Local fighter Daniel Puder beats opponent in first round in
front of hometown fans
By Leann Shea, Sports Editor
San Jose – Daniel Puder has two distinct personas.
His hard-core, intimidating personality exudes confidence when he steps in the ring and his kind-hearted, grateful personality inspires him to give back to fans and the community.
The 24-year-old former Morgan Hill resident showed both of those sides at a sold-out HP Pavilion Friday night in California’s first-ever sanctioned mixed martial arts fight, “Shamrock vs. Gracie Strikeforce.” It was Puder’s first mixed martial arts fight since 2003.
More than 18,260 fans packed into the San Jose venue for the event, which featured Frank Shamrock and Cesar Gracie in the marquee fight. The sellout crowd set the North American attendance record for mixed martial arts events, surpassing the previous mark of 14,274 at the Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell vs. Randy Couture fight in April of 2005 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Puder, who won the World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Tough Enough” Challenge in 2004, relished in the hometown crowd cheering him on as he strode out to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”, carrying a large American flag.
Weighing in at 222 pounds, the 6-foot-3 Puder was confident going into his fight with Colorado’s Jesses Fujarcyk, saying prior to the fight, “I can’t wait to kick his butt.”
In the chain link fence-caged ring at the Pavilion, that is just what Puder did.
With the crowd on his side, Puder entered the ring looking fierce and staring Fujarcyk down. The raucous crowd drowned out the announcer as he gave the pre-fight instructions.
Puder came out at the bell quick and began pummeling Fujarcyk with punches and kicks. The abuse quickly wore on Fujarcyk, who began bleeding profusely from his nose. The fighter gave up just under two minutes into the round, signaling a submission to Puder.
Nearly as quickly as it began the fight was over and the crowd showed their appreciation for the victorious Puder.
Afterward, the winner’s hard-core demeanor changed as he hugged his opponent and tapped his head. Then Puder grabbed the microphone from the announcer and thanked the San Jose crowd for coming out to support him.
Puder, also an active philanthropist, charmed the crowd after the fight and indulged the audience members with photo and autograph opportunities.
Puder was gracious and kind, thanking adults and children for their support, and posing and smiling on cue for photos. He was the only fighter to mingle with the crowd during the event. He stopped and talked with anyone who called out his named or congratulated him on his win.
Outside the ring, Puder has created the Puder Strength Training program and the Tough Enough Kids organization to reach out to youths in Northern California. The Puder Strength Training program helps young athletes learn the necessary skills to condition their bodies effectively and efficiently and donates equipment to the cause, while the Tough Enough Kids program sends Puder on regular trips to the hospital where he attempts to lift the spirits of terminally ill children.
“It’s a big reason why I’m doing professional sports. It’s nice to go into a hospital where there’s a dying 12-year-old sad as hell and, when I walk in, he couldn’t be happier,” Puder said.
Friday night’s victory marks Puder’s (2-0) successful return to the world of mixed martial arts fighting. The icing on the cake was the chance for Puder to get the victory in front of an adoring hometown crowd.
Shamrock won the main event against Gracie on Friday, taking Gracie out 21 seconds into the first round.
