Born to Fight

[Drunk Monk]

Not the movie, the MMA fight at the Saddlerack that was just tonight...I mean yesterday night. Anyway, yea, I was there. It was fun. I like fights.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

The Saddlerack country bar? As in just off West San Carlos? Crazy.

[Drunk Monk]

It's off the same exit as my office (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.thesaddlerack.com">http://www.thesaddlerack.com</a><!-- m -->). I've only been there once before, maybe twice, for another fight. I thought I posted about this earlier but couldn't find it on a cursory search of DOOM. Of course, I was pretty spent last night. My family is at Tassajara Zendo since Friday, and I've been running amuck for the last three days: Lil Wayne (<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2378">viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2378</a><!-- l -->) > International Cannabis & Hemp Expo (<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2274">viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2274</a><!-- l -->) & Kuro Obi (<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2377">viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2377</a><!-- l -->) > An RM BBQ to Born to Fight & True Legend (<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1985">viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1985</a><!-- l -->). Today, I chill.

I took some pix. They all sucked. First you have to shoot through the cyclone fence of the cage - the cage is black, but glossy, so it catches light at weird angles. Second, it's got a bright red mat and the rest of the room is black, so it's constantly messing with your levels. There's spotlights in odd places that completely wash out the fighters if they are under them, and there's light from the bar - fluorescents and faux cowboy chandeliers. A light meter nightmare. I was hanging with the Vincit crew - Vincit is a leading MMA mag and I'm good friends with their editor. She was having a hard time taking photos too. There were two other photographers that have worked for me previously, so if need be, I can tap them. I was just posing really, but feel I should publish something as they comped me ringside.

Greg, if you're ever in town for a fight, I'd love to get you there. They are very challenging to shoot. I think you'd have fun kicking this football....I mean shooting a fight.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Didn't I do Carano weigh-in? what could top that?

Of course I'd do it. The beauty of Charlie Brown is his CharlieBrowness.

[Drunk Monk]

That would be the best weigh-in to shoot, but shooting fighters in their undies on a scale doesn't compare to shooting them when they are really working, even if it is Carano.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Time and place?

Your ball.

[Drunk Monk]

I could probably get you into this event. The promoter called me for his last event when I was in Yosemite, so I missed it completely. I don't think I'm going to go - it's a long way off and my plans are in flux that far out.

Nice volley, eh?

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I was thinking you would find us a fight in Vegas.

[Drunk Monk]

I might have something in Vegas in a few months. My former master has been promoting fights in China. He's brought some fighters to Vegas, twice now I think, but it has always been on dates when I could not attend. I'm told he's bringing more soon, but I don't know the details yet. They are pretty fly-by-night productions, but I'll keep you in mind if it comes up.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

If it happens between October 23 and November 5, count me out. Otherwise, I will be there.

[Drunk Monk]

...but I'll keep those dates in mind. DOOM in Vegas. Sounds fun.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Victor Belfort vs Cung Le at the HP Pavillion on November 12th? Just an idea.

[Drunk Monk]

It's a whole new ballgame with UFC. I could have got you in for Strikeforce. We'll see how it works with UFC.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Did Strikeforce go away or fold into something else?

[Drunk Monk]

Zuffa owns UFC.

I went to Strikeforce fights regularly, as they were based in San Jose. They treated press pretty well - nice lammies and a good dinner. But as they grew, my position grew further and further away from the action. I started on the floor at the press table at the end, and slowly got edged backwards until the last fight where I was way in the back in some forgotten corner next to the smoke machines.

What's more, even though you're allowed to bring cameras, you're not able to shoot the fight when an event is televised - it's an exclusivity thing. If you try, you will be very unceremoniously ejected and banned from future events. Even if it isn't televised, you can't get access to cage-side. That's limited to their own photographers.

Now with UFC, it's a whole new ballgame. I'm working at figuring it out now. UFC has only staged one fight in the Bay Area before and I didn't even try to get access. I'll try to get into this one, just to feel out UFC.