A slobber-knocker in the prairies
UCW is bringing MMA back to the ’Peg
RANDELL BALDONADO
No one would mistake the Winnipeg Convention Centre for the Roman Colosseum. Nonetheless, on April 7, the Convention Centre will be home to more then a few gladiators looking for a fight, as the venue plays host to Ultimate Cage Wars 7.
There won’t be any three-count pins on the mat. There won’t be any entertainers rolling through the bottom ropes of a ring to escape his or her adversary. There won’t be any gimmicks or personas. No. Instead, the night will see two warriors enter the octagon battlefield and fight: punching, kicking, kneeing, and wrestling, all in an effort to knock out or to force their opponent into submission. Neither combatant will leave until one claims victory. This is the sport of mixed martial arts, and, as Ultimate Cage Wars promoter Tony Condello says, “mixed martial arts is the real thing.”
Mixed martial arts competitions like Ultimate Cage Wars 7 should not be confused with its pit-fighting/prize-fighting street counterparts. It’s not two hobos meeting each other to fight over a sandwich or over a girlfriend. It’s not done in a back alley, abandoned warehouse, or your friend’s basement; and yes, you can talk about it.
This is a sport. The competitors who are scheduled to compete at UCW 7 are trained athletes who have devoted themselves to the perfection of their game. “You have to be trained,” Condello explains. All of the fighters have endured rigorous conditioning in a number of different disciplines including boxing, muay thai, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, shooto, and judo. They have passed medical examinations and been given licenses to fight by the Manitoba Boxing Commission. The competitors are athletes, and as athletes, they have been trained to respect the rules of the cage.
The popularity of mixed martial arts has grown in the last decade due to the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Pride Fighting Championships and other organizations. The Fight Network channel is another organization that perpetuates the growth of the sport; they will be taping UCW 7 to air on a later date. It is a sport that people of all ages and gender are accepting, not just as viewers, but also as competitors.
UCW 7 will feature the first Winnipeg female cage fight, a bout between Sarah Kaufmann and Alexis Davis. It has been a long time coming and is sure to be an entertaining bout. For years, Winnipeg has welcomed female combatants from many disciplines but it is our city’s honor to finally welcome women who can fight in the cage.
Other features of the UCW 7 card include: Aaron Basso vs. Nathan Spence, Kevin Manderson vs. Jason Tatlow, Steve Taylor vs. Aaron Gallant, Jordan Mein vs. James Martinez, Markhaile Wedderburn vs. James Scott, Ryan Boux vs. Brian MacEachern, Todd Wood vs. Rory McDonell, Aaron Tregear vs. Graydon Tannas, Matt Leo vs. Bill Boland, and Bob Keleman vs. Demon Seguin.
