Victory Combat Championships Interview with Pat Walsh

Wtitten by: Dave Messuri & William Rackowski

In a room full of Boston sports legends, a few feet from the most famous ball park in America, two lone gentlemen from Stoughton MA were the ones making waves throughout the celebrity Softball Tournament today in Fenway Park. Pat Walsh, current Light Heavyweight standout (as well as former Heavyweight standout) walked around the room snapping pictures, flashing smiles, and generally intimidating everyone in the room not named Lyndon Byers (legendary Bruins enforcer). However, in addition to his powerful hands, flawless wrestling, and Ultimate Fighter pedigree, Pat, as well as business partner and Muay Thai enthusiast John Snyder, are offering something MORE to local MMA.

“We want to be bigger than Bellator, and we want to be bigger than Bellator by producing something special.” That is how Snyder, head of business development for Victory Combat Championships put it. “We want some production value, and we want to make sure our audience gets more bang for their buck.”

“We don’t want to have some no-name matches, we want evenly matched, high-paced, action packed fights” said Walsh. “We want people to put on a show for the fans and show off their skills.”

Clearly, quality is of importance to Victory and its founders, as the promotion sold out its most recent show in New York City, and recently inked a 6 show deal with Comcast Sports Network and NESN. Yes, ladies, gentlemen, and all fans of pugilism, the home of the Boston Bruins will now be providing you with some of the top MMA talent around. In addition to the television deal, an amazing opportunity for local fighters to build exposure and a fan-base, the fights will be held in Boston’s trendy Royale nightclub, and are sponsored by some of the biggest names in alcohol, including Sailor Jerry. If that isn’t already grabbing your attention, maybe you’re not a fight fan, Snyder and Walsh have something for the whole gang. Like what? How about Sailor Jerry’s offering free tattoos at the events? Yeah, we know.

Victory Combat Championships is looking to expand, and the individuals involved are trying to do so rapidly, though remaining dedicated to producing a quality product.

“We want people to leave our shows saying that it was one of the best night of fight’s they’ve ever seen” Snyder explained. “We want people to be cheering from bell to bell, and for the fighter’s to have a chance to take off.”

A promotion run and controlled by fighters (who also hold business experience as well as collegiate degrees) seems like something sorely lacking in today’s world of Mixed Martial Arts. In a world where fighter pay, questionable judging, gyms showed or showing favoritism, an organization where individuals who have seen the struggles of local fighters first hand seems to be the best solution. Individuals who started as amateurs and now find themselves fighting for UFC contracts, like Pat. Victory Combat Championships will have their inaugural Boston show on June 20th at Royale, and fighters are still welcome to join the card.

Contact Walsh if you are interested in taking a fight. Buy your tickets, and support your local fighters, as well as a local promotion looking to give them (as well as the audience) something special. If you can’t make it to the fights, don’t be afraid to throw on NESN and catch them.

“We’re going to be big, and we are excited” said Snyder with a grin. “We’re going to put on one hell of a show.”