Top 5 MMA Promotions in Colorado
When it comes to Colorado MMA, one cannot leave out the fight promotions and their respective promoters who provide mixed martial arts fans with several great “fight moments” each year throughout the region. Some of these organizations have been around for years, while others are looking to solidify their foothold in growing market share.
As we look at the top 5, you need to keep in mind the timing, the impact on Colorado MMA, the number of fights per year, etc. That being said, each promotion listed showcases a quality product for fans, with no one leaving disappointed. We are lucky to live in a state where so many thriving promotions are presented in exciting cards almost every month.
Let’s go straight to that. Here are the top 5 current MMA promotions in Colorado and a brief rundown of what each brings to the table:
one.) ring of Fire Promoter: Sven Bean – The granddaddy of them all. The Colorado fight promotion that most fans in the state think of first in terms of Colorado MMA. I went to my first Ring of Fire show when the fights were held at Castle Rock, and it has never let me down. The first promotions card took place on March 18, 2000, and featured notable wrestlers Nathan Marquardt and Leonard Garcia. Ring Of Fire has seen many other high profile wrestlers appear including Eliot Marshall, Mike Nickels, Donald Cerrone, Shane Carwin, Carlos Condit and Duane Ludwig to name just a few.
2.) Kickdown MMA Promoter: Steve Alley – Secondly, the Kickdown MMA promotion has been putting on fights in both Colorado and Wyoming for years, becoming a staple of the Colorado MMA scene. The first promotions fight took place in Golden on February 23, 2002. The ballroom at the Red Lion hotel in Denver is where most Kickdown MMA events take place, making for a great atmosphere for a night out. Of fights.
3.) fight to win Promoter: Seth Daniels – One of the newer promotions, Fight To Win has been hosting events since early 2008 and is quickly becoming one of Colorado’s top promotions. At the time of this writing, Seth Daniels had just made Colorado history with “The Professionals,” billed as the state’s first professional card. Fight To Win also hosts the occasional Tournament of Champions fighting competitions, which are welcomed in the region as much as they are needed.
4.) bad boys of the rocky mountains Promoter: Keith Schmeltzer – Promoting MMA cards in both Denver and Greeley, RMBB has been putting on shows since 2005. RMBB crowds are some of the best, as there’s something about packing the fans out at Red and Jerry’s in Denver and Island Grove events. Center in Greeley which adds to the buzz in the air on fight night. Also, there was a need for MMA fights in Northern Colorado that RMBB has filled very well.
5.) Extreme fight without mercy Promoter: Natalie Mort – NME Fighting usually holds its events at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium and has been doing so since 2007. RMBB slightly outperformed No Mercy Extreme Fighting due to the number of years in operation, but it’s definitely one of the first 5. promotion in the state, holding several events a year. Look at them!
**Honorific mention** Bring on the MMA thunder Promoter: Leister Bowling – Colorado’s most recent promotion (at the time of this writing) got off to a strong start on September 11, 2010 on the CSU-Pueblo campus. The event featured a stacked card with Colorado’s Eliot Marshall in the main event and a guest appearance by Shane Carwin. With Bowling’s strong ties to the fighting game, keep an eye out for Bring The Thunder MMA to knock someone off this list in 2011.
Obviously, we’re lucky to be MMA fans and reside in Colorado, as every promotion here has something to offer. It really all comes down to taking time to enjoy Colorado MMA.
See you in the fights!