UFC 101 and MMA in Today

UFC 101 is just a day away in Philadelphia for the states first mega Mixed Martial Arts event. Meaning these events instead of being held in private underground fight clubs and local armories are a thing of the past. Final regulations were approved to allow revenue generating events in Mixed Martial Arts to take place in Philadelphia and Pittsburg. The Pennsylvania athletic commission working hand in hand with the House and Senate committees worked to make this event finally come to fruition. Diligently they strived to create new commerce in a struggling economy country wide. Not to mention working this process the office of the attorney general and an independent regulatory review commission. This was basically to approve guidelines that have to be maintained to host such events. Sure seems like a lot of Government cage work to be done as this was approved back in July of 2007. In the end it’s all about developing a well run safe platform for fighters to prove their dedication to hundreds of hours of training.



“This should be a battle cry for my home state of MA to follow in the footsteps of many Northeastern states swiftly changing legislation to facilitate a rapidly expanding fan base.”



Just this past weekend team Cagefx, Linda Shields Promoter, and Mike Varner director of operations launched a highly successful event in Brockton on Aug 1st called “Battle Under The Stars”. The MMA event, the first of its kind at Campanelli Stadium was a sold out, 10,000 citizens strong. Even though we don’t have regulations set in Massachusetts the platform follows a strict code of fighter safety set up by adjoining state templates and welcome state regulation. From Ticket sales alone our state would take 10% of all ticket revenue and we could use it in our budget short falls bottom line as of late.



Some idea of just the scope of this media operation attended by celebrities Alex Boylan from Amazing race, Burton Roberts from Survivor now partners in Around The World Productions, performances buy band mates from Diecast Paul Stoddard vocals, Marc Lopes Dark Day Sunday/Cobra Kai with The Evening’s Ben Goodman we are on the verge of a mixed martial arts explosion in the Northeast. This was not your small town production from front to back this was done with a polish not recognized today in our local fight scene. 4000 Dollars worth of fireworks punctuated an event that will be talked about in years to come.



The Fights were only stopped early by the self proclaimed MMA police Mike Varner a professional fighter himself. The Cage was getting really slick from all the condensation build up. He tried everything to facilitate a safe environment including getting on his hands and knees wiping up the cage in between rounds. The towels he threw out of the fight enclosure heavy with sweat fell with a thud outside the cage. If that doesn’t speak volumes about Varner’s dedication to the sport before, during and after we don’t know what does.



Lastly about the fighters cause that’s what it’s all about in the sport of MMA with more heart than I have seen in years. You have the truly humble local Dorchester’s own John “Doomsday” Howard reaching back and holding off on his own training for UFC 101 to help out younger fighters perform remarkably from Allston’s Wai Kru. In John Howard’s words. “He never had this great of a platform Cagefx when he was coming up in the sport.”



Doomsday or as a close friends call him “Dooms” is fighting Tamdan “The Barn cat” Mcroy both veterans of you got it, the Northeast fight Scene. They are both fighting at 170 pounds in the welterweight class and the barn cat has a height and weight advantage in the UFC’s mountain of fighters in the welterweight division. They are both challenging themselves for the next step and what is guaranteed to be a battle to remember. Anyone who is anyone in this sport knows one sure thing, there is no sure thing.



“Doomsday” sporting his new flame cut hair will enter the ring thirsty for a win and we all know bets are off. Howard believes in the win after his many hours of buckets filled with sweat shed in the gym. If you taped his sweat dripping micro fiber that wicks it away you would immediately want to wash your hands. Not his fellow training partners it was an embrace, a sharing of dedication building camaraderie in the studio run by John Allen. New England wishes him the best of luck and everyone really loves the underdog. This was coming from a huge sample of fans at the Battle Under The Stars in Brockton. These cage fighters that train everyday while mind you holding a wide array of different jobs in our community deserve our attention. They are Citizens, Fathers, Fighters, local businessmen and a remarkable eclectic group of individuals. UFC 101 has opened the doors and our collective eyes in many ways. From a Local, State, and evolving fan base here in the Boston Metro area, saying what if? What if Mr. Tom Menino we host the next pro event here in Boston because it would be good for all of us.



Written By Brian Pitcher

Creative support Rachel Carta at the News Item Shamokin, PA