by Ulli Pohl
When you say “MMA” ,for most of us the first things that come to mind are usually things like, “Cage ,Blood and Fighters” a world dominated by fit athletes ,money ,fast girls ,managers and promoters. But with the speed and popularity in which the sport is taking the world by storm , it also brings with it opportunities for those who
are not physically gifted, people who will never throw a punch, or even know how to for that matter, but play such an important role in the sports future success ,that without them ,it would be like training without sparring partners or a coach.
One such guy is a local named Adam Upchurch. Adam is your true fan, who does not compete or even train ,has
always been a spectator and because of his absolute love for the sport, realised an opportunity that he wanted to be in the sport, but not in the physical sense .His passion has opened up a door for him here in the local fight scene,that he now finds himself right in the middle of things and is a crucial part of Atlanta’s fight scene!
Well Who is Adam Upchurch? and what does he do for the fighters that is so important ?!!!.
Adam has been a fan of MMA and a supporter of the sport since John McCain was dubbing it, “human cock fighting.” He was able to see the potential of the sport, the skill of the fighters and the brilliance of combining different disciplines.all without having ever strapped on a pair of gloves. To sit next to Adam today and talk about the sport
is to assume that he has spent time on the mat or in the ring, but (barring some wrestling experience in High School) you’d be wrong.
Adam’s passion for Mixed Martial Arts has led him down a different path.
For Love of the Camera
If you ask him, Adam is a tech guy. He is the son of a generation rife with computer nerds.the same nerds who were picked on in middle school.and the same nerds who are now taking over the world. His savvy with electronics and fascination with their inner workings started early and only became more cultured and polished with time.
Audio/Visual started to emerge as his true interest at Berry College in North Georgia and by the time he hit grad school at Boston University, he was spending his days (and in many cases his nights) pursuing his fascination with Video Editing and Post Production work. Taking raw footage and molding it into a refined product.
Fate intervened and in one Hollywood-style montage of life altering moments, he received a call to work camera at a local MMA event in Boston, MA. Think kid at Christmas.
For Love of the Fight
Adam has been able to observe Atlanta’s mixed martial arts community from a variety of perspectives. He is a devoted supporter of his brother, Stephen, who is an Amateur fighter in both MMA and Muay Thai here in Atlanta. Also, you will find him in the corner of his wife Jessica, who is an active Jiu Jitsu competitor and has just begun
fighting in competition Muay Thai. Sitting next to Adam during one of his wife’s competitions, his brother’s fights or a UFC broadcast is quite an experience. He has a profound understanding of both the ground and stand up game. His love for the sport keeps his attentions acutely fixed on the fight. His analytical mind helps him
systematically dissect each encounter. His eye for detail ensures that he misses very little, if anything at all.
The Method Post is Born in Atlanta
Adam’s involvement in the Atlanta Mixed Martial Arts community was solidified when he recognized a few key components that were found lacking.
Everyone knows what it takes to put on a quality Mixed Martial Arts event. OK, not everyone? But those who know understand that many different groups have to work together, behind the scenes, to pull off a great night of fights.
You’ve got to have an involved Athletic Commission, a dedicated Promoter, Quality Referees, a good venue; the list goes on and on.
Adam knows that there are two imperatives.
Game Fighters
Fighters willing to get in the cage or ring and go for broke. As fighters know, stepping up to fight is just a fraction of what it takes. Training, cutting weight, blood, sweat and tears.then the list starts to get long. Without them, there is nothing. Adam has seen all of this first hand.
Invested Fans
Also, without an excited fan base who is emotionally invested, whether for their love of a single fighter, a school of fighters, a specific discipline or just the rush of watching some good old fashioned ass kicking, you can’t have a great fight night.
Adam saw a disconnect between fighters and fans, fans and promoters & promoters and fighters on the local level. So, he created The Method Post to bring them together and to bring them both to you ,and it’s people like Adam , the unsung hero who in this visual digital era help the fighters get more recognition which in turns means more
opportunities for them on making it to the next stage , the fans get a greater sense of loyalty to the local fighters which brings more people to the shows for the promoters and of course every promoter wants a packed house at his/her event. So who would of thought in such a jock orientated sport ,one regular “nerd” behind a desk would be helping out so many in this sport we all love so much.