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May 24, 2007 8:41 am US/Eastern
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Keller @ Large: Why Is Ultimate Fighting So Huge?
by Jon Keller
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
If you've seen ESPN The Magazine or Sports Illustrated this week, you'll notice ultimate fighting is on the cover of both.
And if you ask the guys in your life what they think of ultimate fighting, and given the incredible surge in popularity of this new sport, chances are they'll tell you - it's the ultimate.
This often-bloody sport is outstripping boxing, pro wrestling, and even football in popularity among young men nationwide.
In his Somerville gym Wednesday night, trainer Mark Dellagrotte worked out Pete Spratt, a top ultimate fighter on the televised pro circuit that has packed the house with a diverse array of customers hoping to master this melting pot of a sport.
"It's almost like the American way of life," Dellagrotte said.
"You can get everything in one spot, you can get ground striking, fighting, boxing, wrestling, combine it all into one, you've got mixed martial arts."
For Spratt - nickname, "The Secret Weapon" - the spate of magazine covers is mainstream validation of a cultural obsession that's been no secret to millions of die-hard fans for years.
"For so many years our sport has been held down because it was seen as so violent, but they realize this is a true sport, we're true athletes and we're finally getting the notoriety that we deserve," Spratt told me.
The Boston area has strong local ties to ultimate fighting, including UFC president Dana White of South Boston and top contender Kenny Florian of Dover, a geographical diversity that speaks to the broad appeal of this underground phenomenon that you now know all about.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)