WCFC: Asylum Fight Card Heavy on Prose

Pro fighter, Darrell Flores has more nick names than Jay Z, Prince, and P Diddy combined. Diesel, Phenom, the Mexican Fiesta; add The Chameleon and Tenacious D to the list, because after watching Flores fight, he is like a different animal every time and his fights are non stop action.

Darrell is the first fighter I've ever seen incorporate WWF moves in a live fight and make them work without the acting. What Flores also has is what is considered by most in the industry as the best fight in 2010 held at the Knitting Factory back in April.

Darrell is fighting Philthy Phil Gebaure, perhaps best known for his flying first round knee knockouts. This is not a fight to be missed, and when you're watching it, trust me, do not blink or look away, because whatever is going to happen in this fight, it is going to happen fast.

Support this local star and look for him on bigger stages in the months to come. Watch a few of his fights here and see him do a back flip with a 45 pound weight vest strapped to himself.http://darrellflores.com/

Weighing in at 155 with a record of 3 and 0, Patrick Prescott, "The Package", is an impressive fighter, who is going to have his hands full with local Chase Cowin who is coming off a win while successfully defending his title in XFS #56 last weekend.

Hollywood Zach Owens, should watch for Striking Ryker Ranstrom, because for all his strikes, at 170 Ryker can shoot. Look for this pro fight to turn in to a battle to the Nth degree.

Then on to the big boys...Kyacey "Ice Cold" Uscola from Boise. Kyacey, pronounced Kasey...Ice Cold, because he will stand in the pocket and throw down. After his recent 2010 fight on Spike TV's, The Ultimate Fighter, Kyacey was attacked by pit bulls. Unfortunately, his second instinct to run, gave way to his first instinct to do battle and battle he did.

Kyacey suffered slices from teeth and his hands, shoulder, sides, legs and one serious piercing where he calls the dog's "money" shot, which nearly left him eunich-ly un-endowed. Kyacey fought on and rumor has it, he carries a pit bull wallet to this day.

I've even seen him from a seated position stand up with a larger fighter in his grasp and upper body him right out of the ring. Uscola does not play. If you sit in the front row to this fight, don't be surprised if a fighter ends up landing in your lap.

Jarome Hatch is a strong striker with an unpredictable tribal edge from Utah who is up for this challenge with what he calls his two most powerful tools: his hammer twins, jack and sledge. With 22 fights under his belt, he comes with a lot of experience and and a lot to prove against his superstar opponent, Uscola, who Ken Shamrock called in 2010 the best 185 in the world.

With a few other pro fights, and 9 amateur fights on this card, the Knitting Factory should prove to be the perfect location for you to see up close and personal some seriously intense bodies hitting the ground as this trailer indicates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWuOkHiAkZo

Elton John: Did WE Pay the Price for Fame?

I would like to make an argument for why the ticket prices for Elton John should have been higher, while answering the question: “How did Boise, Idaho get the likes of Elton?”. It is no secret that Boise has been bringing in some serious names recently thanks to the raging battle, we in the industry call “venue envy”. Having each of the seemingly 100 venues in the Boise area trying to outdo the competition, without question, benefits the public. The price we pay often has nothing to do with the ticket prices. So, exactly how much are we giving up?

Elton John played to a nearly sold out crowd recently at the Taco Bell Arena, which I and several friends attended. Being an avid concert goer, and having seen hundreds of major and minor productions, and having seen Elton perform at least 15 times in my life, I must say I was dissappointed. I hate writing negatively, but here is how I saw it. When I pay nearly $200.00 or any price over $100.00 for a ticket, to anything there is an implied understanding, that you have put some effort in to this event. You have stated with that price to me that you are not just bringing a perfomer, but you are bringing a performance...a production.

Elton's recent concert was not a production, it was not flamboyant, and it was not impressive. It was a neatly formated walk down memory lane of Elton's 30 years of hits that lasted 2/3rds of the way through the show. After that, Mr. John showed up and played his new tracts, took a bow, and left stage right...

It is rare that a performer will allow a venue to sell a concert that is set up for an end-stage show, and then to sell completely around the stage. In the rare circumstance that they do, the understanding on both sides is clear: Your view will be obstructed if not absent, and for that you will pay less than the fans who bucked up early and bought the tickets ahead of time. This show charged the same price. An argument could be made that those people should have bought earlier and their punishment should be to pay full boat. However, it is the fans who sat in front of the stage who suffered much because of it. Trust me, this decision was made late and heated arguments took place between the venue, the promoter, the artist, and the managers and whomever won is less important than the fact that we lost.

A production has bells, whistles, fireworks, backdrops to die for, riggers dangling from the ceilings risking their lives during the shows, and ultimately, the grand daddy of them all...wardrobe changes. If you've ever seen Elton perfom dueling pianoes with Billy Joel or seen Elton's risque headliner show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, you know he has it in him. What we saw was paramount to Liberace playing an organ in jeans, t-sirt, tennies, and no jewelry. It was a piano player trying to sell cd's for his new stuff, and this fan was not sold.

The argument ended and the decision was made without our input. "If tickets are sold behind the stage they must see as much of the actual show as possible." With this decision, the backdrop stayed in the truck, the fireworks were put out, and the wardrobes might as well have malfunctioned.

The daily or weekly doesn't write this way for a reason, but writing is supposed to do multiple things besides communicate a mild, septic review. Writing should be used to ignite and to make a difference. A voice who says we deserve more when we do, and who declares, job well done, when done right. At this TixxMixx Blog, we are told to write how it is, while being fair and accurate.

In Elton's defense, he didn't have to come, but he did. In our defense, if you are going to roam the earth and dazzle and come to Boise and fizzle, then don't come to Boise, we'll see you in Vegas. If you come to Boise, do Boise right and the fans will pay even more for the shows. We have money and have proven that we will consistently spend it even on a Wednesday night if you come. If nothing else, I have learned since moving here in the last five years, Boise demands respect and will not be taken for granted.

We will continue to see big names come through this valley as the artists are forced to tour more due to lagging income from record/cd sales and that pesky free world wide dread, the web, but the promoters should take note that we appreciate their efforts, but we will not be placated at expensive shows endlessly. So, charge more if needed, but demand full productions and let US choose to pay the price of fame, but don't give us lame.

-Derrenger...

XFS #56

XFS #56 went off without a hitch, well almost. Despite the fact that this event was postponed, this house was packed. We have never seen so many VIP tables at a fight before; all well positioned and a great vantage for the fights and possibly the best seat in the house for the fight that broke out in the stands when one fan tackled another from the walkway into the crowd in the Lower Bowl below.

It happened late in the 3rd round of Urwin's Heavyweight battle. Just as the fans were demanding more action from the octagon, the crowd exploded into a roar and everyone leaped to their feet. An army of red security shirts swarmed to assist. The marines, who were there in an recruiting and advertising capacity, were also there to lend a hand to end the scuffle.

One of the promoters was quoted as saying, "That's why they like having these over by 10."
A lead security officer said it started in the bathroom and spilled out into the crowd after some sort of altercation in the restroom. Between the security force, the marines, and the fight fans, what could have turned into a melee, was doused within seconds. Fast enough for those who were thinking about swarming to keep their buzzing to themselves.

This squashing was as impressive as the night. The quality of fights, the amount of belts exchanged, and the amount of undefeated's who finally met their match, made the night a success and this fight fan ready for XFS #57.

For more pictures click here.

Steelhead's Playoff Run Knocks Out Planned MMA Fight in Boise

Boise's MMA fight, XFS #56, was postponed due to the Steelhead's success in the playoffs. Don't let this knock-out fool you, this card is packed.

Nasty Nate Becker is a well-known Oregon native who has won by submission twice in under one minute. Becker has also won in the first round standing up and going toe to toe. Whatever his opponent wants, Nasty Nate Becker delivers. Don't miss this exciting fighter up close. Watch this quick 46 second, round one choke out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmEXHc-Xab4

This card only gets better with Boise's own undefeated Chase Cowin putting his Light Weight CCF World Title on the line against the number one contender, Carlos Calderon. Btw, by the looks of his work outs, Calderon is up for the challenge.

Two local fighters, Lowell Urwin of Boise and Juan Iracheta of Team No Excuse in Caldwell joked at the weigh in on Thursday at Qwest Arena, but both vowed to be ready for their heavy weight fight against each other; another belt is on the line with these two giants.

Pound for pound this event, put on by Knockout Promotions, just might be the best value in the valley for entertainment in a long time with 13 fights on the card. Come out also and see the winner of this season's first ring girl contest, Sarah, who beat out a few pros at the Montego Bay last weekend. This event is called Organized Chaos, but if it is anything like the contest was, things just might get a little un-organized.