, I had a chance to briefly chat with Pittsburgh’s own Charlie ‘Spaniard’ Brennemman who was last seen outwrestling then red hot Rick Story on June’s edition of UFC Live. The former wrestling standout from Lock Haven University is expected to lock horns against the dangerous Anthony Johnson on October 1st at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. on the undercard of Dominick Cruz’s bantamweight title defense against Demetrious Johnson as part of the UFC Live telecast. The significance here is that the last time there was a major fight event at the Verizon Center was back in June of 2005 when Mike Tyson had his final professional fight after losing to Kevin McBride. This also marks the return of UFC in the DC metropolitan area after a rather disappointing turnout from their previous show at George Mason University’s Patriot Center back in early 2010.

Also, according to various sources, Philadelphia’s Eddie Alvarez returns to Atlantic City, NJ on October 15th, for the first time in three years as he is set to take on Michael Chandler in his second defense of his Bellator lightweight championship.