Fightfest

By D.X. Ferris on Wed, Jul 4, 2007 at 4:00 am

Fightfest mixed martial arts sports Fightfest. 7 p.m. Friday, July 6. $25 (all ages). House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-5283.

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Hockey's better live. So is pro wrestling. And ultimate fighting -- hell, it's pretty good on TV, but you really just need to see it live; blood could splatter on you. Fightfest's Black and Blues tour pits 30 of the toughest upcoming mixed-martial-arts fighters against each other in 15 fights that aren't quite no-holds-barred, but they're close enough. Top national and local talent includes Jeremy Joles of Mentor, Lakewood's Frank Costanzo, Michigan's Charlie Cosens, Indiana's Mark Lesley, and, pictured above, Canton's Terry Blackwell (left) and Parma Heights' Taiwon "The Iron Dragon" Howard (right). They're animals, but if you tell them we said that, please make it clear we meant it in an entirely complimentary way; in this kind of bout, you really have to be able think quickly to avoid having your head removed.