A thought crossed my mind as I was stopping for (cheap U.S.) gas on the way home last Saturday (July 25) from the King of the Cage: Disputed mixed martial arts event in Sault, Mich. (slideshow here)
What if I had unwittingly waltzed into a crime scene, just as the police were looking for a suspect in some horrible murder. Or what if the gas bar attendant got nervous and hit the panic button?
After all, I did have a few drops of blood on my shirt. It wouldn’t take Horatio Caine to note the clear pattern of ’spatter,’ I was sporting.
But then I remembered I was probably OK. I had a pretty good excuse, and even if my camera full of time-stamped digital pics wouldn’t cut it with the local constabulary, I could probably drum up a fighter or two who would have remembered our interviews.
Anyway, this is a special edition of pics that didn’t make it. All of them come from one event: Saturday’s blood-soaked King of the Cage event. Blood on my shirt? Courtesy of the bleeding red-headed dude above, and his opponent, who pinned the guy up against the cage and unrelentingly wailed on him, splashing blood out through the side of the cage next to which I was perched.
I was lucky. Got away with just a few pinpoint-sized drops on my clothes and my notebook. Photog sitting next to me? Not quite so fortunate. I think he missed getting much on his person, but his notes were destroyed by dime- and nickel-sized globs (pic included in gallery). I think the worst part was how the coppery smell of the blood lingered long after the cleanup had taken place (guys come out with spray bottles and rags after each round to clean up the mess).
Anyways, hope you enjoy the gallery of photos, below. It was my first time at a mixed martial arts event. They’re mostly shots of local fighters, including Brent Fryia, Derek O’Neill, Trevor Manchester, John Veltri and Adrian Vilaca. I think my fave is the one I shot from below Vilaca as he climbed to the top of the cage to wave his fists at the crowd in triumph. Those King of the Cage folks sure know how to light up a stage.
If you liked this, you’re in luck because there’s going to be more, so check back on the Michael Purvis blog to see what I’m working on. Not following me on Twitter yet? Do it. And keep up with what the Sault Star is doing by following the paper’s tweets. Later.
Best. Horatio link. Ever. The photos are pretty great too. Hope all is well with you.