UFC 101 Experience and Thoughts

Ever wonder what it was like to go to a UFC event. Well WKR reader sonofapsycho was in attendance at UFC 101 and we are very pleased to have his reflections from the night here at WKR. Slightly edited.

Promoted from fanposts by Zak Woods

I have now recovered enough to provide everyone at WKR with my thoughts on how the crowd and atmosphere felt at UFC 101.

First about the crowd and atmosphere. One word to describe the crowd was really hot.  It was also very well educated gathering with appropriate reactions for all transitions, etc. I'm not sure how it came off on television but it was really loud throughout the fights.  I dare say almost up there with Canadian crowds.

For the first fight of the night the place was about 80% full and ready for the fights to start.  Big crowd pop for Danillo Villefort.  He got a huge reaction for whatever reason.  Villefort and Jesse Lennox was the true fight of the night in my opinion. It was a great back-and-forth fight that unfortunately ended abruptly and controversially when the reply showed the cut was caused by a headbutt.

UFC 101: Declaration coverage

Some other quick random thoughts and goings on and the crowd during the particular fights:

• I sat across from Dana's favorite reporter, Kevin Iole, on the subway on the way to the fights.  He was with two other reporters that looked familiar but couldn't tell you who they were.
• I met Jim and Dan Miller at the Cadillac Grill in the arena before the fights.  This Cadillac Grill place was the restaurant that was open to all the suite and club box seat ticket holders.  Nobody seemed to know who they were but me. I got a photo with them and talked to them for a little bit.  Very cool guys.
• There was some confusion on when the fights and gates opened. I'm not sure if there was a change last minute or what was going on but the tickets said the fights started at 7:15 but Villefort and Lennox started around 7:40.
• It took the Philly crowd a good 15 seconds before they started to boo loudly the feeling out process by Villefort and Lennox
• Zero reaction to both of the George's.  As the fight went on people got into it.  Roop was a lot tougher than I thought. Big, big reacation to the submission and the numerous replays.
• Big pop for Matthew Riddle.  Everyone loved him.  He came out to Michael Jackson's "Beat It."  There was a section of the crowd that got a "Let's go Cramer" chant going.  The fight itself was a tough, good fight.  Riddle was the clear winner.  Also, Riddle, has absolutely no idea how to lock in a rear naked choke.  Find the fight online and you'll know exactly what I mean.
• Thales Leites was just awful. The fight itself was really bad.  Lots of feeling out in the first round with no guy really doing much. Sakara would just hook off the jab and Leitas would shoot...and miss over and over. The second round Leitas showed some life and secured a take down and had mount position on Sakara.  The 3rd round, Leitas, did absolutely nothing. Sakara followed him around and stuffed or just stepped aside of Leitas' shoot attempts and landed some nice right hands and left hooks off the jab. The crowed booed the entire round and really had enough of it.  You can call the fight a draw or give it to Sakara by a point. No way in hell did Leitas win all three rounds like the one judge saw.
• John Howard/Tamdan McCrory was another good fight that probably should have been on the main card. The crowd was really into Tamdan. He came out to this awesome death metal. This was the first match Joe Rogan did a post fight interview.  Huge reaction for Rogan.  It was funny because John Howard thought the cheers were for him.
• Aaron Riley/Shane Nelson got bumped to the main card when the prelims went long.  The Howard/McCrory fight ended about 9:40 pm and there was no time to start the match.  Buffer got on mic and told us there would be a 20 minute break until the PPV started.  Nobody was into this fight at all.  The cheers you heard during the fight were in response to the two cat fights in the stands that got everyone excited. 
• Everyone was really into Kurt Pellgrino.  Big pop for the Jersey boy. Neer was unjustly booed pretty loudly.
• Good reactions to Ricardo Almeida and Kendall Grove. Almedia of course was the fan favorite (and one of my favorite fighters) being from Jersey. There was tons of Hawaii people in the crowd but it seemed they could care less about Grove. Big pops to the Groves armbar attempt and the big slam from Almedia.
• Everyone seemed into Amir and Hendrix while it lasted.  Everyone thought it was a premature stoppage. Big "Bullshit" chant  when the replays were shown and during the Hendrix interview. Miragliotta was booed loudly when announced as the ref for BJ and Kenny.
• HUGE reactions for Forrest and Silva.   You could really feel the electricity in the air for this one. Forrest was the clear fan favorite and Anderson got the heel reaction so to speak. The crowd turned and Anderson got a HUGE ovation post fight after the knock out.  There were lots of "Run Forrest Run" chants as Forrest was heading to locker room.  The knockout itself was a bit strange at first.  Everyone seemed to wonder what the hell was going on and there was kind of a "THATS IT? WTF was that?" feeling to it. One second Forrest was on the ground, arms flaying on the ground and 10 seconds later he was running to the locker room.  It was pretty awkward minute there.
• The electricity in the air was still there for the main event. There were an enormous amounts of BJ Penn fans and shirts everywhere. There were a bunch of Hawaii flags waiving as well.  Loud chants of BJ" throughout.  Everyone I talked to seemed to be for BJ and not one of them gave Kenny a chance in hell.  I did see one dude with a Kenny Florian shirt on though. There started to be some laughter and sighs during about the 4th or 5th take down attempt by Florion.  Everyone in my suite was getting a kick out Kenny trying his best to take him down and at the same time in amazement on how good BJ was at stuffing him each time. One of the biggest pop of the night was the take down BJ in the 4th.  Going into the round you had the feeling this was going to be over in this round.  As soon as the take down happened everyone seemed to get up in anticipation of the ending.  When you could see BJ had the choke locked in everyone went ape shit. 

I think thats about it.  I'll post some of my pictures from the night sometime soon (I have close to 300). If anyone is wondering about anything else that went on I'll be happy to answer.

UFC 101: Declaration coverage