Strikeforce HP Pavillion 3/10/06

[Drunk Monk]

Cage match mixed martial arts (MMA) is now legally sanctioned in CA, although I have heard that MMA has been happening in Indian Casinos. I've seen a lot of this stuff on video but it's the first time I've seen it live. It was very satisfying. Quite a range of bouts, submission wrestling and BJJ, of course, but one played like a straight up boxing match, another pitched a kicker and puncher against a wrestler. There was the middle weight championship belt (awarded by none other than Chuck Norris) a 5 minute, 5 round match that was brutal. The other bouts went 5 minutes, 3 rounds - there where 13 bouts. Someone bled in almost every match. Cung Le (who calls my boss Gigi 'mom') just kicked the crap out of his opponent, working the head, middle and flanks - many solid kicks to the head. He finished him with a reverse side kick to the midsection that bounced him off the cage and back into Cung's awaiting forearm/elbow, which clotheslined him. It was total Tony Jaa. It didn't even go the whole first round. Frank Shamrock, another San Jose man, took out Gracie in 21 seconds in teh main event. He caught him with a right to the chin before he could even get a guard up, and as he stumbled, he caught him with another right, then as he fell, he jumped up top of him, unleashing a flurry of rights that literally dribbled Gracie's head between the mat and his right fist three times until the ref pulled him off.

We managed all access press passes. It was sold out, the largest attended MMA event in the USA so far. Gigi gave me $20 expense for dinner, which I spent on beer and a shot of Jack. Our seat were on the floor towards the back, next to the entrance glory ramp. Legalizing MMA is the only thing Arnie has done right. I'd definitely to another.