The MMA Expo Experience

"Mr International" Shonie Carter with TSC's Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani

The Sports Courier crew was in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, January 9, for the Mixed Martial Arts Expo run by Gerald Chopik and James Jefferson, as part of the Philly Sports Extravaganza. By the way, it was also sponsored by HDNet, so we knew it was going to be good, but it even exceeded our high expectations.

It was a hell of an experience!

Now if there has been one thing that's impressed me tremendously, it has been the incredible accessibility to MMA fighters. What I mean by that is this. When's the last time you've seen someone be able to just approach Floyd Mayweather? How about Reggie Bush?

You haven't.

MMA fighters are so accessible to the public and the MMA Expo did a phenomenal job of showcasing that. I'm not going to lie. I really like MMA, but I didn't grow up on it. Basketball, football, and pro wrestling are the sports I grew up loving as a kid. Those are also the three sports that I can say I've developed a damn good expertise in. That's not to say I hated MMA. I never did. In fact, I love watching MMA as often as possible. I would just say that to call me an MMA expert would be unfair, although my site happens to employ a few, including Pat Cyckowski and Ricky Cook, who did a phenomenal job at the expo I may add.

I've fallen in love with MMA. Being around the fighters in Bill Scott's gym and the MMA Expo has shown me something seriously lacking in other sports. I was able to have a legitimate conversation with MMA great and President of HDNet Fights, Guy Mezger. A long conversation I may add. I doubt I could do that with an athlete from the NBA, NFL, MLB, or hell, even NHL.

The other big thing I noticed was that people like Mezger, Shonie Carter, Sean Sherk, and Matt Hamill, among others we spoke to over the weekend, love MMA to the point where they go to great lengths to promote the sport, not just themselves or their sponsors.

Floyd Mayweather is a phenomenal self-promoter. Too bad he can't get me excited to see two no-name flyweights on HBO or Showtime.

Honestly, there's times I don't know who the hell I'm initially watching on HDNet, but the difference is that I have an opportunity to watch them and learn about them on cable television—not pay-per-view or premium programming (HBO, Showtime, etc.).