LEWISTON — Mixed martial arts has proven itself a sport for all seasons in Central and Southern Maine.
For the second time in four months, combat sports thrilled an estimated crowd of more than 3,000 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Saturday night.
And the success of Fight Nights I and III is expected to spill over into Fight Night IV. Tickets for the Saturday, Sept. 8 bouts already are on sale at the Colisee box office. Bell time is 7 p.m.
“I think we’re already starting to see the real ripple effect on the economy,” said Matt Peterson of Rumford, co-promoter with New England Fights.
Excitement surrounding Fight Night III was driven by Maine native Tim Sylvia, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion.
Sylvia, 36, stopped Randy Smith with a stunning 12-second stoppage in the main event.
The 6-foot-8, 265-pound Sylvia floored Smith with a right hand to the body and another to the jaw before unleashing the fusillade that ended it.
His presence wasn’t mere window dressing for the pre-fight posters. Sylvia arrived in town midweek and spent several days engaging with fans, including multiple workouts at an Auburn gym.
“He (had to) cut 20 pounds before the fight,” Peterson said.
Two former Maine high school wrestling champions locked up in one of the most crowd-pleasing events of the evening.
John Raio, a 2000 graduate of Gardiner Area High School now living in Topsham, stopped Foxcroft Academy product Derek Shorey by second-round tapout.
Raio is one of many local athletes for whom the advent of Fight Night has revived the competitive juices.
“He’s an interesting story,” Peterson said. “He‘s a postman in his full-time job.”
Sylvia’s showcase was one of 11 on the 17-bout card to conclude in the first round.
Other winners included Bruce Boyington and Ryan Sanders of Brewer, Josh Parker of Oakland, Josh Bellows of Winslow and Jamie Harrison, formerly of Windham.
“We have fighters who are local but also a lot of fighters who come in from New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire. There’s a lot of regional depth,” Peterson said.
Injuries and scheduling quirks kept Fight Night III beneath Peterson’s preferred threshold of 25 fights.
It’s a number that mirrors the average ticket price.
“For one dollar a bout, we think that’s a great value,” he said.
koakes@sunjournal.com
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