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10-17-2006, 01:03 AM
The Fringe: A week in the life of the UFC
By Denny Burkholder
SPiN Columnist
The week began on a relatively light note for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Just a couple of fighters signing autographs at a meet-and-greet. No biggie.
By the time the week was over, UFC had two live TV events in the bag -- one on basic cable held live in Hollywood, Fla., and one on pay-per-view from Las Vegas. They had one Hall of Fame fighter announce his retirement, one superstar fighter tune himself up for a bigger challenge in December and two new champions crowned.
While all of this was going on, UFC also managed to set a new record for highest-rated MMA fight ever on television.
So -- how was your week?
Monday Oct. 9
Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock face off before their big UFC fight. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
UFC touches down in South Florida to prepare for The Final Chapter, a special card to be broadcast live on Tuesday on Spike TV. The main event is UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock vs. arch nemesis Tito Ortiz for the third and final time.
Ortiz, one of UFC's best fighters and biggest stars, won both previous fights. But there has been palpable dislike between Ortiz and Shamrock, with non-stop trash talking on both sides. Add in the controversial first-round stoppage of the last fight -- which UFC fans shelled out $39.99 each to watch on PPV in June -- and this third encounter became necessary.
UFC president Dana White announced the fight would be broadcast on Spike, and the highest-profile MMA fight ever to air on free, live television was born. (In the process, UFC takes two calculated risks: Sacrificing PPV revenue by putting the fight on basic cable, and choosing the previously-untested Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood for a venue, thus putting a question mark on what the crowd would look like.)
The venue sold out the day tickets went on sale. UFC and Spike sent their hype machines into overdrive. Shamrock and Ortiz kept talking smack.
And here we are.
1-3 p.m.: Meet the fighters
UFC ushers in its Florida debut with a meet and greet at a restaurant within the Seminole Hard Rock complex, right around the corner from the Hard Rock Live.
UFC fighter Chris "The Crippler" Leben mugs for the camera. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
The fighters signing autographs are Georges St. Pierre and Chris Leben. Neither man is on the Oct. 10 card, nor is either a champion in his UFC weight class. But to those who follow UFC, they are big names: Leben's followers have watched him mature from a bratty kid on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show to a bona fide threat in the Octagon (he also has a great personality, which always helps in a television-driven medium). St. Pierre is a respected fighter on his way to a UFC welterweight title shot against champion Matt Hughes in November.
The line to get into the restaurant snakes around the corner, consistently 40-60 people deep throughout the two-hour appearance. Outside the restaurant, a camera crew films fan testimonials about UFC, while the local rock radio station gives away free T-shirts (alas, they are not UFC T-shirts, so their line isn't very long).
UFC fans wait in line for autographs. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
As the usual Hard Rock casino foot traffic passes the crowd outside UFC's autograph signing, people stop to ask who's inside the restaurant, causing all the commotion outside. Is it a Florida-based celebrity such as Shaquille O'Neal? Is it a legendary band? (Hey, after all, this is the Hard Rock.)
Nope. Ultimate Fighting Championship is in town. Two fighters are signing autographs. Some people look disappointed. Others raise their eyebrows, their interest piqued.
About halfway through the autograph signing, the weigh-in event draws UFC fans toward the Hard Rock Live arena.
2:15 p.m.: Cheeseburgers and live nudity
The doors to the Hard Rock Live arena swing open. Fans file in for a first glance at tomorrow night's fighters. The event is free to fans, but seating is limited for the weigh-ins, which are filmed for a half-hour TV special to air later that night on Spike.
UFC fighter Charles McCarthy greets a fan. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
On the stage, the crew sets up the scale and the signage and tests audio and video equipment. Fear Factor TV host Joe Rogan -- who is also a UFC color commentator and is very knowledgeable about MMA -- stands at the stage chatting with crewmembers.
There are no more than 300 or 400 people in the sectioned-off Hard Rock Live for the weigh-ins. Everyone sits patiently for over 90 minutes waiting for the show to begin (originally publicized for 3 p.m., the weigh-ins are delayed until 4 while the audience waits.)
The fighters themselves sit patiently in the upper left-side stands, in plain view of the regular joes in the audience. At a rock concert or a different sports event, letting the featured act wait in the same room with the crowd would invite chaos.
The UFC audience is enthusiastic but respectful. Every few minutes, they give in to the urge to shout the name of their favorite fighter, who almost always humors them with an appreciative smile and wave. For the most part, UFC fighters and fans co-exist peacefully with no need for barricades or tight-security backstage areas.
Crafton Wallace weighs in for his fight against Nate Marquardt. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
At about 3:55 p.m., the lights come on and UFC president Dana White arrives on stage for the festivities. MMA (and therefore, UFC) is a sanctioned sport, which means the Florida athletic commission is in the house, checking everything from the fighter's gloves to their shorts for approval.
The weigh-ins go off without a hitch, but a couple of fighters need help making weight. On two occasions, Dana White and fight personnel have to shield a fighter's nude pelvic region from the audience by holding up a bath towel, as they remove every shred of clothing to get that extra half pound needed to make it.
In welterweight Tony DeSouza's case, the full frontal method still leaves him a half pound over. The audience immediately tosses an idea DeSouza's way as he stands on the scale in all of his glory. Some suggest DeSouza shave his unkempt facial hair to lose the weight. Others bluntly advise him to visit the restroom to shed pounds.
Ken Shamrock enjoys a cheeseburger and milkshake at the Oct. 9 weigh-ins. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
Ken Shamrock doesn't have the same problem. The UFC legend strolls out onto the stage, calm and jovial, with a fast food cheeseburger in one hand and a milkshake in the other. He stops gorging long enough to step on the scales, resuming his meal while Joe Rogan interviews him about the Ortiz rivalry.
The event draws to a close after Tito Ortiz' appearance, in which he promised to end this fight without controversy, leaving no doubt that Shamrock would be defeated, once and for all, by "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy."
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Free MMA on TV. How can you beat that?
On the Internet, MMA fans echo this sentiment. A small segment of hardcore MMA followers resents the success of UFC in the same way punk rock fans disowned Green Day when they gained mainstream popularity and started selling millions of records. Pop is not punk. It can't be. Right?
UFC used to be an underground guilty pleasure, its fans reveling in the idea that they embraced something the mainstream would not. MMA was an exciting sport with skilled fighters, and it still is today. The difference is that the rest of the population is finally catching on. MMA die-hards are on the fence about that. Some feel vindicated and proud of how UFC has grown its audience. Others feel betrayed that UFC would dare market itself beyond the narrow scope of those who have tuned in all along.
UFC has a reality show in its fourth season, for God's sake. What screams "mainstream" more than a reality TV show? Even worse, in some people's eyes, is the idea that many of those reality show fighters have shown enough skill to stick around and get high-profile fights on TV, while fighters who worked their way up the ranks the old-fashioned way are shunted to the non-televised undercard, or bumped from the lineup completely.
That's where the constant TV coverage causes a rift. The Ultimate Fighter is the only avenue on TV for an MMA fighter to get consistent, weekly face time. Their fight skills are showcased, but we also get to know them as people, watch them live in a big house with other fighters, and give several interviews per episode.
Win, lose, or draw, by the end of a season, viewers may develop a connection with the contestants on TUF. We get to know their family struggles, right down to their children's illnesses and their previous day jobs. TUF fighters become more than a guy in the Octagon trying to win. They're human beings fans are familiar with and therefore more inclined to root for (or against).
On this night, five of the 18 fighters on the card -- including fighters in all televised fights besides Shamrock vs. Ortiz -- were contestants on the third season of TUF. The theme of that season was, of course, Shamrock vs. Ortiz as competing coaches of the UFC hopefuls.
Ortiz beat the stuffing out of Shamrock in that contest, too.
4:30 p.m.: The Tito Ortiz blooper reel
Even before the doors open, fans are dropping cash on UFC merchandise. Programs are a pricey $20, T-shirts a more reasonable $25. You can get a hoodie for $60.
There is plenty more inside, along with a variety of beverages, pizza, hot dogs, and other belly-stuffers. The mythical Octagon, in all of its glory, sits in the center of the Hard Rock Live, its presence alone raising the adrenaline level of the crowd a few notches. Even the trademark UFC cage has celebrity status.
Tito Ortiz talks smack to Joe Rogan. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
It's difficult to stereotype the audience at a live UFC event, especially given the nature of their live venues. When UFC airs from Las Vegas, there are always celebrities in the audience. Comedian Kevin James never seems to miss a fight, nor does UFC miss a chance to show him in the audience. Others in the Vegas crowd are usually well-dressed 20- and 30-somethings, drinks in hand, and usually partying it up as if they're at an exclusive night club, instead of in the audience for a sporting event.
There's a lot of that in Florida, too. Plenty of young women in revealing outfits, all too aware of the favorable male-female ratio, and always willing to mug for the TV cameras with drink in hand.
The guys outnumber the girls, but not by as large a margin as you might see at a boxing or pro wrestling show. There's a distinct "big event" vibe. Half the crowd is dressed to impress. The regular joes in T-shirts and jeans can also be found, but they are usually more fixated on the action in the Octagon than the chance to be seen.
The East Coast locale deals a blow to the celebrity guest list, too. The only famous faces in the crowd are a few pro wrestlers based out of Orlando, and porn star Jenna Jameson, who was there to support her boyfriend, Ortiz.
Ortiz isn't getting any support from the Octagon crew, that's for sure. At about 5 p.m., with the audience just taking their seats, Ortiz enters the Octagon to loosen up. Ortiz bounces around, throwing himself back-first into the cage. Fans cheer. All was well.
Then, Ortiz nearly falls out of the Octagon by throwing himself hard into the cage door, which was apparently left unlatched.
The door flies open and Ortiz -- with a surprised look on his face -- grabs the door frame with one hand, saving himself from a total wipeout. Safe from disaster, Ortiz laughs it off and continues his warm-up as the crowd has a light laugh.
After the event, a drunken 20-something male finds himself mixed in with the crowd exiting the fights. When he catches wind that the gathering was leaving a UFC event, he begins tossing the phrase "white trash" around loudly, even though the UFC attendees around him are better dressed, better behaved and better groomed than he is.
UFC perception vs. UFC reality. Exhibit A: That guy.
5:45 p.m.: Let's fight
The undercard features five bouts, all taped for TV but none airing live:
1. Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis defeats "The Meat Cleaver" Forrest Petz via submission to a guillotine choke at 4:58 of the first round.
Davis is busted open significantly by a knee to the head early on. There's lots of slugging to start the round. Petz suffers a bloody nose from a punch. Davis scores a takedown and nearly pounds Petz into submission before Petz escapes. Shortly afterward, Davis sinks in the guillotine choke. Petz gives a "thumbs up" at first but eventually taps out to the choke with just two seconds left in the round.
Davis was a pro boxer for seven years before taking up MMA. He is now 15-4-0 in MMA. This was his first UFC win.
2. Thiago "Pit Bull" Alves defeats "The Natural" John Alessio via unanimous decision after three rounds.
The story of the fight is Alves' kicks. He connects on several stiff kicks to the head and legs. After the first head kick connects with a loud "slap," the crowd gets behind Alves (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., so he also has the hometown advantage). Alessio at first seems ****y, asking Alves for a congratulatory high five after the kick. That soon wears off when Alves proceeds to kick him like that for a full three rounds. Alessio keeps going for takedowns, which Alves successfully counters. Alessio isn't as lucky trying to counter Alves' strikes. Alessio hangs in there for the full three rounds, but the judges award Alves the win.
Alessio is 23-10-0. He is only 27, but he has been fighting for eight years. Alas, he is still looking for a win in UFC. As for Alves, this victory puts him back in the W column after disappointing losses to Spencer Fisher and Jon Fitch.
3. "Outburst" Rory Singer defeats Josh "Bring the Pain" Haynes via unanimous decision after three rounds.
This is the fight of the night for sheer back-and-forth drama and excitement. Late in the first round, Singer rocks Haynes with a kick to the face that immediately opens a huge cut. It's incredible that the kick doesn't result in a knockout or referee stoppage. The live crowd is stunned at the start of Round 2; the amount of blood also makes a stoppage likely. Haynes fights through it, nearly winning via stoppage himself with a vicious ground and pound to finish Round 2. The third round is stopped repeatedly as the officials keep a close eye on Haynes' cut, which was bleeding all over the Octagon. Singer's shorts are saturated in it. They eventually finish the round fairly even; each out of gas and unable to finish off the other in Round 3. The judges give the nod to Singer, but both men give gutsy performances. It's a shame this was not part of the Spike broadcast.
Josh Haynes weighed 330 pounds when he began training for MMA in 2002. He is now a middleweight, which carries a maximum limit of 185.
4. Tony DeSouza defeats Dustin Hazelett via submission to a kimura arm lock at 3:59 of the first round.
DeSouza takes down Hazelett early on and fights out of a triangle choke, eventually tapping out Hazelett with a kimura.
DeSouza, a native of Lima, Peru, is a former Pac-10 wrestling champion. This win marks his return to UFC after a five-year absence.
5. Nate "The Great" Marquardt defeats Crafton "Blaze" Wallace via submission to a rear naked choke at 1:14 of the second round.
Marquardt controls the fight throughout, taking down Wallace multiple times. Wallace spends a lot of time avoiding strikes, although he briefly finds himself controlling Marquardt in the guard position after slipping out of a choke attempt in the first round. Early in the next round, he isn't so lucky, tapping out to Marquardt's rear naked choke.
Marquardt's opponent for this fight was supposed to be Thales Leites, but with a few days notice, Crafton Wallace stepped in as a replacement.
The TV card begins shortly after 8 p.m. Results:
6. Matt "The Hammer" Hamill defeats Seth "The Silverback" Petruzelli via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Hamill is a world class wrestler and it shows here. He dominates the fight with takedowns and controls The Silverback on the mat but struggles to find a way to finish off Petruzelli. Petruzelli is able to land some kicks and other strikes while on his feet -- including a great shot as Hamill attempts a takedown -- but otherwise, Petruzelli spends most of the fight on his back in the guard position.
Hamill, who is deaf, has three NCAA wrestling championships to his name, along with two world freestyle championships. He didn't get into MMA until 2005, joining the cast of TUF 3.
7. "The Athlete" Jason MacDonald defeats "Short Fuse" Ed Herman via submission to a triangle choke at 2:43 of the first round.
Ed Herman is a highly touted alum of TUF 3 with plenty of hype. Jason MacDonald's picture isn't even included in the souvenir program. There is significant evidence that MacDonald was brought in as a stepping stone for Herman to get a win under his belt. Not today -- MacDonald earns a win in his UFC debut, while Herman continues trying to reverse his luck.
MacDonald is a native of Edmonton, Canada, and is a former correctional officer with a degree in criminology.
8. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove defeats "The Exorcist" Chris Price via submission to strikes at 3:51 of the first round.
Da Spyder continues his UFC win streak with a quick win over Price. Grove hammers Price with elbows from guard until the referee steps in. What some mistake for a quick referee stoppage is revealed to be a tap out in video replays.
Chris Price is a former Marine who spent two years in Iraq and nine months in Afghanistan. His loss to Grove was his first MMA defeat (Price is now 8-1).
9. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz defeats "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock via official stoppage at 2:23 of the first round after a series of strikes.
Much like their second fight, Ortiz takes Shamrock down and strikes him until the official stops the fight. Unlike last time, the official lets it go much longer before stopping, and there is no doubt Shamrock is out.
After the fight, Ortiz flips a double-bird toward Shamrock and his corner, then pretends to dig a grave for him. The same antics infuriated Shamrock and nearly restarted the fight last time. This time, Shamrock ignores it and congratulates Tito. After reminding him that they made a lot of money together, Shamrock actually gets a hug out of Tito. The hatchet is buried.
The aftermath: Shamrock retires from UFC
MMA is a relatively young sport and Ken Shamrock will forever be considered one of the pioneers of UFC. UFC's Hall of Fame currently has four inductees. Shamrock is one.
Oct. 10, Shamrock's third loss to Tito Ortiz not only ends their rivalry. It marks the end of Shamrock's career in the Octagon. Shamrock knew it going in but kept his decision private until after the fight.
"I was going to enjoy it all," Shamrock says of the experience of his final fight. "Walking to the ring, I wanted to enjoy the fans, when I got into the ring -- I wanted to enjoy that. Even the square off where I was across from Tito, I wanted to enjoy that moment because I knew that this, win or lose, it was going to be the last fight."
Shamrock believes the sport he helped build has passed him by and he has come to terms with that reality.
"I am not a fighter anymore -- I am not a fighter anymore," Shamrock says. "I have taken a step back and realized that these fighters have passed me. These guys are phenomenal. Tito Ortiz is just ... along with Chuck, Matt Hughes, all these guys are just amazing."
Shamrock, 42, has not lost his love for UFC and the sport of MMA. That showed in his demeanor before the Ortiz fight, smiling and almost dancing down the aisle before the fight. Ken Shamrock loves this sport, and now, he will enjoy it as a fan.
"I’m going to enjoy watching Tito and Chuck (Liddell) fight," Shamrock says. "It’s going to bring back memories and it’s going to be a wonderful thing to watch."
Ortiz: "I've got to thank Ken"
Ortiz describes a much different Ortiz-Shamrock interaction than the screaming and yelling we've seen on television.
"I've got to thank Ken; you sort of passed the torch over," Ortiz says after the fight. "I remember watching him on pay per view when I was 18, and the crowds were all screaming 'Ken Shamrock' and I was like, 'Wow, that stuff's crazy.' After the first time we fought, I kind of wanted to build myself as a person, as a fighter, and you kind of helped me do that."
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Good news comes from TV land. As expected, the Shamrock-Ortiz 3 special on Spike earned UFC the largest TV audience in its history, with a 3.1 rating.
Thursday, Oct. 12
Euphoria over the success of Ortiz-Shamrock and chatter about Shamrock's retirement die down just enough to allow hype for UFC 64, which airs on PPV on Saturday Oct. 14, to push into overdrive.
Friday, Oct. 13
Weigh-ins for UFC 64: Unstoppable take place. On tap for the PPV: The vacant UFC lightweight title will be up for grabs as Kenny Florian takes on Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk. The main event pits middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin against Anderson Silva.
Saturday, Oct. 14
UFC 64: Unstoppable
UFC returns from its East Coast jaunt to home base in Las Vegas with UFC 64 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Full results:
1. Kurt "Batman" Pelligrino defeats Junior Assuncao via submission to a rear naked choke at 2:04 of the first round.
2. Clay "The Carpenter" Guida defeats "Pretty Boy" Justin James via submission to a rear naked choke at 4:42 of the second round.
3. Yushin Okami defeats Kalib Starnes via TKO at 1:40 of the third round.
4. Spencer "The King" Fisher defeats Dan "The Upgrade" Lauzon via TKO at 4:38 of the first round.
Lauzon scores a takedown on Fisher and connects on a few strikes. Once the fighters are standing again, Fisher catches Lauzon with a flying knee. Another knee and an uppercut later, the fight is stopped.
5. Carmelo "The Fury" Marrero defeats Cheick Kongo via split decision after three rounds.
Kongo comes into this fight the favorite due to his impressive strikes and kicking ability. Marrero is much better on the ground, though, which proves to be the difference.
6. Jon Fitch defeats Kuniyoshi Hironaka via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Fitch, a former wrestling standout at Purdue, has been on a roll in UFC lately, claiming his latest victim here.
7. Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk defeats Kenny Florian via unanimous decision after five rounds to win the vacant UFC lightweight championship.
In a tremendous fight, Sherk controls the majority of the action with powerful slams and takedowns. Florian is no pushover, catching Sherk with elbows (one of which opened a gash on the right side of Sherk's head), kicks and frequently going for submissions while in guard. Florian guts it out, but Sherk is too dominant.
8. Anderson "The Spider" Silva defeats Rich "Ace" Franklin via TKO at 2:59 of the first round due to knee strikes to the head, becoming the new UFC middleweight champion.
Franklin looks decidedly less focused than Silva heading into the Octagon -- not to mention slightly banged up from training. No excuses, though, as Silva is magnificent in victory. Silva clinches Franklin's head early and peppers him with knees to the body and head until Franklin falls, and the official calls the fight.
Sunday, Oct. 15
This week, UFC earned its biggest TV rating in history. It saw an MMA legend retire in defeat, while a legend in the making continued toward bigger and better things.
UFC held two huge shows -- one on the East Coast and one in Vegas -- and finished with two new champions after UFC 64. In between, they met fans, signed autographs, hosted media and bloodied each other with knees and elbows.
Can't an MMA promotion take a day of rest now and then?
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By Denny Burkholder
SPiN Columnist
The week began on a relatively light note for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Just a couple of fighters signing autographs at a meet-and-greet. No biggie.
By the time the week was over, UFC had two live TV events in the bag -- one on basic cable held live in Hollywood, Fla., and one on pay-per-view from Las Vegas. They had one Hall of Fame fighter announce his retirement, one superstar fighter tune himself up for a bigger challenge in December and two new champions crowned.
While all of this was going on, UFC also managed to set a new record for highest-rated MMA fight ever on television.
So -- how was your week?
Monday Oct. 9
Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock face off before their big UFC fight. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
UFC touches down in South Florida to prepare for The Final Chapter, a special card to be broadcast live on Tuesday on Spike TV. The main event is UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock vs. arch nemesis Tito Ortiz for the third and final time.
Ortiz, one of UFC's best fighters and biggest stars, won both previous fights. But there has been palpable dislike between Ortiz and Shamrock, with non-stop trash talking on both sides. Add in the controversial first-round stoppage of the last fight -- which UFC fans shelled out $39.99 each to watch on PPV in June -- and this third encounter became necessary.
UFC president Dana White announced the fight would be broadcast on Spike, and the highest-profile MMA fight ever to air on free, live television was born. (In the process, UFC takes two calculated risks: Sacrificing PPV revenue by putting the fight on basic cable, and choosing the previously-untested Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood for a venue, thus putting a question mark on what the crowd would look like.)
The venue sold out the day tickets went on sale. UFC and Spike sent their hype machines into overdrive. Shamrock and Ortiz kept talking smack.
And here we are.
1-3 p.m.: Meet the fighters
UFC ushers in its Florida debut with a meet and greet at a restaurant within the Seminole Hard Rock complex, right around the corner from the Hard Rock Live.
UFC fighter Chris "The Crippler" Leben mugs for the camera. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
The fighters signing autographs are Georges St. Pierre and Chris Leben. Neither man is on the Oct. 10 card, nor is either a champion in his UFC weight class. But to those who follow UFC, they are big names: Leben's followers have watched him mature from a bratty kid on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show to a bona fide threat in the Octagon (he also has a great personality, which always helps in a television-driven medium). St. Pierre is a respected fighter on his way to a UFC welterweight title shot against champion Matt Hughes in November.
The line to get into the restaurant snakes around the corner, consistently 40-60 people deep throughout the two-hour appearance. Outside the restaurant, a camera crew films fan testimonials about UFC, while the local rock radio station gives away free T-shirts (alas, they are not UFC T-shirts, so their line isn't very long).
UFC fans wait in line for autographs. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
As the usual Hard Rock casino foot traffic passes the crowd outside UFC's autograph signing, people stop to ask who's inside the restaurant, causing all the commotion outside. Is it a Florida-based celebrity such as Shaquille O'Neal? Is it a legendary band? (Hey, after all, this is the Hard Rock.)
Nope. Ultimate Fighting Championship is in town. Two fighters are signing autographs. Some people look disappointed. Others raise their eyebrows, their interest piqued.
About halfway through the autograph signing, the weigh-in event draws UFC fans toward the Hard Rock Live arena.
2:15 p.m.: Cheeseburgers and live nudity
The doors to the Hard Rock Live arena swing open. Fans file in for a first glance at tomorrow night's fighters. The event is free to fans, but seating is limited for the weigh-ins, which are filmed for a half-hour TV special to air later that night on Spike.
UFC fighter Charles McCarthy greets a fan. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
On the stage, the crew sets up the scale and the signage and tests audio and video equipment. Fear Factor TV host Joe Rogan -- who is also a UFC color commentator and is very knowledgeable about MMA -- stands at the stage chatting with crewmembers.
There are no more than 300 or 400 people in the sectioned-off Hard Rock Live for the weigh-ins. Everyone sits patiently for over 90 minutes waiting for the show to begin (originally publicized for 3 p.m., the weigh-ins are delayed until 4 while the audience waits.)
The fighters themselves sit patiently in the upper left-side stands, in plain view of the regular joes in the audience. At a rock concert or a different sports event, letting the featured act wait in the same room with the crowd would invite chaos.
The UFC audience is enthusiastic but respectful. Every few minutes, they give in to the urge to shout the name of their favorite fighter, who almost always humors them with an appreciative smile and wave. For the most part, UFC fighters and fans co-exist peacefully with no need for barricades or tight-security backstage areas.
Crafton Wallace weighs in for his fight against Nate Marquardt. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
At about 3:55 p.m., the lights come on and UFC president Dana White arrives on stage for the festivities. MMA (and therefore, UFC) is a sanctioned sport, which means the Florida athletic commission is in the house, checking everything from the fighter's gloves to their shorts for approval.
The weigh-ins go off without a hitch, but a couple of fighters need help making weight. On two occasions, Dana White and fight personnel have to shield a fighter's nude pelvic region from the audience by holding up a bath towel, as they remove every shred of clothing to get that extra half pound needed to make it.
In welterweight Tony DeSouza's case, the full frontal method still leaves him a half pound over. The audience immediately tosses an idea DeSouza's way as he stands on the scale in all of his glory. Some suggest DeSouza shave his unkempt facial hair to lose the weight. Others bluntly advise him to visit the restroom to shed pounds.
Ken Shamrock enjoys a cheeseburger and milkshake at the Oct. 9 weigh-ins. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
Ken Shamrock doesn't have the same problem. The UFC legend strolls out onto the stage, calm and jovial, with a fast food cheeseburger in one hand and a milkshake in the other. He stops gorging long enough to step on the scales, resuming his meal while Joe Rogan interviews him about the Ortiz rivalry.
The event draws to a close after Tito Ortiz' appearance, in which he promised to end this fight without controversy, leaving no doubt that Shamrock would be defeated, once and for all, by "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy."
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Free MMA on TV. How can you beat that?
On the Internet, MMA fans echo this sentiment. A small segment of hardcore MMA followers resents the success of UFC in the same way punk rock fans disowned Green Day when they gained mainstream popularity and started selling millions of records. Pop is not punk. It can't be. Right?
UFC used to be an underground guilty pleasure, its fans reveling in the idea that they embraced something the mainstream would not. MMA was an exciting sport with skilled fighters, and it still is today. The difference is that the rest of the population is finally catching on. MMA die-hards are on the fence about that. Some feel vindicated and proud of how UFC has grown its audience. Others feel betrayed that UFC would dare market itself beyond the narrow scope of those who have tuned in all along.
UFC has a reality show in its fourth season, for God's sake. What screams "mainstream" more than a reality TV show? Even worse, in some people's eyes, is the idea that many of those reality show fighters have shown enough skill to stick around and get high-profile fights on TV, while fighters who worked their way up the ranks the old-fashioned way are shunted to the non-televised undercard, or bumped from the lineup completely.
That's where the constant TV coverage causes a rift. The Ultimate Fighter is the only avenue on TV for an MMA fighter to get consistent, weekly face time. Their fight skills are showcased, but we also get to know them as people, watch them live in a big house with other fighters, and give several interviews per episode.
Win, lose, or draw, by the end of a season, viewers may develop a connection with the contestants on TUF. We get to know their family struggles, right down to their children's illnesses and their previous day jobs. TUF fighters become more than a guy in the Octagon trying to win. They're human beings fans are familiar with and therefore more inclined to root for (or against).
On this night, five of the 18 fighters on the card -- including fighters in all televised fights besides Shamrock vs. Ortiz -- were contestants on the third season of TUF. The theme of that season was, of course, Shamrock vs. Ortiz as competing coaches of the UFC hopefuls.
Ortiz beat the stuffing out of Shamrock in that contest, too.
4:30 p.m.: The Tito Ortiz blooper reel
Even before the doors open, fans are dropping cash on UFC merchandise. Programs are a pricey $20, T-shirts a more reasonable $25. You can get a hoodie for $60.
There is plenty more inside, along with a variety of beverages, pizza, hot dogs, and other belly-stuffers. The mythical Octagon, in all of its glory, sits in the center of the Hard Rock Live, its presence alone raising the adrenaline level of the crowd a few notches. Even the trademark UFC cage has celebrity status.
Tito Ortiz talks smack to Joe Rogan. (Photo/Denny Burkholder)
It's difficult to stereotype the audience at a live UFC event, especially given the nature of their live venues. When UFC airs from Las Vegas, there are always celebrities in the audience. Comedian Kevin James never seems to miss a fight, nor does UFC miss a chance to show him in the audience. Others in the Vegas crowd are usually well-dressed 20- and 30-somethings, drinks in hand, and usually partying it up as if they're at an exclusive night club, instead of in the audience for a sporting event.
There's a lot of that in Florida, too. Plenty of young women in revealing outfits, all too aware of the favorable male-female ratio, and always willing to mug for the TV cameras with drink in hand.
The guys outnumber the girls, but not by as large a margin as you might see at a boxing or pro wrestling show. There's a distinct "big event" vibe. Half the crowd is dressed to impress. The regular joes in T-shirts and jeans can also be found, but they are usually more fixated on the action in the Octagon than the chance to be seen.
The East Coast locale deals a blow to the celebrity guest list, too. The only famous faces in the crowd are a few pro wrestlers based out of Orlando, and porn star Jenna Jameson, who was there to support her boyfriend, Ortiz.
Ortiz isn't getting any support from the Octagon crew, that's for sure. At about 5 p.m., with the audience just taking their seats, Ortiz enters the Octagon to loosen up. Ortiz bounces around, throwing himself back-first into the cage. Fans cheer. All was well.
Then, Ortiz nearly falls out of the Octagon by throwing himself hard into the cage door, which was apparently left unlatched.
The door flies open and Ortiz -- with a surprised look on his face -- grabs the door frame with one hand, saving himself from a total wipeout. Safe from disaster, Ortiz laughs it off and continues his warm-up as the crowd has a light laugh.
After the event, a drunken 20-something male finds himself mixed in with the crowd exiting the fights. When he catches wind that the gathering was leaving a UFC event, he begins tossing the phrase "white trash" around loudly, even though the UFC attendees around him are better dressed, better behaved and better groomed than he is.
UFC perception vs. UFC reality. Exhibit A: That guy.
5:45 p.m.: Let's fight
The undercard features five bouts, all taped for TV but none airing live:
1. Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis defeats "The Meat Cleaver" Forrest Petz via submission to a guillotine choke at 4:58 of the first round.
Davis is busted open significantly by a knee to the head early on. There's lots of slugging to start the round. Petz suffers a bloody nose from a punch. Davis scores a takedown and nearly pounds Petz into submission before Petz escapes. Shortly afterward, Davis sinks in the guillotine choke. Petz gives a "thumbs up" at first but eventually taps out to the choke with just two seconds left in the round.
Davis was a pro boxer for seven years before taking up MMA. He is now 15-4-0 in MMA. This was his first UFC win.
2. Thiago "Pit Bull" Alves defeats "The Natural" John Alessio via unanimous decision after three rounds.
The story of the fight is Alves' kicks. He connects on several stiff kicks to the head and legs. After the first head kick connects with a loud "slap," the crowd gets behind Alves (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., so he also has the hometown advantage). Alessio at first seems ****y, asking Alves for a congratulatory high five after the kick. That soon wears off when Alves proceeds to kick him like that for a full three rounds. Alessio keeps going for takedowns, which Alves successfully counters. Alessio isn't as lucky trying to counter Alves' strikes. Alessio hangs in there for the full three rounds, but the judges award Alves the win.
Alessio is 23-10-0. He is only 27, but he has been fighting for eight years. Alas, he is still looking for a win in UFC. As for Alves, this victory puts him back in the W column after disappointing losses to Spencer Fisher and Jon Fitch.
3. "Outburst" Rory Singer defeats Josh "Bring the Pain" Haynes via unanimous decision after three rounds.
This is the fight of the night for sheer back-and-forth drama and excitement. Late in the first round, Singer rocks Haynes with a kick to the face that immediately opens a huge cut. It's incredible that the kick doesn't result in a knockout or referee stoppage. The live crowd is stunned at the start of Round 2; the amount of blood also makes a stoppage likely. Haynes fights through it, nearly winning via stoppage himself with a vicious ground and pound to finish Round 2. The third round is stopped repeatedly as the officials keep a close eye on Haynes' cut, which was bleeding all over the Octagon. Singer's shorts are saturated in it. They eventually finish the round fairly even; each out of gas and unable to finish off the other in Round 3. The judges give the nod to Singer, but both men give gutsy performances. It's a shame this was not part of the Spike broadcast.
Josh Haynes weighed 330 pounds when he began training for MMA in 2002. He is now a middleweight, which carries a maximum limit of 185.
4. Tony DeSouza defeats Dustin Hazelett via submission to a kimura arm lock at 3:59 of the first round.
DeSouza takes down Hazelett early on and fights out of a triangle choke, eventually tapping out Hazelett with a kimura.
DeSouza, a native of Lima, Peru, is a former Pac-10 wrestling champion. This win marks his return to UFC after a five-year absence.
5. Nate "The Great" Marquardt defeats Crafton "Blaze" Wallace via submission to a rear naked choke at 1:14 of the second round.
Marquardt controls the fight throughout, taking down Wallace multiple times. Wallace spends a lot of time avoiding strikes, although he briefly finds himself controlling Marquardt in the guard position after slipping out of a choke attempt in the first round. Early in the next round, he isn't so lucky, tapping out to Marquardt's rear naked choke.
Marquardt's opponent for this fight was supposed to be Thales Leites, but with a few days notice, Crafton Wallace stepped in as a replacement.
The TV card begins shortly after 8 p.m. Results:
6. Matt "The Hammer" Hamill defeats Seth "The Silverback" Petruzelli via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Hamill is a world class wrestler and it shows here. He dominates the fight with takedowns and controls The Silverback on the mat but struggles to find a way to finish off Petruzelli. Petruzelli is able to land some kicks and other strikes while on his feet -- including a great shot as Hamill attempts a takedown -- but otherwise, Petruzelli spends most of the fight on his back in the guard position.
Hamill, who is deaf, has three NCAA wrestling championships to his name, along with two world freestyle championships. He didn't get into MMA until 2005, joining the cast of TUF 3.
7. "The Athlete" Jason MacDonald defeats "Short Fuse" Ed Herman via submission to a triangle choke at 2:43 of the first round.
Ed Herman is a highly touted alum of TUF 3 with plenty of hype. Jason MacDonald's picture isn't even included in the souvenir program. There is significant evidence that MacDonald was brought in as a stepping stone for Herman to get a win under his belt. Not today -- MacDonald earns a win in his UFC debut, while Herman continues trying to reverse his luck.
MacDonald is a native of Edmonton, Canada, and is a former correctional officer with a degree in criminology.
8. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove defeats "The Exorcist" Chris Price via submission to strikes at 3:51 of the first round.
Da Spyder continues his UFC win streak with a quick win over Price. Grove hammers Price with elbows from guard until the referee steps in. What some mistake for a quick referee stoppage is revealed to be a tap out in video replays.
Chris Price is a former Marine who spent two years in Iraq and nine months in Afghanistan. His loss to Grove was his first MMA defeat (Price is now 8-1).
9. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz defeats "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock via official stoppage at 2:23 of the first round after a series of strikes.
Much like their second fight, Ortiz takes Shamrock down and strikes him until the official stops the fight. Unlike last time, the official lets it go much longer before stopping, and there is no doubt Shamrock is out.
After the fight, Ortiz flips a double-bird toward Shamrock and his corner, then pretends to dig a grave for him. The same antics infuriated Shamrock and nearly restarted the fight last time. This time, Shamrock ignores it and congratulates Tito. After reminding him that they made a lot of money together, Shamrock actually gets a hug out of Tito. The hatchet is buried.
The aftermath: Shamrock retires from UFC
MMA is a relatively young sport and Ken Shamrock will forever be considered one of the pioneers of UFC. UFC's Hall of Fame currently has four inductees. Shamrock is one.
Oct. 10, Shamrock's third loss to Tito Ortiz not only ends their rivalry. It marks the end of Shamrock's career in the Octagon. Shamrock knew it going in but kept his decision private until after the fight.
"I was going to enjoy it all," Shamrock says of the experience of his final fight. "Walking to the ring, I wanted to enjoy the fans, when I got into the ring -- I wanted to enjoy that. Even the square off where I was across from Tito, I wanted to enjoy that moment because I knew that this, win or lose, it was going to be the last fight."
Shamrock believes the sport he helped build has passed him by and he has come to terms with that reality.
"I am not a fighter anymore -- I am not a fighter anymore," Shamrock says. "I have taken a step back and realized that these fighters have passed me. These guys are phenomenal. Tito Ortiz is just ... along with Chuck, Matt Hughes, all these guys are just amazing."
Shamrock, 42, has not lost his love for UFC and the sport of MMA. That showed in his demeanor before the Ortiz fight, smiling and almost dancing down the aisle before the fight. Ken Shamrock loves this sport, and now, he will enjoy it as a fan.
"I’m going to enjoy watching Tito and Chuck (Liddell) fight," Shamrock says. "It’s going to bring back memories and it’s going to be a wonderful thing to watch."
Ortiz: "I've got to thank Ken"
Ortiz describes a much different Ortiz-Shamrock interaction than the screaming and yelling we've seen on television.
"I've got to thank Ken; you sort of passed the torch over," Ortiz says after the fight. "I remember watching him on pay per view when I was 18, and the crowds were all screaming 'Ken Shamrock' and I was like, 'Wow, that stuff's crazy.' After the first time we fought, I kind of wanted to build myself as a person, as a fighter, and you kind of helped me do that."
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Good news comes from TV land. As expected, the Shamrock-Ortiz 3 special on Spike earned UFC the largest TV audience in its history, with a 3.1 rating.
Thursday, Oct. 12
Euphoria over the success of Ortiz-Shamrock and chatter about Shamrock's retirement die down just enough to allow hype for UFC 64, which airs on PPV on Saturday Oct. 14, to push into overdrive.
Friday, Oct. 13
Weigh-ins for UFC 64: Unstoppable take place. On tap for the PPV: The vacant UFC lightweight title will be up for grabs as Kenny Florian takes on Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk. The main event pits middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin against Anderson Silva.
Saturday, Oct. 14
UFC 64: Unstoppable
UFC returns from its East Coast jaunt to home base in Las Vegas with UFC 64 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Full results:
1. Kurt "Batman" Pelligrino defeats Junior Assuncao via submission to a rear naked choke at 2:04 of the first round.
2. Clay "The Carpenter" Guida defeats "Pretty Boy" Justin James via submission to a rear naked choke at 4:42 of the second round.
3. Yushin Okami defeats Kalib Starnes via TKO at 1:40 of the third round.
4. Spencer "The King" Fisher defeats Dan "The Upgrade" Lauzon via TKO at 4:38 of the first round.
Lauzon scores a takedown on Fisher and connects on a few strikes. Once the fighters are standing again, Fisher catches Lauzon with a flying knee. Another knee and an uppercut later, the fight is stopped.
5. Carmelo "The Fury" Marrero defeats Cheick Kongo via split decision after three rounds.
Kongo comes into this fight the favorite due to his impressive strikes and kicking ability. Marrero is much better on the ground, though, which proves to be the difference.
6. Jon Fitch defeats Kuniyoshi Hironaka via unanimous decision after three rounds.
Fitch, a former wrestling standout at Purdue, has been on a roll in UFC lately, claiming his latest victim here.
7. Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk defeats Kenny Florian via unanimous decision after five rounds to win the vacant UFC lightweight championship.
In a tremendous fight, Sherk controls the majority of the action with powerful slams and takedowns. Florian is no pushover, catching Sherk with elbows (one of which opened a gash on the right side of Sherk's head), kicks and frequently going for submissions while in guard. Florian guts it out, but Sherk is too dominant.
8. Anderson "The Spider" Silva defeats Rich "Ace" Franklin via TKO at 2:59 of the first round due to knee strikes to the head, becoming the new UFC middleweight champion.
Franklin looks decidedly less focused than Silva heading into the Octagon -- not to mention slightly banged up from training. No excuses, though, as Silva is magnificent in victory. Silva clinches Franklin's head early and peppers him with knees to the body and head until Franklin falls, and the official calls the fight.
Sunday, Oct. 15
This week, UFC earned its biggest TV rating in history. It saw an MMA legend retire in defeat, while a legend in the making continued toward bigger and better things.
UFC held two huge shows -- one on the East Coast and one in Vegas -- and finished with two new champions after UFC 64. In between, they met fans, signed autographs, hosted media and bloodied each other with knees and elbows.
Can't an MMA promotion take a day of rest now and then?
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