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A good band, some hardcore brawling and cold beer.
This weekend’s FightFest at Dodge Arena really is that simple, said area planners and promoters. The event features 12 mixed martial arts (MMA, also known as “ultimate fighting”) match-ups topped off with a live concert, said promoter Cory Fischer.
“This is the first event ever in McAllen that is true mixed martial arts,” he said. “For matches before, they’ve been like a giant pillow fight. The MMA used the same rules that they do on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).”
MMA differs from regular boxing in several ways, said Eric “Butterbean” Esch, the headlining fighter for the event. A fight consists of three five-minute rounds with the fighters locked into a cage. Instead of bulky boxing gloves, fighters wear closed-fist four ounce gloves, creating a no-holds-barred atmosphere.
“It’s much more exciting than boxing,” Esch said. “You can knock (opponents) out, make them submit so they give up or choke them out. You can leave a fight standing up or on the ground, depending on how the fight goes.”
As part of the event’s music presentation, the alternative rock band Saliva will play for 45 minutes at the event’s start, Fischer said. As soon as the concert ends, the fights begin.
“Saliva is a good band, and they have a good feel for the sport,” Fischer said. “Their music and their tempo really fit with the demographic we’re shooting for. The band is theatrically a part of the show and they set the whole theme for the show.”
The combination of Saliva and ultimate fighting will make for a high-energy event, said Jeff “Hitman” DeWitt, music director for KHKZ-FM 106.3. With a heavy blend of rock and rap similar to the sounds of Korn and Limp Bizkit, Saliva’s music complements the atmosphere of the cage fights, especially their hit from the Fast and the Furious soundtrack “Click Click Boom.”
“When I hear that song I think of boxing,” DeWitt said. “If I was going to work out, I would love to listen to their music. It doesn’t get you angry, but it gets you pumped up. It’s adrenaline music.”
Not only does Saliva’s music invigorate the audience, but it also affects the fighters, as well, Esch said.
“It really gets people excited about the fight,” Esch said. “It gets you motivated to fight for a lot of big shows.”
With Saliva’s octane-heavy stage show and the elaborate MMA production, the event should go down as one of the Valley’s most entertaining shows, Esch said.
“It’s going to be exciting,” he said. “Every thing is fast-paced. It’s a ‘Hold on to your hat and get ready to go’ event.”
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Kate Lohnes covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4427. For this and other local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.
FightFest
Featuring Saliva
When: Doors open at 7 p.m., concert starts at 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dodge Arena, 2600 N. 10th St., Hidalgo
Cost: $15-$75
For more info: Call (956) 843-6688 or visit www.dodgearena.com
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