UFC 94: Watching UFC in person
No sport is better on television than in person.
Televised UFC events have done a lot to help educate me about the sport, but in person there's nothing like the glistening of blood, the crack of a nose being busted and the clear muscularity of the combatants.
Six giant screens provide ample replays.
In the second fight, it sure sounded like the nose of Christian Wellisch of Hungary was broken by Jake O'Brien, who went on to win a split decision in the light heavyweight bout. ...
UFC knows marketing. It seems it has followed the lead of NASCAR. Every fighter's trunks are covered with sponsor logos. Maybe that's why most of their trunks hang close to their knees, except for Georges St. Pierre, who has that short-shorts thing going on like many Canadians who vacation in Florida. The best is PAIN Inc. logo, which is prominently displayed across one fighter's butt. ...
I wonder how many of the 15,000 attending and millions watching on pay per view knew "Octagon" was an eight-sided object before they became UFC fans? ...
Hawaii must be closed. It seems like one out of every 10 people are wearing "Team Hawaii — B.J Penn" shirts. I've only seen one Canada-themed shirt in support of Penn's opponent, St. Pierre, in tonight's main event. ...
John Howard beat Chris Wilson in a split decision. ...
Just let out my first "Ohhhh!" as Thiago Tavares hit Manvel Gamburyan with a right cross in the second round. Tavares went on to score a unanimous decision. ...
Up next: Akihiro Gono vs. Jon Fitch, who had won eight straight before losing in five rounds to St. Pierre last August.
NEWS ALERT: Supremes enter UFC!
So I thought. It was Japan's Akihiro Gono and two of his handlers entering the arena in coordinated sequin gowns while dancing in sync.
And they looked pretty hot. Really.
Gono is noted for an orthodox style, but I thought it referred to how he fought.
In contrast, Johnny Cash sang Fitch's entrance music — I think.
Maybe Gono thinks his entrance will save him because Fitch won't hit a girl.
We'll see.
