Shogun Fights a huge success
Saturday night at 1st Mariner Arena, John Rallo and his staff put on their third successful Shogun Fights in front of about 5,000 people. From the programs, to ring-card girls, to production, audio, fights and lighting, it had the feel of a UFC-type event.
Since Rallo's first event at 1st Mariner a year ago, Ravens players have been frequent visitors to Shogun Fights. Ray Rice, Brendon Ayanbadejo and several of their teammates have been to the two previous cards. On Saturday night, there were several players at the event: Haloti Ngata, Jarrett Johnson, Lardarius Webb, Paul Kruger, Haruki Nakamura, Jameel McClain, Arthur Jones, Darnell Ellerbe, Prescott Burgess, Tavares Gooden, Brian Mattison and former Raven Edgar Jones.
Talking to some of those guys, they were either fans of the sport already, or they had heard about how well-run the event was from their teammates who had attended the previous fights and wanted to see it for themselves.
Having a chance to work in the back with the fighters, everyone commented on how "big-league" the show is. For fighters, it is little things like having a spread of fruit, water, towels, etc., in dressing rooms -- that many other shows do not provide -- to having professionally done introductions to the ring with lights, music and video.
Whether you are a fan of the sport or not, Shogun Fights is a tremendous event to attend. It is something that Baltimore can take pride in calling their own. Congrats to Rallo and his staff for putting on a first-class event downtown that we will probably see more of in the near future.
