AJC Article

Pulling no punches: Tough guys tussle tonight on Wild Bill's Fight Night mixed martial arts card

BYLINE: CURTIS BUNN
DATE: July 20, 2007
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)

Four years ago, when David Oblas told friends he started Undisputed Productions to promote what was then called "ultimate fighting," he was ridiculed. Tonight, those same guys who were laughing likely will be among more than 3,500 on hand to witness Oblas' 11-fight mixed martial arts card dubbed Wild Bill's Fight Night.

For sure, the battle-till-someone-cries-uncle fight movement continues to crescendo, exemplified in how metro Atlanta has responded to the alternative to conventional boxing.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on pay-per- view turns a significant profit, and the residual has impacted local competition. "No doubt about it," Oblas said. "My friends were like, 'What are you doing? Who cares about these guys?' Well, it turns out a lot of people care about this sport.

"People remember the fighters. It's not as big as boxing, but it's definitely getting there. I've seen boxing in Atlanta go downhill in recent years. Meanwhile, [mixed martial arts] is catching on."

Especially Wild Bill's —-America's largest country dance hall, near Gwinnett Mall —- which is considered the premier venue in the state. "I get asked all the time about when we're going to Gwinnett Arena or Philips Arena. And my answer is, 'Why?' Wild Bill's is a great facility. The ring is in the middle of the dance floor, with people up close and all around. There's free parking.

"When they come to Wild Bill's, it's an event. People dress up."

And the "people" are about evenly split between men and women, Oblas said. "This is Vegas in Atlanta," he said in classic promoter hyperbole.

Tickets range from $75 to $800 for a table for four. The card starts at 8 p.m., with the main event at 11:45. The bouts are slated for three 5-minute rounds. But many times they don't last that long.

Take Bernard Rutherford's last fight in Atlanta in 2005. The Barnesville native who now resides in Alpharetta is featured in the main event against Ohio's Robert Wince.

Rutherford, 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, had his jaw broken by a punch 5 seconds into the fight.

"I knew then I had to get it over because another punch or two in the face and the pain would have been too much," he said. "So I went to work and choked the guy out.

"How long did it take? About a minute."

Rutherford competed in karate tournaments but was frustrated when bloodying an opponent's nose could cause a penalty. He then tried Mui Thai, which was more physical, but lacked the recklessness of mixed martial arts.

"Here you can pick someone up and slam him, kick, elbow, punch, knee. There are no restrictions," said Rutherford, who sports a 7-2 record.

He is unusual in one way among competitors. Rutherford is 39, which he considers an advantage.

"I'm more advanced because I've had more life experiences," he said.

Those experiences include a stint in the Marines and as a guard on death row the state prison in Jackson.

"A lot of fighters look at this as a sport," he said. "I look at it as a lifestyle. I live by it and believe in it."

Rutherford trains three hours in the mornings at the Forum Athletic Club and three hours in the evenings at Knuckle Up Fitness. He recently signed on with International Fighting League, which means in 2008 he will be one of the fighters seen on Fox Sports broadcasts of UFL matches.

"People want to be entertained. Take the [Oscar] de la Hoya and [Floyd] Mayweather Jr. fight. There was all this anticipation. But those guys got out there and not much happened," he said. "You put two ultimate fighters in the ring with equal talent and you're going to have a great fight with lots of action."

The action is what drew Dave Mewborn, 26. Undefeated in four bouts, he's on tonight's card. A grappler in college at Georgia Southern, he was looking for a place to train when he moved to Athens more than a year ago. He ended up at Hardcore Gym, which has a mixed martial arts program. In a year, he was competing.

"I thought it was cool," Mewborn said. "I never thought I would get involved in it. But once I got into the ring, I was hooked."

At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Mewborn said he does not possess one-punch knockout power. But that's what he appreciates about the sport. He can still be effective in the ring because of his grappling skills.

"I will box and get a guy in a clinch and then grapple," he said. "That's my style. In MMA, you can go further than just boxing."