Minneapolis Enjoys Big Night in First-Ever UFC Event

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As mixed-martial arts continues to grow in popularity, Minnesota hosted its first Ultimate Fighting Championship as “UFC 87: Seek and Destroy” invaded the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. Ticket sales grossed $2.2 million, beating any other act in history at the Target Center.

What was supposed to be the fight of the year between Minnesota native Roger Huerta and Kenny Florian ended up being a fight where Huerta didn’t appear to be at 100 percent. Florian won a unanimous decision after three rounds in which he threw fewer punches than usual, but effectively landed those thrown. As the fight went on, Huerta appeared visibly discouraged as he would look up at the clock and even dropped his gloves late in the third round as he knew what the result would be.

“I felt fine for this fight. I had a smile on my face before the fight. I’m going to learn from this and come back stronger,” Huerta said.

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The undercard of the night could have easily been the main event as another Minnesotan, former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar, who only had two MMA fights, took on Texas’ Heath “The Crazy Horse” Herring in the heavyweight division. A monstrous right hand from Lesnar set the pace for the fight as most of the match was on the ground. Lesnar used his size and strength as he smothered Herring on the mat, proving that his ground and pound is a force.

As the fight ended, Lesnar pointed and laughed at Herring in the ring as he knew victory was only moments away. After his arm was raised in victory, Brock yelled to the crowd, “Do you see me now?”

In the main event, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre put his belt on the line against former Purdue wrestler Jon Fitch. Going into the fight, Fitch carried an eight-fight win streak, tying Royce Gracie’s record. It looked as though St-Pierre would pull off an early win in the first round as he landed numerous clean punches to the face as well as hard knees to the solarplex.

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To the surprise of many watching, Fitch survived the first round and came out strong in the second, landing shots of his own that ultimately would send St-Pierre to get stitches after the match. The third and fourth rounds proved the endurance and sheer will power of both combatants as Fitch took a beating from St-Pierre but still kept coming at him strong.

“At one point in the match I thought to myself, what do I have to do to stop this guy?" St-Pierre said. “It was very discouraging.”

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As the match ended, all were on their feet as GSP’s name was announced the winner.

In the press conference when asked if Fitch thought he hurt St-Pierre he stated, “I hope so, God I hope so.” On his smiling face were two swollen eyes with stitches under both eyes and numerous cuts and bruises. In regards to going to the hospital Fitch said, “I don’t need to go to the hospital. It’s only a few cuts on my face.”

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“Jon Fitch was the toughest fight I have fought yet. He gave me a war and a good fighter is based on the wars that he’s been in. We are both going to come out better fighters from this,” St-Pierre said.

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For complete results from UFC 87, log on to www.ufc.com.

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