UFC 83 (Disc Two) Is Now My Favorite Comedy Video

Although I am at home treating a sinus infection instead of playing at the water-park for the weekend with my husband, youngest son, and two of his children, I am having so much fun I feel absolutely guilty.

For the first time, I finally viewed the second disc of the UFC 83 Montreal event, and I have been watching it over and over all day.

The event was so hyped up over the feud between the brash New Yorker Matt Serra and the refined French-Canadian Georges St. Pierre, that I really never dreamed it would be so hilariously entertaining.

My whole day has been filled with laughter and amazement.

Matt Serra had a stint as a pseudo-stand-up comedian during his six weeks on TUF Six series as a coach, opposite his true enemy Matt Hughes, so I knew I would crack up watching those video discs since there was rarely an episode that didn't crack me up as I watched the original show on Spike.

But how was I to know how much comedy could be included in the features of a day in the lives of Matt Serra and his polar opposite GSP? I am so happy I watched UFC 83 and not TUF 6.

Because Georges speaks English as a second language, I have always found his difficulty with American idioms to be charming. Disc two has its share of mixed up idioms and the occasional misused word, which is still charming, but Georges has a sensational sense of humor, and when he plays straight man to Serra's comedic riffs, it is hysterically funny.

Both men showed more good nature and far less hostility than was evidenced in the first 10 minutes of TUF 6, when the two Matts squared off at the initial meeting with Dana White. And the fun continues from the "Behind the Scenes" to "the Weigh-Ins", the "Pre and Post-Fight Conferences" and the "UFC.com Featurettes".

I am not sure how long disc two is, but I do know I have never watched any other disc this many times consecutively.

Actually, the humor is not limited to just Matt and Georges. The counterman and possibly owner of Serra's favorite turkey-burger deli is also a real hoot, and the "Reserved for Matt Serra" sign on the seat where Matt always sits, the banter between this man and Matt, and the man's suggestion that Matt sneak the over-sized stainless steel pepper grinder into the ring "to hit Frenchie in the head" had me rolling on the floor.

Likewise, Georges' give and take comments with his entourage is equally entertaining and perhaps one reason that he trains with such complete dedication; what a wonderful camaraderie they have and so much downright fun with each other.

Ray Longo and Matt Serra have their own special friendly 'schtick', accusing each other of stealing jokes and one-liners from each other. Their friendship is so warm you can feel it radiating through the TV in high definition waves.

The best times I had when I was working always involved finding students, patients, or co-workers with great senses of humor and being able to interact with them. Time goes so much more quickly when everyone is laughing and having fun. 

That is exactly what happens on "disc two", which has made it my favorite preoccupation. I just wonder if I will get tired of watching it before my family comes home and begins to question my sanity.

At any rate, even Dana White, whom I usually find to be quite tedious, made me laugh at one of the press conferences when a young woman asked if she could have the hockey jersey he was wearing.

Dana is at first taken back by her request, and then with completely unexpected generosity, he does give her the shirt right off his back, to the audiences' approval and her obvious delight.

Rich Franklin was especially funny as he related (at the post-fight conference), how a fan reached out and grabbed his left arm as he was proceeding into the octagon for his fight, explaining that his security contingent "must have used some sort of karate move on the spectator" to finally free Rich's arm before the man could pull him to the floor.

Matt Serra was just as amusing post-fight (in spite of his glaring injuries being in evidence, though covered by dark glasses), as he explained that at one point he was just hoping that Georges would get tired of beating on him.

Georges, in explaining that it would not be a good sign if he didn't have butterflies before a fight stated that "he just had to make them line up and fly in formation", while making a large "V" shape with his hands.

He was so delighted with the audiences responding laughter that he stated that he guessed he should be a poet and smiled more widely than I have ever seen him smile.

I am still having warm fuzzies in spite of having to deal with the every four hours treatment of my sinuses.

So—for all the fight fans who enjoy the thrills of an excellent MMA video, as well as an unexpected bonus of a dose of good will and laughter, treat yourself and your loved ones to the two-disc video of UFC 83.

I know the UFC 87 Pay Per View is rapidly approaching, but buy it anyway. It is well worth the money and besides, Grandma Dee told you to buy it.