So about a month ago I was thinking of ways to help the WarMMA website. I thought, I wonder how you get press credentials for fights? So I found a fight night, e-mailed them and asked. A few weeks later, I had my press pass! The only problem was that they were only giving us one press pass so obviously I sent my husband. He was so nervous; he even left without the press pass! The fight started at 7:00 and at 6:00 my husband calls and says, "Did you know that when I signed in, your name was right above mine? They gave us two passes. Did you want to come?" OK, I knew he was nervous; I don't even know if he ever really wanted to be press at an event. So I say, give me a couple minutes and I'll call you back. I have two kids; what do I do with them? It's 6:00 on a Sunday night. Tomorrow they have school. So, I call up my cousin who lives a few blocks away. "Can you take my kids tonight? Chuck just told me they gave me a press pass." She's so sweet, of course she said yes. I yell at my kids to gather whatever they need. Push them out the door and go speeding down PCH. Drop off my kids at the curb and tell them to call me on my cell when they get in the house to let me know they got there. I drive like a maniac to the event. Oh, and did I tell you I printed out the directions for my husband but didn't for me. So I'm going off my brain on this one. Trying to remember how to get there. I know it's close to the Long Beach Airport. There's a sign for the college; I think that's where I'm going! I get there. Did you know you don't have to pay to park when you have a press pass? I go to the "VIP" check in, my name is actually on it. I don't think I've ever been VIP for anything. I go in and my husband is sitting in about the 5th row, right on the floor, feet away from the ring!
So if you want to read about the fights you can...here: http://warmma.blogspot.com/
If you want to see my lovely picture taking skills...look here: http://www.warmma.com/gallery_page_lbfn_02.htm
But I'm just going to give you some highlights, the way a woman sees the fights!
First off, I'm officially old! The music was so freakin' loud, but it's a fun vibe there. I thought it would be crazy fight-lovin' people, wait, it was; but still fun. We met a guy who was new at this whole press thing as well. The first fight starts and POW, one guy goes in for the take-down and they both go right out the ropes and are hanging off the side! Ref brings them back in and POW again, right out the sides. This is why other's use a cage!!! It's all making sense to me now. So my husband is taking pictures and I'm suppose to be writing down what happens. Yes, you heard it right, I'm suppose to be writing down play-by-plays. You should read my notes. There is red corner and blue corner; R and B. B takes down R, out the side, B takes down R again, out the side, fighting, hit to head, bloody nose, yuck.... What? I actually have to ask my husband, "How did the guy win?" Ok, so maybe I'd be better taking pictures. One problem, I don't take very good pictures! Ok, we'll try. This should be fun! I'm running around the ring, shooting pictures of who knows what. Half of them are blurry. I have to get use to the camera we borrowed. But it is fun walking around the floor like I know what I'm doing and I actually belong there!
The best, or most entertaining fight had to be the 3rd fight. Don't know names, don't know much of anything; all I know is it's a lot more exciting when kick boxing is involved! The one guy (btw, not bad to look at!) kicks the other guy in the leg; you can actually hear the SLAP. It's crazy. Then he kicks him again, and again, and finally in the neck. The guy then kicks him in the chin he starts to go down but not before the kick boxer punches him and the poor guy lands flat on the ground. He is out! No, really, lights out - good night - not getting up any time soon. It was scary. Do I take pictures of this? I'm fear is I take a picture and then he's seriously hurt. Then what. I feel like an idiot for taking pictures of some hurt guy. The crowd is going wild; this is what they are all waiting for, a knock-out. Finally the guy gets up and it fine, but wow, exciting. Most of the fights were ok; not too exciting. I had to remember that these guys, although pro do not have a lot of fights under their belts. They're "newbies".
I did figure out one thing; if you're a dork on your "walk-out", I don't really want you to win. This one guy is all dancing to his music; acting all stupid. I don't want him to win. I want him to get his ass kicked! I want to be the one to do it too! You're a dork! Stop dancing and start fighting. If you want to dance, do on dancing with the stars or America's best dance crew or something. Weird.
So I'm looking at the clock on the wall. It says 8:40. It's almost over. Perfect. The kids can be in bed before 10:00 on a school night!! After about 2 fights I look again; it's 8:40! CRAP. The stupid clock is broken. I look at my phone; it's 9:50PM. My kids are at my cousins' house, no one is ready for bed, nothing is set out for tomorrow. Now I'm getting scared. I call my son on his cell phone. He's having a great time at the cousins' house. As soon as the fight is over, I'm outta there. But I take a wrong turn; yes in Long Beach at 10:00PM! My husband beats me to the freeway and says he'll pick up the kids. Now I get to go home to a dark, empty house! My favorite.
So near the end of the fight I hear about another fight happening next week. I get on my blackberry and request press credentials. Why not? What can they d0, say no? Whatever. Yesterday, I got my answer; Yes, we'd love to have you come. We'll see who goes; husband or wife? I'm pretty sure I'll be watching the kids. It's a school night!
Oh, here's my best shot; a clean shot to the neck!
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