Chicks Heart Fights

Remember when I whined about the UFC going to other cities not nearly as awesome as my hometown? Dana White heard my cries, and planned UFC 90 in the Windy City , most likely at Allstate Arena on October 25. I could not be happier* about this development because Chicago is a perfect market for MMA. This is a sports hungry town, and it’s an important time to show how Chicago can handle large sporting events. Many MMA gyms are sprouting up around the city, plus the UFC could feature some home grown talent. May I suggest:

Clay Guida

Clay already has lots of fans in the Land of Lincoln!

True, October would be a long layoff for the Carpenter, but I think he’d deal with it to fight in front of hometown fans. (Kind of - he’s from Johnsburg, which may as well be Alaska for a city snob like me, but people from that area like to claim Chicago so I won’t stop them.) The Mac Danzig fight has been on-again, off again, so why not schedule the fight for Chicago?

Stephen Bonnar

Though Bonnar now fights out of Las Vegas, his roots in northeast Indiana and Chicago would be well represented at a fight in Chicago. Bonnar has been languishing in the background of the UFC, and hasn’t fought since last October. A fight in his hometown could be just what he needs.

Others to consider:

• Miguel Torres, if the WEC and UFC were to do a joint show - and how cool would that be - Chicago would be the ideal place for Miguel, a native of East Chicago.
• Roger Huerta - of course I’d want him in my city!

*Though I’m quite pleased that the UFC is supposed to come to Chicago, I will be at the wedding of two dear friends that evening. Liz, Craig, realize how much I love you two crazy kids, or I would not be missing out on this.

Dear Dana White,

I love the UFC. I watch it, I write about it, I discuss it, I frighten people with my knowledge of it. Last October, I read that you wanted to bring the UFC to Chicago - imagine my joy! But then, to my sadness, MMAJunkie reported this week that Dana White has said that New York or Boston will host a UFC event this year, despite the restrictions that exist on MMA in New York and Massachusetts. Dana, I know that you’re a boy from Southy, but how quickly do you expect laws to change in an election year? Why not come to a city with a rabid MMA fanbase, two viable options for an arena with the Allstate and the United Center, a top-3 market who loves local sporting events, and, most importantly, me? And when you schedule this card, how about throwing Roger Huerta and Forrest Griffin in this event? Thanks!

xoxo

The Chick