Michigan Amateur Show Has Pro Atmosphere
Published by on May 13th, 2009 in Current Events

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By Scott Jeffries

It was really nice to see Ken Shamrock in the Detroit area for the latest MMA show promoted by Donofrio Entertainment at the Palace of Auburn Hills. This was the second time I had gotten to see a Donofrio show, and this one was the best yet in terms of all-around quality.

Shamrock, who is one of the enduring legends of mixed martial arts, did a great seminar the day before the event, with many of the competitors who would be in the cage the next night attending. He took the time to explain how he got into sports in the first place, as well as his commitment to God and spirituality. Very few people are as gracious in dealing with members of the public as Ken Shamrock, and he stayed long after the seminar was over to pose for pcitures and sign items of memorabilia.

The next night he was stationed at a table in the Palace and took on every request. He also got the crowd of over 5000 jumping at the start of the show, when he got into the cage and did a spirited monologue.

This was a high-energy night. The announcer, making his debut for Donofrio, was Phil “The Voice” Davey, who is an MMA competitor himself and has to rank up there with the very best. He was fabulous! It did not hurt that there was a fast pace to the show, with no lag time between one bout and another. There were 15 fights, and the quality of the competitors was pretty high. Anne Morrell is a coming star in the matchmaking business, and definitely a candidate for “first lady of MMA.”

Team Wisconsin brought a full complement of fighters in for the event, and their fighters got a special treat as they were all able to meet and take instruction from Shamrock, who is a big booster of the amateur game. It is also quite difficult to get bouts against good competition for these amateurs, so it is a good thing that they are able to come in and compete against the best from other states, as well as Ontario.

The presentation was every bit as strong as a big-time pro show, complete with the introductions, the runaway, the effects, and as we mentioned, the announcer, who will give Bruce Buffer a run for his money any day of the week.

Of course, it does not hurt that the venue is the Palace, which is a well-known building, home to the Detroit Pistons as well as a lot of other great events in the past. It just cries out “major league,” in that there is no confusion, with everything (including accommodations for the press, we’re happy to say!) being first-class. And this venue, along with the sharp, experienced people involved and the continuum of fights, are very unusual for an amateur series.

This is critical because the amateur game has to live and breathe. The bigger the sport of mixed martial arts gets, and it is growing exponentially in terms of participants, there has to be not just a proving ground, but also a breeding ground, a place to develop.

Hey, judging from the whole atmosphere, the pro ranks might just be a comedown for some of these kids.

Joseph Donofrio, who is building this business from the ground up, knows that consistency is important. He already has announced his next show, NO PAIN-NO GAIN, for September 19 at the Meadowbrook Music Festival Pavilion at Oakland University, a venue that is owned by the same people who own the Palace. A boxing promoter as well, he has more than proven himself to the local fans, who are surprisingly knowledgeable about the sport and are familiar with many of the amateur competitors.

He’s gotten a lot of interest from people around the local MMA scene who are very keen on helping the sport grow in Michigan, which is now just coming into its own as an MMA jurisdiction. There are plans to move forward with events that showcase the best in the amateur ranks from around the country, fighting for Impact Fight League belts. It will be very exciting to watch this program continue to develop.