Chicks Heart Fights

In the discussions I’ve read of this weekend’s fights, I keep reading the same theme. Those who watch Affliction are hardcore MMA fans, those who watch UFC Fight Night are only UFC fans, and not real MMA fans. Can’t a person be both?

I was introduced to MMA through the UFC, and most of my live MMA watching is limited to the UFC. I’ve watched plenty of Fedor on Youtube and DVDs, and am excited to see him fight in a non-circus match-up. On the other hand, I am familiar with many of the other Affliction fighters because of their experience with the UFC. Does that make me a bad MMA fan?

Though Saturday’s UFC fights are hardly blistering match-ups, some great fighters are going to be showcased. No matter who he fights, I always enjoy watching Anderson Silva’s all around dominance. Brandon Vera is in a must-win situation, and I am thrilled to get a chance to watch Cain Velasquez. Does this make me a bad MMA fan?

There is a tendency in the MMA world to vilify the UFC as the Evil Empire, which I guess would make Dana White Darth Vader. And possibly the Fertittas the Emperor, who looked a lot like my great-grandmother. Anyway. The reason that they’ve lasted so long is because no matter what, the product in the Octagon is, by and large, good. Is there anything wrong with an MMA fan watching that product instead of paying for Affliction?

By no means am I saying that the UFC is perfect, and competition is a good thing. Like I said, I am watching both shows this weekend. But can we stop with the subtle digs at the people who don’t?

This Saturday, UFC 83’s fight will be played out in front of the largest live crowd ever to watch a UFC event. The Ultimate Fighting world will converge upon Montreal, the hometown of Georges St. Pierre. (A note from GSP’s Wikipedia entry-he once worked as a bouncer at a club called the Fuzzy Brossard. So there you go.) We will have lots of great accents on this evening, with GSP, Michael Bisping, and Matt Serra all representing their ‘hoods. Rich Franklin will of course be representing Ohio, but do Ohioans have an accent? Predictions and a roundup, after the jump.

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Of all the Fedor is a free agent stories that I have read, the Fighting Life’s is my favorite. I think I’ve had the “I need space” talk with a few men in my past…

MMA Junkie is reporting that Cain Velasquez, the former Arizona State heavyweight, will fight at UFC 83. Cain was one of my favorite heavyweights, mostly because he was more mobile and exciting to watch than Mocco and Konrad. That mobility will be quite an asset in the Octagon.

The Boston Herald has an interview with Dana White - it’s your basic “I’m not worried about anyone hurting the UFC” deal.  As we can always count on with Dana, it is entertaining.

Finally, the NCAA Wrestling D-I Championships are in less than two weeks, so it’s time for wrestling fans to prepare. If you are heading to St. Louis, like I am, here is a handy guide to restaurants, bars, and attractions. For those of you not making the trip, I highly recommend signing up with the Wrestling Talk forum. The discussion is smart (usually), and members post results faster than most of the “real time updates” you find on the Web. However, during peak traffic times, the forum will be limited to members only, so if you want to enjoy the benefits, sign up now!