My experience attending Strikeforce: Miami
by _Felix_ on Jan 31, 2010 11:15 AM EST
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As many of you might or might not know, I had the opportunity to attend both the the Strikeforce: "Miami" weigh-ins and fight card this weekend.It was my first time time I'd been to an MMA event since last years Bellator Fighting Championships in At the Hard Rock in Hollywod, Florida. It was also my first time at, depending on how you view Strikeforce, at a major MMA fight promotion event. After the jump, I'll basically give a rundown on th events and some of my opinions and thoughts on them. I'll leave the fight analysis to the esteemed writers of MMAmania.
Weigh-ins & autograph session:
Friday's weigh-ins included a 5:30pm autograph session with Strikeforce fighters Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Gegard Mousasi, Dan Henderson, and Scott Smith. All were very cool guys and, at least from my observations, took the time to personalize their autographs as well as take pictures with all the fans that asked. I know it's part of their job with Strikeforce, but these guys seemed to really be genuine in their interaction with the fans. Even when I was leaving the event after the weigh-ins took place, between 7:30 & 8pm, there was still a line of about 15-20 people waiting for autographs, and all 4 fighters were still sitting there signing away. Very cool in my opinion.
This basically brings up my only gripe about getting into the weigh-ins: unless you were media or knew someone in a fight camp, you had to go through the autograph session line to get through to the weigh-ins. There were not separate lines for each event. Basically, if you were not in the first part of the line like I was, you missed a good part, or all, of the weigh-ins. Not cool in my book.
By time I got through the the autograph station and up to the "Chairman Club", the weigh-ins were just getting started. The space in which they took place was pretty small, nothing compared to (or what appears to be) what you see on a televised UFC weigh-in. Zaromskis was just getting off the scale and Diaz was making his way up to it. It has always been odd to me as to why Strikeforce starts their weigh-ins with the main event and down the card as opposed to starting with the under card. IMO this takes away from any last minute hype a card might be able to generate. Aside from missing Zaromskis I did catch the weigh-ins in full. I even was able to meet Fanhouse/MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani as well as Fox Fight Game's Mike Straka. Both were very cool as well.
Fight Night:
Standing in line at the Bank Atlantic Center, and once I got in, I felt like I was one of the only people not wearing a TapOut or Affliction shirt, seriously. Once I got in, at 7pm, there was a couple tables in the lobby with stacks of free programs for the event. I thought they charged an arm and a leg for those things at sporting events? Either way, it was very cool for Strikeforce to make those available to the fans at no addition charge.
I took a stroll through the lobby to see what kind of vendor tables were set up. I only saw tables set up for some local home remodeling company, a local sports radio station that I don't listen to, and Visa. But in all fairness I didn't walk around the entire arena, just around were my seating section was.
Finally I get to my seat: Section 107, Row 22, Seat 11. I was just below the luxury boxes and, IMO, I didn't have a bad seat at all. That was until the drunken moron Bostonian (he stressed his city of origin pretty frequently) sitting behind me showed up. Dude showed up sloshed, wouldn't shut up, and was spewing out misinformation and non-sense the entire evening (example: "Joe Riggs and Jay Heiron are top 10 guys" and pronouncing Lashley's name as "Lashayley"). The best part was when him and his friend almost got into blows because he felt the friend was disrespecting their time there together by going out to smoke frequently. A "bromance" lovers quarrel-how cute. It reminded me of some of the exchanges I read on some SB Nation MMA blogs. And before I forget, a guy three rows back threw up 2 fights into the under card and was escorted out. Now thats entertainment!!!
From the beginning of the under card, the crowd seemed to be pretty quiet for an MMA event, or for any event in a major sporting arena. Kind of reminded me of how in Japan the crowd is quiet during the fights.The only real memorable loud moments were when GSP was shown on the screen (I'm sure Dana loved that), when Lashley & Walker were announced, and when Manhoef got KTFO by Lawler. That was truly insane. I captured video of the KO on my digital camera and hope to make a fanshot of soon. Oh, and who is this Rex Ryan guy everyone in So. Florida seems to love so much?
It was also puzzling to see a lot of people leaving after Cyborg beat Coenen, most of which were people from the floor seats. All the seats were never filled at one given time, but this had to have made it even look worse for the main event (I haven't watched the Showtime airing yet so If I'm wrong I apologize). Also, I couldn't help but wonder if in fact a lot of those floor seats were comped. I mean, who would pay a couple hundred on a ticket to just up & bail during the main event? From a MMA fans prospective this just seemed really odd.
Overall I wasn't too impressed with the live production value of the show. I was expecting something comparable to start off the main card like the "Baba O'Reilly" Montage that you can only see live at UFC PPV's. The majority of the time fillers were of loud club music, Rockstar Energy Drink & EA Sports MMA promos.
So, would I go to a Strikeforce event again? It would really depend on who was fighting. Aside from the Lawler/Manhoef & Diaz/Zaromskis fights, I wasn't really impressed. I am a fan of Herschel Walker's football career, but borderline freakshows don't really appeal to me. As far as Bobbly Lashley goes, I have no real interest in seeing him fight either. IMO, if it werent for Lesnar being in the game, Lashley wouldn't be. And in all honesty if Nick Diaz hadn't been on the card I probably would have stayed home to watch.
So that's it. Sorry if I bloviated or bored you to death. Feel free to leave your questions, comments or concerns.
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rec'd - Front Page this Mania!
I’m seething with jealousy up here in -15c Canada Mexi!
Great job bro.
Congrats to everyone who picked Robbie over MM. He took an a$$ whoopin but played a "risky" game plan like a fiddle. H O L Y S H 1 T that was an insane finish - Melvin was completly waxed. 2/3 on the night. Crap.
Nice.
Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
Nice write up man...
You going to watch the Lashley/Grimm fight if it happens?
"You can observe a lot just by watching."-Yogi Berra
Good Job Mexi!
My only subtle comment would be the “fist pose” with Gegard. Joe Rogan had a really funny write up on his website a while back about this and it was pretty funny. Like, if someone is getting a picture with A-Rod, they arent going to pose mid swing. Or pose with Tiger posing in your backswing. And in the same write up, he also makes fun of the tools rocking the Affliction shirts. Check it out, its pretty funny.
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
Yeah
I noticed that when I was croping them. I was like, “Man I look like one of thos Jersey Shore jerk-off’s or something.”
No fist for me!!!!!
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
Mouassi seems like a honourable hombre actually
Fedor once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit.
On July 19th, 1999, a naked Fedor re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publically claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.
Its funny that GSP got the cheers
on TV they zoomed in nicely on him wearing a StrikeForce Lanyard around his neck.
Dana is going to go nuts.
Congrats to everyone who picked Robbie over MM. He took an a$$ whoopin but played a "risky" game plan like a fiddle. H O L Y S H 1 T that was an insane finish - Melvin was completly waxed. 2/3 on the night. Crap.
I thought it a bit odd that GSP was even there. He has said in the past that he only watches fights when his friends and teammates are involved, and I didn’t think any of the featured fighters were aquaintances of his.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Feb 1, 2010 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
he was there with Mouassi who he has been training with
Fedor once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit.
On July 19th, 1999, a naked Fedor re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publically claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.
aaaaaaaaahhhhh
okay that makes perfect sense. good call
Congrats to everyone who picked Robbie over MM. He took an a$$ whoopin but played a "risky" game plan like a fiddle. H O L Y S H 1 T that was an insane finish - Melvin was completly waxed. 2/3 on the night. Crap.
haha dude me and my gf were the same row
At the end on the right . We met the drunk Boston guy as well. Compared to the Tampa ufn last year, the jrc production was better by far but I met way more stars here. As mexi said, we had good seats and the Lawler Ko was INSANE . I got a crappy little video of it.
GGood show overall though.
Oh cool
I was sitting in the middle with a black led zepplin shirt. Did you see the guy that threw up? he was 3 rows back and to the right.
My video is crappy as well.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
no we missed that.
we got in right at the start of Hayder Hasan’s fight. and if he puked after that then i just didn’t know. to my left, there was a group of 3 or 4 guys, the same dudes that got up after the Cyborg fight, I guess you were on the other side of them.
The weigh ins were a bitch to me. I got there at the arena like, 5 45, give or take 10 minutes. i never got in to the scales. they said that they were at max capacity and they weren’t letting anyone else in. so like, 20 people got out of line, and my group moved up cuz i just wanted to get Hendo’s picture. i must have been like 15 people from the end of the line then. i get in there, get my pics and autographs with King Mo (who was talking about Mousasi the whole time) Hendo and Scott Smith. after that, i was kinda just standing around in the lobby area just seeing if anyone was coming down, and sure enough they did. i got pics with Robbie Lawler, Matt Hughes, Bobby Lashley, Melvin, and Gegard. i seen Herschel and Marloes too. was a bit bummed that Diaz bro’s or Zarmonskis didn’t come down but it was crazy being around all those guys.
I’ll try to post my video’s of the Lawler and Diaz fights up but dont hold your breath guys.
I just put up the Lawler/Manhoef video I took.
And yeah, those 3 guys that left were sitting next to me. i was talking to the one dude in the brown long sleeve. The dude in the blue shirt looked pretty metrosexual or something.
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
Good write up Felix
I wasn’t overly impressed with the event, 2 freak show fights (border line) and a women’s fight just doesn’t do it for me! The April event should be good!
Here is another version of the “Baba O’Reilly” UFC montage. I think it’s the newest one they have made since it has Wandy and Shogun in it. Someone told me that they dont play this anymore at the UFC events and they play one with metal music. Can anyone verify that?
@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
The only fight I was looking forward to on this card was the Diaz fight
I`m assuming the peaple that left the front row were friends and or family of the women fighters wich is probally why they all got up and left. I don`t know were AA or Rogers are right now, but this event could of used a good HW match up. I think they were hoping Walker would bring more fans into the homes. All in all it was a decent event but we all know SF may only be able to put three to four good events a year with their current roster.
"He broke tim sylvia’s arm…...So what?" – Brock Lesnar
I love that montage!!
It hypes the crowd every time! I haven’t been since 87 and they did then.
The one and only Smitty...
They had it at 105
Can’t beat Baba O’Reilly, perfect song for a montage. Shame that the UFC rely so heavily on crappy metal music for their production, none of those songs can touch anything from the Who.
"If I could change my name what would it be? Jesus"
Tito Ortiz (seriously...)
Great write up
shoulda video taped the puking!
I do a lot of jacking off, ya know, because I don’t get no women, so these arms are, like, humongously big. See it’s workout, and it’s pleasure.._" Charles Bennett
"He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day and looks like a ***** today." -Tank Abbott.
yep...great job Mexi!!!
Fedor once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit.
On July 19th, 1999, a naked Fedor re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publically claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.
Great write-up Mexi
Funny fan stories, I’m glad that I didn’t end up sat near drunks or pukers at 105. Typical that those in the dearest seats left early, obviously they were a part of the prawn sandwich brigade and had more money than sense. The best seats always seem to be wasted on those that don’t appreciate them. Good to hear that you and Syn had a good view and enjoyed yourselves anyway.
"If I could change my name what would it be? Jesus"
Tito Ortiz (seriously...)
nice review
Good indepth review, brings back some memories of UFC 105 in Manchester with the drunken arguing fans.
I'm glad that I avoided them
Other than some random guy calling GSP a Frenchie when he came into the octagon there were no idiots sat near me. Had a good chat with the lads sat next to me as well. No drunks sat around me, everyone was more bothered about watching the fights than getting plastered unlike at the Khan fight.
"If I could change my name what would it be? Jesus"
Tito Ortiz (seriously...)
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