By Paloma Mena
Saturday, October 25, marked a shift in my relationship with sports. Never in my life had I cheered so loudly, nor been so invested, as when I was watching two people in knight’s armor battle for glory in a cage fight.
If you’re confused, I was, too, when I got an ad on my social media feed for “Armored MMA,” which promised epic battles between two challengers dressed in full suits of metal, using swords, axes, and elements of mixed martial arts. I’d been looking for the perfect gift to get my partner for their birthday, and well, how could I resist? In my mind, turning twenty was a big enough milestone that we deserved to sit front row. I figured it was a happy medium between Bears’ tickets that I couldn’t afford, and a birthday card with twenty bucks inside. This is how I ended up driving an hour to the Hammond Civic Center with low expectations, but an open mind.
I don’t think I was prepared to witness the extravaganza that is Armored MMA. What struck me most wasn’t the fighters’ dress or their weapons, but the passion of the fans and participants. Everyone that helped make the fights possible, like the commentators and the camera crew, seemed invested in creating a world that mixed fantasy and reality in a particularly violent way. As for those in the audience, we were vocal about supporting the fighters we liked and booing the ones we wanted to see get taken down. Let me clarify: this was nothing like Medieval Times.
The fighters weren’t acting; they were looking to improve their stats and entertain the audience, which didn’t put them above besting their opponents with aggressive swings of swords and tackles to the ground. There was never a dull moment, but a favorite of mine was after a brutal win where fighter Kris Fuller showed no hesitation nor mercy. It was revealed by the post-fight interviewer that it was her opponent’s first official fight. The crowd was shocked. We’d been cheering on Kris as she struck her sword against the newbie repeatedly, not realizing why the fight was so entertaining. I usually root for the underdog, but I enjoyed watching this person get pushed over and hit with blows more than I should have.
As I mentioned, I’m not big into sports. However, as I watched the fight with Kris Fuller, I pumped my fist and yelled along with the crowd. These strangers around me became allies in the struggle, and I realized that this is how it must feel to be a sports fan. You win as a team and lose as a team. My days of rolled eyes at sports fans are over; I get it now. It wasn’t the countless baseball games I’ve attended or seeing the Bears finally get a win that changed me. It was Armored MMA that brought me to the love of watching the game.
