A New Kind of Knockdown
Arnold Classic loses UFC neighbor, but gains first C-bus World Extreme Cagefighting event
By David McKinney |
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When news broke late last year that the Ultimate Fighting Championship would not be returning to Columbus in March for their annual show in conjunction with the Arnold Fitness Classic, many local mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were extremely disappointed.
UFC cage fighting
Photo: Chris Casella
Even more hurt by the news, however, were the local businesses. The Arnold/UFC weekend brought an estimated $60 million per year to the Arena District and surrounding areas the past three years, and with the recession already taking its toll, the loss of a big chunk of business would hurt even more.
But it will not be a total loss for businesses and MMA fans in March. The Arnold Fitness Classic will still take place from March 5th - 7th at the Convention Center, and instead of having a UFC event on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena, UFC sister company World Extreme Cagefighting - which focuses on the lighter-weight classes of the sport - will make its much anticipated debut in Ohio.
"With the UFC expanding into new markets this year, they weren't able to make the trip to Columbus, so we saw this as a perfect opportunity to come into a new market and do something really special with Columbus," WEC director of public relations Dave Stroller said.
The WEC was slated to have a show in Youngstown, Ohio, last September, but main event competitor Ben Henderson was injured in training and the show was postponed and later moved to San Antonio.
Ohio has long been a targeted market for the WEC, said Stroller, because of the high ratings in the state for the organization's broadcasts on the cable network Versus.
Similarly to the UFC, WEC officials plan to incorporate the Arnold into their plans for the weekend.
"It's a natural fit for MMA to be incorporated with the Arnold Classic," said Stroller. "We'll have an autograph booth and plenty of other attractions for fans at the Arnold."
For fans that may be skeptical of the show that the WEC is bringing to Columbus, Stroller was quick to assert that this change is not a step down for Columbus.
"Make no mistake about it, these fighters are the best in the world at their respective weight classes, period," Stroller said. "We're bringing the highest caliber of fighter at 135 pounds, 145 pounds, and 155 pounds."
With a confirmed card in hand, the WEC has already begun marketing the event on TV and radio in Columbus.
In the main event, bantamweight champion Brian Bowles will make his first title defense against challenger Dominick Cruz. Former bantamweight champion Miguel Torres, one of the biggest stars in the WEC, will also be on the card, alongside former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver.
"We're bringing our best card of 2010 right to your neck of the woods," Stroller said. "And we're certainly expecting the fans to turn out."
WEC 47: Bowles vs Cruz @ Nationwide Arena
March 6th
www.wec.tv
Arnold Sports Festival @ the Greater Columbus Convention Center
March 5th - 7th
www.arnoldsportsfestival.com
Originally Published: February 1, 2010
