100

National Post Glenn Dextras cageside at UFC 100. Photography by Josh Hedges. Copyright Zuffa, LLC.

UFC 100 – July 11, 2009

It was 1993. My brother and I were sitting in my parent’s living room watching UFC 1 in disbelief. As boxing and martial arts fans we were intrigued by the concept of a single-event tournament designed to determine the world’s best fighter, regardless of their fighting style ie. boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, karate, Brazilian jiu jitsu. As violent and brutal as it was, it was perversely exciting to see which fighter and fighting style would emerge as the ultimate fighter.

Years passed and the UFC went underground as pay-per-view providers refused to carry UFC programming and nearly extinguished it from public visibility.

Fast-forward 16 years and the UFC has become the fastest growing sport on the planet. Thanks to a cable-television deal, expansion into Canada, Europe, United Arab Emirates, Australia and new markets within the United States, it’s now considered a mainstream sport.

Who would have thought that the UFC would reform itself, implement stricter rules, drop the no-holds-barred label, become sanctioned by State Athletic Commissions and become accepted as a legitimate sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

Now there I was, 17 years later, Octagon-side with camera in hand at UFC 100. To see, feel and experience 100 from a vantage point that’s closer than anyone else except the three people in the cage was pretty incredible. The arena atmosphere was unlike anything else I’ve experienced and was one of the most exciting assignments I’ve shot to date.