Behind the Scenes at UFC 104

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 1:36 PM EDT Comment 28 comments

Here's the scoop from a veteran of more than a dozen UFC cards on press row: in many ways it's much better to watch at home. Live at the arena, it is sometimes harder to follow the ground work, you miss the hilariously biased commentary from Rogan and Goldberg (who I love, seriously) and it is less socially acceptable to scratch yourself as needed.

But there are little things you miss watching from the couch. And I'm hoping to share them with you, the bloodyelbow.com reader.

Which fighters were there and drinking a little of grandpa's cough medicine? Which celebrities daringly refused to look up for more than a few seconds at a time, fearing, perhaps, looking upon the grim visage of someone who was not beautiful? Who said what backstage? Finally, these pressing questions have been answered.

But a taste...

Hilariously manager Ed Soares translated the champion's remarks, even the ones made in English. As we all suspected, the translation did not match the champion's words, leaving open the question of what these foreign fighters are actually saying during press conferences and interviews. The crowd continued to let its unhappiness spill out, the boos perhaps offering a cathartic relief and preventing hundreds of fist fights later that evening. Ringside Coleman shot the bird to no one in particular, perhaps to an unfair world, and attempted to console Rua.

More, plus exclusive interviews and commentary by MMA journalism stalwarts like BE's own Mike Rome at Heavy.com.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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The Seedy Underbelly of UFC 104

Ringside Coleman shot the bird to no one in particular, perhaps to an unfair world, and attempted to console Rua.

I like this. You’ve got to figure that all the while Coleman’s figuring “hey, I whooped on this guy for nearly fifteen minutes, and that was after I broke his leg. I could be the champ!”

Which is fantastic for me, because I can’t think of too many bad potential matches in the UFC involving Mark Coleman at this point.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Oct 27, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Coleman was getting into it with security a bit too. Just having a time. Sadly, more people were recognizing “Stitch” and Bruce Buffer than the former UFC Heavyweight champion.

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it really shocking that people recognize more relevant characters in the UFC universe than a guy who made his run over 10 years ago?

Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Oct 27, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. I guess that depends. Would more people recognize Ray Leonard or Stitch? Joe Montana or a member of the current 49ers radio play by play man? I wasn’t shocked by it necessarily, just saddened. I remember a time when all the world heavyweight champions used to be introduced before a fight for the title in boxing. In MMA, the former champions aren’t given this respect.

Besides, they are counting on Coleman to be a semi-main event level fighter on PPV. Having seen a billion of these interactions, I was shocked at how easily he moved through the crowd.

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might have missed it, but they didn’t show Coleman on the PPV broadcast from what I saw. Seems odd, considering they showed David Spade holding up a bottle of Jack that he swiped from the mini bar. Former Hall of Famer and Heavyweight Champion and you don’t even give him face time, especially when he’s still fighting for your organization? That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Or maybe I just missed them showing him on screen, which is entirely possible.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Oct 27, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I asked my buddies if they saw him because he was hialrious. He went right up to Shogun before the fight and gave him the fist bump. Then he stood next to the whole crew bobbing his head to the beat.

Remembering the first fight between the two, it was surreal. I’ve never seen someone jump into the middle of a fighter’s team like that, seconds before the fight!

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had to rewatch this and Snowden’s description is pretty much spot on. Coleman has somehow been allowed to jump over the railings and is right behind the cutman giving Shogun a big thumbs up, fist bumping Ninja and shaking hands and hugging with several of Shogun’s trainers. Really bizarre to see. And yeah, even Goldy and Rogan didn’t notice him during Shogun’s entrance despite talking about their fight repeatedly while Coleman was on screen.

by rabrown on Oct 29, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comparing Mark Coleman to Joe Montana and Bruce Buffer to the 49ers RADIO play-by-play guy isn’t exactly analogous.

And there’s plenty of old-time baseball/basketball/football, etc. players from the early origins of the sport that are completely forgotten or unknown by the modern fan.

Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Oct 27, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, those sports are decades and even more than a century old…so that’s not really analogous either. Coleman was a fighter in his prime less than 10 years ago!

What it told me was that the fans rich enough to sit cageside are not, for the most part, hardcore fans who would recognize a UFC Hall of Famer who was in a prominent position on a card not so long ago.

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sitting cage or ring side at an event seems to be more of a social event for people rather than being there to watch the event.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Oct 28, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe ppl just are a lil trepidatious about or uninterested in walking up to Coleman.

by naturalist on Oct 28, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coleman’s the goddamn man. He woulda tooled Ortiz.

by omigawda on Oct 27, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which fighters were there and drinking a little of grandpa’s cough medicine? Which celebrities daringly refused to look up for more than a few seconds at a time, fearing, perhaps, looking upon the grim visage of someone who was not beautiful?

who cares? if thats the news people want, they will be more enthralled with the life of paris hilton than that of the world of MMA.

I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08

by MicahW on Oct 27, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mark Coleman huffing around the cage and shooting the bird after Rua’s loss was delightful. Sorry.

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah

Because the only news that is ever reported on MMA blogs is about that which occurs inside the cage.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which of your favorite fighters drank a little to much? Which celebrity doesnt like ugly people? … just seems a bit tacky and sensational, like the journalists who cover what britney was wearing when she shaved her head.

I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08

by MicahW on Oct 27, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is clearly tongue in check. Its an amusing experience, not something to be taken this seriously.

by szucconi on Oct 27, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, I hated myself for studying the celebrities so closely. It was like I couldn’t control the burning need to know whether Anthony Kiedis appreciated Anthony Johnson’s KO (P.S.: HE DID!)

Honestly, this column is much more about the entire live experience than it is about rumor mongering or celebrity gossip. Hope that doesn’t disappoint TMZ!

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

all apologies. i read it without the “tongue in cheek” tone and thought i was reading something written with a “perezhilton”-esque tone.

I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08

by MicahW on Oct 27, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read the article @ Heavy.

How is being the least hit fighter in UFC history a weakness?

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Oct 27, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s not a weakness for the fighter in the least. It’s kind of a weak selling point though, especially when you’ve spent 4 years raising your fans on the idea that Chris Leben had the ultimate fighting style.

by JonathanSnowden on Oct 27, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t wait to attend my first MMA event. I’m going to Fedor vs Rogers. How good is the experience?

by ChiCubs23 on Oct 27, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say, all depends on the crowd. That card should be a good one but judging by the crowd response at ufc 90 in Chicago last year I’m not sure how they’ll react.

by ufc4 on Oct 27, 2009 7:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I was at UFC 90 in Chicago and I don’t remember much b/c the chick sitting next to me kept talking to me, taking pictures of us (mind you I had never met her before) and I think she was hitting on me b/c she kept wanting me to go with her to the bathroom. Then everytime a fighter came out she wanted us to dance to their walkout music – this dancing included her bumping on me and what not – really odd.

I went to WEC 42 in Chicago and enjoyed myself probably b/c I was at the top of the top of the building and not too many people up there that were drinking – just people wanting to see a fight.

I’ll be at the Fedor/Rogers fight too and I guess that will probably be just as different as the other two. I got really good seats just above one of the fighter walkouts.

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Oct 28, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Live MMA crowds are always full of rowdy drunks and ignorant meatheads, so be prepared for that; it’s just something that comes along with the sport. Other than the usual issues related to dealing with obnoxious fans at sporting events, seeing the show live is an awesome experience and I highly recommend going at least once.

"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by in the fight, what you saw, in the ring." - Tito Ortiz

by CasualMMAFan on Oct 27, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Live MMA crowds are always full of rowdy drunks and ignorant meatheads, so be prepared for that; it’s just something that comes along with the sport.

So, in other words, it’s like the crowd at pretty much any sporting event.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Oct 28, 2009 6:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

10% Gorgeous Blondes with fake tits (usually found flirting with someone in VIP for free drinks)
70% Fat Bald Drunk Men with Goatees, Affliction shirts,VIP passes, & bling
20% Athletes/ Trainers/ Educated Fanbase

by beersnbroads on Oct 27, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs