One of the fastest growing sports in the world is gaining ground in the Valley of the Sun. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full contact martial art that includes techniques drawn from boxing, kickboxing, karate, muay thai, and other disciplines, has become a sport of choice in the Metro Phoenix area. Numerous fitness studios, including Power MMA & Fitness, Fight Ready MMA, The MMA Lab and more, offer courses and training in this sport.
This weekend, Bellator MMA, the country’s second largest martial arts promotion, is returning to the Valley after a seven-year hiatus. His fighters will take over the Footprint Center for Bellator 268 on Saturday, October 16. Tickets are still available here.
Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, who will be fighting Corey Anderson, has been itching to fight in the area he trains in. “Bellator’s return to Phoenix is enormous,” he exclaims. “I’ve been trying to get it here for ages, and when they told me this card was in Phoenix, I was thrilled. Hopefully the fans will be loud so that Bellator will want to come back. “
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According to Bader, an Arizona State University alum and former co-owner of Power MMA in Gilbert, MMA is becoming increasingly popular in the Valley for a number of reasons. “A lot of people want to live in Arizona, which brings fighters here,” he explains. “There are also a number of good gyms where fighters can train with world champions. The combination of these two elements begins to develop and the fans want to come out and support. “
Arizona martial arts legend Benson Henderson, who will face Brent Primus in the Bellator Cage on Saturday, offers a unique take on what could bring more Arizonans to the sport.
“It’s this wild west mentality. People still carry guns on their hips out here, that’s just the mentality. I think there is something in the air of Phoenix. “
Benson’s wife Maria Henderson will also fight at Bellator 268 and jokingly interjects, “It’s too much heat.”
Benson and Maria Henderson will both fight at Bellator 268.
She continues: “Everyone loves to stand behind someone who is there. The community is getting bigger and bigger and more fighters are coming here. People see them at jiu-jitsu tournaments, in the store, at local wrestling tournaments – so they can see that they are real people. It creates a sense of community and family. “
Benson adds, “You see these guys all over town. They go to that store or that dealership. People like it when local athletes succeed. The more an athlete is exposed, the more people like it. “
With Bellator 268 returning to Phoenix, it makes sense that the battle card should be stacked with fighters from the hometown as well as those with ties to the region.
Although currently training in Canada, Lance Gibson Jr Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I think a lot of wrestlers who go to ASU switch to MMA because they see the money in it,” he says, theorizing why Metro Phoenix is experiencing an MMA boom. “You get a lot of great fighters who also come from the ASU and spread throughout the valley.”
Doors for Bellator 268 at 3:30 p.m., events from 4:00 p.m. For a full battle map, as well as further information and ticket information, please visit bellator.com/event/282.
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