Scott Adams put on another successful Fight for Wrestling (FFW) — the fourth so far — at the Alex Madonna Expo Center on Saturday night. No one was more proud than his mother, who attended the fight — her first ever — in support of her son and Cal Poly wrestling.
“For her to come see me do an an event here is pretty special,” Adams said — his mother celebrated her honeymoon at the nearby Madonna Inn more than 40 years ago. “I was happy to bring her and show her what I do for a living.”
A former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Cal Poly wrestling alumnus, Adams used his connections on the Central Coast to integrate two sports that require many of the same skill sets. He founded FFW to benefit Cal Poly and Cal State Bakersfield, the two remaining public universities in California with wrestling programs.
“It’s a great tool to bring awareness to wrestling,” Adams said. “We bring in wrestlers that are transitioning into MMA fighters, and that brings awareness to all the universities.”
Expectations were high following the inaugural FFW that raised approximately $20,000 for Cal Poly wrestling in 2010. Official numbers from Saturday will take weeks to finalize, according to Adams, who is already developing plans for another FFW in San Luis Obispo.
“As long as they keep making money, they’ll probably keep doing it,” Cal Poly wrestling alumnus David Giggy said. “Good wrestlers become good MMA fighters, so it’s nice to see MMA support wrestling.”
Students on the Cal Poly wrestling team worked security and sold tickets to support a cause that ultimately supported their own. Kinesiology senior Steven Vasquez, a Cal Poly wrestler, said he was thankful for those affiliated with the event, crediting their efforts with the program’s survival.
Vasquez said he also appreciated the event’s main attraction: cage fighting.
“All the good fighters that are big right now started with wrestling,” he said. “I feel like it’s the base of MMA.”
Plenty of security was on hand for the event as a safety precaution in case violence spread beyond the ring and into the crowd. All guests, including media, were subject to search for illegal items before entering the building.
Besides one man who attempted to enter the building with a knife — “bad habit,” he said on his way back to leave it in the car — no criminal behavior was observed or reported at the event.
Fifteen-foot-tall inflatable beer bottles (the height of the average giraffe) promoted Tap It Brewing Co., the lead sponsor of FFW, who provided alcohol for the night. Food and beverages were also provided by Creeky Tiki restaurant.
“The energy in the room tonight is unbelievable,” ringside announcer and Cal Poly alumnus Matt Gaines said.
Gaines’ company, MG Sports Supplements, began as a senior project. He now operates 31 stores and has proudly sponsored all four FFW fights put on by Adams.
“The event is really coming together,” he said.
Fans taking advantage of ringside alcohol service egged on the fighters with such phrases as “Break his neck!” and “Kill him!”
Before competition, each fighter shadow boxed their way to the ring, where they were met by trainers and inspected by the referee. When both fighters took their corners, officials shut the cage door and the building grew silent with anticipation.
After verbal confirmations and a signal by the referee, both fighters approached the center, touched gloves and went to war.
The first three matches included a 45-second knockout via swift knee-to-the-face, a victory by decision and a two-round knockout punctuated by a celebratory back-flip off the cage wall. Officials announced one more fight to take place before a brief intermission, then wine and viticulture senior Mike Gahan entered the ring with Johnny Medina.
In the loudest moment of the evening, Gahan delivered Medina a second-round technical knockout to remain undefeated in his professional career. Dancing around the ring in technicolor neon shorts that matched his sea of support, the hometown hero thanked friends, family and fellow fighters from “The Pit” in Arroyo Grande.
Gahan plans to fight MMA professionally after graduating; his talent will be sought by Adams and FFW in future events.