Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Jersey show a major deal

Think UFC 111 is just another pay-per-view? Think harder. The show takes place in Newark, N.J., in the shadow of New York City, Zuffa's nirvana once MMA is finally sanctioned in the state of New York.

The efforts to hype and market UFC 111 are a message to the suits in Albany that says, "Think MMA is irrelevant? Too violent? A menace to society? Here morons, have this."

UFC's second Primetime special beginning March 10 on Spike is centered around Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy. The co-main event is Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin in a battle to decide Brock Lesnar's next challenger. The card as a whole is loaded including Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch and a few Jersey boys representing their home state: Jim Miller, Ricardo Almeida and Kurt Pellegrino. Also count on No. 1 lightweight contender, and Tom's River's own, Frankie Edgar, being inside the Prudential Center on March 27. I'm mapping out my next feature for FightMagazine.com on the Jersey fighters competing on this show, and what UFC 111 means to them and for Zuffa, New Jersey and New York.

Speaking of Miller, while he and Dan Miller are recognized by MMA fans, there are a few brother combination who haven't reached mainstream status (though Little Nog is close) and those who never will. My breakdown is on Fight's site and you can check it out here.

If you can't make it to Newark, you can't miss the show if you have a burning desire to see it. There's pay-per-view, of course and your local sports bar. If the crowded, rambunctious bar scene isn't your thing, check this out: Beginning with UFC 111, movie theaters around the country will be showing live events.

The operative words: "Beginning with UFC 111." Coincidence? I think not.

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