Thursday, October 27, 2011

You tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world?

You tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world?

At a press conference in Toronto to officially announce UFC 140's main event of Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, Dana White called Toronto the fight capital of the world. Considering how Toronto sold out the 55,000-seat Rogers Center for UFC 129 in April, it's not a stretch to commend the city for its support of MMA. But is it the capital?

Las Vegas, Nev. -- The homebase for Zuffa also hosts more UFC events than any other city every year. Recently, Sin City has also become the home for Strikeforce: Challengers shows, and it is also the home of some of the best MMA gyms.

Los Angeles -- The UFC turns to L.A. for its big heavyweight bouts, and the city turns out for every bout. If Orange County is included, the Los Angeles-area also is the home to Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz and Mark Munoz's successful gym.

Rio de Janeiro -- With the exuberant way Rio responded to UFC 134, they jumped right onto this list. They also deserve to be here on the back of the Nogueira brothers, fighters born and raised in Rio. No word on if they danced along the sand.

Sydney -- Australia has embraced MMA wholeheartedly, selling out huge events the past two winters. Not only that, but fighters like George Sotiropoulos gleefully sell their country as an MMA haven at every opportunity.

Tokyo -- Though Japanese MMA isn't what it once was, Tokyo will always have a place in MMA's lore because of its role in launching Pride Fighting Championships. Their crowds are not the raucous masses of humanity that are in Sydney or Rio, but Japanese fights are spectacles like no other.

Toronto -- Dana White's choice for the world's MMA capital has plenty of fight fans and fighters. Though it is the city that dumped Sean Pierson from their police department for being a UFC fighter, it is also the city that welcome the UFC with open arms the second it was regulated there.

Now you tell us: Where is the fight capital of the world? Did we miss any on the list? Vote in the poll, and tell us your thoughts in the comments or on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/You-tell-us-Where-is-the-fight-capital-of-the-w?urn=mma-wp8229

Willie Allen Mike Wallace Gary Hocking Tomoyoshi Koyama riStar Motorsports Chevrolet Ricky Stenhouse Jr Mark Martin

No comments:

Post a Comment