All Eyes on the Garden
As the sport of Mixed Martial Arts continues to explode in popularity, we sent one of our reporters to one of 2023's most anticipated events at the iconic Madison Square Garden. Here’s what we saw.
Madison Square Garden has been home to the most notable and influential moments in combat sports history, and the UFC’s annual visit to the iconic arena is no different. Since New York’s 2016 legalization of mixed martial arts, making it the 50th and final state to do so, the promotion has put on 7 blockbuster events at the arena, the most recent of which being UFC 295 on November 11th.
The announcement of UFC 295’s original main event between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic made waves in the MMA community. Ticket prices for the event reached a record high, with the most expensive seat in the house selling for $112,000.
Unfortunately, ticket buyers were devastated to discover that a pectoral injury forced Jones out of the match. UFC matchmakers scrambled to restore the event’s marquee value, putting together a last minute bout between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title — two young contenders with catastrophic fight-ending abilities. Instead of a clash between two legends, spectators would be witnessing the future of the sport.
The matchup was slotted as UFC 295’s new co-main event, bumping the light heavyweight title match between former middleweight champion Alex Pereira and former light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka to the top of the bill. The UFC had successfully prevented disaster.
On the night of the event, masses from all walks of life poured into the arena. Amongst a predominantly English-speaking crowd, there were mutters of French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Czech. Draped in the flags of their nations, it was not hard to identify those supporting their countrymen.
UFC events generally have 12–14 fights (UFC 295 had 13) which are divided into 3 stages: early preliminaries, preliminaries, and the main card.
In the early preliminary headliner, Astoria’s own Jared Gordon won a battle of attrition against Mark O. Madsen, sending the olympic wrestler to the canvas with a punishing right hook that ended the fight. “I used to shoot heroin in Penn Station underneath this building,” Gordon told Joe Rogan in his octagon interview. “Now I’m fighting in it, and knocking guys out.”
The event continued with thrilling knockouts, submissions, and full fledged wars under the bright lights as thousands of fans surrounded the octagon. When Tom Aspinall began walking out to Sting’s “Englishman in New York”, the ambiance of the room elevated in tension. Nervous anticipation for a collision between the two of the most dangerous men to walk the planet gradually set in.
After UFC announcer Bruce Buffer set the tone for the match, Pavlovich and Aspinall placed a hand on each other’s shoulder as a sign of respect. The embrace yielded mixed reactions from the audience, with some left puzzled and others appreciating the gesture.
The men backed up to their corners as Referee Dan Miragliotta squared them off. Pavlovich connected with a hook to Aspinall’s jaw, backing up the Englishmen. The crowd gasped in unison, but Aspinall remained composed. Just seconds later, Aspinall unleashed a jab-cross combination that put the Russian powerhouse on wobbly legs. Another combination left Pavlovich flat on his back as Referee Dan Miragliotta pushed Aspinall away; the crowd erupted into deafening chaos.
The upset win had the new interim heavyweight champion in tears as the belt was wrapped around his waist. “If you ever get the chance to do something and you’re scared to do it,” said Aspinall, “you should absolutely f*cking do it.”
Excitement for Aspinall’s win quickly faded as Pereira and Procházka entered the cage. The two former champions stood completely still, staring at each other with unwavering confidence. Even those in the upper deck of the arena could feel the intensity.
The audience roared as both men had impressive moments in a closely contested opening round. Procházka imposed his wrestling game while Pereira hindered his movement with leg kicks.
In the second round, Procházka was finding success with his strikes until Pereira landed a left hook that forced Procházka to collapse. He quickly recovered by attempting a takedown, but a relentless barrage of elbows from Pereira crumbled Jiří. Referee Marc Goddard had seen enough.
The crowd applauded the new light heavyweight champion as he sat atop his coach’s shoulders. Pereira had become a two-division champion in just 7 UFC fights, the fastest it had ever been accomplished.
Exhausted fans filed out of their sections after expending the last of their adrenaline, disappointed that the night had come to an end. During this time, an usher could be heard chatting with his coworker. “We have the best job in the world,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than this.”
