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On MMA
Matt Williams
BOSTON — Only 15,575 fight fans got inside TD Garden Saturday night as the Ultimate Fighting Championship held its first-ever event in Massachusetts.
For the rest of us? The UFC actually had a better treat in store.
Friday and Saturday, the world's most popular mixed martial arts organization held its third "Fan Expo" at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston's Back Bay. In the eyes of this attendee, at least, it was a smashing success.
The highlight of Saturday's expo was a live question and answer session with UFC president Dana White. Fans lined up at a pair of microphones and posed questions on any subject to the outspoken UFC boss for upwards of an hour.
Some asked for tickets and backstage passes but most pertained to the growth of the sport, where the next shows would be and what matchups are in store for later in the year.
White explained details like why he doesn't include automatic rematch clauses in any championship contracts. He was witty, engaging and never turned down a question or a request for an autograph or photo.
Two fans questioned the skills of UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva — who White and most media members consider the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. The UFC boss reminded them that the Brazilian hasn't lost since 2006, has beaten top competition in two weight classes and said, "Quit hating on Anderson."
The answer itself isn't the point. It's the fact White took the time to answer at all that gets to the core of what makes the UFC — and by extension, its Fan Expo — so appealing.
But the UFC's never been about secrecy or vagueness. White is blunt and sometimes vulgar; he and his sport aren't for everyone. He can be stubborn, too, as he's publicly butted heads with top heavyweights like Randy Couture (who he eventually made amends with, and who won in Boston on Saturday night) and Fedor Emelianenko (who remains with another promotion).
After seeing him in person, though, it's hard not to like White. He's widely credited with taking mixed martial arts from the fringe to the mainstream. I have no idea how he acts behind the scenes, but with fans White gives the impression that he knows his company would've been bankrupt when Clinton was president if it wasn't for their support.
The rest of the "Fan Expo" was like any other convention. The halls of the Hynes were filled with tables set up by vendors selling everything from T-shirts to nutritional supplements to fight gear. Most of them had set up autograph sessions with various fighters and I caught glimpses of Bas Rutten, Tito Ortiz, Gabriel Gonzaga and Jon Jones. After a long sessions on the main stage, the personable Silva stopped at the action figure booth to sign for more fans.
Without fail, the fights were smiling and personable; there was no texting under their tables or "I wish I was anywhere but here" face to be seen. It genuinely felt like none of these guys were just there for the check.
The weekend — the first of many in Boston, says White — brought out the best in the UFC terms of presentation and fan relations. The fights themselves were a little lackluster, though. Three of the five main card bouts went to decision and one that didn't was an academic stoppage as Couture dominated an elder and overweight boxing star in James Toney.
Personally, the card wasn't appealing enough to me — as it was for Wes Welker, Tom Brady, Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Shaq, who all attended Saturday's fights — to shell out $75-600 for a ticket.
Entrance to the "Fan Expo" was just $40 ($35 if bought in advance), and a few months ago it felt like a consolation prize. In retrospect, though, I feel like I definitely got the better deal.
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Matt Williams is a staff writer at The Salem News. He can be reached at MWilliams@salemnews.com or 978-338-2669.
