Support Your Local Fighter

Injuries are a part of training and often fighters are asked to step in on short notice as a replacement, but with the UFC roster being trimmed every event, it’s natural for most established UFC employees to be hesitant to fight without enough preparation time. Enter the prospect, the local champion, the part time MMA fighter. One fighter’s injury is another’s shot at the big time. The most recent examples being UFC on Versus 1 prelim fighters Julio Paulino and Derrik Elkins. Paulino most recently fought in Alaska and Elkins in Indiana. So next time you pass up that local MMA show, where you can probably get front row seats for $50, think about the people who went to TKO 14 and got to see GSP choke out Pete Spratt before anyone in the US knew who he was. There may be MMA history being made in your own backyard.