They would have close to 10,000 fans walk through the doors by event’s closing Sunday nightLong Beach Ca – This past weekend vendors, fighters and hardcore MMA fans packed the halls of the Long Beach Convention Center for the first International Mixed Martial Arts Expo. IMMAE as it was called hosted fighters from the UFC, WEC and Strikeforce as well as the top vendors within the MMA world. IMMAE would also host our own US submission open along with The Long Beach International Karate Championships as they looked to bring even more excitement to MMA fans as they entered through the doors this past Saturday and Sunday.
Aside from OTM some of the vendors that attended the event included Tapout, Throwdown, Ecko and Warrior Wear. As each vendor marketed the latest in apparel and training gear companies that specialized in energy drinks and supplements offered their products to fans as they walked the halls of the expo this past weekend. Fans that were in attendance were able to meet the current UFC and WEC LW and FW champions BJ Penn and Uriah Faber along with fighters like Jens Pulver, Tito Ortiz, Sean Sherk and Strikeforce MW champion Cung Le. Each of them would have lines twisting around the entire expo as each fan anxiously waited for an autograph and picture with their favorite fighter.
Aside from the fighters and business vendors some of the sport’s most popular websites like Sherdog.com and MixedMartialArts.com would be on hand. Loretta Hunt a writer for Sherdog and The Fight Network would be there signing Randy Couture’s book that she co authored with UFC HW Champion. Industry insider and owner of the famous Underground forums Kirik would be on hand as well giving free pro memberships to any existing or new member willing to sign up and take a picture for the famed MMA hardcore website. Overall the success of the event could be found in its numbers as Tamara “Miss Rara” Suguitan IMMAE’s Co-founder and director of PR and marketing would state they would have close to 10,000 fans walk through the doors by event’s closing Sunday night. Proving that for a sport still in its infancy we have no place to go but up.