UFC Live in San Diego. 8/1/10There's a lot of ink in San Diego and a lot of people who drink Bud Light and ride Harley's. Thats why Dana White brought the well-oiled circus that is UFC-- Ultimate Fighting Championships to America's Finest City. AspenSpin showed up at the San Diego Sports Arena for the UFC on Versus Live press conference and weigh in. Talk about antique shows, the SD Sports Arena is clearly past its prime. With no NBA or NHL teams in San Diego the arena hosts flea markets, truck-pulls and Eddie Money type head liners. We have no pre-conceived notions about UFC. We've never even seen UFC on TV... or any Mixed Martial Arts bouts.....although we've been exposed to tons of commercials.
Full disclosure; A-Spin once attended a live Muy Thai event in Bangkok, but we paid extra to sit in the "tourist section" which was separated from the locals by chicken wire. That event was a near riot and extremely sketchy. The UFC has a more refined presentation than their Bangkok fore fathers. Everything at the presser was done to precision. 2-3pm Q & A with announcer Mike Goldberg (Goldie) and fighter Krzysztof Soszynski a.k.a The Polish Experiment. 3-4 pm autographs and photos, and 4-4.30 the weigh in and square-off photos with Dana. It was obvious that everyone knew the drill. 5PM Double-Double at In-n-Out.
Dana White supervising the square-off at UFC.
A few observations: Almost all the fighters and 100% of the fans wear tatoos. The punks in the stands love to talk big smack about their favorite MMA fighters. The fan base is rabid about UFC. The kids, the women, the hard-core MMA types---they are all into it.--big time. Journalists from Japan and the Phillipino channel were on hand along with MMA's #1 scribe, Areil Helwani from AOL. Its not quite the major leagues yet, as MMA only has four beat writers in the U.S. (two are from Vegas). Everyone but A-Spin knew that Jon "Bones" Jones is the next big thing in UFC and that he'll probably take out UFC vet Vladimir Matyushenko in the main event. President Dana White is a larger-than-life cult figure, energizing the crowd every step of the way. We've heard that Aspen local Ted Davenport is lining him up for a base-jumping lesson. We'd pay to see that vid. The fighters are in incredible shape, they look tough and mean as sh*t. Once they get into the "world famous" Octagon--anything can happen, as long as Dana OK's it.
A-Spin has to miss the actual event, but we'll Tivo it. UFC combines the officiousness and striking of big-time boxing, the physicality of Olympic-style Greco-Roman wrestling and the hype of WWE. We predict a HUGE win in this made-for-TV event. Bet on the great black hope, the New York playa, Jonnie "Bones" Jones.
AspenSpin predicts a BIG win for Jon "Bones" Jones (left).
The Polish Experiment - Krzysztof Soszynski greets his fans.
Ariel Helwani the #1 MMA Journalist in the World matches up with a Japanese counterpart.
UFC President Dana White is always in the middle of the action.
Mark Munoz, the Filipino Wrecking Machine is a big favorite and former NCAA Champion wrestler. 
August 15, 2010 ;)
Boogie boarding with World Champ Jeff HubbardWhat's the best part of being a blogger? People assume its all the cash,or the excessive swag or the hottest chicks in captivity. Naaaaaa, AspenSpin thrives on new experiences, and one of the best was a recent boogie boarding session in Oceanside (North Jetty) with World Champion Body Boarder JEFF HUBBARD. Hubb designs and rides for BZ, a subsidiary of WHAM O. Thaz right-- A-Spin is networking with the people who own, Hula Hoop, Frizbee, Slip and Slide, Hackey Sack and more.
After Shot. Getting wet is always fun.Hubbard allowed AspenSpin to tag along for a practice sesh in the mild surf in N. County. Click the vid below to see highlights. It was one of the sweetest ,bightest & clearest mornings we've experienced during our stay in So.Cal (2010, the gloomiest summer in San Diego History). Despite the marine layer that doesn't want to go away--- SD is still awesome. We had North Jetty to ourselves until a pack of local surfers saw Hubb throwing 360's and rolls in the mild 2-3 foot , well shaped waves at North Jetty. We were soon joined in the line-up by a few territorial local surfer dudes watching every wave and every move we made. Hubbard , the biggest name in boogie and A-Spin kept gripping and ripping despite the gawkers. Riding waves with the World Champ goes down in history as a good, good time. Proud to be a sponger.
