A Letter to Dana White: How A UFC Main Event in Philly Could Make An InterNational Impact
Make that 8-1 for Sean Brady after a Main Event dogwalking of Leon “Rocky” Edwards in his own backyard of London, England in the legendary O2 Arena.
Just one of the many young Philly fans who would probably benefit from some jiu-jitsu in their life.
A little bit about us Philly faithful — after the Super Bowl loss in 2023, the Sixers being the Sixers, and the Phillies’ collapse in 2023 and 2024, this city might have actually burnt down if the Eagles didn’t win last year.
In the future, it’s probably better we take this energy out vicariously through gladiators than amongst one another. On a much more serious note, fighting amongst one another is something Philadelphians do entirely too often. Unfortunately, the weapon of choice is typically not a fist.
Gun violence has affected me personally. In 2022 a man was shot and killed in front of my house. That same year, another was shot 13 times a few houses down, and in 2023 a gunfight erupted in broad daylight at my go-to corner store. I moved shortly thereafter.
Without REAL-TIME solutions and a culture shift, ending gun violence in this city feels improbable.
Philadelphia is a dangerous town.
It has been for decades.
As is Chicago and New York, LA, Memphis, St. Louis, New Orleans, Birmingham, Cleveland, Orlando, Baltimore, Detroit, Camden, the list goes on…
I know I’m not saying anything new.
It’s a dangerous country we live in.
It’s time the conversation and actions were altered to reflect more real-time solutions.
We need to spread this message in an entertaining and attention-grabbing fashion that guns are not the answer.
Those doing the shootings aren’t at the town hall events where good citizens plead to city council to make a change.
Bring the conversation to them.
In the words of Space Jam’s Swackhammer:
Not validating this report, but as you’ll see below, PPV numbers are down.
“WE. NEED. NEW. … ATTRACTIONS !!!”
As does the UFC
AND AS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT always will.
No matter how great the fights are, sports entertainment will always benefit from a worthy story and a larger message. Like UFC Noche, you can continue the trend of UFC events with a bigger picture. This time a bit less literal — without the thousand-foot-tall stone warriors soaring through The Sphere. But also without the massive production budget that came with it.
Less gun violence is a message the entire country can get behind, especially black America, which is arguably more in tune with boxing than MMA.
Guns down.
Gloves up.
It’s one of the most important messages that needs to be communicated in our country at this time.
I think there’s a way to share this message, put on an incredible main event, make a ton of money, draw in a new crowd, and be lauded for the effort across news and media organizations that previously wouldn’t have really touched the UFC.
This is the kind of event that could make an impact.
You’ve got a lot of feathers in your cap, but this would be one like no other.
It’s a concept you can do anywhere, but it would be felt strongly here in Philly.
Before we get to the matchups, here’s a big dumb idea that would definitely sell tickets and could actually make an immediate impact on gun violence.
A brilliantly Dumb Idea to put the cherry on top of the event
Open the main card with an amateur fight.
Settle a block war in the octagon.
Have both groups sign contracts to settle the beef after the fight.
Although I prefaced it as a big dumb idea, the message and impact could be monumental.
The Potential MaTCHUPS
UP FIRST… FOR THE BELT.
@mma.theory
Or if that doesn’t get booked…
Or maybe even what @mma.theory suggested…
A few key fighters were left off the card above, namely — Bassil Hafez and Nursulton Ruziboev. They’re highlighted in the previous proposal below.
Before we get to that, we need to flip Jack Hermansson for Bo Nickal vs. Andre Petroski.
The previous Philly card proposal from @mma.theory
via @mmatheory
via @mmatheory
via @mmatheory
Joe Pyfer and Sean Brady are both legit title contenders. Pyfer is one of the most exciting fighters in the game and Brady continues to showcase that he belongs with the best.
With a rabid and ultra-supportive fanbase ready to show out for their guys, Patrick Sabatini, Jeremiah Wells, Andre Petroski, and Bill Algeo will all be more than ready to put on for the hometown crowd.
A homecoming for Bassil “The Habbibi” Hafez would be massive. He looks the part of a man on a mission and is quickly becoming one of the most exciting up-and-comers at Welterweight.
Add in Nursulton Ruziboev, a dedicated Marquez MMA team member and the entire country of Uzbekistan will be there. Randy “Rudeboy” Brown has a skill level that makes him one of the most dangerous and exciting contenders in Middleweight. Let’s not forget the Jersey cats: Erin Blanchfield, Vincente Luque, Phil Hawes… I’m probably missing a few.
Let’s talk about some Heavyweight action for a minute though. You could bring back Chris Daukaus to see if he can’t make a mess of someone on a short contract. PFL and now BKFC Heavyweight, Pat “The Brick” Brady is a 40-year-old Hometown Hero who stands up and bangs. You could open this card with an epic set of slugfest.
And if Chris’s brother, Kyle “The D’Arce Knight” Daukaus, keeps winning CFFC title fights after a respectable first stint with the UFC he’ll want a say at this thing too.
You could stack this UFC Fight Night with Philly and Philly-affiliated fighters alone to make it a Main Event card, but all you need to do is add on a title fight and you’ve got a can’t-miss lineup guaranteed to put up highlights.
Legacy
This town deserves a legendary night of UFC action.
Your cap should have a Philadelphia feather.
I know you know Philly and Boston are fucked up cousins.
The original idea was Feb. 15, 2025
This was the original date posed by MMA Theory. I, for one, loved that idea. In beautiful synchrony with the magic of the city, the date matches the area code.
Put the Welterweight belt on the shelf in Philly and the card has CLASSIC written all over it. The MMA World would love that.
It’s no surprise that one of these bouts came to life and it’s mostly because Andre Petroski is one of the many STRAIGHT UP DAWGS over here. Taking on another top-tier challenger on short notice, the now 8-2 Middleweight Petroski faced Brazilian BJJ World Champion, Rodolfo Vieira, and won unanimously. He once again called out Bo Nickal to settle the case for best UFC grappler in the state.
Since then we’ve seen Philly show out for smaller combat sports events in droves.
Not that any Boots fight should be considered “small”.
The Ring reported that the card headlined by Jaron "Boots" Ennis vs. David Avanesyan produced a live gate of $1,188,430 on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Total attendance: 14,365. Solid turnout for a hometown fight without a big-name opponent for Ennis. A primetime UFC card littered with Philly fighters would sellout the arena in a heartbeat.
The BKFC’s Chairman, Delco’s own, David Feldman, has declared Philly the new home of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He has also projected that they will break the UFC’s attendance record for a show in the city… for clear comparison, this is the BKFC’s biggest event of the year. The UFC’s Fight Night featuring Justin Gaethje in 2019 was that — a Fight Night, not Noche.
Wrinkles are good
Noche was the coolest “wrinkle” to a UFC card we’ve seen yet.
Without McGregor the last 10 years are quiet for the UFC amongst the absolute top events.
Celebrating the history of the fight game and the spirit of a nation in a one-of-a-kind event at the world’s most spectacular new venue in Vegas was surreal.
Another wrinkle here and there certainly wouldn’t hurt.
The UFC is still far and away the king of combat sports, but it’s no longer in a league of its own. Some of the sport’s biggest draws are nowhere to be found and without McGregor the UFC’s pay-per-view buys are much less prevalent.
At this point, I’m more likely to have a drink with Mystic Mac on a random Tuesday in South Philly than watch him in the octagon.
The hype and buzz built up during the pandemic when the UFC was the only thing going and brought in a swarm of new fans has dwindled, and beyond Noche, it’s been a while since the UFC had a monster PPV and gate.
Philly is A Staple of the Fight Game Today and instrumental to its history
Philly Boxing Greats… plus Rocky & Creed Jr…. lazy Canva work by yours truly. XO
The CFFC is officially/unofficially headquartered in Philadelphia and has made a home at 2300 Arena in South Philly.
The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is founded by Philly-area native David Feldman. According to one of BKFC’s most recent instagram posts, they are gearing up for their biggest event yet right here in the city.
For the first time in a long while, an arena combat sports event was held at the Wells Fargo Center with Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the reigning and consistently ducked IBF Welterweight champion, who made his first title defense there and will do the same in November.
As already mentioned, the UFC itself has a handful of fighters that grew up or train here as part of a very tight knit team via Marquez MMA, Webb MMA, and Team Taino.
Historically speaking…
Philadelphia is one of the most infamous fighting cities in the world. The town, the culture, the people themselves are synonymous for being hard-nosed, gritty, tough. Smokin’ Joe Fraizer and Bernard Hopkins are two of the best boxers to ever do it. Eddie Alvarez was the first fighter to win belts in both the UFC and Bellator. We’ve even got the most popular fictional fighter of all-time in Rocky.
We’re well overdue for an epic combat sports event. Boots Ennis will likely bring a big name in soon, but that single title fight boxing event wouldn’t compare to a UFC event with a backstory and a slew of hometown fighters.
Eddie Alvarez deserves a goddamn statue, man.
Bernard Hopkins, too.
Bare Knuckle lit up Philly for its biggest event yet.
Now with two promotions calling Philly home in CFFC and BKFC, it’s only right we build up to the granddaddy of them all to blow the roof off this bitch and do some serious good in the process.
The Bigger Picture
Put an intentional focus on the PR surrounding the event to put the GUNS DOWN and pick the GLOVES UP.
There is an unprecedented amount of gun violence in Philadelphia.
An inordinate number of shootings and killings in our country as a whole. I’m not even going to do the research but besides war-torn countries, we’ve got to have more than any other.
WAIT, I DID THE RESEARCH.
Guess who’s 1 and 2 in gun violence… Brazil and USA.
2/3 of MMA’s Axis of Awesome — Russia Dagestan makes it whole.
Let's keep the momentum rolling here.
Not pretending like I know the legality of that, but I know that would put asses in seats. Further, the urban audience is more in tune with boxing than UFC, you’ll bring in some new fans through through this venture as well.
Long story short…
let’s fucking do this, Dana.
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