For a lot of men — and some women, too – there’s nothing like it.

It gets your adrenalin pumping and makes your heart beat faster.

The jury is still out on whether it’s barbaric or a sophisticated art form.

But one thing’s for certain: if it involves tapouts, rear naked chokes and knockouts, it’s UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship.

And for Vaughan’s Fight Depot store co-owner Paul Tantalo, there is nothing that matches watching a UFC fight.

“It’s not like any football game, any hockey game or any basketball game,” said Mr. Tantalo, who, like all UFC fans in Ontario, have to go to sports bars to watch a fight on pay-per-view because mixed martial arts fighting is not sanctioned in Ontario.

Mr. Tantalo said Ontario is missing out on huge eco nomic revenues by banning the sport.

To increase awareness of UFC’s popularity, the Vaughan resident is bringing light heavyweight contender Brandon “The Truth” Vera to his Jane Street store for a free meet and greet this Saturday, Nov. 15 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Mr. Vera, whose July UFC debut included a technical knockout against Adam Rivera, has since fought against the likes of Tim Sylvia, Frank Mir and Keith Jardine. 

UFC fighters come with nicknames such as “The Truth,” “The Spider,” “Pit Bull” and “The Prodigy” and many of them are well on their way to having more groupies than the Backstreet Boys. By the ripe old age of 22, these elite athletes are proficient in the art of Jujitsu, boxing, wrestling, muay tai and grapling.

The Fight Depot’s Mr. Tantalo, who, along with business partner Anthony Ingarra opened their first store in Oakville, chose Vaughan for the latest location because it’s a fast-growing community and close to Canada’s Wonderland, which brings in an abundance of customers.

Those customers range from 12 and about 50, and include men and women interested in UFC-style training equipment, fashion and accessories. 

Mr. Tantalo plans to open a third location in Toronto and is toying with the idea of franchising his ultimate fighter lifestyle retail shop.

 So, watch out for anyone in UFC, MMA or Tapout fashion wear because you might just get put into an arm bar and be forced to tapout (give up) or say Bob’s your uncle.

Contributor Hughcliff Lindsay is a UFC fan and former high school wrestler. His work is published in this paper as part of the Citizen’s ‘Citizen on Assignment’ feature. If you would like to help report the news in Vaughan or contribute your photos, e-mail editor Kim Champion at kchampion@yrmg.com or call 905-264-8703.