When Indiana passed legislation in 2009 officially sanctioning mixed martial arts events, it was only a matter of time before the UFC came calling.
On Sept. 25, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world's largest MMA promotion, will set up shop in the Hoosier State for the first time in its history. UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop will take place at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis that day.
Mixed martial arts has cleared many of the obstacles that stood in its path during its "no holds barred" infancy to become a billion-dollar industry and one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
The UFC put on 20 live fight cards in 2008 and 2009 and will hold 24 in 2010 -- its busiest year ever. A typical large-scale UFC event, like UFC 119 in Indianapolis, generates gate revenue in the millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of pay-per-view buys.
UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner told The Times last month that ticket sales were already over $1 million with six weeks before the show.
UFC 119 will be headlined by a heavyweight fight between former champion Frank Mir and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, one of the sport's legends. Hoosiers scheduled for the card are former NFL lineman and Purdue product Matt Mitrione, South Bend-based lightweight Steve Lopez, Indianapolis firefighter Chris Lytle and unbeaten Sean McCorkle, of Indianapolis, who will make his UFC debut.
Today, we begin a series of previews looking at the fights and fighters on the card.
Pat "Awesomely Awesome" Audinwood, 155 pounds, 9-0-1 (0-0 UFC)
Fighting out of: Team Bombsquad, Cortland, N.Y.
A newcomer to the UFC, Audinwood is a cousin of Bombsquad teammate John Franchi, a former WEC fighter. He'll put his unbeaten record on the line against Thiago Tavares.
Audinwood has fought just once in the last year, a decision win in April on an M-1 Challenge card in Atlantic City.
Audinwood gets a different opponent than the one he signed on to fight. He was scheduled to face Tell City, Ind., native Aaron Riley, but an injury forced him off the card.
"I won't have to change too much," Audinwood told The Times. "They're both tough, veteran guys and dangerous in all positions. So I'm taking everything into consideration.
"This is what everyone is looking to get to as we start out watching all the stars and fight in the local little shows. I can't wait to get out there and just be able to take everything in. I don't think it's hit me yet."
Thiago Tavares, 155, 14-3-1 (4-3-1 UFC)
Fighting out of: Florianopolis, Brazil
Tavares was one of MMA's most highly touted prospects when he joined the UFC in 2007, just 22 at the time. At 10-0 when he signed with the promotion, all of his wins were by stoppage -- nine by submission.
But after going 2-0 to start his UFC career, Tavares lost three of his next four before rebounding with a win over Manny Gamburyan at UFC 94 in January 2009 -- his biggest win to date, given that Gamburyan will fight Jose Aldo for the WEC featherweight title later this month.
After fighting to a majority draw against Nik Lentz in January -- thanks to a point deduction for a groin kick -- Tavares pulled out of his UFC 114 bout in May with an injury.
So without a win in more than 20 months when he gets into the Octagon in Indy, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace will certainly be itching to get back on track.
