QUICK HITS QUICK HITS t was in Sin City that the “American doctorate in emergency medicine. A lo- and break his nose in a fight that Moon Ironheart Crown may never happen Psycho” became one half of 2005’s cal hero like the mullet-sporting Mexican calls the greatest in the organization’s his- again. But the authors of its history may Bonnar-Griffin Boom—a 15-minute bringing in the house inspired Moon to tory. In defeat, Nancoo had to drive back not be done writing its story. Torres says scrap with Forrest Griffin that properly continue his crazed night gig. Torres just to Ontario, Canada, that same night to re- he will have a hand in reviving Ironheart Iintroduced mixed martial arts to America required top billing. turn to his normal life and day job. It was Crown. “It’s not gonna be risky because and changed the sport forever. That may Bonnar and Torres won their respec- his last fight ever. it’s gonna be a success,” he says. have never happened if Chicago promoter tive four-man tournaments on November “Is it worth it?” contemplated Torres. “When we do come back, I hope that Eric Moon hadn’t walked into Bonnar’s 10, 2001, at IHC III. Thinking back, they “It was. I remember the first time I got there’ll be fighters out there that will be jiu-jitsu class four years earlier. impressed each other that night. Moon into the WEC, I thanked Eric Moon,” says interested in fighting for us again,” says “Anyone want to sign up for the credits the two with exemplifying his vi- the former WEC Bantamweight Champi- Moon, now 40-years-old. “We haven’t 205-pound tournament in a few months?” sion of iron sharpening iron, heart bat- on. “Without the shows that he put on, I been forgotten.” asked Moon. The future UFC star accept- tling heart, and the resulting classic fight wouldn’t be here right now.” The decade- Ironheart Crown fashioned its prize- ed the invite to ensure consistent train- moments. plus veteran credits Moon as a driving fighting legacy with only 12 shows in ing. While he prepared for a gauntlet of “The Bonnar fight with Forrest Griffin,” force behind the belief in sub-155-pound nine years. By comparison, the UFC held violence, Moon was trying to give MMA a says Torres, “I’ve seen Bonnar do four of weight divisions (Moon also supported fe- 24 in 2010. The unique spirit of Ironheart legitimate sporting platform in fighting’s those fights live in Ironheart Crown.” male MMA). “When you fight for a show Crown is in its ahead-of-the-curve dedica- early Wild West days. like that, and you go to the UFC, its the tion to sport rather than embracing rebel- Moon assumed control of Chicago The Show Before the Show same level of professionalism.” lious and careless attitudes of the time. BY DANNY ACOSTA Challenge when the event he was sup- “I’m gonna find a guy whose gonna Given Moon’s medical background, he Torres, now in the UFC, compares the posed to compete in fell apart. The fight- beat you,” Moon told Torres back in the ensured that fighters met medical require- roar of IHC’s crowds to any current UFC. er-turned-promoter renamed it Ironheart day. “My goal was to find someone who ments too—unheard of in a time where Bonnar echoes that sentiment, saying, “I Crown, wanting to “highlight the ath- was better than my champion, who could there was the option to find a pub, ask for know Ironheart seems so small compared leticism and skill involved rather than the beat my champion, because that’s how a no-holds-barred fight, and get one. to fighting on a big UFC card, but looking blood and brutality.” you have a good fight.” Compelling talent was still available to back on it, it feels just as big, you know? It Despite Windy City neighborhoods re- Quality comes at a price, and accord- regional organizations when the UFC and feels just as meaningful, just as big—you fusing to display fight posters, Moon ran ing to Torres, much of it came at Moon’s PRIDE—the major brands in MMA—only still want to win just as bad.” his first show in 1999, under rules that he’d expense, but the hardships endured paid ran a handful of shows a year. As MMA Before Bonnar returns to his life as a designed around the wording that banned off as IHC garnered the attention of the became readily available on television, UFC fighter in Las Vegas and quits such “Ultimate Fighting.” The second event North American Shooto Commission. fighting’s success, ironically, cannibalized nostalgia from back home, he reveals that came a year later. Johnny Law caught on Shooto designated Ironheart Crown as its some of its havens like Ironheart Crown. he was supposed to fight Bobby South- and ran Moon out of Illinois in court. So, primary destination in America. The as- The inflated market demands more capital worth for the Ironheart Crown Light Moon set off to the Hammond Civic Cen- sociation stretched its reach far beyond for consistent, quality cards—these were Heavyweight title in 2004. Instead, both HEAVY IS THE HEAD OF IRONHEART CROWN ter in Indiana for his third event. The for- the Midwest. the challenges that were facing Moon and were cast on the inaugural season of The mer Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu student found Torres confides that the first belt that other regional promoters. Ultimate Fighter. “They actually made the Stephan Bonnar submits two opponents a home for his passion-project promotion meant anything to him was the Shooto It’s bittersweet for Moon that IHC fell event posters and everything,” Bonnar in Hammond thanks to a blessing named strap he held in Ironheart Crown. “Not in the wake of the mixed martial arts’ says. “I still have them.” in less than four minutes (with just 20 Miguel Torres. only was I known in the Midwest, I was boom, in which Bonnar played a signifi- Millions of viewers watched Stephan “When I began fighting in Ironheart known in Japan,” he says. “It took me to a cant role. However, after a two-year hia- Bonnar take a split decision over Bobby minutes between contests) and wins a light Crown, I was the first bout,” says Torres, worldwide spectrum.” tus, Moon returned in 2008 to promoting Southworth on Spike TV. In a way, they who entered the event at 20 years old on Moon capitalized on Shooto’s organi- in Chicago, eight years after being ejected. watched an Ironheart Crown title fight. heavyweight tournament in Hammond, the same night that Bonnar fought. “I sold zational power by contacting promoters Ironheart Crown XII was properly dubbed Bonnar went on to the TUF tournament 400 tickets. After my fight, everyone left.” around the world to export top talent to “Resurrection.” finals against Forrest Griffin. And the rest, Indiana, at Ironheart Crown III: Exodus. He Moon panicked, thinking, They’re leav- challenge his homegrown stars. Against “It was the first sanctioned show within as they say, is history. ing. They’re not buying beer. They’re not Canadian Richard Nancoo in 2006, Tor- city limits,” Moon says, mentioning the says all that his father could talk about was buying shirts. They’re killing the show. The res had a battle that changed the way he UIC Pavilion is where the WEC brought Ryan McKinnell, national mixed martial nightmares of promoting fights occupied viewed fighting. Nancoo snapped Torres’ Torres a year later. “It turned out to be arts examiner for examiner.com, contributed “how awesome this Miguel Torres was.” Moon while he worked through medical ankle, but the Carlson Gracie fighter per- our biggest show. We had just fewer than to this story. school, where he eventually achieved a severed to beat his adversary’s eyes shut 4,000 people there.” 48 FIGHTMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 2011 FIGHTMAGAZINE.COMFIGHTMAGAZINE.COM | MARCH| APRIL 2011 49.