MMA: My Wish Has Come True...Almost

In my own nagging-granny way, I have been lobbying for a UFC event to be held in Chicago because Illinois finally approved hosting MMA events.

Others have hoped to have an event in St. Louis, but I think Chicago would be easier to get to, and I used to have to drive to Joliet to visit my oldest son every weekend, so at least I know how to get there.

It will be held on the evening of October 25 at the Rosemont Allstate Arena where a lot of the old WWF shows were held. (My best friend was a wrestling groupie and used to attend all the shows held there, but I think I have mentioned that before.)

So, all my wishing and blogging in every site imaginable has finally paid off. But, there is one big problem.

Matt Hughes has been laid off for six or seven more months and may be attending the event out of loyalty or curiosity (because it is so close to his home), although there is not a chance that he will be fighting Matt Serra. 

Does that just count for half a wish being granted or what?

Possibly twin brother Mark could have his first UFC match under the exclusive contract he signed a few months ago. The HIT squad (short for the Hughes' Intensive Training gym) could possibly take advantage of the location to debut new talent or maybe Pat Miletich could drive some of his guys over from Iowa and make it a real Midwestern affair.

Too bad Andrei Arlovski and Tommy Speers are with other organizations now, as are Robbie Lawler and Jens Pulver.

So, who will be there?

My family will be in the audience, if I have my way, but since I didn't whelp any UFC fighters, I can't contribute to the evening's card. Although my youngest son, who looks like a 6'2" Josh Burkman, and my oldest son (39 and a little old to take up MMA) would love to fight, they wouldn't be eligible.

Matt Serra is most likely saving himself for Matt Hughes. All of the other fighters I can think of are in UFC 87, 88, or 89. 

Tell me is anyone left?

Doesn't it just figure that all my favorite Canadian fighters and those from Greg Jackson's gym all have fights in the other three events.

I never thought there would be a fighters' drought in late October! 

All along I have hoped for a New Year's Eve event with the two Matts headlining in "the grudge match to end all grudge matches." It would be a Midwest version of the fabled Hatfield and McCoy feud of the ages.

Do you think Dana would let BJ Penn fight Kimbo Slice? (I can't believe I said that!)

If only Dana would let women fight in the UFC!

In this situation, poor old granny is clueless! 

Or at least I was until I read a Google Blog saying that--ahem--none other than Anderson "the Spider" Silva will fight Patrick "the Preditor" Cote for the main event, while the co-main event will be Diego "the Nightmare" Sanchez fighting Thiago "the Pitbull" Alves! Wow!

Suddenly life is looking much brighter in spite of the fact that Peoria is being pelted by a vicious thunderstorm (hope it doesn't ruin the crops; luckily, we just got a load of hay put up in the barn as the storm rolled in).

Are you ready for a chorus of "Happy Days Are Here Again?"

P. S. You can scratch Spider and the Predator--they are on for September now.

Guess we should sing something else--"Pop Goes the Weasel" maybe?

Woo hoo!  Color me happy!  Today, July 26, 2008, Dana White confirmed that Anderson Silva and Patrick Cote will fight at this event after all;  so lets just bounce this baby back to the "Happy Days are Here Again" refrain.  Let's sing along with Gramma Dee!