Monday, October 4, 2010

UCL Postscript

Don't get me wrong, I love going to sanctioned MMA events of all shapes and sizes and seeing the budding elite mix it up.  But something about taking the subway to a mosque (!) and seeing dudes throw down vale tudo-style on a mat (no ring, no cage, just a mat) makes me smile.  There were only three fights at last night's Underground Combat League event, and with the audience consisting of only fighters, their trainers, underground photographer Anil Melwani and myself, it was as intimate an affair as you could get.  There wasn't even an admission charged at the door.  Kudos to James Braddock for winning the first-ever UCL belt (and major props to Sadistic Athletics for making the hardware).  And Peter Storm deserves a ton of credit.  He was outweighed by about 35 pounds but didn't hesitate to get in there and get his hands dirty.  Good times.  Anil should have pics up over at www.MMA.us soon.