HARRISBURG -- Harrisburg's Phil Davis could have an upcoming fight at GIANT Center in Hershey -- but only if local MMA fans demand to see it.
Hershey is one of the possible fight sites in a nationwide contest put on by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) recently announced.
The HHRVB, along with Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, is hoping enough public support will be the difference, too.
“Bringing an event of this caliber and worldwide notoriety to Dauphin County would provide a tremendous impact to the region,” said Hartwick in a statement. “Phil Davis has done a great job promoting his hometown and we would love nothing more than to host him and the top fighters in the world.”
The HHRVB produced a special promotional video starring Davis to help make its case.
Local fight fans can vote for Hershey/Harrisburg area by entering the zip code “17033” on the “Hometown Throwdown” sweepstakes website (http://hometownthrowdown.ufc.com). The Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Hershey/Harrisburg, is currently in seventh place in the voting, according to the site.
Hartwick, along with HHRVB Sports Marketing Manager Gregg Cook and representatives from Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, attended UFC 133 in Philadelphia to introduce the UFC to the Hershey/Harrisburg region. Cook personally delivered the Davis video, along with an informational package highlighting GIANT Center, and the entire Hershey Harrisburg region, to the UFC headquarters in Las Vegas in October.
Davis' next fight is January 28 at the United Center in Chicago against Rashad Evans. Davis was supposed to fight Evans back in August at UFC 133 in Philadelphia, but the bout had to be scrapped when Davis suffered a knee injury during training.
