By Todd Stanford
DANVILLE -- The UFC is coming to Danville.
No, not for a Pay Per View event, but for an appearance by two long-time UFC vets. Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, both welterweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, will appear tonight at MATS, a youth recreation facility in Danville.
Bob Cook, a mixed martial arts manager and trainer, will also appear. The program begins at 9 p.m. and there is no charge to the public. Both fighters and Cook will be available for autographs.
With many of the American-based ultimate fighters drawing from a background in folkstyle wrestling, mixed martial arts has a particular appeal to many wrestling fans. Michael Sees, a state wrestling runner-up at Shikellamy who was later a standout at Bloomsburg University, teaches wrestling at MATS. His interest in the UFC has trickled down to his young charges.
"Since my brother got into it, the kids have been following it more and more," MATS manager Tonja Sees says. "(Koscheck and Fitch) are pretty prominent, and a lot of kids are excited to meet them."
Tonja Sees was able to put tonight's event together with the help of Shamokin District Judge John Gembic, whose family helps promote the UFC.
Both Fitch and Koscheck are well-known fighters. Fitch (24-3) fought for the UFC welterweight title in 2008, losing a unanimous decision to Georges St. Pierre. He's currently the second-ranked welterweight in the world behind St. Pierre, according to the popular MMA Web site Sherdog.com.
Born in Waynesburg, Pa., Koscheck (16-4) grew up in Fresno, Calif., but returned to the Keystone State to wrestle at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. While competing for the Fighting Scots, Koscheck won the 2001 NCAA Division I championship at 174 pounds. Sherdog.com has Koscheck ranked fifth in the world among welterweights.
From its beginnings as a fringe competition in the early 1990s, mixed martial arts has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with the UFC emerging as the richest and most viable MMA league. When Brock Lesnar beat Frank Mir to defend the UFC heavyweight title last July, the bout was the main news item on Sports Illustrated's Web site.
MMA fighters are beginning to find a niche on the cultural scene as well. Former light-heavyweight champion Chuck "Iceman" Liddell has appeared in a video by the rock band Nickelback, while another former light-heavyweight champ, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, will play Mr. T's role in the upcoming movie version of "The A Team."
"A lot of (the youth wrestlers) are into it," Tonja Sees says. "Especially since my brother got into it, the kids have been following it more and more."
MATS, founded last April, is located in the former Magic Rivers Skating Rink on Route 11 between Danville and Bloomsburg. The center has about 130 wrestlers -- from youth to college age -- who train there. A competitive cheerleading team and a group of gymnasts also work out at the center. Their Web site is seesmatsinc.com.
