Mixed martial arts draws crowd to Detroit Athletic Club
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News
Detroit— It definitely wasn’t your average Thursday afternoon at the Detroit Athletic Club.
Squash lessons were put on hold at the 123-year-old hub known for distinguished events and social gatherings.
Taking the court this day was none other than … Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters?
“This place is a trip, this is different, coming in and seeing a picture of Abraham Lincoln,” said B.J. Penn, a fighter from Kailua, Hawaii, standing inside a cramped, glass enclosed squash court. “Where are we?”
The mixed martial artists still have some time to get familiar with their surroundings before Saturday’s 10-bout UFC 123 at The Palace.
Penn, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Joe Lauzon, George Sotiropoulous, and several others sparred with trainers for about 10 minutes on the squash court turned makeshift combat zone.
The practice attracted more than 50 spectators, including media members from as far away as Australia.
“Before a guy had a ball in his hand, or a bat, he was fighting, and people were watching,” said Adam Thompson, a 27-year-old TV reporter from Australia. “The growth of UFC is amazing, it’s exploding, the sport is bigger than boxing.”
And Jackson, one of the UFC’s stars and a former light heavyweight titleholder, didn’t hesitate to entertain reporters in post-workout interviews.
“I’m basically a brawler, I do whatever I feel like doing the night of the fight,” he said. “I’m what you call a true fighter.”
Jackson’s challenge Saturday: a matchup against Lyoto Machida
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Jackson clearly doesn’t lack confidence, and gave another blunt response when asked if he studies any Detroit boxing legends, like Joe Louis or Tommy Hearns.
“I never been one for studying, man,” he said. “That’s probably why I fight. I don’t keep no secrets, I’m not a studier. I have a short attention span. I like those guys, but I could never study them.”
Easy as 123
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, The Palace, Auburn Hills
Headline bout: Quinton Jackson (30-8) vs. Lyoto Machida (16-1) in a light heavyweight matchup (9 p.m. approx. start)
TV: Pay-per-view ($44.99)
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