Discovering the Hidden Fight Nights

2009 January Sports and Fitness

Words by  by Dann Gaymer Shots by David Smith

The large cavernous room is lit dimly by only the low red light emanating from the lamps that sit on tables surrounded by half finished bottles of beer and platters of fruit or else the pulsing strobes and twinkling fairy lights up above. Korean businessmen in expensive suits sit back as they smoke their cigarettes, the pretty girls accompanying them giggling amongst themselves like school girls as they nervously observe the scene before them. The ceiling is covered by what looks like a mutated Christmas tree beneath which bouncers in smart suits ferry drinks and menus to and from the tables, while a few businessmen and ajunas who started drinking a little too early dance stiffly to the Euro-Pop that blares from the huge speaker stacks on either side of the empty stage, and the strobe light turns the dance floor into an epileptic nightmare. Just then the music changes and the lights reveal the ring which the revelers were dancing next to, literally dividing the room. From behind the stage shirtless fighters and their beanie clad trainers emerge, conjuring a scene reminiscent of one of the many ‘Rocky’ movies. The music fades and another suit-clad Korean steps into the ring, except with a microphone in his hand, and introduces the two fighters who step into the ring; the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

The announcer departs and the referee steps in. A short conversation later and the bell has gone; at first the fighters carefully explore each other, more akin to a game of chess than unarmed combat, taking tentative kicks and jabs, yet not fully committing themselves for fear of losing the upper hand so early on. There is silence all around on the tables and no music, instead the two microphones that dangle above the ring pick up the sounds of the fighters moving around each other and inevitably the sound of flesh and bone colliding as one makes a move and his opponent reacts, amplified a hundred times through the huge PA system. The bell goes and the fighters retire to their corners while a femme fatale in hot pants and heels parades the round number on a placard around the ring. The bell goes and the fight resumes, except this time there is no hesitation. With the exploration period over both men throw themselves at each other in a flurry of kicks, punches, grabs and holds, a physical blitzkrieg of one contender against the other. The audience becomes restless as the microphones capture and amplify the gasps of pure physical exertion. Calls begin to rise from the floor, “Hwai-ting!(fighting)”

Cigarettes flare and drinks are knocked back, all eyes in this glamorous cavern of opulence are glued to the postage stamp of canvas that sits in the centre of the room. One falls to the ground, the other follows him and the crowd are on their feet producing a din of hollers and cat calls.

The venue for this event was the night club beneath the Commodore Hotel, Busan, where on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays a ring is erected. A range of disciplines may be present at the events held here yet they most prominently feature Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) matches, as popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship  organization in the USA, where fighters from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines come head-to-head using practically any means necessary to take their opponents to the floor and then more often than not join them there in a struggle for a quick victory or else a prolonged marathon of will power versus brute strength.

Yet the Commodore fight nights are independent affairs, events that are frequented by those who actively seek them out or else know someone who is competing. With exception of K-1 events that are held in Seoul from time to time such proceedings are generally under the radar and for the most part unknown by the expat community. However that is starting to change due to a group of events promoted by Spirit MC.

The Spirit MC organization has been running an amateur league for over three years now, a well organized and safe series of matches and tournaments. Starting out with the support of reputed Seoul based MMA gyms such as The Blue Dragon or Frankl｡ｯs, by providing events that amateurs compete in to give young fighters a goal in a sport that has no formal grading system, Spirit MC now usually holds a match once every two months, sometimes one for every month, with a record free of any serious injury. As such Spirit MC is regarded internationally as an example of decent promotion that protects its fighters, advances the sport and provides high quality entertainment.

The company has pioneered the cable TV show “Go! Super Korean,” the equivalent of the US reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” but most crucially they are currently   working to integrate a lot more of the   smaller promotions from around the    country, just like the Commodore event in Busan. Spirit MC CEO Kwang Hyun

Park has stated he intends to create or incorporate leagues from other cities including Busan, Daegu and Jeonju. The resulting league will potentially create better professionals who put on shows that people will want to watch and of course will make these shows more accessible and well publicized.

Until then Spirit MC intends to continue holding regular events at the Jang Chung Gymnasium in Seoul, but with any luck soon enough events all over the country will come to light through their efforts, opening up a whole new spectrum of entertainment in Korea｡ｯs twilight metropolises.

Notes:

Spirit MC’s website has all the listings for their upcoming events as well as profiles and biographies on the fighters competing in their league. spiritmc.org/eng

Currently Spirit MC’s events are hosted at Jang Chung Gymnasium in Seoul, which is located at: 200-102 Jangchung-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. 02-2236-4197, guide@jangchunggym.co.kr, jangchunggym.co.kr

By Subway: Exit 5 of Dongguk University Station (#332), Subway Line 3

By Bus: #28, #28-1, #154, #63-1

The Japanese based K-1 tournament hosts between two and three tournaments in Seoul per year; therefore their website is worth checking from time to time for listings of upcoming events. k-1.co.jp/k-1gp/btop.htm

Sherdog is an affiliate of ESPN and an indispensable resource on MMA internationally. Their ‘fight finder’ also provides listings of upcoming events in South Korea. sherdog.com

The Commodore Hotel is a 2000 Won cab ride from Busan station; the cab drivers will know exactly where you mean. Fight night events are Friday through to Sunday, starting at around 8 pm.

743-80, Yeongju-dong, Jung-gu

hotel@commodore.co.kr, 051- 466 – 9101

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