So, without knowing any of the fighters, why should you get out to as many local mixed martial arts events as possible?

It is simple! Local events and your support of them are the key to the future of this sport. If only friends and family of the amateur fighters or new pro fighters were to attend these events, the promoters wouldn’t be able to continue promoting fights due to financial reasons. Putting on a local MMA event is not cheap. The expenses include the purchase or rental of a cage or ring, rental of a venue, payroll, printing of fliers, tickets, and posters, sound, lighting, etc. As you can see, there is a lot that goes into putting on just one show, let alone a regular yearly schedule of shows.

Let’s discuss the fighters you would likely see at a local MMA event in your area. I am sure you already know that the skill level will be much lower than what is seen a a UFC event. This could be something that keeps you away; but, for me it is something that brings me to drive two hours to events such as MMA Big Show: Onslaught, which I attended November 28 at Belterra Casino in Indiana. If you only watch the most skilled of all MMMA athletes, then you are missing out on the true beauty of the sport. The rise from meager beginnings and very limited skill set to becoming a well-rounded top tier mixed martial artist.

This weekend I witnessed a few fighters that I believe will have a great future in the sport. Imagine getting to know Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) or tenth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10)  when they were young and just starting sambo and wrestling respectively.  Then being able to follow their careers to where they are now. It would be quite amazing, wouldn’t it?

Lightweight Chris Bennett (0-0), middleweigth Michael Dabe (0-0), and welterweight Brian Fransisco (0-0) are three amateur fighters that could succeed in a sport where so many fail.

Bennett is the MMA Big Show lightweight champ and, along with a very savy submission game, he showed quick hands in his win over Brian Karmolinksi (0-0) at Onslaught. He is 16-1 in amateur fights and says he would like to get 25 wins before going pro.  I found that refreshing in a world where so many are looking to go pro and make the cash fast, record be damned.

Dabe has a record of 3-2 in amateur fights after his win last weekend. It was not his record that impressed me, but rather his composure in the cage and his submission victory. He pulled off an arm triangle from the bottom  which we rarely see, especially against a well-trained fighter like Fransisco. His rise to the top of the sport will only be limited by his dedication.

Fransisco is only 15 with a record of 2-1 in amateur fights. His uncle is “Mojo” William Horne (5-2) and he gets to train with guys like “Mojo”, “Pitbull” Josh Souder (7-4) and Neal Rowe (2-2). He was upset with his loss, but, at 15 and surrounded by such sound fighters, sky is the limit for this young teenager.

I am now able to follow these fighters, who I got to meet and form relationships with and one day I will be able to say I watched the UFC champ back when he was an amateur.

You have this opportunity as well, right there in your own city. We even see pro fighters like “Merciless” Kevin Barkdull (1-2), who has the right attitude and seems to only be lacking a solid camp to train with better fighters in order to take his game to next level. These fighters need your support and can use the help in getting their names out there. They are looking to you, the fans of MMA, to help them get to the upper echelons.

I am going to be attending Ohio Xtreme Fighting: Crossroads In Dayton December 12 to watch the rise of some new talent. OXF is an organization based out of my hometown, Dayton, and run by former UFC fighter and my ex coach Michael Patt (12-4). I will get to see the following pro fights: Mitch Lyons (1-1) versus Doug Bowling (0-0), Thor Castillo (1-2) versus Joseph Inboden (2-2), and Justin Fletcher (0-1) versus Carson Gainey (2-6).

Castillo and Lyons are two fighters I believe can become top-level fighters. The others I know nothing about and look forward to learning something about them. There will also be 16 other fights that night. That is 19 fights for the small price of $20.00 for general admission or $25.00 for ringside. I think that is a great deal for fight fans. Not only do you get to see 19 fights, but you get to see and meet other MMA fans.

So, as you can see, at a local MMA fight you get to see more fights than a UFC or Strikeforce card and you get to watch the rise of the next big stars in mixed martial arts and even have the chance to become friends with these fighters. Right now local MMA is a hit or miss business for most promoters. They have to schedule fights and worry about low attendance due to college football games, NFL games, UFC, or Strikeforce fights, among many other things. It is in our hands, the fans of MMA, to keep this sport alive. Without a place for local fighters to test their skills this sport will fail due to lack of a steady stream of improving fighters.

Get out and support your local mixed martial arts organizations and tell your family and friends about the good time you have and the great fights you’ll see. Then call into MMA Gospel Radio and let us where you have gone to keep the future of MMA alive.

Tune in and call in to MMA Gospel Radio at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT every Saturday. MMA Gospel encourages listeners to call in to the show or join us in the live chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel.

Former MMA Big Show middleweight champion “Mojo” William Horne (4-2) submitted “Merciless” Kevin Barkdull (1-2) in a rear naked choke at 4:01 of round one in the co-main event.

Cornwell entered the cage with the crowd going crazy while Browning entered amidst a barrage of boos. Browning used great footwork to avoid a few shots and then gave one of his own that dropped Cornwell. Browning jumped on top of him and ended up in half guard. Browning looked for an arm and, while defending, Cornwell gave up his back. Browning rolled him over and used rubber guard to look for a gogoplata, coming close to pulling it off. Browning switched to a triangle and then to a reverse triangle which ended the fight.

The fight between Horne and Barkdull hit the ground quick; and, Barkdull did a great job getting to butterfly guard. Horne worked to pass and made it to side mount where he postured up to unleash punches. Barkdull looked for a leg lock, but let it go as Horne took mount. Barkdull defended by giving up his back. It didn’t take long for “Mojo” to lock in the rear naked choke.

MMA Gospel Radio broadcasted live from MMA Big Show at Belterra Casino.   You can listen the broadcast in the archive at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel.

Chad Edward contributed to this report.

Reverend Turk will be joined by co-host Gary Friedman calling in from New York.

Expect to hear pre fight interviews as well as all the latest news from all around the world of mixed martial arts.
You can listen live as well as join the chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel

Browning will matchup versus Scott Cornwell (1-0), who won his pro debut by submitting Charles Cooper (1-4) in the first round at MMA Big Show: Mayhem at Belterra Casino September 12.

At UFC Fight Night 18 in Nashville April 1, Browning was submitted in a guillotine choke by “Magrinho” Cole Miller (15-4).

Middleweight “Mojo” William Horne (3-2) will return from his disappointing 43-second knockout loss to “Bubba” Robert McDaniel (14-5) at MMA Big Show: Mayhem.

Horne will try to right his career versus “Merciless” Kevin Barkdull (1-1).  Barkdull was submitted in a choke by Daniel Head (6-2) at War in the Yard in Anderson, Indiana August 9.

Fighters.com will be live at Belterra Casino covering the fights November 28.

Doors at Belterra Casino will open at 7:00 PM local time.  Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.