UEP IV Vendetta brings mixed martial arts back to Daphne Civic Center

Mainstream wrestling has been supplanted by a new style of fighting—mixed martial arts—that combines boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into a brawling hand-to-hand combat hybrid. The rise in popularity of mixed martial arts has made some of the sport’s most successful athletes, such as Randy Couture, into household names.

Couture is a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championships Hall of Fame and is one of only two UFC fighters, the other being B.J. Penn, to hold a championship title in two different divisions—heavyweight and light heavyweight.

“Previously, the whole concept of MMA was kind of a cult thing,” Ultimate Event Promotions owner Nelson Berry said.

“Everybody wanted to be a high school quarterback,” Nelson said of the traditional path star athletes take during their formative years.

“Now, some of the best athletes are going into MMA. With a bigger talent pool, MMA is becoming a fixed sport,” he said. “It’s not two guys beating each other’s brains out. It’s a true sport.”
Mixed martial art has dominated the pay-per-view market in recent years. Eleven of the 12 best-selling pay-per-view events last year were MMA, according to the Nielsen ratings system.

“Vendetta” is the fourth installment of the UEP fighting series in Daphne. The previous three events have also been held at the Daphne Civic Center.

“Our first event was kind of small,” Berry said. “But our last events have been huge.”

Some of the teams featured at the event include: Pensacola Boxing Academy, Team Headhunter, Team Contender and Team Capitao.

“Capitao is the premier MMA School on the Gulf Coast,” Berry said.

The event also features star fighters: Jason Knight (9-0), who’ll battle for the 145-pound amateur belt; Randy James, of Port City MMA of Mobile, fighting for the 155-pound amateur belt; and James Hammortree, of Team Ice out of Ocala, Fla., who will challenge the 185-pound pro belt.

“We have some of the best fighters on the Gulf Coast,” Berry said.

“Big John” Dixon, owner of Dixon’s Dungeon in Biloxi, Miss., is set to referee the event.

“We put on a top-notch production,” Berry said. “If you’ve only seen a match on TV, you need to see it in person. This will be our biggest show.”

General admission seats are $30 in advance or $40 the day of the fight. VIP cage-side seats are $75.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 877-FIGHT40 or by visiting UEPLive.com

- Sasha Heller, Daphne Bulletin