EVENT: UGP 30 Press Conference
VENUE: United Center
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
DATE: November 12, 2021
[The feed gradually fades into a panoramic view outside of The Madhouse on Madison, Chicago’s United Center. The darkness of the night sky makes the brilliantly illuminated arena the unquestioned focal point. A raucous crowd can be heard from inside, almost pulsing in sync to the scattered shuffle of spotlights around the outside perimeter. Suddenly, the viewpoint launches into warp speed through the main doors of the building; zigging and zagging through the corridors, zipping past luxury suites, concession stands, and straggling spectators. Reaching the center point of the building, the frame comes to a screeching halt, and reveals a massive crowd directed toward a monumental stage.]
[The main stage is framed with standard scaffolding, flanked with state of the art lighting equipment. One giant Jumbotron is centered, with two smaller screens on either side. Tech N9ne’s new hit “Face Off” bumps throughout the building, keeping the energy plateaued at the highest of highs. Two long conference tables, draped with a black cloth, are split by a matte black podium adorned with the famous red and white octagon star logo, shining with a glossy finish. From the pit, Union GP President Dante Reed climbs a small set of stairs and takes his place at the podium. Right on cue, all of the scheduled fighters file in from the left and right and settle in their reserved seats. Dante can’t help but smile from ear to ear at the sight of this electric crowd. He tries to wait out the cheers, but it never dies down, so instead he bends down closer to the mic in an attempt to speak over the noise.]
DANTE REED
Chiraq, where you at?!
[The excitement cannot be contained from the boss man, and even at the top of his lungs, he can barely be heard over the roar of the crowd.]
DANTE REED
God damn it feels great to be back! This right here is the birthplace of Union Grand Prix. This is the place where mixed martial arts elevated to a height never seen before. And it’s all because of you!
[Another wave of cheers combust while Dante scans his index finger all across the fans and reporters in attendance.]
DANTE REED
Without you all, there is no Union Grand Prix. It feels like destiny that we broke ground at the time that we did. We rose through the ashes of several prominent MMA promotions and carried the baton to where we are today. This weekend marks the sixtieth event we have put together under the Union banner, and UGP 30 marks the sixth time we throw down here in Chicago… And you know when we come back home, we do it big!
[Another pop from the crowd. Dante now has the control of the crowd as he motions for them to calm and quiet down.]
DANTE REED
We got three Championships on the line, and three of Chicago’s finest homegrown fighters. You know anything can happen in this sport in the blink of an eye. We could be seeing another remarkable shift in the landscape of MMA all in one night, under one roof. So with that, let's turn it over to you all out there. Who’s got the first question?
[At the prompting of Dante, one of the reporters pounces on the chance and gets to her feet.]
RACHELLE BUCKNER
Rachelle Buckner from Bloody Elbow, this one is for Travis.
[Travis perks up and leans forward, giving a nod to the reporter.]
RACHELLE BUCKNER
As we all know, your last fight and first Championship defence against Zion Momo’a was made all but official as soon as you won it, so the state of the division was not really a concern for you at that point. Since then though, I assume that you’ve been watching the other fighters in the division and eyeing up potential challengers. Did you think Nigel Musgrove would be next in line?
[Travis turns his head to look at Nigel.]
TRAVIS DECKER
I did not. Not a slight to you at all Nigel, but I like many others no doubt assumed that Guilliman would be my next fight.
[Travis then smiles and turns back to Rachelle.]
TRAVIS DECKER
But that is why I love this sport. A single fight is all it takes to give you a chance to take what is expected and throw it out the damn window. It is something I can both understand and respect, and I am thrilled to be facing him. When I was offered this fight I accepted on the spot, and not because of the fact that this is our trilogy or any other hype stuff, but simply because he had proved he was the best fighter in the division not holding the championship, and that is who I want to fight.
[He turns back to Nigel again.]
TRAVIS DECKER
A while ago Nigel you took a fight against me that everyone said was a dumb fight to take. You could have easily said no and no one would have blamed you. But you didn’t. You gave me my chance to right my wrong and begin my path to where I am now: Being the UGP Middleweight Champion. I will always be grateful for that. But let me be perfectly clear.
[Travis then raises his championship.]
TRAVIS DECKER
This is not going anywhere. You fought your way back and earned your shot the same as I did, but unfortunately this won’t end the same way for you. My first defence is already in the books, and I do not plan on stopping at one.
[Travis puts his belt down and turns back to the reporters as Rachelle sits down, another reporter standing up in her place.]
JAMES THOMAS
Travis, James Thomas with Black Belt Magazine. Let’s say you manage to do what you claim and defeat Nigel, what would be next for you? Anyone you have your eye on to fight?
[Travis takes a second to think it through.]
TRAVIS DECKER
Right now? No one stands out. And by that I don't mean as fighters, there are a lot of great fighters in this division, but in terms of clear championship contenders I don’t think there are any right now. Asher Jrue and Robert Guilliman are both former champions that I have not fought, but neither of them are really in that clear spot right now.
[Travis looks over at Dante.]
TRAVIS DECKER
Maybe it would be a perfect time for a contender tournament?
[He then looks back at James.]
TRAVIS DECKER
But this is all in theory, James. While I am confident that I will retain my championship, if there is anything that Nigel and I are pure examples of, it's that anything can happen once that cage door closes.
[James nods then sits down, Travis leaning back in his chair. Almost as soon as Travis is settled back, another reporter in the front row flags down a microphone and speaks up.]
???
Billy Carr with MMAJunkie.com, I had a couple questions for Yasmine.
[Yaz’s head pops up a little more than it had been earlier, seemingly surprised to be the focus of attention so early. She straightens up a bit, just nodding in Billy’s direction.]
BILLY CARR
So, I think we need to get the obvious one out of the way first: you haven’t had the best go of things recently...
[Yasmine huffs a breath out sharply, shaking her head, very clearly not needing to be reminded of that fact.]
BILLY CARR
You had a couple dominant wins over Maliyah Lyons and Xabier Belazco, but then a couple rough outings against Natalie King and Abbie Peterson. While admittedly the latter two saw you at a clear disadvantage in reach, height, and size, it was also the first time we’ve seen you look...frankly, outclassed on the feet; do you feel your last two fights “took” something off of you?
[The more Billy talks, the less inclined Yasmine is to give him an answer. By the time he’s finished, she’s just...blinking in his general direction, not in any way amused by his particular line of thought. A volatile woman in the past, she takes a breath and opts not to lash out like she might have at one point in her career; rather, she just mulls over the question, clicking her tongue once or twice.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
I think I fought two women that have more than half a foot of reach on me, both of whom have knocked out bigger fighters than me, faster than they could finish me. They’re both talented fighters, make no mistake, and I’m not happy with the way those fights went, but I don’t think they “took something from me,” whatever the hell that means. I think I’ve just been trying to fight a weight class bigger than I probably should’ve been, and I’ve mostly been succeeding...but I also won’t accept being middle-of-the-road, and...to put it bluntly, I was becoming a middle-of-the-road Lightweight, so I had to figure something out.
BILLY CARR
That leads to the obvious question--were those two fights the reason that you took a fight at Bantamweight?
YASMINE VERMEULEN
Among other changes I’ve made, yeah.
[Yaz takes a sip from her water bottle before picking up her train of thought.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
After I had time to digest the fight with Abbie, I met with Dante and asked for a couple months off; obviously, these last two fights made it pretty plain that the size difference is too much at Lightweight, but I also needed time, because I didn’t feel like I was improving like I should be anymore; I wasn’t able to compete with the best at 155, and that’s what I expect from myself...so if I can’t compete at an elite level, then I need to find something--or, more to the point, somewhere--different. Don’t get me twisted, I love the crew at R-Grip, they’re great folks, but I expect better of myself than what I was able to put forward in those two fights. So, I took the time to find a new camp, adjust to life in France, and so on, then get ready for the different challenges that Bantamweight presents.
[Before Billy can speak up again, another reporter stands up and flags Yasmine down--for his part, Billy actually looks a little annoyed by the interruption, but Yasmine’s all too happy to move on from that line of questioning.]
???
Hayley Stewart, LowKickMMA--correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like you see this as a permanent move, rather than a case like the fight against Lena Lyons a couple years ago, is that right?
[Yaz just nods a little bit in response.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
Never say never, you don’t know what fight might come up down the road, but yeah, I’m not really looking to fight anywhere but 135 at this point. As I said, I’m not interested in being a middle-of-the-road fighter, and at 155, that’s...pretty much what it felt like, I could beat everyone up to a certain point, but...that’s not what I’m here for. Bantamweight...I think it’s a better fit, I think I have a better chance to show what kind of fighter I really am.
HAYLEY STEWART
In that case, is there anyone in particular you’d like to fight, win or lose this weekend?
YASMINE VERMEULEN
Um...hm. I’ll be honest? I’m not really focused on fantasy stuff--I’ve got a fight to deal with this weekend, against a tough woman in Megan Reed; ask me again after the fight, I’ll probably have a better answer for you, but right now? Right now, I’m more worried about this fight.
[As quickly as she got up, Hayley nods and sits back down, abruptly replaced by another reporter.]
???
Daniel Thomas with MMA-Elite.com; let’s turn the focus to this fight, it’s probably a safe bet that this is going to be a standup fight, neither you nor Megan Reed are exactly known as grappling specialists...
[Yasmine just nods, not even bothering to interrupt the point.]
DANIEL THOMAS
With that in mind, though...at 155 pounds, you had an incredible finishing rate; when you were on, you were knocking out people like Xabier Belazco, even in the losses against Abbie and Natalie, you had moments of showing that power--do you have any concerns that the drop in weight will affect that?
[Yaz just shrugs her shoulders a little bit, seemingly nonplussed by the insinuation.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
Not really? I mean, it’s not that big of a cut, that I’m just killing myself to make it. I was only barely weighing north of 135 in the first place, that was...literally the whole point, wasn’t it? Everyone’s criticism was that I was too small for 155, even when I was winning; that I could--and probably should--have moved to 135 when it was announced...
DANIEL THOMAS
It was certainly my opinion.
[Yasmine pauses just for a moment, glancing into the crowd in Daniel’s direction, lips pursed a bit; she chuckles to herself a little, biting back a response before continuing her thought.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
But, ultimately, I made a decision, for better and worse, not to cut down at the time. Now? I mean...yeah, you’re probably right, this is where I probably should’ve been fighting ever since the division was announced, maybe it was a mistake not jumping at the opportunity to be part of the original tournament, but...what can I say, I thought I was competitive at 155, until these last couple fights. If anything, now I’m going to be fighting people that are closer to my size, so if I had that power against people that much bigger than me at 155? I suspect I’ll be even better at 135.
[She stops mid-thought, suddenly realizing something--and unable to restrain the laugh the thought gets.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
Ironically, I have all the advantages in this fight, that were against me in the last two; I’m a fair few inches taller than Megan, I’ve got the reach advantage, I’d be willing to bet I’m stronger than she is--on paper, it honestly looks like I should have a pretty easy go of things in this fight. I don’t suspect Megan’s going to let me off that easy, though.
DANIEL THOMAS
Looking at your style, and at Megan’s, what do you think is going to be the key to victory? Did you have to make any specific adjustments, and changes to your gameplan, to deal with her specifically?
[Yasmine’s nose screws upward a little as she mulls over the question, bobbing her head back and forth a couple times.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
I think the point was made pretty clearly a second ago--this is going to be a standup fight, so I don’t know how much I had to change to deal with her, specifically; I don’t think we’re gonna suddenly be at the Mundials or anything, we both pretty much know what the other one’s about, right? And I think a lot of what I’m about, is already trouble for her. The crazy thing for someone that gives up reach in almost every fight, is she’s looked pretty good at range; but then you see the fights where it ends up in the clinch. Back in June, she fought Saetang, and that first round...
[Yaz whistles a little bit.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
There were a couple moments where she was in a lot of trouble in the clinch--and, I mean...to be blunt, if the clinch is a problem for her, then she’s going to have a hard time fighting someone like me.
DANIEL THOMAS
One last question--how do you think this fight plays out? No, like...we already established, it’s like to be a standup battle, but how do you see it going.
[Yasmine smiles a little, leaning back in her seat. She waits just a moment, before pulling her mic up.]
YASMINE VERMEULEN
I think this is exactly the fight I need to get back on the right track--I don’t think it will be an easy fight, I think both of us are better than our records show. I know Megan’s got a history of being able to turn things around on a dime if it starts to look bad for her, but I don’t think she’s been able to beat anyone like me, where...I have been able to beat people like her in the past. I don’t think it will be an easy fight, by any stretch--she’s a tough girl, I see us having a competitive first round, but I think I’ll get her out of there in the second.
[Yaz settles back in her seat, seemingly satisfied with the questions; similarly, Daniel takes his seat again, and after an extra moment or two, the newly christened Bantamweight sets her mic down. Just as Yaz is settling down the attention turns to another one of the title fights as Billy Carr once again stands up pointing towards Erick Costa and asks away.]
BILLY CARR
Erick, ever since your defeat at the hands of Byron McCall, you’ve been unblemished. In fact, that’s the one defeat you have in your record. Did something change in your game plan after that fight?
[Costa takes the microphone and leans forward as he smirks and begins to answer the question.]
ERICK COSTA
I think my whole approach to the MMA game. Before I was trying to do too much, maybe in my mind I wanted to prove I was an “MMA Fighter” and not just a boxer trying to make it in a new sport. I wasn’t focusing on my strengths and my weaknesses rose to the top making it easier for an experienced opponent like Byron to pick me apart and get the W.
[He sighs a bit as he seems to continue with a longer answer than what Carr initially anticipated.]
ERICK COSTA
Look, I cannot deny who I am as a fighter. I cannot sit here and tell you that I’m going to outwrestle someone when that’s clearly not the case and that was what was happening with me before the McCall fight. I wanted to do too much and I didn’t focus enough on what skills I actually had an advantage on.
[Carr promptly takes notes on Costa’s answer, but before Costa could continue Carr interrupts him with a follow-up question.]
BILLY CARR
So, do you feel that change might benefit you against Delaney Donovan?
[Again Costa smiles, knowing full well where the question is coming from as he gladly answers it.]
ERICK COSTA
In truth, I feel refocusing on my strengths might help me in this fight against Delaney. Sure, he’s a complete fighter and a tough one at that. But if I kept doing what I was doing before, this would’ve been a much easier fight for him to prepare for. Now I may be predictable, he knows what I will try to do and what my aim is… but I’m also more confident in my abilities and my skills to execute my game plan. So I feel that yes, the change might benefit me in this fight.
[Seemingly content with the answer, Carr sits down and lets Podcast Dave ask a question in his less than stellar use of the English language.]
PODCAST DAVE
I mean, let us be hones for a moment ‘ere; this foight with Delaney Donovan promises to be a stand-up battle. Both of ya’ ‘ave a good track record on that aspect of the MMA game. Do ya’ think this fight has FOTN written all over it?
[Costa tried hard to understand Dave’s question, and while he understood the gist of it; he seemed unsure as to what was actually asked. Nevertheless, he went on to answer what he understood.]
ERICK COSTA
Your partners on the podcast always say that “styles make fights”; and this fight promises to be fireworks from the very start. Nothing against the other matchups on this card, but once you see our names in a card, together, knowing that even with my track record not being the most glamorous or filled with finishes, you know both Delaney and myself will be going for the kill and that’s all you need for a killer matchup for a title belt. For as long as this fight goes; you will see both of us going blow for blow.
[Just as Costa finishes up with the last question a fan in a bright suit gets up and asks him a question.]
FAN IN A BRIGHT SUIT
So far in your career, you have been accused of being boring and squeaking out victories. What do you have to say to the people who think that way? If anything at all…
[The question seemed to sting Costa a bit, but he didn’t make much of it as he quickly brushed it off with a simple answer.]
ERICK COSTA
To be honest, my focus is on winning fights. That’s what we all should strive for. Sure, I’d love to have more finishes on my record; but as a wise person says… “winning solves everything”.
[The focus then turns to the other half of the Main Event as James Thomas gets back on the mic and asks Nigel Musgrove a question.]
JAMES THOMAS
This is the trilogy fight between the two of you; and the third fight with some significance between the two of you. What do you think of Travis Decker as an opponent?
[Nigel seemed content with not having any attention whatsoever on him but he gladly takes the question and answers it in earnest.]
NIGEL MUSGROVE
At the risk of sounding cliché; we’ve been in that cage longer than many would’ve expected us to be. So, in truth, the man has earned my respect. He’s a tough opponent, one that has no quit in him and it showed in his resilience and desire to return to the fight game. I know this will be a drag-out fight and I wouldn’t expect anything else from the bloke.
[Hayley Stewart quickly gets back on the mic and takes her opportunity to ask Nigel a question.]
HAYLEY STEWART
This is your first title opportunity, cardio hasn’t been an issue thus far with you with all your victories coming via decision. Yet this will be a five-round fight as opposed to the three rounds you’ve been known to go. Do you think the two extra rounds will make a difference?
[Musgrove again with a wide smile on his face looks at his opponent and then to Stewart and answers her question.]
NIGEL MUSGROVE
Not at all. As you said, cardio has never been an issue and I expect to be there for the full five rounds. I ‘ave no quit in me and to be perfectly honest two extra rounds could’ve changed the outcome in our first encounter; so it’ll be interesting to see how this one goes.
[Musgrove stays attentive to the reporters and fans in the public and readies for another question and it comes from Podcast Dave again.]
PODCAST DAVE
Your opponent hinted at a “contender’s tournament”, should he win. What do you think about the state of the Middleweight division right now?
[This time Musgrove takes a little more time with the question as he seems to ponder what to answer, but after a few seconds he comes up with something.]
NIGEL MUSGROVE
I’ll admit the division is in a bit of a flux right now. It’s full of great competitors, but no one stands out. Even I didn’t really stand out. So a tournament wouldn’t be a bad idea as it could help someone rise from the bottom and get some recognition… or hell, maybe former champions could recover some of their lost lusters and get back into the driver’s seat. So yeah, I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.
[With that Musgrove leaves the mic on the table and Dave goes back to his seat.]
DANTE REED
Anybody else got anything?
[Things look to be settling down as the majority of the reporters have gotten their burning questions answered. Dante Reed scans the audience to see if there are any stragglers out there, but none are to be found.]
DANTE REED
Okay. Listen up everybody. I have one final thing to say before we wrap this up. For those that have forgotten or weren’t aware of the situation, earlier this year the Graves Family Estate had effectively relinquished their ownership to all of their business assets. Union Battleground was handed off to Kimitsu Zombie and the Battleground Network was taken over by Yamashi Pro CEO Eric O’Flaherty. The final asset, Union Grand Prix, was still in limbo. For the last six to eight months, I have been doing my due diligence to become the sole owner of this company. However, I simply did not have the capital to close the deal.
[Dante pauses for a moment to let the scenario play out in his head.]
DANTE REED
So instead of pursuing sole ownership, I had to change up my strategy to make this dream a reality and I had to find a business partner. I made a phone call to a world renowned, some might say notorious or even “toxic”, but ultimately very wealthy man. A man who dipped his toes in the MMA business. A man whose pro wrestling company is still talked about to this day after closing some time ago. A man who helped make this whole thing possible with his investment and him becoming a minority owner of Union Grand Prix.
[Dante pauses for dramatic effect. The crowd is eating it up and anxious to know who is the new partner.]
DANTE REED
Before the ink was even dry on the purchase, another offer came up. During one of the occasional Battleground Network meetings, Network owner and Yamashi Pro CEO Eric O’Flaherty, along with Yamashi Pro Owner Goro Yamashi, made an offer I simply could not refuse, and with my new business partner, we struck a monster deal. The Japanese MMA promotion G2 was sold to me and my new partner! There are many great things in store for Union Grand Prix and G2 that will change the sport, but those will be discussed at a later time. I will answer one question about this breaking news, and I’m gonna ask it because I know y’all are dying to know… who is the partner? Well, allow me to answer that for you… He’s the new Union Grand Prix Minority Owner and the Vice President of Global Development. The man who’s more tongue in cheek than a Twitter lesbian’s DMs, Perry fuckin’ Wallace!
[Hearing his name called, Perry Wallace walks out from the back as money begins raining from the rafters. He has a surprised look on his face as he lays eyes on the crowd. Had this been nearly two years ago, he would have walked out to waves of boos from everyone in attendance, but tonight was different. Tonight he was actually welcomed, and to be honest, he looked rather happy about it. With a smile on his face, he approaches Dante while playing to the crowd, motioning his hands as if he were in a strip club making it rain dollar bills.]
PERRY WALLACE
Thank you all for having me here tonight, especially you Dante as we embark on this journey and partnership together. I don’t really have too much to say here tonight. My nights of talking on and on and on at events and on camera have long been behind me, despite a large variety of people still crying about me and...well, you know, a certain former company that I will refrain from mentioning because I haven’t heard from the tax man in quite a while, and I intend to keep it that way. But I promise you all, my money is good! And to be honest, I couldn’t be more happy to put some of it to use with this news Dante dropped on you all tonight.
[Perry turns to Dante, extending his hand for a shake as the two seal the deal again, but this time in front of the Chicago crowd in attendance and everyone else watching around the world.]
PERRY WALLACE
As Dante mentioned, I have previously dipped my toes in MMA a few years ago. Things didn’t get past one event but when you’re competing with a company like UGP, there’s no company in the world that can stand a chance. I mean that, not a single fuc--not a single company. In fact, experiencing this first hand is why I jumped at the opportunity when Dante presented it to me. I’ve been known to gamble from time to time, but UGP is a winning horse that I absolutely couldn’t not bet on. Is it really a gamble when it’s a sure thing? This is a sure thing, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity. I look forward to this just as much as each and every one of you.
[After a few short moments of silence, the crowd applauds him, or the news, probably the news but who knows. Before stepping away from the microphone, Perry quickly leans back in for one last thing.]
PERRY WALLACE
If you happen to be watching this, which you probably aren’t, but I’m sure you will see it eventually. Hadley… Maverick… this is for you guys.
[Turning to Dante once more, the two shake hands before Perry steps away from the microphone. For good this time. Reporters and fans alike rush the scattered microphones, begging to as a whole set of new questions.]
DANTE REED
No more questions at this time, folks. Thank you all for coming tonight, we’ll see you Sunday!