Saturday Night's For Fighting

Come Saturday evening at Pikey's Pub, waitresses dressed in Irish kilts will serve up pub fare, beer and Jägermeister on tap, and 15 flat-screen televisions will be playing the Ultimate Fighting Championship on pay-per-view, free of charge.

Pikey's Pub on Canwood Street in Agoura Hills will be hosting UFC 115, Liddell vs. Franklin, live from Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday at 7 p.m.  Other fights on the card include Mirko Cro Cop vs. Pat Barry, Paulo Thiago vs. Martin Kampmann and Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel.  

Pikey's Pub will be the only venue showing the UFC event in Agoura Hills. Sunset Terrace at the Janss Mall in Thousand Oaks also offers the fights, but charges a cover.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years.  Virtually bankrupt in 2001, the current owners of the UFC bought the organization for a mere $2 million. Today it's estimated worth hovers around $1 billion.

Once criticized for its brutality, today the UFC garners a steady following that includes men and women of all ages and backgrounds and has been credited with reinvigorating the pay-per-view industry.  

Pikey's Pub, in conjunction with LA Uptown Events, saw this as a unique opportunity to bring something new and exciting to Agoura Hills.

"We wanted to bring the UFC Fight Nights to Agoura Hills with no cover charge, so people don't have to go and spend $64 at home [depending on your service provider] or pay a cover at a venue," said Jesse Nicassio, owner of LA Uptown Events.

Nicassio's free-of-charge policy is key to the UFC Fight Nights' success.  "Fight nights are packed," he said. "The free cover is going great, and Pikey's also offers some great food and drink specials."

Fight Nights are crowded, so Nicassio advises getting there no later than 6 p.m. to grab a seat at one of Pikey's many high and low top tables, all available on a first come, first served basis.  Also available is the VIP area, which includes large leather couches and two televisions at no additional cost.

The crowd is diverse, with men and women from their early 20s to late 60s, high-energy and often rupturing in cheers and leers.  "The crowd is awesome, not rowdy," explained Nicassio. "Everyone is here to watch the fights and have a great time. Everybody is high-fiving and cheering when their fighter wins."

Sponsors for UFC Fight Nights at Pikey's include the National Fight Alliance, JAKKS Pacific and UFC marketing and gaming companies. UFC and other MMA fighters are large supporters of the events and can often be seen watching the fights with other patrons.