Being the sports nut that I am, I know there is nothing better than seeing sporting events in person.
Throughout my 26 years on this earth I’ve watched a multitude of athletic contests live. This past weekend, I made the eight-mile drive from my apartment to watch the Mixed Martial Arts fights for the first time at the Emerald Queen Casino on June 7 in Tacoma. Over the past year and a half, I’ve watched MMA fights on television but never had the opportunity to sit in the stands and experience the thrill of being at the fights.
Upon arrival into the arena, I got the same feeling in my stomach that I get when I walk into Qwest Field for a Seahawks game. It was pure exhilaration. Just seeing the bright lights hovering above the octagon gave me the chills. After Roni Pewo, who is one of my best friends, and I settled into our seats and ordered our favorite beverages it was time for the fights to begin. A total of 10 fights were scheduled in a wide array of different weight divisions.
The most memorable match of the night featured a 46-year-old high school wrestling coach from Elma who made his fighting debut against a foe at least 15 years younger than him. The elder statesman pummeled his opponent, winning in only nine seconds. The crowd went absolutely nuts and the ring announcer exclaimed, “They’re partying in the streets of Elma tonight!” Of the all the fights throughout the evening, that is the one that I will remember for a long time.
There’s nothing like seeing two individuals go toe-to-toe against each other. MMA fighting is very much like the sport of wrestling. It’s a one-on-one battle. There’s no one else for the athlete to rely on but themselves. That’s probably one of the main reasons why MMA fights are so appealing. It’s not a sport where you can go through the motions, you have to be at the top of your game at all times.
As the fight card played itself out, I realized something that nearly escaped me. Much to my delight and surprise, at least four fighters on the card were from the Puyallup area.
This fact had my mind churning as I meandered throughout the venue during the intermission period. During that time frame I came across Emerald Ridge High School Water Polo head coach Dave McMullan. He asked me if I was covering the fight for the newspaper. I replied to him that I was there on my own time enjoying a rare Saturday night off. After McMullan’s inquiry, I thought to myself there’s no reason why I shouldn’t cover the fights the next time they roll into town. It’s definitely an event that is worthy of being printed in the sports section.
On August 30, the Emerald Queen Casino is hosting another MMA fight night. There’s no doubt I will be in attendance, but this time I plan to be their as a member of the working media.
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