Cage Fighting
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
In June of 2007, Gladiator Elite Cage Fighting brought a new type of entertainment to Warsaw - Mixed Martial Arts. Along with MMA, thousands of dollars have also been brought into the local economy. More than 800 tickets are sold, eight to 10 hotel rooms are rented, concessions and clothing are sold, and many local restaurants benefit from each event. Gladiator Elite generates cash flow through Warsaw's economy and is a legitimate, tax-paying business. I do not apologize for what I do, nor will I ever.
Anyone who has attended our events will attest to the professionalism in which each event is conducted. It is not a free-for-all where a person can "call out" another because he has a grudge. The opposite is true. Each fighter is required to make a specified weight and each bout is matched according to experience and skill level. There is great respect among the athletes in MMA because they understand the extreme effort required to excel in the sport. The mutual respect, as well as the five or six training days per week to prepare for a bout helps classify MMA a legitimate sport. I can personally attest that training for MMA competition is the most grueling athletic experience imaginable. While an MMA bout is a fight, it is not a street fight. The athletes are trained on the proper execution and defense of strikes, kicks, and submissions, so injuries are minimal. There are rules, judges, and a referee who controls the bout. Is MMA a tough sport? Without a doubt. But, it is a sport.
On May 3, my organization held a private MMA event at The Wagon Wheel Theatre. During that event, a minor was observed consuming alcohol. When the individual was asked to provide identification, there was an altercation with police officers outside. Ticket holders must show picture identification to acquire a bracelet permitting the purchase of alcohol. The question has been asked, "How did this individual get a bracelet to allow the purchase of alcohol?" My question is, how does the manufacture of weapons occur inside a maximum-security prison facility while under constant surveillance? Let's face it, people will find or create methods to get things they want. Regardless of how the bracelet was obtained, an individual made a decision to consume alcohol fully aware he was not of legal age to do so. That places the entire blame directly on that individual and nobody else. There is no question and there is no debate. Accusing the Wagon Wheel of any wrongdoing is silly. I would guess that every establishment in the country has unintentionally served alcohol to a minor at one point in time. It happened in this case, but the security measures in place worked, and the individual was caught.
I have made bad decisions in my lifetime, and I have reaped the ensuing consequences. This individual made a bad decision, and is now faced with the consequences. Continuing the "who is right vs. who is wrong" argument or questioning one's parenting skills through newspaper letters is pointless and will only inflame the issue further.
Brian Poe
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
In June of 2007, Gladiator Elite Cage Fighting brought a new type of entertainment to Warsaw - Mixed Martial Arts. Along with MMA, thousands of dollars have also been brought into the local economy. More than 800 tickets are sold, eight to 10 hotel rooms are rented, concessions and clothing are sold, and many local restaurants benefit from each event. Gladiator Elite generates cash flow through Warsaw's economy and is a legitimate, tax-paying business. I do not apologize for what I do, nor will I ever.
Anyone who has attended our events will attest to the professionalism in which each event is conducted. It is not a free-for-all where a person can "call out" another because he has a grudge. The opposite is true. Each fighter is required to make a specified weight and each bout is matched according to experience and skill level. There is great respect among the athletes in MMA because they understand the extreme effort required to excel in the sport. The mutual respect, as well as the five or six training days per week to prepare for a bout helps classify MMA a legitimate sport. I can personally attest that training for MMA competition is the most grueling athletic experience imaginable. While an MMA bout is a fight, it is not a street fight. The athletes are trained on the proper execution and defense of strikes, kicks, and submissions, so injuries are minimal. There are rules, judges, and a referee who controls the bout. Is MMA a tough sport? Without a doubt. But, it is a sport.
On May 3, my organization held a private MMA event at The Wagon Wheel Theatre. During that event, a minor was observed consuming alcohol. When the individual was asked to provide identification, there was an altercation with police officers outside. Ticket holders must show picture identification to acquire a bracelet permitting the purchase of alcohol. The question has been asked, "How did this individual get a bracelet to allow the purchase of alcohol?" My question is, how does the manufacture of weapons occur inside a maximum-security prison facility while under constant surveillance? Let's face it, people will find or create methods to get things they want. Regardless of how the bracelet was obtained, an individual made a decision to consume alcohol fully aware he was not of legal age to do so. That places the entire blame directly on that individual and nobody else. There is no question and there is no debate. Accusing the Wagon Wheel of any wrongdoing is silly. I would guess that every establishment in the country has unintentionally served alcohol to a minor at one point in time. It happened in this case, but the security measures in place worked, and the individual was caught.
I have made bad decisions in my lifetime, and I have reaped the ensuing consequences. This individual made a bad decision, and is now faced with the consequences. Continuing the "who is right vs. who is wrong" argument or questioning one's parenting skills through newspaper letters is pointless and will only inflame the issue further.
Brian Poe
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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