Fake Cage Fight Duped Arkansas Spectators

Match Instead Featured Men Ripping Each Others' Clothes Off And Kissing

(AP)  Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, but police say what they got instead was men ripping each others' clothes off and kissing - a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame.

"We had a contract for cage fighting. We were deceived," said Dwight Duncan, president and CEO of Four States Fair Grounds in Texarkana, where the first of two Arkansas fights raised suspicions last month.

Matt Labov, a Los Angeles-based publicist for Baron Cohen, said he had no comment Monday about the faked fights. One of Baron Cohen's movies is due out next year.

The day after the June 5 Texarkana bout, Fort Smith's convention center hosted "Blue Collar Brawlin."' Fort Smith police Sgt. Adam Holland said organizers told him a character named "Straight Dave" would goad a planted audience member into the ring for a fight.

The two men would then wrestle, rip away some of their clothes and share a brief kiss reminiscent of one between Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell in the film "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

Producers said "there would be a romantic embrace," Holland said. "They said it was kind of to essentially make fun, poke fun at wrestling - two guys rolling around on the floor, all sweaty."

An elaborate array of mounted and handheld video cameras caught the crowd of 1,600's reaction as the two men "went right up to the line" of the city's morality laws, Holland said. The two men stripped down to their underwear, kissed and rubbed on each other, the sergeant said.

The audience, as well as local fighters drawn to take part in the show, became enraged. "It set the crowd off lobbing beers," Holland said. "They had beers in plastic cups. Those things can get some distance on them actually."

Holland said it took officers about 45 minutes to clear the convention center, as the two actors sprinted away through a specially set-aside tunnel.

Those in attendance were told by several signs on display that they'd be filmed, Holland said, and signed waivers before the event. Convention center sales director Karin Hobbs declined to name the event's sponsor Monday.

Baron Cohen became a national celebrity after his 2006 hit movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," in which he played a bumbling reporter from the Central Asia nation.

News of the faked cage fights comes as Baron Cohen is in production of a movie titled "Bruno," named after the gay Austrian fashion reporter he developed for "Da Ali G Show." Baron Cohen, in the guise of Bruno, often interviewed hapless subjects in the South.

If the cage match visits came from Baron Cohen, it wouldn't be the first time Arkansas fell for a practical joke. In 2000, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee fell for a prank and congratulated Canada for preserving its icebound Parliament, calling it a "national igloo."

[idnnsg]

In 2000, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee fell for a prank and congratulated Canada for preserving its icebound Parliament, calling it a "national igloo."

Huckabee will be an excellent running mate for McShame!

[tootall10142]

if roy rogers had been there the sobs would not have gotten away with this kind of stunt.

[Gary Kempf]

Does this fall in line with the Republican Declaration Of Principles?

If so it would solve all of McCains problems as far as conservatives are concerned.

[hwy71so]

How stupid. I think jail time for fraud and deportation are in order.

[slim1h2o]

Maybe our polititions should try this, they''re not good for nothing.

At least they might be good for a laugh or two, but then, maybe not. Who''d want see a half naked McCain kissing on a half nekked Obama. EEeeewwwww! LOL

[gotagrip]

In 2000, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee fell for a prank and congratulated Canada for preserving its icebound Parliament, calling it a "national igloo."

Huckabee will be an excellent running mate for McShame!

Posted by IDNNSG at 07:19 AM : Jul 08, 2008

How about ambassador to Canada? Dress warm!

[jijalagi]

I live less than 2 miles from Fort Smith. I heard that a cage fight was scheduled but I didn%u2019t hear that anything like that happened. I would have demanded my money back and possibly hired a lawyer.

[pleaseread]

"I would have demanded my money back and possibly hired a lawyer. Posted by jijalagi"

This is priceless, he is going to sue for a $1 dollar beer and $5 bucks to get in over seeing a couple of guys kiss.

[griking]

So people are upset that they got a staged event where men in tights roll around with each other in place of their staged event where men in tights roll around with each other?

[frootloop47]

At least they might be good for a laugh or two, but then, maybe not. Who''''d want see a half naked McCain kissing on a half nekked Obama. EEeeewwwww! LOL
Posted by slim1h2o
-----------------------------------------

OMG! I''m gonna PUKE!!!

[texanforlogi]

This gives me faith in God''s sense of humor and the overall balance of the universe! Best thing I''ve heard in a long while!

kuei12 wrote:

"I remember the good old days when men were REAL men and this stunt would have ended up with a couple of dead f *ags."

When exactly was that, you moron?

I bet you still have pictures of Rock Hudson up on your wall.

[mrbrill]

"Isn''t that sort of thing common place in Arkansas?"

Only if they''re cousins...

[babooph]

The rest of the country is going to be tricked into thinking there is a "choice" in the nat. election-they usually keep it close,so both sides think they had a chance.We need a real third party & a real free information system.

[bozworth4]

If women would have been substituted for men, would have sold out for three times the price. What a world!
Shame on you! LOL

[antoniof123]

Arkansas is making an entry into the dumbest state in the country. You still have a ways to go Texas leads with some of the stupidest things to date but don''t count out Alabama or Mississippi, and let us not forget Georga they are still in the running.

This is an election year so Flroida should make a late entry and lets see who wins.

[generey]

A "civilized" society indeed. ROFLMAO! FULTON TORPEDO''S SCOTTY - FIRE!

[noirceur]

So people are upset that they got a staged event where men in tights roll around with each other in place of their staged event where men in tights roll around with each other?


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Posted by Griking.LOL,good one Griking.I think all wrestling is fake.If they really did all they claim to do,they''d be arrested for attempted murder.Good story tho,nice to have a laugh.

[nolle61]

Bill and Hillary Clinton are from Arkansas.

That explains a lot!

[hwy71so]

"Arkansas is making an entry into the dumbest state in the country. You still have a ways to go Texas leads with some of the stupidest things to date but don''''t count out Alabama or Mississippi, and let us not forget Georga they are still in the running.

This is an election year so Flroida should make a late entry and lets see who wins.

Posted by antoniof123 at 09:38 AM : Jul 08, 2008"

Since when did we start vying for who was the "dumbest"? You losers are so busy trying to run the country into the ground you don''t realize you''re succeeding.

Like the song says, "You''ve got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative". All you losers do is accentuate the negative.

One thing about Texas and Arkansas, Georgia and Florida that they''re not doing. They''re not keeping sanctuary cities protecting convicted felons from the law like California is.

Burn baby, burn. You pathetic losers won''t be happy till this country falls into chaos.

[jboxton]

Shows how painfully stupid people from the south and the west are. The further you go in from the east/west coasts the lower the IQ drops. Thank God I am not from those areas full of blithering idiots.

[observer2020]

Burn baby, burn. You pathetic losers won''''t be happy till this country falls into chaos.
Posted by Hwy71So

It''s not in chaos already? With everyone turning every single story into politics and racial issues and the economy the way it is; not to mention the violence and people''s attitude about not getting involved...looks like total chaos to me.

[dowell100]

"a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame."

"Borat" fame???" Infamy is a better word. Baron Cohen is a snot streak on the sleeve of populist entertainment.

[marcosis78]

You probably dont have a sense of humor then.

[olcottr]

One can only hope these guys learn their lesson not to trust entertainers.

[newsjunky5]

I''d be pretty mad if I paid for hate but got love instead.

[watcher269-2009]

Wow, this list is censored!

[mswolfestock]

For $1.00 beer, I wouldn''t care WHAT they were doing . . . .

[Meg003]

Shows how painfully stupid people from the south and the west are. The further you go in from the east/west coasts the lower the IQ drops. Thank God I am not from those areas full of blithering idiots.

Posted by jboxton at 10:08 AM : Jul 08, 2008

You are a real local yokel, aren''t you? I''ve lived in different countries and in states on both coasts, and several in between. If you had a little more experience and sophistication, you would know that you cannot tell much about an entire state by what is presented in the media. There are good, intelligent people everywhere, they just don''t make the news going about their daily lives.

[acolton1]

Wow I bet the Gaye Bars in Texarkana were full of first timers after they saw the cage fight with men ripping each others'' clothes off and kissing. I bet it made thoes Arkansas hillbillys HOT!

[dowell100]

Posted by jboxton
Shows how painfully stupid people from the south and the west are. The further you go in from the east/west coasts the lower the IQ drops.

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No, the good people are trusting, not stupid. Then, along comes a slick con artist like Baron Cohen (who is from NY and LA) who tricks, demeans and insults them in the name of "comedy."

Baron Cohen is a very dishonest type of comedian because of the way he exploits people in ways that are more sick than humorous. Obviously Cohen hates people and seems out for revenge.

[sandy19731]

I''''d be pretty mad if I paid for hate but got love instead.
Posted by newsjunky5 at 10:47 AM : Jul 08, 2008

HaHaHaHaHaHa!!

[mswolfestock]

Sssssshhhhhhhhh - if y''all are very quiet, I think you''ll hear Andy Kauffman laughing his A** off, up in heaven.

This brand of "comedy" is just an outgrowth of the way that Kauffman used to push, goad, and antagonize his audiences.

[watcher269-2009]

I surprised Bush wasn''t there - He Loves Borat! He''s modeled his career after him.

[fruitcakekitty]

To those who say people from the South/Mid-West are painfully stupid with low IQ''s, it is sadly obvious how ignorant YOU are (and it also shows how unintelligent some of you are when it comes to your grammar). I grew up in SoCal my whole life. The people from the South and Mid-West have more intelligence and heart in their little pinky than you have in your entire body, including your up-turned nose. I suggest you do some reading (and traveling) before you open your ignorant mouth. Go Hogs!

[observer2020]

Come on now...is there anything such as a "real" cage fight? All of it is an act, these guys just took it further. Bet the performers got a huge laugh at the spectators. The tables were turned and the public got mad...well, they finally got what they paid for...and got $1 beers, to boot. Go home and be happy.

[drputt45]

Hey, just up in those hills, you might find cheaper beer and some guys that rip clothes for nothing. Some good ol hillbillys (maybe even one named Bill) banging on those dueling banjos and each other.

Glad I''m from the hills of Missouri, we keep most of our clothes on up there.

Have fun and ya''ll come back now.

[lemonskink]

I attinded the cage match, and spint 33 bucks on beer and stuff. Ma bought me a new flannel shirt and cut the sleeves off it real purdy like, and tucked a can of Copenhagen chaw in the pocket as a prezent. This guy hornswaggled me, and he should be sent to fight in the glorious Iraqi war to find the weapons of mass destruction like Prezint Bush said. i wuz so mad when I got home I slapped the hogs.

[susieq_13]

You go kitty1997! I love the south/Midwest. And I''m proud to say I''m from Arkansas.

[carpriddler]

Cohen is an anti American, and anti Christian performer of limited talents. His shtick is being a conman that dupes people to perpetuate stereotype of people not from his culture. He exemplifies the double standard of what is acceptable when it comes to exploiting people.

[freckster]

It''s all fun and games until somebody makes fun of YOUR sport.

[jjp735i]

roflmao............ya they were duped!

[carpriddler]

Cohen exploits fit the definition of a hate monger. His Ali G character punks respectable people as a joke with no punch line. Cohen is so paranoid of his own antic being played on him; he stages his own public appearances, doesn%u2019t allow cameras in the same room, and won%u2019t take questions to avoid being embarrassed . He dishes it out, but can''t take it!

[jlagat]

I grew up in SoCal my whole life. The people from the South and Mid-West have more intelligence and heart in their little pinky than you have in your entire body, including your up-turned nose. I suggest you do some reading (and traveling) before you open your ignorant mouth. Go Hogs!

Posted by kitty1977 at 12:11 PM : Jul 08, 2008

(LOL)
It''s painfully obvious you are not from SoCal. The best anyone from the South and Mid-West can expect from California is a simple acknowledgment of their existence.

Do you know why that is the case?

There is one certainty about the culture of California--something that is fused into your mind if you truly grew up there. That is you grow up not giving a *** what anyone else thinks.

[dowell100]

Posted by mswolfestock
Sssssshhhhhhhhh - if y''''all are very quiet, I think you''''ll hear Andy Kauffman laughing his A** off, up in heaven.

This brand of "comedy" is just an outgrowth of the way that Kauffman used to push, goad, and antagonize his audiences.
-------------------

This is sooooo wrong! It is really nasty to compare the genius of Andy Kaufmann with the insensitve, un-funny bullying of Baron Cohen.

Cohen does not "push, goad, and antagonize his audiences" at all. Instead, Cohen humiliates innocent people he dupes for the entertainment of an audience as distrubed as he is.

Don''t trash Andy Kaufmann like that. His approach was completely and totally different.

[texanforlogi]

Yep...Bill, Kevin Costner and Matt McConahey dancin round a fire naked like Costner did with all dem dare men folk after he filmed ''''Dances with wolves''''...course it might be ''''dances wit possum'''' in that country




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Posted by sbbm at 01:19 PM : Jul 08, 2008


I don''t care if they are Dances with Wolves or Dancing With Possums--If Kevin Costner and Matthew McConahey are dancing naked anywhere, with any thing, I WANT TO BE THERE!

[newtagagain]

Cohen makes the old "Candid Camera" shows look high-brow, I can''t imagine anyone with a brain falling for his schtick. If, however, anyone deserves to be mocked in Cohen''s offensive manner it''s people who''d get pissed off about attending a fake cage fight.

[sistatee-2009]

Naked cage-fighting and kissing? Would that be a summer or winter Olympic sport?

[luvny-2009]

SistaTee ...that''s a VERY GOOD question. Maybe someone out there that knows more about it or maybe even been involved can tell us.

[xmanborg]

Naked cage-fighting and kissing? Would that be a summer or winter Olympic sport?

I think its a Multi-Season Sport, Summer time in MUD, Winer time in Snow or Ice Water, Spring Time in some kind of Roses with thorns, Fall time in Lots and Lots of Fallen Leaves.