Fourth of July fireworks
2008 Cityfolk Festival
Spotted at the Cityfolk Festival
Dayton is the perfect city to host UFC event
Monday, April 28, 2008
In the coming months, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will venture to some new locations, including Minneapolis, and some familiar favorites, such as Las Vegas and London, England.
Additionally, there have been rumblings of some possible new destinations in 2008, including Atlanta; Chicago; Portland, Ore.; Yorkshire, England; and even Indianapolis.
Extras
However, one destination that could provide the organization everything it needs hasn't really been discussed publicly by UFC officials: Dayton.
If the UFC had any concerns about drawing crowds in the Midwest, UFC 68 (Columbus), UFC 77 (Cincinnati) and UFC 82 (Columbus) should have alleviated them. Only UFC 82 wasn't a sellout, but the crowd of 16,431 that attended the event was bigger than anything the UFC has ever drawn back at home in Las Vegas.
Dayton, likewise, has two possible venues: the 12,000-capacity Nutter Center and the 14,000-seat University of Dayton Arena.
In addition to a suitable site, Dayton offers an international airport and plenty of hotel rooms, close proximity for many populous cities, an MMA-friendly regional media, an existing MMA fan base, and plenty of area fighters to bolster the fight card.
Also, state regulation isn't a problem since the Ohio Athletic Commission began sanctioning MMA events in 2006. OAC Executive Director Bernie Profato has won over UFC executives, so they'd surely welcome the opportunity to work with him once again.
If the idea interests you, e-mail the
UFC at UFC.com. The UFC responds to nearly every e-mail it receives.
Gurgel back at UFC 86
The UFC recently confirmed that Cincinnati-based fighter Jorge Gurgel (12-3) will return to action at UFC 86, when he meets rising lightweight Cole Miller (13-3).
The July 5 fight takes place on the untelevised preliminary card. The event features a headline bout between UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin.
Gurgel, who most recently defeated John Halverson at UFC 82, will go for his fourth win in his past five fights.
'TUF' report
Veteran Tim Credeur defeated a resilient Matthew Riddle in the latest episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest."
Cincinnati-area fighters Luke Zachrich and Matt Brown, as well as Ohio native C.B. Dollaway, are among the 14 fighters remaining in the competition.
"TUF" airs at 10 p.m. Wednesdays on Spike TV.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, one of the web's leading MMA news outlets. Visit www.mmajunkie.com for the latest MMA news and rumors.
