This is funny. Even mayors are getting into MMA.. It looks like the sport is really taking off in every aspect. I know Mayors in the past that have bet on football games but never MMA.. Here is the story....
Leaders of Hometowns of Pat Miletich, Renzo Gracie Put Their Cities’
Best on the Line as Teams Battle it out for Mixed Martial Arts
Supremacy
BETTENDORF, Iowa, and HOLMDEL, N.J., September 13, 2007 • Mayor
Michael J. Freemire of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Mayor Serena DiMaso of Holmdel,
N.J., today announced a “friendly wager” on the outcome of the
International Fight League (IFL) World Championship, the culmination of
the inaugural full season of the IFL, the world’s number one
professional mixed martial arts league. The Quad Cities Silverbacks are coached
by Pat Miletich, longtime resident of Bettendorf, while their opponents
in the historic matchup are mentored by Renzo Gracie, who has resided
in Holmdel for more than a decade.
The 2007 IFL World Championship is set for Thursday, September 20, at
Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. Each team is comprised of five
athletes, competing at five separate weight classes, much in the same way
scholastic or collegiate wrestling meets are held. The team which
wins three or more of the bouts wins the match. Mixed martial arts is a
combination of various martial arts forms, including boxing, kick
boxing, judo, Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, karate, Tae Kwon Do and
others.
Mayor Freemire has wagered a bushel of sweet Iowa corn, grown locally
in Bettendorf. Mayor DiMaso has countered with an offer of a bushel of
Jersey tomatoes from a Holmdel farm.
“The city of Bettendorf, ‘A Premier City,’ is proud to support
Pat Miletich and his team of Quad Cities-based athletes as they try to
bring the World Championship home,” said Freemire. “We
enthusiastically look forward to enjoying Mayor DiMaso’s tomatoes, which we fully
expect the Silverbacks will claim for us next month.”
“Renzo Gracie chose our community to live and raise his children and
speaks often of its virtues, so we are pleased to issue this challenge
on his and his team’s behalf,” said DiMaso. “While we are the
home of the PNC Arts Center and some of the best produce in the state, we
are excited that Holmdel will also soon be the home of the IFL World
Championship trophy.”
