Spirit MC is the Korean version of the popular Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride. They all are free style fighting competitions where the majority of fighters now come from at least 2 and sometimes 5 or so martial arts disiplines. The guys were from 70 to 125kg and stood toe to toe in the ring for two five minute rounds of fighting. Few fights lasted this long with most losers tappig out after being chocked in a wrestling position or KOed from either a kick or punch.

 

The competition was in a gymnasium in Seoul and comprised of 15 fights, named The Road to the final". The first 8 fights were lower class fighters without the same training but just as entertaining with some massive weight differences between some pairings. The later fights were fighers with records who were competing for belts. they had dance routines and songs for their entry along a catwalk to the ring. the best was a full karaoke performance wearing a yellow sequined shirt while his opponent warmed up in the ring. The fight of the night was an American lad Ross Ebanez against a local Korean fella. Being some of the only foreigners there it seemed appropriate to cheer the yank. He won the fight by knock out after pining his opponent on his back and laying repeptive punches on his face. After a right hook he was out before his head hit the floor but the ref failed to stop the fight and at least another left and right bounced his unconscience head off the floor and into the next incoming fist before the ref called it off. We were duely rewarded at the end of the match with a rope climbing double fist pump salute from the champ. We obligied with raucous cheers which has landed us on Korean TV.

 

Now "thats gold".