Fists and guitar picks flew at the MMA Knockout Weekend at the Ford Center Friday and Saturday, August 23 and 24. Fists Will Fly and MMA Extreme produced the event that featured music, lots of MMA (mixed martial arts) action and special appearances by MMA personalities.
The weekend kicked off at the Tropicana Evansville on Friday morning with a press conference and an MMA Experience featuring
Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz that gave fans a chance to get up close and personal with the fighters. Ortiz and Cristiane “Cyborg†Justino returned for day two of the Experience on Saturday. The fun moved to the Ford Center on Friday night with a concert headlined by veteran rockers Kansas and openers Badhorse. On Saturday night, Ford Center played host to the MMA Tri-State Showdown with an action packed evening in the ring. The fight card included a number of tri-state area fighters as well as co-headliners John Troyer vs. Anthony Lapsley and Nate Moore vs. Dominique Steele.
“This was the first major MMA event at the Ford Center, and it was an honor to host this caliber of mixed martial arts competitors here this weekend,†said Executive Director Scott Schonike. “We certainly appreciate the big names like Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and
Cris Cyborg making the trip to Evansville, and we’re pleased with the welcome that Evansville has given them.â€
The Ford Center is gearing back up for a busy event season with Kirk Franklin August 31, Sesame Street Live September 6-8, Rascal Flatts October 12 and Lady Antebellum November 10.
