MMA Expo Thoughts

What a day!!!

Yesterday was the kickoff for the MMA Expo, 4th Edition. I said I was going to give you thoughts, and by God here they are. Here is a play-by-play of my journey throughout the day. Get ready for a long one, folks.

9:45 AM - Arrive at International Centre, begin my 5 minute hike across the parking lot.

9:55 - Line starts moving for people to get in

10:02 - Finally make it in, paid my 20 bucks, and entered the hall to find...boxes. Yes, people were still setting up, so I take this opportunity to scout the area to see who is appearing where.

10:10 - I go up to a fitness exhibitor and take a mini fitness test where I fail miserably for all but one test. They had a contest to see who would set the highest records in their tests, and I actually made it on the board for one test.

10:11 - I fill out a ballot to win tickets to a WWE event in Hamilton. Yes, I'm lame.

10:22 - I get to the Silverstar exhibitor where they give visitors the opportunity to play UFC: Undisputed all day.

10:24 - I get my chance to play and easily win my fight (as Demian Maia) against Anderson Silva, submitting him in 43 seconds with a kimura.

10:32 AM - As I look over to my left, I notice Patrick Cote has arrived, so I head over to his area to wait in line for his autograph.

11:08 -



Finally met Patrick Cote! Didn't really get a chance to talk to him though, as there was a massive lineup behind me. But he did seem like a nice guy.

11:12 - After finishing with him, I look over and notice another fighter just arriving...

11:21 -



Frank Trigg! Quite honestly the nicest fighter of the entire day. We chatted it up for a few minutes, asked him what he was doing, and received confirmation from him that he WILL be returning to the ring for sure in September and fighting against Josh Koscheck.
I'll be rooting for you in the fall.

11:27 - I notice a magazine stand featuring an autograph section, so I do not hesitate and purchase one for 5 bucks. And it couldn't have come at a better time because...

11:30 - I notice Sean Sherk arriving and the lineup begins to fill up FAST. I get my place in line and wait...

11:48 -



Sean was another stand up guy, and he still looked pretty beat up. He was just coming fresh of of a loss to Frankie Edgar. I asked him about his future fights, but he said he has not heard anything.

11:54 -



'The Hammer' Matt Hamill. The only deaf fighter in the UFC, was already luring people over as I got my picture taken with Sherk. So I got in line and got him to sign my mag.

11:56 - As I am walking, I notice a lineup forming around the corner, so I wait in line to see...

12:04 PM -



Sam Stout. Stand-up guy to talk to, and agreed to engage me in a face-off. I think I could take him. :)

12:12 -



I am waiting in line to meet Shonie Carter, and sneak a picture of his belts.

12:14 -



If you have seen Shonie Carter on TV, he acts EXACTLY the same in person. Fucking hilarious man.

12:20 - LUNCH!

12:53 -



First one I meet after lunch was none other than 'Showdown' Joe Ferarro. We had a pretty good conversation for about 5-10 minutes or so, and we discussed his show, UFC 99, and what he sees happening in the future. Very nice guy, as he was one of the few people I actually talked to outside of 'Hello, can I get your autograph'?

1:04 -



I make my way to the Hayabusa area to see if I can get Arianny's autograph. The lineup, however, was HUGE. Kang had a smaller lineup, and so I got his picture first.

1:20 - I hear rumblings that James Irvin is soon to arrive, so I get in line.

1:30 - Irvin was slated to arrive, but he was not here, so I waited.

1:40 - Still waiting, and to the left of me, a guy got on the stage and started talking about the benefits of jump rope as noone cared to listen. Oh joy.

1:50 - Irvin still has not arrived and the guy is STILL going. I had to give it to him though, the dude could JUMP.

1:55 - His demo mercifully ends, but I give him my props just as Irvin enters through the door.

2:24 -



James Irvin is HUGE in person man. That's really all that needed to be said.

2:30 - I finally get in line to meet Arianny as it has slightly gone down a bit.

2:54 -



What a trooper. She arrived at 12 and she was signing for probably about three hours. And gentlemen, she IS hotter in person. That is all.

2:58 -



I sidle my way over to meet a soft spoken Mark Bocek.

3:09 - I go back to the Hayabusa exhibitor to buy me a t-shirt. It was either 20 bucks to buy, or 5 to buy AND wear on site. I stripped.

3:16 -



Recently released former UFC fighter Jason MacDonald.

3:25 - I got me a Tapout shirt to close out the day.


So here is my final thought:

Overall, I thought the day was well worth the 20 bucks. There was good interaction, good events, and good people. I met fans from far and wide. By far, my favourite guys I met were Frank Trigg and Shonie Carter. Other than Thiago Silva not showing, James Irvin was my biggest disappointment. So yeah, that's about it. I will be posting my (And Showdown Joe's) predictions for UFC 99 soon enough, so stay tuned!

PEACE OUT!