MMA-URLS

UFC president Dana White isn't one to react passively to events. He spoke to the LA Times' Lance Pugmire on Friday about the recent rash of failed drug tests that have afflicted the UFC. Most recently the UFC lost its headliner for the upcoming UFC 146 when Heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem failed a random urine test in late March for an elevated testosterone:epitestosterone ratio. White told Pugmire the UFC is taking steps to expand their internal drug testing program: White: "The steroid, [performance-enhancing drug] thing affects the whole sport. The key is to make sure these guys never get on it, because once they do, they change. The problem with Overeem is that I want to sit in a room with him man to man and believe him. He told me before he ever fought for us, 'Don't worry, I'm the most tested athlete in sports.' But I think we have about 42 fights a year . . . you have a guy or two popping [positive tests] here and there, that's a pretty good ratio." Pugmire: Do you want to increase testing? White: "Yes. We're going to do our own testing, order these guys into [a lab]; we're sorting it out now. You have to do this to save the sport. You can't have these guys fighting on this stuff." This is a massive sea change in the UFC's approach to drug testing. For years they deferred all questions regarding drug testing to the various athletic commissions that regulate the sport and hoped no one important would note that they acted as the commission in jurisdictions (the UK, Japan) with no regulatory body in place. White also addressed what he regards as the uninformed coverage in the MMA media about the declining UFC ratings on Fox, FX and Fuel TV: See what Dana has to say about TV ratings after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir White: "The real story is, what do the Internet reporters know? When they say Fox made a big bet on the UFC, and now it's tanking . . . it's not. It's given Fox an audience it never had before. [Research] shows 3.9 million new viewers to Fox networks in the last three months, [more] new women viewers, and UFC on Fox 1 had a higher composition of Latino viewers than the big four sports leagues." Pugmire: You set the bar high at the UFC on Fox 1 card with the heavyweight title bout between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, but it did seem as if your May 5 card was a pretty big drop-off. White: "Who's hotter than the Diaz brothers now? And Nate Diaz put on an absolute show. That was a bad TV night. It was the biggest movie night of the year, with 'The Avengers.' It was Cinco de Mayo, so people went out. Plus you had the Floyd Mayweather fight. The numbers cycle up and down in sports, but we felt Diaz went out and won a big fight, and our sport makes its stars different than boxing. Mayweather was a 1996 Olympian, and now he's finally at his biggest. With our guys - like Jon Jones, who no one knew a year and a half ago - they become huge stars overnight with one great fight. [The Fox fights] aren't all going to be 10 million viewers. There are a lot of things we still need to dial in, but everybody's good with what we're supposed to be doing. If a rating is bad in another sport, do you see a writer say, 'This sport's over?' No." Dana's right to accentuate the positive but the issue isn't that the Fox, FX and Fuel TV ratings are bad per se (although they've definitely dipped a toe into those waters) it's that the ratings are declining from show to show and week to week. With the exception of preliminary fights for UFC pay-per-views airing on FX and Fuel TV and UFC Fight Nights on FX, every program the UFC has put on the Fox family has declined from installment to installment. That goes for UFC on Fox, The Ultimate Fighter Live, and UFC on Fuel TV.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sport, tv

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This is the third of four blogs from former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, who takes on current champ Junior dos Santos for the title at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, mir, sport, do, mir jds

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Positive test clearly hurts boxing, but also signals a bigger issue spanning across all sports.

Posted in: sport, test, boy, berto, andre bertos

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Junior dos Santos stops by Yahoo! Sports to talk about his upcoming fight with Frank Mir.

Posted in: mir, sport, do, yahoo, yahoo sports

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Promoters will always be promoters. Just look at Don King, a man who keeps smiling, spiking his crazy hair and waving mini-American flags regardless of what he's pushing. No matter what, he always focuses on the positive, regardless of what the naysayers are trying to counter with. And with boxing these days, that can be a lot. UFC president Dana White is a different breed of promoter. He isn't afraid to taunt or fire back at anyone on any subject, something that endeared himself to many as the UFC rose through the sports muck to prominence over the past seven years. Sometimes he has been right on the money and other times, he has been horrendously off base. When forced to, he's apologized for the really bad stuff, but has never apologized for being open and honest. To say the least, he is the 'anti Roger Goodell' -- a sentiment against a perceived PR-friendly figurehead as opposed to someone shooting from the hip. But White's video tirade this week against Wrestling Observer founder/MMA journalist Dave Meltzer crossed the line -- not just because it came across as childish and petulant but because it was simply mean spirited in a direction that it never should have gone in. In the interest of full disclosure, I do some work with the Observer, both writing, editing and appearing on podcasts. I consider Meltzer a colleague and someone that I respect immensely in the business. He is one of the most relentless workers in all of sports journalism and while it's easy to dismiss pro wrestling coverage, Dave has also covered UFC from its inception and is well-versed in everything combat sports. I'm certainly not alone in my feelings and I'm sure White would say the same. If you're late to the party, Meltzer did some writing on the recent UFC on Fox 3 ratings, numbers that were the lowest of what they've done so far on the big network. He outlined some of the the potential issues that could have affected the rating but also didn't pull any punches in saying what many thought: it wasn't a great number and that the August show is a very important one for the future of the relationship. White was furious with the analysis, unleashing with a diatribe like we haven't seen in a while. He said the UFC was No. 1 in the key male demos and the last quarter hour of the show was No. 1 among all adult and male demos. He laid out some of the same arguments for the low rating that Meltzer did (without acknowledging that) and tried to make an NBA playoffs analogy that didn't make any sense. I have no issue with White defending his company amidst the perceived negatives from their latest network TV outing. Whether or not the Fox brass agrees is another story, but as long as they are giving the UFC primetime slots on Saturday nights four times a year, that's a positive thing. I'm somewhat glad White did go behind the curtain a bit because it slightly drives me nuts when he says, "What people don't understand..." Helping people understand his point of view is important, even if it's not impartial. My issue is the vitriol in which White decided to attack Meltzer. He doesn't have a history on unfounded attack pieces on the UFC, so why would this suddenly elicit this type of reaction? White did tell Meltzer about what was coming and Meltzer didn't do what many weaker than him would have done: issue some sort of apology or do a make-good column to ease any conflict. He has a job to do and I would trust his accuracy over that of a promoter, regardless of who it is. If I had a gun to my head and had to answer anything about TV ratings or the pay-per-view industry to save my life, Dave Meltzer would be my first call. He's got too much cache, industry relationships and history not to trust him. The worst and most inaccurate part of White's comments were about Meltzer "being fired" from Yahoo and that he shouldn't be giving business advice. Anyone that has a clue about what is going on at Yahoo knows they released nearly their entire MMA staff amid company-wide cuts and that the company has been in trouble for a long time. White made it sound like Meltzer was released due to bad work which is about as unprofessional as it gets. I know it's fun for people to compare and contrast White to other major sports heads in that he is completely anti-establishment. However, that isn't always a good thing and this is one of those cases. Had he simply made his case with the numbers and moved on, that's one thing. To portray Meltzer as some sort of dimestore writer that got fired for incompetency is another. NFL commissioner Goodell may never swear in front of cameras, but he also wouldn't release a video blog ripping apart Sports Illustrated's Peter King. The MMA media is in complete disarray these days and the last thing it needs is the sport's most important figure doing video blogs attacking one of its most well known and respected figures for doing their job. There are way more important things to do to ensure the sport's future than to rip on someone analyzing its present.

Posted in: ufc, sport, rating, thing, meltzer

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TOKYO -- Long-beleaguered combat sports giant Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) has officially declared bankruptcy, according to a report by private credit research firm Teikoku Databank.

Posted in: sport, feg, tokyo, giant, bankruptcy

Read the full article at Sherdog

Initially this contest was supposed to end late last night, but I got all depressed from our Braulio Estima video and I played Minecraft for the entire night. I didn't even take a shower. My legs are still covered with sweat from running around with Ronda Rousey at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California. We have tons of other footage from the event, but we're probably not going to post anything else since we sort of broke traffic records yesterday with this one. However, now it's time to award one of our readers with free swag, compliments of NeoCell and their Collagen Sport product. As expected, all of you psychos just rained with thumbs down on the contest page. There was one MiddleEasy member that was consistent in his haiku offerings, and among his multiple entries, this one seemed the greatest one -- thus we have a winner in Dana Whitu. Congrats bud! Now be sure to give us your address so we can get your unhealthy butt healthy once again with Collagen Sport. Pavlovian Wood Summoned When Goldie Says The Lovely Whoever

Posted in: sport, contest, ronda rousey, neocell sport, post anything

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There are two separate worlds in professional sports. The one with the money, bright lights and headlines, and the one that lies beneath it all, where the true talent separates itself from the pack while the wannabes try to hold on to a dream. The latter is a proving ground, a necessary stop on the way to stardom or an unwanted roadblock on the way to obscurity. It also the landscape examined by the new documentary "Fightville," which was recently given a limited release in US theaters. Beyond that, it is a portrait of two lives in flux, centered on the careers of a pair of aspiring MMA stars. To fans of the UFC, the star of the movie is Dustin Poirier, the fast-rising featherweight who happens to be fighting in the main event of Tuesday's UFC on FUEL 3. In the film -- shot over the course of one year from mid-2009 to mid-2010 -- Poirier is depicted as a hard-working kid from a hard-scrabble background, using his talent to overcome a rough start in life and head to the bigtime. All the while, the filmmakers tell the parallel story of Albert Stainback, a 20-something with a tortured youth and a dream of a worry-free future. The contrast between the two is subtle but striking. They both have the same goal, they both come from similar backgrounds, they both end up at the same gym, Gladiators Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana, but that's where their paths separate.While Poirier illustrates unwavering dedication to his personal improvement to go with his natural talent, Stainback seems to spend more time talking about his goals than putting in the time necessary to achieve them.The brutal truths about success or failure in the sport are immediately brought to the forefront by their trainer, UFC veteran Tim Credeur, who notes that the current MMA movement represents the natural evolution of martial arts. After years of outrageous claims from practitioners of various disciplines, MMA has managed to separate the legitimate from the pretenders. "To make it for everyone is to make it not what it really is," he says.The same holds true for individuals, as Stainback learns.The Kentucky native comes across as a complex and sympathetic character. Early on in the film, he recalls his father beating his mother senseless. Later, when he was nine, his father committed suicide."I honestly attribute me wanting to fight, if I had to give some kind of Freudian guess at it, is I wanted to be a defender," he says.Stainback is clearly intelligent. He is introspective, well-spoken and it seems, well-read, since he clearly harbors a fascination with Alex from the 1960s novel "A Clockwork Orange."Yet as bright as he is, he can't keep from getting in the way of his own success. After winning his pro debut, he is booked for a rematch, but because of relationship issues and stress, he loses the desire to get into the gym to train. As a result, he is forced out of the fight."It sucks knowing that I let something like this go by," he says. "It might be small, it might be big, but it was there."All the while, Poirier is seizing the moment, training for the same show, his determination unwavering. We see him making sacrifices in his diet to make weight, and we see his work ethic, and it's clear what the difference is between the two. The most powerful shot in the movie comes when Poirier goes off to Canada to fight. He wins in a flash, and as he celebrates, the scene cuts to Steinback watching video of Poirier's win while back home. As Poirier basks in the glory of a victory that sends him to his dream job -- he soon after signed a contract with Zuffa -- Steinback has literally and figuratively been left behind. While MMA enthusiasts are no doubt Fightville's most likely audience, it's biggest importance is to non-fans, for a look at the dedication it takes to succeed as well as the real people and real ambition behind an often-misunderstood sport. MMA is ultimately both simple and complex; a fight with many layers of depth. Because of that, it will never be for everyone. But as Fightville teaches through Poirier's resolve, once you get past the sport's proving grounds, it can lead to a little slice of the American Dream.

Posted in: ufc, mma, dream, sport, poirier

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Las Vegas, May 11, 2012  Yesterday morning, Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara had the honor of meeting Francesco "Gladiator" Totti and Daniele "Future Captain" De Rossi, two exceptionally talented athletes, at the AS Roma training ground in Trigoria.Danielle De Rossi, midfielder of AS Roma and Italian National Team player and Alessio Sakara, UFC athlete known as "Legionarius", joked around in front of the video cameras of Roma Channel exchanging ideas about their passion for UFC, global premier organization in the promotion of Mixed Martial Arts.Francesco Totti and Alessio Sakara"MMA is a sport that fascinates me", explained De Rossi "Like all contact sports, they are tough but at the roots of combat is a loyalty and respect between the athletes.  With Alessio, however, I would only compete against with my playstation", De Rossi continued referring to the UFC video game Undisputed 3, which features Alessio Sakara as a character."Behind a sport like MMA there is a physical preparation that is 10 times that of football" - the Roma midfielder continued.  "It is a sport where you have to be an athlete that is 100%, its not hard to be submitted by your opponent, so you have to stay focused at all times".Alessio Sakara and Daniele De Rossi"Rome is my city and I'm very happy to be here today.  When I spoke about Rome however, I don't just mean my city, I mean the whole empire.  I am in love with what our ancestors left us and it si thanks to them that Rome is such a popular city today.  Roman fighters, Legionarius, are my inspiration because I aim to always have the same determination that they had during battle," Alessio Sakra explained.During their meet and greet, Sakara and the young footballer exchanged UFC gloves and an AS Roma jersey baring De Rossi's team number.A meeting between Roman athletes that pride themselves of an ever growing stars and stripes background.  Infact, AS Roma has recently been pruchased by the American Thomas DiBenedetto, born in Boston with Italian origins.  This summer, AS Roma will be visiting Boston, Chicago, and New York with a series of friendly matches.

Posted in: sport, athlete, alessio, roma, rossi

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A few months ago we had this same NeoCell Collagen Sport contest and invited the MMA world to create the greatest MMA haiku for 60-days of the greatest nutritional complex known to man. Instead of praising your fellow MMA haiku writers, you guys sent every participant into a fiery put of thumbs down. We eventually found one sole person that had a nominal amount of thumbs up, and he was awarded the nutritional spoils of war. I would be lying if I told you I didn't drink a glass of this stuff for breakfast shortly after I crawl out of bed. NeoCell's Collagen Sport is a four-stage nutritional supplement designed to help you refuel, recover, regenerate and replenish. It also helps me obtain witty 90s references and incorporate them into articles with ease. NeoCell's Collagen Sport is synthetic-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free nutritional supplement. NeoCell also helped us produce the upcoming 'Ronda Rousey's Road Trip to the 209,' an episodic show that will hit MiddleEasy.com in a few more days. In the meantime, NeoCell wants to give away free stuff to MiddleEasy readers. In order to make this happen, we're bringing back out infamous 'The Greatest MMA Haiku Contest.' Check out the official rules below. Rules: We want to read the greatest MMA haiku known to humanity -- and it's your job to come up with it. The haiku could be anything MMA related. Of course, the greatest haiku will eventually win a free 60-day supply of Collagen Sport in both Belgian Chocolate and French Vanilla flavor. Here's a brief example that I've whipped up to get your brains cranking: Cro Cop with blue wings Flying past edible sharks Through time and through space Note to everyone, if your haiku is as horrible as mine -- don't expect to get even close to winning. The underlying structure of a haiku is three lines, with the first line being five 'moras' (or syllables), second line contains seven moras, and the final line contains three. So a 5-7-5 structure. Hope that didn't confuse you, but if it did then you may need to retake 6th grade literature. As of now, the contest is open to anyone on the planet. How to win: You must be a registered user on MiddleEasy.com with a valid email to enter. Publish your creative MMA haiku in the comment section below. The haiku with the most thumbs-ups by May 13th 9:00pm EST will win a 60-day supply of Collagen Sport. It's as simple as that. Now go, be creative!

Posted in: mma, sport, haiku, collagen, mma haiku

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We've all heard UFC president Dana White brag about the UFC having the most rigorously tested athletes in sports. Situations like Alistair Overeem and Chael Sonnen's failed drug tests for elevated testosterone levels lend some degree of credibility to the "effectiveness" of the current testing regime. The promotion also deserves credit for putting their own testing in place when operating in a state or country with little or no actual testing. But there's another sport that not only has to deal with the current testing set up for the state athletic commissions and has athletes choosing to take things to the next level. Boxing. The first real push the sport of boxing saw for blood testing was the first round of serious negotiations for a mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Floyd demanded blood testing because of suspicions that Manny had used performance enhancing drugs and he felt that the current urine tests weren't good enough. Some felt it was a negotiating tactic, and many felt that it was unfair to expect a fighter to agree to things that the state didn't require. It did work in Floyd's favor though, as Manny's "fear of needles" really dented his credibility in the public. To Floyd's credit, he didn't back off blood testing for any opponent going forward. Shane Mosley (who had a history of PED use), Victor Ortiz and Miguel Cotto all agreed to "Olympic style" blood testing. But the idea of a "clean sport" has moved beyond just Mayweather fights. On the undercard of Mayweather vs. Cotto, Shane Mosley and Canelo Alvarez used VADA testing for their bout. The highly anticipated rematch between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto? VADA testing there too. Lamont Peterson vs. Amir Khan II? Yep, VADA. Oh, and that Peterson/Khan fight? That might be in trouble after Lamont popped positive for a synthetic testosterone. In a bit of an ironic twist, it was Peterson who wanted the testing for the fight. So it would appear clear that VADA is reasonably effective. In fact, it's getting a little weird that every other major fight is having VADA testing except for Pacquiao's fight with Timothy Bradley. Not that I'd dare suggest that means anything. After all, fear of needles. But the larger point is that the UFC's combat sports cousin is seeing a shift in drug testing demands. Fighters and fans seem to want to try to clean up the sport a bit by going beyond the current system, which experts will say is not really all that effective. Dana White had been resistant to the idea of upping the UFC's drug testing, repeating the same lines about how hard the sport is already tested and then asking if people expect him to fly around to test fighters. But recently did start to say that they'd "figure something out" and talked about bringing in an agency. I can't help but think that a promotion the size of the UFC that talks so tough about wanting everything to be clean can afford to embrace an agency like VADA to take things to the next level. Will any sort of testing ever make a sport 100% clean? No, of course not. But it will make it more difficult for fighters to use in a sport that most people think has rampant PED use. Of course, there's still probably nothing that can be done about this sudden flood of fighters with low testosterone.

Posted in: ufc, sport, drug, testing, vada

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

So some are saying that the NFL may be heading towards a bit of a rough spot given increasing developments of brain trauma among players, old and new. Addressing this may hurt the league - and maybe the sport - for two reasons; 1. Not proactively working to protect players and 2. If they institute rules to make the game safer/ less aggressive, fans who have come to appreciate the current manifestation of the game may start losing interest. And so; how safe is MMA for the fighters, really? I understand it is supposed to be among the safer sports given less head trauma on a repeated/consistent basis but I also understand that there aren't any longitudinal studies to support this claim. Any guidance any of you can offer on this? What is the potential that the sport will be hurt by brain dammage-related issues in MMA? submitted by fredmalgud [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: mma, sport, brain, head trauma, repeatedconsistent basis

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A new Fight Opinion investigation takes a look at the political power that California State Athletic Commission chairman John Frierson posses and how the future of combat sports will look under his tenure as Chairman.

Posted in: sport, combat sports, california state, investigation, chairman

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

submitted by Im_not_Barack_Obama [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: guy, sport, fan, perception, imnotbarackobama

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Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jim Miller, Tom Grant and Dan Miller pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Fight Opinion talks concussions in major hard-hitting sports, Five Ounces of Pain interviews Alan Belcher and Lowkick scores an interview with Dennis Bermudez. The full list of links is after the jump. - Dennis Bermudez: Everything I've ever done is on the line against Pablo Garza (LowKick) I really feel like everything I ever done will be on the line against Garza. I like being an underdog, and some people might give him an upper hand in certain things, he could have more experience than me, but I have to prove something. I will make a statement against Pablo Garza. This is what really pumps me up. - Gauging Invicta FC's success based on my mother's day reactions (The Fight Nerd) - How will combat sports battle concussions in the furure? (Fight Opinion) When I watched Ron Kruck's piece on HDNet about The Lou Ruvo center last December, it was a segment that reminded me just how little we know about the issue of concussions in combat sports. Despite technological advances with MRIs & CT scans, that technology also has a ways to develop from what experts say is currently a ‘black & white' standard of determining just how much damage a person's brain has suffered. - Golden Boy sets record highs for Mayweather Cotto. (MMA Payout) - UFC Primetime returns for Dos Santos vs Mir (MMA Convert) - Dana White hints at a stacked January event (Fightline) - Alan Belcher: "I don't plan on losing anytime soon." (Five Ounces of Pain) "I've been putting myself in certain situations so that when the fight comes I know what Palhares strengths are and I can avoid them. I've been training with some guys who are really good with leg locks and I'm learning how to fight those submissions off. - Former UFC dark matches will be streamed live on Facebook (5thRound)

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fight nerd, garza

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Earlier this week, ESPN released its list of highest paid athletes in sports.  Notably, the list left off the sport of MMA and specifically the UFC due to the fact that it could not confirm salary data. MMA Fighting wrote that Dana White is right and wrong with not releasing fighter salary data.  It states that White is right to withhold salary info because it is private.  Presumably, it protects the privacy of its fighters by not telling everyone how much they make per fight.  However, there is a reason to release salaries: Football, basketball and baseball are mainstream because they’re big business. And part of the reason we know they’re big business is because players salaries are made public. It then argued a reason to make salaries public is to entice up and coming fighters. And make no mistake, there are plenty of possible MMA stars who are on football fields. In many parts of the country, football and wrestling work together to create quality athletes. But then what happens? As the athlete progresses, he starts thinking about his future. And where is there a better chance for a future? Of course most, if given the opportunity, will move on to football. Why? Because long-term, there is a chance for a windfall payday. Even if it’s remote, there is a chance. It uses the Jones brothers as an example.  Two of the Jones brothers are now in the NFL while Jon is probably the most famous as the UFC champ.  This example is flawed considering there is no evidence that Jon Jones was good at football  (or any other sport) and chose MMA instead. Payout Perspective: MMA Fighting’s argument that the sport of MMA could lose out on potential athletes because of the lack of salary information is improbable.  Most likely athletes will choose their profession based on the best possible chance of making it in the professional ranks of the sport.  There are examples of athletes choosing a sport and then reversing course.  (NFL First Rounder Brandon Wheedon played baseball a couple years before going back to play college football and getting drafted.)  But that example is beyond the scope of the theory that someone will actually choose a sport based on how much you could make. There are instances of former football players taking up MMA after their pigskin career is done. But, that is after their first career is over. Moreover, it’s not plausible to think that someone would choose a career in MMA over a career in NFL because money in MMA is not as good as that in professional football. Even without knowing the salary structure in MMA, one need only look to the salaries that NFL rookies will make to assume that if you had a choice to play professionally or fight in MMA, one would choose the NFL. Transparency of the UFC’s salaries lends credibility to the sport based in part on the fact that the other sports are willing to reveal the way it pays its athletes. For the UFC to say “it’s none of your business” makes it seem that it is hiding something rather than protecting the privacy of its fighters.  The ESPN OTL report builds on the premise that it is hiding something.  Like it or not, that is how it is perceived.

Posted in: mma, sport, athlete, football, salary

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® applauds the lawmakers of the state of Vermont following the successful vote of a bill to regulate Mixed Martial Arts, which recently passed through the Vermont Legislature. “The Green Mountain State” becomes the 46th in the U.S. to approve the fastest-growing sport in the world.  “Vermont’s legislation of the sport of MMA is further evidence of the continued growth and success of our sport in this country,” said UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. “We are pleased that fans in Vermont will now have the opportunity to watch a live UFC event in their own backyard, and look forward to making that happen.” “We are thrilled with the state of Vermont becoming the 46th state to regulate the sport of Mixed Martial Arts,” said Marc Ratner, UFC Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. “We look forward to working with their athletic commission in forming the rules and regulations of this great sport.” The UFC has led the way in helping the sport of mixed martial arts gain regulation in the U.S. Only New York and Connecticut remain unregulated, while Alaska and Wyoming lack the necessary regulatory bodies to oversee the sport. 

Posted in: ufc, sport, art, state, vermont

Read the full article at UFC

Like most people tapped into social media, I get a lot of my breaking news from Twitter. A tweet from CNN or a retweet from another news source usually fills me in on the latest big -- and sometimes inconsequential; looking at you, any headline with the word ‘Kardashian' in it -- story. Yesterday, the story was Junior Seau's apparent suicide, unfortunately. When it comes to someone taking their own life, it usually goes one of two ways. Either the signs were there -- depression, financial or personal turmoil -- or the act comes completely out of left field. In Seau's case, it was the latter. While purely speculation at this point, yesterday's tragedy brings up memories of Dave Duerson's suicide from February 2011. A member of the vaunted 1985 Chicago Bears squad, the former safety also took his life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. But unlike Seau, he implored his family before his death to donate his brain to the Boston University School of Medicine almost as if he knew something wasn't right upstairs. They've concluded concussions led to Duerson suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. Football is a tough -- and dangerous -- sport. Any sport, really, has its share of dangers but a game like football, in which men are constantly crashing into each other with as much force as they can muster trumps just about all the others. Except for maybe mixed martial arts (MMA). Proponents can trump the safety measures in the sport all they want, be it the lack of a standing eight count or the mandatory medical suspensions following a knockout. But the fact remains, these men and women are punching, elbowing and kneeing each other in the head and body. And they're doing it as many times as they can to win the fight. That is the exact opposite of safe. I'm not calling for a boycott of the sport, obviously. I love it. I spend a large chunk of my time -- perhaps too much -- watching, analyzing, writing and talking about MMA. It's a huge part of my life. And there are some of you who know an equally large amount of time is devoted to professional wrestling. The difference between the two is obvious on the surface but on a personal level, the two are separated by innocence. In 2007, Chris Benoit murdered his wife and seven-year-old son before taking his own life. Later studies revealed his brain resembled that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient and he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result from massive brain damage in all four lobes. Since then, I've been able to enjoy pro wrestling but there's a small pang of guilt knowing I am supporting a business which helped produce such an unspeakable tragedy. And the amount of damage some of these MMA fighters I cheer on can't be all too dissimilar from what Benoit's body and brain went through. Beyond head injuries, broken bones from submissions wear down on a body. Bones aren't meant to be broken and when they are, it's a shock and trauma to the system. Champions like Tim Sylvia, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mauricio Rua know this all too well. While snapped limbs are the exception rather than the rule, it's always in the realm of possibility. Imagine a job where violently losing consciousness or have your arm broken in to are not only credible occurances but to be expected depending on who your co-worker is on a certain day. MMA isn't safe, it's the most dangerous sport on the planet. The simple fact is, a fighter's mind and body are forever and irreversibly changed. It goes beyond what we see inside the cage. Fighters get rocked in practice while preparing for a bout, sit out a few minutes and then hop back in, not wanting to lose precious training time. Wanderlei Silva has gone on record he spars at full speed and force and has been knocked out more times than any MMA fan has seen inside a ring or cage. That sort of damage takes its toll. You see it in the eyes, seemingly always glassed over, of ex-boxers and fighters and hear it when their mumbled words leave their mouths. Punch drunk isn't just a throwaway term for over the hill fighters, it's often the result of traumatic brain injuries. When a fighter's journey ends, they are wholly different from the person they were when it began. That doesn't mean it has to be for the worse. One solution could be mandatory yearly CAT scans to determine any damage and keep track, if any, of its progress. Another would be to encourage and offer psychiatric help to any fighters who might feel they need it. Beyond this, the brass at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) need to be proactive in their support for further research into CTE and other brain trauma issues. They need to be the gold standard in this fledgling industry if they hope to avoid the stigma which is has seeped into boxing and beginning to do so in football. UFC President Dana White has said plenty of times he has forbidden his young sons from strapping on a helmet and heading onto a football field while championing the safety of the sport he represents. But MMA isn't all that much safer. There's an exhilaration from watching two fighters stand opposite one another, everyone knowing only one can leave the cage as the winner. It's beautiful but violent art. And the sooner we accept this, the sooner we stop comparing and contrasting MMA to other sports, the sooner we can actually take steps to help avoid tragedies like Seau's, Duerson's and especially Benoit's. If I'm lucky enough to still be covering this sport I love so much in 10 or 15 years, I don't want to write this story about Chuck Liddell, Jens Pulver, Rory MacDonald, Alexander Gustafsson or anyone else I've enjoyed fight over the years.

Posted in: mma, time, fighter, sport, brain

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Apex Sports Agency (ASA) today announced that a partnership with top Asian fight organization ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) has been agreed to. With this pact, ASA will now exclusively handle all North American sponsorship and media negotiations for ONE FC.  ONE FC is one of the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions. They recently consummated an unprecedented ten-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, which will bring ONE FC content to 500 million homes across 24 countries in Asia. Now, ONE FC and ASA have joined forces.  CEO and Owner of ONE Fighting Championship Mr. Victor Cui said, “ONE Fighting Championship has completely changed the game for the sport of MMA in Asia, a region that has been the birthplace and home to martial arts for the last 5,000 years. This is a result of the synergistic efforts and outstanding support from our partners. We are the biggest and best MMA organization in Asia because we work with only the best fighters, promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies. I am happy to be working with another world-class agency in ASA as we expand our reach to work with new sponsors and partners.”  “Though less than a year old, ONE FC has done some amazing things already in the sport of MMA,” explained ASA CEO Jason Chambers. “They have a huge reach…it’s unreal to see what they are accomplishing. With the growth they’re experiencing, it’s only natural that they want to expand their presence here in North America. ASA can help ONE FC achieve that, and that is our goal.” ONE Fighting Championship is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts event. While ONE FC is dedicated to featuring the best Asian fighters in the world, the promotion also aims to reach the North American fight faithful as well. Events thus far have featured well-known fighters such as Phil Baroni, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melvin Manhoef, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Andy Wang, and Rolles Gracie, while also introducing talented combatants such as Zorobabel Moreira, Ole Laursen, Fabricio Monteiro, and rising star Eduard Folayang. ASA has quickly garnered a strong reputation in the MMA world, working with stars on the rise such as UFC fighters Chris Clements, Clifford Starks, Carlo Prater, and Matt Lucas, as well as established fighters like Karo Parisyan, Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm, Drew Fickett, Jorge Gurgel, and Zoila Gurgel. However, ASA is more than just another management firm. The company offers a wide array of services, including brand-building. The partnership with ONE FC came about as a result, and proves that ASA is a company to keep an eye on. Payout Perspective: Though less than a year old, you have to be impressed with the moves One FC has made so far.  From signing a TV deal with ESPN STAR Sports to now slowly creeping into the North American market, it appears that all the right moves are being made.  The Japanese and Asian MMA scene has yet to recover to the levels of when PRIDE Fighting Championship ruled the region. Since the  purchase and dismantling of the Japanese promotion years ago by Zuffa, several promotions have tried to fill it’s void (Sengoku, DREAM, etc0 but none have been able to do so. One FC took an interesting approach and focused on developing Asian talent and concentrating on the Asian market before further expanding.  The signing with ASA is just another step in the direction of growth for the budding promotion who is based out of Singapore.

Posted in: mma, promotion, sport, fc, asa

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Junior Seau's death on Wednesday reminds us that the issue of brain damage & concussions is very real in all sports, none more so than combat sports.

Posted in: sport, concussion, none, sports none, seaus death

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

"One thing that wrestlers got over MMA guys is they know their history. In MMA, there's a lot of kids just run out here and they don't know nothing. They couldn't tell you what Pancrase was, but you should know your past. Just like with wrestling. At some point, there became that great divide, but they both require tremendous amounts of skill. They're both similar and yet different. I think a professional wrestler should know both sides. Because if you want to go out there and capture everybody's hearts and have them get so invested into a fight, to the point that they forget what they're watching, that it is a worked outcome; then you should know what a real fight is like." -- Josh Barnett, who is one half of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale (Daniel Cormier being the other), which is set to go down on May 19, 2012, from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, tells Fighters Only that today's young mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters aren't too well versed in the history of their sport. Barnett, who has dabbled in pro wrestling with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in 2003, feels that is one thing the pro wrestlers have over MMA fighters, is their knowledge of the history of their respective sport. "The Baby-Faced Assassin" also goes on to say that if a pro wrestler wants to connect with fans, they need to know exactly what it is to be in a real fight. Perhaps Brock Lesnar, who recently returned to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) organization, knows all this to well. Since returning to the WWE, he hasn't seemed to get out of his real fighting mindset, donning MMA gloves and his UFC fight shorts during his matches. Or at least, WWE officials seem to think it's a good idea to take advantage of Lesnar's time spent with the world's largest MMA promotion. Anyone agree with Barnett on this one -- are too many of today's young MMA stars out of touch with their history? Is it important for them to know the sport's past?

Posted in: mma, sport, history, josh barnett, barnett

Read the full article at MMA Mania

NEW YORK -- The glare of the spotlight is getting brighter on both the UFC and its fighters. After years of little scrutiny from the major media or activist organizations, newly earned attention has brought consequences to both the promotion and its athletes.Just last week, major sponsor Anheuser-Busch issued a statement warning the UFC it would take action against the promotion if it could not halt offensive statements made by its fighters. The UFC responded with a statement saying they would mandate sensitivity training for its athletes. While that future change is still in the offing, several UFC fighters who spoke with MMA Fighting said that public conduct and language is mainly an issue of common sense, simple respect and personal accountability. "I can't speak for anyone but myself, but the way I think it should be is to carry yourself with the most professional type of attitude and spirit as possible," said middleweight Alan Belcher, who is facing Rousimar Palhares at Saturday's UFC on FOX 3. "I think that there's a lot of people that look up to all these guys. A lot of kids, obviously. At the same time, we've come a long ways. It's the fighters that helped that. If everyone works together, we can have the kind of image we need to have. Or it can go bad real fast. "Personally, it makes me mad when I see people acting dumb," he continued. "If you're a jerk, you don't have to show your true side all the time. If it makes you look bad, it makes all of us look bad. I don't want to meet someone in the grocery store and say I'm a UFC fighter, and have one of these other jerks make that bad impression on them before I ever meet them. It makes me look bad, my family, my business, everything."In Belcher's opinion, it's not necessarily that the sport is dotted by a few jerks here or there, it's that there are simply some fighters trying to gain attention for themselves but going about it the wrong way. It's a slippery slope, he acknowledged, as fighters try to toe the line of staying in touch with fans and building that base without going too far.Several issues have played out over social media, including tweets from Miguel Torres and Forrest Griffin, the first of which led to Torres' brief firing before he was brought back. While some fighters like Belcher use Twitter for personal causes -- in his case, he espouses the charitable organization March of Dimes -- heavyweight Pat Barry says there is overwhelming negativity on outlets like Twitter. "I get negative feedback when I win," Barry said. "I had a one-second knockout. My second MMA fight is a one-second knockout. The ref said, 'fight,' I threw a high kick, knocked the guy out before the clock even came on the screen, and people went on the internet and said I have a stupid haircut. People are going to be negative no matter what, even when I win."Of course, that can be a sensitive area for fighters who pride themselves on their work, only to see it reduced to a 140-or-less word insult. Lightweight Jim Miller notes that because MMA has not been in the mainstream nearly as long as established sports like football and baseball, its athletes may not be as refined across the board. While he personally tries to carry himself in a way that is an example to his children, he realizes there are others out there who grew up with the belief that MMA is a counter-culture sport, making it acceptable for fighters to have extreme views, and sometimes even offensive ones."If guys are still carrying that over, with the mainstream, FOX and all that stuff, this is the time to change it," he said. "We're in the public eye more, in a lot more houses. I personally want to be treated as a world-class athlete. That's what I want. The fact that I get inside a cage and punch somebody in the face, and get punched in the face, bleed and all this stuff? It doesn't matter. That's just my craft. We've had the pressure in the past to be sometimes a little bit absurd just to get attention, but hopefully that shifts. We need some time to make the changes."Heavyweight Lavar Johnson points to the personality types driven to fight professionally as the root cause of some of the issues that led to Anheuser-Busch warning the UFC about fighter behavior."If you hang out around them long enough, you'll see there are some wild characters, some jokers," he said. "To get in the cage is crazy enough as it is. Two grown-ass men fighting in a cage, you have to admit, is a little bit crazy. Some of these guys have screws loose."But the bottom line, all of them agreed, is that each fighter has to be responsible both to himself and the sport. As it spreads and the audience grows, the athletes must mature, too."As a professional, you do have the responsibility to conduct yourself as that, and to be a role model," Johnson said. "Even if different people have different senses of humor or different views on the world, or even if this stuff is meant to be a joke and not to offend someone, they just have to watch what they say."

Posted in: ufc, guy, fighter, sport, people

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Bad news for fans in the UK, as the ESPN premium subscription sports network will not be showing the UFC On Fox 3 event, headlined by Nate Diaz taking on Jim Miller in a potential Number #1 contenders bout for the Lightweight title. At least, ESPN will not be showing the fight card live, possibly due to a program scheduling conflict. ESPN will however broadcast the event on tape delay Sunday night at 10:30 PM GMT. Related Stories Despite Dan Hardy Headlining, ESPN UK Not Broadcasting Versus Card | With TUF on FX UK is UFC on Sky Sports Inevitable? | UFC Velasquez vs Dos Santos to Air on Premier Sports, Virgin Media Customers Lose Out However, if you simply can't wait that long and have to get a live UFC fix, fear not: UFC.TV will be live streaming the event in the UK for free. Simply create an account (at no expense) if you haven't one already, and sign in to watch on Saturday night. UFC.TV allows you to watch from different camera angles, have different audio feeds including from the Red or Blue corner, pause and even rewind the action. You can now even interact while watching, with the Enhanced Viewing experience allowing you to score the rounds how you see fit and compare your judging skills with the rest of the UFC.TV audience. You can even check on twitter discussion of the event, or join the UFC.TV chat room without leaving the page. (Read more after the jump) SBNation Coverage UFC On Fox 3 OK, it's not ideal, but you can't fault the UFC on this one, and they have managed to make lemonade out of lemons. ESPN has previously had problems showing UFC events, including UFC's first show on Fox featuring the Heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, and a Dan Hardy headlined UFC on Versus card against Chris Lytle. ESPN's deal with the UFC is up for renewal later this summer, and it will be interesting to see the decisions Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta make for the UK market. FX is available in the UK, but may not be setup for live programming, while Sky Sports -- ESPN's biggest rival -- is available in more homes, has more sports channels for content, and has a connection to Fox Sports through David Hill, who started with Sky and helped build their sports network and soccer coverage in the late 1980's, before heading to Fox to do the same with Fox Sports and their NFL coverage. KJ Gould Email KJ.Cageside@gmail.comTwitter @KJGouldFacebook KJ Gould

Posted in: ufc, fox, espn, sport, uk

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

On Tuesday morning, ESPN the Magazine released its list of highest-paid professional athletes. Included were the obvious -- boxer Manny Pacquiao ($50 million), New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez $30 million), the not-so-obvious -- jockey Ramon Dominguez ($20.5 million), bull rider Silvano Alves ($1.4 million), and the downright ridiculous -- competitive eater Joey Chestnut ($205,000).In all, the leading earners in 31 separate sports were listed, with earnings only including salaries and prize money earned in 2011. Among the sports not listed was mixed martial arts. According to the story, excluded sports were omitted because official salary data was unavailable.UFC president Dana White has long been on the record against fighter salaries being made public. "You don't have to know everything," he said just a few months ago. "And to be honest with you, it's not your f------ business. They're making a lot of money." He is right and he is wrong. It is true, it is not our f------ business. Nobody wants their salary plastered on news sites around the world for anyone to see. There are certain things that should as a rule be kept private. Family squabbles. Pin numbers. And yes, money. But there is another side to the argument, one that suggests holding this information from the public view actually holds back progress of the sport. Football, basketball and baseball are mainstream because they're big business. And part of the reason we know they're big business is because players salaries are made public. People are obsessed by money. It can drive conversation, debate and attention. For proof, just go back to January, when ESPN produced an "Outside the Lines" show examining fighter pay.The segment produced a huge amount of controversy at the time, which was largely due to White's objection to it even before it had aired. At issue was whether fighters are underpaid. That's a question that is ultimately impossible to answer based upon the information we currently have, which is incomplete. The fact that ESPN the Magazine did not include MMA in its "best-paid" list practically proves that point. The UFC only has to report a fighter's "show" fight purse and "win" bonus money to state athletic commissions. Anything beyond that -- and there are millions that change hands through the UFC's bonus structure -- is kept between the promotion and each fighter and/or his management.It seems clear that under White and Lorenzo Fertitta, nothing will change in that regard. But should it? I would argue the answer is yes. Why? One word: talent. Quite often, talent is driven by market prices. If you're an athlete and you have equal interest in multiple sports, wouldn't you put extra consideration on the ones that pay the best? You might ultimately decide against it in favor of a lower-paying sport if you believed your chances of succeeding at the latter are better, but it would make you think twice.That's no different than college kids picking majors based upon what fields are most likely to generate them the best living. White likes to say that you have to love fighting to be good at it, and that's probably true to some degree, but even the ones who love it sometimes need incentive to chase a dream. There are plenty of athletes who may see Jon Jones making a guaranteed $400,000 for fighting in a main event and wonder if it's worth it. That not small potatoes, but when they see NFL stars pulling in $10 million signing bonuses, it can't look quite as attractive. Now, I happen to know that Jones makes a considerable bonus based on pay-per-view sales, and that his final take-home pay is far above the listed $400K, but the random athlete who is charting his path between football and MMA is not likely to know it. And make no mistake, there are plenty of possible MMA stars who are on football fields. In many parts of the country, football and wrestling work together to create quality athletes. But then what happens? As the athlete progresses, he starts thinking about his future. And where is there a better chance for a future? Of course most, if given the opportunity, will move on to football. Why? Because long-term, there is a chance for a windfall payday. Even if it's remote, there is a chance.Take the Jones family as an example. Two of the brothers -- Arthur and Chandler -- made it to the NFL. The other -- Jon -- is a UFC champ. All three of them grew up wrestling. Arthur moved on to football because that's where opportunity was. Chandler just liked football more than wrestling. Luckily for the MMA world, Jon had little choice; he was a terrible athlete aside from wrestling. His high school wrestling coach JJ Stanbro once told me, "If you ever watched him play basketball or anything with a ball, you'd hurt yourself laughing." If Jon had the same aptitude for football as Arthur and Chandler, we probably would have never known his fighting brilliance. And it's hard to believe he's the only one who never really saw MMA as an option until it became a last resort. How many others are out there? What other stars are we missing because athletes don't see a potential windfall? What they see is a lot of hard work and effort for at most, a decent amount of money. How might that change if there were multi-million dollar paydays constantly being discussed, as there are in other sports? Ultimately, kids don't dream about being NFL superstars or Major League Baseball World Series heroes because of money, but as they grow older, money becomes part of the end game. As long as fighter pay remains a state secret in MMA, we will lose out on some elite-level athletes. The next great heavyweight is probably in football pads somewhere right now, thinking his only chance at big money is in the NFL. As long as the real money in MMA remains concealed, so does a lot of the real talent.

Posted in: fighter, sport, money, athlete, football

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Russian All-Round Fighting (RAF) is a hybrid martial art consisting of various Russian and Soviet fighting and martial systems. There are a number of martial arts styles and schools of Russian origin. Traditional Russian fist fighting has existed since the 1st millennium A.D. and for a time was outlawed, however, it has seen a resurgence after the break-up of the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era, the government wanted to create both military hand-to-hand combat systems and combat sports. RAF has influences from European martial arts - Fighting, combat, wrestling, martial and sport systems and styles from ancient and medieval times to more recent eras Sambo - Including the combat and sport variations Storm Fighting - MMA style fighting for competition Street fighting - Offensive in addition to merely defensive techniques Folk styles - Influenced by folk games, events and competition, such as fisticuffs and mass fighting RAF combines the best elements of several martial arts for sport and combat. The philosophy behind RAF is to combine the best of the best so the practitioner becomes a complete fighter. The aggressiveness of the system, it's offensive (rather then self-defense) orientation can be considered as the part of the RAF philosophy as well. As you can see here, RAF encompasses many disciplines including native folk wrestling/grappling, knife/stick and empty hand. Read More and Watch the Video...

Posted in: sport, art, combat, russian, raf

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Video has come to SB Nation! We launched SB Nation's official Youtube channel on March 1st with some pretty large ambitions: let's try something new. Across the entire network, we approach the world of sports from a different angle. The passion, expertise, and first-rate analysis and discussion that takes place every day on our sites is something to be proud of and we didn't want to ruin that with a bunch of talking heads in suits and ties with no game-footage rights. We've got humor, expert analysis, weirdness, video gifs, and incredible storytelling all in one place and we're really proud of what this thing has become. Right now, we're producing over 30 new original videos every single week. Be sure to subscribe to not miss anything. Here's a rundown of the offerings: Shutdown Fullback (College Football meets Tim & Eric -- New episodes every Friday): If you've ever wondered what it would look like to see a video version of threads on EDSBS.com, we ll here you go. Simultaneously a college football talk show and unintentional postmodern art project, I personally guarantee Spencer Hall and Jason Kirk will make you laugh (or else they've duff'd it). Essential Viewing: Bobby Petrino Fired episode with hot blonde assistant - http://youtu.be/k6inSsQpI2E Bomani & Jones (All sports; opinion and commentary -- New episodes Monday and Thursday): Around the Horn contributor and known Twitter user Bomani Jones is Bomani & Jones: sketches and commentary with no excuses. Think Chapelle's Show for the internet and the sports world. Essential Viewing: Oklahoma Thunder are the Rolling Stones: http://youtu.be/DGfsuOtPZtI Full Nelson (All sports; Outside the Lines with a sense of humor -- New episodes every Wednesday): Athletes, Access, and Culture. Full Nelson takes an inside look at the most interesting stories from the world of sports in a beautiful, different, and always interesting package. Host Amy K. Nelson joined SB Nation after years of reporting for ESPN and regularly appearances on OTL and First Take andFull Nelson offers something new every week. Bonus points to Full Nelson for having the most-viewed video of our whole channel with Amy's perilous tour of a Duke bar during the Duke/UNC matchup. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/qyY6EBygUWw The Sporting Gentlemen (All sports, comedy; sketches, tours, behind-the-scenes, interviews -- new episodes daily): The all-encompassing daily video series The Sporting Gentlemen, featuring Dan Rubenstein and Matt Ufford, features unique (read: weird and occasionally threatening) reactions to the day's biggest stories, plus remote, generally participatory segments out in the field defined primarily by a general lack of athleticism, coordination, and respect. An example of an ongoing segment that has taken the world by storm is "Bro vs Douchebag," which promises to be the authority on determining how athletes should be filed and categorized as humans. Heavy stuff. Essential viewing: Bro vs Douchebag …http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv1nIUxm5TY&feature=plcp. Welcome to New York, Tim Tebow … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asD5xsFlyxU. RGIII Pre-Draft Interview …http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFm_9n7-PJ8&feature=plcp Rob's Mailbag (Baseball -- New episodes on Wednesday): Get smarter about baseball with Baseball Nation's Rob Neyer. In Rob's Mailbag, Rob takes questions from viewers every week and breaks them down in absurd (and extremely entertaining) detail. Essential viewing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgs-9mqspW4 The Core of Sports (All sports, epic -- new episodes monthly): The Core of Sports is our answer to Sports Science, taking you inside the mind of elite athletes in the most cinematic way possible. Essential viewing: UFC Fighter Brian Stann's Epic Training: http://youtu.be/wh0apFY3ewM The Petey and Lomo Show (Baseball; comedy): It's our first reality show and we followed Miami Marlins players Bryan Petersen and Logan Morrison (Petey and LoMo, to the initiated) as they tried to find ways to fill the boredom that is Spring Training in South Florida. Essential viewing: Marlins Off The Hook (i.e. Master-baiters): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqRwu8VyUv0&feature=plcp News from the Studio (All sports; analysis, breakdowns, experts -- new videos every day): We're not just doing sketches… we're all over breaking news, using experts from around SB Nation to weigh in on the latest news from their respective homes, workplaces, and law offices. Some of our biggest communities are represented here regularly… what about yours? Essential viewing: Ben Golliver breaks down Lamar Odom's departure: http://youtu.be/WFCYSx2aApA Extra fun stuff: We'll also be doing one off series and videos and undertaking big projects from time to time. Check out these draft profiles we made for every single first-round prospect (complete with whimsical narration and the finest animation money can buy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVskxCKhYPY&list=UUeil3VBekFxA9AwBx7JXzPA&feature=plcp Also, this wouldn't be YouTube without some fun viral videos. Check out Dolphinception (http://youtu.be/CrptLxy35V0), Epic High Five with Vernon Davis (http://youtu.be/rshc4RxIwSc), and 8-Bit Petrino Accident (http://youtu.be/NwqBEuJBhhs).

Posted in: video, sport, episode, sb nation, nelson

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Video has come to SB Nation. We launched SB Nation's official Youtube channel on March 1st with some pretty large ambitions: let's try something new. Across the entire network, we approach the world of sports from a different angle. The passion, expertise, and first-rate analysis and discussion that takes place every day on our sites is something to be proud of and we didn't want to ruin that with a bunch of talking heads in suits and ties with no game-footage rights. We've got humor, expert analysis, weirdness, video gifs, and incredible storytelling all in one place and we're really proud of what this thing has become. Right now, we're producing over 30 new original videos every single week. Be sure to subscribe to not miss anything. Here's a rundown of the offerings: Shutdown Fullback (College Football meets Tim & Eric -- New episodes every Friday): If you've ever wondered what it would look like to see a video version of threads on EDSBS.com, we ll here you go. Simultaneously a college football talk show and unintentional postmodern art project, I personally guarantee Spencer Hall and Jason Kirk will make you laugh (or else they've duff'd it). Essential Viewing: Bobby Petrino Fired episode with hot blonde assistant. Bomani & Jones (All sports; opinion and commentary -- New episodes Monday and Thursday): Around the Horn contributor and known Twitter user Bomani Jones is Bomani & Jones: sketches and commentary with no excuses. Think Chapelle's Show for the internet and the sports world. Essential Viewing: Oklahoma Thunder are the Rolling Stones. Full Nelson (All sports; Outside the Lines with a sense of humor -- New episodes every Wednesday): Athletes, Access, and Culture. Full Nelson takes an inside look at the most interesting stories from the world of sports in a beautiful, different, and always interesting package. Host Amy K. Nelson joined SB Nation after years of reporting for ESPN and regularly appearances on OTL and First Take andFull Nelson offers something new every week. Bonus points to Full Nelson for having the most-viewed video of our whole channel with Amy's perilous tour of a Duke bar during the Duke/UNC matchup. The Sporting Gentlemen (All sports, comedy; sketches, tours, behind-the-scenes, interviews -- new episodes daily): The all-encompassing daily video series The Sporting Gentlemen, featuring Dan Rubenstein and Matt Ufford, features unique (read: weird and occasionally threatening) reactions to the day's biggest stories, plus remote, generally participatory segments out in the field defined primarily by a general lack of athleticism, coordination, and respect. An example of an ongoing segment that has taken the world by storm is "Bro vs Douchebag," which promises to be the authority on determining how athletes should be filed and categorized as humans. Heavy stuff. Essential viewing: Bro vs DouchebagBro vs Douchebag. Welcome to New York, Tim Tebow. RGIII Pre-Draft Interview. Rob's Mailbag (Baseball -- New episodes on Wednesday): Get smarter about baseball with Baseball Nation's Rob Neyer. In Rob's Mailbag, Rob takes questions from viewers every week and breaks them down in absurd (and extremely entertaining) detail. Essential viewing. The Core of Sports (All sports, epic -- new episodes monthly): The Core of Sports is our answer to Sports Science, taking you inside the mind of elite athletes in the most cinematic way possible. Essential viewing: UFC Fighter Brian Stann's Epic Training. The Petey and Lomo Show (Baseball; comedy): It's our first reality show and we followed Miami Marlins players Bryan Petersen and Logan Morrison (Petey and LoMo, to the initiated) as they tried to find ways to fill the boredom that is Spring Training in South Florida. Essential viewing: Marlins Off The Hook (i.e. Master-baiters). News from the Studio (All sports; analysis, breakdowns, experts -- new videos every day): We're not just doing sketches... we're all over breaking news, using experts from around SB Nation to weigh in on the latest news from their respective homes, workplaces, and law offices. Some of our biggest communities are represented here regularly... what about yours? Essential viewing: Ben Golliver breaks down Lamar Odom's departure. Extra fun stuff: We'll also be doing one off series and videos and undertaking big projects from time to time. Check out these draft profiles we made for every single first-round prospect (complete with whimsical narration and the finest animation money can buy), Also, this wouldn't be YouTube without some fun viral videos. Check out Dolphinception, Epic High Five with Vernon Davis, and 8-Bit Petrino Accident.

Posted in: video, sport, episode, sb nation, nelson

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Video has come to SB Nation! We launched SB Nation's official Youtube channel on March 1st with some pretty large ambitions: let's try something new. Across the entire network, we approach the world of sports from a different angle. The passion, expertise, and first-rate analysis and discussion that takes place every day on our sites is something to be proud of and we didn't want to ruin that with a bunch of talking heads in suits and ties with no game-footage rights. We've got humor, expert analysis, weirdness, video gifs, and incredible storytelling all in one place and we're really proud of what this thing has become. Right now, we're producing over 30 new original videos every single week. Be sure to subscribe to not miss anything. Here's a rundown of the offerings: Shutdown Fullback (College Football meets Tim & Eric -- New episodes every Friday): If you've ever wondered what it would look like to see a video version of threads on EDSBS.com, we ll here you go. Simultaneously a college football talk show and unintentional postmodern art project, I personally guarantee Spencer Hall and Jason Kirk will make you laugh (or else they've duff'd it). Essential Viewing: Bobby Petrino Fired episode with hot blonde assistant: Bomani & Jones (All sports; opinion and commentary -- New episodes Monday and Thursday): Around the Horn contributor and known Twitter user Bomani Jones is Bomani & Jones: sketches and commentary with no excuses. Think Chapelle's Show for the internet and the sports world. Essential Viewing: Oklahoma Thunder are the Rolling Stones: Full Nelson (All sports; Outside the Lines with a sense of humor -- New episodes every Wednesday): Athletes, Access, and Culture. Full Nelson takes an inside look at the most interesting stories from the world of sports in a beautiful, different, and always interesting package. Host Amy K. Nelson joined SB Nation after years of reporting for ESPN and regularly appearances on OTL and First Take and Full Nelson offers something new every week. Bonus points to Full Nelson for having the most-viewed video of our whole channel with Amy's perilous tour of a Duke bar during the Duke/UNC matchup. Check it out: The Sporting Gentlemen (All sports, comedy; sketches, tours, behind-the-scenes, interviews -- new episodes daily): The all-encompassing daily video series The Sporting Gentlemen, featuring Dan Rubenstein and Matt Ufford, features unique (read: weird and occasionally threatening) reactions to the day's biggest stories, plus remote, generally participatory segments out in the field defined primarily by a general lack of athleticism, coordination, and respect. An example of an ongoing segment that has taken the world by storm is "Bro vs Douchebag," which promises to be the authority on determining how athletes should be filed and categorized as humans. Heavy stuff. Essential viewing: Bro vs Douchebag (click here). Welcome to New York, Tim Tebow (click here). RGIII Pre-Draft Interview (click here). Rob's Mailbag (Baseball -- New episodes on Wednesday): Get smarter about baseball with Baseball Nation's Rob Neyer. In Rob's Mailbag, Rob takes questions from viewers every week and breaks them down in absurd (and extremely entertaining) detail. Essential viewing: The Core of Sports (All sports, epic -- new episodes monthly): The Core of Sports is our answer to Sports Science, taking you inside the mind of elite athletes in the most cinematic way possible. Essential viewing: UFC Fighter Brian Stann's Epic Training: The Petey and Lomo Show (Baseball; comedy): It's our first reality show and we followed Miami Marlins players Bryan Petersen and Logan Morrison (Petey and LoMo, to the initiated) as they tried to find ways to fill the boredom that is Spring Training in South Florida. Essential viewing: Marlins Off The Hook (i.e. Master-baiters): News from the Studio (All sports; analysis, breakdowns, experts -- new videos every day): We're not just doing sketches… we're all over breaking news, using experts from around SB Nation to weigh in on the latest news from their respective homes, workplaces, and law offices. Some of our biggest communities are represented here regularly… what about yours? Essential viewing: Ben Golliver breaks down Lamar Odom's departure: Extra fun stuff: We'll also be doing one off series and videos and undertaking big projects from time to time. Check out these draft profiles we made for every single first-round prospect (complete with whimsical narration and the finest animation money can buy): Also, this wouldn't be YouTube without some fun viral videos. Check out Dolphinception (click here), Epic High Five with Vernon Davis (click here), and 8-Bit Petrino Accident (click here).

Posted in: video, sport, episode, nation, sb nation

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UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre may be out of the Octagon recovering from a knee injury, but he is still filling his role as spokesman for the UFC. St. Pierre is making the media rounds in New York City pushing a sponsor's product, an instant cooling towel, and educating the media about the sport of MMA. In that effort, St. Pierre appeared on CNN's Starting Points hosted by Soledad O'Brien. The Canadian champion talked about being bullied as a child, how that caused his father to begin training him in Karate and that lead the discussion into MMA. The hosts on the show are not knowledgeable about MMA to the point of it being painful. They call it "Ultimate Fighting" on several occasions, ask if the fights are staged and if it is as violent as it looks. St. Pierre handled the questions with all the grace you'd expect from one of the sport's chief ambassadors and does a fantastic job framing MMA as a true sport. From a public relations standpoint starting with bullying is a fantastic way to approach talking about MMA training with large media outlets like CNN. Bullying is a huge talking point in the American media and with suicides attributed to bullying receiving national media attention, there is a constant search for the next big way to help kids overcome bullying. Portraying MMA as the way that St. Pierre dealt with bullying makes him a more human and sympathetic figure in the eyes of the a viewer who might have preconceived notions about MMA. Martial arts training is one of the oldest solutions for parents concerned about bullying and if Mixed Martial Arts can become one of the hot martial arts for parents to enroll their children into it could have a huge impact on the sport moving forward. While this is hardly a new story as St. Pierre has been very open about his childhood, it is still a great method of making both the athletes and sport more acceptable to the general public. video after the jump... Thanks to KatGirl at Gal's Guide to MMA for finding this video.

Posted in: mma, sport, pierre, st, media

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Invicta FC kicks off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, marking an important moment in women's MMA as a promotion with clear vision and dedication puts on eleven high quality WMMA bouts. The show will feature some of the best talent in the sport including former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen, Liz Carmouche, Jessica Penne, Sarah D'Alelio and former Olympian, Randi Miller. The show will stream live on Invicta's website, allowing everyone to check out this important moment in the sport's history. Here's the full card: Featherweight (145 Pounds): Marloes Coenen vs Romy Ruyssen Atomweight (105): Jessica Penne vs Lisa Ellis Bantamweight (135): Liz Carmouche vs Ashleigh Curry Bantamweight (135): Kaitlin Young vs Leslie Smith Bantamweight (135): Sarah D'Alelio vs Vanessa Mariscal Strawweight (115): Sally Krumdiack vs Sarah Schneider Atomweight (105): Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs Amy Davis Flyweight (125): Sarah Maloy vs Michele Gutierrez Featherweight (145): Randi Miller vs Mollie Estes Strawweight (115): Ashley Cummins vs Sofia Bagherdai Atomweight (105): Cassie Rodish vs Meghan Wright Previews after the jump... The media has been all over Invicta, looking at it as a step forward that the sport needs. We ran an interview with Shannon Knapp, Invicta's promoter, back in March (when we also broke the news that the show would be streamed live) and she explained the promotion and why Invicta got started: I've worked in this business forever and this is definitely something new, but it's also something I feel extremely passionate about. I've worked for the past 12 years with the boys, and I've always been a huge advocate for the sport and the athletes, and to be very honest, to the detriment of my own job. I've been threatened so many times, or reminded of who I worked for.When I parted ways with Strikeforce, I looked at what I wanted to do, and decided that I wanted to make a difference. I'm definitely not that cookie cutter kind of person. I like to fight the fight. I started getting calls from girls that were scared, because nobody knew what was going to happen to Strikeforce. Were they going to stay around? Were they going to disappear? These girls were looking for some help. 12 years ago, for the men, it was not as much of a mess as it is today for the females. There is so much disorganization and lack of opportunity, so I looked at that, aligned myself with a good business partner and decided to roll up my sleeves and get in there to make a difference. We're really excited, but we know it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's not going to be easy. You've got to build that awareness, that platform. You've got to make people want to watch. We're definitely in this for the long haul, though. Sports Illustrated talked a bit about the show and Olympic medalist Randi Miller's spot on the card: Like Rousey, Randi Miller won a bronze medalist in the 2008 Games. But while Rousey made the podium in judo, for Miller it was in wrestling. "I think people are really excited to see her," says Knapp. Part of the reason for that is, in the wake of Rousey's emergence, we're learning what an elite athlete can do even with little MMA experience. Another reason: The buildup of anticipation for Miller's debut has been building for quite a while. As early as 2010, she was slated to take on Hiroko Yamanaka, a veteran fighter who, despite being swarmed in 16 seconds last December by Cyborg (although the result was changed to a no contest after the Brazilian tested positive for steroids), would have been a tough test for a newcomer. Miller pulled out of the fight, saying she wasn't ready. Then the bout was rescheduled, and Randi ended up pulling out again. "It was a humbling experience," Miller remembers. "As the fight grew closer, my preparation wasn't progressing well enough. It was a feeling I couldn't even remember, like when I first set foot in a wrestling room and was getting beat up." Loretta Hunt also has a great article at Sports Illustrated about the history of all-female MMA promotions and talking about Jeff Osborne's all-women show back in 2001. We'll have much more on Invicta including a live discussion and results post.

Posted in: show, vs, sport, miller, invicta

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UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has long been known as one of the true class act fighters in all of MMA. While it sometimes rubs some fans the wrong way for St-Pierre to be the way he is in a sport where absurd things are said often to promote fights, he believes that it works to his benefit. In the wake of recent warnings to the UFC by major sponsor Anheuser-Busch, MMAFighting caught up with the champion and asked his opinion on fighter professionalism. “This is something that I’ve been doing since the beginning of my career. I wore a suit at press conferences when all the other fighters were making fun of me. (They said), ‘Oh, look at St-Pierre, he doesn’t wear his sponsor.’ I’m the one who first started doing this stuff, and I think the image and how you conduct yourself… because the sponsor, the big companies in corporate America, they’re not interested in sponsoring an athlete who is good in his sport but acts like an idiot outside of the Octagon. They want someone who performs well, of course, but acts like a gentleman outside of the Octagon. I understood that more than ten years ago. That’s why I behave the way I do and I do things that I do. That’s why I have a lot of sponsors. I do have a lot of sponsors and a lot of money because of this. It brings money to the table.” Of all the fighters in the UFC, St-Pierre has some of the highest profile and mainstream sponsors in the sport. St-Pierre has deals with Gatorade and Under Armor that have garnered him commercial spots with some of the top athletes in all of sports. It is no coincidence that St-Pierre has also garnered a lot of attention from agents that typically represent the biggest names in sports and entertainment. St-Pierre insists the reason for this is because he views MMA as a real profession, saying: “I’m in this business because I want to make it for a living, for money,” he said rather passionately. “People don’t understand that. They used to make fun of me. Now ten years after, now they start picking up on it. It’s sad to see that it takes a long time for them to understand.” St-Pierre is currently in the midst of a long round of physical therapy after requiring knee surgery. St-Pierre hopes to return to the octagon in the late fall, where he will seek to unify the welterweight title against interim champion Carlos Condit.

Posted in: fighter, sport, sponsor, lot, stpierre

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

What ails women's mixed martial arts? If you ask Shannon Knapp, the promoter of Invicta FC, the biggest issue is women fighting at catchweights. It hurts their record, forces them to compete unprepared and gives off a generally vibe of unseemliness. Yes, it's true other problems exist. As UFC President Dana White says, women's MMA lacks the same divisional depth commonly seem on the men's side of the sport. But according to Knapp, that problem is not as bad as some may think. The same could be said for a number of shortcomings in women's fighting. According to Knapp, what's needed is an opportunity to demonstrate otherwise. And really, that's the genesis behind Invicta FC, an all-women's professional fighting organization whose inaugural show is tomorrow. Knapp, a former matchmaker for Strikeforce, believes women's MMA has the raw material to be bigger and better than it is today. The major obstacle holding back women's fighting is largely a function of how poorly their fights have historically been promoted. In this interview with In Knapp, she candidly details the problems hindering the development of women's professional MMA, explains how Invicta FC plans to correct for it, reveals if her promotion is modeled on previous all-women fight leagues and answers the question of whether a women's-only fight league can be financially solvent. Full audio and partial transcription below: Luke Thomas: What is the state of women's MMA today? How would you sort of lay out the land in women's mixed martial arts? Shannon Knapp: Well you know, I always refer to it as in a state of disarray. What It lacks is someone coming in, rolling up their sleeves and getting involved and trying to help that side of the sport, trying to build solid divisions, none of this catchweight nonsense. Really, to create a platform that belongs to the female athletes and provides them opportunities. I think that's a huge missing component. One of the things brought to my attention the other day and this will give you a good gauge to where it's at is, 10 years ago, a decade ago, Jessica Osbourne did one of the first full female cards here in America this month on April 13th. Look now, 10 years ago for the men where they're at today and where the women are at 10 years later. Huge difference, huge, right? So that's a way to really gauge where the sport started, where it's been and where it came to and the difference to the male side of the sport. Luke Thomas: So who is the audience? Who is an audience for all-women's MMA? Shannon Knapp: We've done some studies on it and I've been really all across the board. You have the 18-35, somewhere in there but we jump up even more, even the 35-45 and females. I think on the female side, if you embrace the sport and you love it as a whole, then you also accept the fact that the sport is great whether it's a male or a female competing. I think that's the difference in the mindset. You know, not everybody loves women's MMA. Some people think it's too violent. We still live in a society where it's G.I. Joe, not G.I. Jane, but I still think that you'll find that a lot of women that are involved in sports whether it's basketball, volleyball, softball, I think they appreciate it. I think men that embrace the sport as a whole and just love the sport, they embrace MMA, women's MMA. Luke Thomas: You mentioned something at the top of the conversation which was that you've got to get away from these catchweights which is a huge problem in mixed martial arts, specifically on the women's side, if almost exclusively on the women's side at this point. So what is Invicta correcting for? One, I guess sort of the splintered lay of the land in terms of how bouts are made in women's weight classes, but what else is Invicta correcting for? Shannon Knapp: I think that just the biggest deal is that weight issue. Girls are taking these fights that are a couple weight classes above where they should be or from lack of opportunities, they take a catchweight. There's no way to build depth in the divisions if they keep doing things like that and there's no way to gauge that depth. You have to create solid weight divisions and weight classes in order to build the depth, gauge the depth and you need to help this side of the sport. Going back to my disarray quote, it's so scattered. You've got girls weighing 115 pounds that are trying to fight 135 just to have an opportunity to be seen on the big stage and when you're doing things like that, take a look at some of their records. You'll see a girl that has a 1-4 record and then you look and go, "Holy crap! She's actually a 105-pounder but she's been fighting at 125 pounds and fighting legitimate 125 pound females and her record reflects it". It's really sad and it all boils down to the fact of the lack of opportunity. There just hasn't been enough opportunities and really anyone that wanted to make the investment because it's certainly not one of those things where you're gonna get rich overnight. It's a long haul. It's a high climb to get to even a place where it will be regarded and accepted as the male side of the sport. Luke Thomas: To what extent are you borrowing from all female shows? I know there was SmackGirl, Jewels, but that was Japan. There was another one, I think Fatal Femmes Fighting or something like that in North America. What is Invicta modeled on most closely? Shannon Knapp: My thing is the professionalism. If I modeled anything after anyone in this sport, a promotion that does anything, it would be the UFC and their professionalism. I've worked for everybody out there and one thing that I've always commended and had a lot of respect for in the UFC is the way that they run the operation side of it. They provide a safe, professional environment. Athletes always know what they're doing. They have schedules. I love that part about what they do. As an athlete coming in, you know what you're gonna be doing. You're not floundering around. Everything is taken care of and I love that aspect of the product that they give. Yeah, if I strive to be like anyone, it would be to be as professional and to provide that type of platform for the athletes of the Invicta Fighting Championship. Luke Thomas: Making money is very hard outside of the UFC and especially since you have something interesting going on, as noble as your cause may be, promoting female fighters, giving them opportunities, doing female fighting the right way. Can you do that, uphold that cause and make money at the same time? Shannon Knapp: Well, for us, it's not about the making of money. We're happy. We're content as long as we break even. It's not about getting rich, getting famous. It's not about us. It's about providing the opportunity. That's why I got into this business 12 years ago as a huge advocate for the sport and the athlete. Let's make a difference. I've aligned myself with a business partner that that's their same vision. Yeah, we're in it for the long haul. That's the bottom line. As long as we can keep the lights on, we're gonna keep moving forward. It doesn't matter if we're making profits. We just want to be able to sustain our business and keep moving it forward to be able to provide those opportunities. Luke Thomas: So what's interesting also about women's MMA and Dana White's made the argument that there are some talented females out there, but there's just not enough of them. Do you agree with the assessment that women's MMA is a little bit thinner than men? If so, how do you get from point A to point B where it's a little bit thicker? Shannon Knapp: Well, yeah. It is. One of the things that I always commend Dana for, and he gets flack for this. It's not that he hates women and it's not that he doesn't want to give women opportunities. What he is saying is true. There is a lack of depth in these divisions but once again, there is a rebuttal to that saying that no one has made the investment to try to make a difference in that area. If you provide platforms and opportunities and you provide solid weight divisions, you can fill divisions up and create depth. The depth is there. It's just so scattered and across the board. For example, look at Strikeforce. They've got 135 and 145. Right now, it looks pretty much just like 135, right? You have a handful of girls, just a few that they have signed. Then you look over here and you've got Pro Elite and they've got one girl at 135. You've got Bellator over here and they're doing 125 pounds seems to be their primary focus, right? You've got everything spread out and there's only a handful of fights. When you're only seeing a handful of females fight, you're not aware of the others that exist in the world and that's because they're fighting on smaller shows that can't provide those opportunities to be seen. The talent is out there. The amateur levels of the sport have a lot of females. There's a lot of girls out there waiting to make their pro debuts. The burden is upon us as a promotion to build stars. Once you get behind these female athletes, you put the focus on them for people to understand why they do what they do, show reasons to identify with them, then you're gonna create a fanbase. I think that's what we strive to do. We will fill those weight divisions. We will build the stars of tomorrow and we will create the fanbase. Luke Thomas: One thing that men's MMA has done well and not just UFC but the way that the sport has been built, it's been on the backs of successful athletes in other areas that have crossed over. There are many examples. Of course in women's MMA, there's Sarah McMann and Ronda Rousey too but there's not as much. Doesn't women's MMA need to get more crossover athletes to come over from similar combat sports to really raise the level of the game? Shannon Knapp: Oh, absolutely. You hear that saying, "build it and they will come." I think that once there is a foundation in place and a platform that caters to the needs of the female athlete, then I think you will see women from other sports that will make that transition in the crossover. Right now, what do they cross over to? You give credit where credit is due because Strikeforce is doing the best that they can with the amount of shows that they have. You give credit to Bellator because they're doing the best that they can but it's still a male society. It's still the males that sell the tickets and if you're in business to be in business and make money and to have a working business, then that's your mindset. For us, it's different and the reason I point out the difference is because, sure, would we like to make money? Of course, but is it the only reason that we're in this? No. Like I said, if we can keep the lights on, keep going, then that's what we aspire to do. That's success for us. Those other promotions are doing their best but when you only have a small handful of opportunities, that's not very enticing to make people want to make the jump. You either have to be the top, top, top to make any money as a female athlete or you sit around not making any. You can't survive in other words. There's not females making money that even B-level athletes are making. You saw what the fight purses were of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. It was public knowledge. An athlete at that level, being there, what would they be making? Luke Thomas: Probably triple that, if not more. Shannon Knapp: So there's no reason. There's nothing enticing enough to have that crossover for all these other women in all the other sports to really aspire to do this and make a living out of it because you can't. Hopefully we can change that. Our goal is not to drive up the market value because then we're only hurting the females but what we aspire to do is we pay fair market value. If you fight in Strikeforce and you fight on our card, we pay you the same amount. We pay you what they pay you so we don't cut any corners. We're not gonna inflate it either because that only hurts an athlete. It's that old adage, let's use Affliction. Affliction was paying "this" and they would go back and forth between UFC and Affliction and drive the price up, right? In the end, you only hurt the athlete and the promotion because you drove up the market value which really they couldn't sustain because they couldn't sell the tickets. Then you hurt your promotion and you actually the sport as a whole for the females. Luke Thomas: How do you promote this card and either address or don't address the idea of female sexuality. It was a big debate during the Tate/Rousey build-up. These women were being marketed as much for their looks as their skill. Some hated it, some loved it. Where do you stand on that issue? Shannon Knapp: I don't have any issue. I never want it to be classless, ever. I would never stand behind that because I think that's really disgraceful to the female athletes but I don't see anything wrong with marketing their femininity. If they're beautiful, they're talented, market the whole package. I think there's nothing wrong with that. I think there are definitely limits and you can easily cross the line but I think it was done very tasteful the way Miesha and Ronda were marketed. I didn't see anything wrong with it. Luke Thomas: You've got Liz Carmouche on this card and I like her a lot. She's an incredibly talented fighter. Is she done with Strikeforce or do you have a deal with Strikeforce? Shannon Knapp: No, no, no. The thing is, once again and we can throw this right back on the whole Dana thing. Everyone says he doesn't care about women, but these were athletes that were sitting there that they didn't have slots for so they graciously allowed them to fight on this card to keep them active, keep them busy. If they didn't care, they'd still be sitting there. Luke Thomas: And that's something they don't do for the men either, typically. Shannon Knapp: That is true. Bellator is the same way. I think the thing is, to come into this space that we're coming in to, saying that you want to work with everybody and have an open relationship. It's really what's advantageous to this side of the sport and female athletes. The more you work with people, the more opportunities that exist, the more it elevates this side of the sport. We're very open to working with anybody. I think that you'll find our next card, you're probably gonna find a Pro Elite athlete. You're probably gonna find Bellator athletes and you're probably gonna find Strikeforce athletes and if any of those promotions came to me and said, "Hey, we'd like ‘so-and-so' to come over and fight," and even though I may have them signed, I would say to the female, "Is this what you would like to do?" and if they want to go, that's what they want to do, then I will let them go. It's about creating opportunities and the way to do that is to work with everyone. We'll work with Japan. We're very open to working with people. If you're in the business to create dreams, you can't be in the business of squashing them. Luke Thomas: So this card, when you build the card and I know there's been some changes to it but as it stands today, what were you trying to get out of these matches? Is there anything beyond what they try to do in the normal creation of a fight card that was maybe added to this one? Shannon Knapp: Yeah. I think what we did was to cover every weight class so I think the only one that we didn't really cover was 125 because we were limited there. We had one with 125-ers. The bottom line was we were wanting to cover these five weight divisions and we wanted to provide a fight in each and every one of them to give everybody a little taste of what each solid weight division looks like. A lot of times you're seeing the catchweights and all that. This was an opportunity to put every weight class on the card. Luke Thomas: Marloes Coenen. What more can you tell me about your deal with her? Obviously all eyes on her, biggest star on the card by far. What is your relationship with her? Shannon Knapp: She's a great athlete. We signed Marloes and I worked with Marloes at Strikeforce so I know her talent and her skillset. I think she's a great ambassador. Women's MMA has many faces and Marloes has one of those that just represents it very well so we were happy to bring her on board. Luke Thomas: But your deal is not exclusive? Shannon Knapp: Yeah, it's exclusive in the United States and non-exclusive outside but one thing is, if there were opportunities out there and she wanted to take them, that's a discussion we are open to. Luke Thomas: The viewing, it's gonna be on InvictaFC.com. Obviously everyone in mixed martial arts wants to get on television but easier said than done. What is your gameplan, not to diminish the website, but what is your gameplan to raise the platform of which these fights are broadcast on? Shannon Knapp: We have been shown some interest but here's the thing with potential broadcast partners. Here's the deal. When you're selling someone an idea, its' really hard to create and paint a picture because everyone's perception is different. So really, what we wanted to do was take this opportunity and give our product away so that everybody can see what our vision was, how we want to run this, the level of professionalism and what it's about and we strictly wanted it to be about the athletes. The other thing was, over the years there have been a tremendous amount of support all over the world for women's MMA so we decided we wanted everybody to take the journey with us for this week's show. So if we're on a network or anywhere, you wouldn't be able to see it anywhere in the world. This is our way of putting it out there and making everyone get the opportunity to make history with us in the first show. Luke Thomas: Let's look five years into the future. Let's say Invicta is humming, you're doing great. You've accomplished not all the goals but many of the goals that you set out to do in this first April 28th show and then the UFC decided to build women's divisions. Would you view them as competition or would you decide that's a validation of what you've done? Shannon Knapp: Well I think you'd have to look at it both ways. Would they be competition? I don't know. Maybe we'd be working together. I don't know at that point. I think you have to look at it like we pioneered and paved that way. I haven't given it that much thought. Business is business. I go back again and say, as long as there's opportunities, that's all that we care about. You don't have to be top dog. We can be secondary. For us, that doesn't matter. As long as we put on a top notch professional show and that we are making a difference, that's what it boils down to for us. I know that sounds like all rainbows and butterflies, but truly that is why have gotten into this space. I could have done anything else. I'm an educated person but this is what I like. I like fighting the fight. This is a fight I can identify with. Like I said before, 12 years in this business in a male dominated sport, I'm the first female executive, so let me tell you I've walked a mile in all these shoes that these girls are walking now. So if anybody's prepared to get in here and fight the fight, I think it's me and I welcome the challenge. I was bored, okay? You get bored with Strikeforce. They run a machine. It's like cookie cutter. Well I am not a cookie cutter person. It was like floundering, what am I gonna do now? What do you wanna do? I want to fight. This is my way. I like fighting the fight. The boys in this sport now are okay. They're fine. They're gonna be alright but it's a mess on the girl's side of the sport. It's a perfect fit and that is as plain honest as I can possibly be with you. That's the nuts and bolts of it.

Posted in: sport, women, athlete, that, knapp

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Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Nick Diaz and Dana White pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd speaks with debuting Invicta fighter Jessica Penne, Fight Opinion discusses the latest circus in Nevada and Lowkick scores a photo gallery of an exclusive Don Drysdale jiu-jitsu session. The full list of links is after the jump. - Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu: Rolling with Frank Mir, Forrest Griffin and Dan Hardy (Photos) (LowKick) LowKick.com photographer Scott Hirano traveled to Drysdale's Kingdom, which serves as a grappling home to some of the best fighters on the planet. Frank Mir, Dan Hardy and Forrest Griffin were all there, working on their submission skills at what appears to be one of the most star-studded gyms on the planet. - Jessica Penne on Invicta, women's weight classes and pitbulls (The Fight Nerd) On paper, top MMA prospect Jessica Penne is a slayer of women. But there is a palpable disconnect between the 2/3 finishing rate, nearly unblemished professional record and recent major upset victory against Rena Kubatashe she boasts inside the cage and the quirky, sensitive personality she wears outside of it. - A predictable day for Keith Kizer, NSAC and Alistair Overeem (Fight Opinion) Given today's circus, there was something poetic about Nevada clearing the way for Chael Sonnen to fight Anderson Silva in Las Vegas at UFC 148. Chael fights in Vegas for the Summer and Overeem fights in Vegas for NYE. Funny how that worked out. - Fox Sports and Golden Boy Promotions have a new deal (MMA Payout) Is boxing on its way back? Just a while back we talked about the problems with the sport and whether it could make a comeback. So far, we've seen NBC Sports Network with a quarterly show, the talk of Spike TV having boxing and now the Fox deal. - Anderson Silva says Chael Sonnen doesn't know how to impress people (MMA Convert) - Alistair Overeem's NSAC hearing video (Fightline) - Jay Hieron had to pay back signing bonus to leave Bellator (Five Ounces of Pain) "I asked for a rematch with Askren and they said no...to go back through the tournament. That just didn't make sense to me cause I thought I beat him already. I had to pay them back my signing bonus, but at this point in my career, I would rather do that than sit on the shelf." - Junior dos Santos takes his talents to the water (5thRound) Fight fans are fully aware of the devastation Junior dos Santos (Pictured) is capable of inside the Octagon, but the UFC heavyweight champion's skills certainly don't end there. In addition to his impeccable rendition of Adele's "Someone Like You," dos Santos shows he is also a quick learner when it comes to wakeboarding.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fight nerd, drysdales kingdom

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In the world of advertising, maintaining a carefully crafted image is the single most important thing in the business. In recent news, the UFC has been warned by Bud Light that certain fighters have crossed the borders between acceptably edgy and offensive too many times for Bud Light to feel comfortable with the UFC's image. Now, the advertising and finance-specific magazine Business Insider has decided to springboard off the Bud Light/UFC relationship by scaring current and future mixed martial arts advertisers and consumers by purportedly listing the "unprofessional conduct" of the UFC and its fighters. The article, written by Jim Edwards at Business Insider, pushes a group of incidents in the past of the UFC together with the controversial Brandon Saling issue front and center to create a condemnation of the Zuffa-run organization and the sport of mixed martial arts itself. Edwards writes: [The open statement Bud Light delivered to the UFC] is almost unheard of in sports sponsorship, where advertiser displeasure is usually delivered to media partners behind closed doors. It came after UFC president Dana White used the word "faggot" in a video; presenter Joe Rogan used the C-word to refer to a female blogger; and one fighter, Brandon C. Saling, was allowed to compete in a UFC-affiliated event, according to Big Lead Sports, even though he is a convicted sex offender who wears Nazi tattoos. The picture above is Saling's police mugshot, taken after he was accused of raping a 12-year-old girl. The UFC is an extreme case. While the sport can't be expected to be a bastion of Edwardian manners, it is not until you see a collection of the kinds of things said by UFC pros that you realize just how unprofessional the organization is. What follows is a slideshow of incidents in which offensive language and behavior is used in the UFC. We don't publish it to be sensational-although we're not against that either. We do so because parents ought to know what their kids are watching. Related Link: Tim Burke's notes on the Bud Light/UFC relationship To refresh the common memory, Brandon Saling is the convicted sex offender with the tattoos that are linked to white supremacy beliefs who fought in Zuffa-owned Strikeforce for one bout. Saling took the fight against Roger Bowling on short notice and lied on his fight license application to cover up his prior convictions for felony sexual assault of a minor and for domestic violence. His license to fight in MMA has been revoked and it is extremely unlikely that he will ever fight again in a commission-regulated MMA event. Saling is a regrettable example of how fighters can manage to slide by the appropriate legal barriers against such individuals ever gaining a license to fight, much less appear on a national level MMA show. He has been dealt with and the fan outcry was targeted more at his own deplorable beliefs and actions than at Strikeforce or its advertisers. There is no doubt that UFC employees have said and done things that are not at all acceptable in today's world. However, what Jim Edwards actually writes about is not a true and comprehensive expose of those things. What he actually writes is a sideswipe that bashes the UFC, Strikeforce, the fighters and the sport itself in the name of formenting outrage among a very specific crowd. "What follows is a slideshow of incidents in which offensive language and behavior is used in the UFC. We don't publish it to be sensational-although we're not against that either. We do so because parents ought to know what their kids are watching." This is an article that puts together a cherry-picked selection of incidents clustered together for page hits by outraged moms and dads. This is not at all a true damning of the sport of mixed martial arts, the UFC or anything of the kind. Edwards wrote this article with the full intent of making worried parents out there even more irrational and concerned about boogeymen that do not exist or are wildly exaggerated in their actual significance. Unfortunately, these are the same types of marketing segments that advertisers want their products to be presented to in a nice, wholesome, athletically edgy light. This is a scare-mongering column that should not work in an ideal world. For better or worse, we do live in this world and this column is going to unsettle the advertisers connected with Zuffa and by extension the larger world of MMA. All it takes for the advertisers to decline to renew the valuable contracts is the hint of scandal. Somehow the occasionally stupid or impolite actions or words of two or three of 400+ athletes under contract combined with Brandon Saling lying his supremacist/felon patootie off creates that distinctly odiferous, anti-advertisers whiff. The inoffensive, funny, smart or even admirable actions of the other 400+ Zuffa employees somehow cannot cover up or drown out this whiff. It is too bad there there isn't anyone covering these issues in depth or explaining their actual context and significance? Oh wait - that's what we do here at Bloody Elbow - and what they don't do at Business Insider. Corral your rage and show these concerned parents around you that MMA can be enjoyed safely, smartly and without connection with the detritus of the world like Brandon Saling. Only then can the advertisers relax and continue to fund this sport we love so much.

Posted in: ufc, world, sport, saling, advertiser

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Former UFC fighter Ricardo Almeida will serve as one of the judges at UFC on FOX 3 next week, Sherdog.com confirmed the news with the New Jersey State Athletic Control board. According to the report, Almeida will be one of three judges assigned to score Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks, Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson, Nick Denis vs. Roland Delorme, John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss, John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott and Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson. Almeida retired from the sport in March 2011, and shortly thereafter, announced that he would start judging fights in New Jersey. And since judging has become such a hot topic in MMA lately, both Hendricks and Koscheck were happy to hear that a former UFC fighter would be working their fight. "I think that's cool because he's going to know a little bit more about the sport and he's going to know what positions really mean," Hendricks said on a Thursday conference call. "He'll know when a strike actually lands. I think that's what we need is some people like that stepping in there and start doing that kind of stuff because they know what it's like to jump in the cage. They know what's like to do all this stuff. I think he'll be a great judge." Koscheck added that he expects more retired fighters to become judges in the future. "I think it's good for the sport," Koscheck said. "It gets a perspective of a fighter, someone who's been in the Octagon and knows Jiu-Jitsu and knows wrestling and understands this sport. I think that as this sport grows we're going to see more ex-UFC fighters become judges, so I think it's a good start." Almeida isn't the first former fighter to become a judge, but he's arguably the most well-known example. At UFC on FOX 3 on May 5, he'll get a big stage to hopefully inspire future retired fighters to do the same.

Posted in: fighter, judge, vs, sport, almeida

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Anheuser-Busch, parent company of Budweiser and major UFC sponsor, has apparently warned the UFC about offensive remarks made by some fighters, and other employees. Anheuser-Busch has stated that if the UFC does not start taking appropriate action that there will be repercussions. AdvertisingAge reports that multiple advocacy groups have complained to the company about sexist and homophobic comments made by UFC employees. Anheuser-Busch did not elaborate on the actions that would be taken but stressed that as a company they “[embrace] diversity and [do] not condone insensitive and derogatory comments rooted in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, etc.” AdvertisingAge was given a statement on the matter from the UFC: “With over 425 athletes on our roster, there have unfortunately been instances where a couple athletes have made insensitive or inappropriate comments. We don’t condone this behavior, and in no way is it reflective of the company or its values.” The advocacy groups have also become a major voice in New York, where they have lobbied against the UFC for “permitting” homophobic, misogynistic, and violent language. One group, National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, specifically mentioned separate incidents involving fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, and UFC analyst/comedian Joe Rogan. The UFC responded to the website stating: “Unlike most other sports leagues, we encourage our athletes to engage online. It is part of our company culture, and whenever you are at the forefront of a trend or initiative, it comes with its own pitfalls. We will continue to embrace social media while looking for better ways to stay in front of the issues. This includes a mandate for our athletes to attend sensitivity training and a seminar on proper use of social media.” While hardcore fans may blow this off, it is important to realize that the UFC is in a precarious position as it sits at the edge of becoming a mainstream sport with its network and large sponsorships. Issues like these can be very damaging to both the perception of the sport as well as the financing of the sport. In short, this is not something the UFC can literally afford to ignore anymore.

Posted in: ufc, sport, athlete, company, advocacy groups

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The Sports Business Journal reports that Fox Sports and boxing promoter Golden Boy Promotions have entered into a multiyear, six figure agreement.  The deal will give Fox Sports live events on Fox Deportes and Fuel TV. At least one live event each month will be shown on the Fox networks although no plans are in the offing for a boxing event on the major Fox channel.  According to the SBJ, the deal is significant as Fox paid a six-figure rights fee to Golden Boy for the events.  The rights fee is a sign that boxing is gaining steam once again as rights fees for boxing on basic cable were nonexistent in recent memory. The deal is for 15 months with options to extend it multiple years. Payout Perspective: The move reflects the commitment Fox has to combat sports for its smaller cable channels.  It shows its belief in broadcasting live sports content as a way to attract its target demos of mainly younger males. Is boxing on its way back?  Just a while back we talked about the problems with the sport and whether it could make a comeback.  So far, we’ve seen NBC Sports Network with a quarterly show, the talk of Spike TV having boxing and now the Fox deal.  Certainly, the Fox deal is important due to the type of exposure it can receive over the span of the Fox networks.  If it does do well, we could see its return on Fox.  Its a nice hedge on the part of Fox to see if audiences will gravitate to boxing again.  It is interesting that Fox did pay a rights fee to Golden Boy.  One would think that Fox would have the bargaining leverage in the negotiations.

Posted in: fox, sport, boxing, event, deal

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Commissioners missed a great opportunity to send a message that PEDs won't be tolerated. Instead, they buckled.

Posted in: sport, opportunity, commissioner, nevada commission, ped

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LOS ANGELES, CA – FUEL TV, FOX Sports Media Group’s dynamic sports network for males, is included in DIRECTV’s CHOICE XTRA Free Trial taking place from April 24 to April 30. In conjunction with the free trial, FUEL TV launches Domination Week, highlighting some of the network’s most compelling and captivating Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) programming. Domination Week culminates with a 48-hour UFC marathon Saturday and Sunday, April 28–29, featuring the biggest fighters in the sport in the most exciting battles ever seen. “UFC followers are some of the most passionate and loyal sports fans around,” says George Greenberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager, FUEL TV. “The DIRECTV CHOICE XTRA Free Trial enables more UFC enthusiasts to watch the sport they love, with new shows like ‘UFC Tonight’ and ‘UFC Ultimate Insider,’ and the biggest lineup of past fights ever, all in one week. The message is clear, if you love UFC, you need FUEL TV.” Current and past UFC champions such as George St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Brock Lesnar, Frankie Edgar, Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture are featured in a number of legendary bouts including UFC 68, UFC 79, UFC 134, UFC 135 and many more. Viewers can relive the fights that defined history and made the legends. But it’s not all UFC action on FUEL TV during Domination Week, as the network features an expanded Action Cinema triple header Friday night, April 27,  including the Brandon Lee thriller “The Crow” (8:00 PM ET), “Hard to Kill” starring Steven Seagal (10:00 PM ET) and the Chow Yun-fat action crime drama “City on Fire” (midnight).  In 2012, FUEL TV offers more UFC programming than any other network with more than 2,000 hours, and more than 100 hours of live fights, weigh-ins, preliminary bouts, and prefight and postfight shows. For a complete listing of FUEL TV shows, go to: http://www.fuel.tv/schedule/. For more information, go to www.fuel.tv, www.fuel.tv/ufc, on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/fueltv, and on Twitter at: @fueltv, #UFConFUELTV To find FUEL TV on your television, go to www.fuel.tv/getfueltv, or call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For DIRECTV customers, catch FUEL TV during the DIRECTV CHOICE XTRA Free Trial. FUEL TV is part of the CHOICE XTRA package on DIRECTV channel 618. Don't have CHOICE XTRA? Go to DIRECTV.com or call 800-531-5000 to order today. FUEL TVFUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports including MMA, surfing, motocross, snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. With more hours of UFC coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the place to be for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and postfight coverage, specials and events you won’t see anywhere else. See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv. FOX Sports Media GroupFOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 20 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching approximately 30 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network and FOX Sports Grills

Posted in: ufc, fox, sport, tv, fuel

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Fox is expanding their commitment to combat sports beyond the UFC, with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions announcing a new deal with Fox. In addition to shows on Fox Sports and Fox Sports Desportes, it looks like Fuel will air one live boxing show each month. Here's a tweet from Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated: @ChrisMannixSIChris Mannix Fox Sports is partnering with @GoldenBoyBoxing on a multi-year. Fuel TV will carry one live event each month. Apr 23 via web Favorite Retweet Reply This looks similar to the NBC Sports deal with Main Events that has produced some very nice mid-level (above ESPN 2's Friday Night fights and ShoBox, below HBO/Showtime Championship Boxing) cards. It's entirely possible that this is also a move to get a big boxing show on Fox. Golden Boy promotes Floyd Mayweather fights since Floyd's "Mayweather Productions" isn't actually a "promoter" but it's highly unlikely that something on the level of Mayweather could be put on Fox. A big name Golden Boy fighter like Saul "Canelo" Alvarez isn't quite ready to draw big PPV numbers on his own yet, so I wouldn't put it past Fox and Golden Boy to work out a deal to put someone like Canelo on the flagship network occasionally. But that's all speculation on my part. What I think we can see is that Boxing is far from dead with HBO Championship Boxing, Boxing After Dark, Showtime Championship Boxing, ShoBox, Friday Night Fights, Main Event on NBC Sports, talk of a new show on Spike and now Fuel picking up events. It will be interesting to get more details on the kind of budget the Fuel show will work with and what level of fighters Golden Boy puts on the cards. A full list of fighters Golden Boy promotes can be read on their website.

Posted in: fox, sport, boxing, boy, fuel

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My first impression after watching Fightville, which opened this past weekend in limited release and Video on Demand (VoD), is how this, above any other cinematic offering centering on the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), was the combat sports movie I had been waiting for. Or perhaps, more importantly, it was the combat sports movie I didn't realize I had been waiting for. Fightville does for MMA what Long Gone did for Major League Baseball (MLB). Specifically, it humanizes -- rather than glorifies -- the controlled violence that has been known to provide both meaning and purpose to the lives of oft-troubled youth. It should come as no surprise then, to learn that filmmakers Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein have embraced the tagline, "We build better men." They've also built a better movie. Shot extensively in and around Louisiana's Gladiators Academy, ruled by the iron fist (and tremendous compassion) of former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant "Crazy" Tim Credeur, Fightville documents the trials and tribulations of aspiring warriors, as well as their complicated but symbiotic relationship with Gil "The Thrill" Guillory, the small-time (and self-funded) promoter they compete for. With the unprecedented growth and mainstream penetration of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's largest MMA promotion, a generation of new stars has begun to emerge. Gone are the days of officiated bar fights. These are real athletes with real skills. But lost in all the glitz and glamor of today's pay-per-view (PPV) stars, who garner big money contracts and six-figure sponsorships, are the tireless efforts of amateur fighters with a dollar (literally) and a dream. Like Dustin Poirier, who Tucker acknowledged as being lucky enough to make it to the ranks of the UFC -- and headline a major televised event -- just as his story (as well as the story of his "Gladiators" brethren) hit the big screen. There is, however, more to his story than just coincidence. True, there's always a certain amount of luck in any endeavor when it comes to timing and opportunity. But as you'll see in Fightville, the elevator of chance never stops on the top floor. An aspiring fighter will not earn an adequate payday. Nor will they have any semblance of a social life. They'll need a source of income and the ability to detach themselves from non-essential obligations. Above all else, they'll need a set of balls. And "The Diamond" -- who eats punches as often as he eats breakfast -- has balls the size of Alpha Centauri. That's the underlying message of Fightville. The act of actual fighting, which often starts as early as the elementary school playground, is unquestionably a part of our genetic makeup, leading to a false sense of familiarity with its intricacies. To which there are plenty. Sure, you can jump into a professional NBA game and make a few baskets just by throwing up the ball -- without any sort of skill or precision -- just as you can jump into the cage and land a few punches by letting your hands go. But it's only a matter of time before you're outmatched, overcome and eventually embarrassed by the pros. Welcome to Gladiators Academy. There's hazing within the small and bloodied walls of Credeur's school. There's also an unbreakable bond between "brothers," assuming one is willing to earn it. That comes from the kind of hard work and sacrifice that brings spoils to any dreamer, from the ball field to the board room. Some have it, some don't. Poirier has it, as evidenced by his ascension to the land of MMA giants. But why is his story so important? Because the UFC builds stars. Trainers like Tim Credeur build better men. Without them -- and the financial risk from struggling promoters like Guillory -- the sport of MMA would be just another guilty pleasure from the 90's, shelved in our collective memories alongside Pogs and Zubaz. The term "unsung heroes" is used so often, it's lost a bit of its luster. Thankfully, we have a film like Fightville to bring it back. For more on the Fightville premiere check them out on Twitter here. To see how far Dustin Poirier has come and when he'll fight next click here.

Posted in: mma, sport, movie, poirier, fightville

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White Sox pitcher Philip Humber threw only the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history this past Saturday afternoon against the Seattle Mariners in what was a brilliant performance. Being the diehard Sox fan that I am, it put me in a fantastic mood heading into UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans. It sounds like a celebratory watching of the fights was how the White Sox spent their evening as well (via the Chicago Tribune): White Sox right-hander Philip Humber made sure to relish every moment commemorating Saturday's perfect game with his teammates. That included spending Saturday night at a sports bar with about a dozen teammates to watch a UFC fight (even though Humber isn't a fight fan) to taping a "Top 10" segment for Monday's showing of "The Late Show with David Letterman.". "You only get one chance to re-live it," Humber said Sunday morning. Sure, maybe I'm just enjoying the chance to talk about my favorite baseball team and the awesome thing that happened over the weekend. But, Humber's White Sox teammate Adam Dunn is one of several MLB players who have pulled mixed martial arts into their off-season workouts. The New York Times talked about this before last season: Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox, Brad Penny of the Detroit Tigers and Russell Martin of the Yankees have used the sport's punches and kicks to improve their throwing and swinging. In addition to improving overall fitness, Martin said, mixed martial arts can make an athlete mentally tougher. "You tolerate the pain and get through it," he said. "Mentally, I know I'm in a good place because I worked hard." ... Unlike Martin, Dunn and Penny guard the secrets of their workouts as if they were team signs. And in 2010 Dunn talked about training jiu-jitsu and his love of the sport of MMA in the Washington Post: ...he's studied the sport off and on since he was 14, at the prompting of a childhood friend. He tapered off over the last four years, but got back into it this winter since his longtime gym is now more convenient to his offseason home. And what, exactly, does he do at his offseason training sessions? "We roll around and learn stuff," Dunn explained. "It's all on-the-ground stuff, it's all positioning. It's more of an endurance thing. It's a workout, bro, it's hard. That's kind of why I do it." ... Dunn loves MMA--"people just see all the blood and that's what they think, but it's so tactical," he said--and he enjoys the jiu-jitsu sessions, which could happen anywhere from one time to four times a week during the offseason. But he said he has no desire to get into a ring himself, finding first base a superior destination. "I don't like getting hit in the face," he noted. "I don't care how big you are, you get hit in the face, it hurts." I'm going to go ahead and assume Dunn was in that group of guys at the bar helping Humber celebrate his accomplishment by watching Jon Jones defend his UFC light heavyweight title.

Posted in: ufc, sport, dunn, sox, humber

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ATLANTA -- In debating the greatest fighter in MMA history, there is a very short list of candidates. Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson and Chuck Liddell comprise the most cited names.After Saturday night, you can add a new one to the list: Jon Jones.I'm not saying he's the best ever, not quite yet, but he's now in the conversation. He has to be, after vanquishing rival Rashad Evans at UFC 145. That's admittedly an absurd notion when you take into consideration the fact that he's just 24 years old and barely four years into his professional career, but the facts are the facts. In the last 13 months, he's beaten four straight former champions, four straight possible Hall of Famers in Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and now, Evans. Throw in his February 2011 win over Ryan Bader and he's beaten five top 10 opponents in the span of 14 months, an accomplishment likely unmatched not only in MMA, but in the history of combat sports. If he beats his next scheduled opponent Henderson -- another future Hall of Famer -- he will only be extending the most amazing run this sport has ever seen. Evans had walked into the main event with the feeling that he could capitalize on his pre-existing knowledge of Jones' game from their time together at Team Jackson-Winkeljohn. Known for being a slow starter, he actually came out with a strong first round, but it didn't last. By the time it was over, he admitted that Jones had stymied and confused him, just as he seems to do to everyone else. The way he put it, he was "out-slicked.""Jones definitely has a talent that is different than anybody else's," said Evans.Jones is also becoming the rarest of the rare when it comes to MMA: a crossover star. Before the fight, he got tweets of support from superstars like LeBron James and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Round-by-round updates from his fight aired live on ESPN's SportsCenter, in a first for the sport. Despite the mounting pressure, he delivered when it mattered, making his third consecutive title defense in a unanimous decision. While it wasn't his most dominant performance -- Evans became the first man to take him to a decision in his last nine fights -- it was still lopsided, as Evans only managed to take a single round on two judges' scorecards. According to stats provider FightMetric, Jones out-struck Evans by a count of 116-49, adding to the lopsided numbers seen in his other fights against top opposition. Against Machida, there was a count of 26-13. Against Jackson, it was 74-24, while against Rua, he out-struck him 102-11 in a performance that was MMA's equivalent of baseball's perfect game.Facing Evans, the big challenge was to shut down his vaunted wrestling attack. Evans had managed to take down every opponent he'd ever faced in fights he attempted takedowns, but against Jones, he put up a goose egg. Jones also authored all of the fight's biggest moments, particularly a crushing left elbow that staggered Evans along the cage. By the end, Jones' face was completely unmarked as if he hadn't even fought at all.Evans, meanwhile, had bruises and swelling on his face, and said his legs were hurting."I still got to go home and cry a little bit," Evans said.This is what Jones is reducing his opponents to. Rua battered, Jackson admitting he can't imagine anyone beating him, Machida choked unconscious. And now, Evans crying. He probably wasn't the first, and likely won't be the last.Jones still has work to do, though. He's young and adjusting. He's making improvements to his striking technique, he's learning to generate more power, and he's still growing his confidence. Amazingly, despite all his success, he admitted to being a little unsure of his approach to Evans. But with every success, there are lessons to be learned. Jones is a voracious viewer of fight video, and he dissects tape to make refinements in an attempt to reach his full potential. As long as he continues his work ethic and preparation, he just may chase down the "greatest" tag, which most believe belongs to his contemporary, Silva."It's tough to put anybody in the No. 1 spot as long as Anderson Silva is still undefeated, in my opinion," UFC president Dana White said.But Silva's pedestal is isn't out of Jones' acclaimed reach. Henderson is the only great active light-heavyweight Jones has yet to beat. If he gets by him, perhaps he makes the move to heavyweight, where he can cement his claim. Even if he doesn't, there's no doubt of where he is right now. He is the greatest phenomenon the UFC has seen since B.J. Penn, and no one has shown any inkling of how to solve his puzzle. Someday, someone might, but there's no denying what he's done so far. He's off to a historic start, one that puts him in conversation as the best ever. Whatever your view on Jones the person, Jones the fighter deserves his due as a singular talent, and so far, one of the best the sport has ever produced.

Posted in: fight, jone, sport, evan, he

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, sport, mainstream, mattyblayze, usatoday

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The Sports Business Journal reports that Fox Sports will have programming on Saturday night prime time for the next 28 of 32 weeks.  This will include NASCAR, Major League Baseball, College Football as well as the UFC on Fox The UFC will only cover 3 of the next 28 Saturday night events for Fox on Saturday nights.  But, the overall strategy for Fox to air sports in prime time will boost ad sales and attract advertisers that would not usually purchase time during sports programming. At this point, there has been no pushback from local affiliates that may have its own time cut into due to sports overrun. Payout Perspective: While the UFC will play a small part in the Saturday night prime time strategy, it’s the possibility of drawing advertisers that do not traditionally buy into sports that could be intriguing for the UFC.  It is the intent of Zuffa and Fox to attract more mainstream sponsors for its programming and the ownership of Saturday night programming by Fox Sports should help.  With the further exposure into prime time for the UFC, it can only mean a better possibility of attracting mainstream sponsors.

Posted in: time, fox, sport, saturday, fox sports

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UFC VP of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner knows that self-regulation is a problem just waiting to happen, and he wants to get out of the business altogether as soon as he can. As he told me when I spoke to him for this Sports Illustrated story this week:“You don't want a promoter self-regulating. For us, what we've been doing is trying to grow the sport. But when I'm in charge, I still work for the promoter, so there's an inherent conflict and we're the first to admit that. But you can't grow the sport unless you do that to start with.”That’s why the former Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director seems to be hoping that the brand new International MMA Federation (IMMAF) will become the independent worldwide regulator that this sport needs. But as anyone who has observed the struggles of state athletic commissions in the U.S. already knows, it’s a big job with plenty of built-in barriers. August Wallen -- a Swedish businessman and former president of the Swedish MMA Federation -- is the man in charge of making it happen. As president of the IMMAF, he’s the one who has to find a way to get the entire world to agree on how MMA should be regulated. He’s got the support of the UFC, so he’s off to a good start. As he told me on Thursday, his vision for the IMMAF is of a body that will encourage the creation of national federations in every country that wants to hold MMA events, then unite them under a single standard. It’s the way every other international sport does it, he said, so why not MMA?But when you can’t get California and Nevada to agree on an acceptable testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, what hope is there to create a United States MMA federation that holds the entire country to one standard?“U.S. is actually, legally, a very complicated matter,” Wallen said. “There has to be a national federation. I guess you have that for all the other sports, because otherwise you couldn’t be in the Olympics. You couldn’t take part in world championships in any sport unless you had a national federation.”Having the UFC’s backing is certainly a helpful booster. In a press release touting its support of the IMMAF, the UFC quoted CEO Lorenzo Fertitta as saying, “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic programme.”Then again, as Maggie Hendricks at Cagewriter points out, getting your sport in the Olympics isn’t as simple as starting up an international federation. It’s one thing to call yourself a worldwide regulator, and quite another to be one. For Saturday's event in Stockholm, the Swedish MMA Federation is the regulator in charge, and they’ll be handling it much like a state athletic commission would in the U.S., according to president George Sallfeldt. The federation oversaw Friday’s weigh-ins, including the handling of Dennis Siver’s initial weigh-in mishap -- the German fighter made the 145-pound limit on his second try -- and it will handle the drug testing for this event, according to Sallfeldt, who said that “probably everybody [on the UFC on FUEL TV 2 fight card] will be tested, so that’s no different from what you see in the U.S.”At the same time, the complaint we hear from state commissions usually has to do with funding. Where will the IMMAF draw its cash, and how will it do so without being influenced by those it’s supposed to be regulating?“The International MMA Federation is completely independent, autonomous, democratic, and non-profit,” said Wallen. “We will, of course, be happy for any donations, but we cannot promise anything in return, ever. Even if you just want to sponsor, where we take money to show someone’s logo -- we don’t do that.”The way Ratner sees it, any international commission should derive most of its funding through a “sanction fee” from promoters. Some might not want to pay -- or be as capable as paying as the UFC is -- but it’s the only way to keep it legitimate, said Ratner.“If this is going to be independent, you know, we would help them, but we’re going to be under them. We’re not going to be partners with them.”How an international commission might work and whether the idea will even get off the ground in any meaningful way remains to be seen. The IMMAF is still only weeks old, after all. According to Ratner, however, the UFC needs to get out of the self-regulation business, which means it needs a reliable, independent regulator in places like Japan and Brazil, and it needs it soon.“I just think it’s better for the sport,” said Ratner. “With my prior years with the Nevada Athletic Commission, I can certainly do it if I have to. But I also know that there’s a fine line there when you’re the promoter, so I think this is very important. If we want to go somewhere and this federation isn’t in place, we may have to still self-regulate, but hopefully this federation will be out there. It’s going to take time, though. It’s not going to be an overnight process.”

Posted in: mma, sport, commission, itrsquo, federation

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STOCKHOLM -- Four a.m. is the worst possible time to start something. Trust me, I’ve done the research on this one. Four a.m. is too late to stay awake -- or at least, too late to stay awake and still maintain any coherent enthusiasm for whatever you’re staying awake for -- and too early to get up without hating the entire world when the alarm clock goes off. It’s past the middle of the night, and yet before the early morning. It’s a miserable hour, in other words, which is why I wouldn’t blame anyone in Sweden if they had never in their lives watched a UFC fight as it happened live. Because of the six-hour time difference between New York and Stockholm, the main card of UFC pay-per-views (which air here on cable channel Canal+ Sport) begin at four and might easily run until seven in the morning on Sunday. What was DVR made for, if not to capture programing at four a.m., when no decent person should be awake? Go to bed, Sweden. The UFC will understand.This, or so I am told, is a subject of debate among Sweden’s small, but passionate MMA fanbase. Can you still call yourself hardcore if you wait until Sunday afternoon to sit down and watch the fights, Swedes wonder. Aren’t you kind of begging for spoilers at that point? And, really, don’t you kind of have it coming?"It’s something that gets talked about on message boards here a lot," said George Sallfeldt, who happens to be the president of the Swedish MMA Federation. "You have some dads whose wives are not terribly happy about them not being able to get up on Sunday."Even Iranian-born Swedish MMA fighter Reza Madadi, who will make his UFC debut on the undercard of the event that, locally, is being called "UFC: Sweden," said he rarely chooses sleep over MMA."Every Sunday when there’s a UFC, we don’t go to sleep until seven in the morning," said Madadi. "So much love we have for the UFC." (Swedish fighters Reza Madadi [left] and Magnus Cedenblad pose with the UFC's Marshall Zelaznik.) This is just one reason why Sweden’s MMA fans are rejoicing over this Saturday night’s UFC on FUEL 2 event at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm. For those who couldn’t get tickets in the three-hour span between when they went on sale and when they sold out, at least they can stay home and watch it on TV at a reasonable hour. They also get a chance to show the rest of the MMA world that, contrary to what it might think about the nation that banned boxing from 1970 to 2007, there really is a market for this stuff here. It’s just that, in Sweden, the mere fact that people want something isn’t necessarily a good reason to give it to them.Take Stockholm, for example. The nation’s capital is a clean, lovely, livable city. You could go swimming in the many, many waterways without feeling like you’ve climbed out of a sewer afterward. You could cast a line in and catch a fish that wouldn’t taste like exhaust fumes when you took it home and fried it up. These are things you can’t do in many large cities, and that’s no accident. The Swedes have made it this way with the dual forces of law and socio-economic pressure. Parking in Stockholm is expensive, because they want to give you a reason not to drive your car everywhere. Taxis are also expensive, because they want you to take the (very efficient) public transportation. And beyond just making you pay for the privilege of polluting their air, they’re not above making you feel bad for it. Several of the Stockholm hotels actually make a point of requesting that guests arrive via public transportation, whereas in the U.S. they think they’re saving the earth if they don’t wash your towels every single day. The point is, the Swedes often value the communal good over individual liberty. Just because you might want something that’s bad for you -- say, alcohol, which is heavily taxed and available from somewhat limited sources -- that doesn’t mean the government should necessarily make it easy for you to get it. The same is true when it comes to dangerous sports, which is why the nation outlawed boxing in 1970, less than a decade after heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson relinquished his crown and retired from the sport.Or at least, that’s part of the reason, according to August Wallen, a Swedish business owner who is now the first president of the brand new International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The other is that, to Swedes, profiting from a sport that sometimes results in brain damage seemed unsavory."It was seen as quite ugly to make money off a sport like this," said Wallen. "The money interest caused pro boxers to get themselves injured. It was moral issues. The safety of boxers was a concern, but also the moral issues."But even when boxing was still banned in Sweden, other martial arts weren’t. For reasons no one could quite explain, you couldn’t hold a professional contest where one man punched another in the head, but you could do it if he punched and kicked him. Once the establishment caught up at right around the same time MMA was gaining popularity, Sweden’s MMA enthusiasts had to make their case for regulation. Instead of arguing, as the UFC has in New York state, that MMA would generate revenue, they instead had to make the case that it would benefit society, said Sallfeldt, who took over as president of the Swedish MMA Federation after Wallen left to head the IMMAF."That was the route we went. We’re not talking about revenues to Stockholm, the city, because we weren’t focused on the money side so much. Most [Swedish] politicians, that’s an easy choice for them. Like, you will make money from people beating each other up? That’s easy for them to say no to," Sallfeldt said. "Maybe that works in the U.S. Here, that wouldn’t really work."What ultimately did work was pointing out that, statistically, involvement in any sport that’s a member of the national sports federation made kids less likely to become involved in crime. And since not everyone is interested in soccer or skiing, wasn’t it better to have them in MMA gyms than on the streets?"We saw that if we banned this, it would go underground," said Sallfeldt. "We would be turning our back on these kids, and that’s not what we want to do. We want to keep them on the inside."What drove Wallen crazy, he said, was the fear that a UFC event might lead to violence in the streets, when historically it’s been soccer fans who are the most likely to get out of control. Post-game debauchery costs city governments thousands in damage and law enforcement effort, he said, and yet it never seems to reflect poorly on the sport of soccer itself."In Sweden, there are a lot of laws that maybe aren’t functioning perfectly, but you put it in anyway because you’re building a moral thing around that law. You want the behavior to stop, so you build around that law. I don’t say it’s bad; I just say it has to be fair," Wallen said. "I agree we should use laws to make society better. If we limit someone’s liberty, it’s okay for the society’s greater good for everyone. I can buy that. But it can’t be the politician’s prejudice that decides what’s good and what’s bad. You have to look at the facts."The speed with which the UFC sold out it’s first Swedish event is a fact worth taking note of. The scene here is growing, say the local fighters and media, and there’s a place for it in Sweden’s sports landscape. As for how a nation that values safety and responsibility over the freedom to destroy oneself for glory and money will react to a sport that’s built around such violent competition, that’s another question. When the UFC packs up its Octagon and waves goodbye to its friendly hosts, what then? What happens when the hardcores have to go back to arguing about whether it’s better to stay up or wake up for UFC events? What happens if local favorite Alexander Gustafsson does not, in fact, become MMA’s Ingemar Johansson?Those are questions still waiting for an answer. But in a nation that’s been changing gradually and, at times, dramatically, ever since the 13th century -- back when the big social issue was how best to keep pirates out of the lake -- no one’s in any huge rush to find out. They’ve got time. At least this weekend they can also get a little sleep.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, stockholm, thatrsquo

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The UFC announced Thursday that it is supporting the creation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation.  The agency will seek to provide MMA with unified rules, regulations and safety procedures with the eventual goal of having MMA as an Olympic sport. Via UFC press release: UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who has helped lead the global growth of the UFC, feels that the timing is perfect. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic programme.” Payout Perspective: The UFC’s blessing for the IMMAF is a positive for the organization to move forward with its efforts to provide uniformity to the sport of MMA.  We will see whether other organizations and countries will follow suit in providing it with its support. IMMAF head August Wallén indicated to Sherdog that the process for MMA to be an Olympic sport would take a long time.  The process would include making sure that national federations governing the sport could come together so that international competitions could take place. This process may take time considering the political hurdles and differences that organizations may have with the sport.  Nonetheless, it’s a first step and with the UFC’s backing, it should help with having some national federations fall in line.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, organization, federation

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced its support for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), an organization "founded with the purpose to further the development and recognition of the sport of mixed martial arts, enabling international competition through the organization of national MMA federations around the world." The IMMAF was founded by former fighter and previous president of the Swedish MMA Federation, August Wallen. "In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program," said UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta in a press release. At a press conference today Marshall Zelaznik, the UFC's VP of international something or other said, "In the U.S., you have governments that regulate sport. In other parts of the world, the government also gets involved, but in many more parts of the world, you actually have these independent federations that are non-profit bodies that actually sort of manage the sport. "In places like Europe or throughout Asia, where you don't have government oversight, these federations are very important. And so, when you see a group that develops a federation like they've done here, an international federation that we see is a well-intentioned, meaning group that is going out with a vision to organize, if you will, and benefit the entire sport the way a government might do it around the world, for us, we're hoping to just put a little wind in the sails of the international federation so they can go out and create this vision that they have as it relates to not only the amateur space, but also the development of oversight of a professional MMA." SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 2

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, government, federation

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This week, the Sweden-based International Mixed Martial Arts Federation announced its official implementation. The IMMAF (which you can learn more about here, at the organization’s official website) is a nonprofit organization that aims to increase MMA’s global profile, as well as general understanding of the sport, through various measures. The organization will be dedicated to fostering the growth and legitimacy of amateur MMA by implementing unified rules and setting up international competitions for amateurs. Among other things, the IMMAF intends to gain “formal and informal” recognition for MMA, including boosting efforts to include the sport in Olympic competition. Just ahead of UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva, which takes place this weekend in Stockholm, Sweden, the UFC has announced their full support of the fledgling organization. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said in a press release. “Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” The UFC’s senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs, Marc Ratner, asserted that the formation of such an organization has been a long time coming and should go hand-in-hand with the UFC’s efforts of global expansion of and education on mixed martial arts. The creation of this organization is long overdue,” said Ratner.  “MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and we support the Federation’s focus on providing a globally unified set of rules and safety measures to help keep all fighters safe. While there are many obstacles ahead in the formation of this international organization, we are confident of the outcomes and advancements this group will make for the future of our sport.”

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, organization, support

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The dream of seeing Mixed Martial Arts competition included in the Olympics may be closer than you think thanks to the creation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The newly formed board’s goal is, as stated on their website, “To further the development and recognition of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, enabling international competition through the organization of national MMA federations around the world.” Specifically the process will involve educating the public and creating a system of rules/safety measures consistently applied regardless of region. Having MMA recognized by the Olympics is also a goal of the IMMAF, calling such status the “ultimate achievement and highest formal recognition possible for any sport.” The UFC has already gotten on board with the IMMAF in hopes of seeing international events regulated as stringently as those in the United States, even allowing the organization to maintain a presence at this weekend’s UFC on Fuel 2 event in Sweden. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets,” said UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta in an official press release on the matter. “It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” Though it will be years before fans ever see their favorite fighter winning a gold medal for his/her MMA prowess it looks like the first step on that journey has taken place. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, art, olympic

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ULTIMATE BALL!!!! The self-proclaimed “sport of the future”!!! HT: FightLinker

Posted in: sport, future, ball, ball ‘, future ’

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today (April 12, 2012) announced its support of the newly-formed International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), a "democratic body to organize and drive the development of the sport on a worldwide basis." From UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta: "In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program." The purpose of the IMMAF, founded by August Wallén, former athlete and previous President of the Swedish MMA Federation, is to maintain unified rules on a global level, as well as promote fighter safety and regulation across International fronts, from the amateur level straight through to the pros. The UFC is currently in Sweden as part of it's UFC on FUEL TV 2 event at the Ericsson Globe Arena on April 21 in Stockholm, featuring a main event between Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva. For more on the IMMAF visit the official website right here.

Posted in: ufc, sport, level, immaf, amateur level

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Tito Ortiz has been around the UFC for a long time and has likely seen it all since his debut at UFC 13. So it's no surprise to hear that Tito has some experience with (and opinions on) the sudden rush of testosterone replacement use in mixed martial arts. Ortiz was asked about the Alistair Overeem situation in an interview with Fighters Only and had this to say: FO: As you mentioned Overeem, let's touch on the scandal that is presently threatening to engulf him. He failed a urine test administered in March and now the theory is that he will be claiming he was undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy, explaining his elevated levels. What do you think of all these fighters that are suddenly claiming to be testosterone-deficient? You know I don't know much about it at all. I have been fighting for 15 years and there have been trainers that tried to push that on me and I've said that if I have to do that kind of stuff, I am done with the sport, I wont compete any more because I want to be a natural athlete. And I have - for fifteen years I've competed and taken my drug tests, random drug tests, and passed everything because I am a true athletle. A lot of these guys are taking these supplements to make themselves more impressive or whatever, to become the fighters they want to be. That's their choice - my recommendation is don't do it. If its against the law or against the sport, don't do it and if you do have to do it, don't fight anymore. That's just my take on it... I will leave it there, I wont go into it any further. After the jump, one more quote from the interview where Tito gives the most Tito Ortiz-y answer to a question ever. Tito was asked what he felt the "golden age" of MMA was, if it is currently happening or if he felt that it was back during his rivalry with Ken Shamrock: You know, that's a question I've always wanted to ask myself. I think the great rivalry between me and Shamrock would have to be the shining moment of my career because he sold the fight, I sold the fight and we came to fight time and we put on a show; the best athlete won. I look at it now and the sport is just growing each and every day throughout the world. Fans love this sport and I love the fans. People's Champ!

Posted in: fight, sport, tito, dont, dont fight

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Mixed martial arts probably isn’t the first discipline that comes to mind when you think of combat sports practitioners from Cuba. Sure, there are the likes of Javier Vazquez and Hector Lombard that represent the Caribbean island in the world of MMA, but when the idea of being in the hurt business is concerned, the first thought is always of boxing greats such as Teofilo Stevenson, Felix Savon, and Joel Casamayor, only one of which (Casamayor) made that trip from home in search of a better life in the United States.The latest Cuban standout to hit US shores to begin a quest for fighting glory is Yoislandy Izquierdo, and though he packs knockout power in his fists, he’s no boxer. Instead, he will be making his UFC debut this Saturday against Reza Madadi after compiling an unbeaten 6-0 MMA record. So why not boxing?“Boxing is a huge sport in Cuba as you know, and I practiced it for a few years,” said Izquierdo through manager / translator Alfred Munoz. “However, my passion was always in martial arts even though boxing did help me to become a well rounded athlete.”In many ways, it was a tougher road to take for the native of Havana. Sure, the Cuban amateur boxing program is consistently seen as the best in the sport, and getting a spot on the national team is beyond ultra-competitive, but to pursue a sport in which there is really no local scene and no opportunities to compete and learn your craft in real amateur or pro fights has to be an even more harrowing undertaking. Not that Izquierdo was thinking that far ahead when he was enrolled in a local karate class at the age of 11 to help him deal with his asthma.“I have been a martial artist for most of my life,” he said. “I started at the early age of 11 in karate. Even though mixed martial arts is not practiced legally in Cuba, I always wanted to practice the sport. When I left the country, my goal was to practice MMA and make it my career. Soon after making Miami my home, I went to a gym where MMA was practiced and the owner, who is now my manager, helped to guide me in the sport.”You could say the rest is history, but that would be cutting out the most interesting part of this tale, the one where Izquierdo decided to leave his life in Cuba behind to chase a dream that only a select few can reach. This wasn’t relocating to a new city or state for a job and if it didn’t work out you could come home. Once Izquierdo fell in love with MMA, he knew that if he left, there was no turning back. That’s a lot to have on your mind, but he knew what he needed to do to truly be happy.“The moment that I knew that I could make my career in MMA came to me in Cuba,” said Izquierdo, who won several gold medals in karate and sanda tournaments growing up. “Having had the will to master various disciplines in martial arts, I knew that I would be successful in MMA. I would watch MMA videos brought in by family members visiting from other countries and I knew that I was the perfect athlete for the sport. When it became feasible for me to leave Cuba and come to the United States, I knew my dream to make MMA my career would come true.”In 2008, the 24-year old left Cuba. If you don’t know what that entails, suffice to say that it’s not as easy as picking out a flight online, packing your bags, and getting on the plane. For Izquierdo, his trip involved a visit to Spain, then Guatemala. From Guatemala he entered Mexico, and then crossed the border into the United States, where he was granted political asylum. Left behind were his mother, brother, aunts, uncles, and his oldest daughter.“They are very proud of my career in MMA,” he said, but he also admits that “The most difficult adjustment to life in the US was not having my family by my side. Even though I have started a beautiful family here in the States, I still miss my family back home.”Izquierdo now has another daughter in the States, and from April of 2010, he has been fighting professionally and turning heads on the South Florida MMA scene. When asked to describe his style for those who haven’t seen him in action yet, he says “My fighting style is very explosive. I am not a passive fighter by any means. I do attack both on standup with very technical boxing and on the ground with strong jiu-jitsu techniques.”With wins in all six bouts, four finishing before the final bell, the 28-year old has made it look easy thus far, but looks can be deceiving.“My success has not come easy,” said Izquierdo. “I have sacrificed a lot to get to where I have gotten. I train for most of the day and until a short time ago I had to work as well. By getting the call to fight in the UFC I consider my success to be great.”And even though the names on his record aren’t household ones, even in diehard MMA fans’ households, Izquierdo has apparently impressed the UFC enough that he got the call to meet veteran Reza Madadi this Saturday in Stockholm.“When I first heard that the UFC asked me to fight I could not believe my dream had finally come true,” he said. “Once I truly internalized it I was very excited, and I still am very excited.”For many debutants, those feelings of excitement occasionally turn to dread when the first-time Octagon jitters kick in. Fighting in Madadi’s hometown could add even more to the stress level, but the man with the nickname paying tribute to his own homeland, “Cuba”, is unbothered by such matters at the moment, which is no surprise considering what he went through to get here.“Even though I am a humble person and athlete, I have the heart of a warrior and a warrior fights in any land,” said Izquierdo. “On April 14th fans can expect to see my best performance yet.”

Posted in: mma, ’t, sport, izquierdo, cuba

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world’s leader in mixed martial arts (MMA), applauds the announcement made earlier today of the creation of the new International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). The UFC® wholeheartedly supports this new initiative as well as its leader, IMMAF President August Wallén, who will spearhead the initial growth of this Federation. UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who has helped lead the global growth of the UFC, feels that the timing is perfect. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” “The creation of this organization is long overdue,” said Marc Ratner, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. “MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and we support the Federation’s focus on providing a globally unified set of rules and safety measures to help keep all fighters safe. While there are many obstacles ahead in the formation of this international organization, we are confident of the outcomes and advancements this group will make for the future of our sport.” The UFC has long been committed to the growth and development of the sport of MMA. With broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages, and more than 30 live events annually worldwide, the UFC has helped introduce the sport to many new cultures and audiences.   The creation of the IMMAF will help to foster the development of the sport at the grassroots level and bolster the work beingdone by the UFC and all other MMA organizations worldwide, further developing the integrity and legitimacy of the sport.  To learn more about the International MMA Federation visit www.immaf.org. 

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, creation, federation

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos hasn't had much to say regarding scheduled opponent Alistair Overeem's pre-fight drug test failure so far. He has stated that he's drug-free and doesn't really know what's going on, but that's about it - until now. He spoke to Globo about the whole situation in a much more detailed manner, and he had a lot say this time. The article is in Portuguese and the only translation offered so far (via the UG) is pretty much straight out of Google Translate, so take this with a grain of salt until there is more clarification. But here's what he had to say about the possibility of still fighting Overeem at UFC 146: "If the fight happens I will fight with pleasure, but I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter will be ready to face anyone. He stated before that he doesn't know what the Nevada State Athletic Commission will do, but he insinuates that if Overeem is indeed licensed, it's a slap in the face to the sport and unfair to him as a fighter. He also re-affirms that he is clean and that the testing needs to be improved: If the athletic commission and the UFC want I'll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be disrespect to MMA and how serious is this sport. This will also be unfair, it will be unfair to me. I've never used these devices to gain strength. I think the right would do blood tests on wrestlers as is done in the Olympics, not the urine, since the blood is easier to detect these illegal substances. We want to know who the best really. No use to be the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs, that's not being champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal artifice in order to get there. I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped. It has to be a clean sport and these tests should occur more surprises. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have fought doped." Related Stories Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Junior Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos | Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test |Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference SBN coverage of UFC 146 He then takes a final few shots at Overeem, while stating that Cain Velasquez would be a tougher challenger either way: "I find it curious he won three belts without ever having been caught doping in right away and ends up being caught in the UFC. It would be a good challenge for me, but my biggest challenge I went for the title against Cain. He is the most outstanding and would be a great challenge for me. The Overeem would be a good challenge, but it would be my biggest challenge. He fails the fitness and speed. He frightens the uninitiated, but who knows what being a fighter knows he would not be my most difficult opponent. We always say that the next challenge will be more difficult to prepare even more, but do not think Overeem would be my biggest challenge." Again, this isn't an official translation and shouldn't be taken as gospel. Still though, I think it's great that JDS is voicing his opinion on the issue and asking for stronger testing. And I completely agree that if Overeem does indeed get licensed for a UFC 146 bout, it's a blow to the credibility of the sport. That might sound dramatic, and I know there are plenty of fans out there that just want to see the two men scrap and everything else is secondary. But in the bigger picture, it really is meaningful.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, sport, do, challenge

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On Friday, April 6, 2012, I sat in a conference room all day with thirty highly educated professionals to talk about the medical issues relating to combat sports. That Friday might have been the single most informative and energizing day I have ever had as a martial arts participant, writer and fan, as the Combative Sports Medicine symposium gave me rare insights into the lesser known medical aspects of the fight business. These are the people behind the bright lights and in the background that are always present and change the courses of fights in the spirit of protecting these warriors from others and from themselves. The opening remarks of the day were delivered by Aaron Davis, the New Jersey Athletic Control Board commissioner. He began with a story about his mother watching a boxing event with him on TV and hearing her express her dismay at the combat sport with the phrase, "This is not natural, baby." After calming her down and pointing to the ringside medical professionals, the trainers and the boxers' own desire to be there and to compete in this manner, he realized that combat sports is indeed not natural in the sense of other sports. The athletes involved are on an elite level of fitness, the degrees of skill are otherworldly and the injuries sustained before, during and after a fight can be eye-opening (literally) to someone unused to the combat sports world. These challenges require alert, informed medical professionals to make decisive calls in the heat of the moment - and for the commission to protect these ringside doctors from possible backlash from the fans, fighters, promoters or media. For the commission to so firmly support these doctors is a relatively unusual state in combat sports. John Nash, the Head Kick Legend writer, has noted extensively how the boxing matches of Pierce Egan's time (early 1800s) could often go beyond a hundred rounds and a fighter was considered "stopped" only if they did not get back to their feet within thirty seconds or were declared finished by their own seconds. In the modern era, the collective of promoters, fighters, state athletic boards and fans themselves decided to have multiple "Smokey, this is not 'Nam... there are rules..." moments and we now have things like time limits, round caps, medical professionals on stand-by and medical testing for most boxing, Muay Thai and MMA bouts. Combat sports athletes are safer than ever, yet the web of rules, enforcement and knowledgeable people that allow such safety is not omniscient or ubiquitous. More can and is being done to ensure fighter safety and at the forefront of this are the doctors treating fighters before, after and during fights. Their efforts to educate each other, the fighters, the promotions and the fans show an admirable faith in the vitality of combat sports and the desire to keep these sports exciting, profitable and safe for as many as humanly possible. Did you know it is possible for a fighter to breathe in his teeth? Despite seeing the chompers of Randy Couture and Mike Ricci go flying away or disappear, I had never thought of that happening. Ringside medical professionals know about that possibility and check to make sure dozens of similarly unlikely things get ruled out, noticed or treated. Preventing infectious diseases from spreading, looking for facial fractures, monitoring eye movement, checking ears and eyes are all things that ringside physicians have to keep track of with the fighters in their charge. In the interests of further boosting this collective move towards more regulated and safe forms of sports fighting, some of the best fight doctors in the nation combined to present a full day of talks that not only educated medical professionals, but was also aimed at and featured fighters, trainers, coaches and commission members. The New Jersey athletic commission made their presence felt in a big way, as Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Lembo gave a short talk and was around the entire day and Commissioner Davis spent most of the day there listening and talking to the participants. The Combative Sports Medicine symposium is the result of collaboration between Dr. Sheryl Wulkan and the Sports Medicine branch of Atlantic Health, a medical facility and research center located in Morristown, New Jersey. Dr Wulkan is one of the preeminent ringside physicians nationwide, having worked hundreds of amateur, professional and high-profile MMA and Muay Thai bouts over the years and is a longtime Muay Thai boxer herself. Alongside Dr. Wulkan, the symposium featured quite a few other medical and sports professionals with extensive ringside experience to create a true treasure trove of combat sports medicine knowledge. The hosts of the symposium, Atlantic Sports Medicine, are the official providers of health care for the New York Jets and the New Jersey Devils and had five fellows in attendance who have extensive sports medicine experience. Nate Diaz and Jim Miller staredown via Michael Nagle of Getty Images. Adding to that imposing presence was Jim Miller, the soon to be main-eventer against Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 3, his trainer, Mike Constantino, and Stephen Koepfer, a prominent NYC coach and grappler. That sleek conference room packed with tons of people far more educated than I was a daunting environment for me enter, yet these professionals answered my occasional questions in great length and with astounding amounts of candor and expertise. Of course, the symposium was directed at those who have greater technical understandings of the medical issues or the legal issues involved, yet the presenters were eager to answer any and all questions. Jim Miller spoke of the warrior nature of fighters and how his brother Dan Miller had no idea that he was badly injured when he received a broken cheekbone (zygomatic arch) during a fight. Miller had one of the deepest philosophical moments of the day when he said "A fight is a short moment in time where you are showing what you are apable of while preventing the opponent from doing the same." The adrenaline, the competitive desire and the refusal to quit leads fighters to insist that they are fine, even when not actually fine, because the brain hasn't registered the pain or is ignoring it, as Dan showed. Jim said that he was truly lucky, as the worst things he suffered in a fight were cuts and none were bad enough to stop a fight, but that he understood why the ringside docs would be making this call or that call. He closed out by answering some questions from the audience about his own experiences with international fights and dealing with language barriers when dealing with the pre-fight and post-fight processes. In response to my question, Jim noted that pain really doesn't correlate with the most severe injuries - especially at the time of the fight - and used his brother's injuries as an example to refer to, while Constantino nodded in agreement. Miller also mentioned that he wishes people would give him more space at the end of the fight, to ratchet himself down from 100% to 0% over time, rather than immediately being crowded by six or seven people all yelling, poking and prodding. Being an elite MMA fighter really does take an unusual mindset and patience level and Miller was very upfront about his warrior nature that comes out in the cage and how it can clash with people used to regular rules and regular people. Jim's trainer, Mike Constantino, was a bit more focused on the medicals process and made several statements in support of the regulations that New Jersey imposes upon fighters and fight organizations. One story about a smaller event where a hot light that was far too close to the mats and heated up the decals on the canvas - to the point of burning the feet of the fighters - brought home that fighter safety is not always about tracking the damage the fighters inflict upon each other. Constantino said that the referees and doctors being aware of the possibilities of injury due to one fighter's tendency for armbars or leglocks was crucial, as well as referring to several potential cases of greasing, that are controlled by the banning of lotion or lubricant from the possession of the fighters or cornermen. Rousimar Palhares came up in both topics - not as a cheater, but as an example of how not to protest or a fighter to watch for leglocks. Constantino noted that he would love for all fifteen professional fighters under his management to be going through a New Jersey-style "one stop shop" medicals check-up process and liked the standards for the amateur system as well. Referee Herb Dean talks to Rousimar Palhares. Photo via Esther Lin of MMA Fighting. The concept of spectator syndrome came up repeatedly throughout the day. Dr. Wulkan explained it in a short aside as being a fan instead of a doctor and noted how that could be dangerous for the maintenance of fighter safety. Dr. Dominic Coletta, a familiar face from many Atlantic City bouts over the last two decades, mentioned that he had a couple moments like this early in his career, but soon recomposed himself and has no problems now. Coletta said that even Ward-Gatti III presented no serious problems to retaining his professional demeanor at the time. In response to a question I asked, Coletta answered that working as a ringside physician had no direct effects on his day job as an emergency medicine doctor - stitching is not usually something he did at the event, and that he encountered more diverse situations at the day job. However, his love for the sport allowed Coletta to keep doing these events. Coletta did express frustration with the powerlessness of ringside physicians in other states, citing the licensing controversy that nearly stopped Margarito-Cotto II from happening. Initially, a doctor for the NYSAC would not clear Margarito for a license due to eye injuries sustained in his last fight and the commission went over that doctor's head to find another specialist who would license Margarito. Coletta mentioned that it was important for the commissions to back up the decisions of the doctor, no matter how unpopular they may be, because the trust and good will of that relationship is essential to the doctor's confidence in making the right calls. Coletta answered one question that'd been bugging me for a while: Why do fighters do their post-fight medicals right next to each other, separated only by a curtain or something? In his experience, most fighters are friends or respectful of each other. There are few, if any, problems backstage with almost all fighters. They shake hands, hang out with each other and the cornermen are unusually respectful themselves. Add onto that the limited control the doctor has on the medical set-ups, which are done by the promoter or the venue. However, Coletta did say that in cases where bad blood was clearly obvious before the fight, they would separate the fighters backstage to prevent anything flaring up. Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn backstage via Lorenzo Fertita's Twitter. Drs. Kenneth Remsen and Howard Taylor probably won the Visual Gross-Out contest due to their chosen topic of "Facial Lacerations/Maxillofacial Injuries and Ear-Nose-Throat Issues in Combat Sports Medicine." The pair have well over twenty years of combined experience ringside and their breakdown of what injuries are commonly seen was incredible. For instance, Taylor has never seen an inner ear injury in a fighter and cautioned the medical professionals that deepset eyes combined with large eyebrow ridges usually means to watch for deep eyebrow cuts and shallower eyes usually have eyelid cuts. A particular section was set aside to cauliflower ear and possible ear injuries, with the remark that Taylor had never seen an inner ear injury in his time as a ringside doctor. At one point, Taylor said "Any fracture that can be identified should stop the fight." In retrospect, I should have asked how this statement can stand with the commonplace attitude that a broken nose is not that big of a deal, but at the time I believed he meant "Any fracture that is not a broken nose is a fight-stopper." Dr. Remsen gave a mighty discourse upon maxillofacial trauma - orbital socket fractures, jaw breaks, larynx calcifications, dental injuries and skull fractures. An unusual statistic that I've never seen before showed that roughly 30% of jaw breaks occur in the middle of the jaw (chin area), 33% occur in the region between chin and hinge and less than 30% occur near the hinge. This is where the "breathing in teeth" X-ray came up and gave me the heebie-jeebies. Lyoto Machida knocks out Randy Couture. Photo via Esther Lin of MMA Fighting. Nick Lembo, the Deputy Attorney General who generally runs MMA officiating in New Jersey, gave a short speech on the legalities of licensing, medical tests required by New Jersey, going through the shadow officiating and referee programs developed to train new officials and judges and closed with a clearly heartfelt story. Lembo told us of a fighter he knew for eight years or so who took a bad knock-out and thought Nick was a stranger he'd never met before in the backstage area. Nick ended the story by saying "This is why we do what we do. This is why we don't cut any corners." In between the descriptions of the legal stuff and the powerful story, Lembo pulled no shots at the commissions and jurisdictions who do not approach New Jersey in terms of regulations and trained officials, judges and medical personnel. Lembo emphasized that the doctors have access to a database of medical suspensions, although the commission checks all fighters for such. He reminded the doctors to find out what exactly their malpractice insurance covered and whether they were allowed to do ringside work and retain coverage. Both Commissioner Davis and Lembo expressed significant desire for uniformity of standards, although they were easier on the states that were part of the Association of Boxing Commissions and reserved most of their criticism for the dealings with MMA and Muay Thai. Dr. Damion Martins, one of the symposium organizers, asked a very insightful question regarding the certification and skills demanded of ringside physicians. He said that the NFL and NBA have collective bargaining agreements that require that the doctor on duty at the games be a sports medicine physician and wondered if boxing or MMA had that similar requirement. Several people answered different components of this one, but the essential thrust was that there is no such requirement, although it seems that New Jersey is slowly moving that way. Some certifications are required of the ringside physicians in New Jersey and in other states, although others have no such requirements. Dr. Coletta noted that it is not in the cards for every single boxer to do a balance test, an MRI or a CAT scan like every NFL player does right now. The money for the undercard fighters in particular just isn't there for that right now and the sports of boxing and MMA have no powerful unions like the NFL or NBA. I had to skip a good chunk of Dr. Robert Smick's presentation on Infectious Diseases in Combat Sports as I was doing an interview with Commissioner Davis. However, the beginning and end were terrific in their clear, concise presentation of the possible and probable diseases for fight doctors to look out for. In perhaps my least professional-sounding moment, I asked Dr. Smick if there was anything virus or bacterium-related to the development of Parkinsons and other neurological diseases and he turned the question into a mini-discussion of head trauma and the research into that alongside the possibly unknown other causes of neurological diseases. He also noted that perhaps one third of wrestlers have herpes gladitorum. Stephen Koepfer was unusually intent during this section, due to running his own gym and being a referee for grappling tournaments, and asked several questions about cleaning mats and ways to remind people of the virtues of cleanliness. It turns out photos and information in the locker room of the potential consequences of uncleanliness can have some good effects. Matt Hamill fights Keith Jardine with a staph infection visible on his back. Dr. Michael Kelly had the most interactive presentation of the symposium during his talk on Orthopedic Concerns, which means the potential and likely injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones of fighters. Koepfer and one of his students were demo dummies for certain movements, demonstrating how this injury or that injury would occur. It turns out that grappling injuries often occur in pairs on either side of hinged joints, as the antagonistic workings of a joint lend themselves well to such injuries. Kelly combined the descriptions of the various injuries with photographs of recent fights in which such injuries did occur or could have occured. Ronda Rousey and Ben Saunders were stars during this section with their joint-based attacks. Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had their own moment in the sun too. Urgh. Kelly spent quite some time on informing us all what hand and leg injuries boxers or strikers typically endure. It turns out that a boxer's fracture is actually a misnomer - most boxers break the third (middle) metacarpal and not the fifth. The training of the strikers means that the middle of the hand lands first in most conventional strikes. He did mention the different angles of MMA and the likelihood of the thumb catching on the head, due to its being uncovered by the glove. Noticing a Boxer's knuckle is serious business for a doctor to check out, as the bulge in the knuckle means that little ligaments are being torn off the tendon that allows the flexing of the hand. The tears mean that the tendon moves around and exposes the knuckle underneath, which can be painful and damaging to the fighter. Surgery is usually needed to fix this injury. Jose Aldo whips a leg kick into Mark Hominick. Photo via Esther Lin of MMA Fighting. Powerful and repeated leg kicks can lead to myositis ossificans, which is when bone grows in the muscle of the thigh - which is extremely painful and dangerous to the fighter. Naturally, this section was paired with a GIF of Jose Aldo wreaking havoc on the legs of Urijah Faber. Kelly noted that the gloves and hand wraps are taken off a fighter backstage first, because of the compression of the hands they create. Once the fighter's hands have time to loosen up and relax, he then asks about the pain or odd feelings in them. All kinds of little questions about the routines doctors go through were answered by Kelly. Next up was Sharon Wentworth, DPT, MSPT, ATC, and trainer to several ranges of athletes from high school kids to Olympic athletes to professional MMA fighters. Her youth in Iowa gave her a knowledge of wrestling and being an athlete. After her career as a professional volleyball player came to an end, she went full time into physical therapy and athletic training. After a few sessions with Kurt Pellegrino a few years ago, she ended up getting linked into the New Jersey MMA scene and even working up at Tri-Star with a few athletes up there like Miguel Torres. Dr. Wentworth had some very interesting things to say about common injuries, recovery regimens and even how specifically to train for MMA in ways that differ from other sports. Some of the best stuff was about how the imbalances of the usual training regimen of an MMA fighter leads to hunching forwards, with very tight pecs and weakened stability in the thorax and knees. Wentworth gave a brief overview of how certain injuries affect the training camp, whether they affect certain areas and how the doctors can help the athletes make the decision to call the fight off or to treat the injury in time. From Left to Right: Dr. Sheryl Wulkan, Unsung Tech Guy On His Phone, Nick Lembo and Dr. Michael Kelly answering questions. Photo taken by me. The last spot in the symposium went to Dr. Wulkan, who spoke of several unique medical issues present in high level MMA and of the decisions of referees and officials regarding stoppages by strikes or submissions. It turns out that only having one kidney is not a big deal. Carlos Newton and one other UFC fighter have that condition and they turned out fine. Foreign medicals are to be handled with some suspicion and the preference for having tests done in the United States or Canada was strongly emphasized. Therapeutic use exemptions were discussed and Nick Lembo chimed in to say that very, very few TUEs have ever been granted in New Jersey due to the stringent requirements for such exemptions. I brought up the Overeem testing case and also that of Johnnie Morton case (where Morton tested at something like 78:1). When Dr. Wulkan was told of Morton's ratio, she paused for a long moment and then calmly said "Those levels seem to be consistent with absurd amounts of illegal drug abuse." Transgender fighters were briefly discussed, although this was mostly a legal issue combining with the medical side only to make sure that the hormones of fighters were within acceptable ranges. It turns out that fighters with sickle cell anemia or diabetes are of particular risk for exercise-induced problems or even death. Having them fight early on or not at all are some of the options available to ringside physicians who notice problems. Kyle Maynard, the limbless fighter who made himself a brief shooting star in the MMA world, was discussed as an example of a fighter essentially being unable to defend himself and forcing the opposing fighter to essentially not play MMA anymore. Prosthetic limbs were discussed and it was generally agreed upon that in boxing, a fighter with a prosthetic leg might get licensed. In MMA, such a fighter receiving an NJ would be unlikely and that leg kicks with such a leg would be a doozy. Wulkan noted that she is in the beginning stages of creating a program to follow people with symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) more closely and for longer periods of times. She also mentioned how she handles suspicions of dehydration-related blood pressure symptoms persisting past the weigh-in period by giving the fighters another chance to rehydrate, come back and redo the blood pressure test. If still unsure about the results, she has them jump rope or do some form of exercise for fifteen or so minutes and then calls it one way or another based on the observations. This example shows how flexible and willing these doctors are to see the fighters actually fight, while keeping in mind fighter safety. To end the symposium, Wulkan played several clips chosen and compiled by Nick Lembo and Anthony Lynn, a NJSAC drug testing inspector and coordinating official. Igor Vovchanchyn, Joe Warren, Pat Curran, Brian Rogers, Vitor Vianna, Gilbert Yvel, Gary Goodridge, Renzo Gracie and a few others were the MMA stars featured in the hybrid boxing/MMA clip list. Hashim Rahman and Arturo Gatti were some of the recent boxing stars shown. Almost all featured stoppages that were either right on or far, far too late. Some clips featured almost comically horrifying post-stoppage handling of an unconscious or dazed fighter by corners, doctors and officials. Others really displayed exemplary work by officials and doctors working in tandem. One clip featured a boxer being knocked out and falling through the ropes onto a table and then onto the floor - and triggering a riot. In that riot, you can see the doctors fighting through the crowd to get to the fighter and the officials turning to protect the doctors and judges from harm. Fedor Emelianenko after the stoppage in the Antonio Silva fight. Unfortunately, the pay for ringside physicians, EMTs and officials is generally miserable. These men and women are doing their jobs for the love of the sport and for the preservation of the fighters that entertain and inspire us fellow fight fans and participants. It is only this century that the stronger regulations governing combat sports has been imposed and already we have reached the point where the elite get a nearly-comprehensive battery of medical tests to certify their health and prowess. The future holds better things for our warrior athletes and more technical knowledge for our physicians to keep them healthy and well long after their fight careers are over. The entire day was a brief insight into specific slices of the fight business given by world-class professionals to future medical professionals, trainers, commission officials and the solitary media member in attendance. The food was solid, the spiffy seats were comfortable and the knowledge taken in was staggering. It is not possible for a single day to allow the fullest discussion of of medical issues that doctors, EMTs, trainers or the athletes themselves would encounter in the lead-up to the fights, during the fights themselves and in the post-fight process. However, this was a damn good start. Epilogue: In speaking to Stefanie Pilip, the coordinator for Atlantic Health's Continuing Medical Education program and the coordinator for the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, I learned that this symposium was relatively easy to put together due to her experience with other CME programs and the astoundingly tight community of fight doctors and officials with strong connections to the Fellowship Program. The next step is for the sports medicine physicians at the seminar to shadow Dr. Wulkan through at least six MMA events, further bolstering New Jersey's strong shadowing program for all officials and judges. The next part of the Combat Sports program will take place on April 27 and focus on Neurology and Neuroradiology. Pilip and Wulkan are looking into presenting similar symposiums in other states and in having another conference next year.

Posted in: fight, fighter, sport, injury, doctor

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When sports fans hear the name Victor Conte, two things typically come to mind: Steroids and Barry Bonds. Founder of the infamous Bay Area Co-Operative (BALCO) sports nutrition center in Burlingame, Calif., which is where the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) claimed the company created an undetectable designer steroid known as "The Clear" (tetrahydrogestrinone), Conte has been linked to supplying performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to several major sports stars. In particular, the NFL's Bill Romanowski, track and field standouts Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery and the aforementioned Barry Bonds, among others. After the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) found all the evidence it needed to confirm the company's link to illegal steroids and growth hormones in 2003 after a raid of BALCO headquarters, which had a list of clients that included some the previously mentioned names, Conte was sentenced to four months in prison and four months of house arrest after entering guilty pleas for conspiracy to distribute steroids in 2005. Now, the same man who once supplied some of the biggest names in sports with all the PED's their bodies could handle, is doing a 180-degree about-face, looking to clean sports of all banned drugs. And in his crosshairs is none other than the fast rising one of them all, mixed martial arts (MMA). Appearing on "The MMA Hour" today (April 9, 2012), Conte says sports commissions and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization can do more to clean up the sport of all banned substances, as well as gives his opinions on the recent positive test of Alistair Overeem. Check it out: "I believe that they could do more. And listen, Dana White's a very smart man. [NSAC executive director] Keith Kizer's a very smart man, and he's an attorney. But the logic for argument that they present in this particular situation just does not fly. There are options available. Is it ever going to be perfect, is it ever going to be fool-proof? The answer is, 'no.' But, can it be much more effective, and can the use of [testosterone-replacement therapy] and other anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, can the rampant use be significantly reduced? I believe it can and I believe there's some simple answers. I respect Keith Kizer. I think he's trying to do the best that he can. It's a very difficult situation, because they have a lack of funding. But, I think the UFC could contribute a certain portion to this, and I think it can be much better than it is now. When Dana says, ‘We have the most regulated testing on the planet,' I think it's a joke for him to say that. It reminds me of when Bud Selig, years back, said that baseball had the toughest anti-doping program in American sports. I think both of them know that what they're saying is simply not true. The Nevada commission's testing is weak, okay? It is not effective. VADA (Voluntary Anti- Doping Agency) is a much better option. USADA, I think, is too expensive for what they do. ...The point I'm trying to make is there are some steps that can be taken, that are cost-effective, that would significantly reduce the use of PEDs in the UFC. I would like to see Dana White take those steps." When asked what he thought of the recent positive drug test turned in by UFC 146 co-headliner Alistair Overeem, he had this to say: "It doesn't surprise me. He probably knows that it will be confirmed. He knows whether he was doing testosterone or not. At a level of 14/1, you do see some up like Kizer said, maybe 5 or 5.2, there have been some cases where there's been up in the eights and nines and tens, and I think there's even been a natural at 13. But he's (Overeem) the only one that knows whether he was using or not. My opinion, and that's all it is, is that he's as guilty as a three-dollar bill." His opinion on the overall percentage of athletes in the UFC he feels are on PED's: "Do I believe that 90 percent are using some sort of performance enhancing drugs in the UFC? I do. But there are those that do not and I think that number is going to grow over time if they realize the testing is very weak. Staggering projected number to say the least. Of course, that is only Conte's opinion and not a proven fact. For one, "The Reem" will have his day to prove his innocence, or try his hardest at doing so, on April 24, 2012, when he is scheduled to appear before Keith Kizer and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to give his explanation behind his astounding testosterone ratio, and see whether or not he will indeed be granted a license to compete at UFC 146 opposite Junior dos Santos on Memorial Day Weekend (May 26, 2012). How about it Maniacs, what is your take on the fact that one of the most talked about names in illegal drug distribution to sports stars is now looking to clean up the sports we love? Conte has danced on the dark side in the past, could it be possible that having someone with so much intelligence in the field be a positive (no pun intended) asset to cracking down on MMA's war on performance enhancing drugs moving forward? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, sport, drug, he, conte

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] In the wake of the tragic accident that occurred last week, the Gracie Brothers explain precisely how Stephen Arceneaux III was choked to death by his younger cousin with hopes of educating our youth about the serious risks of practicing jiu-jitsu techniques, chokes in particular, without proper training and supervision. On Sunday, April 1, 2012, a Louisiana man was choked to death by his younger cousin. Stephen A. Arceneaux III, a 24-year-old from Destrehan, was pronounced dead at 10:39 p.m. Sunday night, April 1, 2012. The two were at a house party and began wrestling around on an inflated mattress when the 14-year-old, 110 lbs. younger cousin placed Arceneaux in a Rear Naked Choke. After 30-40 seconds, witnesses noticed Arceneaux was turning blue so the choke was released. Arceneaux's girlfriend tried unsuccessfully to revive him before he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. With the surge in popularity of MMA/BJJ almost every teen or adult can recognize a guillotine or rear naked choke. These moves are not new, they've existed for literally thousands of years and for thousands of years men, women and children have been killed or maimed by random "horseplay." (No not the kind you paid to see in Tijuana.) In Martial arts, in particular the grappling arts, opponents have one job - neutralize the attacker by any means. Breaking, choking and killing are what these arts are about and if your naive enough to think anything different I suggest you quit right now because you pose serious threat to yourself and everyone around you. It's with this knowledge that martial artists/grapplers have an intimate understanding of the possibilities and the end result. This knowledge allows us to work within these confines and reduce bodily harm as much as possible (the loose definition of safety.) As with any sport or physical activity there are inherent risks involved and participants must thoroughly understand what negative outcomes may lie ahead. How do we gain this knowledge? - Through learning and experience. Mixed martial arts and grappling have become an entertainment platform that reaches millions of people world wide. Everyone that is exposed to these arts are somehow influenced by them, whether its in adoration, hate, entertainment or passion. In my opinion there are two ways to learn - by seeing or by experiencing. We are influenced by both. We can "see" something happen by various means, whether that be auditory, tactile or visual. When we experience something first hand it encompasses all of our senses as well as teaching us the mechanics and sensitivity needed to accomplish the particular action. It's a fact that both children and adults watch sports, movies, play video games, and we are all somehow influenced by them. Every year hundreds of adults and children are killed and injured while participating in main stream sports while utilizing all of the safety precautions possible. At the same time hundreds are killed or injured by pure ignorance and lack of knowledge of the "end result." For years kids have wrestled with each-other emulating there favorite Pro Wrestler, movie hero or sports icon. Without the proper knowledge and explanation of realistic consequences, the idea of safely participating disappears. How would we expect anyone to know how dangerous something is unless it was clearly stated to us. We gain knowledge by seeing and experiencing and it is human nature to experiment and replicate actions especially if we want to further understand them. I can almost guarantee that everyday someone dies due to emulating something they saw. It could be racing your car down the highway, backyard wrestling, climbing a tree, or grappling with your friend or family member. By understanding the inherent risks we decide our level of participation within them. Those that lack the knowledge can and will always replicate the actions of others with the increased risk of harm or death. So, how do we solve this this problem? I don't know. As most things in life, knowledge is key. So, if parents, guardians and peers lack the understanding and appreciation of martial arts or sports then it's on the sports themselves to warn those that are ignorant of the end result. Martial arts are not a game; they are a means to an end, whether they are in a sport context or that of self defense. I, for one, love martial arts and I think everyone should experience them as an adult. But, as anything we do in life there are risks we take to accomplish those actions. I can only hope that this incident and public uproar doesn't further fuel the ignorance of those that call Martial arts and MMA inhumane and barbaric. We can only hope to educate those around us with the truth and hope they listen with an open mind and an open heart. The Gracie Breakdown...

Posted in: sport, year, art, knowledge, risk

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Brock Lesnar dominated Cagewriter's Facebook page this week, as many, many, many people had opinions on the big man's return to professional wrestling. You also shared your thoughts on who Junior dos Santos should face in place of Alistair Overeem, … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, lesnar, people, brock, rant

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A more versatile Askren will defend his welterweight crown against puncher Douglas Lima.

Posted in: sport, ben, askren, olympic, welterweight crown

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A more versatile Askren will defend his welterweight crown against puncher Douglas Lima.

Posted in: sport, ben, askren, olympic, welterweight crown

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The UFC and Multi Screen Media announced a four year deal to broadcast UFC programming in India.  Multi Screen Media is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television and its new sports channel, SIX, will air UFC events, taped special and fights from the UFC library. Via UFC press release: “When we went to India over a year ago I felt the market held enormous potential for the UFC,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman of UFC. “India has a long history of martial arts and traditional wrestling like Kushti. Indian athletes have also demonstrated worldclass levels in combat sports as evidenced by the country’s 2008 Olympic medalists in wrestling and boxing.” “I’ve been saying for a few years that India would be next and it was just a matter of finding the right partner in the market. MSM has been a pioneer in India, broadcasting  new sports franchises like the IPL.  We’ve got big plans for India and MSM couldn’t be a better partner” said Dana White, President of the UFC. Payout Perspective: This should be a good partnership for the UFC as it builds its product overseas.  Recently, a Sports Business Journal full page ad indicated that international version of The Ultimate Fighter Live would have a stop in India (as well as Australia).  A recent MMA startup league, Super Fight League, ran its first card this year and it looks like the sport is growing interest.  Having UFC shows on a dedicated channel should help build into the MMA fan base in India.

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, india, sports franchises

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As Georges St-Pierre continues to rehabilitate his torn ACL, he needs somewhere to put his competitive energy. The man didn't get to the top of the welterweight division and near the top of the Yahoo! Sports pound-for-pound rankings without a … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, welterweight division, george, georges stpierre, man didnt

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Las Vegas, NV (USA) and Mumbai, India – Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) – a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, announced their partnership to broadcast UFC programming in India and the rest of the sub-continent. MSM’s new sports channel, SIX, will deliver the world’s largest brand of mixed martial arts to Indian fans across the country by airing live UFC events, taped specials, and exciting bouts from the vast UFC library.“When we went to India over a year ago I felt the market held enormous potential for the UFC,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman of UFC. “India has a long history of martial arts and traditional wrestling like Kushti. Indian athletes have also demonstrated world-class levels in combat sports as evidenced by the country’s 2008 Olympic medalists in wrestling and boxing.”   “I’ve been saying for a few years that India would be next and it was just a matter of finding the right partner in the market. MSM has been a pioneer in India, broadcasting new sports franchises like the IPL. We’ve got big plans for India and MSM couldn’t be a better partner,” said Dana White, President of the UFC.“We are delighted to be bringing the best of the sport of mixed martial arts to India,” said Man Jit Singh, CEO of Multi Screen Media Private Ltd. “Mixed martial arts requires tremendous physical conditioning, skill and strategy and we hope it will be an inspiration to young India. We hope the programming that will be premiered on our sports channel, SIX, will motivate a new generation to compete on the world stage in one of the fastest growing sports.”Indian fans have access to exclusive content at UFC.com, http://facebook.com/UFCIndia and http://twitter.com/UFCIndia.

Posted in: ufc, sport, india, sports channel, msm

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If you were aliving on the planet earth during the early 90's its virtually impossible for you to not be familiar with the name Deion Sanders. Sanders was and still is one of the most talented dynamic athletes of our time. Sanders was a multi sport athlete in college playing football, basebal and running track. Professionally he is one of the few people to play more than one sport at a time. He played both baseball and football professionally for many years. He remains the only athlete to have played in both the World Series and the Super Bowl. So Deion didn't just play these sports, he all out wrecked shop in these sports. Apparently, Ben Askren thinks he is kind of like the MMA version of Neon Deion Sanders. In the days leading up to Askren's next fight, versus Douglas Lima for the Bellator Welterweight championship title, he he talked to USATODAY about his own multi sport athletic abilities. Askren is a professional level wrestler, mma fighter and this summer he plans on adding professional disc golf player to his sporting resume. You're still doing disc golf, correct? That is correct. Actually, I'm sponsored by Discraft, who is a disc golf producer, and I got to stop by their factory today and pick up some brand-new discs, so it was a really good day. When are the amateur world championships this year? It's in July, but I'm actually going to go pro in the next tournament, so I will no longer be competing in the amateur worlds. So you'll be a pro in two sports. And wrestling also. (laughs). So three. I'm like being Neon Deion back in the '90s. What sort of aspirations do you realistically have as a professional disc golfer? I don't really have any high aspirations, unless somehow, some way, I make enough money in MMA that I don't have to do anything for the rest of my life and I can focus on being a great disc golfer. It sounds like you're saying you'll be content as long as you're competitive in disc golf. Yeah. I mean, it's hard being great at something unless you can dedicate a lot of your time to it. Between training twice a day for mixed martial arts and helping out the wrestling academy and getting my wrestling camps going — I, unfortunately, don't have enough time to put the time necessary to be an extremely good disc golfer. I could see Askren as a disc golfer. There's a disc golf course near my house and everyone that hangs out over there has hair like Ben and smells like they bathed in patchouli and moth balls. The rest of them don't appear to be quite as athletic as Ben though. He's probably the only disc golf player that can pick up a man and toss him to the canvas just as easily as he can toss a frisbee into a target. You can watch him do at least one of the sports he is a pro at this Friday night at Bellator 64 when he defends his welterweight title against a dangerous Douglas Lima. [source]

Posted in: time, sport, disc, golf, deion

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Jon Olav Einemo has elected to retire from mixed martial arts after recently being cut from the UFC, the heavyweight told Norwegian news outlet VG Nett on Tuesday.Einemo fought just twice in the octagon, making his debut at the age of 35 at UFC 131. He lost the match against Dave Herman by TKO, but the bout was awarded the Fight of the Night bonus. He came back at UFC on FOX 2, but was mostly smothered by Mike Russow en route to a unanimous decision loss.Einemo told the paper that he could have returned to the UFC with a few wins, but decided against trying because it would require spending time away from his family. He said he would continue to stay involved in the sport as a coach and to help the sport grow in his native Norway. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder's pro fight career began in 2000, and he won his first five pro fights while focusing mainly on jiu-jitsu and submission grappling. In 2003, he won the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club submission grappling tournament in his weight class, beating Brandon Vera and Roger Gracie along the way.In 2006, the Golden Glory member fought in PRIDE, losing a decision to Fabricio Werdum. Then, after beating James Thompson later that year, he vanished from the sport due to several causes, including family reasons, training concerns and various injuries. After a nearly five-year hiatus, he reappeared in early 2011, signing with the UFC but was unable to reach the expectations he'd set for himself. The 36-year-old Einemo calls it quits with a 6-3 career record.

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, einemo, weight class

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Two weeks ago, my wife and I flew to Atlanta, rented a car and drove two hours due south for a single purpose. Our destination was the tiny town of Unadilla, Georgia. Let me put the word "tiny" into perspective. Internet research suggests that the town's population is less than 2,900 people, which is about 20 percent of the capacity of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a frequent home for UFC events. I'm sure there is a stop light somewhere in town, but we certainly did not come across one during our three-day stay. And literally everyone we came across was about as friendly as they could possibly be. It suffices to say that Unadilla is the quintessential tiny southern town, one where time sort of seems to stand still -- in a good way.Tina and I were in Unadilla for a three-day school on cooking barbecue. No, not the kind of barbecue that you toss into the oven of on top of a gas grill and then smother it with store-bought barbecue sauce. The kind that stirs passion in those lucky enough to come across it. The kind that takes the love and devotion of hours upon hours of low temperature cooking on a smoker or pit after using actual coals and hardwood, meat injected with marinade, and covered with dry rubs and homemade sauces. We figured that if we wanted to up our backyard barbecue game for friends, family and the benefit of our own taste buds, we should stop with the trial and error, put down the cookbooks, and take a class from the best of the best -- none other than the man himself, Myron Mixon of Jack's Old South, the winningest man in competitive barbecue history.I know what you are thinking right now. What in the world does barbeque have to do with the UFC? Had someone asked me that question a month ago, my response would have been similar to what I’m assuming you are thinking right now -- there are no parallels. Wrong. Read on.I happened to wear a BJ Penn walkout tee shirt to the first day class. It was not a purposeful choice. I just grabbed a tee shirt because we were going to be working with meat all day, and first on the agenda was a lesson on cooking a whole hog. During the first break in the action, one of my table mates pointed to my shirt and asked if I was into the UFC. When I responded affirmatively, he couldn't wait to talk about his all-time favorite fighter, Chuck Liddell. He was also a giant Forrest Griffin supporter, since the two attended the same school in Georgia – a fact he was very proud of, by the way. This guy was at Myron’s house to help hone his craft ahead of The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, since he was going to have a tent across the street selling barbecue to make some extra money. He paid close attention to Myron and took lots of notes, but every break consisted of UFC talk.He wasn't alone.Another fine gentleman from South Georgia at our table, a wrestling coach at an alternative school for at-risk youths, joined the discussion during just about every break. This guy showed up in Unadilla with a three-ring folder filled with his barbeque secrets. He was there alone, fiercely focused on honing his craft because he was also a competition cooker, one who earns several thousands of dollars during weekend competitions. Think about that for a moment. He earns money cooking. He has access to the greatest of the great. Yet, he allowed his focus to wane time and time again to talk about the UFC.  He also talked about how mixed martial arts was a great tool to teach discipline and respect to his at-risk students. As others overheard the conversation at our table, they took the opportunity to join in. Will Jon Jones survive his title defense against heated rival Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on April 21st?  Will Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre ever fight? Who is the true pound-for-pound king? Favorite fights. Favorite fighters. Other dream matchups. Will anyone beat Junior dos Santos? Those who found out that I write for the UFC wanted to know if Dana White was really like the guy on "The Ultimate Fighter" -- still an addicted fan despite his perch atop the Zuffa's organizational chart. They wanted to know if the fighters were cool guys in person, rather than the unapproachable athletes who dominate many other major sports. And so on and so on.I dare say that the UFC was the most popular topic of conversation, apart from barbecue, during the three-day class. I overheard lots of conversations on the subject and participated in even more, particularly on the last day when there was as much time spent eating the mouthwatering meats as there was instruction.I was completely blown away at how many people wanted to talk shop and the level of passion for the sport in a place where I never dreamed I would experience it. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have been surprised. True barbecue has a cult-like following, much like the UFC did before it exploded into the mainstream a few years ago.  These folks are extremely passionate about great 'cue, just like UFC fans are passionate about mixed martial arts. There is even an online barbeque forum with approximately 50,000 members. I perused it on the plane back home, and it contained lots of passionate, opinionated discussions. The resident ‘cue cognoscenti dropped deep knowledge. Award-winning competitors posted their thoughts. And certainly weekend backyarders dominated the casual talk. One unwritten message clearly dominates the forum. Great BBQ is something few people truly experience. When one finally comes across something prepared by someone of Myron’s level, they are often hooked for life. They purchase a pit that can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds – just for creating backyard delights. They attend regional or even national contests. And they scour the Internet with an insatiable hunger for ‘cue knowledge.More importantly, they belong to this informal fraternity of people who believe in their heart of hearts that they know something that the rest of the world does not know – the greatness of top-level ‘cue.  The blogs and forum participants protect the integrity of barbeque with real ferocity. Sounds just like a UFC fan before TUF skyrocketed the sport into mainstream, doesn’t it?  Longtime hardcore followers know what I’m talking about right now.For those who still don’t see it, rewind almost a decade ago. The only place for up-to-date information were the forums and the websites that covered the sport exclusively. The big boy media outlets were completely in the dark. The major MMA forums were remarkably similar in size and content to what I saw on the barbeque forum. Lots of unbelievably knowledgeable fans participated on a regular basis. Fighters, stud commentator Joe Rogan, and even UFC boss Dana White participated from time to time – Rogan a bit more often than that. Tens of thousands of fans filled the pages with hundreds of topics and even more posts.The overriding message on all forums and blogs back in the day? You guessed it. UFC fans knew they were enjoying a sport that the rest of the world didn’t quite understand yet. It was a sport that had such tremendous fan appeal that once it actually caught the attention of the mainstream, it became the fastest growing sport in the world – a sport that the hardcore fans have fought hard to protect through forum posts and blogs.UFC fans love our sport like fans of few other sports. The same can be said for those who are really into barbeque. I never realized that until my trip to Unadilla. But the parallels between barbeque and the UFC don’t end there. I’ll peel back the onion one layer further.Go back about a decade, once again. Barbeque competitions, much like the UFC, largely enjoyed an underground existence. No major media coverage. No reality shows on cable television. Not much mainstream appeal.Mixon was already the king (or close to it) back in those days. I’m sure he made a comfortable living then from his catering business and the sale of his sauces and ribs. I’m sure the money he earned from competitive cooking was nice, but I doubt that it was enough to call it a separate living. Then a reality show on cable television titled “BBQ Pitmasters” came along and changed everything. Competition cookers now compete for six-figure purses. And the king has ridden the wave of barbeque popularity to transform from a cult king to an iconic figure with international appeal. Not only does he have a New Times best-selling cookbook. He also has a successful restaurant in Georgia with a second on the way in Miami and a ridiculously successful catering business. Oh yes, he also recently hosted Korean delegates on their trip through the south. Sounds a lot like Chuck Liddell’s career path, doesn’t it? How about Georges St-Pierre? Anderson Silva? It is rise to fame and fortune that parallels that of any number of high-profile UFC fighters who have been in the game since the early 2000s. Top fighters back in the day were stars solely in the fighting community, had little or no major consumer brand appeal from a marketing perspective and, while they earned enough to pay the bills, they were far from wealthy. TUF changed all that. Guys like Liddell, GSP, Silva, and others have gone from living comfortable lives to being multi-millionaires with true crossover star appeal. Business opportunities, whether owning gyms, holding seminars, appearing in Hollywood movies or on television shows, abound. It is a completely different existence for a top fighter compared to 10 years ago. Just like with barbeque. The end of the weekend perfectly encapsulates what I’m talking about. After completely engorging ourselves on Sunday afternoon with the succulent meats that we prepared during the class, Tina and I were walking to our car when a younger guy came up and asked, “Hey, I heard you work with the UFC, is that right?” He said something like that.I responded in the affirmative, offering my hand in greeting. It was Kyle Brooks, a member of Jack’s New South, the barbeque team led by Myron’s son, Michael Mixon.  Like father like son. After just a year of competition, Michael and crew are already ranked as one of the top new teams on the circuit, nationwide. These guys were fresh off of a big showing at The Sixth Annual St. Patty’s Q in Dublin, Georgia, where they received a perfect score on spare ribs and placed fifth in pork loin. This was an excellent chance for me to grab a few last nuggets of information from the next generation of competition cookers in my quest for backyard perfection. That opportunity never arose. Why? All Kyle wanted to talk about was the UFC. To no great surprise, he spoke about our sport with the same glow in his eyes that I saw when he was watching Myron work his magic during class. He kept referring back to guys from the early days of PRIDE Fighting Championships. The best part was he brought up a couple of fights that I hadn’t seen --- or maybe I had seen them and had forgotten. I get paid to know a bit about the UFC, and here was a top ‘cue competitor teaching me a thing or two. I loved every minute of it!For the record, he is picking Jones to win later this month. Barbeque and the UFC. I guess they aren’t so different after all.

Posted in: ufc, sport, fan, barbeque, barbecue

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In high school, we were required to participate in at least one after-school sport every season. In the Fall, the most talented athletes always ended up playing football, while some chose to compete in cross-country running, and the remainder ended up playing soccer by default. With that observation, it’s easy to conclude that soccer is a sport that takes the least amount of enthusiasm to play when you’re forced to chose a sport you have no desire to play. However, it’s also one of the most demanding if you want to have a career in it. In America, that equates to a profession filled with hilarious David Beckham jokes and the same public recognition as the president of your local chain of supermarkets. Jimmy Conrad knows all about that stuff, but he’s proud of being a professional soccer player anyway, He thinks Dana White’s critical comments regarding his former sport were baseless and reassures the public that soccer isn’t nearly as easy to play as it looks; which is coincidentally exactly how I feel about Ms. Pacman. Anyway, here’s his open letter to Dana White, to which he has responded just a few hours ago. Here's a little Twitter exchange between the two, compliments of The UG.

Posted in: sport, dana, soccer, afterschool sport, ms pacman

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In an interview last week, UFC president Dana White called soccer players the least talented athletes on the planet . Can't stand soccer. It's the least-talented sport on Earth. There's a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you're playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 (and that's a blowout) are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big? Considering that soccer is the world's most popular sport, he ruffled quite a few feathers with that comment. One set of ruffled feathers belonged to Jimmy Conrad, a retired American soccer player. Conrad, who played for the U.S. men's national team and in Major League Soccer, responded to White with a challenge. Conrad is ready to take on White in a soccer challenge. According to Dirty Tackle editor Brooks Peck , though Conrad is retired, he could still have some fun with White. He was a defender and though he doesn't have the tricks or scoring flair of a Ronaldinho, he will embarrass Dana White with a smile on his face. To White's credit, he did respond to Conrad over Twitter , saying he accepted the challenge. Let's hope Conrad and White can make this thing happen. Perhaps White will learn a new found love for the beautiful game, give up MMA, and become a world-renowned soccer promoter. OK, that won't happen, but the challenge will still be fun to watch.

Posted in: sport, challenge, player, soccer, conrad

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As mixed martial arts grows and develops as a sport that large numbers of people pay attention to, we face the "big sport" balancing act between getting the important information out there and drowning people in too much infojunk. Does it serve you as a fan to know that Jon Jones has a 100% rate of defending takedowns? Or would it matter more to you to know that Jones has essentially fought one opponent in his career who actually tried to take him down? What about the unprovided statistic that tells you that Rashad Evans has never attempted a submission in the UFC? That disconnect between statistics and reality is what I call infojunk. This type of infojunk has ruined many a baseball, football or basketball team as general managers fall in love with the big names of faded stars, home run totals and hand out indefensibly bad contracts or gobs of playing time to not-actually-great players. However, calling out the infojunk seems to be the domain of a few passionate fans and for the great number of sports fans, the infojunk either slides by or gets adopted nearly wholesale. For prominent commentators in MMA, their approach to avoid the glazed eyes and itchy TV remote fingers seem to settle into calling something "great" or "world-class" and avoiding any real insights (such as pointing out weaknesses to this strike or that ground tactic or strengths and preferences in doing this or that). If everything is great and terrific, why do fighters lose then? The rise of Moneyball-like organizational concepts across leagues and across big numbers of fans through fantasy sports, relentless evangelizing and just plain curiosity of the modern sports fan has helped call out the horse-pucky their favored teams try to put over on them, but the evaluating mistakes still happen and can hinder, wound or destroy teams and athletes for years. This should not happen in MMA. Fans should consciously build more patience for the technical terms and concepts. The vast majority of fighters are too skilled and too awesome to dismiss as thugs or brawlers. The audience should be better at telling Dana White, Scott Coker, Bjorn Rebney or the other occasional hot air bags out there something along the lines "This specific thing you are saying is not actually true. This is closer to the objective truth." There is already a fantastically literate, knowledgeable and passionate fanbase across all corners of the internet, talking to each other in gyms and offices across the planet and slowly bringing each other up to a point of surprising expertise. However, I do not believe that the most commonly used FightMetric or CompuStrike statistics are all that useful to talk about fights or to break down tendencies. My favorite short example of infojunk versus useful information is the Pat Curran and Marlon Sandro fight. To get the dramatic knock-out, Curran threw three punches - every single one of them missing - and then connected with a massive head kick that put Sandro out cold. The missed punches were extremely valuable to Curran, despite never making contact, because they set Sandro up for the kick - which Curran was hunting the entire time. The stats would say something like "Curran connected on 1/4 strikes. Curran has a 25% accuracy rate, although he did land one significant strike." That does not describe what happened at all. To get even better in the future about understanding MMA, we just need to figure out how to better reduce this wonderfully complex sport into useful numbers and how best to communicate it to the glazed eyeballs crowd. Easy peasy.

Posted in: sport, fan, mma fans, curran, infojunk

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Remember that little ban on MMA Oklahoma decided to impose we told you about around a month ago? Well, you can all stop raging and your boycotting of Oklahoma and its products right now. Go ahead and restock your fridge full of those 88 cent packs of yummy Bar-S nitrite filled mystery smooshed meat particle hot dogs once again because we no longer have to feel hate and anger towards the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma has quickly come to their senses and decided to rethink their futile attempts to stuff the life out of our favorite sport within the OK state lines. ESPN.com and Josh Gross spoke to Joe Miller of the state's athletic commission who told them the commission is now awaiting word from the State Attorney General to 'change the language' of a tax statute that caused the UFC to threaten the state with legal action. The commission has begun issuing event permits again as of yesterday. “We will be open for business on April 2nd. A legislative solution to the problem is under way, and should be solidified by the end of April.” The issue stems from a 4% pay per view tax imposed by the Oklahoma athletic commission on all the promotors of combat sport events regardless of where their event actually takes place. The UFC got wind of the tax and said a big N-O to what was essentially a double taxation on their pay per view cards. Apparently the UFC flexed their legal muscle and the lawsuit threats caused the state to nix the idea of banning MMA and combat sports. Victory! You can now revisit those exciting forced family fun summer roadtrip plans to the National Cowboy Museum without feelling like you are supporting an enemy. [source]

Posted in: sport, event, commission, state, oklahoma

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Thank god, it's Frye-day. Forty-sumthin' mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Don Frye, who started his career with seven straight bouts under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner (pre-ZUFFA), still loves the sport of cage fighting. In spite of UFC President Dana White. "The Predator" told Sherdog's "Savage Dog Show" that MMA was "ruined" by the penny-pinching promoter, who brags about his "30 Ferraris" while making thousand-aires out of undercard competitors: "The fans are fantastic. Fantastic fans. But the thing is, Dana White’s just ruined the sport. I got to thinking about it today and you know, he ruined it for me... It’s a crime. You see some of these guys only getting two or three or six thousand dollars and you’ve got Dana bragging about having 30 Ferraris. Come on. You have a sponsor and he charges a sponsor what, a hundred and fifty grand to have your stuff on the fighter? That’s money he’s stealing from the fighter. Then he goes and he pays them two or three thousand dollars. That’s crazy." Frye is piggybacking off recent complaints from the boxing industry (among others) that the UFC is running a monopoly after effectively absorbing any and all competition that poses any kind of threat, including PRIDE, WEC and Strikeforce. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disagrees. Despite the stranglehold ZUFFA has on stateside MMA, there are still plenty of places for combat sports athletes to compete, such as Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC), DREAM, ONE FC, BAMMA and of course, Bellator. And the UFC has made its share of millionaires. Nevertheless, Frye is perturbed about the way some of the spoils are shared amongst the roster, and even goes as far as to call it "stealing" from the fighters. Anyone out there in MMA land agree? More on the ZUFFA pay scale here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, dana, frye

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Don Frye is one of MMA's biggest personalities. His tendency to speak his feelings as honestly as anyone in the sport along with his sense of humor and a history of being a "go for broke" fighter have turned Frye into one of the most beloved figures around the sport. Of course, talking about UFC fighter pay in any negative way is a quick way to change that. The question of "Are UFC fighters underpaid?" was asked while Frye was on the "Savage Dog Show" on Sherdog and this was his response: Oh my God, it's a crime. It's a crime. You see some of these guys only getting two or three or six thousand dollars and you've got Dana bragging about having 30 Ferraris. Come on. You have a sponsor and he charges a sponsor what, a hundred and fifty grand to have your stuff on the fighter? That's money he's stealing from the fighter. Then he goes and he pays them two or three thousand dollars. That's crazy. While it's not a particularly new stance, and despite my feelings that there is a slight pay issue in the UFC, this seems to miss a bit of the point. What Dana makes off the UFC should have no bearing on what the bottom level fighters should make. Simple business sense would suggest that Dana White is far more important to the success of the UFC than an opening level fighter (who seems to make no less than $6,000) and is therefor worth more money. My issue with pay is less about the bottom rung fighters and more about the gap between the current "middle class" which tends to average somewhere around $30,000-50,000 (with win bonus) and the top end which is generally well over $100,000. But that's all in flux and something that may well correct itself in the next year or two. Frye also thinks that Dana White has "ruined the sport": I do. I really do. I had a lot of fun. The fans are fantastic. Fantastic fans. But the thing is, Dana White's just ruined the sport. I got to thinking about it today and you know, he ruined it for me. I thought, ‘Why am I letting that asshole dictate my life and take all of the fun out of it for me?' I just ignore him and go on with my life. I might climb back in the cage just because I finally say, ‘F--k it. Why let him ruin it?' I just ignore him and go on with my own business. Even if I disagree with him, I'm firmly in the camp of people who'll never be able to get too mad at Don. The man is a national treasure.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, sport, dana, frye

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In his exclusive Y! Sports blog, Rashad Evans talks about the long road back from recovery and how he's better because of it.

Posted in: sport, rashad, evan, he, yahoo sports

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The first edition of the Bloody Inbox went great, with debate stirred in the comments and a new flood of questions to the inbox. As promised, here's part 2 of our special double edition for the inaugural week of the feature. I'll also be using some questions to do special Bloody Elbow staff roundtables in the future. So if you think you submitted a great question but it isn't answered here, keep your eyes peeled. Remember, you can submit your questions to: BloodyElbowMailbag@Gmail.com Question from Zachary Kater: Simple question... what are your thoughts on fighters using TRT with a medical exemption through the commission? I personally feel like people are gaining advantages that aren't natural due to being allowed to take the treatment, as it's perfectly normal for testosterone to decrease in an aging human. Is it worth it to allow fighters to have more extended careers, or should we try to keep talent and natural abilities pure from anything such as this that may give an unnatural advantage? Nothing like saying "simple question" and then asking for thoughts on one of the biggest controversies going. I think one of the keys for all of this is for the commissions to set a benchmark for what they consider abnormally low testosterone levels. If someone requests a usage exemption and can provide proof through samples (given on different dates at least 1-2 weeks apart) that their testosterone level is significantly low for their age then they are allowed the exemption. But it should be treated like a license where it must be renewed once a year, and is subject to random testing. The commission issuing the exemption should have the right to phone up and request a test be taken at any point during the year. The levels returned should be within a defined range or disciplinary action taken. Of course, there are guys using now who are staying within the "normal range" without an exemption so that doesn't really get to the heart of the "is it fair?" debate. But this is at least a way to try and make sure that TRT is not being abused at any point. And this isn't even mentioning the difficulties in executing such a plan when all state commissions operate independently. So that part would have to be done at the promotion level. Which, if they're as serious about PEDs as they say they are with testing prior to signing..etc, should not be a problem. But back to the question of fairness. I'd say the only fair use of TRT is when your levels are significantly below normal for your age. Not just because you're starting to feel old. Question for Dallas Winston from wonderfulspam: When you posted your visualised scoring graph for Simpson vs Tavares, one of the main points of contention was your willingness to score 10-10s in every round where neither fighter clearly has an edge. Would you agree that rounds that leave you thinking "extremely close round, could be 10-9 either way" should more often than not be 10-10s? Draws could be settled by sudden death rounds or the judges picking a winner. Dallas: Thanks for the question -- I'm honored. One of the most difficult aspects with MMA judging is scrutinizing hypothetical versus actual scenarios. The graph was designed for actual scenarios to provide a visual value to many facets of judging that are difficult to quantify, especially in conversation (10-10 vs. 10-9 vs. 10-8 rounds, the impact of significant offense, who is/was winning the round and by how much). So, under the context that the suggested scenario in your question is hypothetical, and my answer will be too -- yes. I do feel that a round interpreted as "could be 10-9 either way" is what a 10-10 should be. I'm eternally baffled at the reluctance to score a 10-10 round, which is described as "when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows dominance in a round." I mean, it's not uncommon to witness that scenario, yet the 10-10 score is entirely uncommon. Even when I've posed a hypothetical question about scoring a round with no clear winner, many have insisted that they would still refrain from a 10-10 and prefer to force a winner based on some tiny shred of evidence. The idea that two evenly matched, high-level fighters cannot possibly stalemate in a five-minute window is ludicrous but, even beyond that, the result is distorting the window or value for a 10-9 score. In this case, it's stretching it wider by awarding one fighter one-third of the fight for the smallest detail, and typically a detail that's insignificant to the fight when the rules are based significant achievements. That mentality fosters an even bigger problem when the other rounds are won by a clear but not dominant margin, i.e. a standard 10-9 round, because they're awarded with the same value as the "forced winner" round that was decided by some miniscule activity. Finally, the 10-10 round is constantly associated with the fear of draws, yet the majority of recent draws we've seen were caused by 10-8 rounds, which is something almost everyone agrees we need to see more of. The conclusion should be that we can't control excitement or outcome through objective scoring. The job of a judge is to assess each five-minute frame to the best of his ability with no preconceived bias or concerns for "what might happen" because of it. Question for KJ Gould from Robert V-U: How meaningful are world-class wrestling credentials for a fighter? For instance, Jon Fitch, GSP and Rashad Evans have some of the most effective grappling in the sport, but none of them are particularly heralded as coming into the sport with good wrestling credentials. (I realize this part of the question is mostly speculation because it is all relative, but: are world-class wrestling credentials more or less valuable than legitimate K-1 striking credentials for a mixed martial artist?) What aspects of Olympic wrestling transition best to the sport? (I.e. what is it about Bubba Jenkins' wrestling that makes him more successful than Mark Ellis in MMA). Also, what is GSP's wrestling like? Is he similar to past wrestlers? Or, is his style unique to this sport? KJ:There's this general belief that if you're a Freestyle wrestler that's competed at the World or Olympic level, you must be awesome in all areas. This really isn't the case as there are usually individual styles among wrestlers who tailor their skill sets for success in the competition environment they take part in. Not all Olympic Wrestlers will have amazing takedowns; some depend on countering their opponent to score points with reversals. Similarly the converse is true, where some wrestlers' best defense is having a really strong offense by pursuing a takedown or throw until they get it. Just as in sport Jiu Jitsu or Submission Grappling, the skill types and abilities of a Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia and Pablo Popovitch differ wildly, but all can make it work for them at the highest levels. As it relates to MMA, certain skill sets and attributes from wrestling fit better than others. Bubba Jenkins is strong, and pulls of athletic moves like Super Ducks which require a combination of footwork, speed and agility. He also has the right mentality, embracing a chance to compete in MMA rather than showing any hesitation about it, so the mental game of a champion wrestler can also help with the transition. GSP's training in wrestling from day one has been tailored for the MMA environment. Sports specificity is key when it comes to training at the highest level, and GSP knows how to combine striking with wrestling so he can both avoid being hit, and force an error from an opponent that over-commits with their own striking, putting them off balance enough for GSP to seize an opening and follow through with a double leg or single leg takedown. The best attributes for wrestling for MMA are the same basic fundamentals of wrestling, but tailored for the MMA environment: Stance / position, motion, level change, penetration, lifting, back-stepping and a back arch. Question for KJ Gould from Paul G: What do you think will happen after the ESPN UK deal runs out? Will ESPN renew the deal despite the issues in recent times (UFC on Fox 1), or do you think Sky could come into the picture? KJ: I fully expect this to be the last year we'll see the UFC on ESPN as it pertains to live shows and new content. ESPN UK has said they hope to continue coverage if the right deal can be reached, but according to some brief tweets by Lorenzo Fertitta in February, it seems clear he's not happy with ESPN generally. That might in part be to do with the Outside The Lines feature on the UFC, in which Fertitta famously had his own video recording taken at the same time, but there's more to it than that. I think the UFC have realised the limitations ESPN have in helping grow the UFC in the UK, when ESPN themselves are having to play catch up to Sky Sports who have had a 20 year advantage in customer reach and service. I still maintain the key component in this is Fox Sports Chairman David Hill, who helped build Sky Sports originally in the UK. Sky Television and Fox Television are both partly owned by Rupert Murdoch and the News Corp group, and with rumblings of Fox wanting to create their own 24/7 sports channel I wouldn't be surprised to see a working relationship between Sky and Fox for content to continue to blossom. We already have FX in the UK, which hosted the Bisping vs Mayhem season of The Ultimate Fighter on a less than 24 hour tape delay. Sky Sports is already setup for live, international programming as they do with the WWE RAW series on Monday nights. Sky Sports have also shown a greater interest in MMA programming, with long running UK promotion Cage Warriors inking a deal with them not long ago, and having previously worked with the Cage Rage and Ultimate Challenge promotions. UFC may have had problems working with Sky in the past, dating back to the poor Box Office PPV numbers of UFC 38 10 years ago, but a lot has changed on both sides and with the current Fox deal, now would seem to be the right time to take the UFC in the UK to the next level with a new Sky partnership.

Posted in: mma, question, round, sport, level

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Bjorn Rebney succeeded in the tough world of MMA promotion by dreaming big and sticking to his vision.

Posted in: mma, sport, rebney, mma promotion, bjorn

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submitted by red1392 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, thai, ban, government

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You walk into a store and see someone holding up the cashier. What do you do? If you're Zack Thome, an Iraq vet and someone who has trained in MMA, you slap a rear naked choke on the offender and … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, someone, vet, iraq vet, iraq

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From baseball to football to cycling, performance enhancement has long gone hand-in-hand with professional sports. Any athlete is always looking for ways to improve; it’s just a matter of how they go about it that makes the difference. And as long as there are professional sports, drug testing to try and expose athletes that try to gain an unfair advantage through chemistry will be a hot-button issue. Mixed martial arts, despite its relative newness, is no different.

Posted in: sport, athlete, art, mmaweeklycom, hotbutton issue

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Cain Velasquez begins his redemption from a stunning loss in a heavyweight division that has become increasingly competitive.

Posted in: heavyweight, sport, velasquez, heavyweight division, redemption

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It’s my duty as an adult to discourage any of our readers from doing drugs. Drugs are bad. At MiddleEasy, we are randomly screened for drugs twice a year. The writer, photographer, videographer, or interviewer with the highest levels of THC in his/her system is immediately excluded from Secret Santa, and has to stay to clean up after the ChristmaHanaQuanzaka party. Last year, Jason Nawara missed out on receiving a gift-wrapped prosthetic leg autographed by Rousimar Paul Harris and developed an allergic reaction to some chemical in the bleach-based cleaning solution. Luckily, he was a good sport about it. Jason now understands that there are various levels of repercussions for violating our workplace drug policy. In the past few months, we’ve seen what happens to MMA fighters like Nick Diaz, Cyborg Santos, and King Mo Lawal who had similar mishaps. None of them are looking forward to dealing with their respective punishments for violating the rules either. It seems like all we talk about lately is drugs in MMA, but Dana White says it’s because he oversees the most frequently tested athletes in the world. In fact, in this interview with MMAWeekly, he goes on to say that if other sports tested their athletes as frequently as athletic commissions test ZUFFA fighters, there would be no other professional sports. In situations like this, I suppose a video is worth a thousand clichés.

Posted in: sport, athlete, drug, drugs drugs, nba nfl

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Having spent time coaching the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Wladimir Klitschko, Oscar de la Hoya, and Mike Tyson – to name only a few – it’s safe to say that  Freddie Roach knows boxing. As the sport of mixed martial arts has grown wildly in popularity over the past few years, Roach has opened the doors of his renowned Wild Card gym in Las Vegas to MMA fighters and has attracted some of the sport’s best over time. Having worked with the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and BJ Penn since extending his instruction to mixed martial artists, Roach has become very familiar with the sport and its practitioners. He’s often been quoted assessing the boxing skills of various fighters, but actually ranked MMA’s best pugilists for a recent appearance on HDNet’s Inside MMA.        Roach’s List Anderson Silva – “He is one of the best guys that really understands distance and timing.” Georges St-Pierre – “GSP, one of the best guys in the world … one of the best students I’ve ever had.” BJ Penn – “You know, BJ is one of the best strikers I’ve ever been in the ring with.” Nick Diaz – “Nick Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters in the world today.” KJ Noons – “KJ works out at my gym and his work ethic is great; I love his tenacity.”

Posted in: mma, sport, las vegas, bj, roach

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One of the most discussed and debated issues in Mixed Martial Arts over the past few years has been Testoterone Replacement Therapy, or TRT. The treatment has been in the public eye ever since Chael Sonnen was suspended six months for failing to properly disclose his use of the treatment prior to his UFC 117 title fight with Anderson Silva and it hasn't really gone away since, with high profile fighters such as Dan Henderson and Quinton Jackson being associated (legally) with the treatment, while others such as Nate Marquardt have been suspended (and in his case, cut from the UFC) for supposedly abusing it. The Head Kick Legend staff has been discussing the issue over the course of the last week. Here is what we had to say: Cory Braiterman:I'll start things off. I don't know enough medically about the individual fighters to assume that what they're doing is cheating the system. I do know enough as a lunkhead fan to make that assumption anyway. And will. I think it's a loophole that is being exploited and should be closed. In my opinion it is easily abused both in training camps, when fighters are not tested, and when a fighter is taking it through the proper channels, due to the murky qualification process. Lots, lots more after the jump. Elliot Matheny:I think TRT, used responsibly, is great. There aren't any egregious health risks, and if it facilitates training and performance for fighters who medically qualify for it, then I'm all for it. Of course, there needs to be a system of checks and balances in place to prevent these fighters from abusing, but I think the state athletic commission blood testing should suffice for the time being. I'd urge everyone to read these 2 articles from Matt Pitt over at Sherdog He is probably the best scholar on the blog-o-sphere regarding the medicine and science of the fight game: Marquardt & Test HGH testing Luke Nelson:Great links Elliot. I'd like to add the latest from Mike Chiapetta over at MMAFighting.com to the reading list. My take is pretty similar to Cory's take. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That being said, this new information presented by Chiapetta makes things a little dicey: If head trauma stops your body from producing testosterone, then it makes sense that a lot of fighters are going to want/need TRT towards the end of their career.An angle that I don't think has been talked about too much is the fact that a lot of the fighter's going on this stuff are in the larger weight classes. Rampage, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, Nate Marquardt, all the guys who've been in the news for TRT were fighting at 185 or greater. If it is something that is as necessary as these fighters lead us to believe it is, why aren't we seeing (or hearing about) littler guys that need it? The one smaller weight fighter that has used it publicly is Dennis Hallman, but his situation is a little different (Celiac disease) and even he missed weight when he tried to hit 155 for the first time in years and years.So why is it just well muscled fighter's using this stuff? Past steroid use? Did they have a higher than average level of testosterone when they entered the sport that has decreased over the years of sparring/fighting? Are they simply scared of facing other big dudes without the boost TRT gives?The final question I have is, who is giving these guys the go-ahead for this stuff? I watched "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" and these "age doctors" seem pretty fraudulent, or at least as fraudulent as doctors who give out medical marijuana recommendations. They basically give out TRT to whoever comes in their door and answers their softball questions. Is this the same process as happens with fighters? It seems to be the case to me.I'd love to see the UFC institute a rule that states that all TRT exemptions must first be approved by the UFC before a fighter begins treatment. The UFC can hire a very well respected endocrinologist who isn't going to just say "hey, fill out this questionnaire and I'll be right back with your prescription". And the guys who go on the TRT will have to provide blood tests on the regular, will have to continually justify the need for it. I think Dan Henderson has spoken about this before, the need for stricter regulations. Chris Hall:I'm in support of TRT. First, I think the evolution of both MMA and sports medicine in general will progress toward acceptance and regulation as opposed to prohibition concerning steroid use and TRT. Because of that, I think the important thing here is establishing supervision and accountability. Regular testing reported to the commission throughout training and pre-fight is a must. I think Henderson is a great example of how the treatment can be used both effectively and safely. Earl Montclair:I have a hard time choosing a side on this issue. On one hand, I support it because I think it gives us a chance to see how fighters who are of advanced age (in fight years) perform against younger talent. It also allows athletes to show what the extra years can add to their skill-set. It is really interesting to see how the guys who are on TRT develop with the extra time that it gives them to compete at a high level. The fan in me says that if TRT is going to give me more Dan Henderson fights, bring it on! On the other hand, I think it is against nature and the idea behind this competition is to see who is best naturally. This makes me feel that it shouldn't be allowed. I think it will be and already is being abused. I see it as really no different than a getting a pot card. There are some instances where marijuana is a helpful form of medicine but most people who have medical marijuana have it for legal recreation....OH I mean, nightmares and minor back pain. Basically, if people are allowed to do it, it is human nature to try to test the boundaries of what you can get away with. I think that is a bad thing for MMA in situations that occurred with the likes Chael Sonnen and Nate Marquardt. So I guess in the end I am on the fence. I'm glad I could be so indifferent on the subject :/ Elliot Matheny:The potential for abuse is there, but with the TUE process, and standard blood testing, I don't think there's much wiggle room to cheat. Patrick Wyman:I have no problem with fighters receiving testosterone replacement therapy, provided they're verified to be in need of it by a board-certified endocrinologist, apply for a TUE from the relevant athletic commission, clear it with the promotion, and then follow the proper testing protocols. I do think commissions and the UFC need to be more thorough about clearing fighters for TRT, but that's a problem with the sport's institutions, not the treatment itself. There are a wide variety of factors that can potentially cause low testosterone - head trauma (as Mike Chiapetta points out), prior steroid abuse, a long history of cutting weight, and genetic predisposition to the condition, among many others - and figuring out precisely which of these has created the need for TRT is next to impossible. On that note, I don't think that it's fair to discriminate against fighters who might have low testosterone levels as a result of past steroid use; there's simply no way of knowing in most cases, and I would rather give fighters the benefit of the doubt. The argument that TRT is "unnatural", and should be banned on those grounds, holds absolutely no water. "Unnatural" compared to what? Surgery to remove facial scar tissue, as Wanderlei and Nick Diaz did? Alistair Overeem's or Brock Lesnar's strength and conditioning program and diet, which had the effect of packing on more muscle than any human being should reasonably possess? Potent anti-inflammatory medications? ACL reconstructions using tendons from a cadaver? All of those procedures and treatments extend a fighter's career and capabilities far beyond what "nature" may have intended, and I don't see a fundamental difference between altering your hormone levels and turning yourself into the twenty-first century version of the Frankenstein monster. This is a brutal sport that takes a massive toll on the bodies of its participants, and we have to expect those consequences to manifest themselves both visibly, as in the case of facial scar tissue, and internally with testosterone levels. Allowing fighters to maintain normal, healthy hormone levels (and no higher than that) is logical and, one might argue, an ethical necessity in terms of quality of life. Cory Braiterman:I'm certainly not making the "unnatural" argument, I think that's silly. One of my main concerns are a few ways in which it snowballs. If "everyone" is doing it, then those that aren't feel they have to, even if it might not be right for them and possibly dangerous. It's also a cost barrier - let's face it, unless you're at the top of the sport, you aren't making fantastic bank. Throw however many thousands of dollars it costs in out of pocket expenses (something tells me I doubt too many insurance plans cover this) to get this done and however many fighters are struggling to break into the big times, and it's just another hurdle.It's the same with any PED - if you permit them, then everyone has to take it, or it isn't a playing field. Add all the health concerns and the cost, and you get a lose-lose proposition to me. Elliot Matheny:I think the "everyone has to do it" argument falls flat, because simply put- generally only the older fighters are going to have hypogonadism. And to address the cost of treatment- again, generally only the older, more experienced fighters will need the treatment, and they are generally the ones who make more $ per fight, and should be able to afford the treatment. All right, this topic is such that we could go on forever, but I figured now is a good place to stop and allow the readers to have their say. So, to those reading, what do you think about this issue? Is it something that we are just going to have to get used to, not only in combat sports, but in all sports? What about yourselves? Are any of you out there currently on testosterone replacement therapy, or know someone who is? Would you go on it if you had to? Would you go on it if you had the opportunity to? Chime in!

Posted in: fighter, sport, testosterone, treatment, trt

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Trainer Cesar Gracie has a pretty good insight into the workings of Nick Diaz. Gracie has helped mold the mind and body of Diaz for several years at his gym in Stockton, California. Following his most recent fight – a loss to Carlos Condit – Diaz told those listening that he was finished with fighting, effectively announcing his retirement from the sport. Many thought it was just Diaz being Diaz, but so far, he has stayed true to his word. Of course, his positive drug test for marijuana following the fight might also have something to do with that. Well, Gracie is coming out in defense of Diaz and declaring that he feels like his fighter will return, as he told Sherdog.com in a recent interview. He’s sick of politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges….it’s kind of a weird thing, but let’s face it, I’m not going to let that guy quit. I just don’t see it happening. He’s too good and he’s too important in this sport, I think. If it’s up to me, there’s no way that’s going to happen. The loss to Condit really bothered Diaz, as was evident by the post-fight interview and video released of Diaz after. The idea that he would never compete again in MMA seemed strange, but Diaz has hinted at a boxing career previously, so there is always that option, as well. Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: diaz, sport, gracie, drug test, postfight interview

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Posted in: mma, sport, ialsolovebee, courage mma, courage

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"He's sick of the politics, the whole marijuana thing, the judges ... . It's kind of a weird thing, but let's face it: I'm not going to let that guy quit. I just don't see that happening. He's too good and he's too important in this sport, I think. If it's up to me, there's no way that's going to happen." -- Nick Diaz's mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer, coach, and mentor, Cesar Gracie, tells Sherdog.com that he knows his star pupil won't be retiring from the sport if only because he just won't let him. Diaz famously declared he was walking away from the fight game following a close unanimous decision defeat to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this past Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In that fight, the Stockton, Calif., native was the aggressor, walking down his foe for five full rounds. But "The Natural Born Killer" was precise in his strikes while circling away from danger and by the end of the 25-minute contest, the judges decided they felt aggressiveness was secondary to the damage done by a smart game plan. This, of course, angered Diaz to the point of quitting during the post-fight interview. It was later revealed it would have all been for naught anyway, as he failed his drug test for marijuana metabolites. He's yet to have his hearing but he's facing a long suspension, seeing as this is the second time he's been popped for drugs in Nevada. Even if he does take an extended vacation, Gracie assures us Diaz won't be gone for good. And, really, the former Strikeforce champion has far too much to offer the sport to walk away at the age of 28 and in the prime of his career. Right?

Posted in: diaz, sport, gracie, drug test, he

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Nick Lembo & Dr. Sherry Wulkan lead the charge on Friday, April 6th for a day-long seminar about Combat Sports Medicine.

Posted in: sport, seminar, combat, april, medicine

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UFC President, Dana White's casual comments have started another controversy--this time over one of the world's most beloved sports, soccer. Football or "footy" as it is affectionately known outside of the 50 states, is hardly a sport for the...

Posted in: sport, dana, soccer, dissing soccer, controversythis time

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Being a blabbermouth is one thing, but these are fighting words. UFC president Dana White, legendary for speaking his mind, didn't hold back...

Posted in: ufc, sport, dana, pre, mind didnt

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Dana White sat down with the Calgary Sun while in Canada and big-upped our national sport hockey while simultaneoulsy implying soccer was for pussies. I’m not a big hockey fan. But I respect how talented you have to be to play hockey. Soccer? That’s a whole other ball. Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. There’s a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you’re playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 (and that’s a blowout) are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big? Now back to hockey. You have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that’s the same size as the goalie. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it’s perfectly legal. That’s a real sport that takes real talent, speed and all the things you need to be a real athlete. Now fighting is a part of hockey and has been since Day 1. It’s part of the game. It is what it is. I think we live in a world now where everything has been so pussy-fied. When I grew up we didn’t wear helmets when we rode our bikes. We didn’t have car seats. We didn’t have all this stuff. Now things are safer and we should be safer but let’s not go overboard. Fighting’s a part of hockey. Period. What the hell is Dana White doing??? Doesn't he know he's going to be spending a lot of time down in Brazil, the land of Pussyball? Maybe he'll Romney-bot it when he arrives and say hockey is just figure skating for thugs. And maybe after the UFC spends a bit more time in stadiums rather than arenas he'll start to understand that it's the size of the field that's the deciding factor in scoring, not the net. And soccer isn't full of pussies. Those badasses are always mixing it up. More examples of the manliest sport in the world right here.

Posted in: time, ’t, sport, soccer, hockey

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Tell us how you really feel! Not that I'm an expert in International relations, but when you're trying to sell 80,000 seats at a soccer stadium in Brazil, it's probably not a good idea to go off on a rant about how awful the sport of soccer is and how any no-talent over the age of three can be successful at it. But that's just me. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, on the other hand, speaks his mind regardless of collateral damage. So it should come as no surprise then to hear his take on competing sports when the topic was broached by members of the Canadian media during yesterday's UFC 149 press conference. The UFC boss compares and contrasts hockey and soccer (via Calgary Sun) after the jump. "I’m not a big hockey fan. But I respect how talented you have to be to play hockey. Soccer? That’s a whole other ball. Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. There’s a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you’re playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 (and that’s a blowout) are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big? Now back to hockey. You have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that’s the same size as the goalie. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it’s perfectly legal. That’s a real sport that takes real talent, speed and all the things you need to be a real athlete. Now fighting is a part of hockey and has been since Day 1. It’s part of the game. It is what it is. I think we live in a world now where everything has been so pussy-fied. When I grew up we didn’t wear helmets when we rode our bikes. We didn’t have car seats. We didn’t have all this stuff. Now things are safer and we should be safer but let’s not go overboard. Fighting’s a part of hockey. Period." I can just see the PSA now: "Friends don't let friends act like pussies." The world's largest fight promotion was on the scene in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, yesterday (March 21, 2012) to officially announce it will bring an event to the Scotiabank Saddledome on July 21. White also confirmed the show will be headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight championship against an opponent to be named later. Also in attendance was Canadian Director of Operations Tom Wright, who broke plenty of news himself. He brought word that UFC 152 will be held in Toronto on Sept. 22 and UFC 154 will go down in Montreal on Nov. 17. That latter card may very well feature the return of superstar Georges St. Pierre. If he's healthy, of course. For a complete rundown of all the relevant (and non-pussified) notes and quotes from yesterday's presser click here.

Posted in: ufc, sport, soccer, hockey, thatrsquo

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"Suga" Rashad Evans talks about his fight against bitter rival Jon Jones on April 21 in a Yahoo! Sports exclusive blog.

Posted in: jon jones, sport, yahoo, rashad evans, yahoo sports

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MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin hopes some fans can look at MMA in a new light. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Benjamin has seen the carnage that results from "leaving it all on the field" - especially after athletes conclude their careers in contact and contact sports. While out of sight is often out of mind for many MMA fans, it's never been more important to pay careful consideration to fighter safety as the sport continues its evolution.

Posted in: mma, sport, mma fans, fighter safety, contact sports

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submitted by muayguy [link] [30 comments]

Posted in: ufc, sport, president, elbow, earth

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Yesterday, while in Calgary for the UFC press conference, Dana White took part in a fan question and answer session that covered a wide range of topics. Everything from walk-out music to Floyd Mayweather was covered in the Q&A, but maybe the most interesting answer from White came when he was asked about fighting in hockey. The Calgary Sun has the transcript: Q: As you know, we love our hockey here. And it remains the only other pro sport that allows fighting. Curious as to your thoughts on fighting in hockey? A: I'm not a big hockey fan. But I respect how talented you have to be to play hockey. Soccer? That's a whole other ball. Can't stand soccer. It's the least-talented sport on Earth. There's a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you're playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 (and that's a blowout) are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big? Now back to hockey. You have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that's the same size as the goalie. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it's perfectly legal. That's a real sport that takes real talent, speed and all the things you need to be a real athlete. Now fighting is a part of hockey and has been since Day 1. It's part of the game. It is what it is. I think we live in a world now where everything has been so pussy-fied. When I grew up we didn't wear helmets when we rode our bikes. We didn't have car seats. We didn't have all this stuff. Now things are safer and we should be safer but let's not go overboard. Fighting's a part of hockey. Period. They should play this on a loop in the soccer stadium in Rio before the Anderson Silva/Chael Sonnen rematch. I'm not a big fan of soccer. Quite honestly, I find it horribly boring. But that being said, the idea that there is no talent involved because the net is big but the score is low is profoundly ignorant. I'm not suggesting that MMA isn't a sport that requires immense talent at the highest level, but let's be honest about how much talent is on display in a fight like Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander or whatever the hell it was Matt Riddle was trying to do against Sean Pierson. I also don't really understand the point of the "pussy-fied" comment. Car seats? Really? Fighting is absolutely a part of "the culture" of hockey. But maybe a continued effort to clean up the game and reduce any possibility, however slim, of additional blows to the head and concussions from fighting in a sport that has a concussion crisis wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Posted in: sport, part, soccer, hockey, car seats

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The Sports Business Daily/Journal had another short report from Fox Exec Eric Shanks and UFC head Lorenzo Fertitta at the 2012 World Congress of Sports.  The two spoke today at the conference during a panel discussion entitled, “How the UFC/Fox deal could be a game changer.” For those wondering, here’s the synopsis of the talk from the brochure: In 2011, Ultimate Fighting Championship expanded into South America and Asia, and continued its surge in popularity, particularly among the 18-34 year-old male demo. But it was the mixed martial arts organization’s seven-year agreement with Fox — to show UFC programming on the Fox broadcast network and cable TV channels FX and FUEL TV — that made the biggest splash. As part of the deal, dozens of live fights will be airing on Fox networks and, this spring, “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show will feature a new format that includes live fights, rather than prerecorded events. This session will take an inside look at the UFC/Fox agreement and its role in the growth of mixed martial arts. You will hear from Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman & CEO, Zuffa (Ultimate Fighting Championship); and Eric Shanks, President & COO, Fox Sports. Shanks and Fertitta spoke about the UFC-Fox deal and the issue of control being a huge factor in Zuffa’s decision to go with Fox. Here are some additional highlights: -  Shanks said that the 64 second JDS KO of Cain at UFC on Fox 1 wasn’t ideal but “it was exciting,” he added, “It was a knockout. It was a style of a knockout people were used to seeing. It could have gone a lot of other different directions.” As a result, it learned that fans want more action and less fluff (i.e., talking and promoting). -  As indicated at the end of last year, the UFC and Fox are concentrating on expanding its advertising partners. In addition to sponsors RYU and MetroPCS signing on recently it has secured Dr. Pepper.  Its had success with the auto category but is still looking for sponsors in the financial services, insurance and other areas. -  Shanks stated that there is still room to grow to procure blue chip advertisers but emphasized its strong 18-34 male demo. -  Fertitta believes that more advertisers will sign on citing, as Shanks did, that it will take time for advertisers to understand the UFC audience.  He also cited the fact that the UFC has an “affluent fanbase” as the average income for fans is $80,000 a year and the average UFC ticket is the highest in sports at $275. -  Fertitta also touched on the New York legalization issue stating that the brand will be elevated if (and when) MMA is legalized in the state. Payout Perspective: Nothing earth shattering from Shanks and Fertitta so don’t feel bad you weren’t in Dana Point, CA (the site of the World Congress of Sport) this morning unless you are a leader in sports business – in that case where were you?  Nonetheless, I find the average income of the UFC fan really high.  Of course, it’s not clear if Fertitta is referring to household income or that of an individual. Also, $275 for an average ticket is really steep and it’s ironic since we hear so much of the tons of comps that are given out at various UFC Vegas events. It will be interesting to see what sponsors get onboard with the UFC this year.  It was expected for there to be some time for advertisers to get comfortable with the UFC product which Shanks and Fertitta acknowledge.  But, how long will it take?

Posted in: ufc, fox, sport, fertitta, shank

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Two weeks ago, the future of mixed martial arts -- and all combat sports -- in the state of Oklahoma looked bleak. Today, according to Joe Miller, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission, that prognosis appears to be much brighter.

Posted in: sport, combat sports, oklahoma, boxing commission, commission director

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Since retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) last year after his loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Randy Couture hasn't been seen around the fight scene very often. That's probably because the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion has been busy rubbing elbows with Hollywood's top stars over in "Tinsel Town," such as Tim Allen, Kevin Pollack, Vinnie Jones, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, just to name a few. Couture has three films that are scheduled to be released in theaters this year which includes, "Geezers!" "Hijacked," and of course the action-packed sequel, "The Expendables 2." When not filming, "The Natural" is making the rounds promoting his new work in the world of literature with his new book titled, "The Last Round," which details his days leading up to his final training camp up until his final fight against 'The Dragon." Far from taking it slow since stepping down from the sport he's competed in for over 15 years, Couture took the time to talk to The Score about retiring, his son Ryan Couture's blossoming fight career and not ever having the chance to fight the great Fedor Emelianenko. Check it out: "Absolutely, I think it was the right decision for me and I think nowadays it's a rare thing as an athlete to get to go out on your own terms and choose when your last fight is going to be and not have somebody else tell you can't do it anymore, either for injury or if you sustained a couple of losses in the sport of MMA and everybody's chattering that you should retire, especially at 48. So I kind of chose that this was going to be the last one, win, lose or draw and I am very comfortable with the decision." Though Randy won't be making a return like he did after his first retirement, the Couture name will live on in the world of MMA, especially with his son Ryan prospering early on in his fight career: "He is certainly on the right track. This was a big step up in competition for him. Conor Heun is no slouch, he is a very, very good fighter. He's been around a while, he's fought some top guys like K.J. Noons and others, so most people saw Ryan as the underdog going into this fight. He had a great camp, it was fun to see the peak for him coming on and then to go out and have the performance that he had. I think it's only going to get tougher for him from here on out and I think he is up for it. He's a smart kid, he does the work, he is very diligent and he has a strong passion for the sport." Finally, Couture talked about the dream match, both he and fans the world over wanted but never came to light against "The Last Emperor," Fedor Emelianenko: "Nah, I mean, things work out the way they are supposed to work out. I got so many examples of that in my life. It just never worked out, and you know, it is what it is. I don't have any regrets. I wish then when we were both kind of at our peak, if it would have happened it would have been something special, the cards didn't just come out that way." Indeed a fight between Couture and Fedor would have been a doozy, but, sadly, we are left with only the "what ifs?" With his film career taking off, do not expect a return to the Octagon from the multi-division champion. And why should he return? He has done more than enough for the sport and seems to be doing rather well for himself away from the MMA spotlight.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fedor, he

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The Sports Business Daily/Journal had a brief article on the UFC-Fox deal in which both sides indicated that control and opportunity were big issues in the monumental deal for Zuffa. The article states that control was a big part of Zuffa choosing Fox. Zuffa still controls production of its shows although it takes suggestions from Fox.  Overall, Fox was fine with allowing Zuffa to continue with producing its shows. Via SBJ/SBD: Fox was OK with letting UFC control production, Eric Shanks, president and COO of Fox Sports.  “You wouldn’t have given up control if you don’t trust the guys,” Shanks said. “You want the authenticity that made the sport what it is. Part of what made it authentic was the production. Still, Zuffa has worked with Fox in addressing some of its concerns.  We’ve seen the elimination of weapon sponsors, cleaning blood off of the mat, toning down some of the content and shortening fighter entrances with the UFC’s switch to Fox. In addition, Zuffa was interested in the fact that Fox had so many platforms to promote the UFC.  This factor outweighed other opportunities with HBO or purchasing and rebranding the G4 network. Payout Perspective: It’s obvious that control is a big factor for Zuffa.  You need only look to the company’s dealings with Showtime to recognize that Zuffa is very protective of its brand and the way it does things.  You may recall that Showtime execs didn’t agree to some of the suggested changes Dana White had for Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Tate, which angered White to the extent that he’s hands off of Strikeforce. As for the changes so far, the blood on the mat and weapon brand ban are things that relate to Fox’s overall standards and practices.  The issue with the blood has to do with the perception of the sport and the fact that it is still introducing it to the masses.  As Shanks was quoted, ““I don’t want it to look like someone just sacrificed a goat before Fox comes on the air.” An interesting takeaway from the article is how shortening up the fighter entrances might indirectly hurt sponsors and the sponsorship of fighters.  With shorter appearances on the camera, it may hurt the sponsorship value of a patch, t-shirt or hat of sponsor.  It will make sponsors and agents think of other ways to get its brands on camera.

Posted in: fox, ’t, sport, zuffa, control

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The bible of the sports business industry has nominated the UFC for their second-ever award as UFC 129 is up for the Sports Business Journal's Sports Event Of The Year. This is the second award the UFC has been nominated for, following last year's competition for Sports League Of The Year. They didn't win that award and were also shut out this year of any additional nominations for company personnel. They are up against four big events that span the sports spectrum: 2011 Carrier Classic: This was an NCAA men's basketball game played between North Carolina and Michigan State aboard the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Veterans Day. 2011 Humana Challenge: This is an annual PGA event played in January, formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. Jhonattan Vegas (yes, that's his real name) won the 2011 edition. 2011 NBA Finals: The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games to take their first NBA title. Super Bowl XLVI: The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win their fourth Super Bowl title. By comparison, UFC 129 drew a North American record 55,724 fans to Toronto, Canada, for the organization's first-ever event in the city. Packed with a UFC Fan Expo, the Rogers Centre crowd saw countryman Georges St. Pierre successfully defend his welterweight title against Jake Shields, while Lyoto Machida knocked out Randy Couture in the latter's final bout. The April 30th event brought in more than $12.1 million in ticket sales and an estimated 800,000 buys on pay-per-view. This year's winners will be announced during a late May ceremony in New York City. A mix of sports industry experts and SBJ staffers will decide the winners.

Posted in: ufc, title, sport, event, year

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Subtitle: A Look at What Crazy Means and How We Can Define It in Mixed Martial Arts. As a big league sport, mixed martial arts is still in its infancy in comparison to the Big Five of Soccer/Football, Football/Hand Egg, Basketball, Baseball and Really Fast Car Racing. The money involved in each of the Big Five intensifies and makes more operatic the stakes, emotions, and most importantly, the attention given to the athletes themselves. Almost everybody has an opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo - they either hate him or love him. Most people have an opinion about Mike Tyson too - but it's more universal: the man was crazy good and legitimately crazy too. The superstar athlete who is completely bonkers is something that every single one of the Big Five has, covets and exploits as much as possible. Have we gotten that kind of athlete in MMA yet? How do we define "crazy" in MMA - a sport where athletes engage in controlled violence against each other to win money and fame? In one of my favorite columns of the year, Brian Phillips over at Grantland gives us 31 Notes on Crazy Athletes. The whole column is very much worth reading, but select portions of it can be chopped out and used to look at MMA athletes. 3. The defining sports caricature of the moment is probably the "crazy" athlete - the athlete who's so wild, unpredictable, unfiltered, and potentially destructive that he seems to be literally insane. This isn't the only sports caricature of our era - and there are some caricatures, e.g., the Inspirational Pocket Passer, that seem to be essentially timeless - but it's the one that's most distinctively ours. [...] 9. The "crazy" athlete is the athlete who does or says whatever comes into his mind, for whatever reason, without regard for either consequences or social norms, whether that means dressing up as Santa Claus and driving around an English city handing out money (Balotelli), wearing a wedding dress (Rodman), or biting someone's ear off (Tyson). His actions are the diary of his id. He's so utterly absorbed in his own weirdness that if he shocks you, it's a coincidence. [...] 4. Examples of the "crazy" athlete include Ron Artest/Metta World Peace, Mario Balotelli, Dennis Rodman, Mike Tyson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milton Bradley, Randy Moss. Emmanuel Frimpong, the 20-year-old Arsenal midfielder, has excellent potential as a "crazy" athlete, but was recently set back by the revelation that his "Dench" clothing label was inspired by a slang term pioneered by the Ghanaian-British rapper Lethal Bizzle, and not by Academy Award-winning actress Dame Judi Dench. As a sport, MMA is surprisingly universal. We have Brazilians on almost every major card anywhere. The Japanese have kept the sport alive for almost 25 years in a culture of fads and trends. The former Soviet client nations and the Europeans have always been gaga for combat sports and we are starting to see the sport spread elsewhere. However, I genuinely think we have no more than two or three people in the sport that are the same kind of bonkers as Balotelli or Metta World Peace. Hit the jump for more notes, thoughts and to yell at me for overlooking this fighter or that nutcase. Phillips elaborates on the concept of the "crazy athlete" more, while also defining the tendency of online communities to declare something the Best Thing Ever, when that thing is demonstrably not and will be forgotten within days (the term he chooses is "whaff"). 5. For an athlete to qualify as "crazy," it has to be plausible that he would attack someone for no reason. But violence by itself doesn't make an athlete "crazy." Ndamukong Suh isn't "crazy." Joey Barton wasn't "crazy" back when all he did was beat people senseless in the taxi queues outside nightclubs. But he has since become "crazy" on the basis of his mournful spirit-quest posturing, his constantly quoting Nietzsche, and his Twitter advocacy of a fat tax. 6. Other athletes who aren't "crazy": Ricky Williams (too bashful, too dreamy), Andrey Arshavin (not dangerous enough), 95 percent of jabbery wide receivers who are ultimately just looking for attention. [...] You can't be "crazy" if you're just cannily exploiting a business opportunity. "Crazy" is not a tactic. Unfortunately, that last line eliminates Chael Sonnen from contention. The violence issue is a tricky one here. To begin with, I exclude the career criminals. Crime isn't cool and to lessen the seriousness of their illegal actions and hopefully, their subsequent punishment by calling them "crazy" is not what I am after. Furthermore, most of them committed the crimes with full knowledge of the illegality and wrongness of such conduct. That knocks out Lee Murray, Mike Whitehead and all too many others. Next up is the street fighters. Practically every boxer or MMA fighter out there has a story about street or bar fights and some tell them extremely well, so we are laughing instead of horrified that people go out and do such dumb things. Plus there is the whole "that is their actual job - to go out and hurt someone until they quit or the referee steps in". I submit that we have to see or hear about the violence in such an unusual setting, instigated by such a strange reason, or implemented by odd method in order for it to be memorable enough to call a fighter "crazy". Who is left then? Nick Diaz? War Machine? Maiquel Falcao? To declare Maiquel Falcao a member of this selective club is a difficult call. His fights have seen their share of controversy, yet I think there is a certain level of logic and background to the most controversial of them all - the utter demolition of Leandro Gordo at Desafio: Fight Show in 2007. Falcao said: "Before the fight, he went on different radio shows to badmouth me and my family," Falcao said. "He does this to intimidate his opponents, and with me he did it way more than usual. Before the fight, he scaled the wall of my home, stole my fight shorts and showed up wearing them on fight day. On top of that, he sent people to my home to threaten me. This made me lose my head." Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/25182/brazilian-beat-maquiel-falcao-fights-at-amazon-forest-combat-seeks-return-to-u-s-.mma Given that bit of provocation, does the savagery Falcao displayed in beating Gordo as unconscious as humanly possible on fight night eliminate him from the MMA Crazy Club? I think so. The impulsiveness of words and deed is a key feature. We have to be able to accept that this bit of lunacy-that-might-actually-make-sense or that piece of "I have no idea what that means, but I'm laughing/horrified" actually happened and that fighter did it. As Kevin Garnett screamed, anything is possible and that is why we pay attention. In a way, these very public figures working through their problems on the public stage allows a discussion flashpoint that can be very helpful to us regular people. The attention given to people who experience differing degrees of normality and possibly deal with disorders and complexes that are not given the public attention and spotlight they deserve can generate great talks, increased awareness and the courage to deal with similar things ourselves. Or we can just flip out in better style. With all of these criteria in place, I can now make my first pick for the group of fighters I call the MMA Crazy Club. Nick Diaz is a highly functioning human being with incredible dedication towards his chosen pursuits. He is very intelligent, quite articulate and at times differing and concurrently, a generous and savage human being. He is also my inaugural member of the MMA Crazy Club. I leave the deliberations on other MMA athletes to you. Some of them will shade towards the darker side of human nature and others will lean towards the more benign, goofier side. Hash them out as you may, but stick as closely to the truth as possible. All should be as fair as possible in love and war.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, people, athlete

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been nominated for a 2012 Sports Business Award, which will be presented at the annual Sports Business Awards Ceremony, "a night celebrating excellence in sports business," on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at The New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square in New York City, NY. The same state where mixed martial arts (MMA) is outlawed. The category is "Sports Event of the Year" and includes UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields," which took place on April 30, 2011, in front of 55,724 spectators at Toronto's sold-out Rogers Centre in Canada. Champions Georges St. Pierre and Jose Aldo retained their respective straps via unanimous decision. UFC 129 is up against some pretty stiff competition including the Carrier Classic, the Humana Challenge, the NBA finals and of course, Super Bowl XLVI. Video of the 2012 Sports Business Awards nominations (courtesy of SportsBusiness Journal-Daily) after the jump. Anyone think UFC 129 has a chance of winning?

Posted in: ufc, business, sport, award, sports event

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As part of their hugely successful expansion into Brazil, the UFC is partnering with Brazilian charity Instituto Reação to help young Brazilians from disadvantaged backgrounds participate in sports and educational activities. Since returning to Brazil for the first time in a decade at UFC 134, the promotion has looked to engage with the Brazilian people in a proactive manner that goes beyond selling tickets and drawing television ratings. Despite almost a hundred years of Vale Tudo fighting in Brazil, it's only recently with the success of the UFC that the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has begun to establish any mainstream credibility. In the past individual fighters, mostly members of the Gracie family, have risen above the sport to achieve a level of celebrity in Brazil, but the sport itself has been seen as more of a spectacle with a dangerous underbelly. The emergence of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva as a major star in Brazil and the high ratings for his UFC 126 bout with Vitor Belfort and his UFC 134 return to Rio de Janeiro raised the UFC in the public consciousness. Featherweight champ Jose Aldo began to emerge as a star in his native land after UFC 142. Now he's helping the UFC help poor Brazilian kids, from UFC.com: Located in Rocinha, south of Rio de Janeiro, the Instituto Reação (Institute of Reaction), which was created by former Olympic judo fighter Flavio Canto, is the first NGO (non-governmental organization) to receive funds from the biggest MMA event in the world in favor of supporting the social inclusion of young people from poor communities through artistic and educational activities and sports. Present for last week's ceremony were three stars of the UFC who came from humble origins: featherweight champion Jose Aldo, middleweight contender Rousimar Palhares, and bantamweight standout Renan Barao, as well as the UFC's Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik, and actress and presenter Fiorella Mattheis, who acted as master of ceremonies. ... "Obviously we are looking at other projects, however we are 100% focused on the initiative that Flavio and his team have here in Rocinha," said Zelaznik. "What makes the Institute Reação unique is the opportunity to train not only athletes, but the future citizens who can become great professionals. We're talking about education for a lot of young people." The Institute has been in operation for over 12 years and the UFC's efforts will 400 children and 50 athletes. UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub has also been active with charitable work in Brazil. More on that and Dana White's comments on helping Brazilian kids after the jump. Schaub, who lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134, was touched by the sight of young Brazilian kids who were aspiring MMA fighters but lacked even the most basic equipement to train, per MMA Junkie: "You go there, and these kids have nothing," the heavyweight said today at a pre-event press conference for UFC 134, which takes place Saturday at HSBC Arena in Rio. "Literally, nothing, and they're as happy as can be. "They have heroes like (Antonio Rodrigo) 'Minotauro' (Nogueira), Junior Dos Santos, Royce Gracie, Vitor (Belfort). So they're training in mixed martial arts - jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing - but they don't have the necessary equipment. "For me, it was a rude awakening. It's stuff I'm not used to in Denver, Colorado - my little bubble - so I got all my sponsors together (to collect) donated gear." UFC president Dana White also commented: "When you have these underprivileged areas and they can get involved in a combat sport, it releases aggression - it changes kids' lives," White said. "It changes adults' lives, let alone kids. "We know this for a fact. I've been doing this since I was 19 years old, and that's really where I came from. It's easy for us to slide into some of these neighborhoods and parts of town that need it and give them some help. "What a lot of these places do down here is they hand out a few soccer balls, and kids play soccer. You do the same thing. You build an octagon and you give kids some equipment, and you'll have some world champions coming out of here." There is a long and noble combat sports tradition of reaching out to the poorest kids and providing a lifeline of opportunity and aspiration to children otherwise shut out of society. It's great to see the UFC continuing that tradition in the homeland of MMA.

Posted in: ufc, sport, brazil, kid, brazilian

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ONE Fighting Championship today announced three more dates for upcoming mixed martial arts (MMA) events, in addition to the show which is already booked for the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31. Here's how the 2012 calendar is shaping up: ONE FC 3: Singapore, March 31 (see the full card here) ONE FC 4: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 26* ONE FC 5: Manila, Philippines, September 1* ONE FC 6: Singapore, October 6* *Negotiations are underway for additional events to be scheduled between May and September According to a statement which was released today, ONE FC has also signed a television deal with Malaysian broadcast network Astro which will see all events broadcast on local 24 hour sports channel 'Astro Arena.' ONE FC Owner / CEO Victor Cui was recently voted the most powerful man in Asian MMA and as well as securing a 10 year media partnership between ESPN Star Sports and his promotion, he has also signed deals with local networks in countries such as Singapore and Indonesia. The following is from the ONE FC website: Malaysia’s first local sports channel Astro ARENA has bought the exclusive rights to air content from Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC). Astro ARENA reaches out to millions of viewers across Malaysia and has become the preferred channel by Malaysians for sports content. Viewers in Malaysia will now be able to enjoy ONE FC events as Asia’s best professional MMA fighters compete in different countries all over Asia. Henry Tan, Astro COO said, "Astro offers Malaysians the best of international and local live sports from football to F1, tennis, golf and badminton through its 11 sports channels. Through Astro ARENA, Malaysia’s number one local sports channel, we will bring ONE Fighting Championship™ to martial arts fans in Malaysia by showcasing the best of the region’s professional fight athletes competing in the most prestigious series of MMA events." Victor Cui, CEO/Owner of ONE Fighting Championship™ said, "Malaysia’s sports fan base has always been enthusiastic about new and exciting events. From the World Cup to Formula 1, the discerning sports fans in this country have been very supportive of only the best. We are very happy to bring the largest MMA event in Asia with world class content to Malaysians with Astro." The KL card is likely to include a number of Malaysian and Malaysian based fighters. Muay Thai world champion and BJJ black belt Adam Kayoom is virtually guaranteed to feature. He has an MMA record of 2-1 with his only defeat being a decision loss to tough Korean Myung Ho Bae who was able to outwrestle him. Since then he has worked intensively on his wrestling with New York State Champion Andrew Leone and has added that skill set to his already world class Muay Thai and BJJ. In Kayoom's last fight at DARE Championship 2/11 he submitted Seok Mo Kim, who went the full 15 minutes with Gregor Gracie at ONE FC 1, in the opening round: SHOGUN vs KIM - DARE MMA - Bangkok, Thailand (via Darechampionship) As well as Kayoom ONE FC are likely to use a number of fighters who are based in Kuala Lumpur on the card such as BJJ black belt Marcos Escobar who runs the Leverage MMA academy. Muayfit's Eric Kelly could finally get a fight if he can sort out his managerial issues while his team mates Arnaud Lepont and Mark Striegl, both coming off big wins at DARE Championship 2/12, are rumored to be close to signing. ONE FC will be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking Filipinos to star on the September 1st card with URCC Champions Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon and Rey Docyogen all likely to get a look in. DREAM Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has already signed to fight for ONE FC this year and the Evolve MMA fighter is likely to headline the Singapore show on October 6. More news is likely to follow as between the Malaysia event on 26 May and the Philippines event on 1 September, additional events have been planned and will be announced as venues are confirmed. Countries believed to be on the ONE FC radar include Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong, Korea and China with a second Jakarta show close to being confirmed. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, sport, event, fc, astro

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The Sports Business Journal has named UFC 129 in Toronto as one of the nominees for Event of the Year in its annual sports awards.  The awards will be handed out May 23rd in New York. As you know, UFC 129 was the biggest show in UFC’s history.  It was the first stadium show for the company and received the biggest gate and attendance for an MMA event. UFC 129 will compete in the “Event of the Year” category with the 2011 Carrier Classic (November’s men’s college basketball game held on an aircraft carrier between North Carolina and Michigan State), 2011 Humana Challenge, 2011 NBA Finals, and Super Bowl XLVI. As MMA Junkie points out, it missed out on nominations for “Sports Executive of the Year” and “Best in Sports Event and Experiential Marketing.”  Notably, Fox Executive, David Hill, who worked with Dana White with the UFC-Fox deal was nominated for exec of the year. Payout Perspective: While the awards are not an indication of the success of the UFC, its a recognition of its accomplishments in the sports industry.  UFC 129 may have a shot at winning its category although the 2011 Carrier Classic may be the front runner for that award simply due to the uniqueness of the event.  As Junkie points out, its interesting that Dana White was not nominated for Sports Executive of the Year although Hill was named.  Obviously, Hill did other things for Fox this past year but the UFC deal was one of the bigger acquisitions.

Posted in: ufc, sport, event, year, year ”

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For the second straight year, the UFC has been recognized with a Sports Business Award nomination. This past April's UFC 129 event - a first-ever stadium show that set a North American and UFC attendance record with 55,724 - earned a nomination for "Sports Event of the Year." However, unlike 2011, the UFC wasn't nominated for "Sports League of the Year."

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, nomination, sports league

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Posted in: sport, part, nerve

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The UFC has been to Europe 14 times beginning with UFC 38 in the UK and continuing with UFC on Fuel TV 2 in Sweden on April 14th. 11 of those events were held in Britain with two in Germany and one in Ireland. UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta spoke to MMA Fighting about the organization's plans to continue their continental expansion. "I think Italy will be next," Fertitta said. "Me and Lawrence [Epstein, the UFC's general counsel] went out to Italy and met with the owners. There's really only one venue in Italy that makes sense for us. There's an arena right outside of Milan, it's owned by a family, and once again, they had these misconceptions about what this was. 'Oh my gosh, you're going to have these guys get in there and fight in a cage,' and all this other stuff. But we went out there, sat down with them, explained who we were, what our background was, safety, regulation, all those things. [We] invited them to the fight in Birmingham [for UFC 138], and they were blown away. They said, 'You guys are welcome any time you want.' He's also got his sites set on Spain and France. "We just launched in Spain on a major market where we launched The Ultimate Fighter, and I just got an e-mail this morning, ratings continue to go up. I think we're doing well over 250,000 viewers, which is a big number for that market given the population. So that's another market that we'll be looking to go to pretty soon. "France is a massive opportunity," he said. "[The] Sports Ministry is definitely positive on the issues. The issue is a little bit different because here in the United States, the government actually regulates the sport and they have an entity that regulates it. In a lot of these other countries, it's different. They are more in tune with the Olympic style of regulating things where you have a federation. So they're fine with it, as long as there is a federation put in place to oversee the rules and regulations. "So a federation has been established, so it's just a matter of getting it recognized by the Sports Ministry, which we actually have met with, and they have been very positive. David Douillet [France's Sports Minister] is an ex-Olympic Gold Medalist in judo, so he understands the sport. We're very enoucraged that you'll be eating croissants watching the UFC pretty soon." UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Mark Ratner talked about the need for an 'international federation' to regulate MMA world-wide after the jump. More SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 2 Ratner spoke to MMA Junkie: UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Mark Ratner would like to see a single agency take the lead in regulating international events, overseeing officials, conducting drug tests and enforcing the unified rules of MMA. He said the promotion is pushing for an "international federation" to do the job. "We'd like to get it over to France, and someday to Brazil and to Italy, so we have one set of rules, one set of medical standards," Ratner told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "That's our long-term goal. We do need a worldwide federation."

Posted in: ufc, sport, italy, france, federation

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The New York Times Fashion and Style section this week had a feature entitled, “The Fight Club Generation.”  The article details the fascination of MMA with youths to young adults. The article which reports at a regional MMA card in Atlantic City focuses on youth interest in mixed martial arts. The article refers to the movie “Fight Club” which starred Brad Pitt and Ed Norton as the inspiration for many fans of MMA today. Not sure if this is actually true of most young MMA fans as that movie was filmed in 1999.  The mainstream popularity has only occurred in the past few years.  The article later devolves with comparisons to the XFL and “The Godfather.” But, it also identifies, that in general, most people 35 years of age and older are not fans of the sport. In fact, the NY Times states that horse racing and figure skating are more popular than MMA in this segment. Payout Perspective: Getting past some of the minutiae in the article, one of the interesting takeaways coming from it is looking at how young fans get interested in the sport. TapouT and Cage Hero are  just a couple brands that have marketed MMA toward kids.  Last October, Cage Hero rebranded itself with an eye toward kids.  Having just attended a Jiu Jitsu tournament today and seeing so many kids under 10 in the sport one can see that grappling, and to a greater degree, MMA is a growing sport.   With MMA taking off, it will be interesting to see if the UFC begins to reach out, with more targeted campaigns, to the under 18 demographic.

Posted in: mma, sport, fan, kid, article

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This past Tuesday, March 13th, it was a monumental occasion in Brazil as the first partnership between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a social project in the country took place. Located in Rocinha, south of Rio de Janeiro, the Instituto Reação (Institute of Reaction), which was created by former Olympic judo fighter Flavio Canto, is the first NGO (non-governmental organization) to receive funds from the biggest MMA event in the world in favor of supporting the social inclusion of young people from poor communities through artistic and educational activities and sports. Present for last week’s ceremony were three stars of the UFC who came from humble origins: featherweight champion Jose Aldo, middleweight contender Rousimar Palhares, and bantamweight standout Renan Barao, as well as the UFC’s  Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik, and actress and presenter Fiorella Mattheis, who acted as master of ceremonies.The UFC's investment covers the educational development and physical conditioning of athletes, with donations of equipment going to a weight room and a complete renovation aimed at the dojo for practicing martial arts. The initiative will benefit 400 children and 50 athletes of the Instituto Reação, which has been in existence for 12 years."Obviously we are looking at other projects, however we are 100% focused on the initiative that Flavio and his team have here in Rocinha," said Zelaznik. "What makes the Institute Reação unique is the opportunity to train not only athletes, but the future citizens who can become great professionals. We're talking about education for a lot of young people."Canto, who idealized the project with a group of friends in 2003, mentioned the importance of the partnership between the UFC and the Instituto Reação that besides Rocinha, it also develops his work in Cidade de Deus (Jacarepaguá) Tubiacanga (Ilha do Governador) and in Small Crusade (Lagoa)."It's a big dream, and we're uniting the UFC, which is the biggest fighting event of the world, with the Instituto Reação that has the desire to be present more and more in the lives of young people here in Brazil,” he said. “We want to transform lives through the sport, and having a partner like the UFC is a big step to accomplishing that.”A student of the project since the beginning, 31-year old Rodrigo Borges is now one of the institute’s teachers. A black belt in judo and jiu-jitsu and a college graduate with a degree in Physical Education, he is an example for all young people in the community who aspire to fulfill their dreams - whether it is to be a great athlete or a successful professional in several areas."I went to college and graduated thanks to the project,” said Borges. “It gave me a very different life perspective from the one I had before. The children of our project see how far we have come and they know that if you have that motivation, all you have to do is seek what you want to do to succeed in life."About the InstituteThe institute is a nonprofit association that works in a low-income communities in the city of Rio de Janeiro, with the objective to promote human development and social inclusion through judo and and complementary activities – cultural trips, physiotherapeutic care, English lessons, and learning support, among others.Founded in 2003 by Olympic medalist Flavio Canto and a group of friends, the Institute serves approximately 1,200 children and young people of ages four to 25 in five places: two in Cidade de Deus (Jacarepaguá), 1 in Tubiacanga (Ilha do Governador), 1 in Rocinha (Sao Conrado) and Pequena Cruzada (Lagoa), and has eight programs: Olympic, Work Market, Education, Scholarship, School of Judo, Cultural, Voluntary and Health.The central idea is to use sports as a tool to develop social, cognitive, personal and productive skills in the students. The sport chosen to achieve the proposed objectives is judo, an Olympic sport, with strong educational components based on discipline, respect for others, non-violence, strengthening self-esteem, confidence and determination.From judo, the gateway to the Institute, students are directed to social, cultural, environmental and educational activities.

Posted in: ufc, sport, project, judo, institute

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(Source: jillsandwich)

Posted in: sport, soccer, source, jillsandwich

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The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) is still outlawed in the state of New York. This despite its booming global success led by organizations like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). That's thanks in large part to the old dinosaurs like Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who refers to the sport of cagefighting as a "glorification of brutality and violence." The sport was banned in the state all the way back in 1997 and legislation of yesteryear, as well as regulatory scare tactics, have kept it from coming back. It's not for lack of trying on the part of Zuffa officials, who have consistently battled to get the sport back in "The Empire State." They've lobbied, held rallies, hell, they even took their fight to the courtroom. All to no avail. Nonetheless, they've vowed to push forward until they can hold an event in the state. Now, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta is promising nothing short of the world once the ban is lifted and an event can be held at the famed Madison Square Garden arena. In fact, you can expect a UFC 100-style extravaganza. Fertitta's words (via MMAFighting.com): "When we come [to New York] we're going to blow it out. We're going to put on a ridiculous UFC 100-style card, stacked, big, open to the public weigh-ins, press conferences, after-parties, the whole deal. Everybody will be there. This is going to be an event that will remind you of 1971 when Ali fought Frazier for the first time and every celebrity in New York had to be there. The biggest problem that I'm going to have is going to be where to sit everybody and who gets seats and who doesn't. It's going to be crazy." Well if that doesn't rally support for the cause, I just don't know what will. There's reason to be optimistic here. Reilly, the previously mentioned hater of MMA, is not seeking re-election, leaving one less obstacle to overcome. The sooner the better. Speaking of sooner, Fertitta pledged he would move heaven and Earth to make an event happen just as soon as the ban if lifted. As in, if MMA became legal in June, the UFC would be selling out MSG in the fall. Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, sport, event, state, fertitta

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BAMMA, Europe's leading Mixed Martial Arts promotion, is proud to announce that BAMMA 9 will be broadcast on Extreme Sports Channel in the UK. The two hour TV event will air on Saturday 31st March at 10pm GMT and will be broadcast on Sky Channel 419 and Virgin Channel 527. The broadcast adds to BAMMA's current global reach which includes HDNet in the United States, The Fight Network in Canada, Setanta in Africa and Red Media in Russia. BAMMA 9 sees BAMMA-Lonsdale's British Middleweight Champion, Jack Marshman challenge Tom 'Kong' Watson for the BAMMA World Middleweight title on Saturday 24th March at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena. BAMMA's Middleweight champs have made waves as two of the promotion's most iconic faces. Etched into UK mainstream memory as the man who beat Alex Reid at BAMMA 4, World Middleweight Champ Tom Watson is known by fight fans for his catalogue of tough victories over fighters that include the UFC's John Maguire at BAMMA 1 and Maurilo Rua whom he famously blasted into retirement at BAMMA 6. BAMMA-Lonsdale's British Middleweight Champion and serving British Armed Forces Afghan vet, Jack Marshman comes into the fight undefeated with a record of 10-0-0. Marshman wowed audiences at BAMMA 7 with his tremendous heart, after he came back from a sustained Ground 'n' Pound attack at the hands of Carl Noon, turning fortune around at the final hour to secure an unforgettable victory. The clash between BAMMA's World Middleweight and British Middleweight champions is bound to have fight fans on the edge of their seats. Extreme Sports Channel has a heritage of supporting MMA; and this deal represents the first partnership with BAMMA. BAMMA's director, David Green said: "Extreme Sports is the one-stop TV channel that showcases cutting edge sports 24-7, from snowboarding through to fighting sports, promoting grassroots heroes alongside stellar talent. British MMA with its raw, all-out attitude is well suited to Extreme and we are thrilled to have found a home there for BAMMA 9." BAMMA fans can tune into Extreme Sports Channel on Sky channel - 419 or Virgin Channel - 527 How to watch Extreme: Extreme is available through subscription to Sky's 'Entertainment plus' package. For more information, please contact Sky on 08442414243, or check out their webpage at: http://www.sky.com The channel is also available via the Virgin Media XL package. For more details on how to receive the channel on Virgin Media please check out : http://allyours.virginmedia.com/websales/product.do?id=21 or call 0845 840 7777.

Posted in: sport, middleweight, channel, bamma, sports channel

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In an often friendly article, Douglas Quenqua put forth to the readers of the Fashion & Style section of the NY Times the rising popularity of mixed martial arts among the younger generation of sports fans and participants. The article opens with a February Ring of Combat event featuring Tom DeBlass, the #3 Light Heavyweight Prospect from the 2012 Scouting Report. Despite bumbling the fact that DeBlass is already a professional MMA fighter, Quenqua accurately depicts DeBlass's leglock method of victory and goes on to quote some of Bloody Elbow's familiar faces, while building the case that MMA is a very real sporting institution across the United States. Quenqua gives some of his valuable column inches to Kid Nate: Nate Wilcox, a public-affairs consultant in Austin, Tex., and writer for Bloody Elbow, one of many M.M.A. blogs, became an instant fan of the sport in 1995 when someone showed him a tape of the 1994 match between Royce Gracie and Kimo Leopoldo from Ultimate Fighting Championship III. "I used to play in a punk band, and someone brought a tape to practice and was like, ‘Nate, you are going to love this,' " he said. No word has been forthcoming on either side whether Kid Nate's affection for hats dates to this punk period or is a more recent happening. Either way, we now reap the rewards of the dark ages tape-sharing and hopefully, most here are grateful that this nameless person sparked the desire for controlled multi-discipline pugilistic violence in Nate. Hit the jump for more Bloody Elbow-related quotes and some discussion of Quenqua's article. Chris Groves, one of the more prolific members of the Bloody Elbow community, managed to get a very nice summation of MMA's appeal across in the article. Unfortunately, they misspelled his name and left the correction to the web edition without actually correcting the article: "I would say that if boxing is the sweet science, then M.M.A. is the complete science," said Chris Jones, a 19-year-old student at Pasco-Hernando Community College in, Fla. "It's all aspects of the fight. It's a full fight. It's a real fight." Despite these well placed quotes, attending a fairly good regional MMA event and having a wealth of online and off-line resources for fact-checking, Quenqua still throws out mistakes and awful metaphors while glossing briefly over the long and complicated history of the sport in recent times. In the aggregate, the article does an average job of bopping through some of the cultural benchmarks the sport of MMA has achieved, yet either space constraints or Quenqua's own newbie status prevent any serious analysis or context from being delivered to readers of the article. Furthermore, the absurdly reductive passages like It's like a boxing match crossbred with WrestleMania, presented in the middle of an Insane Clown Posse concert. might actually be counter-productive to Quenqua's intent to present MMA as something that the NY Times Fashion & Style readers should pay attention to or check out on their own time. Visions of small hordes of ICP fans inciting and performing acts of skilled violence are unlikely to calm the hysteria-mongers or reassure the NY Times-reading parents of impressionable youth that MMA is not going to ruin their children. Quenqua does quote Robert Thompson, a professor over at Syracuse University, who provides the headline hook by speaking about Fight Club and presents the best image of MMA fans in the entire article. The fascination with the sport has even seeped into the walls of academia. Robert Thompson, a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, said that many of his male students wanted to write papers about mixed martial arts. And they are not always the students you would expect. "People who don't know these sports very well think their fans must be these kind of crazed, people-on-the-verge-of-a-breakdown, violent kind of thing," he said. But the students he sees who are most interested in the sport "tend to have really good grade-point averages and be really fine students," he said. "This is not something that smart young people look down their noses at." He agreed that the impact of "Fight Club" could not be discounted; it became a manifesto for a generation of boys who felt estranged from their masculinity. "It became this kind of magnum opus, and it described a certain culture of this kind of sport," Professor Thompson said. "This was their thing, and they defined themselves accordingly." The cult popularity of Fight Club is significant, yet the sport of MMA was present long before Chuck Palahniuk and David Fincher ever put their stories together. Our own John Nash and T.P. Grant have documented that thoroughly in their separate historical article series. Furthermore, the sport did not truly explode into the American consciousness (and financial lucrativeness) until roughly 2004 or 2005 - five or six years after the movie had come out and settled into the youth of that time. It is a good hook, despite its likely misapplication by Quenqua and could get a few new eyeballs to the sport. Quenqua does do a decent job of getting input directly from fans in attendance and in making this article link to a photo gallery that shows the passion the fighters, families and fans all bring to MMA. Credit should be given to him for recognizing that passion and attempting to make it work as an article. In short, this NY Times piece is not the article that the ardent MMA fan should be sending around to fence-sitters or those new to the sport in hopes of conversion. However, it is generally positive coverage in the most respected American newspaper running today and thus worth covering here on Bloody Elbow. Big ups to the fighters, organizers, promoters, fans, Bloody Elbow readers and writers who are working towards getting this sport and its related disciplines to an accepted state in the mainstream consciousness. We are getting there.

Posted in: mma, sport, fan, article, quenqua

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Representing sport and culture since 2004, No Mas NYC now steps inside the cage with a new line of mixed martial arts inspired gear that pays homage to the earlier days of PRIDE FC and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Call yourself a combat sport connoisseur? Chances are you’ll appreciate the tight collection featured below that’s undoubtedly cooler than anything else you have kicking around in your closet. Every apparel piece also includes a collectible hang tag that ties-in a story to each individual style. You’ve probably spotted Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta rocking No Mas on occasion, now’s your chance to relive the glory days of combat sport culture with this first collection of officially licensed UFC and PRIDE fight wear. Check out the Collection

Posted in: sport, collection, glory days, ma, pride fight

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The UFC will continue its European expansion next month when the promotion makes its debut in Stockholm, Sweden for UFC on FUEL TV 2. And according to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, the organization hopes to debut in a few more European countries by the end of next year. "I think Italy will be next," Fertitta said. "Me and Lawrence [Epstein, the UFC's general counsel] went out to Italy and met with the owners. There's really only one venue in Italy that makes sense for us. There's an arena right outside of Milan, it's owned by a family, and once again, they had these misconceptions about what this was. 'Oh my gosh, you're going to have these guys get in there and fight in a cage,' and all this other stuff. But we went out there, sat down with them, explained who we were, what our background was, safety, regulation, all those things. [We] invited them to the fight in Birmingham [for UFC 138], and they were blown away. They said, 'You guys are welcome any time you want.'"So I get an e-mail from Lawrence earlier this week. They're having a fight later this month; they've already sold 15,000 tickets." That event, the first for the upstart promotion Oktagon, will take place on March 24 at the Forum Assago di Milano and will be headlined by Valentijn Overeem vs. Michael Kita."The thing that was encouraging to me was I didn't really know where the sport was in that market yet," Fertitta added. "I didn't know how developed it was. We just did a deal with Sky Sports there about six months ago and the ratings have been really good. It's all working. So I think by next year we could go there and do something." In addition to Italy, Fertitta was optimistic that the UFC could hold an event in Spain for the first time, sooner rather than later."We just launched in Spain on a major market where we launched The Ultimate Fighter, and I just got an e-mail this morning, ratings continue to go up. I think we're doing well over 250,000 viewers, which is a big number for that market given the population. So that's another market that we'll be looking to go to pretty soon."And after spending a considerable amount of time trying to penetrate the French market, Fertitta believes the organization is finally making progress in that region."France is a massive opportunity," he said. "[The] Sports Ministry is definitely positive on the issues. The issue is a little bit different because here in the United States, the government actually regulates the sport and they have an entity that regulates it. In a lot of these other countries, it's different. They are more in tune with the Olympic style of regulating things where you have a federation. So they're fine with it, as long as there is a federation put in place to oversee the rules and regulations. "So a federation has been established, so it's just a matter of getting it recognized by the Sports Ministry, which we actually have met with, and they have been very positive. David Douillet [France's Sports Minister] is an ex-Olympic Gold Medalist in judo, so he understands the sport. We're very enoucraged that you'll be eating croissants watching the UFC pretty soon." Thus far, the UFC has held 14 events in Europe: 11 in the United Kingdom, two in Germany and one in Ireland.

Posted in: ufc, sport, fertitta, market, italy

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This week, ONE Fighting Championship will be broadcast all over Asia for the very first time as its ESPN Star Sports era begins in earnest. The two organizations have signed a partnership deal which guarantees that Asia's biggest sports network will broadcast mixed martial arts (MMA) for at least the next decade. On Thursday and Friday night, the first ONE FC event will be broadcast in its entirety at around 9pm, with times varying slightly from country to country. It will then be repeated on rotation giving the event regular exposure in 24 Asian countries. Existing MMA fans will have already viewed the fights, either live on an internet stream or on YouTube and people in Singapore have already had a chance to watch ONE FC 1 on domestic television there. However, the challenge for a show as ambitious as ONE FC is not to appeal to existing MMA fans, it is to introduce an entire new audience to the sport. This is why the 10 year ESPN Star deal is so significant because not only does it guarantee ONE FC a decade's worth of income, but it also ensures that the show will have a high level of international exposure until at least the year 2022. The ESPN Star Sports channels are generally included in even the most basic cable and satellite packages in Asia meaning that they reach a lot of households, a potential 350 million according to official estimates. The highest ever viewership for an event broadcast by the network was 67.6 million for last year's Cricket World Cup final. ONE FC will be sharing air time with high caliber sporting events such as the English Premier League, Major League Baseball, Formula One Racing, Olympic Games and NBA. The frustration for existing MMA fans is that ESPN Star will not show events live, at least to begin with, but it is the potential of the TV network to introduce the sport to uninitiated audiences all across Asia which makes this such a seminal moment for Asian MMA. Pay per view might bring in a little bit of revenue but it makes a broadcast much less accessible to the casual spectator. It is more difficult to increase viewership when depending on a PPV model because no-one is going to commit money to watching a television program unless they are passionate about the content. By partnering with a broadcaster which has such a strong presence in 24 Asian countries ONE FC is helping to raise the profile of MMA in places from the Maldives to Malaysia to Myanmar to Macau. It will also be available in multiple languages including Cantonese, Hindi, Korean and Mandarin. ONE FC CEO / Owner Victor Cui worked as a senior director at ESPN Star Sports for several years before leaving to set up Asia's most ambitious MMA promotion. This is his quote from today's press release, "Tomorrow marks the first broadcast of our 10-year partnership with ESPN STAR Sports. ONE FC content will reach an incredible 350 million viewers in 24 countries throughout the region. It is the largest sports media deal in Asian history and we are proud to showcase the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions. Viewers across Asia will now get to witness why mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world." MMA Mania readers who are in Asia can look up when ONE FC will be shown in their region here. ONE FC also today released a video promo for their March 31st card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium which will feature Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melvin Manhoef, Eduard Folayang and Masakazu Imanari and will be available on PPV for $24.99 USD. ONE FC Trailer: War of the Lions (via OneFCMMA)

Posted in: mma, star, sport, fc, asia

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Bob Reilly, the New York Assemblyman who gained infamy in the mixed martial arts world as the state's main detractor of the sport, will not run for a fifth term, the Troy Record reported on Monday.Reilly first won election to represent his 109th district in 2004, and was re-elected to the same post three more times. His seat will be up for a vote again this November.The 72-year-old Democrat has largely been seen as one of the forces keeping MMA out of the Empire State due to his vocal opposition dating back to 2008, when he first gained notoriety on the subject after an interview with ESPN. Since then, he's certainly been one of its most outspoken foes. According to many government insiders, however, the bigger hurdle is Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, who remains entrenched in his position.In 2010, longtime New York political analyst Dr. Douglas Muzzio told MMA Fighting that when it came to Silver's power in the Assembly, "if he wanted it, it would happen."Still, Reilly served a valuable role for Silver as MMA's public hitman on MMA, even when it was proven that there was a movement towards supporting a vote on the sport. In 2011, MMA bill co-sponsor Dean Murray hastily produced a letter of support signed by 60 members of the Assembly. At the time, there were 146 members, so an MMA bill would have required 74 votes.Silver, however, said there did not appear to be "widespread support" for the legislation, and never brought it forth for a full vote.Because Silver does much of his work behind the scenes, Reilly earned the wrath of many for his public distaste for the sport. His position was cemented in 2009, when he released a study entitled "The Case Against Ultimate Fighting in New York State."In that report, he claimed among other things that "ultimate fighting" has a "negative impact on children, adults and our society as a whole," and that the sport would "have a negative effect on the economics of New York state and local municipalities."In the time since, many states have embraced sanctioning, with New York one of the last remaining holdouts. However misguided many felt Reilly was, his effort seemed sincere, as he donated his entire Assembly salary to charitable causes each year, a total of over $335,000.Reilly once told ESPN that if New York were to accept MMA, they would have to realize that they were "getting in bed with" Dana White, and that he mirrored the violence that happens with "Ultimate Fighting," as he was fond of calling the sport. If he would have bothered to speak to other governments and other commissions around the world, maybe he would have thought differently, but by the time he retires, he might be able to say he won his fight while he waged it. The UFC is again lobbying to get the sport passed, major sports properties like Madison Square Garden have publicly voiced a hope of hosting major events, and a bill is slowly snaking its way through the committee process. And despite those best efforts, yet again, the bid is expected to be denied.

Posted in: mma, sport, york, silver, reilly

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Sports fans love sports rivalries. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees go to war a couple of times a year, as do the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys? There's a pretty good chance someone in the stands will lose their life on that day. Now imagine you had to buy a pay-per-view (PPV) to see any of those games happen. That's pretty much how it goes down in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). You can get your fair share of free fights on a number of network television stations, like FOX, FX and FUEL TV, but for the big-time match-ups, like Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta, Georgia, you have to shell out an average of fifty bucks. But for how much longer? UFC President Dana White, along with the Fertitta brothers, was instrumental in bringing the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) to network television and even envisions a day in the not-to-distant future where there are no more monthly PPV events. Those comments (via MMA Weekly) after the jump. "Yeah, I do believe there will be a day when there probably isn't pay-per-view. With this Fox exposure, we're only a few months into this deal, but yeah, as we continue to put on shows and showcase talent over the next several years, the fan base is going to grow bigger and bigger and bigger. As the landscape in television continues to change - a lot of people believe everything is gonna go to the internet. Like, now, when you buy your cable, and there's basic cable and you can add other stations. We're probably gonna get to a point where you can just pick exactly what you want. I want this channel, I want that channel, and I want that one, and that's it. It's very interesting to see where all this goes over the next several years, but I think the UFC is definitely gonna be a power player in the sports world." UFC channel? As cable and satellite providers continue to embrace the power of the internet, as well as incorporate its capabilities into their programming options, the UFC could become just another channel. Or it could become something else entirely. It's still too early to tell when and if the world's largest fight promotion puts the PPV model out to pasture, or even how, but it's got several years under the FOX umbrella to figure it all out. Anyone want to play Nostradumbass and predict the future of televised fighting?

Posted in: ufc, day, sport, year, channel

Read the full article at MMA Mania

HAMMOND, Ind. -- Bellator's season six started with a new champ, a terrible stoppage, and four featherweights getting closer to challenging for the belt. Joe Warren started with a nasty takedown, and from the start, his wrestling controlled most of … Continue reading →

Posted in: bellator, belt, sport, featherweight, featherweight challengers

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Guest post by Stephie "Crooklyn" Daniels. You can follow Crooklyn on Twitter at CrooklynMMA. Diehard fans of Asian MMA have been left with a sizable hole in their viewing schedules following the demise of PRIDE, and although there have been a few notables, no other promotions have really laid claim to their throne. Sengoku tried, but failed after less than four years. DREAM has been trying to lay the groundwork as well, but serious financial issues have hindered their growth. Enter a new horse on the not so distant horizon, ONE FC. Headed up and owned by Victor Cui, the former promoter of Martial Combat (which put out 12 events in 2010 under the ESPN Star Sports umbrella), the organization has already struck a landmark 10 year deal with ESPN Star Sports, and has a vast network of alliances with gyms across Asia and Australia. They've forged a partnership with DREAM that will bear it's first fruit on March 31, when Japanese featherweight superstar, Tatsuya Kawajiri, makes the trip to Singapore to fight former King of the Cage champion, Donald Sanchez, in front of 12,000 fans at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. With major players stepping in as sponsor partners, co-promotional deals with SONY Pictures, and a solid plan for growth, ONE FC plans to be around for the long haul. In a recent interview I conducted with Victor, some of the blueprint for their future was revealed, as well as how they've managed to get the best deals in the business, while only having produced two shows to date. ONE FC Network"The ONE FC Network that we've launched, brings together every major promoter in every major country. You're talking about people being the very best at what they do. When you bring together all of those organizations, and when everybody has their own strengths, but it's the first time we've all tried to work together; to share fighters, to share knowledge, to share sponsorship opportunities, television deals. It's complex and it's hard, but the way we can exponentially grow the sport in Asia, is by working together. For the first time, under the ONE FC Network, all those players are coming together. You're talking about people that are very well established and very well respected, and have a huge and talented roster of fighters. The ONE FC Network allows everyone to get together, and gives those fighters opportunities to compete on each other's promotions. It also gives us a chance to figure out how we would do these co-promotions, what makes sense in each country, what the dates are, how we can combine our calendars, or, at the most basic level, how do we make our individual calendars happen so that we're not competing against each other." More after the jump, including their deals with DREAM. Co-promotion with DREAM"The partnership that I have with DREAM, is not only to work together to develop the sport and share our world champion fighters, but to host a co-promotion together. We're working on the details for our first, full, co-promoted event, and we'll be making that announcement very soon. What we want to do is put together the best show in the world." Many hands make light work"I'm always interested in finding ways to work with other people. I really believe in this philosophy, and a lot of people quote me saying, 'Many hands make light work.' That's my approach to Asian MMA. What ONE FC is, is a regional opportunity. The television deal that I closed with ESPN in Asia, is unprecedented. It's a 10 year media deal. There is no other sporting property in the world that has a 10 year media deal. It's a sign of what ESPN believes ONE FC can do in the region. My close relationship that I have with them has allowed us to have that kind of deal. It means that what we are really focused on, is how we can bring MMA to the 500 million people around the region through ESPN and their platforms, and additionally bring MMA to all of the 3.9 billion Asians in these countries. That's really where the growth of the sport is."Success where others have failed"Japan has had its challenges, as well as other organizations in the United States. I really looked closely at their business models before we even launched ONE FC, and studied them, and looked at what makes sense, and what didn't make sense. That's why you'll see a couple different things about our business approach. One of them being that we're not spending extravagant amounts of dollars on legends and big names that would charge a huge chunk of money to come out here and have one fight and be done. We have looked for quality fighters that are of good value, that can put on entertaining, world class fights. Second thing is, we're developing fights that are globally relevant, but regionally applicable. They appeal to the European fan, the Brazilian fan, the Canadian fan, the American fan, but we still work hard to keep a distinct Asian feel to it, and we use local Asian talent, to give them the opportunity to showcase themselves on a ONE FC card. It's a tricky balance, because the skillset, obviously between Asian fighters, outside of Japan, is dramatically different than the developed scene in Europe or in North America, so we're always trying to find a balance between those two." Blueprint of the future"I'm focused on doing what I can for the sport. Luckily, for me, I've been in the sports media industry for over 15 years. I know Asian business, and my vision is to bring the most exciting fights and develop MMA to unprecedented levels in Asia. I've got a really strong network of relationships in the community with fighters and other promoters. That's what I focus on, making sure that we can work together to grow the sport, and that ONE FC continues to produce world class television content and events. We've got eight events scheduled over the next 12 months. Next year we'll expand to 14, and then after that, 24 events. We are on a very rapid pace." Big name sponsors and movie tie-ins"We're co promoting, with SONY Pictures in Asia, the launch of the Avengers movie. Fairtex is our equipment sponsor. Energizer Batteries and Schick Razors are also some of our other sponsor partners. Schick Razors have launched an entire branding campaign around ONE FC. When you go to the store, you will see the packaging around the razors with the ONE FC logo, promoting our event. I've been doing this for a long time in Asia, and these are all relationships that I've had in place. The media deals that I am securing in other countries are people that I've worked with, and that have grown to trust me, and have fallen in love with what ONE FC is doing. Everybody comes to a ONE FC event and leaves excited."Victor's simple plan of keeping it regional, but with a global appeal, smart spending and massive media deals may be exactly what the chef has ordered in the recipe to success. Their next event takes place on March 31, and features a wealth of familiar and unknown talent, with an 11 fight card. There will be a featured PPV stream available, which can be found via their website. ONE FC may finally be the promotion to fill the void that PRIDE has left in so many of our hearts. It will be interesting, to say the least, to watch their progress. You can follow Victor via his Twitter @ONEFCMMA

Posted in: fighter, sport, event, deal, fc

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Believe it or not, Dakota Cochrane's story isn't unique in sports. Back in 2004, baseball's Cleveland Indians signed a Japanese pitcher named Kazuhito Tadano who had appeared as an actor in gay pornography during his college days before embarking on a professional career.Like Cochrane, Tadano faced taunts, insults and scrutiny, and had his career affected by the revelation. Unlike Cochrane, Tadano faced much of it in private.When TUF: Live begins on Friday night on FX, Cochrane will be faced with the prospect of living in a house for 13 weeks with 15 other athletes of varying backgrounds, belief systems, and dare we say it, prejudices. He will be taped nearly 24 hours a day, and any backlash he receives is likely to be broadcast to an audience of millions. "I don't know if I have 15 homophones here or 15 guys that can care less about it," UFC president Dana White said during a recent media day for the show. "I have no idea. Nobody has been talked to on the show. Nobody's [said], 'We have a very sensitive issue.' None of that's happened. We don't do that s---. Whatever happens in that house happens, and then I'm going to have to deal with it."That approach is a risky one for an organization just months into the first year of a seven-year deal with FOX Sports, and one that has faced accusations of homophobic behavior in the past. In 2009, White himself used an offensive gay slur word. He later apologized.On the other hand, how real would a "reality" show be if its participants were told to mind their behavior? The fact that they'll go in unwarned and uncensored will provide an unfettered look at attitudes towards homosexuality and sports in 2012. That makes TUF: Live an interesting social experiment. Professional sports has never had an openly gay athlete. Cochrane isn't gay, but after appearing in gay pornography, is likely to face any bias and intolerance from prejudiced castmates as if he was. That could mean major controversy for the UFC and FX, who stuck to their guns in selecting Cochrane on the strength of his record and his personality."If I was afraid of this topic and afraid of this, it would have been real easy to snip him," White said. "He doesn't make it. He gets cut. I don't care. I'm not worried about what he did in the past. It doesn't affect me or the company or anything else. I'm sure there is going to be some issue. Maybe there are going to be some knuckleheads here who stay some stupid s--- to him. I'm not hiding from that either. It is what it is. But if I was someone in the gay community, I would think this is a good thing, not a bad thing." The fact that the UFC offered him an opportunity may sound insignificant, but it's more than what many baseball teams could say about their dealings with Tadano, the Japanese pitcher.According to published reports of the time, he was effectively blackballed by the Japanese league. A highly regarded collegiate pitcher with a fastball that could reach the mid-90s, he was expected to be a high first-round pick in the 2002 draft but ultimately went unselected. It was just prior to that draft when his involvement in the video surfaced, and teams suddenly lost interest in him, claiming a shoulder injury. After being passed over in Japan, his past followed him to the US, where according to reports, teams including the Twins, Padres and Braves backed off after initially expressing interest in a deal. According to the Daily Yomiuri newspaper, a source within the New York Mets confirmed that team owner Fred Wilpon refused to sign him because "he was worried about the trouble it might cause."Tadano eventually made it to the big leagues with the Indians -- the only team that offered him a contract -- though he only pitched in 15 games over two years before getting cut by the Oakland A's and eventually returning to Japan.When Tadano joined the Indians, he addressed the team and told them of his past. Reportedly, his teammates were quite supportive of his courage to face the truth. But tellingly, he joked about the taunting and harassment that might come his way."I don't understand English, so it really doesn't matter," he said.It won't be that way for Cochrane. Part of him is expecting it, as he told me during a recent interview. Everyone in the house is going to know about his past, and in a setting that's already emotionally charged because of the competition, any discriminatory attitudes are bound to come out. "It shouldn't matter to anybody what somebody else does in their life, who they choose to be with, who they choose to spend their life with," White said. "It's none of your f---ing business. What you better be worried about is this dude's going to come kick your f---ing ass. So if you want to be the guy who's going to talk a lot of s--- and say goofy stuff like that, you're going to get your ass kicked on national television by the guy that you're talking about. The thing you better be worried about is his fighting abilities, because he's not coming in the house to f--- you. He's coming in the house to kick your ass."TUF is always a fishbowl, us watching the pressure cooker unfold. This social experiment might show MMA to be a bit more enlightened than its critics claim or it might prove that when it comes to tolerance, like many other sports, we still have work to do. At least Cochrane got a chance, and that's a good sign. At least from this dialogue we know that when the time comes, and an openly gay fighter is deserving of the opportunity, he'll get it, and maybe we'll also have an idea of what he'll go through. And maybe it won't be any different than any other fighter. Maybe.

Posted in: team, sport, cochrane, house, tadano

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New York's outdated legislation still views mixed martial arts as barbaric, but legalizing the sport could significantly benefit the state.

Posted in: sport, art, lefko, apple, legislation

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Strikeforce promised us big things for its main event on Saturday night – things like thrills and action and the kind of unbridled intensity that melts flat-screen TVs right off of walls – and what we got when Ronda Rousey clashed with Miesha Tate was all that and more.  Beforehand, we wondered if Rousey could work her seemingly-unstoppable mojo on the champ, her wicked ultra-violence, and we debated if Tate could be the one to derail the barreling freight train.  Then there was a mad four-and-a-half minute scramble, an arm so mangled it redefined the word “yikes!” and we had our answers.  Not since Gina Carano versus Cris “Cyborg” Santos did we give as much of a crap about female MMA, and now we have both a budding superstar and life breathed into a flagging area of the sport.  We have Ronda to thank for that. If God created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, it was a humerus that went into making Ronda, and the judoka isn’t done paying Him back in the arm-bone currency she feels she owes.  Which is just fine.  Because if you’re a scrub and not worthy of being in the same cage as her, she’ll rip your arm off in under a minute, just as she did to all before her championship turn, and if you’re good – elite even, perhaps one of the best 135-pound femme fatales the sport has to offer – then it’s more about how long you can last before the inevitable, painful dislocation.  It’s that payoff that matters, and thus far we’ve gotten it every cringe-inducing time.  So much so, in fact, that it’s now what makes female MMA so morbidly compelling.  Do you think Deadspin would be devoting digital ink to members of the fairer sex fighting in a cage if it weren’t for those endings, those horrific yet amazingly technical things Ronda does to opponents’ limbs?  No freakin’ way.  But she does so they do, and the sport is better for it. And what of the future of woman’s MMA?  If Rousey is indeed the new standard bearer, who out there is left to legitimately challenge her?  When Cyborg beat Carano from the cage, and ultimately from the sport, there was no one else for the Brazilian, no one else to threaten her or unseat her or even force her to break a sweat (which ushered in the “Great Female MMA Dry Spell”, when a women’s bout on a card moved the needle not at all).  Will the same thing happen again now that Queen Ronda has ascended the throne?  It’s possible.  It’s possible that top contender Sarah Kaufman stands not even a snowball’s chance in Hell against the unstoppable grappling and undeniable armbar that surely awaits.  But the beauty of it all is that with Rousey and her Olympic-level combative skills comes something priceless to the sport in general, something so momentous and historic that, years from now, when we look back upon this time, we’ll be calling this the “Ronda Era” – this being the exact point in time when the bar for a female fighter’s necessary skill level was raised to where it was suddenly became conceivable that, yes, that lady could mess other ladies up, and maybe even mess up a lot of guys too (Bryan Caraway, I’m looking at you).  Just as an athlete from UFC 3 couldn’t hang with those in the mix today, Rousey’s skill, and appurtenant success, means that at a minimum, a fighter will have to a be at least fantastic at fighting now, whether it’s for challenging the champ or even just entertaining us. With that said, maybe the next true challenge to Rousey’s reign will take the form of another Olympian, like Sara McMann, who earned a silver medal in freestyle wrestling and has amassed a spotless 5-0 MMA record.  Or maybe the Strikeforce champ’s nemesis is still competing at the highest levels in judo, or jiu-jitsu, or whatever, and has yet to cross over to mixed martial arts.  Regardless, because of one of the best main events on a Showtime card in a long time, the bar is now higher than it’s ever been.  For that – and the attention and rejuvenation she’s brought – we owe Ronda thanks.  And if you want to keep your arm, I suggest you give it to her.

Posted in: mma, sport, thing, rousey, ronda

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For the first time in his long career, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is coming off consecutive loss. At UFC 135, in September, Jackson took Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones into the championship rounds before succumbing to a rear naked choke. After that, Rampage was scheduled to fight Ryan Bader at UFC 144, the promotion's return to Japan. Many thought the return to his former stomping grounds would reinvigorate Jackson. However, his training and conditioning was compromised by injury and a prescription for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Rampage lost a clear decision in an unimpressive performance. Since UFC 144, Rampage has been vacationing in Angeles City in the Philippines. Throughout this time, Jackson has been very active on Twitter, and early Tuesday morning he made this announcement: This seems like a very heavy claim. Yet, without explaining why, Rampage states that this isn't a retirement announcement: I find this particularly interesting considering how the notability of Quinton Jackson as a fighter. He's competing in the largest promotions in the sport's history throughout his career. This doesn't only make him one of the most well-known fighters in the sport, but also one of the highest paid. I'm not sure what promotion Jackson thinks can hire him to fight for the salary he's accustomed to receiving. Now, it's up for debate whether or not Jackson will follow through with his plan to leave the UFC. I don't necessarily doubt the sincerity of his post, just that he may rethink this decision. But, if he does, it will be a big loss to the sport and the UFC. Regardless of some of his recent lackluster performances, Rampage Jackson is a fighter people are more than willing to pay to see. Personally, he's been one of my favorite fighters for years and I will be disappointed to see him leave. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: ufc, rampage, jackson, fighter, sport

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Happy Monday, everybody. After a weekend full of armbars, smack talk, controversy, judging issues, and a new champ, we have plenty to discuss in the MMA world. I promise that we will get to that in short order. But before … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, armbar, everybody, promise, monday everybody

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ESPN Brazil reports that UFC Heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. has signed on with  Brazilian sports marketing agency, Fessports. You may recall last year, JDS left manager Ed Soares in favor of Ana Claudia Guedes. JDS follows Anderson Silva in signing on with a Brazilian sports agency. Via ESPN Brazil (via Google Translate): The contract was signed in Sao Paulo and provides for the career management of Gypsy (JDS) at various levels, from the legal and tax advice to media and image. Since 2011, the 9ine, an agency of former player Ronaldo, does the same with Anderson Silva. The story does not indicate whether JDS has now severed ties with Guedes in favor of Fessports. Speaking of JDS, another interesting tidbit was reported in a Brazilian paper which stated that dos Santos spent $100,000 of his own money to train for his big fight with Cain Velasquez. Via CenarioMT (via Google Translate): I brought people out to help in technical and physical preparation. I have to pay used to make food for the guys, stay well, give car. It is expensive, very expensive. I have my sponsors that give strength forever, but MMA does not yet give the “big money” all that most people think. In an interview with Folha de São Paulo, Santa Catarina said that the figure quoted was used to provide infrastructure to coaches, trainers and sparring partners guests, as is the case of Ramon Lemos (BJJ), Josh Janousek (wrestling) and Billy Sheibe (muay Thai). cost worth it, since Gypsy had a little over a minute to knock Velasquez at UFC on Fox, held in November last year, which gave him financial return about $ 1 million (adding values ​​sponsorship, purse and win bonus). H/T: Robert Joyner for both news items. Payout Perspective: It makes sense for JDS to sign on with a sports marketing agency as he should try to monetize his status as the Heavyweight champ. Certainly, he’s probably looking for some mainstream sponsors like Silva. Another interesting note is the amount of money he spent to train for Velasquez. Its an interesting look at how much training camps can be for a fighter. While some camps may have a trainer (or fighter) that owns their own gym to minimize costs, there’s the matter of paying coaches and bringing in sparring partners. Obviously, having a training camp budget is necessary but JDS’ fight versus Cain probably deserved the extra attention (and monetary investment).

Posted in: sport, silva, anderson silva, jd, agency

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Dana White's been a busy man down under, so I almost believe his feigned surprise when the media questioned him about Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson's admitted testosterone injections. He had a pretty good answer ready in his back pocket: He told Fighters Only that while he had no specific knowledge of Jackson’s TRT medication at that moment, he is in no position to raise any objections to the therapy as it is allowed - by way of exemption - by athletic commissions all over the US.“If its legal, if you can do it and the athletic commission allows you to do it and you come in at the right levels, what kind of stance am I going to take on it?” he said when asked whether he has any issues with use of TRT by fighters.“But what we are doing right now, and I don’t know if you know this, but out new policy is if you come in and you sign a new deal with us you get tested for everything. And if you test positive you are not going to get signed by the UFC. "Oh yeah, it's totally f*cked up. But check this out, we test them once the same useless way too when we sign em." Aaaargh! “We are the most regulated sport on earth. Meaning that the government comes in and tests these guys every time they fight. If baseball, football and basketball went through the same thing, there would be no football, baseball or basketball. Guys would be ‘popping’ and out every weekend. [MMA] is the most regulated sport on earth.” There's no denying that part of Dana's statement: the government has taken responsibility for testing in combat sports, and they do test fighters more than any other sport out there. The testing is just completely inadequate, not just in catching people using straight up steroids but in regulating the use of new performance enhancement schemes like testosterone replacement therapy. It will catch potsmokers though, so ... yay?If there's ever a hope of getting mixed martial arts anywhere close to a place where we can hope half the athletes aren't on something, a complete overhaul of the system is needed. It doesn't matter if it's the UFC or the athletic commissions doing it, but something needs to happen. Carbon isotope testing, blood testing and random testing are a good way to start and you'd hope getting things up to WADA standards would be a nice goal to shoot for. But so long as the UFC can point at the athletic commissions and the athletic commissions keep being as swift as that kid who eats glue, PEDs will continue to run rampant through the sport. No word from Mr White regarding Mr Jackson's upcoming doggy style-themed rap career. Boo-urns.

Posted in: way, sport, test, commission, testing

Read the full article at Fightlinker

The 25-year-old former Olympian in judo has won all seven of her combat-sport bouts in less than one minute.

Posted in: bout, sport, miesha, miesha tate, combatsport bouts

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At the forefront of the mixed martial arts world is the UFC. The organization has made tireless efforts in bringing the sport to all corners of the globe, all the while educating new fans to the rules and regulations that preside over it. Though in many cases the UFC is still trying to shed the label of "Blood Sport," its recent partnership with sports juggernaut in FOX will go a long way in helping to legitimize the organization and MMA as a whole.

Posted in: sport, joe silva, fertitta brothers, blood sport, sports juggernaut

Read the full article at Low Kick

Conor Heun’s father Jim had a picture hanging on the wall of his office that wasn’t the usual shot of a bowl of fruit or the Colorado mountains. Instead, it was a pretty notable cartoon of a stork holding a frog in his mouth while the frog wrapped its hands around the stork’s neck. The caption? “Never Give Up.”“That stuck with me and it’s something that resonates with me,” said the younger Heun, who took that adage to heart and brought it into his mixed martial arts career, most notably in a bout with Magno Almeida last September that saw him caught in a tight armbar in the second round.“Magno’s a submission wiz and I’m a wrestler,” Heun recalled. “It’s the classic matchup back in the 90’s. What happens if you take a jiu-jitsu guy down? You get armbarred. Well, that’s what happened. But he didn’t realize that I was willing to sacrifice that for the win.”What Heun sacrificed was his health, or at least the health of his right arm, as he refused to tap to Almeida, even when it was clear that his arm was being taken to places it wasn’t meant to see. Eventually, Heun got free, dislocated elbow and all, and he not only made it through the second round, but he won the third and the fight.Never give up.“Tapping out to me is giving up,” said Heun, who improved to 9-4 with the win. “If you knock me out, I’m out, that’s it, that’s my body saying it’s done, and if you choke me out, I’m out. But other than that, I have a real hard time giving up, and that’s what tapping out is.”So he didn’t do it. As simple as that sounds, it’s much more complex than that, but in the Reader’s Digest version, Heun’s stay in Strikeforce hadn’t been the most successful entering the Almeida bout. He had dropped back-to-back decisions to Jorge Gurgel and KJ Noons, and a third consecutive loss might have earned him his walking papers, and he knew it.“Yeah, I’d be out of a job,” he said. “I knew that going in. And I knew he was gonna catch me, as #$%$ up as that sounds. But I knew what I was getting myself into. I’m a pretty intuitive person, and I knew that that fight was gonna be a rough fight. But I knew I was gonna come out victorious.”Now for the more complicated part. Conor Heun doesn’t see things the way most professional fighters do. For them, MMA is a sport, a competition. They will shake hands with their opponent before the bout, and do the same afterward. Heun will do the hand shaking part, but when it comes to everything else, this isn’t just a sport for him, something he made clear with a nearly 1,500 word blog that could best be described as the Heun manifesto. “MMA is a sport but “fighting” is not,” he wrote. “Boxing is a sport. Wrestling is a sport. Jiu Jitsu is a sport. These sports have scoring systems in place designed to determine the winner and the object is to score more points than your opponent. Fighting is not a sport. In fighting, the winner is the guy who walks away able to return to his family with his freedoms intact. In the defense of one’s freedoms and one’s family, the total destruction of one’s enemy is justified. MMA is a sport but it is based on fighting, because of this it is a brutal and savage sport.”Heun’s piece shot through the MMA world in the past week, leading up to his Strikeforce bout against Ryan Couture this Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, and with good reason, as it touched on many aspects of fighting and his place in the fight world that don’t get discussed too much, at least on the record. But Heun bravely bared his soul for the world to see.“I’m a deeply emotional person, and writing is a way for me to express some of those feelings in a productive manner and sort of step back and take a look at my own dysfunction sometimes,” he chuckles. “But I think it speaks to some people. People can tell that it’s real, people can tell that it’s from my heart. I posted it on the Underground (Forum) and it’s got something like 16,000 views. But I’m not sure if people really know what to think about it.”Of course, the bullet point was Heun’s comment that “On March 3rd in Columbus Ohio I will fight Ryan Couture and I will use everything in my power to destroy him,” but as the Colorado native makes clear, “I don’t have any ill will towards Ryan. It’s just the place that he’s put himself, and that’s in front of me and in front of my dream. I can’t stand for that. And that’s what he wants. He wants a great fight, I want a great fight, and we’re gonna go out and throw down. But understand where I’m coming from. I’m going to war and I’m willing to die.”It’s a blunt and harsh statement, and while there are dangers inherent in any contact sport, you never want to see anyone leave the field of play forever changed by the act of competition. Heun has left forever changed though. The refusal to tap in the Almeida bout wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, and going in, he knew what the repercussions could be. But he’s dealt with them, even if some don’t realize what they were.“I think informed fans understand the repercussions and I actually feel that I may have done a disservice to the fans a little bit by the video I posted a couple weeks after the Almeida fight, saying ‘hey, I’m fine,’” he said. “It was a long and arduous recovery, a lot of physical therapy, my arm doesn’t go straight the way it used to anymore, but I wouldn’t take that back. I wouldn’t have gone back and done it any different.”And if you wonder what Jim Heun thinks of his son’s fighting philosophy, you need not look any further than his corner on the night of the Almeida fight, as he was there, remaining as his son describes him, “my biggest fan.”Heun remembers the weekends growing up when the Friday night before a wrestling tournament involved a trip to Blockbuster Video to rent old UFC tapes and watch them with his dad, who was also his coach. But his father’s influence went way deeper than that.“When I was a little kid, I had bunk beds in my room and my dad was my wrestling coach,” recalled Heun. “That top bunk always had a kid in it from his team that was struggling with his family, had abusive parents, or an alcoholic father, and he was always opening our home to other young men to give them a respite. And he taught people double leg takedowns and arm drags, but he also taught young boys how to be men. And I believe that’s gonna be my highest calling.”In fact, that’s a big reason why he does what he does. It’s not for fame or glory, but simply to provide a better life for himself, everyone around him, and maybe even some people he hasn’t even met yet.“I’m fighting because eventually I want to open a gym, I want to have a place that I can call home, I want to have a place for me and my girlfriend where we can live and raise a family that no one can take away from me, whether it’s an apartment or a house,” he said. “I want to own a place where I can live and then I want to start teaching. I started fighting professionally in 2006, but I was a very small, very angry young kid growing up and I was in a lot of fights where there weren’t contracts and where there weren’t refs and judges, where people were trying to beat me down and take my freedom and marginalize me. And that’s where my fighting started. And I believe I’ve got some karmic debt that needs to be repaid for things that I’ve done back then, for guys I met in the street that didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. And I feel that the way I’m gonna be able to do that is by living a life of honor and integrity and acting as a role model for young boys. And I feel like in our society there are so many kids who don’t have positive male role models in their life. They don’t have anyone teaching them what it means to live with integrity and how to be a man.” Yet all those dreams will have to be put on hold if he loses to Ryan Couture this Saturday night. Maybe now you’ll see why he thinks the way he does. “Hopefully, I can take care of Ryan and get him out of the fight quickly with minimal injury to him or myself, collect that win bonus, and move on to the next fight,” he said. “If I can finish four guys this year, and that’s my goal, I think that puts me in line for a title shot.”That would be some year. Heun knows it too, and he wants the world to follow him on that journey.“I hope it inspires people to chase their dreams because that’s what I’m doing – I’m chasing my dream.”And he’ll never give up.

Posted in: ’t, i ’m, sport, ’m, heun

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is making his Nike commercial debut. Well, sort of. "The Spider" makes a brief cameo in this Brazilian Nike commercial, which focuses on the Brazilian National Soccer team, mostly aimed at the young phenom, Neymar. Look closely, maybe even run it in slow motion or you might miss his part as his appearance is faster than Forrest Griffin running out of the cage after his loss to Anderson at UFC 101 (Sorry Forrest). Last year, Anderson landed an endorsement deal with Nike -- one of the largest sports clothing and shoe apparel company in the world -- to complement his deal with Burger King. Though not the main focus, it doesn't hurt Silva, whose an avid soccer fan, to be linked with one of the most dominant sports teams in the world and such a big sports icon that is Nike. He may one day get his very own time to shine with his own Nike ad, but for now, this will have to suffice. Big baby steps.

Posted in: sport, nike, anderson, soccer, soccer team

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In the Couture family, Columbus, Ohio’s Nationwide Arena is more than just a fighting venue. March 3rd is a pretty special day as well. How special? Well, we’ll find out on Saturday night, but for the time being, let’s just say that the senior member of the father and son team – UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture - had a memorable day in that arena on March 3rd, 2007, as he won the heavyweight title for an unprecedented third time by beating Tim Sylvia.The younger half of the fighting Coutures – Ryan – will return to Nationwide this Saturday night to face the toughest opponent of his young pro career, veteran lightweight Conor Heun. So it’s a place and date with a lot of meaning for the 29-year old.“I’m excited to be fighting almost five years to the day from when I got to watch my dad in the same arena win the title back from Tim Sylvia,” he said. “That’s really cool, and it will be interesting.”Has dad, who retired from the sport in 2011, brought up the significance of this coincidence? “We haven’t really talked about it much,” said Couture. “I’ve been meaning to crack a joke here and there to him about it and bust his chops, but that was one of the most electric crowds I’ve ever been a part of, and I was just blown away. It was really a great experience and it’s gonna be an interesting evolution for me to go from sitting in the stands as a spectator who was just cheering someone on to being in there and being the center of attention.”Want more eerie coincidences – how about the fact that the elder Couture, one of the greatest fighters to ever put on the gloves, was a significant underdog to Sylvia that night in Ohio? This weekend, the younger Couture will be facing the same kind of odds, and understandably so, because while he has won three of his four fights, showing a strong submission game and a fighter’s heart, Heun has 13 pro bouts and has squared off with well-known opponents such as LC Davis, Jorge Gurgel, KJ Noons, and Magno Almeida. Then again, when Couture was presented with the fight, he took it.“I figure at this point, with the way things are moving, there’s no more easy fights,” he said. “I think from a technical standpoint I match up fairly well with Conor. I think we’ve got a lot of similar skills we bring to the table. Obviously, I think the biggest thing he brings to the table that no one else really does is his mental toughness. You’ve got to kill him to get him out of there, and I think that presents an interesting puzzle, but I’m really looking forward to trying to solve that puzzle and find a way to come out with the win.”In a nutshell, the scouting report on Heun is that he will go to remarkable lengths to win a fight, his personal well-being be damned. That was never more evident than in his decision win over Almeida last June, one that saw him caught in a late armbar attempt that he refused to tap out to. He made it to the bell, taking the win and a dislocated elbow. Couture knows that the odds are good that if he wins this one, he’s going to have to go the distance to do it.“I think I have to expect to fight 15 grueling, hard, miserable minutes, and if the finish comes, great, but I don’t really expect that,” he said. “I know he’s someone who is willing to let me break his arm or choke him unconscious, so that just means I have to be a hundred percent willing to break his arm. If I latch on to something, I just gotta go for it because I know he’s not gonna stop until it’s broken or he gets out. So I might as well not give him the option to get out. I have to have that killer instinct.”It’s almost weird hearing those words come out of Couture’s mouth, being that he, like his father, see MMA as the ultimate way to test yourself competitively in a combat sports environment. And while there are dangers (as in any contact sport), it is and will remain a sport. Would his family or friends shake their head in disbelief at hearing talk like that?“I think that would be a tough conversation to have with my mom and have it make sense to her, but I think she’d understand that it’s just kinda getting into the right mindset to know that I’m gonna have to go in there and possibly go to places I’ve never been before to make this happen,” he said. “And at the end of the day, it’s just about getting another win.”That’s not the way Heun sees it. In a recent blog post, he wrote, “Fighting is not a sport. In fighting, the winner is the guy who walks away able to return to his family with his freedoms intact. In the defense of one’s freedoms and one’s family, the total destruction of one’s enemy is justified. MMA is a sport but it is based on fighting, because of this it is a brutal and savage sport. On March 3rd I will step into the Strikeforce cage across from Ryan Couture because he has agreed to compete against me in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. On March 3rd in Columbus Ohio I will fight Ryan Couture and I will use everything in my power to destroy him. I will be justified in doing so because I am in a place where he is an oppressor attempting to take my freedom and take the food out of my loved ones’ mouths.”That’s heavy stuff, and just a portion of what Heun wrote about fighting, his motivations, and his goals. You have to wonder what it’s like to be on the receiving end of something like that, but not surprisingly, Couture took it all with grace and a grain of salt.“I saw some of the highlights (of Heun’s blog), and none of it really came as a surprise to me,” he said. “It’s kind of his style, and I think a big part of his training and preparation is a lot of meditation to get himself into that state of mind and that’s what he has to do to get in there and get the job done, and obviously he’s been successful using that approach. That’s not the way I operate, that’s not how I look at this sport, and that’s not what I’m in there thinking. That’s not what motivates me, but I have to know that’s how he approaches it, and be ready to deal with it accordingly and deal with the problems that it presents.”And as far as he’s concerned, having a different kind of fighting philosophy from Heun or any one of his past or future opponents is what makes this interesting for him. In other words, it takes all kinds.“I think it’s one of the cool things about this sport is that it attracts a wide variety of different personality types, and everybody has to find a different motivation within themselves and get themselves into a different frame of mind in order to do what we do,” said Couture. “It’s really demanding, and physically, mentally, and emotionally, it takes a major toll on you. If that’s what he needs to do to get up to perform at his best, then so be it. I’m doing the things I need to do to prepare and to be ready to deal with him.”One of the things Couture does, in addition to spending hours and hours per week in the gym, is to get away from the fight game altogether in order to search for whatever concerts are in the Las Vegas area that week. So far this year, Couture has seen Tool, Anthrax, and Strung Out, and it’s his way of unwinding from a hectic training schedule. And yes, that’s probably the first and last time you’ll see the words ‘Anthrax’ and ‘unwinding’ in the same sentence.“Music’s always been a big part of my life,” he said. “My first job was working in a record store back in the Seattle area. I’ve had multiple family members who worked for that same chain, and it’s almost like a rite of passage in my family that you got a job at the Wherehouse, and we’re kind of a family of music nerds. So that’s something I’ve always done, and probably always will do. I try not to miss a show if there’s a band I like coming to town. It’s something that’s fun for me. It kinda clears my head and it’s something I always have and always will do.”I hate to say it, but it’s almost as if Ryan Couture is too nice for the fight game, and this isn’t the first or last time you’ll hear that. But on Saturday night, you can rest assured that he will go blow for blow and sub for sub with Conor Heun, because even though Heun is the one talking the loudest about the importance of this fight, it means just as much – for different reasons – for Couture.“I feel like this is my chance,” he said. “Anybody that might still be saying that I’m only in Strikeforce because of my last name and I don’t belong there and I’m not at that level, this is my chance to shut them up and prove them wrong and prove that I’m at that level, that I belong there, and that I’m gonna make some noise in Strikeforce. I’m looking forward to that.”

Posted in: fight, i ’m, sport, ’m, heun

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A UFC champ, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model and an Emmy-winning actress met up at the Daytona 500 today. Jon Jones was an honorary race official, while Kate Upton and Jane Lynch were there to spend some time being … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, ufc champ, race official, kate upton, emmywinning actress

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Video: Highlights: UFC 144 Video highlights from UFC 144 courtesy of FOX Sports.

Posted in: ufc, fox, video, sport, courtesy

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Frankie Edgar lost his title, but that doesn't mean he's out of the picture despite a loaded lightweight field.

Posted in: sport, division, picture, option, benson hendersons

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Frankie Edgar lost his title, but that doesn't mean he's out of the picture despite a loaded lightweight field.

Posted in: sport, division, picture, option, benson hendersons

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Before mixed martial arts entered the combat-sports lexicon, no-holds-barred, vale tudo and shoot fighting were the common phrases describing what was still more spectacle than sport, more a fight than the sport of fighting. Brazil, the U.S. and Japan were pioneering countries of mixed-fighting contests decades before the Ultimate Fighting Championship became the catalyst to MMA in 1993. Now, as MMAjunkie.com's Danny Acosta explains, Japan could rejoin the group following this weekend's UFC 144 event.

Posted in: ufc, sport, brazil, japan, noholdsbarred

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

(Women are 3/5ths the fighters that men are. Wait, what???) The UFC's great buddies over at the Culinary Union are still trying to mess with the sport of MMA, and while they claim it's all for the benefit of the poor struggling fighters, it's really just shady union hardball because UFC brass own non-union casinos in Vegas. Don't pretend you give a sh*t about the sport when you're also trying to keep it banned in New York, you c*nts. That's why even if they were advocating that every fighter gets an extra 10k and a special lolly pop every time they fight, I'd still be looking at the offer a bit askance wonder what the angle is this time. Because 99.99% of the time that angle is "Screw Dana White."The Union presented a fighter 'bill of rights' to the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday. Here's some of the more interesting ones: 2. Right to work. This would allow fighters to sign non-exclusive contracts and would prohibit contracts from automatically renewing. Champions' clauses, which keep champs attached to their contract as long as they hold the belt, would be a thing of the past....4. Free market of sponsorships. This would not just allow fighters to get whoever they would like to sponsor them, but would also let them say no to their promotion's sponsor. In other words, Brock Lesnar could chug a Coors and Carlos Condit could have walked away from a Harley-Davidson if he wanted to pursue a sponsorship with Honda....9. Right to fair fights. The UFC's matchmaking system generally provides fair and evenly matched bouts, but things get murky on subjects like who deserves a title fight. Timing often decides title matches as much as an independent ranking system. This right would call for a transparent ranking of fighters....10. Professionalism. From the union: "You have the right to be treated with common courtesy and professional respect by other fighters and by promoters and managers. For mixed martial arts to become a mainstream sport accepted by the general public, participants in the sport must act in accordance with commonly accepted standards of courtesy, decency and respect in their public interactions with one another and in their interactions with the public." The thing that pisses me off about this isn't that all of the suggestions from the Culinary Union are bad, it's that they're trying to armchair general the future of the sport. What right do they have to come in and make any kind of suggestions about how the sport is run? What is their expertise in the field of MMA? Their raging hate-boner against Zuffa? Does that really qualify them to put forward sweeping regulations that turn the entire sport onto it's head?A lot of the stuff they suggest is right out of the 'How boxing was ruined' playbook too. Non-exclusive contracts are just nuts in today's business environment and would take a sport that can already be frustratingly fragmented and shatter it further into a million more little pieces. And who determines what the 'right to a fair fight' entails? Some bogus sanctioning bodies like in boxing? No thank you. MMA may not be perfect, but taking these pie in the sky suggestions and trying to force them via policy into reality would be a complete disaster for the sport. Please, Culinary Union. How about you butt out of our sport and stick to whatever it is you do when you're not constantly harassing the UFC?

Posted in: ufc, right, fighter, sport, union

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MMA Uncensored Live is set to make its long-awaited debut tonight on Spike TV, where it will focus on UFC 144 and the demise of one of MMA’s greatest promotions, PRIDE Fighting Championships, with former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest of the show. Spike’s Press Release: Coming to you from the heart of New York City in Times Square, MMA Uncensored Live will feature debate and discussion, interviews, in-depth features, highlights and interaction with the viewers through Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. We’re gearing up for a premiere on Thursday, February 23 at 11/10c, right after IMPACT WRESTLING. What’s more, we have three fine gentlemen to help you navigate all the news, opinion, interview and rumors we can fit into a half an hour. Let’s meet them now. Craig Carton – Host Craig currently co-hosts one of the most popular morning sports radio shows in the country, WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” alongside NFL great Boomer Esiason. He’s been in the sports broadcasting game for over twenty years, having started at WGR Buffalo in 1991. Since then, Carton has worked in sports strongholds like Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver, and has brought his irreverent energy to sports fans across the country through syndicated radio networks. We’re happy to have Craig back, as he also used to host Weekend Pre-Game on Spike. Mike Straka – Fight Expert Mike is a familiar face to any fan of MMA, considering he was the first mainstream media broadcaster to cover the sport. He’s the host of “The MMA Experience” on Fight Now TV, as well as “TapouT Radio” on SiriusXM Sports, and was the host of HDNet’s Fighting Words With Mike Straka. Prior to that, Mike served as vice president and executive producer of FOX News Digital, as well as a FOX News Channel on-air personality. He’s the author of two books, most recently 2011′s “Fighting Words”, published by Triumph Sports. Nate Quarry – Fight Expert Nate “Rock” Quarry is no stranger to Spike audiences. The founding member of Team Quest was Team Couture’s first pick during the first season of Spike’s “The Ultimate Fighter”. He followed up his tenure on TUF with three UFC wins before being stopped in his quest for the Middleweight Title by then champion Rich Franklin. Nate won four of his last six fights, including a fight of the night win over Tim Credeur in September of 2009. We’re excited to have these guys on board, and can’t wait for February 23, when we kick off “MMA Uncensored Live” at 11/10c! We’ll see you there. *** Spike TV announced this morning that one of the true legends of mixed martial arts, Dan Henderson, will be the first guest on the new primetime magazine show “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”. “Hendo” is a former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion, and most recently defeated Shogun Rua in an all-time classic at UFC 139. The premiere “MMA Uncensored Live” will also take a look at the rich history of mixed martial arts in Japan as the UFC descends on Saitama for UFC 144. The show will explore the roots of modern MMA, the sport’s meteoric rise, and how the corrupt business practices led to its downfall in Japan. The panel will then breakdown UFC 144, which features a light heavyweight match between Ryan Bader and Japanese favorite Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as a lightweight championship match between Frankie Edgar and challenger Benson Henderson. Join host Craig Carton and fight experts Mike Straka and Nate Quarry on February 23 for the premiere of “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”!   Payout Perspective: MMA Uncensored Live’s debut will focus tonight on the demise of the PRIDE and their dealings with the Yakuza and other corrupt practices which eventually brought down the biggest MMA promotion at the time. The project was lead by long-time Japanese MMA reporter Daniel Herbertson, whose work was aided by the years of coverage provided by Zach Arnold of FightOpinion.com. Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest is a great choice for the show, as I’m sure he will be able to tell his own stories regarding PRIDE and Japan as a former PRIDE champion. Another interesting storyline here is that initially, Spike TV announced the name of the show as “MMAJunkie Live”, where MMAjunkie.com would be involved in producing the show.  In the last month or so, Spike TV changed the name to MMA Uncensored Live and MMAJunkie’s affiliation with the show was no more. Yesterday, MMAJunkie announced via Twitter that the following: We’re no longer involved with @Spike_TV‘s new MMA show but sincerely wish them the best of luck with tomorrow’s #MMAUncensored Live debut — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012   We just couldn’t make this project work (sorry for lack of details), but @Spike_TV will do a good job. Definitely check it out tomorrow. — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012

Posted in: fight, mma, show, sport, spike

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Nick Peet, Editor, Fighters Only and Train Hard, Fight Easy ‘Hate is such a strong word, but I really don’t like you.’ To hate someone, to actually detest their mere presence, is something most human beings have unfortunately experienced at one time or another. Whether it was a school bully, a torturous PE teacher, your self-obsessed boss that forces you to work weekends while he walks the fairways in stupid plus fours, or simply just everyone who works for the Inland Revenue. Hate is an emotion we have all felt at some point. And it’s so powerful, it’s a shame to waste it. Being capable of harnessing that intense feeling of contempt and then use anger and aggression as allies is the key to maximum productivity. It’s a lesson in self-control many of you have never been required to, or even thought about, master before. Yet it is one of the most important skills in becoming a professional athlete. Hate can also fuel desire. It’s a facet of combat sports that goes back centuries. Pride and glory run side by side against fear and jealousy, hate’s own sparring partners, and those human characteristics are perhaps more prevalent today than ever. After all, sports psychology is now part of the armour of every world-class athletic performer. Take Nick and Nate Diaz for instance, perhaps the two most hate-filled fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. They actively drive to antagonise, refuse to conform to authority and seemingly do what they want when they want. Yet once the bell goes it’s all business and their street fighting style and ‘f**k everybody’ attitudes have elevated them both into being two of the most definitive fighters in their respective weight classes. In this issue we investigate the role hate has in professional sport, and how the Octagon has become a breeding ground for hate as competitive rivalry – more often than not nurtured during seasons of The Ultimate Fighter – and sports psychology tactics have become key factors in each of the seven weight divisions. FO catches up with Georges St Pierre’s brain coach Brian Cain to catch a glimpse into the make-up of a fighter’s mind. Whilst Diaz mentor, Cesar Gracie, offers an insight into the minds of America’s infamous bad boy brothers. Over the years tonnes of MMA fighters have run up fierce rivalries with one another and so we also roll with a handful of the guys involved in some of the most famous public bust-ups. Tito Ortiz, Frank Mir and Josh Koscheck are all included inside – while the two guys at the centre of perhaps one of the most intriguing grudge matches in modern-day MMA, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, also give us their take on sporting rivalry ahead of their coaching roles on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter. Speaking from his base in San Diego, UFC bantamweight champion Cruz reveals what drives him and the secrets of that cool unorthodox, high-octane fighting style which has landed him on top of the world’s 145lb division. Plus his coach at Alliance MMA, Eric Del Fierro, admits for the first time he’s keen to stoke the flames, after the success his Chula Vista team enjoyed in 2011. Nate Diaz also discusses, in his own inimitable style, his opinions on hate, and we turn back the clock to one of the most infamous hate-filled moments in MMA history, when on New Year’s Eve in 2009 the Aoki vs Hirota champion of champions match witnessed the effects of what happens when rivalry turns brutal. But please don’t fret, we had to balance the ying and the yang, so there is also plenty of love running through the 132 action-packed pages also. Our final feature investigates why some fighters – like Brian Stann and Randy Couture – are impossible to hate. And we’ve also got all the usual unmissable news, reviews and previews to get stuck into… Plus, we go viral training with Frank Mir’s grappling coach Ricky Lundell, and referee Marc Goddard reveals the 10 commandments of being a quality MMA official. And finally, check out our review of the third instalment of the UFC Undisputed video game series. This issue is on sale in the UK now. Enjoy.

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, champion, rivalry

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The Culinary Union, the biggest union representing workers in Nevada, stopped by the Nevada Athletic Commission's meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to improve treatment for fighters. They want to see the NAC lead the combat sports world by pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in: fighter, sport, union, nevada, commissions meeting

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The Sports Business Journal reported on the drop in ratings of NBC Sports Network as it rolled out its new name and brand last month. The article also comments on the fact that NBC found it difficult finding advertisers for the UFC when it was on the network. For those that don’t know, NBC Sports Network was known as Versus prior to its re-branding at the start of the year. The SBJ article (subscription required) stated that NBC had a hard time finding advertisers for the UFC. Yet, UFC programming averaged 124,000 viewers on Versus. These ratings doubled the average for the channel. The article also states that the loss of the UFC has hurt NBC Sports Network ratings. Still, NBC described the UFC as “off brand,” a show that brought ratings but the network had a hard time finding a way to monetize it. Payout Perspective: While the UFC portion of the NBC Sports Network article was a small example compared to the overall theme of the article which was the slow start for the network, its an interesting take of the pull of the UFC. Its also an example of the obstacles the UFC still faces in trying to appeal to mainstream advertisers. We will see in the coming year if the UFC has problems on Fox, FX or Fuel with retaining and obtaining mainstream advertisers.

Posted in: ufc, sport, network, nbc, advertiser

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, while still rehabbing from a shoulder injury that he suffered weeks before his title fight with Yushin Okami at UFC 134 on Aug. 27, 2011, talked to ESPN radio (710 LA) about many hot topics that have been surrounding him lately. Chief among them, of course, being his highly anticipated rematch with the man who came within seconds of defeating him at UFC 117 almost two years ago, his arch rival Chael Sonnen, which is scheduled to take place in June of this year in Brazil. Speaking frankly, "The Spider" explains why he has such a problem with his avowed enemy, namely the fact that he doesn't respect the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). But he also explains why he performed the way he did in the first fight. You've heard it before, I'm sure, but it's worth hearing again. And it provides an interesting insight into how different the rematch is likely to be. Check it out: "Chael has good wrestling. The first fight, I broke my ribs, I fought with broken ribs. But that's okay, I finished the fight and I win. But this time I am ready. I am training hard, this is a different fight. My opinion for Chael is that this guy does not respect nothing. This time in this sport is very important. The people watching the UFC, the people that watch Chael Sonnen talking, they are like 'What? What is this sport? I don't like this sport. This guy doesn't respect nothing.' I understand sometimes you need to promote the fight but, I don't know. Chael talks about my people in Brazil, about my wife, about the older fighters. It's his problem, it's no good, it's no good promotion, this is a sport. I love my sport. I love it and I respect the older people and the older fighters of the sport. This is a great time for the sport. But Chael maybe does not understand this, his problem is he talks too much. It is no good." With his sights set firmly on Sonnen, Silva has little time to worry about much else, though he also told ESPN he thinks a fight against Georges St. Pierre is something that needs to occur at some point. Never mind that for now, though. What's important is taking care of Sonnen and doing so in his home country of Brazil. And if he's healthy this time out, it could change the entire complexion of the fight. Anyone think this one makes it into the championship rounds like last time? Or will the Brazilian be motivated to finish the fight quick and finally be rid of the bothersome flying buzzing around his belt? Opinions, please.

Posted in: fight, time, sport, chael sonnen, chael

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The sport of Mixed Martial Arts has been exploding all over the world for the last decade. However, as with other professional sports, the women's division has not gained as much momentum...

Posted in: sport, division, art, ronda rousey, womens division

Read the full article at Low Kick

With the massive growth of MMA, the stakes have gone through the roof for fighters in the UFC. Between improved salaries, discretionary bonuses, appearance fees and marketing deals, the difference between a champion and a contender can be staggering. "These … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, deal, move, growth, marketing deals

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Since starting with Yahoo! Sports in September of 2008, I haven't missed a single UFC or Strikeforce event. There were a few I couldn't watch live, but I have DVRed or bought a replay of every pay-per-view, fight night, network … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, strikeforce event, couldn ’t, yahoo sports, i couldnt

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Will boxing ever make it back to network TV? Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports reports on the possibility of boxing returning to network TV. Showtime sports head Stephen Espinoza is optimistic about seeing boxing back in the mainstream and even opined that it may happen this year. Via Yahoo! Sports: “There’s a decent chance of it, maybe even a good chance of it happening, in fact,” Espinoza said. “Boxing, for all of its challenges, still has a very loyal fan base, especially in the Latino and African-American demographics. Boxing has shown that, at its highest level, boxing can capture the mainstream sports, and non-sports, population. Payout Perspective: We saw the return of boxing, albeit just 30 minute fight promos, to CBS with Showtime’s 360 series which promoted the Mosley-Pacquiao fight. With the new use of partnerships (i.e., Showtime-CBS) and the seeming trend for live sports as key programming, boxing could make it back to over the air television. If you think about it, snowboarding, skateboarding and even poker have been on network television in the past year yet we haven’t seen a big fight in quite some time. Yesterday, we looked at whether boxing should change its business model. Showing fights on network television to promote the sport and its fighters could build and sustain a following. While promoters remain optimistic, nothing has been set. NBC Sports Network’s quarterly show is a good step in the right direction but promoters realize that the big money remains in PPV and the two premium cable channels.

Posted in: fight, sport, boxing, network television, network

Read the full article at MMA Payout

There's a term that gets used in this sport a lot called "evolution". Earlier today in fact, Jack brought up the de-evolution or over-evolution of Rampage Jackson into a mostly one-dimensional fighter. Throughout the past few years, we've witnessed Diego Sanchez roar into the octagon 17 times, and 17 times it's been pretty much exactly the same Diego Sanchez. It got him some measure of success - he won TUF1, and got a title shot at lightweight, but ever since then, real success has eluded him. It's easy to say that B.J. Penn took his soul, but that's just a fun meme. What's really happened is that the top levels of the division are just better than Diego Sanchez. Diego hasn't added anything to his arsenal since 2005 and it's gotten painfully clear that if he ever wants to find success in this sport in the small time that he has left, he needs to change, and fast. I don't mean finding Jesus and renouncing weed, because quite frankly in my opinion, it's just going all-in from one addiction to another. He can be a sucker for women, weed, booze, religion or whatever he wants, but unless he starts really incorporating some MT, BJJ and better technical boxing, he's going to fail to those that out-physical him. Personally, I think his best chance for success is to drop back down to lightweight where his size-disadvantage becomes an advantage. At 170, he sports a muffin-top and sports an 0-3 record since 2007 to Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch and Jake Ellenberger - three people who are just better MMA wrestlers than he is. To be quite honest, I don't think he will ever be a champion in the UFC, and if his dream is to truly have gold around his waist, he needs to swim in shallower waters. That said, I'm going to assume that he continues to fight in the UFC, he probably won't ever change up his style, regardless of the losses, and will never be more than a gatekeeper. Perhaps he goes and proves me wrong, but personally, I think that unless he wants to stop having broken parts in his face, he needs to seriously change his stubborn style, fight lesser competition, or just hang them up.

Posted in: sport, diego, sanchez, i dont, success

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

I truly apologize for not getting this to you before Valentine's Day because this would be the best gift ever for your valentine. Still, bookmark this and remember it for any occasion: Mother's Day, birthdays, graduation, new baby, Sweet 16 … Continue reading →

Posted in: day, sport, valentines day, valentine, marketplace

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"UFC Undisputed 3 feels better and more accurate than any other mixed martial arts game before it. ... The unprecedented amount of depth in UFC Undisputed 3 and its newfound accessibility make it a great return to form for the franchise."IGN, 9/10"Beyond the deep bench of talent brought in via Pride FC (32 fighters, though many of them are doubles of UFC fighters that spent time fighting matches abroad), the organization also provides one of the best new modes here. Pride Mode spins Undisputed’s refined MMA gameplay by changing the ruleset drastically."Official Xbox Magazine, 8.5/10 "In the middle of a particularly heated fight, my roommate turned to me and proclaimed, 'You and this game give me motion sickness.' I didn’t realize until that point, but I had been bouncing on the couch like an unruly child."G4TV, 4.5/5"UFC 3 is a shining example of what a sports game developer can do if they buck the yearly trend and spend an extra chunk of time adding features and tweaking gameplay from the ground up. Get your four-ounce gloves on, gamers, as this one's a winner."AtomicGamer, 9/10"Punches look and sound fantastic when they connect, and there’s little more satisfying than pounding your opponent into a TKO after rocking them and sending them to the mat."GamingAge, A-"It isn’t often that the third title in a series gets so much right, but UFC Undisputed 3 manages to deliver a knockout!"GamingTrend, 87"The development team at Yukes spent countless hours listening to fans, addressing concerns and conducting research that resulted in this game bringing in concepts and philosophies that broaden it beyond the average sports simulation... UFC Undisputed 3 is an example of what every sports simulation game should be."ZTGameDomain, 9/10"If you are a fan of the UFC, you MUST get this game. By far the most accurate MMA adaptation to date."Live Life Alpha, 9/10Played the game? Leave your review in the comments!

Posted in: ufc, sport, game, fourounce gloves, mma gameplay

Read the full article at UFC

Diego Sanchez was the man to watch during today's UFC on FUEL 1 weigh-in. In this ever evolving sport, welterweights are getting bigger and bigger. At 5-foot-9 Sanchez is small for the weight. He looked bloated on fight night for … Continue reading →

Posted in: sport, sanchez, fight night, todays ufc, sport welterweights

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In some ways MMA and the UFC already are a form of sports entertainment, but the more fights on FOX fans see, the more we will see entertainment rather than sport...

Posted in: sport, entertainment, sports entertainment, ways mma, fox fans

Read the full article at Low Kick

Surefire Hall of Fame fighter B.J. Penn shocked  many the MMA world when he said he was retiring from the sport following a loss to Nick Diaz last year. Still, as genuine as Peen appeared, countless fans believed it would only be a matter of time before the former UFC champion had a change of heart and signed to compete once again. Now, several months removed from the announcement, “The Prodigy” seems happy with his decision. Penn, a former lightweight and welterweight title-holder, lost three of his last five fights, defeating Matt Hughes and going to a draw with Jon Fitch in the other two. The defeat at the hands of Diaz at UFC 137 left him looking like a fighter who was nearing the end. “I’m enjoying my time away from the sport,” said Penn, in a recent interview with ESPN. “That’s where I am right now. I’m living a regular life instead of living the roller coaster.” Penn has been fighting since 2001, so the rigors of the sport have taken a toll both mentally and physically on the Hawaii native, as he added, “I haven’t (lived a normal life) in 15 years. I’m trying to find myself a little bit – not as a fighter trying to come back to the sport, but just as a person.” UFC President Dana White talked recently about hoping Penn would decide to return with the UFC planning a show for Hawaii this year. That doesn’t seem to be enough at the moment to get Penn back inside the Octagon, however. “We would just have to sit down and talk about what made sense,” Penn said. “That’s amazing they are finally deciding to go to Hawaii, but I wouldn’t want to waste Dana’s time, getting his hopes up on something he wants to put together.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fighter, ’t, sport, penn

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Mark Hill, the prominent West Coast mega-church minister at the helm of Mars Hill Church is getting some tough publicity for his approach to disciplining his members. But its an ill wind that blows no good as the hype brought his interesting take on MMA to my attention. Hill is not only an outspoken advocate of MMA, he's also very well informed. Check this ~10,000 word piece he wrote in November. Not only does he make a case for combat sports as part of a Christian's life, he also outlines the rules, history and ethic of the sport: Today, there remains much controversy around the sport due to what I believe are two primary reasons. One, many people simply do not understand the rules in place to help make MMA safer for the athletes. Two, it's a new sport and will take some time and the kind of exposure that main events on FOX will provide to quiet some critics....Some Christians will vocally declare that we must reject MMA. Sometimes it's because they simply do not understand the nature of the sport and misperceive it, and other times it's because they are pacifists theologically who don't condone violence in any form. Their picture of Jesus is basically a guy in a dress with fabulous long hair, drinking decaf and in touch with his feelings, who would never hurt anyone. The problem is that Jesus probably had short hair (1 Corinthians 11 says it was a disgrace in that day for a man to have long hair), was in good shape from a labor job and lots of walking across rugged terrain, and upon his return will come again not in humility but rather in glory. Of course he's also got some concerns that strike me, as a non-Christian, as rather eccentric if not deeply ignorant: Additionally, some argue that we should reject MMA because some aspects of the sport stem from Eastern religions and philosophy. Indeed, this was some of the pushback on my recent post on yoga, "Christian Yoga? It's a Stretch." To this I would agree on a certain level. I would not encourage anyone to study under a teacher who, in addition to combat techniques, was also pushing non-Christian philosophies and Eastern spirituality. As stated earlier, MMA involves a host of various combat traditions, including disciplines such as wrestling and boxing that do not have roots in Eastern religion. Further, as I stated in the yoga post, it's wholly acceptable for Christians to engage in the physical aspects of stretching, including yoga-type stretches, without engaging in the practice of yoga itself as it's been understood and practiced for thousands of years. My further caution was to not use the word yoga since it has such religious and cultural background that is antithetical to Christianity. Similarly, one can practice combat sports and learn various techniques without immersing oneself in the philosophy and culture of such activities. He also quotes from several MMA fighters who are practicing Christians including UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, legendary veterans Ken Shamrock and Matt Lindland and Ben Henderson. Here's some quotes he runs from Henderson, who fights for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 144: "Through music, that's one way I like to proclaim my faith. I try not to be overly pushy, but let people know. . .I'm not the best at converting people, but what I can do is live my life a certain way. . . I don't do the club scene, I don't go to bars. By people seeing that, that affects them in a bigger way than me talking about it. "Before all my fights, the only thing I pray for is strength and honor. . .I'm not one of those guys who is about the violence and. . .idolizing the lifestyle of money and fame. A lot people, when they fight, they're afraid of losing. I realize there's something more important in my life. So I don't fight to not to lose, I fight to win." But rest easy, he's not saying that a good Christian HAS to cage fight: Not everyone should participate in MMA, watch it, or even enjoy it. The Bible doesn't command us to, and God's people are free to operate according to conscience on this matter. Now I'm not bringing this up so we can hate on Mr. Hill or his faith, I just found it to be an interesting perspective on MMA. Tread lightly in the comments. We'll have the ban hammer ready and we're not very forgiving. The discussion should be limited to the context of the piece, ie how people of faith reconcile their fondness for MMA with their beliefs. Any attempt to steer the discussion into one of the actual or relative merits of any particular faith or lack of faith will result in a swift banning.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, people, christian

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Though it may not receive the same level of recognition as the UFC, Bellator has provided MMA fans with some of the most spectacular finishes in the sport since its inception in April 2009.

Posted in: bellator, sport, mma fans, bellator history, ufc bellator

Read the full article at Low Kick

At some point, Nick Diaz will run out of chances. Just not now. Just not yet. Despite Diaz's positive drug test stemming from his participation at UFC 143, you can expect him to be welcomed back into the UFC with open arms, if and when he's ready to return. That's what happens when you're talented and popular and in your prime.Now the question is: will he return?Like most questions pertaining to Diaz, we'll just have to wait and see, with the understanding that anything is possible. This is a guy who missed out on a UFC championship fight and the chance to make a seven-figure payday because he couldn't organize himself enough to make three separate flights to media obligations. You think he has long-term plans? There is some chatter from those around Diaz that he really is planning to call it quits, that he doesn't want or need MMA anymore. It wouldn't be surprising if that's truly how he feels now. He's less than one week removed from a fight in which he believes he unfairly lost, and less than a few days removed from hearing that he flunked a drug test and is likely to face a lengthy suspension. In his mind, he probably feels like the sport doesn't love him right now, so why would he love it back?The funny thing is, his popularity rating seems to be at an all-time high. After the Nevada state athletic commission disclosed his positive test, most of the chatter has been in support of him. Given the sport's young demographic, it's not surprising that most don't see marijuana use as an offense worthy of losing your job, or even being suspended from it. To them, Diaz is just another one of the wrongly persecuted victims of a misdirected war on drugs. After all, they reason, how is marijuana use beneficial for fighting? So in that way, Diaz has already won the public relations war without saying a single word in his own defense. So, too, has the UFC, which is likely to bring him back into the fold whenever his suspension is up -- and it will most likely be one year. Company CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said so much during a recent Twitter conversation with fans.From the UFC's perspective, there is just too much money to be made with Diaz to wipe your hands of him and walk away. He has become MMA's counterculture icon, it's anti-hero. On top of that, he's one hell of a fighter, a forward-moving, punch-throwing machine who is murder on the ground. The UFC is, after all, in the fight business, and few represent the rawness of prizefighting the way Diaz does.That gameness makes Diaz a magnet for those of us who prefer our MMA served up with a side of primal rawness, and that isn't going to go away just because he disappears off our TV screen for a little while.Sports is one of the few areas in which absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. That's why the comebacks of stars like Michael Jordan and Brett Favre and George Foreman were such big stories. Even if Diaz doesn't belong in that class of superstardom in the real world, he does have that cachet in ours. So if Diaz decides to come back after his yearlong ban is over, it will be a huge story. But it will be interesting to see if it works in reverse. Diaz memorably once said that "in order to love fighting, I have to hate it." But at some point, he might just hate it so much that he really, actually hates it. If that were to happen, this would be the time. He has other hobbies. He loves sport jiu-jitsu. He loves triathlons. By all accounts, he's an excellent coach, so he could make a living that way if he wanted to. Counting the Carlos Condit bout, he fought seven times in the last 24 months, and five of those times, he prepared for five-round bouts. That's a lot of wear and tear on both the body and the mind. This break will test his love/hate relationship, strain it to the point that it might become beyond saving. If he finds that he no longer needs MMA, he gave us plenty of memories for the road. It's obvious there are many parts of this sport that he can live without. Regulation, judging, point-fighters, etc. The list goes on and on. But for the next year, it's going to be very different. Those complaints are easy to make when you're in the moment, but what happens when all of it is taken away and you're left with nothing? Then it becomes very simple. Then it comes down to this one thing: The sport moves on without you, but can you move on without it?

Posted in: ufc, diaz, sport, he, marijuana use

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In the wake of UFC 143, we were all left with yet another decision which half of the population disagrees. Dana White and The Nevada State Athletic Commission have acknowledged the need for reformation. Dana White, the proverbial Martin Luther if you will, is blowing his whistle by enumerating instances of poor refereeing and judging. Dana says it drives him nuts; he also indicates the issue as a major crux in the evolution of the sport. “I’ve said it many times. In the evolution of this sport right now, one of the big problems we’re having right now is judging and reffing. It’s one of the things that drives me crazy and attention needs to be paid to scoring and reffing. First of all, it affects guys careers as far as legacies go. Jon Jones? Jon Jones should be undefeated right now but he’s not, he’s got a loss on his record and there’s tons of guys in the UFC that have those. There’s guys who’ve absolutely, clearly won fights and lost on the judges’ scorecards. Nobody’s perfect. There’s always gonna be problems. But the judging and the reffing is so bad in mixed martial arts, it drives me crazy. The fans hate it too and it hurts the sport. These athletic commissions really need to tighten up and start working on educating their refs and judges.” On a positive note, Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, has indicated that there will be an “open mic night” that will allow anybody interested in the sport to come and vocalize his opinion on rule changes and reformations to the Unified Rules. Only time will tell how serious the commission is about making actual changes, but if history repeats itself, we may be more likely to see rule changes actually be implemented sooner rather than later. Nevada’s Athletic Commission is as good as any when it comes to keeping up with change. Image via ESPN

Posted in: sport, dana, commission, change, rule changes

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Judging and refereeing has always been near the center of combat sports controversy and discussions, recent UFC history is no different. UFC 143 saw a mildly controversial decision in the main event with Carlos Condit taking the win over Nick Diaz as well as odd refereeing in the Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce and Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa bouts. While Dana agreed that Condit had earned the win over Diaz, that didn't stop him from talking about the state of judging and reffing in the sport today: Transcription (via MMA Mania): I've said it many times. In the evolution of this sport right now, one of the big problems we're having right now is judging and reffing. It's one of the things that drives me crazy and attention needs to be paid to scoring and reffing. First of all, it affects guys careers as far as legacies go. Jon Jones? Jon Jones should be undefeated right now but he's not, he's got a loss on his record and there's tons of guys in the UFC that have those. There's guys who've absolutely, clearly won fights and lost on the judges' scorecards. Nobody's perfect. There's always gonna be problems. But the judging and the reffing is so bad in mixed martial arts, it drives me crazy. The fans hate it too and it hurts the sport. These athletic commissions really need to tighten up and start working on educating their refs and judges.

Posted in: ufc, sport, there, sport right, reffing

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

"I've said it many times. In the evolution of this sport right now, one of the big problems we're having right now is judging and reffing. It's one of the things that drives me crazy and attention needs to be paid to scoring and reffing. First of all, it affects guys careers as far as legacies go. Jon Jones? Jon Jones should be undefeated right now but he's not, he's got a loss on his record and there's tons of guys in the UFC that have those. There's guys who've absolutely, clearly won fights and lost on the judges' scorecards. Nobody's perfect. There's always gonna be problems. But the judging and the reffing is so bad in mixed martial arts, it drives me crazy. The fans hate it too and it hurts the sport. These athletic commissions really need to tighten up and start working on educating their refs and judges." The state of officiating and judging is once again a hot topic in mixed martial arts (MMA) in the wake of UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," the pay-per-view (PPV) event from last Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans and media alike are split on who the real winner was after five rounds of action, despite Carlos Condit getting the unanimous decision nod over Nick Diaz in "Sin City." A complete and utter travesty? Or a close fight that could have gone either way?

Posted in: guy, right, judge, sport, reffing

Read the full article at MMA Mania

After reading a Forbes.com profile of Tucker Max, a controversial Internet star who'd turned into an absurdly successful book author, I noticed that a very brief quote about the good qualities of MMA was almost buried into the piece. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a nearly 4500 word Q&A session, which is now the five part interview being featured here on Bloody Elbow. The back and forths that we went through showed that Max views MMA as a source of physical betterment, complex and useful techniques, great friends and astonishing personal growth - which should be surprisingly universal to combat sports followers and participants reading this. The first part of this interview dealt with Tucker Max's discovery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, subsequent humbling and the transition into training MMA. The second gave us the surprisingly good methodology of his training with MMA hillbilly Reggie Warren and moved us to Max's present day training in Austin, Texas. This third part essentially asks Tucker why he does all of this and why he is willing to stand up on this platform and talk about MMA. His answer is surprisingly eloquent. This interview is done partly in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores today and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for Part Three. Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Ben Thapa: How deeply embedded into your life is MMA? What does the sport mean to you personally? Tucker Max: My closet is full of Affliction shirts, my car has six Tap-Out bumper stickers and I even wear my mouth guard to bars! I'm hardcore!!! HAHAHA--just kidding. I love MMA/BJJ and its a huge part of my life, but I don't think you'd know it looking at me or even walking around my apartment. You might see my signed Bas Rutten Street Fighting DVD (the outtake reel from that is still the funniest viral video in internet history), or maybe I'll have a rash-guard or something laying on the washer, but that's it as far as looking at me from the outside. That being said, MMA is a huge part of my personal, inner life. The sport changed my life in such substantive ways, ways that are integral to who I am today. First off, MMA indirectly got me into paleo eating, which has been amazing [Max says you can read more about that at http://www.adultswim.com/blog/interviews/celeb-nerdy-tucker-max.html]. But more importantly, MMA changed the way I looked at myself and at the world. I don't want to sound like a weirdo about this, but I bet that since most Bloody Elbow readers train martial arts, they will understand what I'm talking about: MMA has taught me so much about myself. The first thing I learned was deep humility, but in a good way, a safe, productive manner that nothing else ever did. You tap or you break your arm. You accept defeat every day, but you learn from it, you get better, and you move on. You come to understand that it's OK to fail, as long as you use it to learn how to succeed. It gives you a resilience along with your humility. MMA also helped me figure out who I was. You know the Fight Club quote, "How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?" It's f***ing true. When you train, you can either be a quitter, or you can stay calm under stress, fight through it, and maybe escape the position. You can either brave the chaos, face your fear and come out the other side, or you can succumb to that fear and run and hide. These are questions every man has about himself, and MMA helps you answer them more than anything else I have ever been a part of. That's what's so awesome about MMA/BJJ--fighting is truth. Everything in life is bulls**t, but not fighting. You can't hide on the mat, the truth finds you, because violence is so pure, so elemental that it strips away all artifice and reduces us down to our core. Life or death. Win or loss. No grey area, no bulls**t. What else in life is like that? Nothing. It's the ultimate way to see who you are as a person. True deeply held inner confidence comes from repeated, demonstrated performance, and training in MMA gives you that chance to show to yourself and others that you can do it. Because I've done it, because I've trained hard and swam in deep waters, made a good account of myself, and come out alive--I know who I am. That sort of self-knowledge creates an amazing confidence and calm in a person. I have demonstrated--to myself--that I can handle myself in a fight, that I can stand in the ring. And I know if I can do that, I know I am going to be OK in almost anything else I have to face in life. And the cool thing is you don't have to be the best, you don't even have to be all that good, to get the psychological benefits of MMA/BJJ--god knows I am not very good at all when compared to most people who train with me. Because I mostly train with people better than me, I doubt I've "won" even 25% of my sparring sessions. But so what? Unless you're doing it as a pro, for money, then it's not about winning. It's about going in, working your a** off, testing yourself as much as you can, and proving to yourself that I you are who you think you are. That you can stand on that mat and face that man across from you. If you do that, the result doesn't really matter. BT: Why does the athletic struggle with an opponent in this specific context make you answer more self-posed questions than team sports like basketball or football or individual sports like wrestling? Wouldn't they pose the same questions? TM: No they don't. It's not that other sports don't provide a ton of value; they do, and I am glad I played all of them, but that aren't the same, and I just can't look at them the same way after I tried fighting. Fighting is the purest, most primal thing a human can do (other than have sex). Any sport is going to have artifice built into it and be a few steps removed from fighting--it has to be, it's only a sport. I could write 10,000 words about this, but here's a simple explanation that think everyone will understand: You ever played an intense basketball game or football game or whatever, one where your team hates the other team, where everyone is playing hard and intense and you win? If the other team has a guy who a very sore loser, what does he do? Start a fight. You know why? Because winning a basketball game only means you won a basketball game. It hasn't really proven anything. But when you lose a fight, what can you do then? Fight again? You just lost--it's over. Winning a basketball game and winning a fight are fundamentally different, because playing basketball never puts your life in danger. When you train MMA/BJJ, you are putting your life in the hands of the guy you are training with. That makes it the ultimate proving ground. By playing basketball, you answers questions about how well you play basketball, but by fighting, a man can answer questions not about a sport, but about himself. End of Part Three Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as Parts Four and Five will appear daily until the end of the week (2/10/12)

Posted in: mma, sport, life, part, training

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Longtime sponsor of the UFC, TapouT announced a new multi-year deal with the company and new title as “official lifestyle apparel partner” of the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Via TapouT/UFC press release: The multi-year deal gives TapouT exposure at UFC® events broadcast on Pay-Per-View, FX and FUEL TV via canvas logos, bumpers and billboards. In addition, TapouT will present the “Submission of the Night” feature on UFC broadcasts, as well as take part in on-site activation at UFC events globally. The agreement also includes an extensive digital media plan, with TapouT gaining visibility across multiple social media platforms and at UFC.com. Furthermore, TapouT obtains the rights to use “Official lifestyle apparel of UFC” on hangtags, point-of-sale and advertising. TapouT, which is owned by New York-based ABG Tapout, LLC a division of Authentic Brands Group LLC, has a long history of sponsoring UFC athletes in the Octagon®. “TapouT has been a big supporter of the sport and its athletes for a long time,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’re excited to have them as our official lifestyle apparel partner as we get ready for some of the biggest years in UFC history.” “It’s been a dream of ours ever since we watched the first UFC to be an official partner of the best MMA organization in the world,” said TapouT co-founder, Dan “Punkass” Caldwell. “The UFC is a world class professional sports organization with an aggressive global growth strategy in line with ours,” said James Salter, CEO of Authentic Brands Group. “This partnership with the UFC further reinforces TapouT’s commitment to supporting the sport, its athletes and beloved fans.” “TapouT and the UFC have had a long standing relationship over the years, which would explain why many fans already consider us as the lifestyle brand of the UFC,” said James Ling, TapouT’s SVP of Marketing and Global Brands in an email to MMAPayout.  “We made it official so there’s no doubt in the minds of retailers and consumers that TapouT is the leading lifestyle brand in the space.” “TapouT and the UFC’s goals are in alignment as both continue to expand international reach and market penetration,” Ling added, “As the sport continues to grow and gets further ingrained into mainstream culture, we hope to see more fans wanting to represent the sport they love by supporting the brands that support the sport.”  

Posted in: ufc, sport, brand, tapout, lifestyle

Read the full article at MMA Payout

In this age of callous self promotion and cheap provocation designed to sell a few more units, it is understandable to cast a doubtful eye towards a New York Times-bestselling author talking about training in mixed martial arts. However, Tucker Max is no fake and especially not when it comes to MMA. In a recent Forbes article by Michael Ellsberg, Max very briefly credits MMA as an integral component towards his journey towards being a better, healthier person than the womanizing thrill-seeker who went out and did the things that make up the autobiographical comedies that power the book phenomenons I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell and A**holes Finish First. The relevant quote from the Forbes interview is as follows: "I've learned more about by myself from training MMA, than from any other thing in my life, except psychoanalysis." Because Ellsberg is more interested in the psychoanalysis tangents and relaying how he keeps comparing himself to Tucker, the Forbes article spends almost no time on MMA. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a Q&A session that ranges from describing his discovery of the sport, the move to direct participation and the many connections he made with professionals and friends. The five-part interview is nearly 4500 words long and is interspersed with many highly passionate and profound thoughts at the positive experiences and values combat sports have for him and their applicability to others. Of course, this recent media surge is in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores on Tuesday (2/7/12) and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for the first of five parts encompassing Tucker's experiences and views on mixed martial arts, as told in his unique voice and featuring brief glimpses of some very proment MMA fighters and figures. Ben Thapa: How did you come across mixed martial arts? What clicked you over from a viewer to a participant? Tucker Max: I got into MMA in early 2007. I hadn't watched it much on TV or anything; my impressions of it were similar to a lot of people who didn't understand it at the time, I basically thought it was just sweaty dudes rolling around hugging each other. I had moved to LA in 2007 to work on a movie, and I hated everything about LA and the entertainment business. After watching me explode about something ridiculously inconsequential, my buddy suggested I find something to help me deal with this s**t. He was rolling at Rickson Gracie's place in Santa Monica at the time, so I joined him there one day. I played football, basketball and baseball in high school, I thought I was in great shape and would just whip these losers in robes rolling around on the ground. Well, we all know what happens to people like that: I got my a** handed to me. I didn't fall in love right away. In fact, I almost never went back, but I was too arrogant and prideful to give up after one day of getting my a** kicked. So I went back and got my a** kicked again, and again, and slowly stopped getting pissed about losing, and started to engage BJJ some. The only thing was - I didn't like jiu jitsu in a gi. Everything we did, I kept thinking to myself, "I could just punch you in the f***ing face. What are you going to do then?" Of course I understand now that's kinda silly, but I didn't understand that then. I decided I wanted to try full fighting - real MMA - not just grappling, so after a few weeks as a guest at Rickson's, I went to Legends. This was when it had just opened and was at the original location, on Hollywood and La Brea, and Randy Couture and Bas Rutten were still actively teaching there. I liked BJJ, but I fell in love with MMA right away. I liked everything about it; the physicality, the intensity, learning a new skill that was applicable to real like, testing myself, all that stuff. I think the thing that really clicked with me about MMA was how much more honest and real it was than anything else I'd ever done as an athlete. It just made sense to me on a deep, primal level. Basically from the first MMA class, I thought to myself, "THIS is what sports is about. Everything else is bulls**t," and I knew this was going to be what I would do sports wise the rest of my life, and I could never go back to any other sport. Don't get me wrong, I still love to watch football and basketball, but once you get into full contact and start trading punches and submissions, you understand the raw truth of Joe Rogan's quote about sports just being "an elaborate substitute for a fight." BT: What was your first year or so of training like? How did you progress? TM: I trained at Legends for my first year, and it was great. Randy and Bas are both the coolest motherf***ers on earth, and great teachers, but the guy I learned the most from and trained the most with was Mac Danzig. Mac taught the MMA class that I took most of the time, and he was just a f***ing phenomenal teacher. He understands how MMA differs from straight BJJ and straight striking, and really stressed the fundamentals and worked my game until, in less than a year, I was good enough to train full speed with the mid-level pros there (guys like Vic Webster, Chris Brady and Chris Sepulveda), and even good enough to roll some with the bigger pros (like Mac, Dan Hardy, Amir Rahdnavardi, Scott Epstein, Conor Heun, Mayhem, guys like that). As an aside, you're going to die laughing at this: Even though Jeremie Williams was the main boxing coach at Legends then and I learned a lot from him, you know who I did the vast majority of my stand-up work with? REGGIE WARREN!! No s**t, his real name is Gary Steuber, he is a real fighter and grew up with Spencer Fisher and taught a lot of striking classes at Legends. His ground game is about the same as mine--which means its basically dogs**t--but his striking is legit. He got me from no experience to being able to get in the ring and do well against MMA guys in six months. He's a great teacher. Let me be clear: I am NOT putting myself in the league of any of those guys AT ALL. I never did anything but get my a** kicked by them. This should give you an idea of my skill level: My greatest MMA moment at Legends was--one time--I went a full round with Mac and he didn't submit me. Mind you, I didn't take him down, or land a good shot on him, or almost sink a submission, or put him in any danger at all really. I just stayed alive for five minutes, but I was ecstatic. Like an idiot, I made the mistake of bragging about it during the round break, which made Mac mad, and he submitted me approximately 50 times the next round. It was funny. Seriously though, the fact that within a year I was good enough to roll to some extent with top level pros, and go safely go full speed with mid-level pros (they all kicked my ass too, of course) is a testament to Mac's teaching ability and the other people teaching at Legends then (Gary, Jeremie, Amir, Chris, etc). I haven't been to the new location (because I left LA), but I'd still recommend that group of guys as trainers, they were great for me. End of Part One Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as Parts Two to Five will appear daily until the end of the week (2/10/12).

Posted in: mma, guy, legend, sport, tucker

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Las Vegas, Nevada –TapouT®, the premier MMA lifestyle brand and longtime supporter of the sport of mixed martial arts, has become an official lifestyle apparel partner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the companies announced today. The multi-year deal gives TapouT exposure at UFC® events broadcast on Pay-Per-View, FX and FUEL TV via canvas logos, bumpers and billboards. In addition, TapouT will present the “Submission of the Night” feature on UFC broadcasts, as well as take part in on-site activation at UFC events globally. The agreement also includes an extensive digital media plan, with TapouT gaining visibility across multiple social media platforms and at UFC.com. Furthermore, TapouT obtains the rights to use “Official lifestyle apparel of UFC” on hangtags, point-of-sale and advertising.TapouT, which is owned by New York-based ABG TapouT, LLC a division of Authentic Brands Group LLC, has a long history of sponsoring UFC athletes in the Octagon®.“TapouT has been a big supporter of the sport and its athletes for a long time,” said Bryan Johnston, CMO of UFC. “We’re excited to have them as our official lifestyle apparel partner as we get ready for some of the biggest years in UFC history.”“It’s been a dream of ours ever since we watched the first UFC to be an official partner of the best MMA organization in the world,” said TapouT co-founder, Dan “Punkass” Caldwell.“The UFC is a world class professional sports organization with an aggressive global growth strategy in line with ours,” said Nick Woodhouse, CMO of Authentic Brands Group. “This partnership with the UFC further reinforces TapouT’s commitment to supporting the sport, its athletes and beloved fans.”

Posted in: ufc, sport, official, tapout, lifestyle

Read the full article at UFC

Video: Highlights: UFC 143 More UFC 143 video highlights via FOX Sports.

Posted in: ufc, fox, video, sport

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Everyone was pretty excited when Dana White announced that 2012 would bring us not only the end of the world, but the end of Gladiator Dude and the dulcet tones of Stemm's "Bring the Pain." Then UFC 142 happened, and it looked a lot like UFC 141, UFC 140, and every other event from the past 6 years. Not that I'm complaining too much. Thus far 'positive' production change has involved replacing prelim fights with sportsdesk ka-ka. Because people watching sports want less sports and more not-sports. At least this sounds positive: The UFC will debut a new 60-second opening for its pay-per-view events at this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" show in Las Vegas. It'll replace the one that's been in use for nearly a decade.The segment, which was produced by the digital-production company Digital Domain (and sister company Mothership), features highlights from 18 of the UFC's most iconic fights.For years, the UFC has used an opening spot that features a gladiator suiting up for battle. The clip, though, has become infamously outdated and mocked.According to a release, Digital Domain created the one-minute spot to encompass all eras of the UFC. Fights clips will combine archival footage with "entirely imagined backgrounds" that are meant to show the evolution of the sport. Additionally, the score was created by famed film producer and music producer Hans Zimmer through his company, 14th St. Music. BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHM! Oh yeah, they got the guy from Inception, so we can expect 400 tubas playing a low C note to visuals of Anderson Silva front kicking people in outer space. Whatever it is, I hope it's good because based on the UFC's glacial pace of change, it might be what we're stuck with until the year 2020.

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, company, gladiator

Read the full article at Fightlinker

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Posted in: sport, government, domain, firstrowsport, youknowhowido

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It's rare in sports, but every now and then sports fans get to encounter something completely unique: athletes with opinions they're happy to share, and possessing the type of wit you might not expect out of someone that spends most of their time in the gym. Ronda Rousey is becoming a poster girl not just for women's MMA, but for an athlete ‘raw and uncensored'. She's defiantly not afraid to say what's on her mind, but unlike Chael Sonnen, we're not observing theatre. We're observing humanity: anger, humor, joy, grit, and Pokemon make up Rousey's stream of consciousness. This past Sunday, Jeff Sherwood (along with Scott Holmes) had a chance to interview Rousey at the LA Fitness Expo. It was a candid interview even by Rousey's standards. The interview started out innocuous enough until Sherwood asked her about her favorite 145 lb champion, Cristiane Santos (on whether or not Cyborg was good or bad for female MMA): "She was a detriment to women's MMA. No little girl is going to watch cris cyborg fight and want to be like her one day. I don't think it's a good example. I think it was obvious all along that she was doping, and I think it sends a bad message to kids that you need to dope in order to be achampion. I think it's better with her gone." While her logic might not be questionable, the "if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck" line of thinking was nonetheless validated in the wake of Cyborg's positive test. Incapable of ruffling the feathers of just the disgraced ex-champ, Rousey didn't stop there, taking a thinly veiled shot at Miesha Tate... "There's a reason why the Olympics is every four years. It's because if they had it every year, they would go bankrupt. The Olympics is the epitome of sport and that's where it's all just about the sport. But with professional sports it's about entertainment. It's about making money. The core of everything is still about the sport, but that's not everything it's about. It's hilarious when these girls are ‘you talked yourself into a title shot!' What you're really saying in a mean way is that I'm smarter than all of you, and I actually have an understanding of how this works and used it to my advantage. " ...nor did Rousey avoid leaving the ring-card-girl-stone unturned... "There's a reason why the ring girls aren't asked to star in movies, and it's because they're pretty but talentless." For context, Rousey was responding to a question about Gina Carano, who Rousey has the utmost respect for, and who she attributes some of her success to. However, Ronda's most scathing attack was directed at the Olympics. Everyone talks about how awesome the Olympics are, but you know what? After the Olympics they give you ten grand a handshake. And you know what, it costs way more than ten grand to get there. The Olympics didn't give a damn about me after I was done. And I gotta do what I gotta do to make a living. If I gotta pose for some magazines...I'm not gonna show my nipples or asshole or anything like that but if I gotta walk around at the beach in a bikini, why not let someone take a picture of me and put it in a magazine? ... All these companies make millions and millions of dollars to put the Olympic rings as like a logo. I walked into 24 hour fitness the other day. They're a multi-million dollar sponsor of the Olympic games. And they have all these Olympic rings all over the place. They know I'm an Olympic medalist. They know I'm an Olympian. They will not let me in there without paying. I have to pay to go into 24 hour fitness. I have to buy every single Gatorade bottle. That money does not go to the athletes. That money goes into a lot of really corrupt national governing bodies that bounce that money around, they give it to all their friends, and almost none of that money makes it to the athletes. USA Judo is the most corrupt organizations ever, and they hated me because I was not afraid to say it, and they always gave me as little funding as possible. At the 2007 worlds they sent more officials and more people from their organization, and then they made most of the athletes pay for themselves to go. They only sponsorerd three athletes to go, and they sent like eleven different people. And I remember at the Pan Am games, or Pan-Am champsionships in wherever we were at, a bunch of the athletes had to pay for themselves to go and then they flew some PR girl at the last minute. Thousands of dollars just to show up and hang around. And they're sending all their people first class, and they're spending all this, you look at their budget and they're spending thousands of dollars on entertainment for each other. All the people that work for this organization are sitting in these amazing hotels, and the athletes, I'm sitting in a hut. A chalet in the middle of Belgium. All that money and none of it goes to the athletes, and the second that you're done fighting they just give you a kick in the ass out the door. There's nothing set in place to help the athletes after they're done. What are you doing while you're training your whole life? You're not getting as much education as you could. You're not getting as much work experience as you could. And so what happens after the Olympics Is that you have all these athletes that have no work experience, no education, and they have no health. And it's all bullshit. And that's why I'm like screw everyone's idea of 'oh what sports are supposed to be like'. I did what sports were supposed to be like, and I was living in my car. So you know what, fine. I'm gonna talk a bunch of shit. I'm gonna pose in a couple of pictures. And I'm gonna break a couple of girl's arms, and I'm not gonna feel the least bit sorry about it because you know what? At least I can feed my dog. It's an extensive interview, but I suggest you listen to the whole thing here. The interview begins at the one hour, and 55 minute mark. Sherwood would later describe Rousey's teary-eyed frustration during the rant.

Posted in: sport, athlete, olympic, im, rousey

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by MMAFighting.com's Michael David Smith. Breen and Smith discuss the recent changes in the sports media landscape, chiefly the decisions of many major outlets to scale back their coverage of niche sports, including MMA. Breen and MDS delve into what it means for MMA, the new challenges it presents and possible impediments to MMA's growth in North America in this media climate. The duo also tackle how this landscape could create new possibilities in different international markets for the UFC, the potential for the UFC's deal with Fox going forward, the current roles of Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta within the company and even which Super Bowl team best represents the sport of MMA. Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.”

Posted in: mma, sport, media, row, breen

Read the full article at Sherdog

Earlier today, Yahoo’s Dave Doyle announced that today was his last day as MMA/Boxing editor at Yahoo! Sports. Doyle stated the following message via social media website Twitter: Today is my last as MMA/boxing editor at Yahoo! Sports. It’s been an awesome ride working with great folks. Thanks for everything. Sources tell MMAPayout.com that the cutting back on non-mainstream sports by Yahoo was due to their tumultuous 2011, which saw Yahoo’s stock dip under $17 and saw gross revenues decline by over 20%. Another key member of Yahoo’s MMA team is long-time MMA and Pro Wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer, who also been with Yahoo since 2007. His contract is also up this week.  At this time, it is unsure whether Meltzer will be able to continue his affiliation with Yahoo Sports, as the struggling company tries to workout it’s budget for the new fiscal year.  Longtime Boxing and MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Steve Cofield, and Maggie Hendricks are reported to be staying with the team. Yahoo will now shift their coverage to more mainstream sports, such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, instead of those that are more niche such as combat sports (i.e. MMA, Golf, NASCAR).  Rumors of a possible shakeup within Yahoo! Sports first began around the Summer of last year. The dismal fiscal results made sure those early rumblings came to fruition. In terms of Yahoo’s fiscal 2011, Forbes stated the following: “Even with gross revenues declining by over 20% in 2011, Yahoo’s Q4 2011 results were hardly a surprise, as the company completed a tumultuous year filled with leadership and investor squabbles. For now, CEO Scott Thompson has acknowledged that the company has to deliver more monetization on digital content in 2012, which is a must for Yahoo to stop its shrinking presence in the online ad space.” Yahoo will now try to focus on it’s core business, which will include selling off Asian assets and letting go non-performing Yahoo! properties, as Yahoo’s CEO Thompson has stressed “effective allocation of capital as a priority” moving forward. This isn’t the first mainstream sports media shake-up that has impacted MMA.  In November of 2011, AOL’s MMAFigthing.com was sold to Vox Media – parent company to SB Nation- after AOL has also been struggling financially.  A few days later, USA TODAY Sports Media group (Gannett) made the announcement that they had acquired MMAJunkie.com.

Posted in: mma, sport, yahoo, today, yahoo sports

Read the full article at MMA Payout

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Grapplers, here's another great article for you from my teammate and fellow black belt, Daniel Rodriguez aka Da Rod aka Akume. Daniel is a talented coach and a Pan American Gold Medalist. He's contributed to DSTRYR/SG a number of times, recently by doing Jiu Jitsu at.13,000 feet (i.e., while skydiving) and in a write-up last week about Non-Gracie BJJ lineage. He also has, hands down, the most magnificent beard in all of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I asked Daniel what he thought about the very recent IBJJF rule affecting the berimbolo/DLR hook. Here's what he had to say: Lately, there has been quite the controversy on the latest rule to affect tournaments - an underhook to the shin while performing the De La Riva/berimbolo. In sports, rules are constantly being modified and changed for different reasons. It wasn't too long along that a rule was instituted that if you looked at a ref wrong in the NBA, you got a technical foul. It's a sport, these things happen and, in IBJJF's case, their reasoning is that the underhook creates pressure on the knee that can potentially injure competitors. Personally, I don't get it because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a sport in which the submission is the ultimate goal. ALL SUBMISSIONS CAN POTENTIALLY INJURE COMPETITORS. I can see the interest in protecting the athlete at brown belt and below, but at black belt adult, I believe anything should be game. Read More...

Posted in: sport, jitsu, daniel, rule, ibjjfs case

Read the full article at Middle Easy

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Grapplers, here's another great article for you from my teammate and fellow black belt, Daniel Rodriguez aka Da Rod aka Akume. Daniel is a talented coach and a Pan American Gold Medalist. He's contributed to DSTRYR/SG a number of times, recently by doing Jiu Jitsu at.13,000 feet (i.e., while skydiving) and in a write-up last week about Non-Gracie BJJ lineage. He also has, hands down, the most magnificent beard in all of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I asked Daniel what he thought about the very recent IBJJF rule affecting the berimbolo/DLR hook. Here's what he had to say: Lately, there has been quite the controversy on the latest rule to affect tournaments - an underhook to the shin while performing the De La Riva/berimbolo. In sports, rules are constantly being modified and changed for different reasons. It wasn't too long along that a rule was instituted that if you looked at a ref wrong in the NBA, you got a technical foul. It's a sport, these things happen and, in IBJJF's case, their reasoning is that the underhook creates pressure on the knee that can potentially injure competitors. Personally, I don't get it because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a sport in which the submission is the ultimate goal. ALL SUBMISSIONS CAN POTENTIALLY INJURE COMPETITORS. I can see the interest in protecting the athlete at brown belt and below, but at black belt adult, I believe anything should be game. Read More...

Posted in: sport, jitsu, daniel, rule, i dont

Read the full article at Middle Easy

The fight to legalize mixed martial arts in New York is likely to continue for some time and take more twists and turns over the coming months. When Zuffa filed a lawsuit alleging that the ban was a violation of First Amendment rights, it was surprising. What is not surprising is that New York legislators have not backed down since that development. New York talked to a federal judge about their ban and why they feel federal involvement is unnecessary and wrong. The Hollywood Reporter has the story: New York says that even if it's true that MMA has evolved from its no-holds-barred origins, and that the UFC has crafted rules that protect the safety and health of its fighters, the only thing that matters is whether there was a rationale behind the law's adoption at the time of its passing. To this end, New York quotes various medical experts who testified before the NY legislature in 1997 about the dangers of the sport, such as concussions, hemorrhages, lacerations and fractures. The state also says that lawmakers wanted to send a message to young people that the brutality of the sport had no place in a civilized society. ... If the ban on mixed martial arts fighting is outdated, New York says that the democratically-elected branches of government will eventually rectify it. Any decision otherwise would invite too much scrutiny by courts, says the state's attorney general. The memorandum says: "The Plaintiffs' desired rule, which would have federal courts reexamining the validity of statutes every time a challenger asserted that a once-rational classification had outlived or failed to achieve its purpose, is at odds with the principle of judicial restraint articulated by the Supreme Court." The gist of it all is that New York says that the state law shouldn't be overturned at the federal level since there was a "rational basis" to ban the sport in 1997 and that it will be turned over if and when they determine it is correct to do so. You can read the full 29 page memorandum over at The Hollywood Reporter.

Posted in: sport, court, state, york, ban

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

ONE Fighting Championship has announced a partnership with ESPN Star Sports which will see it broadcast in twenty-four Asian countries for the next ten years. The length of the deal is unprecedented in MMA history and is three years longer than the UFC’s recent agreement with FOX. The news essentially means that ONE FC will be shown alongside major sporting events such as the English Premier League, FIFA World Club, Formula One, NBA and MLS which can only help the development of MMA in Asia. ESPN Star Sports is Asia’s biggest sports content provider and Adam Zecha, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales (SEA), ESPN STAR Sports, said, “ESPN STAR Sports has always been at the forefront in offering innovative and engaging programming to sports fans across the region. We have successfully showcased a diverse range of combat sports events to fans, and with this long-term partnership with ONE Fighting Championship, mixed-martial arts sports fans can now look forward to more exciting action on our networks.” ONE Fighting Championship plan to put on at least eight events in 2012 with shows in Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur already confirmed. CEO/Owner Victor Cui explained,  “Asia has been the birthplace and home to martial arts for the last 5,000 years and ONE Fighting Championship has a vision of bringing mixed martial arts to the 3.9 billion people living in Asia. ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s biggest provider of sports content, is a wonderful partner to help with that mission.” Rodrigo Ribeiro Talks Upcoming fight at ONE FC 2 ONE FC’s next event is scheduled for February 11 at the BritAma Arena in Jakarta. The main event sees Filipino Ole Laursen take on Felipe Enomoto from Japan while Bob Sapp and Rolles Gracie also go head to head in a super heavyweight clash. Tweet

Posted in: star, espn, sport, event, asia

Read the full article at Fighters.com

I was listening to the local Vancouver sports jocks on TEAM 1040 this morning, a couple of fellows by the names Matt Sekeres and Blake Price, and they took a minute out of their show to dump on this Saturday's UFC on FOX offering, describing it as "utterly boring and unwatchable". Price called Chael Sonnen's WWE style promo "an embarrassment" and they had a good laugh at a few tweets they had received suggesting that the UFC on FOX was more newsworthy sporting action than the NHL all-star game. (Talk about the pot calling the kettle black). Vancouver is undoubtedly a one sport, one team, town (Hockey, the Vancouver Canucks) and a good portion of the sports media personalities working in the city often make a fool of themselves when pressed to provide anything but cookie cutter opinions on the rest of the sporting world. That being said I thought it was interesting to hear a take from those outside the "MMA bubble"; I have to say that despite their obvious lack of MMA knowledge, I agreed with their description of the event as boring. We all heard Joe Rogan describe Demian Maia and Chris Weidman as "two drunk guys outside a bar". For those familiar with the sport the action was better after that first misstep, but for a newbie, Sonnen/Bisping and Evans/Davis had little excitement. The major mistake I think the UFC has made when it comes to their two FOX cards is that they are pushing their championships over exciting fights. For casual fans who don't really know what they are watching, the championships aren't important. If my first exposure to the sport left me yawning, why would I care who is the best? Even worse, if it was a boring championship fight that I was watching, why on earth would I ever watch it again? Ben Henderson and Clay Guida was THE fight to put on FOX, according to most of the die-hards and the MMA media. Instead of their spectacular 15 minute whirlwind , we got Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez sullying the most prestigious title in the organization within a minute. For this card we were treated to Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans doing just enough to secure spots in championship matches of their own. Sonnen appeals mostly to pro-wrestling fans who almost surely have already been exposed to MMA and either like it or don't. Those who think pro-wrestling is silly, (which is nearly everyone who doesn't think it's awesome) will likely think Chael is silly and they won't care whatsoever that he is great at tackling people and holding them there. If that was my first time watching MMA and I saw that fight and then saw that promo? I'd laugh my ass off. "He's calling it his Octagon? He barely even punched his opponent in the face!" Evans talked an awful lot before the fight, it seemed clear he was going to go out and knock Davis' block off. Of course, those familiar with the Evans/Jones saga can't really blame him for playing it safe but to the casual fan it must have seemed like like much ado over nothing. So far the UFC fighters (strikers) that would appeal most to the mainstream have been nowhere to be seen, save for Junior Dos Santos, but his fight against Velasquez was too short and sweet for casuals not to dismiss Velasquez. Think about boxing, which is still the dominant combat sport out there. Even Mike Tyson, who was a known entity by the time he hit the big time, took a few rounds to dispatch of his foes. The heavyweight championship lasting just a minute is unheard of in boxing. Now I completely understand that Dana White and Joe Silva want to use FOX to entice new fans to buy the pay per views but you can't just keep the most exciting fighters under lock and key unless someone pays $59.99 to see them. Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz are set to do battle at this weekend's UFC 143. I don't think anyone on the radio would be laughing today about "the single UFC fan who tweets the show" had the UFC flip flopped the main events. Zuffa seems to have realized that they aren't putting enough firepower out there, booking Jim Miller against Nathan Diaz as one of the fights on the third FOX event. That fight, like Henderson/Guida, is just about as close as you can get to guaranteed fireworks. Here's hoping they find a way to get Nathan's brother Nick on the card, who is 100 times more exciting than Sonnen inside the ring and likely 10 times more interesting (to the casual fan) outside. How do they say it? Third times a charm? Let's hope so.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sport, fan

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

There's interesting news coming out of the Asian MMA scene from both Legend FC and ONE FC. Both promotions will be hosting their next shows at the same date, and both promotions have announced major deals for their promotions on the same day as well. Earlier today, Legend FC has announced an "exclusive distribution and syndication agreement" with ESPN. This Hong Kong-based promotion is already available on 10 countries, including PPV in North America, and with this deal, they'll be looking to expand their reach to a broader audience globally with the help of ESPN international. From their press release: Legend Fighting Championship (Legend) today announced the signing of an exclusive distribution and syndication agreement with ESPN International (ESPN). Under the terms of the agreement, ESPN will serve as the sole distribution agent of all Legend broadcast content in Asia, Oceania, the Indian sub-continent, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ... "Legend’s combination of a roster filled with elite fighters from the Asia-Pacific region with high-quality production values makes us excited to work with them to continue to develop their audience around the world," said Mike Walter, vice president of programming, ESPN International. ONE FC on the other hand, will be hosting a show on the same date, and as we wrote about earlier, the Singapore-based promotion is set to be broadcast all over Asia on ESPN Star Sports (ESS). The promotion announced this deal a few moments ago, also adding that they have entered in a 10-year partnership with the company, guaranteeing a decade's worth of shows being broadcast on ESS. From their release: ONE Fighting Championship™, Asia’s largest MMA organization, announces a 10-year media partnership with ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s biggest sports content provider. This partnership marks the largest MMA media deal in Asian history and includes showcasing the best Asian mixed martial artists against one another through a series of events across all the major cities in Asia. ... Adam Zecha, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales (SEA), ESPN STAR Sports, said, "ESPN STAR Sports has always been at the forefront in offering innovative and engaging programming to sports fans across the region. We have successfully showcased a diverse range of combat sports events to fans, and with this long-term partnership with ONE Fighting Championship, mixed-martial arts sports fans can now look forward to more exciting action on our networks." Not sure about what's the difference between ESPN International and ESPN Star Sports? Not sure what's the difference between both deals? All that is explained after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. For those unfamiliar with the difference between the two 'ESPN' identities -- ESPN Star Sports (where ONE FC has a media partnership with) is a joint venture between News Corp (which owns Star TV and Fox International) and ESPN International (the one Legend FC has a distribution deal with). So while they're not exactly the same, especially with their reach on other continents, there's still a bit of an overlap between the two networks and their channels in Asia. As for the actual deals they made, they seem to be completely different. Legend FC has an agreement where ESPN International can help distribute their product and show them to some of the channels on their network, but it seems like they will still have to negotiate on which specific markets/channels they want their products to be aired. This gives them flexibility on what market they wish to be broadcast, but this also means that they won't get to maximize the entire reach of the ESPN network. ONE FC on the other hand, has their 10-year partnership, which basically guarantees that for the next decade, their product will be airing all over Asia, on all of the channels under the ESS umbrella. This would mean less flexibility for the promotion, but it also means they will maximize the entire reach of ESS, which spans through 24 countries in Asia. Legend FC's next event will be on Feb 11, in Macau, and it will be headlined by two title fights. Yao Honggang and Li Jingliang, who are both teammates of UFC fighter, Zhang Tiequan will be taking on highly ranked Jumabieke Tuerxun and Bae Myung Ho respectively for the Legend FC bantamweight and welterweight titles. As mentioned, ONE FC 2 will be in Indonesia, and it will also be on Feb 11th. It will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Martial Combat champion, Ole Laursen, and Felipe Enomoto, and a co-headlined by URCC Champ, Honorio Banario and Bae Young Kwon. Check out the official fight cards for both events below: Legend Fighting Championship 7February 11, 2012 - Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams, Macau Main Card:- Bae Myung Ho vs. Li Jingliang [Legend FC Welterweight Championship]- Yao Honggang vs. Jumabieke Tuerxun [Legend FC Bantamweight Championship]- Liu Wenbo Vs. Matt Cain- Hideto Tatsumi vs. Yang Hae Jun- Wang Sai vs. Gareth Ealey Preliminary Card:- Ji Xian vs. Leonard Delarmino- Taiyo Nakahara vs. Michael Mortimer- Koji Ando vs. Damien Brown- Mark Striegl vs. Choi Yeong Gwang- Sung Ming-Yen vs. Agustin Delarmino Jr. ONE FC 2: Battle of HeroesFebruary 11, 2012 - Sports Mall Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, Indonesia Main Card- Ole Laursen vs. Felipe Enomoto- Honorio Banario vs. Bae Young Kwon- Rustam Khabilov vs. Rodrigo Ribeiro- Gustavo Falciroli vs. Soo Chul Kim- Rolles Gracie vs. Bob Sapp Preliminary Card- Victorio Senduk vs. Raymond Tiew- Alex Silva vs. Geje Eustaquio- Jessie Rafols vs. Irshaad Sayed- Ngabdi Mulyadi vs. Peter Davis- Zuli Silawanto vs. Agus NaNang

Posted in: legend, espn, vs, sport, fc

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

ONE Fighting Championship today announced a '10-year media partnership,' which will see its events being broadcast by the biggest sports network in Asia, ESPN Star Sports. Further information about the logistics of the deal are likely to be announced at a press conference tomorrow, where new signing Renato Sobral will be unveiled to the media and details about the card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31, 2012, will also be revealed. ESPN Star Sports is available in 24 Asian countries and carries the rights to prestigious sporting events such as the NBA, English Premier League, World Cup, PGA Tour, Formula One, Major League Baseball and the Olympics. ONE Fighting Championship will become the first mixed martial arts (MMA) event to be broadcast by the network since Martial Combat in 2010. The length of the agreement is, to the best of my knowledge, unprecedented in MMA history, overtaking the seven-year deal that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently signed with FOX Sports. It means that ONE FC has a broadcast home for the next decade which will put it in households all over Asia. Here is the official press release: ONE Fighting Championship™, Asia’s largest MMA organization, announces a 10-year media partnership with ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s biggest sports content provider. This partnership marks the largest MMA media deal in Asian history and includes showcasing the best Asian mixed martial artists against one another through a series of events across all the major cities in Asia.Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Fighting Championship, said, "Asia has been the birthplace and home to martial arts for the last 5,000 years and ONE Fighting Championship has a vision of bringing mixed martial arts to the 3.9 billion people living in Asia. ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s biggest provider of sports content, is a wonderful partner to help with that mission."Adam Zecha, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales (SEA), ESPN STAR Sports, said, "ESPN STAR Sports has always been at the forefront in offering innovative and engaging programming to sports fans across the region. We have successfully showcased a diverse range of combat sports events to fans, and with this long-term partnership with ONE Fighting Championship, mixed-martial arts sports fans can now look forward to more exciting action on our networks."ONE Fighting Championship will be hosting events in Jakarta on February 11 and in Singapore again on March 31 featuring the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions. The full calendar of events for the rest of 2012 will be announced in the near future.About ONE Fighting Championship™Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization with the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions. ONE Fighting Championship hosts the most prestigious mixed martial arts event in Asia with the largest media broadcast platform.About ESPN STAR SportsESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world’s leading cable and satellite broadcasters. As Asia's definitive and complete sports broadcaster and content provider, ESPN STAR Sports combines the strengths and resources of its ultimate parent companies – Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.) and News Corporation Limited (STAR) – to deliver a diverse array of international and regional sports to viewers via its encrypted pay and free-to-air services. ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier live sports from around the globe 24 hours a day to a cumulative reach of more than 350 million viewers in Asia. ESPN STAR Sports has 17 networks covering 24 countries, each localised to deliver differentiated world-class premier sports programming to Asian viewers. This includes ESPN SEA, ESPN China, ESPN Hong Kong, ESPN India, ESPN Malaysia, ESPN Philippines, ESPN SEA 2, ESPN Taiwan, MBC-ESPN (Korea), STAR Sports Asia, STAR Sports Hong Kong, STAR Sports India, STAR Sports Malaysia, STAR Sports SEA 2, STAR Sports Southeast Asia, STAR Sports Taiwan, and STAR Cricket. On the ground, the ESPN STAR Sports Event Management Group manages and promotes premier sporting events around Asia. ESPN STAR Sports aims to reach consumers at any time, any place and through all new media platforms, both internet and mobile. The multi-lingual, online platforms, espnstar.com, espnstar.com.cn and espnstar.com.tw and footballcrazy.tv interact with millions of users providing them with in-depth sports news, results and competitions. Developed for the sports fan that is constantly on the move, mobileESPN and STAR Sports Mobile delivers differentiated mobile content targeted at its various audiences. mobileESPN enables the serious sports fan to follow their favourite sports more closely than ever before with a combination of specially produced video news clips, in-depth news coverage and analysis. STAR Sports Mobile aims to provide interactive and entertaining opportunities to engage with sports, delivering exclusive video excerpts from leading football clubs Arsenal and Liverpool as well as highlights from STAR Sports original programmes covering opinions, instructional tips and the latest online game reviews.

Posted in: star, espn, sport, event, asia

Read the full article at MMA Mania

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Badr Hari ended his kickboxing career yesterday with a first round knockout of fellow top heavyweight, Gokhan Saki. Now that Badr has left the sport, the heavyweight division that has been unstable ever since the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix is now just as up in the air as it's ever been. His departure shakes up the landscape of the heavyweight division, leaving it wide open and creating a vacancy that may or may not be filled. Badr isn't the only one leaving, and there are others that could potentially do the same. Peter Aerts will finally be ending his legendary career on June 30 at the age of 41. Tyrone Spong's future in kickboxing is uncertain after the fight with Peter Aerts, as he's living in the US and training with MMA fighters like Rashad Evans. Spong has openly discussed a potential move to MMA. Other top fighters in the sport appear to be sticking around for the time being, but age isn't on their side. Jerome Le Banner is still fighting at the age of 39, already having a fight scheduled for March 23 against Errol Zimmerman. Le Banner also has his "World Tour" that he can fight for but at such an old age for a fighter and having been in the sport for so long, who knows when he'll decide to hang up the gloves. Semmy Schilt, although ranked #1 on our Liverkick.com Heavyweight Rankings, is 38 years old. Schilt signed a long term contract with Golden Glory/Total Sports Asia though, so it seems as if he'll stick around for at least a few more years. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, sport, age, heavyweight division, badr

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Join your old pal Nostradumbass for a special UFC on FOX 2 post-fight radio show starting at 10pm ET on FOX Sports Radio. I'll be stopping by to help host Larry Pepe break down all the action from the "Evans vs. Davis" network television event and it's time to find out if I eat crow or say I told you so. Fans can call in and sound off at 1-877-996-6369. Don't get FOX Sports Radio in your neck of the woods? Go here (www.foxsportsradio.com) then click the "Listen Live" button to stream the show. See you tonight!

Posted in: show, fox, sport, radio, pal nostradumbass

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Six years ago, avid rock-climber and ultra-successful businessman Ruy Drever hadn't so much as set foot inside an MMA gym, much less considered training in one. Now, as the CEO and founder of Pretorian Hard Sports, the wildly successful Brazilian MMA equipment brand, Drever's professional life is consumed by the sport. However, it's not all that matters to the Uruguayan-born, Oxford-educated executive. A longtime Brazilian resident, Drever and his company are also at the leading edge of positive social change in the spiritual birthplace of mixed martial arts.

Posted in: sport, brazilian, mma gym, drever, pretorian

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Boxing matches from two hundred years ago may not drive all of our readers into fizzy paroxysms of delight, but the history involved and the match itself is surprisingly relevant to mixed martial arts and other combat sports we engage in today. Those of you who have read John Nash/nottheface's historical pieces on the Golden Age of Mixed Martial Arts, the development of Brazilian jiu jitsu and the worldwide nature of combat sports should love this Brian Phillips piece on the heavyweight championship bout between Tom Cribb and Tom Molineaux. It is hard to come up with a better quote pull than this early paragraph: The fight cemented a set of stock characters - the fast-talking, ultra-talented, self-destructive black athlete; the Great White Hope; the canny coach who's half devoted to his pupil and half exploiting him - that have echoed down the centuries.1 In fact, so much about the fight feels familiar today, from the role of race to the role of the media, that if you had to name a date, you could make a good case that December 10, 1810, was the moment sport as we know it began. Phillips is a sports writer who built the Run of Play site that is essentially the FreeDarko of soccer - providing coverage of a very strange sport with some "uses-big-words-in-entertaining-ways" writing leavened with a ton of sly humor and awesome pictures. He writes about a few different sports for Grantland and may be the only voice consistently worth paying attention to over there. After the jump, two more quotes showing how the olden days of boxing were surprisingly MMA-like and how the people we pay attention to in sports are not necessarily the best people, despite all narrative attempts by the promoters and commentators to the contrary. John Nash/nottheface told us earlier how the boxing of back then bore a surprising resemblance to the style of Nick Diaz and laid it out for us as quoted below: The ruleset that Mendoza fought under during his time was the one divised by Jack Broughton in 1743, the very first codified set of rules in the history of the sport, which were fittingly named Broughton’s rules. They were very simple, numbering seven in total, dealing with such things as the size of the ring, the holding of the purse, and the choosing of umpires. Of the seven, only the last had anything to do with what tactics were allowed during competition. VII. That no person is to hit his Adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist: a man on his knees to be reckoned down. To elaborate: the only thing banned was the hitting of a downed opponent or any wrestling below the waist. Everything else – hair-pulling, grappling above the waist, wrestling or tripping your opponent to the ground, and, of course, striking with the bare fists – was allowed. And since no gloves nor hand wrappings were used, throwing with all one’s might or aiming blows to the head was naturally discouraged lest you break your hand. In fact, striking ability often rated below wrestling ability with regards to importance in gaining a victory, as seen by our three examples below with the the text being from the 1855 compilation Fights for the Championship; and Celebrated Prize Battles (the full title is much, much longer) and the images from Famous Fights: Past and Present, a boxing newspaper that ran from 1901 to 1904. Phillips independently correlates that and lays out the specific rule set that Phillips and Molineaux used: Bouts were held outdoors, on bare ground, in rings marked off from fields. The fighters wore no gloves, which probably made them safer. (Gloves were introduced to protect the hands, not the head, and allowed fighters to punch harder.) But rounds didn't end until one man or the other went down. And there was no limit to the number of rounds that could be fought. After a fall, fighters had 30 seconds to return to the scratch, a mark in the middle of the ring.15 The battle went on until one of them either surrendered or couldn't make it. Boxers fought on through concussions and broken bones, sometimes suffering dozens of knockdowns severe enough to stop a fight today. Wrestling throws and holds above the waist were permitted, but it was illegal to strike while the foe was down. To add to the fun, constables occasionally descended in the middle of a match to arrest the fighters and fans. Spectators were occasionally known to rush the ring and attack one of the fighters. The overall effect was somewhere between modern boxing, MMA, and a bar fight. However, beyond the rule sets and the black/white racial dynamics of the fight (which are sadly inescapable and a product of the time), what Phillips briefly delves into with the discussion over whether winning is connected to moral goodness is excellent. In early 19th-century England, the culture of sport was undergoing a rapid transformation. Sport was becoming a mass entertainment on a national scale. Athletes were now celebrities, covered by a dedicated professional media.11 Important contests were preceded by something like modern hype. Most important, sport was turning into something that could reflect the larger social questions of the day. One of the major anxieties that shows up again and again in the English sportswriting of the era is whether sport weakens society or makes it stronger. Is there some innate connection between winning an athletic contest and moral virtue? Do the qualities that matter in the ring pass themselves on to spectators? What exactly are we getting out of this? Why do we like it so much? We are fortunate to live in an era where racial discrimination is vastly diminished, although still not eradicated, in sporting culture, yet I do not believe we have ever truly gotten anywhere in unpicking and improving upon the "winners = great people" meme that was developed hundreds or thousands of years ago. Quite a few athletes have achieved enormous personal and professional success without ever being warm, fuzzy, strictly law-abiding or commercially viable in a way that advertisers want. Does that mean that they are any less good at their sports or less deserving of permanent memory than others? I do not believe so, but for now I will let more skilled writers than me like Brian Phillips and Ben Fowlkes puzzle that out. Again, the Phillips article is well worth your time and many of the dynamics within can be applied in adjusted form to fighters like Chael Sonnen, Alistair Overeem, King Mo or Brock Lesnar.

Posted in: fight, fighter, sport, boxing, phillip

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The mainstream American sports media is now aiming their sights on attacking UFC. Coincidence? Hardly.

Posted in: ufc, sport, media, sports media, ufc coincidence

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

Over the past year it has become quite clear that Ronda Rousey is not afraid to speak her mind. In a recent video, while talking about a variety of topics, it was time for Georges St. Pierre to feel her wrath. First the video: Quote (transcription via MixedMartialArts.com): I think that fighters that just try to win by points and come away with a win are actually bad for the sport. If you never saw MMA before, and you walked in and you saw GSP and Koscheck, and all this jabbing out the whole time, it looks like a boring boxing match. And I don't think you gain any fans with a fight like that. And so I really hope that Nick Diaz beats the crap out of him, because Nick Diaz is entertaining, and he's an entertaining character in general. He might not be popular but I mean I can't but watch every video he puts out youtube. I think it's funny as Hell. And every single one of his fights is a brawl. It's not like a pitter pat match where afterwards he goes "Were friends, were all friends" and then okay let's go home. I think that's boring. GSP was good for the sport for a while. He brought in some big sponsors like Gatorade and UnderArmor. But I think he's done everything he can in a positive way and he needs to step aside and let Nick Diaz kick his ass. I'd say that it's hard to say that the only guy currently on the roster who can push UFC pay-per-view buys to the one million mark isn't "good for the sport." But maybe that's just me.

Posted in: nick diaz, nick, video, sport, ronda rousey

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Here's my last-ditch effort to get you in shape for 2012. With the Mayan Calendar ending on December 21st 2012, we don't know what physical maneuvers we may have to endure to effectively duck the impending apocalypse. If you're thrown into a scenario in which you have to outrun the armageddon, you better do it knowing that you're at the top of your athletic game. That's where Collagen Sport comes into play. Welcome to a four-stage nutritional supplement designed to help you refuel, recover, regenerate and replenish. Rest assured, all of those activities will be needed if you plan on evading doomsday. Collagen Sport wants to give you a 60-day supply of their synthetic-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free nutritional supplement. This is the same stuff Frankie Edgar uses -- and he's the UFC lightweight champion. NeoCell has provided a rather thorough rundown of Collagen Sport on their official site, so feel free to gather some nutritional knowledge, free of charge. What's also free of charge is this 60-day supply of Collagen Sport that we have sitting around -- and here's how you can win it... Rules: We want to read the greatest MMA haiku known to humanity -- and it's your job to come up with it. The haiku could be anything MMA related. Of course, the greatest haiku will eventually win a free 60-day supply of Collagen Sport in either Belgian Chocolate or French Vanilla (or both). Here's a brief example that I've whipped up to get your brains cranking: Cro Cop with blue wings Flying past edible sharks Through time and space Note to everyone, if your haiku is as horrible as mine -- don't expect to get even close to winning. The underlying structure of a haiku is three lines, with the first line being five 'moras' (or syllables), second line contains seven moras, and the final line contains three. Hope that didn't confuse you, but if it did then you may need to retake 6th grade literature. As of now, the contest is open to anyone on the planet unless instructed differently by the folks at Neocell Sport. How to win: You must be a registered user on MiddleEasy.com with a valid email to enter. Publish your creative MMA haiku in the comment section below. The haiku with the most thumbs-ups by January 29th 4:00pm EST will win a 60-day supply of Collage Sport. It's as simple as that. Now go, be creative!

Posted in: sport, haiku, collagen sport, collagen, mma haiku

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The Sports Business Journal reports on the return to the ring of NBC on the rebranded NBC Sports Network formerly known as Versus. Saturday night is the debut of “NBC Sports Network Fight Night,” which will appear quarterly in 2012 on the network. NBCSN will work with Main Events as its promotional company to produce quality fights. It already has had an obstacle to overcome as its original main event was scrapped due to fighter injury. Main Events replaced the main event with a match between two unknown, but unbeaten heavyweights. The pledge by Main Events is that it will put on competitive fights and will work with other promoters to achieve this goal. According to boxing sources, rights fees will average $150,000 per show which, according to the SBJ, wil “fill a middle-class void that exists between ESPN and the premium cable networks.” With the Comcast-NBC merger, past hurdles in developing fighters and having them move on to HBO, Showtime and PPV are no longer. Main Events CEO Kathy Duva told Sports Business Journal that if fighters leave for premium cable, Comcast still wins. Also, if fighters become PPV stars, Comcast wins too.GoDaddy.com has signed on as a sponsor for the show. Payout Perspective: It will be interesting to see how this show will be received. The Fight Night follows NBCSN’s strategy of live programming being central to its sports network. Its an interesting concept by Main Events and addresses a problem that is common in the boxing industry. As we’ve seen with Mayweather-Pacquiao, the problems of promoters working with each other prohibits good match-ups. We’ll see how the show will present compelling storylines and promote fighters.

Posted in: fight, fighter, sport, event, network

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Video: Highlights: UFC on FX 1 Video highlights from UFC on FX 1 via Fox Sports.

Posted in: ufc, fx, fox, video, sport

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The veteran fightmaker will pit heavyweights Bryant Jennings and Maurice Byarm in the first of a quarterly fight series.

Posted in: sport, network, maurice byarm, veteran fightmaker, byarm

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Today it was announced that Muhammed Lawal, a.k.a. “King Mo”, tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Drostanolone, stemming from his recent bout at Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs. Jardine”.  That, coupled with former Strikeforce female 145-pound champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos’ recent “hot” test, and the press release Zuffa circulated this afternoon re: screening fighters for PEDs before they’re even formally offered a contract, might lead one to believe that there’s a steroid problem in mixed martial arts.  Well, duh.  Of course there is.  The raison d’être of this sport is the physical conflict between two human beings paid to defeat each other in unarmed combat – why wouldn’t competitors want an edge in that endeavor?  The truth is, all the random and pre- and post-fight screenings in the world aren’t going to completely cease the flow of Drostanolone, Stanozolol, Boldenone, injectable testosterone and homemade super-soldier serum being used.  Steroids are an unavoidable ill. Zuffa’s release can be read here, but the most telling paragraph is this one: “The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said.  “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE.  Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions.  Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.” Note the “level playing field” part.  For sure the health and safety of all is important, including those injecting chemicals into their bodies.  But the “level playing field” phrase is a nod to the notion that competition should fair, and the words also serve as an acknowledgment that, given the chance, someone – for whatever reason – might be desperate enough to risk getting popped.  Remember Hermes Franca’s admission of guilt after his UFC 73 championship jaunt with Sean Sherk?  He spoke of recovering from injuries, and the pressure of being able to fight as scheduled.  How many others out there are tempted to acquire an advantage, or even just overcome an injury to make it level? As per New Jersey State Athletic Control Board chief consigliere Nick Lembo, there were 199 pro MMA bouts in the Garden State last year, as well as 151 amateur bouts and 77 Muay Thai bouts, of which five competitors tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.  To add more perspective to those five failed screenings, some facts: UFC 128 was the only Zuffa event the state hosted; a pre-Zuffa Strikeforce had one event; Bellator had four events in Atlantic City; and top regional promotions Ring of Combat and Cage Fury Fighting Championships, which are considered stepping stones to the “big leagues”, had a dozen events between them.   How stringent is New Jersey in its testing?  Urine from all fighters is collected on fight night, plus there are random blood tests done anywhere from when the bout is signed up to the weigh-in.  That’s some pretty intense screening right there, and fighters are (presumably) aware that it’s going to be that rigid when they sign on the dotted line and agree to their fight.  Still, playing the PED game is something some will risk, even when competing under the auspices of one of the most “on point and alert” athletic commissions in the nation.  That right there is very telling of the resilience of the problem. What then should be done?  Should steroid use be opened to anyone?  Hell no!  While that would certainly move towards leveling the playing field, it would run contrary to the sporting aspect of MMA, as no legitimate sport out there condones the usage (and before you say it, no, I don’t consider bodybuilding a sport).  No, what needs to be done is being done, and that’s the constant monitoring of athletes.  Can PED screening be made more uniform in its application?  Definitely.  But at the end of the day, there will always be those seeking an edge, or those seeking to level the playing field.  It’s that whole unavoidable ill thing, and there’s really nothing to be done about it.  There will always be champs stripped of their belts and heroes and performances tarnished.  As fans, we just have to accept that.

Posted in: bout, sport, level, field, screening

Read the full article at MMA Convert

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Martial Arts were developed to be functionally used in battle and times of war. As time progressed most martial arts slowly evolved into a sport style of entertainment and competition. While sport martial arts are both fun to participate in and a great form of entertainment, one must realize that a significant part of the art and its origins are being lost. Over the years, I have noticed more and more arts gravitate toward sport, including BJJ. On one hand, we can attribute its modern popularity to MMA and grappling competitions such as ADCC (which is awesome.) While on the other hand most schools teach this contemporary version of the art that often times has little or no functional self defense techniques or theories for real-life application on the street. As most of you should know pulling guard on concrete is not a logical nor effective method of self defense. Most students of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu now days don't realize that "Helio's Style" of BJJ otherwise know as Japanese Jiu Jitsu contained a vast arsenal of techniques to counter both hand to hand attacks and attacks involving weapons. Read More and Watch the Video...

Posted in: sport, hand, jitsu, art, jiu

Read the full article at Middle Easy

In case you haven’t heard, ESPN aired an Outside The Lines segment and published an accompanying report titled “UFC fighters say low pay simply brutal” over the weekend on UFC fighter pay that ruffled a lot of feathers, especially with the UFC. If you follow Dana White on Twitter you probably noticed Dana going apeshit on ESPN and the two reporters who put the pieces together, John Barr and Josh Gross, and this was before he even saw the final OTL piece that aired yesterday morning. I’m not going to dive too deep into the report — MMA Fighting’s MDS and Yahoo! Sports Dave Meltzer already did that if you’re looking for solid, measured analysis of it — but I will address the crux of it. The report quotes a bunch of anonymous UFC fighters who refused to go on the record for fear of retribution, which really doesn’t accomplish anything other than making the UFC look like bullies. Lorenzo Fertitta vehemently denies that fighters aren’t allowed to speak out, but looking back at how Roger Huerta was benched at the end of his UFC career after complaining about pay to FIGHT! Magazine, it does seem like keeping quiet is the wiser choice. Nevertheless, what the report boils down to though is the percentage of revenue the UFC pays it’s fighters. Fertitta says it’s “not far off what the other sports leagues pay as a percentage of revenue,” which is around 50%, however Rob Maysey, founder of the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association, went on the record, calling that an “absurd statement.” Based on his estimation it’s more around 5%, but he doesn’t have the whole picture. And therein lies the problem with this subject. No one has the full picture except the UFC, and unless they open their books, which they won’t and don’t have to being a private company, we’re not going to get the full picture. And even if we did have the exact number, we would we have no way of telling if that number is fair to the fighters or not without knowing how much the UFC spends to grow the sport and keep the machine rolling. For argument’s sake, let’s say the number is somewhere in the middle, say 30%. Okay, that looks low compared to the other major sports leagues, but the UFC operates on a completely different business model than those sports. How do we know if the UFC would be able to sustain their business if they raised it to 50%? We don’t. What we do know is many other promotions, most notably Affliction, went out of business by not managing their payroll correctly, so the UFC must be doing something right to still be here going strong even after a down year. We may know they’re not overpaying their fighters, but no one except them can definitively say they’re underpaying them or not. Bottom line: It is virtually impossible to form an informed, intelligent opinion on the fairness of UFC fighter pay without knowing all the facts. So while this report has certainly kicked up a lot of dust and got many people in a tizzy, most notably Dana White, it never finds the real answer it was looking for. You can check out the OTL piece above and the UFC’s response below which includes the UFC’s edit of Lorenzo’s interview with ESPN and the full uncut version of the interview.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, sport, report, ufc fighter

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Video: Highlights: UFC 142 More UFC 142 video highlights via Fox Sports.

Posted in: ufc, fox, video, sport

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Saturday, Jan. 7 Strikeforce, Las Vegas: Estevan Payan def. Alonso Martinez, unanimous decision; Ricky Legere def.

Posted in: result, sport, event, martinez, alonso martinez

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Filed under: UFC, NewsVitor Belfort's first UFC fight came at what may have been the promotion's lowest moment. So he takes particular joy in seeing how far the UFC has come. Belfort, who has been in the UFC longer than any other active fighter, is preparing to fight back home in Brazil on Saturday at UFC 142. But as he discussed the upcoming fight on Thursday, he also remembered his very first fight in the UFC, which came at a time when the entire sport of MMA was on the verge of collapse. That would be UFC 12 on Feb. 7, 1997. At the age of 19, Belfort was an entrant in the four-man heavyweight tournament originally scheduled to take place that night in New York. But as politicians began to speak out against what they viewed as a savage bloodsport, the New York government told the UFC it was no longer welcome in its state, and the UFC had to scramble to move the event to Alabama at the last minute. "My first fight, we had to travel all night to Alabama," Belfort said. "We could only fight in Alabama. It was my first UFC. And then after so much investment they were able to remove that stigma in the U.S. and we slowly won over different countries." Winning over different countries included Brazil, where Belfort said it hasn't always been easy. Although MMA traces its origins to Brazil, the sport has also faced some of the same opposition there that it has faced in the United States. Belfort, who beat Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil in 1998 but hasn't fought back home since then, said it's been a struggle to get people back home to accept that mixed martial arts is a legitimate sporting competition, not a violent spectacle. More Coverage: UFC 142 Fight Card | UFC 142 Results "We really had to be pioneers, here in Brazil especially," Belfort said. Belfort said it used to frustrate him when people thought that because he fights professionally for a living, that meant he must also be a thug who gets involved in street fights. He said that in the early days of the UFC, people would ask him if anyone who ran into him in the street should fear him, not understanding that for him, fighting is just a job. "I remember my first interview they asked me, 'If someone crashes into your car, what would you do?' I stopped and thought, 'If they crash into Pavarotti's car, does he have to sing an opera?' So people have prejudice against fighting," Belfort said. Now the UFC has reached the point where it can sell thousands of tickets for a major event in Brazil, and Belfort says he believes Brazilians have come to understand what MMA is all about. "The sport was born in this country and it's been difficult to gain acceptance, but we actually overcame this hurdle," Belfort said. "The sport has a lot to teach people. Martial arts is about physical and moral respect. . . . In martial arts we have this balance. So if someone crashes into my car I will come out of the car, get their license plate and talk about the damage and who has to pay. People relate our sport to aggression and it's not that at all. It's a contact sport but we respect each other greatly and we don't use it outside of the sport." Belfort said that he's thrilled to see how many people across his home country are enjoying the UFC. "Children, the elderly, families, women can understand our sport," Belfort said. "There's a lot for our sport to offer." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, people, belfort

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This is a guest editorial by Rosi Sexton, top 10 pound-for-pound women's MMA fighter and osteopath. When I saw the news on twitter last night, I felt a little like a ten year old whose parents have just admitted that Santa Claus doesn't exist. A tiny bit disappointed, but mostly relieved that now we can all stop pretending. I'm not going to talk about Cyborg, though. Partly because we haven't yet heard her side of the story, but also because she's only the tip of a very large iceberg. It's the issues that the story raises that I'm interested in. To people within MMA, it usually comes as no surprise when a fighter tests positive for steroids. It's generally accepted that there are a lot of fighters out there who use banned performance enhancing drugs (estimates range from "a significant minority" to "almost all"), but most of the time they get past the limited testing that is put in place either by timing their steroid use carefully, using masking agents or both. It's only when someone makes a mistake that they get caught. Because of this, performance enhancing drugs are often seen as a non-issue. "They're all taking it anyway, so what's the problem?". The problem is that this is a combat sport. In most sports, the consequences of failure might be measured in pride, status or money. In MMA, you add physical damage and injury. In female MMA, for example, you can find yourself watching a fighter who is essentially (in hormonal terms) male, beat up a woman. It often makes for uncomfortable viewing. It's bad for the sport, and most of all it's bad for the fighters. It sends the message that following the rules is penalized by getting your face smashed in. Nobody doubts that those fighters who use illegal substances still have to work hard. To be amongst the best in the world, that's essential. But there are physiological limits to what can be achieved with hard work alone. At the top levels, where most fighters are already working close to their maximum training capacity, and everyone has solid technique, the added advantage that performance enhancing drugs can give is significant and in some cases insurmountable. For fighters, then, there's a huge incentive to exploit any loopholes. You might not want to cheat to gain an advantage over your opponents, but at the same time you don't want to be at a disadvantage if "everyone else is doing it". Tougher penalties alone won't do. The testing procedures used in MMA are (on the whole) outdated enough that fighters are confident that with a little knowledge they can avoid getting caught. Occasionally, a fighter is careless or unlucky enough to test positive and receives a fine and a ban as a token sacrifice to the gods of public opinion and sporting legitimacy. Meanwhile, other fighters breathe a sigh of relief that on this occasion it wasn't them. Everything carries on as normal. This approach isn't working. So what's the answer? We have a choice to make. We can decide that we want steroids out of the sport. In that case, athletic commissions, governing bodies, promotions alike need to work together to implement gold standard drug policies. The World Anti-Doping Agency work with sporting organizations and produce model rules and protocols for testing. As a minimum, off season random testing of fighters is essential. It might never be possible to get rid of performance enhancing drugs entirely, but it's possible to tighten the net and change the balance between risk and reward in favour of the clean athlete. Some of the athletic commissions are starting to move towards stricter testing, but much more still needs to be done. Or, we can decide that all this is too much trouble. The point is often made that MMA is more a business than a sport, and it's true that many casual fans are more concerned about seeing exciting fights than what the athletes are taking before they get into the cage. If this is the route we want to go down then we should change the rules and allow athletes to use these drugs freely, without the stigma of "cheating" attached. Of course there are risks and side effects - but we could at least have an honest, grown up discussion about the medical issues, without the hypocrisy that surrounds the subject at the moment. Athletes could make an informed decision to balance the risks of the drugs against the risks of being the one not taking them. Neither set of risks should be underestimated. As a fighter I've never used steroids, and I don't want to start now. Of the two options, I'd prefer to see an improved standard of testing. But the important thing for the sport and everyone involved in it, is that we come clean about it one way or the other. Rosi's blog can be read here and you can visit the Combat Sports Clinic for her osteopathic work.

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, drug, testing

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As we've come to realize, you don't necessarily have to look the best in order to be successful within a specific sport.

Posted in: sport, weve, dont, mma today, specimen

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Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: Courtesy of Ric Fogel for ESPN.com - The Re-Education of ‘King’ Mo Lawal (MMA Fighting) “Mo Lawal can admit it now: things didn’t go the way he thought they would when he first walked though the doors of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. in the spring of 2011. What happened was simple, really. He came in with all the swagger you’d expect from a man who goes by the moniker of “King” Mo, and then he found out the hard way that he wasn’t the only MMA royalty on those mats. … Or as he put it: “I got beat up.” - Is the pro-wrestling influence in UFC unattractive to female sports fans? (Fight Opinion) “MMA — like all sports — has to watch its image. The challenges in MMA are unique in the sense that we still have grumpy old sports editors and corporate sponsors who don’t want to deal with the sport. But they’re not unique in the sense that any sport can be stereotyped. Browse any sports site and read the comments about people who think the NBA is populated by “thugs.” Look at the damage control baseball has had to do in the wake of its drug scandals and labor strife. … MMA has unique ties to pro wrestling, particularly in Japan but also in the USA with crossovers such as Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley. But MMA and wrestling are a volatile mix. Handle with care..” - Joe Rogan: Retiring from MMA is incredibly difficult (MMA Mania) “One of the things I think about sometimes with all the great fighters that I’ve seen come and go is just how difficult it must be for some of them to leave behind the incredible excitement and intensity of the world of being a professional fighter and then reset your life and find yourself something else to dedicate your time and interest to. Fighting is such an all-encompassing job. It really has to be, especially at the highest levels for you to be successful. The competition is so steep that to compete at the top of the sport of MMA you really need to be completely dedicated to training and improving all day every day. When it’s time to move past that and into a new phase of life I would think that for some it must be incredibly difficult. And that’s not even taking into consideration how difficult it is for some of these ultra competitive guys to know when it’s time to step away.” - Brock Lesnar Announces His Retirement Following Loss To Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 (MMA Convert) “I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease, and I’m going to officially say tonight is the last time,” Lesnar said. “This is the last time you’ll see me in the octagon.” … “I promised my wife and my kids if I won this fight, I would get a title shot, and that would be my last fight,” Lesnar said. “But if I lost tonight … you’ve been great.” - Cesar Gracie responds to BJ Penn calling out Nick Diaz on Twitter (MiddleEasy) “BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz.” … “At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by “Yes Men” that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses.” - Karo Parysan talks training Ronda Rousey,  Beating Nick Diaz, Tough Times & More (FightLine) “Former UFC welterweight contender Karo Parisyan has been battling personal demons and waning motivation for the last few years, seeking to find the drive and strength of mind which once carried him near the top of the heap. … The Heat spoke with FightLine just before the holidays, discussing everything from his recent career slump to his UFC 49 scrap with Nick Diaz.” - The Rearview Mirror: Five MMA Trends We Hope To Have Left Behind In 2011 (Cage Potato) “We’re only a few hours into the new year, but unless your head hit the pillow just as the ball dropped, you’ve probably already carried some of your bad habits with you into 2012. We are creatures of habit, and change doesn’t come naturally to us. If it did, we wouldn’t make such a big production out of our ‘New Year’s Resolutions’. The sport of mixed martial arts and its fans are no different. Here’s a quick look at some of the bad habits we’ve picked up and poor decisions we’ve made over the past 12-months. Let’s hope we can leave them behind in yesteryear.” - Grappling with Issues – 1/6/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) “What was your reaction to Brock Lesnar‘s retirement? Should any hope remain where Fedor Emelianenko signing with the UFC is concerned? Will “King Mo” fight in Strikeforce again after tomorrow night’s bout against Lorenz Larkin? Is Jake Ellenberger more likely to earn a title-shot in 2012 than Johny Hendricks?” - Matt Hughes Comes Under Fire for Controversial Hunting Pictures (5thRound) “It has been a tough Twitter week for a couple of former UFC champions. BJ Penn has taken some heat for his harsh words for Nick Diaz on the blue-birded network, while Matt Hughes (Pictured left) has come under heavy fire for the controversial hunting pictures he recently posted on his account. … “Mark and me just got done here in Texas! Yes mine is bigger,” Hughes wrote accompanied by the above photo.” - Cyborg Santos tested positive for Anabolic Steroids, suspended by CSAC (LowKick) “The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended the license of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Cristiane Justino Santos, better known in MMA circles as Cris Cyborg, and has fined her $2,500 as the result of a positive test for a banned substance. … Santos’ December 16, 2011 drug test came back positive for stanozolol metabolites. CSAC learned of the test results December 23, 2011 and suspended Santos’s license, with the suspension applied retroactively to December 16, 2011. In accordance with Rule 368, the result of her last fight between Hiroko Yamanaka will be changed to a “No Decision”.” - Top 10 Best Fights From the UFC in 2011 (TheFightNerd) “In a sport with the sheer variety of outcomes that MMA has, there’s no specific formula for what makes a great fight. Instead, truly great matches are made when some or all of the elements of MMA come together in two fighters to make something that is both a highly competitive bout and a dramatic story told through action. … 2011 served as a flagship year in the world’s largest MMA organization when it came to great fights. To put a bow on this passing age, below are the top ten greatest fights in the UFC for 2011. See who earned the top spot!” - Drunken UFC President Dana White Says Brock Lesnar Can Go to WWE (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Yes, he can go. He can go to the [WWE],” said White, who was exiting a night club out of Hollywood, California early this week, slightly more inebriated than usual. … “You might be drunker than I am right now,” joked White to the reporter at hand.” The Rearview Mirror: Five MMA Trends We Hope To Have Left Behind In 2011

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, lesnar

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Perhaps more than any other year in recent history, mixed martial arts saw a host of top fighters retire from the sport, ranging from Hall of Famer Randy Couture to action hero Chris Lytle. And while the following fighters won’t be gracing the Octagon again, it’s clear that they’ve made a mark in the sport that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Ricardo Almeida One of the top jiu-jitsu fighters to compete in the Octagon, Ricardo Almeida pulled off the impossible in 2008 when he returned for a second stint in the UFC after nearly four years away from the sport. What followed was a 5-3 run that reintroduced the “Big Dog” to the fight world. And while he retired in March at the age of 34, he is producing the next generation of MMA fighters as a coach in his academy in New Jersey. read retirement statementAlmeida Retires From MMAKEY FIGHT – UFC 81 – Wsub1 Rob Yundt QUOTABLE – “As a competitor I can think of no bigger thrill than to stand in the center of the Octagon with my hands raised.”Randy CoutureThere is really no way to introduce one of mixed martial arts’ true legends, because everyone knows what Randy Couture has brought to the table for this sport that he helped build. In short, UFC Hall of Famer, five-time UFC champion in two weight classes, and participant in some of the UFC’s greatest battles. So when he decided that his UFC 129 bout with Lyoto Machida was his last, it was a sad moment, but also a time to reflect on a career that is unlikely to ever be matched. hear from Couture after his last fightCouture To Retire After Machida BoutRandy Couture – A Fighters’ TributeKEY FIGHT – UFC 44 – W5 Tito OrtizQUOTABLE – “I want to go out on my terms and decide when enough is enough, and I think that time is come.”Mirko Cro CopFormer PRIDE superstar Mirko Cro Cop will be the first to admit that his 4-6 record in the UFC isn’t one that sits well with him, but at the same time, it also won’t define a career that saw him dominate in Japan for years, mainly with his laser-like left hand and even more crushing left kick to the head, the cemetery in the classic “right leg hospital, left leg cemetery” quote. Following his UFC 137 loss to Roy Nelson, Cro Cop ended his UFC career, and it’s doubtful that the defeat did anything to affect his tremendous worldwide fanbase. watch Cro Cop retirement speechUFC 137 MusingsThe Past, Present, and Future of Mirko Cro CopKEY FIGHT – UFC 115 – Wsub3 Pat BarryQUOTABLE – “In a certain way, fighting keeps me alive. And I’m aware that one day when I stop fighting, part of me, a big part of me, will die with that decision.”Mike GuymonOwner of an inspirational story that saw him rise from the depths of depression to make it to the UFC in 2010 after over a decade in the sport, Mike Guymon may not have made it to the top of the welterweight division in his four fight Octagon stint, but his ever present smile will never be forgotten by UFC fans as he always gave his all when the bell rang. see Guymon congratulate his last opponent and announce his retirementGuymon’s Journey Brings Him to AnaheimKEY FIGHT – UFC 113 – W3 Yoshiyuki YoshidaQUOTABLE – “I could care less about winning the title in the UFC; I just want to be there, be successful, and keep winning.”Matt HamillDeaf, and with barely any MMA experience, Matt Hamill was the underdog of all underdogs to make it in the UFC. But after appearing on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, he did just that, going 9-4 over a five year period that saw him become a legitimate light heavyweight contender with wins over Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz, Keith Jardine, and even a DQ victory over current 205-pound boss Jon Jones. But Hamill’s greatest impact was on the deaf community, as he inspired a host of people that if they work hard and believe, anything is possible. read retirement statementHamill Retires at 34 KEY FIGHT – UFC 121 – W3 Tito OrtizQUOTABLE – “Today is a sad day for me. After six years and 13 fights in the UFC I’m ready to hang up my gloves and retire from this amazing sport.”Antoni Hardonk4-4 in his three year UFC career, Antoni Hardonk always came to fight, and win or lose, the Dutch kickboxing ace gave fight fans exciting heavyweight battles on a consistent basis, whether with Pat Barry, Eddie Sanchez, or Colin Robinson. Now coaching the likes of Vladimir Matyushenko and Jared Hamman, expect to see plenty of Hardonk outside the Octagon in the coming years. see Hardonk in his new roleHardonk Retires, Begins Next Chapter as CoachKEY FIGHT – UFC 104 – TKO by 2 Pat BarryQUOTABLE – “Fighting is a full-time job. It’s not something you can do on the side, and I didn’t want to do things halfway.”Brock LesnarIt was a shocker when Brock Lesnar came to the UFC, it was shocking when he won the heavyweight title in just his fourth fight, and it was even more shocking when he returned from two bouts with diverticulitis. It’s a lot to fit into an eight fight career, but it also guaranteed that we’ll be talking about the big man from Alexandria, Minnesota for a long, long time. watch Lesnar retirement speechBrock Lesnar, The UFC’s Shooting Star, Retires At 34KEY FIGHT – UFC 91 – TKO 2 Randy CoutureQUOTABLE – “There’s nobody out there like me. I was born to do this, and I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me. I’ve proven myself over and over again that this is my way of life.”Chris LytleThe sad part about the fight game is that it’s almost impossible to go out on top. Chris Lytle flipped that script in August when he announced that his fight with Dan Hardy would be his last one, and then he went on to defeat Hardy and pick up Submission and Fight of the Night bonuses in the process. It was a heartwarming ending for one of the game’s true good guys, and the capper on 12 years in the sport in which a fight to remember was always guaranteed. watch Lytle retirement speechLast Call For “Lights Out”KEY FIGHT – UFC Live – Lytle Wsub3 Hardy QUOTABLE – “I want to go out there and win the fight quickly. I’m not gonna go out there and say ‘I’m gonna take him down and grind this sucker out.’ I’ll never try and do that. I’d rather go out there and try to knock him out and get knocked out than try to grind it out.”And...Though he said it was probably the last time he was going to appear in the Octagon following his UFC 137 loss to Nick Diaz, here's hoping that we see another run to the top from BJ Penn in 2012. And that might be the case considering that just days after his announcement post-Diaz, he issued the following statement on his website: “I want to thank all of the fans for their love and support. I’m going to take some time off to enjoy life, train and teach. I will keep you guys’ posted with what’s next."But if this is the end for "The Prodigy," UFC.com's Frank Curreri paid tribute to the Hawaiian great following the bout with his piece, "BJ Penn - They Only Made One." 

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, year, octagon

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I've got some interesting boxing news for you and surprisingly enough it doesn't involve the sport shooting itself in the foot for once: RingTV.com is reporting that Top Rank Inc. and cable channel Spike TV are working on a deal to produce a weekly, 36-show boxing program, which could help Top Rank get better coverage for its fighters on a more widely-watched outlet than Fox Sports Net, which tends to preempt their shows anyway, and would help Spike replace the UFC programming they recently lost....Most likely this would be a series similar to Top Rank Live, which currently airs on FSN and Fox Deportes, as I wouldn't expect Spike to be going in deep on money to produce big fights. At its best, Top Rank Live produces some very good shows with lower-weight fighters in action bouts, and gives looks at prospects like Mercito Gesta or Diego Magdaleno. Oh Fox Sports Net. Sounds like MMA isn't the only combat sport on that network constantly getting screwed by the long shaft of stick and ball sports. Now boxing has a chance to maybe do something interesting on a channel that could draw in some new fans. The big question is if the fights on the show will be interesting enough for the average Spike dude to watch. I've tried to enjoy boxing several times but find the sheer number of terrible matches are just too much to bear. I'd rather set my nuthair on fire than watch a bad 10 round decision.

Posted in: sport, boxing, fox sports, spike, rank

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Ring.tv is reporting that Top Rank Boxing and Spike TV is working on a weekly boxing program for the channel. Top Rank is seeking a better platform for its fighters as it currently is seen on Fox Sports. The proposed show is slated for 36 shows beginning March 9th. Late last year, NBC Sports Network announced a quarterly boxing program for its network. Via Bad Left Hook: Most likely this would be a series similar to Top Rank Live, which currently airs on FSN and Fox Deportes, as I wouldn’t expect Spike to be going in deep on money to produce big fights. At its best, Top Rank Live produces some very good shows with lower-weight fighters in action bouts, and gives looks at prospects like Mercito Gesta or Diego Magdaleno. Payout Perspective: This is an interesting move for Spike as it will have the UFC library and boxing this year with Bellator coming up next year. We will see how many boxing fans are out there that will tune in to watch. More importantly, how many casual fans are out there. For Top Rank, its a good step forward for exposure for its fighters as boxing is shuffled around in the schedule (similar to Bellator) on Fox Sports in favor of regional sports.

Posted in: sport, boxing, fox sports, rank, boxing program

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With Brazil deep in the middle of Olympic fever leading up to the 2016 games in Rio, it shouldn't be surprising that the South American press is asking UFC brass a lot of questions about MMA's inclusion in future games. Who knows if the answers we're getting are your standard 'Yes we'd like to see it eventually' boilerplate stuff or a sign that the promotion really is serious about making this happen ASAP, but here's what Lorenzo Fertitta recently said about it: “We’re aware that the sports have already been determined for the Rio Games, so we’re working on the Olympics after that,” UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta is quoted as saying in Brazil’s “Estadão” newspaper.For the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the IOC has picked rugby and golf as the extra sports, but Lorenzo has been working behind the scenes on the 2020 Games, for which a host nation has not yet been established: “We had lots of positive responses from members of the International Olympic Committee, including Carlos Nuzman. I know it will take some time to educate people but if you take a look at our sport, you can see it’s a combination of several Olympic sports: boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, taekwondo and judo. That’s what mixed martial arts are.” For the sport to be part of the Olympics, it first needs to pass through a number of prerequisites, like having an International Federation to oversee the sport, a certain number of countries practicing the sport, and broad popularity, among other things. I wonder if the UFC itself could be considered an 'international federation.' It certainly has the international part down, but I dunno if it is incompetent and corrupt enough to meet the standard most other Olympic-level federations have set over the years. There's also the issue of most Olympic combat sports being completely wussified. Even boxing fans are all like "WTF is this garbage?" when it comes to Olympic boxing nowadays. And they'll watch anything.

Posted in: sport, game, olympic, lorenzo fertitta, lorenzo

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When a Viking king would shuffle off his mortal coil and ascend to whatever afterlife awaits great warriors, his men would give him such a grand send-off, there would be drinking, tributes of food and valuables, a funeral pyre, and sometimes even a maiden would be sacrificed.  Because hey, the old bastard probably did great things in his life and contributed much to the well-being of the clan, so why not honor him the way a king should be honored?  On Friday night, after his UFC 141 bout against Dutch superhero Alistair Overeem ended in the kind of one-sided beatdown usually only seen on World Star Hiphop, former UFC champ Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA competition.  His career in the sport spanned all of eight fights, three of which ended in unequivocal defeat, and it took a gutsy title defense against Shane Carwin to quell questions of how the former WWE star had even deserved a title shot in the first place.  But at the end of the day, Lesnar did wonders in helping our little “MMA clan” grow, and for that, the Viking king of the heavyweight division deserves loads of respect. I’ll admit, when he first stepped into the Octagon to face Frank Mir at UFC 81, after a whopping one MMA fight, I thought Lesnar was being brought in as a gimmick.  He was an ex-pro wrestler with a boatload of fans, after all, and if he got crushed in the cage, so what?  That would just reinforce to the world what we already knew, that pro wrestling was fake and MMA was real and never the twain should meet.  The perceived downside, however, was that if Lesnar was ultimately successful, well, damn would that cheapen our “real” sport.  Thankfully, Mir dispatched Lesnar in a minute and a half, and the precious sanctity of our combative endeavor remained intact.  For a while, at least.  Then Lesnar came back, defeated Heath Herring, TKO’d an aging Randy Couture for the belt (if you recall, the heavyweight was in a sad state of flux at the time, so why not give Lesnar a shot at the title?), and when the grappling behemoth rematched Mir, he crushed him. I remained a naysayer, an ardent apostate of the Cult of Brock.  What I couldn’t ignore, though, was how much every yahoo in the locker room at my gym – the New York Sports Club, where yuppies and other non-MMAers go to lift weights – talked about Lesnar before and after his fights.  If ever there was empirical evidence that the man was reaching the masses and making them discuss a sport they’d otherwise never even know about, this was it.  Average Joes who couldn’t tell a rear naked choke from an armbar were suddenly giving a crap if Lesnar could remain the champ.  For Zuffa, it was all there in the monster pay-per-view sales Lesnar drove, but for me, it was the overheard chatter from Joe Q. Public.  God bless Lesnar for withstanding Carwin’s best and pulling off the win, because suddenly there were no more questions – in my mind at least – that the man was worthy of the crown.  He was no longer some WWE refugee at that point, he was a legitimate mixed martial artist and badass mofo.  You could blame his subsequent losses to Cain Velasquez and Overeem on any number of things, but it’s impossible to ignore the role his life-threatening diverticulitis has played, and Lesnar would know better than any of us if his expiration date has passed.  Regardless, forever more, whatever his future endeavors, Lesnar will be that skilled MMAer and badass mofo who rose to the top and defended his belt under the most adverse of circumstances possible.  A true Viking king if ever there was one.

Posted in: mma, sport, lesnar, viking king, viking

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When you look at some of the world's best prospects in MMA, you'll inevitably find yourself exploring the world of college wrestling. How intimate is the relationship between mixed martial arts, and wrestling? What does that relationship mean for the future of both sports? The management company of Team Takedown is a good example of what this revolution has meant for both sports. Although you could say they've been a mixed bag. Jake Rosholt left the UFC with a 2-2 record and is currently undefeated in his last 6 fights. Shane Roller is on a two-fight losing streak. Jared Rosholt is a HW prospect currently 4-0. And then there's Johny Hendricks who needs no introduction for the viewers of UFC 141 (or people that were never fans of Jon Fitch). Hendricks took part in the NCWA All-Star Classic, and as Sherdog's Tommy Messano reports, the event has been a hot bed for MMA talent scouts. But what makes Messano's piece stand out is that we get to see two different reactions to this merging of interests between both sports. On the one hand, you have a DIII two-time national champion from Wartburg College in Byron Tate, who is already training MMA. In Tate, we see how in MMA, wrestlers now have an outlet to make proper money. On the other hand, the silence of Oklahoma State's Jordan Oliver: Oliver is a transcendent talent, but one who has thus far shown little interested in a future MMA career. When approached by Sherdog.com on Sunday, Oliver declined to be interviewed and offered a simple "no comment," further confirming that his goal lies in acquiring multiple NCAA titles before becoming a key cog in Team USA’s Olympic medal hopes. Oklahoma State assistant coach Zack Esposito put in perspective his team’s current view towards MMA. "To tell you the truth, the guys on our team are Olympic-made and coaching-made," Esposito said. "Right now, it’s not likely [for them to transition to MMA]. We are pushing our Olympic hopes and we want them to reach that goal before they make that choice whether they want to go on or not. "We encourage our guys, ‘don’t forget your childhood dreams.’ This thing [MMA] is new and appealing, but don’t forget your dreams. And then, after that, don’t forget your decision." Oliver's silence, in its own way, speaks to what some consider a burden onto wrestling and the lack of reciprocity between the two sports. For an articulation of this position by the participants themselves, Luke Thomas at MMA Nation interviewed Jordan Burroughs (winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy), and Henry Cejudo (Olympic Gold Medalist). Cejudo gave a very nuanced answer when asked whether or not MMA is hurting or helping wrestling: Henry: Well, this is a difficult one. I would say it's probably hurting, to be quite honest with you. A lot of our best guys are going into mixed martial arts. At the same time, it's sort of pushing the sport of wrestling to increase their stipends, their winnings. So, yeah, it is a bummer because the sport is losing good guys like Daniel Cormier, Mo Lawal, Ben Askren, they almost lost me for a bit. It's happening because guys are seeing MMA, I hate to say it, but it's an easier sport than wrestling. Wrestling is a sport, just like boxing, it's been around for hundreds of years. It's easy. It's flashy. Cameras, you become famous. You become rich. And you have the best base which is wrestling. 75% I think of all fighters are wrestlers or former wrestlers. Burroughs gives a similar answer, though both seem interested in eventually venturing into the MMA world. Perhaps just as interestingly, Burroughs answers the question: 'why do some wrestlers falter at their own game against MMA fighters with very little experience?' If there's a reason to think not every wrestler can make the transition, consider their styles, Jordan argues. For some of us who know very little of wrestling itself, we often just assume that all great wrestlers can power out a double leg like nobody's business. This is obviously not the case (in response to Luke's question about Yoel Romero during a Strikeforce fight that saw an Olympic medalist struggle to find takedowns): Jordan: I'm not sure. I mean, other people excel at different positions. Maybe that wasn't a strong point, sticking on his feet. Maybe just because he was an Olympic medalist doesn't mean he's great on his feet. He might keep good positioning and be hard to score but wasn't very offensive. It's one of those things, we've got guys that are very offensive and can take down anyone and we've got guys that don't shoot at all but are very hard to take down. It's one of those things, you've got to decide what you're good at. I didn't like putting both writers in one entry, but they explore such similar themes, I couldn't avoid it. Both put up fantastic work, and I suggest you read each in full. Again, Tommy Messano's article can be read in full here. He can be reached on twitter @ULTMMA. Luke Thomas' interviews with Jordan Burroughs and Henry Cejudo can be found, here and here, respectively. You can reach him on twitter @SBNLukeThomas.

Posted in: mma, guy, sport, olympic, wrestler

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What is failure within a combat sport? Is it losing in the dying moments of a five round title fight that you spent twenty-four minutes dominating? Is it losing a decision to one of the best in the world? Is it waking up and seeing the referee looking down at you with concern? Is it being forced to accept you no longer have anything to offer at the elite level? Being outpointed by a sparring partner? Missing opportunity after opportunity? Wherever the goalposts for success are set, it should be clear that there are infinitely more ways to screw up than there are to succeed. A hooking left can land on your chin the instant before yours on his. A bob instead of a weave leaves you in the face of an onrushing shin freighted with bad intentions and terrible velocity. Waiting an instant too long means fighting off a takedown against the cage all round long - instead of implementing your own gameplan. There comes a moment when fighters fail, when their bodies do not respond to commands, when their concentration stutters and sparks or when every decision leaves them further mired into the quicksand that leads to a Loss - one defined by others beyond their own brains and entered into their permanent record. The way fighters face this dementor-like specter varies - much like our own responses to more mundane failures - becomes an individually unique calculus of physical sensations and emotional attachments to their families, careers, self-belief, combat sports and public/private identity. The positive response to that idiosyncratic combination is apparently the "heart" that defines champions, the "fuel" that drives a comeback to the top of the mountain and the "noble competitive spirit" that allows athletes to risk Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and other lifelong debilitating ailments for hunks of plated metal and cereal box covers. The negative response to such things by an athlete prominent in the public eye is somehow ridiculous and something worth heaping every iota of scorn that can be possibly be mustered. A decision to quit, to move on or to say that the rewards are not worth the risks cannot be sane or sporting. We expect our fellows humans to always dig deep and do superhuman things. Not measuring up to that ideal can mean the redaction and rewriting of an athlete's legacy and an opinion rendered: "You were never that good." The same shit that happened to Ricky Williams is happening to Brock Lesnar. He can't walk away in peace or take the sport on his own terms. The vocal public feels the need to arbitrate that process. Yet, the fighter alone deals with professional and personal success being possible - or even probable - within a few months all disappearing down the gaping void of a Loss at the hands of a better fighter. All of the other fighters on the UFC 141 card are sitting somewhere and wondering how deep do they have to go within themselves to fix those bad habits or the weakness that lost them the fight. How they bounce back will be a microcosm of how all combat sports athletes deal with failure. How we treat them should reflect how we view failure in our own lives. The best - and perhaps only - way to improve is by failing. High, loud and repeatedly. Stringing together random syllables until first words are spoken. Tennis racquets whiffing on those fuzzy neon green ovoids. Staring blankly at an electrical engineering diagram. Most of the time, we fail in practice - which for a professional mixed martial arts means tapping out to chokes, getting pinned by better wrestlers or being outpointed by the local stand-up badass. They are able to take these micro-failures, internalize them to learn the lessons taught and move past the negative aspects of not succeeding because the goal posts of success have been moved to the fight night that they are training for. The little failures are the means by which the end is accomplished and the ring or the cage will be the stage where successes and failures are determined by a fighter, by the judges and by the audience at large. Which is why things get so emotional when someone takes a Loss. What the training leads up to and what Fight Night turns out to be can diverge from one another in a fashion that can really mess with heads. Earlier this year, Randy Couture retired on the spot after Machida sent his tooth flying and his consciousness winging into the Temporary Black Hole of Unexpected Sleep. Matt Hughes, an unquestioned legend in the sport, is taking time off to assess things after Josh Koscheck unceremoniously knocked him out. B.J. Penn, one of the baddest men to ever walk the earth, has no idea when or if he'll return to the cage after Nick Diaz swiped that third round from him. Only Penn has received anywhere near the criticism Brock Lesnar has gotten and will receive for stating that he wants to walk away from the sport with a 5-3 professional MMA record, a UFC title belt and millions of dollars after being summarily dispatched by Alistair Overeem. It seems that the perceived waste of extraordinary talent is a worse sin of omission than any of the more mundane committed sins by other athletes or public figures. People just can't stand someone not doing as well as they think that person could and if that person walks away from the sport while they're still performing at a high level, the gods help them. The reactions seem to split evenly between complete bemusement or violent backlash. We've seen this elsewhere in sports with Marvin Hagler, Barry Sanders and Ricky Williams. Hagler retired because Sugar Ray Leonard wouldn't fight him again. The man was 33 years old and probably could have beaten everybody else in the division at the time. But no Sugar Ray fight that year? Marvin was gone. He's never looked back either. Barry Sanders faxed his resignation to the Wichita Times in 1999 and that was that. The most electrifying running back in NFL history stayed home with barely a word said and his health intact. Nobody understood him, but the overall public opinion seemed to settle in a grudging respect for that decision - much like they did with Hagler. Williams had a far different set of reasons for walking away from football - some of which were drug testing-related - yet he took an unbelievable amount of flak for saying that the sport of American football and the rich financial rewards that went with being a star running back were not worth it anymore for him. Winning a Super Bowl title or being named Most Valuable Player were not the things that Ricky wanted. Williams eventually worked his way back into the NFL, but he did it on his terms and with the creation and refinement of support systems that allowed him to stay happy. He also took an enormous amount of negative public commentary, dealt with constant questioning and probably wished he was good at and famous for something else less close to the hearts of vitriolic fans at least a bajillion times. Why do the vocal members of the public not learn from these sporting sagas? Why is Lesnar being treated more like Ricky than like Hagler or Sanders? Losing in swift and violent fashion to one of the elite fighters within the heavyweight division should be small cause for shame. Alistair is Sagat personified. Lesnar has had eight fights, with perhaps the hardest string of opponents any MMA fighter has ever attempted - despite Paulo Thiago's best efforts - and he won most of them. Dominated a couple too. If I had the analogous success in my grappling pursuits, I'd be pretty happy. Going 5-3 against people like Marcelo, Leo, Pablo and Kron? I'd take that in a heartbeat, retool and keep trying. But I am not Lesnar. I do not know him. I have not experienced what he has and will go through. We outsiders do not know the individual calculus Lesnar is using, how much weight he attaches to each and every thing and person in his life. What that math tells him, and tells all the other combat sports athletes taking a break, is something we can only guess - and probably very, very badly - at. Respecting that decision to leave and moving on in a mature fashion yields only benefits. Let Brock Lesnar walk away in peace. Maybe he'll come back rested and ready - if the math feels right.

Posted in: fight, fighter, sport, lesnar, failure

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It was a grim tableau. Slumped against the cage after absorbing a frightful assault to the body, Brock Lesnar wore the dejected look of a fighter done with the sport. Imagine realizing your career in a given vocation was obviously something you suddenly no longer wanted to pursue, with the impetus for that decision being a public beating like the one Alistair Overeem delivered at UFC 141 this past Fri., Dec. 30, 2011, in Las Vegas. It was one of the most poignant moments you'll see, yet painfully public at the same time. His post-fight retirement announcement wasn't a surprise. In moments of adversity, you find out what a fighter is about, and Lesnar handled his interview with Joe Rogan very well. Brevity goes a long way when making an announcement that will change the short-term landscape of the sport; he's done with MMA, and he did one hell of a lot to bump the game up to the next level in a mere eight fights, five of which were against guys who were former or current champions. He could have ranted about how he just got caught, how he wanted a rematch, and all the expected posturings that come straight from the "Beaten Fighter Playbook." Those are the easy sells and juicy rationalizations. But Lesnar took his medicine like a man and reminded us that life goes on outside the game, with a quality precisely defined by how much you put into it. Family is key to him and MMA simply isn't worth the investment, especially considering his diverticulitis, which has been a recurring issue in the past two years. His short, frank speech was a graceful exit given the tumultuous emotions he must have been feeling, and went a long way toward showing his real side, that of a family man who simultaneously accepted the need, at times, to play the heel, something he'd become proficient at during his pro wrestling days. He was certainly adept at it, sometimes pushing the envelope to strange places where the envelope seemingly ended, and unclassifiable viewer weirdness ensued. His inimitable post-fight meltdown after battering Frank Mir into submission at UFC 100 was a Holy Trifecta of sorts, as he simultaneously offended the guy he'd just smashed, the promotion he smashed him in and a major sponsor (Bud Light) for the event he smashed him at. In the history of the sport, there may have been no equivalent moment where a guy had the audience so ready to eat from the palm of his hand, willingly accepting him as the newly crowned champ. But Lesnar delivered a gleeful verbal smack to the face instead. I always got the feeling that Lesnar was never fully comfortable with MMA, and was more of an athlete-as-fighter. His obvious deficits in the stand-up phase in fights against Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez and Overeem could overshadow the rest of his legacy, however brief. Given time to develop along the prescribed trajectory of a heavyweight prospect, he could have acquired the kind of experience and repetitive conditioning necessary to stand and deal with the harsh realities of the sport, especially stark ones when you're a heavyweight, where one-shot swings of momentum are the rule instead of the exception. It's a line of work that requires unshaking commitment, with brutal truths visited upon even the best of those who survive the numerous slips on their journey up the mountain. In 1999, back during my boxing days, I interviewed Michael Grant, a rising contender who tossed off a verbal nugget I've kept with me over the years. Grant, a wonderfully gifted athlete, had the blend of looks and personality that made him an HBO darling. He could play piano and excelled in three sports yet wasn't fully transfixed with the idea of becoming a heavyweight champion. "I see people like Evander Holyfield who have been in the sport for 25 years, and that's all they are," Grant said. "I want to be in boxing, but not ‘of' boxing." Contrast that to Marvin Hagler, who said "When they cut open my head, they're going to find a big boxing glove. That's all I am." Grant would go on to be summarily starched by Lennox Lewis in his brief and only title shot, while Hagler reigned as one of the greatest champions of his, or anyone else's, era. I've never forgotten that, because Grant's reluctance to go all-in on pursuing a fight career was ultimately a huge factor in his eventual demise. And any time I hear a fighter talking retirement, it's a sign that he's probably closer to it than he thinks, for reasons he may not yet understand but will become painfully apparent in short order. Lesnar's career trajectory denied him the chance to develop the experience against lower-level competition that might have served him well, but the flip side of that is he came along exactly when the UFC had a void he could fill like no one else. Given the hand as it lays now, an exit from the sport is his best move. If nothing else, he leaves on his own terms. That's a victory in itself.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, lesnar, grant

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I came into the MMA world because Brock Lesnar came into the MMA world. I have not been around since UFC 1 and I am not even a TUF noob. I came over to the land of mixed martial arts to see Brock Lesnar. After his brutal loss to Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar hung up his 4XL gloves and called it a career. Brock came into the sport and had one easy fight. After that, he fought a list of men that no man with his experience level had ever had to face. Mir, Herring, Couture, Mir, Carwin, Velasquez and then Overeem. That folks, is a murderers row that no man who is just dipping his toe into the combat sports waters should ever be lined up against. He went 5-3 against these men. Something I feel comfortable saying that no other man would be able to do or be asked to do. All while battling a severe intestinal disease and having a foot of his colon removed To me, Brock Lesnar is an enigma. He is an athlete like we rarely get to see in action. The man's ability to sell a fight is unrivaled by anyone past or present in MMA history. Either you love him or you love to hate him. There is no middle ground. The bottom line is, you always showed up to watch him fight. If you dislike the man, that is fine with me, but there is no denying the impact he has had on the sport we love. Frank Mir had his career brought back from the dead thanks to his two fights with Brock Lesnar. The prospects of a superfight with Lesnar (along with several other circumstances) brought Randy Couture back into the Zuffa fold. Cain Velasquez and now Alistair Overeem have got the rub from Brock by defeating him. Their performances against Brock made them stars and vaulted them into prominence. I will always remember the Brock Lesnar who unleashed the "who's the fucking man" ground and pound onto Frank Mir, teaching him a lesson for eating Brock's precious strawberries. The Brock Lesnar who sent Heath Herring somersaulting backwards across the octagon and straight into a Ferrari-less retirement. I am thankful for the man who taught me to drink Coors Light because Bud Light isn't paying me anything and that it is totally okay to announce to a worldwide pay per view audience that I plan on having missionary style intercourse with my significant other. He has a sword tattoo, he God blesses God and he put his drooly, bloody mouthpiece in Joe Rogan's shirt pocket. He made us all pay attention. Brock Lesnar is first and foremost, an entertainer. This served both to his benefit and to his detriment in his mixed martial arts career. In the end, he brought thousands of new eyes to the sport of MMA. He delivered the highest pay per view buys of any fighter in the history of the sport. This put more money in his pocket, the UFC's and all of the other men who fight in the company. Everyone benefited from Brock Lesnar being in the sport and that is undeniable. I just want to say thank you. A thank you I know that he will never read because it is on the internet. So thank you for bringing me into the world of mixed martial arts. Thank you for always putting on exciting fights. Thanks for everything, BROCKLESNAR!!!!!

Posted in: fight, sport, brock lesnar, lesnar, brock

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LAS VEGAS – Yahoo! Sports is Octagonside at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for UFC 141, which features the...

Posted in: ufc, sport, yahoo, arena, garden arena

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I have been taken back by the amount of vitriol expressed in the comments of Matt Roth’s recent stories examining Brock Lesnar’s career in professional wrestling. While a lack of interest with anything relating to a "staged sport" from a segment of MMA fanbase doesn’t surprise me what does is the outright hostillity expressed by many readers. For them positing any link, no matter how tenuous, beween the UFC and the WWF is to defame the sport they love. What many of them are apparently unaware of is that mixed martial arts is really professional wrestling. No, not the professional wrestlng of Vince MacMahon, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jesse "The Body", and Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, but professional wrestling non-the-less, albiet under a different name. As I’ve tried to chronicle over the last year, the sport that would eventually be named mixed martial arts is not a recent invention, having been born of two parents over a century ago. From out of Japan in the East came a number of practioners of (the often interchangeable) jujutsu and Kodokan Judo who travelled extensively throughout the Western World in their quest to spread their art. To assist in this they quickly began demonstrating the "gentle-ways" effectiveness by challenging and facing in a variety of matches the home-grown Western fighting disciplines of boxing and wrestling. The West’s contribution was provided by professional wrestling, which was already staging mixed bouts between the different schools of grappling by the time jujtusu appeared on the European or American landscape. In no time the two disciplines would be facing of against each other in the ring. During the early 1900s, numerous contests between jujutsu and wrestling were held, often under the old prizefighting rules of "no holds barred", "anything goes", or "all-in": rules of wrestling that usually stipulated that no hold or tactic (with a few exception such as biting and gouging although sometimes even that was allowed) be banned from use, including striking. Eventually these evolved into an informal set of codified rules where both wrestling and jujutsu techniques where merged into a new style of wrestling, which was sometimes known as "jiu jitsu wrestling" when a jacket was worn (Will Bingham and Prof. Takahashi were strong proponents of this style). This was better known as "all-in" or "Slam Bang Western Style" wrestling and would become the basis for post Great War wrestling. Unfortunately, it was during the war years that wrestling metamorhosized from a somewhat legitimate sport into a completely staged one. Thus legitimate professional wrestling and the newly born mixed martial arts were eliminated in most of the world in one fell swoop. Fortunately it didn’t die out completely. In South America during the war years traveling Western wrestlers and Japanese judokas (most notably Matsuyo Maeda) hoping to escape the conflagation in Europe brought this "anything goes" wrestling with them as part of their travelling shows to the more hospitable lands of Brazil. These matches found some popularity in Rio de Janiero, São Paolo and the state of Bahia, becoming known as vale tudo (which translates as "anything goes" in Portuguese), eventually being televised on "Heróis do Ringue" from 1959-60. This widespread popularity wouldn’t last, being deemed too brutal for the masses, but would continued to be practiced as a fringe "sport" in Rio and the northern and southern regions of Brazil. Amongst the more well-known combatants to participate in these matches where Geo Omori, Manuel Rufini, Dudu, Wladimar Zbszko, Masahiko Kimura, Walkermar Santana, Euclides Pereira, Rei Zulu, Ivan Gomez, and, most famously, the Gracie family. It was a Gracie, Rorion, who would bring this (at least real and not staged) "anything goes" wrestling back to the United States on November 12, 1993, with the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. America was not the only place seeing a revival in real professiona wrestling that year, for a month earlier in Japan Masakatsu Funaki’s Pancrase held their first event, one where matches would be contested without predetermined outcomes. Puroresu in Japan, while having been as a staged as their Western counterparts was much more obsessed with keeping the illusion of reality alive, going so far as having their top star, Antonio Inoki, "prove" its superiority to other fighting disciplines (perhaps inspired by the "Heróis do Ringue" program which aired in Brazil while he resided there as a youth) or bring in such practiced catch-as-catch-can wrestlers as Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson to ensure that the Japanese wrestlers could deliver a realistic performance. Eventually a group of young wrestlers led by Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki, and Ken Shamrock, tired of only practicing and deciding to finally compete for real. They did so under the rules of professional wretling, rules which allowed contestents to use painful submission grappling techniques and strikes (with open hand to the head). These rules had changed very little since being developed in the era of the wrestling versus jujutsu feud at the beginning of the century. The following year the Vale Tudo Japan tournament kicked off and shortly thereafter other real professional wrestling promotions (such as RINGS and PRIDE FC) followed, kicking off the era of sōgō kakutōgi in Japan. During this era very little was done to differentiate between MMA and puroresu. In the United States, the UFC too gave birth to other fighting promotions, but unable to use the name Ultimate Fighting, and apparently unaware of its direct linkage to professional wrestling, they would take to calling the sport "No Rules" and "No Holds Barred" fighting until Rick Blume coined the term mixed martial arts while promoting his Battlecade card. The name would soon be the acknowledged name for not only the "no rules" fighting of that time, but also the modified professional wrestling matches taking place in Japan and later events held under the Unified Rules. In fact, when the UFC and other MMA promotions were trying to move away from the ‘human cockfighting" image the sport had gained and began to enforce new rules they turned to the Japanese promotions for some of their inspiriation. Thus the current UFC, as fought under the Unified Rules, is descended from Japanese promotions of the 90s and the "anything goes" vale tudo of Brazil. In turn, both of these are the direct descendants of pre First World War professional wrestling matches. In fact, the UFC’s lineage and claim to professional wrestling is as strong as what they pass of as a sport in the WWE. And we didn’t even have to touch on the fact that the UFC has built its business completely off the back of pro wrestling and pro wrestling fans. For the complete story check out the Forgotten Golden Age of Mixed Martial Arts parts I, II, III, and IV and my previous Martial Chronicle looking at Hélio Gracie's bouts with wrestlers. And in the coming weeks stay tuned as I look at how Brazil saved mixed martial arts, how the Japanese helped invent it, and, if I have time, how Mr. Roth is killing it. IMAGES Kimura applying his namesake on Hélio via moscow.kyokushinkai.ru Sakuraba walkout via prommanow.com

Posted in: sport, anything, japan, art, rule

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Outspoken and outrageous Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight, Chael Sonnen, finds himself right smack in the middle of a not-so prestigious list that includes sports figures such as pro-tennis star Serena Williams and NBA Commissioner David Stern. According to Yahoo! Sports, Sonnen is number five on its top 10 list of sports villains for 2011. Here is the description: 5. Chael Sonnen -- A one-man MMA goon squad who has ripped on Octagon girls, stormed out of interviews and makes WWE declarations to beaten opponents. The highly-ranked American middleweight had off-octagon problems as well. In January, he pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud and received two years' probation. With his knack for getting a rise out of anybody on the promotion's roster with his verbal attacks and quick wit, the former NCAA All-American wrestler has never been one to shy away to speaking his mind. So much so, in fact, that UFC President Dana White says he hasn't seen (or in this case heard) anyone have a way with words since the great Muhammad Ali. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, as well as most fighters who hail from Brazil, have been the primary target of Sonnen's one-man good squad. However, no one is seemingly safe from his sharp tongue, including other sports figures such as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and even UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste, among others. To see the rest of Yahoo's "Top 10 Sports Villains for 2011" click here.

Posted in: ufc, sport, sonnen, chael, sports figures

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It's a strange place to be; an MMA fan cognizant of what many have dubbed a 'health crisis' when it comes to concussions, and brain injuries. We all hate the stories of athletes not remembering how they got from their room and into their hallway, or how dementia set in and destroyed the life of one man and his family. But we love watching Dan Henderson crash a right hand into Michael Bisping's face, and there's nothing more exhilarating than watching Anderson Silva gracefully, and violently stop an opponent. But it's not a paradox. So long as we don't ignore the safety of the fighters. Unfortunately, as we saw with the story covered by Michael David Smith, this is sometimes the reality of the situation. And the world of MMA is dealing with its first high profile case with Gary Goodridge. Goodridge, like Don Frye, is considered a kind of pioneer of the sport. Bursting onto the scene with his legendary stoppage of Paul Herrera in an impossibly mismatched bout, he would go on to spread his wings (and fists, and feet) on the K-1 circuit. Unfortunately this also took a toll on his body, and brain. As Brent Brookhouse noted, the tail end of his career is precisely the kind of journey that becomes a cautionary tale. From 2006 until 2010, his K-1 record was 0-12-1 (6 by TKO or KO stoppage). On the MMA front, between 2008 and 2010, he went 0-7. The last three losses were by TKO. How he maintained a career up to that point is anyone's guess, but in speaking with Dr. Sherry Wulkan, Brent highlights the familiar issue of understaffed, and irresponsible athletic commissions and a lack of regulation that correspond with these tragic narratives. But the damage is already done, and Goodridge understands this explicitly: "my brain doesn't remember much these days", he says an interview for TheStar. A candid, honest man who was open about the Yakuza's influence on the outcome of matches in Pride in a fantastic piece last year by Sherdog's Jake Rossen, it's unfortunate to see Goodridge reduced to a potential dementia patient. Goodridge is not alone in the world of contact sports. Last week, former NFL player Benjamin Utecht, retired but only 30 years old, revealed problems (such as acute memory loss) stemming from his days playing football. A problem that bares itself out in the numbers when you consider that former NFL players aged 30 to 49 have a rate 19 times the national average of developing Alzheimer's. The sport needs to think about this issue, and it gains when the sport's writers address it. As for Goodridge, Brookhouse summarizes his role: The legacy of Gary Goodridge was always never going to be the guy who closed out his career rarely finding success. To those who long have enjoyed his exploits in the cage and ring he would be remembered as "Big Daddy." The intimidating force in early UFC and PRIDE competitions. We can now remember him as one of the first mixed martial artists to be open and honest about the toll that fighting can take. That's a legacy he can be proud of. Please check out the fully entry here. Brent Brookhouse can be reached on twitter @brentbrookhouse.

Posted in: sport, goodridge, brain injuries, gary goodridge, brent brookhouse

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UFC made its primetime debut on Fox in a deal Dana White called the biggest in the sport's history.

Posted in: ufc, sport, primetime, primetime debut, deal dana

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How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. If 2011 was marked by the fall of the old guard, it was also marked by the rise of the new guard - or at least, the singular face of that new guard in MMA. The man who embodies the idea of pushing the sport forward - of setting a new standard for what can be achieved in the confines of an MMA contest. Can there be any doubt who this is? Jon Jones is the best fighter of 2011 - that much is obvious and shouldn't even be up for debate. The question some have asked is: Is Jon Jones's 2011 the best single year for any MMA fighter in history? I'd have to say it is. Jones started the year as an exciting prospect who many fans had high hopes for in the future. He ended the year as the UFC Light Heavyweight champion, with two successful title defenses and, in just one year, now finds himself only two fights away from cleaning out the upper most ranks of the UFC's most notoriously stacked and competitive division. Along the way, he dominated elite names in ways we had never seen them beaten before - Lyoto Machida choked into unconsciousness by a nasty guillotine variation, Rampage Jackson made to look like an amateur on the feet, Mauricio Rua unable to mount any offense. Jones faced some of the very best the division had to offer, and he crushed them all. As good as this year was for the young champion, we still end the year with questions about him. How will he deal with the heavy hands of Dan Henderson? Will he finally meet Rashad Evans and add the former teammate to his list of victims? Why was Lyoto able to find success against him? And the big question - just how dominant will this kid be? That's what is so exciting about Jon Jones in 2011. It's not just what he has accomplished, but the sense of what he still can accomplish. He's extremely young, both in age and in his career, and shows improvements every fight. Today, he is the best 205 pounder in the world, the best 205 pounder since Chuck Liddell, and already in talks as one of the top 2 pound for pound fighters in the world. Just how high can he go? Jon Jones today reminds me a lot of his sort-of teammate Georges St. Pierre a few years ago. Young, destructive, and the kind of fighter that looked ready to elevate the sport to new levels. St. Pierre's career took an interesting path where a shocking loss led to increasingly cautious and fan-displeasing performances, while at the same time becoming one of the sport's biggest stars and most dominant champions. GSP has indeed helped bring the sport to new levels of popularity, but he is no longer pushing the envelope of what is possible inside the cage. Is this the fate that awaits Jones? Will he meet his own Matt Serra? And if he does, how will he respond? What does the future hold for this young phenom? I don't have those answers - no one does. But I can't wait to find out in 2012. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: mma, jone, jon jones, sport, year

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Despite having what many (including myself) feel is, without a doubt, the greatest year in the history of mixed martial arts, Jon Jones did not receive a single vote in the AP vote for Athlete of the Year. To Mike Chiapetta of MMA Fighting, this was proof that it is the mainstream that needs to catch up to MMA, not vice versa. From the article: I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. ... Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. The problem with saying this is an example of a larger ignorance of MMA is that to vote for Jones meant that the voters would have had to have not voted for who they truly felt was deserving of the award. Yes, maybe some (most) of the voters are ignorant of MMA, but would more information have caused them to vote for Jones over Rogers? Is a courtesy vote really that important? And I'd also like to address the idea that a boxer would receive consideration. In 2008, Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez in a title bout at 130 pounds in a battle between two of the top three pound for pound fighters in the sport. Manny then went up to 135 and beat one of the top two lightweights in the world in David Diaz to capture a title, then went all the way up to 147 and decimated Oscar De La Hoya in a huge fight. He also received zero AP Athlete of the Year votes. Manny would get some votes in 2010, a year where he beat a very overmatched, no-name Joshua Clottey and a badly tainted Antonio Margarito. A much less impressive year than 2008. The difference between 2008 and 2010? Manny was mainstream. It's a mainstream sports award. Yes, someone cast a vote for surfer Kelly Slater and another for indy car racer Dario Franchitti, but those are guys with years and years of dominance in their sport. Those are also votes likely by someone with a specific agenda (especially the Slater vote). There was simply no bigger mainstream sports star more deserving of the title than Aaron Rogers (or maybe Justin Verlander) so it seems like the voting did the job it is actually supposed to do. Again, I just can't find a reason to truly care that no one cast a vote for Jones. Maybe with a few more years of dominance and additional mainstream attention from the Fox deal, we'll see Jones get some votes. But one big year in a fringe combat sport (boxing or MMA) isn't enough to get the votes right now.

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, vote, year

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Filed under: UFC, Sports Business and MediaEarlier this week, The Associated Press, which provides sports news to millions of readers around the world, named its male and female athletes of the year for 2011. Not a single mixed martial artist was named on a single ballot. It's not as if non-traditional, non-stick & ball sports were not represented. Among those who received votes were sprinter Usain Bolt, surfer Kelly Slater and marathon swimmer Diana Nyad. But not a single voter thought to write Jon Jones' name on his ballot. Given the consistent dismissal of MMA by the mainstream news establishment, this oversight is hardly a surprise. In the past, we've always shaped such snubs as part of a larger argument about how far MMA has to go. But not this one. Mainstream sports, this time, it's on you. I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. Those three are all deserving of the consideration they received, but it's a sign of the blissful ignorance of the AP voters that Jones wasn't considered alongside of other vote-getters like Derek Jeter, Robert Griffin III and Dario Franchitti. Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. Some might suggest that awards like this don't matter. After all, in the big picture, it's the opinions of a few. But they are also the same people who help shape the national conversation of sports. As local newspapers continue their slow death spirals, the AP is called upon to provide more and more of the coverage that was once done in-house. That means a homogenized voice spreading a message that is not always indicative of the true, wider picture. It's the same voice that shut MMA out of the newspapers for far too long. But at least on that front, there is progress. In 2011, AP consistently began to provide papers with UFC event results. It might not be enough, but it's a start. Judging from their awards balloting, they still have a long way to go. MMA always blames itself for its shortcomings, and points out all the instances in which we're snubbed by the mainstream. It's proof, we say, that there is still much to do in order to truly break through. That's partly true, but we must also hold the sports experts to a higher standard. In any part of life, there's only so long you can disregard something popular before you can be accused of ignorance, and we've long passed that stage. At some point, it's up to the mainstream media to meet us halfway. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, year, award

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Following his UFC 140 victory over Lyoto Machida, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has supplanted Georges St-Pierre for the No. 2 spot in Yahoo! Sports' pound-for-pound MMA rankings. Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva retains the top spot. However, Jones earned one first-place vote, which means Silva is no longer the consensus No. 1.

Posted in: jone, sport, silva, georges stpierre, firstplace vote

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How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. As I look back over the MMA landscape of 2011, one of the stories that most sticks out to me is the fall of the old guard. Time and again over the past 12 months, we saw veterans of the sport fall and fall hard - the old guard replaced by the newer, younger, faster models. Of course, this is not an overnight process, as we've seen these things for the past few years, but 2011 felt like the year these moments all came together. Think of the legendary, unbeatable Fedor Emelianenko collapsing face first into the mat after a Dan Henderson punch. Think of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira looking in disbelief at his mangled arm while Frank Mir calmly walks away. Think of the look of pure shock and confusion on the face of Randy Couture as he fell to the mat, victim of a Lyoto Machida kick that was simply unfathomable during most of The Natural's career. And think of men like Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Mirko Cro Cop - three all time greats who, if not "retired", at least hung up the gloves for awhile after hard loses in 2011. This isn't the first time we've seen this in MMA, and it won't be the last. This group who faded away in 2011 was really the 2nd wave of MMA, and many of them made their names in the sport by defeating the 1st wave - the MMA pioneers - roughly 10 years ago. Back then, it was Royce Gracie being beaten down over 90 grueling minutes by Kazushi Sakuraba, Pedro Rizzo leg kicking Dan Severn into submission, Tito Ortiz establishing his dominance over Ken Shamrock. Today, all of those winners are at the very end of their own careers. Which brings me to one man. The man who, in many ways, defined that 2nd wave of fighters, at least for the UFC. And the man who defined that 2nd wave again this year. I'm talking about The People's Champ, The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Tito Ortiz is a legend of the sport who looked to be finished before 2011. A grueling series of fights and a non-stop assault of injuries had slowed Ortiz down considerably, and it looked like 2011 would finally be the end of the ex-champ. But Tito Ortiz would not go into the night so quietly. At UFC 132, Ortiz pulled off the upset of the year, submitting Ryan Bader in the first round. That led to what was, for me at least, the emotional highlight of the year, as Ortiz dug out the old trusty shovel and body bag, and laid Bader to rest. It was a huge moment for anyone who has followed this sport since the days of Ortiz's UFC dominance, and a highly charged display from the notoriously emotional Ortiz. It wouldn't last. Mere weeks later, Ortiz had lost again, stopped by a nasty Rashad Evans knee to the sternum. And to wrap up the year, Ortiz was defeated once more, this time by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140. That fight ended with Ortiz grasping his side and grimacing in pain - an image that truly encapsulates this year for the fighters of Ortiz's generation. Still, Tito Ortiz (and let's not forget Minotauro here too) showed that, despite becoming holdouts from a bygone era in MMA history, that old guard keeps kicking, and remains dangerous. How much longer will we see anyone from that era compete? The clock is winding down, and 2011 definitely sped up that process. So as we look back at the year, we can remember the loses these men endured - but it's important also to remember the great heights they once reached that brought them to this point. Yes, we remember Fedor vs, Henderson, but also remember Fedor vs. Kevin Randleman. Remember Minotauro vs. Bob Sapp. Remember Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg. Remember the greatness these legends gave us over the years, and be thankful for having had the chance to see them do what they do best. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ortiz, sport, year

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At the start of Miesha Tate's beef with Ronda Rousey, Tate said something that made no sense to me when she insisted that if women's MMA needs a "face" that it means that the sport will never make it. That's an incredible detachment from the reality of combat sports. I'd actually argue that it's much more "unhealthy" to not have one or two superstars who can bring extra attention to the sport and whose starpower can rub off somewhat when someone beats them. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar, Georges St. Pierre...etc. Those men were all the face of their sport at one time or another and without them that sport would have been profoundly less healthy. This isn't specific to just a discussion on WMMA or MMA in general. Strikeforce will need one or two fighters who emerge as their top draws. Previously we saw Gina Carano, Fedor Emelianenko and Nick Diaz serve as the top drawing stars in the promotion. They were more than simply fighters, Gina was a rare combination of skills and mass appeal, Fedor had a tremendous run and incredible mystique, Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters on earth to watch and is such a loose cannon that it makes it hard to watch to see what happens. So, knowing that the promotion isn't going anywhere any time soon, what happens now? Despite Stephen Espinoza claiming Gina will return, it looks somewhat unlikely. And even if she does, it's unlikely to be a full-time return. Diaz has been poached by the UFC, same with Alistair Overeem. And Fedor is off in M-1. After the jump we'll look through the current options to be the face of Strikeforce... SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Gilbert Melendez - Melendez is a guy they seem to be positioning as the promotion's top star. He's the #2 lightweight in the world (according to the USA Today / SB Nation Consensus Rankings) and having that level of talent makes him a natural choice. Unfortunately, there isn't exactly a line of challengers that can create much buzz for a Melendez fight. A third fight with Josh Thomson may happen down the road, tonight's fight with Jorge Masvidal represents the only Strikeforce top 25 fighter that Melendez hasn't yet beat. Melendez vs. KJ Noons may be a fight down the road that could get a little attention since Noons can talk a little bit, but I have my doubts about Gil emerging as a superstar. Cristiane Santos - "Cyborg" was expected to emerge as a big star following her dismantling of Gina Carano. Unfortunately, Strikeforce has only been able to find her three fights in the almost 28 months since that win. There is no depth at 145 pounds, especially if Rousey drops to 135 as expected. It's hard to have Cyborg get any bigger as a star without fights to make it happen. Miesha Tate - If she's more worried about facing challengers she feels have "earned it" than taking fights that people want to see? I don't know how far she can go. Still, she has a look that gets her attention and the skills to deliver the goods in the cage. I have my doubts, but she could eventually turn into a real star. Ronda Rousey - I hate pointing this out, but Ronda was on two of the three least watched Strikeforce events in the history of the Showtime deal. She's going to need some very good positioning on the 2012 cards to break out into the mainstream. It'll take a lot of effort an more than putting her on the Showtime Extreme undercard broadcasts. Luke Rockhold - Now we're talkin'. Rockhold has skills and charisma to spare, he fights a fairly exciting style and, in a rematch with Jacare or a fight with Tim Kennedy, has a pair of legitimate fights that can be made. Unfortunately, he has to face Keith Jardine first. Maybe beating a former UFC fighter will do him some good, but it still feels like a waste of time. Still, Rockhold has a good chance of being a breakout star for the promotion. Muhammad Lawal - Lawal has the flash, the skills the willingness to be special and the ability to talk a big game. Should he work his way back to the light heavyweight title, he is probably the guy (along with Rockhold) to be something more than "just another guy" on the Strikeforce roster. 2012 will be an interesting year for Strikeforce and the ability to create stars may be the make or break factor for their long time future.

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, star, sport, melendez

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Somehow between his training, caring for his ailing mother, dealing with the NSAC and flying to London just to pee in a cup, Alistair Overeem still managed to find time this week to pen his weekly UFC 141 blog post for Yahoo! Sports. Overeem talked a little bit about Brock Lesnar at the end, but it was mostly about his ordeal with the NSAC earlier this week. It was surely a distraction, but Overeem says he’s managed to see the bright side of it. The issue was over a random drug test requirement – which I didn’t know about until I came to Holland – and I understand it from their side. The fact is, they didn’t get what they needed when they needed it. I am happy to have got my license under the conditions the commissioners set out. I am also happy they accepted and stated on the record that there was no attempt by myself to avoid any test. I always try – and sometimes you can’t – but 99 percent of the time I manage to mentally turn things around to a positive. And on the positive side of all of this, I now know that if I train in Holland for a UFC fight again, I will need to go to England to do a test because the medical rules in Holland are too different to those in Nevada. It also helps me make my mind up to train in the US for my next UFC fight as long as I don’t have the same family issues to consider like I do right now. The NSAC ultimately decided to grant Overeem a conditional license provided he take a test now, another one when he lands in the US for the fight and two more random tests after UFC 141. Overeem hopes the additional testing will silence the “haters” now that he’s “the most tested fighter in the sport.” Another positive is that I’m now the most tested fighter in the sport. I will be tested four times in three weeks, and then at least twice more in the next six months in addition to any testing for my next fight. I have had people – I will politely call them ‘haters’ – accuse me of taking steroids since I was a 185-lb. kickboxer at the age of 17. When I was 20, I’ve fought at a weight of 222 lbs. I am now aged 31, and weigh 35 lbs. more. I don’t think 35 lbs is too much to grow in 11 years from a 20-year-old to 31-year-old. Facts are, I have been tested with the commission numerous times before when I fought in the U.S. and got tested in Japan. I always passed any testing, so hopefully now with these next tests coming and the fact of me being the most tested fighter in the sport, the critics may be satisfied. And if not, well, that’s not my problem, that is their problem. Well, Overeem is probably right about one thing. No matter how many tests he passes, some people are always going to believe he’s on something. And it’s hard to blame them when the “basic steroid panel” mandated by the NSAC doesn’t even test for all the various PED’s out there these days. I will say this about Overeem though. Whether he’s on something or not, he sure does speak with a lot of conviction when he addresses the allegations. If he’s lying about it, he’s been doing a damn good job of it. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: ufc, overeem, ’t, sport, test

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The rumored extension between Showtime and Strikeforce appears to be signed with representatives from both companies holding a call for the media today. Though details are spotty at the moment, from various sources Bloody Elbow was made aware that the two parties plan to extend the current deal an additional two years which would make it effective through 2014. The big hold up was that Showtime felt that Zuffa didn't act in good faith by signing away the top talent of Strikeforce. UFC President Dana White, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, and Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports Stephan Espinoza will be on the call. Join Bloody Elbow for a live discussion of the media call which takes place at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT. Follow @mattroth512for instant updates via twitter. Following the call the tweets will be posted after the jump. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, media today, parties plan

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Along with trying to establish mixed martial arts in American sports culture, MMA promoters like the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator are competing against the excepted assumptions of the sport in today's mainstream media, including news outlets, uneducated fans, ill-advised combat followers and

Posted in: sport, ufc strikeforce, excepted assumptions, news outlets, mainstream media

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Showtime Sports and Strikeforce will hold a special media conference call today (Dec. 15, 2011) to make a "special announcement." Hrmmm, I wonder what this could possibly be about? The call, which begins at 3 p.m. ET, will feature Stephen Espinoza, UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Stephen Espinoza is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports. Rumors have been flying that Zuffa has made a deal to keep Strikeforce on Showtime for the forseeable future and today, all the speculation can finally end. Expect to hear plenty of information about the future of Strikeforce, it's fighters and what its potential relationship with Showtime will be like moving forward. We'll have complete updates of the Showtime Sports and Strikeforce conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET.

Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, showtime sports, strikeforce conference

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FUEL TV (www.fuel.tv), FOX Sports Media Group’s dynamic entertainment and sports network for males, officially kicks off the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) on FUEL TV January 1 with a 24-hour marathon of UFC programming featuring five show premieres. In 2012, FUEL TV telecasts more than 2,000 hours of UFC programming, with more than 100 hours of live fights, weigh-ins, preliminary bouts, and pre- and post-fight shows. In the New Year, FUEL TV offers more UFC programming than any network has ever offered.“We’re beyond excited for the monster launch of the UFC on FUEL TV and can’t wait for the ball to drop on New Year’s so we can finally unveil all this incredible programming,” says George Greenberg, FUEL TV Executive Vice President and General Manager. “On January 1, FUEL TV becomes the number-one television destination for UFC fans. We’re going to deliver amazing live fights, FOX-style pre- and post-fight shows with expert commentary, insightful news shows with exclusive material and powerful documentaries that followers of the UFC have never seen before.”“We’re excited that FUEL TV will become the ultimate destination for UFC programming in 2012,” says Dana White, UFC President. “We knew when we made the partnership with the FOX Sports Media Group that FUEL TV would allow us to put on more programming than every other network. If you’re a fan of the UFC, you’ve got to have FUEL TV.”In addition to five shows premiering on January 1, FUEL TV launches “UFC Tonight,” the official news and information show of the UFC hosted by Todd Harris, on Tuesday, January 3 at 10:00 PM ET. The first Live UFC Weigh-in (UFC RIO™: ALDO vs. MENDES) is Friday, January 13 at 1:00 PM ET, followed by the first Post-Fight Show on Saturday, January 14 at 1:00AM ET. FUEL TV features the first Preliminary Bouts for UFC® on FX: GUILLARD vs. MILLER on Friday, January 20 at 6:00 PM ET.For a complete listing of FUEL TV shows, go to: http://www.fuel.tv/schedule/. For more information, go to www.fuel.tv and www.fuel.tv/ufc To find out FUEL TV on your television, go to www.fuel.tv/getfueltv, or call 877-4 FUEL-TV. FUEL TV Schedule UFC 24-hour New Year’s Day MarathonJanuary 1, 12:00 AM ETUFC Reloaded 1 (UFC 79 Nemesis)Missed that one Pay-Per-View everyone's always talking about? Not to worry because FUEL TV is bringing you some of the biggest and most memorable events in UFC history, featuring exclusive, never-before-seen, footage and much, much more. You may know the result, but the epic battles on “UFC Reloaded” will keep you on the edge of your seat. There will be 14 episodes in 2012.January 1, 3:00 AM ETUFC Bad Blood: Liddell vs. OrtizOnce friends, now bitter enemies. UFC superstars Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz waged intense battles in and out of the Octagon. The 90-minute special “UFC Bad Blood: Liddell vs. Ortiz,” gives an all-access look at the epic feud forged in heated competition over the UFC Championship, and fueled by personal conflict outside of the cage. Through new, exclusive interviews, rare behind-the-scenes footage, and hard-hitting action from their historic fights, you can re-live the rivalry that helped launch the Ultimate Fighting Championship into the mainstream and made Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz household names that will be forever linked. January 1, 4:30 AM ETUFC Champion's Roundtable with Jay GlazerIn this FUEL TV produced half-hour special, Jay Glazer chats all things UFC with current and past champions Jon "Bones" Jones, Frank Mir, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin. Watch this intimate discussion about the UFC's meteoric rise, what it means to be a champion and many other topics. January 1, 5:00 AM ETUFC Unleashed®“UFC Unleashed®” features the best fights from the UFC vault! With 12, one-hour specials over 2012, “UFC Unleashed®“ brings viewers the big names and epic battles they want to see. January 1, 6:00 AM ETUFC Ultimate Knockouts™“UFC Ultimate Knockouts™“ brings viewers the greatest knockouts in MMA history, delivered by fighters who refuse to leave results in the hands of the judges ... or even allow their opponent a chance to tap out. In this two-hour special, these warriors seek not just to win, but to dominate … with one devastating strike! (Note: The January 1 schedule repeats this eight-hour block the rest of the day.)Other UFC Show Premieres in January: January 3, 7:00 PM ETBest of PRIDE Fighting Championships®Peer into the PRIDE® vault as FUEL TV brings viewers some of the greatest mixed martial artists in history, featuring classic wars from Japan's MMA glory days. In 12, one-hour shows, watch as many of today's biggest UFC stars like Anderson "The Spider" Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and Antônio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira first rose to prominence in the PRIDE ring. Viewers get to relive all of the classic battles in the “Best of PRIDE Fighting Championships®.”January 3, 10:00 PM ETUFC Tonight“UFC Tonight” is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before and after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, “UFC Tonight” is a fan’s number-one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This weekly, half hour show is hosted by Todd Harris, with analyst Kenny Florian, Insider Ariel Helwani and features from Jay Glazer.January 10, 6:00 PM ETUFC Best of 2011 Each year, the Ultimate Fighting Championship gets more exciting than the last. Re-live the thrilling action of the best bouts, the greatest knockouts and submissions, and other incredible highlights of the previous 12 months in this three-hour special, as we breakdown top contenders in each weight class, rising stars, and the warriors currently dominating the sport. January 10, 9:00 PM ETCountdown to UFC RIO™: ALDO vs. MENDES“Countdown to UFC” sets the stage for the UFC's biggest fights with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes access to fighter training camps. Over 14 episodes of this series, witness the intense preparation, hear each fighter's opinion of their opponent, and get expert analysis on the match-up - all leading up to the big fight. LIVE UFC Programs on FUEL TV in January: January 13, 1:00 PM ETLive UFC Weigh-in: UFC RIO™: ALDO vs. MENDESUFC's biggest and baddest stars weigh-in and face-off live before a night of epic battles inside the Octagon. January 14, 1:00 AM ETUFC on FUEL TV: Post-Fight Show – UFC RIO™: ALDO vs. MENDESJay Glazer and today's top MMA analysts recap the night's bouts, serve up exclusive fighter interviews, and talk about 'what's next' for the winners and losers after the big fight in this one-hour show.January 19, 5:00 PM ETLive UFC Weigh-in: UFC® on FX: GUILLARD vs. MILLERUFC's biggest and baddest stars weigh-in and face-off Live before a night of epic battles inside the Octagon®. January 20, 6:00 PM ETUFC on FUEL TV: Preliminary Bouts – UFC® on FX: GUILLARD vs. MILLERWitness the next generation of UFC stars rise as FUEL TV kicks off a night of unforgettable action, featuring three hours of MMA's hungriest and most promising fighters. If you want to see the battles that make up-and-coming fighters into household names, you don't want to miss the prelims on FUEL TV. January 20, 11:00 PM ETUFC on FUEL TV: Post-Fight Show – UFC® on FX: GUILLARD vs. MILLERJanuary 27, 5:00 PM ETLive UFC Weigh-in: UFC on FOX January 28, 5:00 PM ETUFC on FUEL TV: Preliminary Bouts - UFC on FOX January 28, 10:00 PM ETUFC on FUEL TV: Post-Fight Show - UFC on FOX January 31, 9:00 PM ETCountdown to UFC® 143: DIAZ vs. CONDITFUEL TVFUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports including MMA, surfing, motocross, snowboarding, skateboarding BMX, wakeboarding and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. With more hours of UFC coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the place to be for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and post-fight coverage, specials and events you won’t see anywhere else! See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.FOX Sports Media GroupFOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching almost 30 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

Posted in: ufc, sport, january, tv, fuel

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The latest edition of the Sports Business Journal lists Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White in its annual “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.” It is the first time that either Fertitta or White have been listed. Other notable individuals on the list include Fox Sports Media Group’s David Hill and Eric Shanks who were collectively ranked at number 5. Hill and Shanks played a role in the UFC-Fox deal. NBC Universal Holdings President and CEO Steve Burke ranked at number 1. The Sports Business Journal described Fertitta and White as, “[t]he Las Vegas billionaire and his bombastic front man” and taking the UFC “from outlawed to in thing.” Payout Perspective: The inclusion of Fertitta and White on the list, which includes the top executives of professional sports leagues and sports business, is a sign that MMA is beginning to gain mainstream respectability. The Fox deal and the company’s global expansion are cited as successful business moves made this year for the company. We will see if they can maintain their spot on the list with its business moves this year.

Posted in: business, sport, list, fertitta, business moves

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Jon Jones joined a group of dominant 24-year-olds in sports in 2011, and his year may have actually topped theirs.

Posted in: jone, jon jones, sport, brydon, group

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has two of its highest-ranking executives rated among the top "50 Most Influential People In Sports Business" for 2011, according to the Sports Business Journal. Coming in at number 41, Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta and President Dana White make the list for their contributions to the world of mixed martial arts, which continues to change the way mainstream sports looks at cagefighting, particularly on the heels of its recent broadcast deal with the FOX Network. In the last decade, the Las Vegas billionaire and his bombastic front man have taken the UFC from outlawed to in thing. A move to the Fox family of networks, coupled with expansion into South America and Asia, made 2011 a watershed year. The UFC brass share the list with a Weiner and a Cuban. MLB Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner came in at number 42 while Dallas Mavericks owner and HDNet head honcho Mark Cuban was number 45. To see the rest of the list click here.

Posted in: sport, number, broadcast deal, sports business, watershed year

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Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White recently made the "most influential" list from the Sports Business Journal, signaling the company's emergence into the mainstream sports world.

Posted in: business, sport, power, companys emergence, power player

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Filed under: UFC, News, Sports Business and MediaFresh off the momentum of signing the first network deal in UFC history, organizational executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta have been listed among the "50 Most Influential People in Sports Business" by Sports Business Journal, a leading publication among movers and shakers in the world of sports. White and Fertitta were paired together at No. 41, sandwiched between New York Yankees general partner and co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner, and Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Michael Weiner. The publication cited the UFC's move to FOX-owned networks as well as expansion into South American and Asia as a "watershed year" for the promotion. It was the first time UFC brass made the cut for the SBD list, which has been released each December since 2004. White and Fertitta were among the many heads of major sports named to the list. Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was first among them, followed by NFL boss Roger Goodell and NBA head man David Stern. The pubilcation's overall choice for No. 1 was Steve Burke, the president and CEO of NBC Universal Holdings, who heads both NBC Sports as well as Versus, which is soon to be renamed NBC Sports Network. He was cited for his winning Olympics rights bid as well as other major business moves since the recent Comcast-NBC merger. Meanwhile, White and Fertitta's new partners at FOX were also named among the leading powers in sports, with FOX Sports media group chairman David Hill, and co-president and COO's Eric Shanks and Randy Freer collectively ranked at No. 5. SBD cited several FOX deals in 2011 but noted "its biggest splash might been with the UFC, which it brought to broadcast television for the first time." The seven-year deal between the two sides is reportedly worth about $700 over the full term. It officially begins in January with a Jan. 20 show on FX followed by a Jan. 28 show on FOX. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, business, sport, fertitta, lorenzo fertitta

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In his exclusive blog for Yahoo! Sports, Alistair Overeem delves into his decision to return to Holland for training.

Posted in: overeem, sport, yahoo, yahoo sports, overeem family

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Jon Jones' reliance on faith, spirituality and Christ makes him one of the most intriguing fighters in the sport today. He's also one of the best.

Posted in: jon, jone, sport, faith, faith spirituality

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After an emotional 2011, former champ Tito Ortiz is looking to go out on his own terms.

Posted in: ortiz, sport, term, yahoo sports, career winds

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A stint as UFC color commentator has helped former champ Frank Mir prepare for his rematch with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Posted in: nogueira, mir, sport, rematch, mir talks

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Come on. You had to know that someone who survived getting run over by a truck at the age of 10 wasn’t going to leave the sport of mixed martial arts quietly. In fact, one of the most enduring qualities attached to former PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is his otherworldly level of toughness.Yet even his staunchest supporters had to wonder what his 35-year old body had left when he stepped into the Octagon in August to face up and coming knockout artist Brendan Schaub. Nogueira was coming off a layoff of over a year due to knee and hip surgeries, he had lost two of his previous three bouts, both by knockout, and in any combat sport, Father Time’s knock on the door can come at anytime once you hit your mid-30’s.But this was a rested Nogueira feeling better than he had in years, he was fighting in front of his home fans in Brazil for the first time ever, and that was really all the motivation he needed to turn back the clock, which he did by knocking Schaub out in the first round.“Fighting in Brazil was amazing to me,” said Nogueira. “It was the best experience of my career to fight in front of my people, my family, my closest friends. The arena is less than two miles from my gym, so I had a lot of support, energy, and motivation. Fighting is about motivation, and when you have a special case like this, you do your best and you can surprise people with how good you can do, and that’s what happened in this fight.”Nogueira has been around this sport long enough – over 12 years to be exact – to know what the whispers were heading into the Schaub fight. To many, he was done. But he knew better, and even though he admits that he wasn’t fully operational after his last surgery in February, even the level he was at was so much better than he had been over the last few years.“I was injured for about three years, and I couldn’t perform so well in the last fights,” he said. “After my last surgery, I took the fight (with Schaub), even though I was like 70 percent. But it was enough for me to be way better than I was before. I was faster, I was punching faster, I had my hips to throw my right hand better because the power comes from the hips, and it was great to fight in better shape and in better condition. I’m feeling good right now.”Almost like a new man. He laughs.“I’m feeling better. Before I was feeling like 45; now I feel like 25.”So there’s no better time than now to revisit a loss that still eats at him, his UFC 92 defeat to Frank Mir in December of 2008. Hit with a staph infection during training camp, Nogueira recovered, but was also saddled with his other injuries, and it was the worst timing in the world for him, as Mir was on top of his game that night in Vegas. What resulted was Nogueira’s first knockout defeat. Three years later, this Saturday night in Toronto, Nogueira gets his rematch.“He (Mir) won that day, I can’t change the story,” said Nogueira of their first bout. “That day he fought better. He was faster, he was more athletic than me, and it worked for his game. What made me sad was that I think that I can fight better than that day when I’m a hundred percent. So that’s what I’m hoping to do. A fight is a fight, but I think I can do better than the last fight.”We’ve already documented how different Nogueira will be this time around, but Mir has not sat idly by in the last three years either. His standup and wrestling have improved, and he’s constantly tweaking the areas of his game that he thinks need adjusting. This subtle transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed by Nogueira.“I think he’s improved his standup and his Muay Thai’s gotten better,” he said of Mir. “He’s a complete fighter, and he’s improved his endurance. I know I’m gonna face a good opponent, but I’m ready for everything.”A win would make it two in a row for Nogueira and end the year on a high note. But as far as title aspirations go, he doesn’t have any at the moment considering one of his protégés, Junior dos Santos, is the man holding the UFC heavyweight crown.“Right now I’m not thinking about that because of Junior,” said Nogueira. “I don’t have that goal right now to fight for the title because he’s got the title. I want to be the best I can in my weight division, but it (getting the belt) is not my goal right now.” That’s an admirable position to take, and when you hear him talk about dos Santos’ title winning effort against Cain Velasquez last month, it’s not as if Nogueira is a mentor or training partner, but more like a brother.“I feel happy,” said Nogueira. “He was a poor kid in Brazil and I feel great for him and how he improved. He took this very seriously and he became the heavyweight champion of the world.”That’s a title Nogueira wore with pride for a good portion of his career. Hopefully as mixed martial arts grows bigger and more mainstream, newer fans will recognize that fact and recognize him as one of the game’s greats. But for the moment, “Minotauro” is happy to be around to see the sport he helped build finally be accepted.“I see how great this sport became and I see how popular this sport became in Brazil,” he said. “Over 60 million people watched Junior’s last fight. It was so different back when it was illegal in a couple states in the United States, and now we have FOX TV. So this sport’s great, I love what I do, and I see how the sport improves every time. There are fighters coming up like Junior, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, and a lot of new guys, and I’m happy to be between them.”

Posted in: fight, nogueira, i ’m, sport, year

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Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit will fight for the interim UFC welterweight title, due to Georges St. Pierre's knee injury.

Posted in: gsp, sport, pierre, injury, carlos condit

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Since its humble beginnings, the sport of mixed martial arts has gradually become a part of the mainstream consciousness, appearing in everything from reality shows to video games to ESPN’s ticker of newsworthy events. Now, the sport can add another notch to its belt with the revival of the comic strip “Joe Palooka.”

Posted in: sport, palooka, mainstream consciousness, mma cage, video games

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Who will win at UFC 140? The Yahoo! Sports MMA staff gives you their picks.

Posted in: ufc, sport, prediction, yahoo, expert

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For many generations, parents have directed at-risk youth to participate in traditional organized sports such as basketball and football. But...

Posted in: sport, canada, generations parents, atrisk youth, ufcs mma

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The sport of Mixed Martial Arts has exploded in the pervious twenty years and has attracted countless new fans. And as the sport evolves it is very easy to loose sight of even the recent past of the sport much less its far reaching roots. So this series will bring will recount the history of Mixed Martial Arts, from the earliest forerunners to the modern sport of MMA focusing on pivotal fighters, styles, fights, rivalries and events. To start off we are going to travel back to Ancient times to give the modern sport proper context. We start with the Ancient Greeks and the sport of Pankration, also called Pancratium. In the 600s BC, the major empires in the Middle East favored larger armies centered around archery, chariots and quick moving light infantry that worked well on large open battlefields. The Greeks however lived in a mountainous country, were battles were fought in ravines, valleys and mountain passes with heavy infantry at close quarters. With military service being obligatory for citizenship in the Greek polis, the average Greek man was well-versed in close combat. Out of the clash of phalanxes came a combat art based on real combat experiences that combined wrestling and striking. This art, Pankration, was practiced in varying forms from Greek city-state to Greek city-state, and included joint locks, chokes and neck cranks. To fill the time during years of peace, Greeks had sporting contests, mostly based around preparing Greek men for war. Pankration was a natural addition and appeared in the Olympic games. Rules varied from city to city and there is evidence that Spartans were outlawed from most competitions for their unfortunate tendency to kill their opponent and that they were encouraged by their teachers to bite and scratch in matches. Matches, in general, were fought naked and combatants coated themselves with sand to create friction for grips. Fighters then could strike or grapple, depending on their own personal style and matches ended when one contestant was unable to continue or signaled defeat by raising an index finger on one hand (an ancient tapout). Death was a fairly common occurrence in these matches. Some historians have theorized that when Alexander the Great unified the Greek people with the Macedonians and they conquered the Persian Empire and entered India they spread Pankration east influencing the development of martial arts there. While this sounds all well and good, there is no evidence to support this assertion. Alexander's death mark the decline of the Greeks as an international power and the small, warlike city of Rome rose to fill that power vacuum. While the Romans did practice both wrestling and boxing, there is no evidence they adopted Pankration and the art faded. I want there to be no confusion, the art was gone and there is no clear connection between Ancient Pankration and modern MMA, but it is a clear pioneer art in combat. In recent years there has been a resurgence of Pankration as Greek martial artists recreate the techniques based on paintings and statues. This resurgence gives us a better understanding and insight into what may have been the first formally practiced martial art. The Discovery Channel show Human Weapon did a pretty decent feature on this recreation of Pankration. Sources: Ancient Olympics Pancratium

Posted in: sport, art, combat, greek, pankration

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Anderson Silva is on fire down in Brazil. In addition to all the blue-chip sponsors and endorsements he has landed lately, GQ Brazil just named him their 2011 Man of the Year for sports. Translated via MMA.tv: “It was an historic year for the Mixed Martial Arts – the sport exploded in popularity on prime time TV – and especially for Anderson Silva. By defending his middleweight belt for the ninth time, The Spider won the fight of the year against Japan’s Yushin Okami in Brazil, and was proclaimed the greatest athlete in the history of MMA. “I know that my victories helped the success in the sport. I’m glad that people talk on the streets, that the academies sing up new students. We need new idols,” says the 36 year old fighter. On a semi-related note, here’s a new trailer for Silva’s documentary Like Water: HT: Fightlinker

Posted in: sport, silva, anderson silva, year, brazil

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With the buzz still strong off the recent Michael Chandler-Eddie Alvarez thriller, Bellator's CEO is sticking by the company's tournament format.

Posted in: bellator, sport, tournament, company, ceo

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The Sports Business Journal released its  results from its annual reader’s survey. While the UFC received some praise, the most telling result was whether sponsors would align its brand with the UFC. According to the industry publication, of the 1,158 respondents to the question: “If you were a chief marketing officer, would you align your brand with the UFC?” 55 percent of the readers said it would not align its brand with the UFC. 28 percent of the respondent believed it would fit its demo while the other 16 percent had no opinion. Another survey question indicates that its believed that sports sponsorship will increase slightly in the next five years. Despite the result that many would not align its brand with the UFC, other responses were positive. Readers ranked the UFC third as a sports property/organization with the most potential growth. Of almost 1,500 respondents, 14 percent ranked the UFC behind the MLS and NHL. It also ranked fourth behind the NFL, MLB and the NHL as the most innovative property. It ranked ahead of the MLS and NBA. Payout Perspective: While the results do not define the future of the UFC, or MMA in general, the Sports Business Journal is regarded as an informative source in the sports industry. Its read by many mainstream sports people and I would gather that they are just being introduced to the world of mixed martial arts. The UFC-Fox deal certainly will help with the education and we will see how it will do in next year’s survey. While the UFC is receiving recognition for its growth potential and use of new media, it still seems as though skeptics are concerned about the violence in the sport. This could hurt with the future of landing mainstream sponsors despite its ties with Fox. With the belief that sports sponsorship will increase its spending in the future, the biggest hurdle that the UFC much face if it is to garner sponsors is educating a mainstream audience about its sport.

Posted in: ufc, result, sport, brand, survey

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Boxing will be a new addition to NBC Sports programming in 2012. NBC Sports Network (now known as Versus until 2012) will debut NBC Sports Network Fight Night on Saturday night January 21, 2012 from Philadelphia. The Fight Nights will be produced on a quarterly basis with fight nights in January, March, June and December in 2012. Via NBC Sports Network press release: NBC Sports Group will work with Main Events (Promotions) and Hall-of-Fame matchmaker J Russell Peltz on a multi-promoter strategy for NBC Sports Network Fight Night designed to produce the best quality fights. It is a strategy in which any promoter can participate to get their boxers involved in these programs. “This is a unique approach to have multiple promoters competing to put fights on NBC Sports Network,” said Jon Miller, President, programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “That, coupled with the legendary matchmaker J Russell Peltz serving as our quality control expert, ensures that boxing fans will enjoy exciting and competitive matches.” (H/t: Bad Left Hook and Boxing Insider) Payout Perspective: It was once rumored that the UFC would land with NBC/Versus. It looks like NBC Sports has chosen boxing to bolster its sports content for 2012. This will be interesting to see how it will compete with HBO, Showtime and ESPN offerings of boxing programming. The multi-promoter approach will be another interesting component of its Fight Nights. How much will NBC Sports Network be able to promote these fighters for a casual audience to tune in? Will NBC Sports invest programming to market the fighters prior to the Fight Nights? We will see how successful these programs will be for the NBC Sports Network and whether it will expand in the future.

Posted in: fight, night, sport, network, nbc

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Fighters Only, the world’s leading mixed martial arts magazine, today reminds sports fans around the world that they have just a couple more days...

Posted in: world, day, sport, art, sports fans

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Chris Lytle has only been retired for a few months, but already he understands why so many fighters struggle to walk away from the sport for good.

Posted in: fighter, sport, lytle, fire, fighters struggle

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God knows if there is anyone who thinks there is no need for some sort of pointless "MMA vs. boxing" rivalry, it's me. I love both sports deeply for their various charms, but it is interesting to me to hear the thoughts of fighters from both sports on the other. Even if it's only out of a strange sense of curiosity. So when our friends at FightHub caught up with Zab Judah and asked for his thoughts on MMA, I checked out the video: Zab's quote: "MMA? I mean hey, it is what it is. It's..some people like to see. You know? I think the difference between MMA and boxing is anybody can be a MMA fighter it just takes...uh...you know, just brutality. You know what I'm sayin'? It's not a skill level thing. For me to get in and get your arm in a lock and try to pop it off, you know, as fast as I could? Anybody could do that. But when it comes to boxing, boxing is a skill, you know what I'm saying? It's an acquired entree. It's not for everybody." The point of this isn't "let's all get angry at Zab for what he said." Obviously he's speaking from a place of ignorance when it comes to MMA. The proper application of an armbar, kimura or any other arm lock is more than "grab arm and twist" we all know that. Hell, Zab probably knows that himself. I find the "acquired entree" thing to be the interesting part because it's something that I hear from MMA and boxing fans/participants alike when defending their sport. Both sports are very easy to understand and appreciate when you're watching James Kirkland vs. Alfredo Angulo, Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti, Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson or Stephan Bonnar vs. Forrest Griffin. Those are bouts which are, at their very core, what people expect a fight to look like. But watching an MMA fight which is a struggle for takedowns and positional control against submission attacks is something that does take a certain level of understanding and willingness to appreciate. To many people struggles against the cage or ground battles will never be appealing and they'll never understand what is going on because they simply don't care to. Similarly, many people watch a boxing match between two fighters with different styles and see clinching and hate that the guys keep "hugging" and the ref has to separate them. Boxing fans understand that in many cases it's a matter of dictating the space and distance at which the fight takes place or to break up the rhythm of the other fighter. There are a myriad of reasons why a clinch takes place or any other number of more subtle things in boxing. But many people won't care either way because they, again, simply don't care to. Both sports are acquired tastes and I don't think either is free from misunderstanding or falls gracefully into "everyone wants to see a fight" given that the definition of fight for most people falls well outside of anything a strategic fighter engages in. Of course, anyone can appreciate this: Too mean?

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, boxing, people

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One thing that seems like it will never go away is the boxing versus MMA debate. While there are many that are fans of both sports, UFC President Dana White being a prime example, there are many more that focus their attention on the sport that they love and deride the other sport, like say, boxing promoter, Bob Arum. Zab Judah, who has said, in the past, that MMA is more fun to watch than boxing, has lent his voice to the debate.  The good folks over at FightHubTV.com, caught up with the champion

Posted in: mma, sport, boxing, mma fighter, mma debate

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There’s one constant in this world that is day in and day out guaranteed to remain the same regardless of what transpires in life. That guarantee is, your family will always remain your family regardless of circumstance or situation. Whether you see eye to eye or refuse to be involved in one another's life, it still remains that a family connection never disappears. One of the most debated topics fight fans argue is the willingness to fight a family member, best friend, or teammate. No matter if the opportunity is for a World Title or for a million dollar purse, both sides of the fence often stand very strong by what they believe in. One New Mexico promotion will test the boundaries of this controversial subject. Evolution Combat Sports Championship, better known simply as Evolution, is a Clovis, New Mexico based MMA organization owned by brothers Martin and Sam Singleterry. Their upcoming event on December 10th, 2011, EVOLUTION 2 will be the sixth card promoted by the two brothers. They break up their cards into big and smaller events much like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) does with their numbered PPV cards and their "Fight Night" cards. Evolution Combat Sports titles their events as "Evolution" and "Friday Night Fights." The promotion has featured such fighters as Ultimate Fighter 14 participant Diego Brandao, Jackson's MMA fighter Heather Clark, King of the Cage Champion Tim Means, rising prospect Jeremiah Cullum who is younger brother to former KOTC champ and current Dream fighter Abel Cullum, one of New Mexico's most popular female fighters Angelica Chavez and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion and undefeated prospect Rafael "Barata" de Freitas.   The promotion is known for an unorthodox approach to their events as they try to gain steam and attention in such an obscure area. The creative and unique approaches have provided regional fight fans plenty to talk about and the promotion provided a thriller in their last card when headliners Rafael de Freitas and Joshua Montoya fought to a razor thin split decision that was jam packed with action. On this particular night however, the main event won't be featuring a match between two well known names unless you follow the states regional scene. The main event will be what may be one of the first times in MMA that two brothers fight inside the cage proving once again that the promoters know how to grab the attention of fight fans. For more info and personal thoughts and reaction, follow me after the jump.    As fight fans and MMA blog enthusiasts, we’ve all either seen or taken part in discussions regarding whether teammates should fight teammates. Whether the topic sparked from AKA teammates Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch stating they wouldn't fight one another or Greg Jackson's long time rule of teammates never fighting teammates, the conversation always had a side that advocated this belief and one side who’s opinion differed greatly. The side that opposes argues that fighting someone you trained with day in and day out wasn't something that should be done. The reasons vary from not wanting to break the ‘sacred hoop’, shedding blood with a teammate, to not wanting to hurt someone they train with for money or a belt. The other side argues that two fighters who participate in physical combat everyday with each other should have no problem doing it and getting paid and that this sport isn't a team sport. Opinions flare from people who insist they would hit their own brother for a million dollars to why would you let something you do anyways deter a career. In most cases the scenarios are hypothetical. Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck have never had to make the decision and most people who offer their opinion who say they could never be in the position to carry out what they claim they would do, i.e., fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. At one point two adopted brothers, Ken and Frank Shamrock appeared to be taking their bad blood into the mixed martial arts world however, that fight never manifested. For two brothers Jeremiah Paco ‘The Punisher’ Castillo and Angel Castillo, this situation will become reality in a 130-pound catch weight bout on EVOLUTION 2. Paco, the heavy right handed elder brother brings in a ton of experience fighting in promotions ranging from King of the Cage to Shark Fights. The younger brother Angel Castillo, who has much better ground, will be making his pro debut after an impressive amateur career. Yet, I don't think their records or background create the main topic on this one. This is a fight that will go deeper then most conflicts between two fighters and “Well, from what both brothers have told me, it’s your typical long standing sibling rivalry  except we’re talking about two country boys that are trained fighters so the situation is elevated. Both are great guys but I think they have certain objections to one another’s lifestyle choices and from what I gather, their personalities clash when in close proximity of one another. Primarily, they frequently quip about who is the better fighter……which has escalated into actual fighting on more than one occasion,” Evolution Combat Sports Owner Martin Singleterry explains, “A few months ago I caught wind of them wanting to settle their differences in the cage and I immediately contacted them about it. After some discussion, we all agreed and the contracts were signed shortly after. We are considered as the premier organization in the state so they had no problem trusting us to carry this out properly.” Being in the position as a promoter this can be a very controversial to walk the thin line between martial arts and fighting. Some people will be swayed to feel like fighting your brother is something that is not supposed to happen. That fighting a family member is breaking some sort of sacred vow. Most people enter fights with a fire in their eyes, with the mentality to knock your opponents head off and to even inflict bodily harm to earn you a victory. Is it worth it? Is having your hand raised and having a “W” in your record worth the cost, when that cost is often hurting and even injuring someone who is your relative, a family member, a brother? Martin Singleterry offers his opinion on the topic. “I feel great about it! It’s sensational and somewhat controversial but no matter the opinion, it’s a fight that lots of people are interested in. Shoot, if I’m not mistaken, I think we’re the first in MMA history to do it. Our reputation is based on quality events with good, fair fights and even though this is a rare obscure occurrence it’s a good fight. We can’t forget that MMA is a sport, a very rough sport but a sport nonetheless. Evolution is a great organization and we operate and abide by the NMAC sanctions so, it’s much better to do it this way, in a controlled environment than continue letting them endanger themselves by smashing each other into concrete steps and what not.” And he ends by sharing some of his personal ideology. “Most everyone knows my trademark saying, “cut us open and you’ll find three things, M.M.A.”. We love the sport and work hard to do it justice. We are a respected and trusted organization and would not pursue this fight if we thought it would be detrimental to MMA. Therefore, I have no qualms about putting anyone with equal abilities in the cage…..even brothers.” I have always felt that fighting someone in this situation would force the individual to hold back in some way. In the case of Fitch and Koscheck I firmly believe that neither would be able to fight 100% the way they would when facing other opponents. Would they be able to unleash ground and pound if they had each other hurt? Would Fitch be able to crank back on an arm bar that could break his teammates arm or vice versa if Koscheck had a knee bar and was about to blow the knee of Fitch? The answer for at least one promoter is a definitive yes. “It’s more than just simple smack talk between fighters; this is a real situation with deep conflict. I firmly believe once it’s over, they will lay a lot of their differences to rest regardless of the outcome. If you’re wondering what level will they engage, then I can assure you they’re going to try to beat the hell out of each other to win.” For more on the event, visit the promotions website. Fight fans, what are your thoughts on the issue? We have discussed the teammate vs. teammate topic enough, how about a real life brother against brother fight?  

Posted in: fight, sport, evolution, brother, teammate

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Earlier this morning I posted an article about embracing the violence that is a part of combat sports. The flipside of my arguably extreme take on violence being beautiful is an article that ran on the Washington Post's KidsPost declaring "Ultimate fighting is too brutal to be considered a sport, even if it's on TV." Some highlights from the article by Fred Bowen: Ultimate fighting, or mixed martial arts, is like boxing or wrestling, but the fighters are in an eight-sided ring, called the octagon. They wear lightweight gloves that don't cover their fingertips. And they do not wear shoes. That's because, unlike in boxing or wrestling, the fighters are allowed to kick and knee their opponents. A fighter can even punch someone when he is on the ground. In ultimate fighting, almost anything goes. He then goes on to say that there "are some rules" while mentioning only headbutts and "grabbing the throat." A move which is obviously either based on a lack of willingness to research for his article or to dishonestly suggest that it really is that close to anything goes. My initial inclination was toward sensationalism on his part, but then I read this: The fights last three or five rounds, and each round is no longer than five minutes. By comparison, championship boxing matches are usually 15 three-minute rounds. The smallest bit of fact checking would have told Mr. Bowen that the last major sanctioning body to switch from 15 rounds to 12 was the IBF in June of 1988. So we've established right there that Bowen is operating on facts that are well over twenty years old. Continuing: The folks who promote ultimate fighting say it is safer than boxing or football. According to newspaper reports, Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championships, or UFC, once claimed that ultimate fighting was safer than cheerleading. Excuse me, but ultimate fighting is not safer than cheerleading. I've watched some ultimate fighting. It's a brutal sport. In fact, I don't think ultimate fighting is a sport at all. It's violence presented as entertainment. Again, one could look at injury rates of participants and actually base statements around that, but what fun would that be. It'd be too hard to make an argument involving the possibility of traumatic brain injury because that takes too much complex thinking and maybe even having to do something crazy like using Google. Instead, simply say "nuh uh!" and then fall back on the same old impotent "it's not a sport because I don't like it" argument. Bowen urges people to change the channel the next time they see UFC on TV because that is the only way to "do the right thing." While doing so he cites that close to 6 million viewers tuned in to watch the fight on Fox. It was 8.8 million Fred, and I'm willing to bet most of them will be back for the next one.

Posted in: round, sport, article, violence, bowen

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Filed under: UFCLast Saturday night brought it all to a head. UFC was finally coming to free network television. Millions would watch. Millions would learn. A sport that we love would put its best foot forward, and the stigmas that have plagued it for years would start to fade away. At least that's how it was supposed to be. By Sunday morning though, there was panic spreading. The early ratings had returned, and they weren't great. Just 4.6 million viewers was the estimate, a number below expectations. The hand-wringing started, and defensive instincts kicked in. It had only been a one-minute fight. The UFC made a huge mistake in only airing one match. The one-hour time was an unfair window. These were all common themes on that morning, and it all reeked of an inferiority complex undeserving of the big platform we had just been handed. Even before the revised ratings were released and indicated an average audience of 5.7 million and a peak of 8.8 million, the truth was that the stress that comes along with criticism and ratings is mostly wasted energy. Let's all remember that the deal between UFC and FOX is for seven years. Imagine having your future set for that long. That's a pretty secure feeling. That's a lot of time to establish a new brand, and make no mistake, FOX realizes that there is still work to be done. This isn't the NFL with a 90-year history, or baseball, with well over 100 years behind it. This is the latest sport to wedge its way into the American sports palate. It's one thing for UFC president Dana White to be stressed about it. This is his business, and it's one he treats like another child, he loves it so much. To carry that human analogy further, it was one that he was told would die, that it was just a matter of time. But he loved it, cared for it, spared no expense and no energy to nurse it back to health. He is invested in it every way, personally, financially, even physically, if you've seen his schedule. For others, it's a bit more perplexing. In no other sport is so much stock put into things like ratings and criticsm. So there are still people who don't like MMA? Who cares? We don't have to try to convert every living soul walking the earth. And we don't have to shoot down every voice who disagrees with us. Early Thursday morning, for example, The Washington Post, which is one of the most circulated and influential newspapers in the country, ran a column by a writer named Fred Bowen, which was headlined, "Ultimate Fighting is too brutal to be considered a sport, even if it's on TV." I probably know about as much about him as he does about MMA, which is to say, not much at all. A quick Google search shows that he is a sports fiction author for kids, and his column is also geared towards children. Every parent should determine whether their own child watches MMA. I wouldn't disagree with him on that. But the rest of his opinion, is quite simply that: his own opinion. Like where he claims that "ultimate fighting is not safer than cheerleading," even though a recent report by the National Association for Catastrophic Sports Injury research showed that cheerleading was the most dangerous sport in the nation. But in the end, his is just another among the voices who have tried to drown out the sport in recent times. I can guarantee that by the end of the day, the MMA mafia will unload on him in the comments, and some will write things that don't represent the sport's followers in a respectful manner, and a potential dialogue will be lost to a flame war. In some ways, it doesn't matter. For him and others, it's probably too late. Here's the thing: they all had the chance to kill off MMA back in the late '90s and early 2000s and couldn't do it. The sport was on its deathbed, they applied a pillow to its face, and couldn't snuff it out. Now it's a movement. It's not just popular here but in places far and wide. The fact that 8.8 million people were watching the bout should be the real takeaway. While that number doesn't come close to approaching the 20.9 million that watched the Patriots and Jets play the next night on NBC, it's a sign of the mainstream interest being piqued. So too are the criticisms and interest in the ratings. But that's all it is. There's a lot of hard work ahead for the UFC, as well as other promotions like Bellator that are hoping to cash in on the opportunities ahead. But our blood pressure doesn't have to rise every time someone says something stupid about the sport. The days of scratching and clawing for attention and acceptance are mostly over. At least for the next seven years, MMA has a major platform from which to shoot down misconceptions and misinformation. In that part of the fight towards mainstream, we have already won. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, year, rating

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Chael Sonnen and extraordinary behaviour are no strangers to each other, but he outdid himself in an appearance on Canadian sports television this week.Sonnen...

Posted in: sport, canadian, sonnen, chael, sonnen storms

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Find out who takes Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua and every bout on the card.

Posted in: sport, dan, card, yahoo, expert

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Showtime Networks, Inc. has a new man in charge of its sports programming, but how long the channel’s schedule will continue to include mixed martial arts remains unclear.

Posted in: sport, showtime, head, programming, sports programming

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Filed under: UFC, News, Sports Business and Media, UFC on FOXFOX's first foray into mixed martial arts earned generally positive reviews from mainstream news media around North America. The one-hour UFC event saw an average of 5.7 million viewers tune in to watch Junior dos Santos knock out Cain Velasquez and capture the heavyweight championship in just 64 seconds. While the fight wasn't the lengthy showcase of technique and skill many had hoped for, it at least presented the sport as a major event and spotlighted the human side of two of its best fighters, two things that should help future events as the UFC and FOX officially begin their deal in 2012. In case you're wondering what the rest of the world is saying about UFC on FOX, here are some excerpts from mainstream media sources from the last two days. Fox's UFC Broadcast a Hit with Viewers - The New York Times "One reason Fox acquired the rights to the U.F.C. on broadcast and cable (FX) was to attract the often elusive demographic of young viewers, especially men 18 to 34. According to Nielsen figures, the U.F.C. broadcast generated a 4.3 rating among men 18 to 34, more than any college football telecast this season (through Nov. 5) except for the Louisiana State-Alabama game on Nov. 5." A Few Thoughts about Tonight's UFC Fight - The San Francisco Chronicle "Beyond the forgettable fight, most of the first UFC on Fox was well done. The broadcast team did a good job of keeping things simple for new fans, and then airing two mini-documentaries that revealed Dos Santos and Velasquez as introspective, humble and intelligent people. My UFC-averse wife was riveted, and ended up watching the fight with me. Velasquez' apology to fans after the fight also showed class. Even if the fight was a letdown, the broadcast did its job in breaking some false stereotypes about mixed martial arts." UFC on FOX: What the Media is Saying - The Hollywood Reporter "Reaction to the broadcast ranged from the humorous to the general consensus that Fox has a winner with the franchise." Fight Night in America - Esquire "Cain Velasquez walked into the cage, petrified, and they stared at each other and they kicked some little kicks and then, a minute into the kicking and the staring, Dos Santos sent a loopy and rather laughably slow right hook to Velasquez's left ear. Velasquez dropped to the canvas and then Dos Santos went and hit the s--- out of him eleven times. The referee took his sweet time to stop it. It was over. There was no blood. It wasn't very exciting." Notes And Thoughts About UFC On Fox - Broadcasting and Cable "Seriously, I read a lot of people on Twitter and elsewhere saying the 64-second KO was a nightmare for Fox. You couldn't be more wrong. People don't tune into UFC to see a ballet, especially the heavyweights. They tune into see someone get punched or kicked in the face and go to sleep. Sorry to say it out loud, but it's true. Believe me, I love the technical aspects of a beautiful ground game as much as anyone, but when heavyweights bang, the fans want a KO, and they got a big one." Dos Santos Claims Velasquez's Belt in FOX Show - Associated Press "Any newcomers to the sport who tuned in got a taste of MMA's violence, but not much else -- particularly if they returned late from a commercial break. Or even if they blinked." UFC Proves It's Here to Stay - The (Toronto) Globe and Mail "Resistance is futile. UFC is here to stay. Or, as our mother used to say, until somebody loses an eye." UFC Was Never Meant for Mainstream - The International Business Times "It's not the management of the UFC that will prohibit the sport from moving forward. The UFC will continue to expand its brand name recognition, and people will continue to tune in and watch the big fights. Mixed-martial arts isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and, therefore, UFC won't be going anywhere either. But as for UFC being part of a dinner conversation in most American homes, that will never, ever happen. The sport is too volatile on too many levels." UFC Makes History with first Primetime Event on FOX - York Daily Record "I'm not sure it gave new fans a full taste of what the sport's about - but hey, Mike Tyson fights used to end like that too. MMA fans, I think, are satisfied as long as they are entertained. And for a minute and four seconds, it was just that." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sport, velasquez

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXAt the first event of the promotion that would come to be known as the UFC, things did not get off to a particularly promising start. In introducing the night's action, play-by-play commentator Bill Wallace incorrectly referred to it as the "Ultimate Fighting Challenge" twice within 10 seconds. Eighteen years to the day later, UFC on FOX marked the promotion's debut on network television, with a single fight broadcast around the nation. Like UFC 1, it was essentially an informercial, designed to pull in sports enthusiasts and channel surfers in hopes of creating new fans. As a general broadcast, UFC on FOX was a success. The production was slick, the spirited crowd gave it a big-show feel, and it came across as a major event. On the flipside, the heavyweight championship match between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos went just 64 seconds, robbing the UFC of a chance to give new viewers a deeper look at a textured sport. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Results | UFC on FOX Post-Fight Press Conference Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Let's take a look at the broadcast and break it all down. 9 pm ET: FOX opens the show with a black and white card which reads, "The following might be the most exciting live sporting event in the history of television, and it's our duty to say: Viewer discretion advised." Cool. 9 pm: The FOX Sports theme music kicks off as host Curt Menefee announces the UFC is part of the FOX family. A nice touch, and for football fans especially, a clear signal that this is going to be a big deal. 9:01 pm: FOX shows a quick montage with a brief history of the promotion, and introduces Velasquez and dos Santos. A good idea, but not in-depth enough to offer any real insight into the UFC's wild ride. 9:03 pm: Menefee and UFC president Dana White are at the FOX Sports anchor desk inside the arena to discuss the significance of the fight and the event. I have no problem with White having a presence and speaking about the company's rise. But to have the company president as the fight analyst doesn't make for optimal presentation. It would be a much better idea to have a retired fighter giving unbiased analysis without a promoter's slant. 9:09 pm: Brock Lesnar joins White and Menefee to discuss the fight. Lesnar mentions he'll fight the winner of Velasquez-dos Santos, getting in a nice plug. Given Lesnar's status as perhaps the most well-known UFC fighter, his presence was practically mandatory. Lesnar wasted no time doing some verbal sparring with White, though he incorrectly predicted Velasquez would be able to take dos Santos down and keep him there. He wasn't the only one. 9:13 pm: FOX shows a segment on dos Santos that describes his early life, including an interview with his mother in which she tells a story of when as a youth, he refused to fight back against a bully because he didn't like to fight. This was a good, humanizing piece for those people who still insist fighters are thugs. 9:20 pm: A similar segment on Velasquez airs, detailing his father's sacrifices as a manual laborer to build a better life for his family, and how Cain learned his work ethic from him. Although this is a story many of us have heard before, it's important for the rest of the world tuning in to gain a little personal knowledge of the fighters. 9:25 pm: Menefee throws the fight to Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan for more analysis. Rogan describes dos Santos as sort of a throwback to the early days of the UFC for his reliance on one art: boxing. It's not too far off, but it downplayed dos Santos' wrestling brilliance, the fact that he's a jiu-jitsu brown belt, and that he's extremely athletic. 9:29 pm: dos Santos makes his way to the cage to the "Rocky" theme song and a chorus of boos. A great walkout song, but have fighters forgotten he loses? Rogan presciently asks, "The big question for him in this fight is, can he land the big shot standing up?" 9:33 pm: Velasquez makes his walk to the cage. At this point we're over a half-hour in and haven't seen a punch, so most people are probably getting a bit edgy. I understand the need for a pre-fight show but this is on the longish side. Hopefully that's because it's the first one, and in the future we can cut it down. 9:36 pm: Bruce Buffer begins introductions. Now we're in business. dos Santos looks calm and composed. Velasquez's body language isn't great. His gaze is downward as he walks side to side. 9:39 pm: Ref John McCarthy gives the "Let's get it on" opener. Let's. 9:40 pm: It's over. What? Look, many mainstream media members and other sports fans took shots at the UFC after dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to beat Velasquez, but those numbskulls should know that sports are unpredictable. There were three big sports events last night. This was one. In the second, Juan Manuel Marquez was robbed by the ringside judges in a loss to Manny Pacquiao. In the third, No. 4 Stanford was blown out by Oregon by 23 points in college football. Sports are unpredictable. We can't control that. That said, it clearly would have been beneficial for UFC to have a longer, technical fight that showcased more of the "mixed" part of MMA. But that's life. 9:54 pm: After post-fight interviews and some Rogan/Goldberg banter, we're back at the FOX Sports desk. White immediately questions Velasquez's strategy, asking why he didn't go for the takedown. This is a good question. But the entire post-fight analysis between the two is spent criticizing Velasquez while no credit is given to dos Santos for executing his plan. In essence, White acted more like an analyst than a promoter here, because he probably should have spent the time pumping up his new champion. That's good and bad, and it's another example of why White shouldn't be in the role. He can't serve the audience and his company, and he shouldn't have to. Just to be clear, it wasn't his idea. FOX Sports requested him there, but the network would do better to bring in their own analyst for these situations. UFC 1 didn't exactly get off to a great start and things worked out OK. UFC on FOX had its issues, from timing to analysis. The fact that we only got 64 seconds of action in 60 minutes probably left a few hungry for more, but hopefully that just means they'll be back for another bite. With a seven-year FOX deal, there will be plenty more shows to choose from. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139230% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fox, pm, sport, do

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That was about the most exciting 70 seconds of sports I've watched since the ending of Superbowl 42 when Giants beat the Patriots back in 2008. Part of it, I suppose, was the moment - UFC on network TV, for the heavyweight championship! I had no dog in this race. I didn't see any particular advantage in the lines that would make me want to put money down and there were so many variables to try and guess about, that a wager seemed fruitless. I was just hoping for something. Something big. Fireworks. Can't really ask for much more than a one-hitter-quitter. Let me clarify something, if I may. This sport is great. I spent this afternoon before work watching a stream of M1's card and saw some random guy that I'd never heard of before today (but whom Leland Roling tells me is a good prospect to watch) dangadadang Aleks Emelianenko amongst other mostly irrelevant action. It's really hard to make this sport boring. Early gassing, buttscooting, Leonard Garciaesque boxing technique, Kaleb Starnesian backpeddling - that's about all you can really do to kill the inherent excitement that is MMA. What really gets me geeked, and what separates the smaller fights from the big ones like this one are the relevance. It just doesn't get bigger than the UFC heavyweight championship, PLUS it was historic in the promotion's history. What more can a fan of this sport ask for? So perhaps it is my inner fanboy marking out over the big boys banging and the UFC making waves, but I am incredibly optimistic that this will bring new fans of the sport into the fold. People get excited by the big fellas, and they love knockouts. We got both in a minute. There was the aura of a professional Fox broadcast: no Nu-Metal gladiator intro, no yellfest and no equivocating. The pitfalls of the sport did not rear their head at all. No shady judges decision, no questionable stoppage, no nut shots, no eye pokes, etc. Contrast that with what just happened in boxing and I predict another smiley face tweet from Dana in a few minutes. Tonight has been a gigantic win for the UFC on many levels. Brock Lesnar looked and sounded like a great analyst. The fighters, Junior Dos Santos in particular, did fantastic things. The result was clear cut and decisive. Boxing got a robbery and AC Slater from Saved by the Bell. MMA got Curt Menefee and a blink-and-you-missed-it fight. I really think tonight was a great step forward for the sport as a whole and I'm very happy that I got to watch it.

Posted in: ufc, sport, boxing, something, moment ufc

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Jonathan Snowden reviews the UFC's first Fox Sports special on MMA Nation and concludes that the "Historic Broadcast Leaves Room For Improvement"

Posted in: mma nation, sport, review, fox sports, snowden

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Tonight in Anaheim, with the UFC debuting on Fox to millions of new viewers, with all the eyes of the sport upon him,  Junior dos Santos said, "This is MMA." With reflexive anticipation of Cain Velasquez's left hook, he ducked down and launched an overhand right - the most famous move in the sport, popularized by vintage Chuck Liddell - landing flush on his opponent's temple. With Velasquez's equilibrium scrambled, dos Santos followed his severely dazed opponent to the mat and unleashed a series of devastating blows that forced referee John McCarthy to step in and save the champion. It took just over one minute for "Cigano" to make his statement. Hailing from the best fight camp in all the sport, his eloquence should never have been in question. This, after all, is the most persistently violent sport in all of North America. And, though some may be hesitant to admit so, we all watch it for the violence. Perhaps that isn't one's primary motive, but it must be part of the appeal of the sport. The oft-drawn, trite parallel between mixed martial artists and Roman gladiators is actually quite valid; to some degree, we watch to see one man draw blood from another. It's a primal urge, something we lack in our daily lives. One of the most thrilling scenes in all of film comes from Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, when the primate realizes he can reclaim his territory via violence - he uses a weapon, and sets himself down the path to humanity. It's a stunning look at what sets us apart from the lesser species. It's a statement to our superiority. And so we have these combative athletes who, bound by the laws of civilization, turn their bodies into weapons, embodying physical dominance. It's what made boxing a fixture of this culture for more than a century. And now it is what brings MMA to the widest audience possible. Boxing, of which I am a fan, has become heavy, laden with egos, pretentions, and flawed ethics that seem to seep into the raw sport far too often. There are no ethics in Junior dos Santos leaping atop his downed foe, raining down blow upon blow, expressing poetry by motion, and claiming to another man, "I am your superior." If nothing else can be said of MMA, then let it be known that this is the most honest of all sport, and tonight, "Cigano" gave all the nation a lesson in truth. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: mma, fox, sport, do, blow

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USA Today Sports Media Group announced its purchase of MMAJunkie.com. The purchase includes “its related editorial assets across all platforms, including its daily radio show.” Via USA Today press release: With more than one million unique visitors per month, MMAjunkie.com is one of the leading online news destinations for the sport, as well as a content partner for several print, online and TV outlets. It also produces the daily podcast/radio show “MMAjunkie.com Radio,” with a TV simulcast syndicated through Fight Now TV. MMAjunkie.com will retain its unique URL, and will also be rolled in to the USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s online coverage at MMA.USATODAY.com by mid-December 2011. Payout Perspective: Not only does USA Today acquire MMA Junkie, but Vox Media (parent to SB Nation) purchased MMA Fighting earlier in the week. The media consolidation can be a positive sign or negative depending on what your take is on MMA media. These acquisitions show that mainstream media groups see mixed martial arts as a growing industry as evidenced by the purchase of these sites.  The MMA Fighting acquisition is interesting considering SB Nation has 3 other quality web sites in its stable. With the UFC deal, Fox legitimized the sport and tacitly made it acceptable for other mainstream media to look into the value of MMA. It will be interesting to see how much the sites will change in terms of content and look. Will MMA be covered by more mainstream sports media types? Both groups state that the sites will be “business as usual” as far as content. We will see how each progresses and evolves under its new ownership.

Posted in: mma, usa, sport, media, today

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MCLEAN, Va. - USA TODAY Sports Media Group today announced the acquisition of mixed-martial arts site MMAjunkie.com and its related editorial assets across all platforms, including its daily radio show. The site's editor-in-chief, Dann Stupp, and its entire editorial staff, including reporter John Morgan, will remain in place and will report to Dave Morgan, the USA TODAY Sports Media Group's senior vice president of content and editor-in-chief. "This is an exciting acquisition for us," said Tom Beusse, president of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group.

Posted in: usa, sport, media, today, group

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This is a guest piece written by Tom Grant. The UFC's historic deal with Fox Sports has cause those at Zuffa to begin reevaluated some of their production effects. One production mainstay that is getting the axe is the Gladiator Man Intro. The video depicted a man dressing himself in a rather generic Roman Gladiator costume, preparing to enter the arena. Introduced by Zuffa in the early 2000s, the video was a clear play on the popularity of the Riddley Scott film Gladiator. The actor in the video even rubs his hands in dirt before entering the arena, similar to Russell Crowe's character in the film. Many are glad to see this intro go, seeing it as an unwelcome reminder of the sports checkered past. Critics often decried the early UFC as being akin to Gladiator combat. As a farewell to Gladiator man, this article will take an honest look at the games of Ancient Rome, and how the compare to modern sport. First and foremost, who where these men (and sometimes women) that fought and died for entertainment? (Ancient fan depiction of Gladiatorial combat) The answer is simple: slaves. The gladiatorial games started out as a funeral rite, where the deceased slaves would fight the death in honor of their owner's passing. They were wildly popular and over time bean to be held as events in their own right and the gladiatorial games were born. The games would become so popular the Flavian Amphitheatre, now known as the Coliseum, was built to give the city of Roman the grandest stage on earth to hold the games. Slaves continued to constitute the vast majority of gladiators until the games were banned in the later Empire. So this is the first key difference between the games and modern combat sports, today all participates are willing contestants. While there definite benefits to becoming a successful gladiator and some freemen that would sign up, the majority of gladiators would have preferred to never set into the arena. That said, victory brought with it riches, fame and, sometimes, freedom but the stakes were very high. Games would be held by at the expense of noblemen promoters, who would often use the games as tools in political campaigns. So as a result the games would often be free of charge, so there is a difference most modern fans wish was still true today. Gladiatorial games would be all day events, starting in the mornings with the beast hunts. Romans had a great fascination for exotic animals, but instead of seeing them in zoos they liked to see those animals in action. Arenas would be filled with gazelle from Africa or bears from Northern Europe or any other creature from the vast Empire and then trained hunters would kill them for the crowd's amusement. (A hunt at the games) At noon the public executions would take place. In some cases the roles of the morning would be reversed and the beasts who spent all morning being hunted would get to hunt the prisoners. For more lively entertainment the condemned would be lightly armored and given a simple spear and faced with a lion, tiger or some other fierce beast. With no training and little armor, the prisoners stood little chance against a fully-grown tiger or lion, and if by some miracle they did survive another animal would be released to finish the job. After the executions it was time for the main event, the Gladiator fights. Unlike combat sports today, there were no weight classes that separated fighters, in fact it was quite the opposite. Gladiators were grouped by size of the fighter and the equipment he used, it was meant to create interesting stylistic match ups. (Murmillo Gladiator) The Murmillo was the heavyweight of gladiators; he wore heavy armor with padding underneath to absorb the shock of blows. They would wear a large, decorative helmet that limited their vision but gave them excellent protection. They carried a large, heavy rectangular shield and wielded the Roman stabling sword the gladius. They were picked for their imposing physical and size, imagine Todd Duffee in armor. Rather than match them with gladiators of similar size, the Romans wanted to see how the raw power and size of the Murmillo would do against the speed and agility of a smaller fighter. Enter the Retiarius, one of the all time favorite Gladiators of Rome. If the Murmillo was the heavyweight, the Retiarius was a featherweight. Armed with a weighted net and trident, the ‘netfighter' was only armored on his lead arm and wore no helmet. A Ratiarius paired against a Murmillo would use his agility to stay out of reach, and try to danced around and make the larger man tire. He would throw the further slow the Murmillo and use the superior reach of his trident to keep the distance. The Murmillo would use his superior protect to close the distance and get the smaller man within reach of his sword. (Retiarius Gladiator) This type of match up made the Romans salivate; the strategies and techniques involved would be watched and analyzed with all the reverence of modern NFL plays. For special occasions the Romans would dress gladiators as conquered peoples of Roman and reenact old battles or create match ups of different peoples. Who hasn't asked at some point in the life who would win between a Gual and Numdian? Or a Thracian and Samnite? At the Coliseum you could answer those questions. When defeated and unable to continue, in place of tapping out, a gladiator would extend the index finger of his non-weapon hand straight up. (This signal continues to this day in modern sport fencing, as an acknowledgment of a point against.) At this point the fight would stop and the victor would look to the patron of games, or the Emperor if he was present, for a decision on the loser. Contrary to Hollywood, the signal for death was an upward thrust of thumb, normally directed at the throat to signal the coup de gras. A thumb down would mean put your sword away and the loser would live. Also contrary to popular belief it was uncommon for a gladiator who survived to the end of the fight to be killed at this point. The training and promoting of slaves was just too much of an investment to throw them away in such a fashion. The Roman noblemen understood the basics of promotion and it made no sense to kill off popular or profitable fighters. Imagine if Muhammad Ali had been put to death after his first loss to Joe Frazier or if Randy Couture had been allowed to kill Chuck Liddell after his win. Fight fans would have denied classic fighters and promoters would have lost big money. To that same end, gladiators receiver excellent medical care. Roman's grasp of medical practices would be the best the western world would see until the modern day and gladiator owners would pay top dollar to keep their best alive. The results are seen in the remains of gladiators; anthropologists find evidence of multiple non-fatal wounds that were healed in a way to keep gladiators from being crippled. This is much like today with sports leagues providing the modern athlete with top-notch health care and health insurance. ("Pollice Verso" or "Turned Thumb" by Jean-Léon Gérôme) With that said, the death at the games would have been substantial, and many question why the Roman's reveled in it so much. The answer is simple; the Romans were a militaristic society. For much of the Roman Republic, military service was required of male citizens from their late teens to mid-thirties. Fighting and death was part of being a man in Rome and the gladiatorial games provided a way of teaching young Roman boys what was expected of them in battle. Much like Pop Warner Quarterbacks looking to Tom Brady or Michael Vick as examples of how to play football. The gladiators had a connection with the military in Rome, much like modern MMA fighters sharing connections with the U.S. military. The Roman Legion, was the premier army of its day. Composed primary of heavy infantry the Roman Legionary was primarily a sword fighter. Legion started out as a simple levy, but by the late Republic it became an army of professional soldiers. Roman swordsmanship was based around the short sword the gladius, which was paired with armor and a large rectangular shield. The Romans would come forward tucked in behind their shields and would stab enemies with short, professional thrusts. It was close combat at its most brutal and to survive Legionaries had to be masters of covering themselves while they attack and creating openings for their attacks. (Skip to 2:20) While the Romans fought in formation and as an organized army, each Legionary was spaced a few feet apart and was individually responsible for the enemies directly in front of them. Imagine a cone in front of each solider, while they would overlap a bit, there was a patch of land that was the sole responsibility of a single legionary. To help instruct new recruits in strategies to deal with enemies with various skills and equipment, the Legion would bring in gladiators, who were experts in individual combat. In fact the name "Gladiator" was a tribute to their expertise with the gladius, the sword of the Legionary. In the 1990s the United States Army brought in the Gracie family, fresh off their victories in the newly birthed UFC to instruct soldiers in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, establishing an exchange of knowledge with both the Gracie family and the UFC that continues to this day for the U.S. Armed Forces. While similarities exist between the games of Rome and modern sports, especially combat sports, the comparisons are really only skin deep. Despite all the healthcare and lower than assumed mortality, the fact of the matter is that death was huge part of gladiatorial games. Men and women were sent in to fight with spears, swords and many other weapons until one was too wounded to continue, the goal was never one of sporting accomplishment. There were no championship belts, no title defenses and no contenders, rather it was purely for entertainment. Anyone who realistically tries to compare the Gladiators of Rome to modern fighters is simply being asinine. Two consenting adults entering into a regulated and sanctioned sporting event with a referee cannot be realistically compared to the combat that took place on the sands on the Coliseum. Concerns over concussions and an extra shot after the bell seem like minor things when put next to spilled intestines and severed limbs. That is not to demean the problems faced by modern athletes, but rather to highlight the level of violence that took place in Rome. The comparison is just one that is apt to make as either a way to promote the sport or try to tear it down, to do so is an affront the memory of all those who actually died for other's entertainment.

Posted in: sport, game, roman, combat, gladiator

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It's a tough spot to be in when you're the co-main event on what is being called possibly the biggest card in the history of the sport, but your fight won't be on television.

Posted in: fight, sport, comain event, benson henderson, comain

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Dana White loves boxing. Sure he does. He loves it the way you love an ex who is and was absolutely no good for you, who you'll still meet for a drink when they're in town (just one, though, then I've really got to run), and who you're pretty sure is going to self-destruct one day, with or without your help. In a way, that's what makes it possible to continue loving them. If they were doing too well, you might be bitter. But this way you can just shake your head, remembering the good times but feeling genuinely relieved that your futures are no longer tied together. Without White's rocky relationship with the sport of boxing, maybe this FOX deal doesn't happen. Without boxing, maybe it's not so important to White to make it happen, or to make sure it goes off so smoothly that it ushers in a new golden era of combat sports on network TV. It's as if he's doing this not just because it's a savvy business move, but because this is what boxing used to do, back when they were both young and innocent and so in love. This came up again and again when I spoke to White earlier this week for a Sports Illustrated article (yes, I'm plugging my own article, what of it?). Even when I asked him questions that, to me, seemed to have nothing to do with boxing, somehow we ended up back on the subject again. Take this exchange, for instance: SI.com: Tell me a little about how you guys made the final decision to only do one fight, no matter what. At first it seemed like you were considering the possibility of running another fight or some highlights if you had time. How did you decide to just focus on this one fight? White: It was [Fox Sports Media Group Chairman] David Hill. I went in and said, listen, USA's Tuesday Night Fights and ABC's Wide World of Sports, we all used to watch those, all of us who were big boxing fans. I didn't miss Tuesday Night Fights ever. Every Tuesday night I was on the couch. But when I was younger, I remember my uncles all getting around the TV and watching Wide World of Sports. When we told them the fight was going to be the heavyweight championship, they said, 'Do that, just do the one fight, the heavyweight championship.' It makes sense. That's really the way it went down. It was David Hill's call. To recap, the question was: why only one fight? And, in a simplified form, the answer was: David Hill wanted it that way. So why did we take the little detour to talk about his addiction to Tuesday Night Fights? Because deep down, White's still a boxing junkie. Yeah, it probably makes him sad to see what that industry has become and where that sport is headed, and he doesn't want to think he or his company has anything to do with it. As he reiterated in an open letter "to fight fans" that the UFC emailed out yesterday: "There's always been a lot of talk about the UFC killing boxing. I've always said that boxing is hurting boxing, not the UFC. I honestly believe that many people are fans of both. And I can prove it: on September 17, the UFC drew 2million viewers to a live fight on cable TV... a couple hours later over 1.3million fans bought the Floyd Mayweather PPV. Fight fans stayed in and watched both!" First of all, just because the UFC and boxing both drew similar numbers on the same night, that doesn't necessarily mean they drew the same people, no matter how many times White repeats that claim. Second of all, since when does White go out of his way to assert that he and his competitors are helping each other? Even on the eve of the landmark UFC on FOX show, the specter of boxing -- specifically, Manny Pacquiao -- looms over everything. When White so much as mentioned Pacquiao's name at Wednesday's press conference even the pro-UFC crowd broke out into cheers. You could argue that White is trying to make the case that his FOX show is working with rather than against Saturday's boxing pay-per-view simply because he's hoping to get a little of the Pacquiao fight night magic to rub off on him, but it's more than that. As White insisted when I talked to him about it, the money-losing venture on FOX is an attempt to do "what boxing stopped doing," and that's "investing in the future of the sport and of this brand." Said White: "By putting this on, there's going to be a whole generation of people who grow up with the UFC on television, just like I did with boxing when I was a young kid, and just like many people did with football. It becomes nostalgic in your life and it becomes something you remember from growing up. That's what we're doing by putting this on television." In other words, it's about indoctrinating the next generation of fight fans. It's about wedging the UFC into mainstream America's collective sports consciousness in order to insure a brighter future. But it's also, at least a little bit, about making the UFC and MMA into a new version of the boxing that White remembers, a boxing that doesn't really exist anymore, at least not in that form. Maybe that's why it's fitting that the UFC's big FOX debut should take place on the same night as one of the biggest boxing pay-per-views of the year. Without that sport, once so available and accessible that you always knew where to find a young Dana White on Tuesday night, maybe we wouldn't be right here, right now, on the verge of an event that seems likely to propel this sport toward something, even if none of us know what.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, sport, boxing

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Dana White loves boxing. Sure he does. He loves it the way you love an ex who is and was absolutely no good for you, who you'll still meet for a drink when they're in town (just one, though, then I've really got to run), and who you're pretty sure is going to self-destruct one day, with or without your help. In a way, that's what makes it possible to continue loving them. If they were doing too well, you might be bitter. But this way you can just shake your head, remembering the good times but feeling genuinely relieved that your futures are no longer tied together. Without White's rocky relationship with the sport of boxing, maybe this FOX deal doesn't happen. Without boxing, maybe it's not so important to White to make it happen, or to make sure it goes off so smoothly that it ushers in a new golden era of combat sports on network TV. It's as if he's doing this not just because it's a savvy business move, but because this is what boxing used to do, back when they were both young and innocent and so in love. This came up again and again when I spoke to White earlier this week for a Sports Illustrated article (yes, I'm plugging my own article, what of it?). Even when I asked him questions that, to me, seemed to have nothing to do with boxing, somehow we ended up back on the subject again. Take this exchange, for instance: SI.com: Tell me a little about how you guys made the final decision to only do one fight, no matter what. At first it seemed like you were considering the possibility of running another fight or some highlights if you had time. How did you decide to just focus on this one fight? White: It was [Fox Sports Media Group Chairman] David Hill. I went in and said, listen, USA's Tuesday Night Fights and ABC's Wide World of Sports, we all used to watch those, all of us who were big boxing fans. I didn't miss Tuesday Night Fights ever. Every Tuesday night I was on the couch. But when I was younger, I remember my uncles all getting around the TV and watching Wide World of Sports. When we told them the fight was going to be the heavyweight championship, they said, 'Do that, just do the one fight, the heavyweight championship.' It makes sense. That's really the way it went down. It was David Hill's call. To recap, the question was: why only one fight? And, in a simplified form, the answer was: David Hill wanted it that way. So why did we take the little detour to talk about his addiction to Tuesday Night Fights? More Coverage: UFC on FOX Fight Card | UFC on FOX Results Because deep down, White's still a boxing junkie. Yeah, it probably makes him sad to see what that industry has become and where that sport is headed, and he doesn't want to think he or his company has anything to do with it. As he reiterated in an open letter "to fight fans" that the UFC emailed out yesterday: "There's always been a lot of talk about the UFC killing boxing. I've always said that boxing is hurting boxing, not the UFC. I honestly believe that many people are fans of both. And I can prove it: on September 17, the UFC drew two million viewers to a live fight on cable TV ... a couple hours later over 1.3 million fans bought the Floyd Mayweather PPV. Fight fans stayed in and watched both!" First of all, just because the UFC and boxing both drew similar numbers on the same night, that doesn't necessarily mean they drew the same people, no matter how many times White repeats that claim. Second of all, since when does White go out of his way to assert that he and his competitors are helping each other? Even on the eve of the landmark UFC on FOX show, the specter of boxing -- specifically, Manny Pacquiao -- looms over everything. When White so much as mentioned Pacquiao's name at Wednesday's press conference even the pro-UFC crowd broke out into cheers. You could argue that White is trying to make the case that his FOX show is working with rather than against Saturday's boxing pay-per-view simply because he's hoping to get a little of the Pacquiao fight night magic to rub off on him, but it's more than that. As White insisted when I talked to him about it, the money-losing venture on FOX is an attempt to do "what boxing stopped doing," and that's "investing in the future of the sport and of this brand." Said White: "By putting this on, there's going to be a whole generation of people who grow up with the UFC on television, just like I did with boxing when I was a young kid, and just like many people did with football. It becomes nostalgic in your life and it becomes something you remember from growing up. That's what we're doing by putting this on television." In other words, it's about indoctrinating the next generation of fight fans. It's about wedging the UFC into mainstream America's collective sports consciousness in order to insure a brighter future. But it's also, at least a little bit, about making the UFC and MMA into a new version of the boxing that White remembers, a boxing that doesn't really exist anymore, at least not in that form. Maybe that's why it's fitting that the UFC's big FOX debut should take place on the same night as one of the biggest boxing pay-per-views of the year. Without that sport, once so available and accessible that you always knew where to find a young Dana White on Tuesday night, maybe we wouldn't be right here, right now, on the verge of an event that seems likely to propel this sport toward something, even if none of us know what. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sport, boxing

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

To be an elite mixed martial artist, one must be truly committed to the sport. Sometimes that means giving up most of what you own in order to further your career. UFC veteran and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 2 alum Josh Burkman made just such a commitment, but he is now on the sidelines healing an injured knee

Posted in: ufc, sport, sidelines healing, burkman, commitment

Read the full article at Sherdog

The American Dream. A three word cliche used to describe why people move to the United States by whatever means necessary. Chasing the mythical land of opportunity. Where any man or woman can change their stars should they work hard enough. The same can be said about Las Vegas, the home of Zuffa. It's a city where anyone can become a millionaire and a person can be whoever they want, if they they can dream it. It's a cliche that very often never actually plays out, with many of us continuing to work a job where upward movement is rare and the ability to become the CEO is nearly impossible.  It seems that Dana White never got that memo. A hotel bellhop turned boxercise instructor, White was never supposed to become rich and famous. He reached his ceiling and would have to settle into a life as just another man living in Las Vegas. He was the manager for Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, but with the SEG-owned UFC in shambles, the money just wasn't there in the sport to support a family on MMA. These relationships; however, did provide him some knowledge that SEG was looking to sell the company. Finding partners in childhood friends, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Dana was given the opportunity to not only turn the promotion around but also his own career path.  The Zuffa run UFC struggled for years, despite White's best efforts. A year into the purchase he was given his first opportunity to deal with network television, showing a single fight on Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show, Period. While it was a relative ratings success, the sport just didn't catch on in the United States. Four years and a reported debt of $44 million, Zuffa took one last gamble to make the UFC successful with the reality television show The Ultimate Fighter. Even with the finale happening live, the Spike TV execs wouldn't commit to a second season. It was only until Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner that both sides knew they captured lightning in a bottle.  We're just over 48 hours away from the UFC finally making their network television debut. The anxiety is high for everyone at Zuffa, with the understanding that Saturday could determine if MMA or Ultimate Fighting will be accepted by a much larger audience. The desire isn't to reach the casual fan. The hope is to capture the non-fan and detractor. Dana White said on yesterday's media call that the goal of the card and broadcast is to educate the audience on what they are seeing. Everyone involved has been rehearsing since Tuesday to make sure the fights go off without a hitch.  Jonathan Snowden of MMA Nation knows what's at stake. Snowden, a former tape trader, has been a fan of this sport long before the Zuffa regime and has witnessed the rise and fall and rise again of the UFC. He also understands why the UFC is banking on Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.  The Fox experiment is just beginning. We'll all know soon enough if the average sports fan will love this sport the way hardcore fans do. For most of us, the UFC is more religion than sport. It's what we live and breathe. Once you get it in your blood, every other sport pales in comparison. The future of MMA is now - we've been on a roller coaster ride together for 18 years. Saturday we finally take the plunge down that first giant hill. The mainstream might end up rejecting our beloved. But it won't be because of Dana White and the UFC. They've done everything we could have possibly dreamed to get us here, to this pivotal moment. I'll be watching. I hope ten million more are by my virtual side. The UFC is leading with their best foot forward and Fox is keeping in stride. With a lead up to card spanning the entire suite of Fox platforms and Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar providing analysis on a pre-show, Saturday night is about the heavyweights. MMA fans complaining about Guida and Henderson being relegated to Facebook fail to see the big picture. White has dealt with the fans and media questioning his decisions and looking for an opportunity to say "told ya so" since he took over the UFC.  Now 10 years after the purchase he finally has the chance to say it himself. He can say "I told you that pushing for government regulation when others were content fighting at Indian casinos as a good idea." He can say "I told you that a reality television show about fighters would work." And he can finally say "I was right all along for holding out on a network television deal." He can say all these things because they are true. He can say all these things because he possesses the vision to see where the sport will be in five years. And he can say these things because he, along with his friends turned a niche, dying sport, into a global powerhouse. The "American Dream" does exist as long as you are willing to make the sacrifice. Just ask Dana White.  SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, fox, sport, year, fan

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Did you pick it up as you watched? Google the terms you heard? What would you use to teach someone new to the sport? submitted by polishbrucelee [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: sport, term, use, google, nuance

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Press release   MTV’s The Wrap-Up presents ‘3’, a cutting edge documentary focusing on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in partnership with HALO MMA. In follow up to UFC 138 when the world's eyes are turned upon UK talent, the film takes an in-depth look at three of the UK’s most sought after, upcoming mixed martial artists. Starring UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion, Jimi "Posterboy" Manuwa, UCMMA Featherweight Champion, "Capcom" Cory Tait and BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, Jack "Hammer" Marshman, the documentary directed by British Filmmaker Demetrio Marquez and produced by UK journalist Aundre Jacobs, showcases the lives of the three fighters, before and after a fight. Ground-breaking in MMA for its quality and craftsmanship, the film presents an intimate portrait of the athletes and explores what drew them into the sport and what lights their fires. Undefeated UCMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jimi Manuwa (10-0-0) has won 8 of his fights by knock out; 6 of his fights have been title bouts or defences; and it has never taken him more than two rounds to finish an opponent. Manuwa commented: "It's great being a part of this documentary and good to see UK fighters showing their skills. We've got a strong core of fighters coming through the ranks and I'm going to lead from the front. Hopefully this documentary will give people a chance to see my talents and show what goes on behind the scenes. It's a tough sport to be in but lions always eat first." The lightning fast UCMMA Featherweight Champion, Cory Tait (4-1-0) -touted as UK's the upcoming Anderson Silva- had this to say about the documentary: "It’s a great way to show people in the UK and around the world how hard working the UK MMA scene is, the following it has and the fighters it produces. I’m excited to be a part of this project." Undefeated BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, and serving British Armed Forces Afghan vet, Jack Marshman has a record of 9-0-0. Marshman recently wowed audiences at BAMMA 7 with his tremendous heart, after he came back from a sustained GnP battering at the hands of Carl Noon and turned fortune around to secure a legendary victory in the third round. Marshman said: "It's fantastic to be seen as a rising star in UKMMA and I'll do my best to meet those expectations. I've been overwhelmed by the support of UK fans, and the boys from 3 Para are always very vocal at my fights. It's good for people to see behind the scenes a bit and get to know me better. I'm learning and growing all the time as I'm hungry for more belts and tough opponents." Film-maker Demetrio Marquez commented: "Making '3' has been an amazing experience. A personal win for me is seeing people involved in the project who had no previous interest or opinion of MMA suddenly trying to school me with a bit of Wikipedia knowledge. That's why through our MTV documentaries, it's important that we aren't just covering the intricacies of the sport but humanising the athletes. This will help attract a new audience to MMA, just through simple things like having that one thing in common with a fighter.....be it you both like jerk chicken, have children, stay in for Jools Holland and so on. I honestly wouldn't be interested in telling their stories, if that wasn't the case; and I'm not in there asking the guys to talk trash about their opponents. I'm just trying to find the best opportunities to offer the audience a glimpse of their real characters both in and outside of fighting. This is why I'm delighted with the documentary- because I think particularly with Jimi Manuwa's part, you really get past that stone-cold killer image he has and uncover the true Poster Boy. So a massive thanks to Jimi, Cory and Jack and all of their team for welcoming us. They were all brilliant to work with and I wish them the best in their future fights. OSS!" Izzy Carnwath from HALO MMA commented: "It's really fantastic to see a prestigious media outlet such as MTV taking an interest in MMA in the UK and help to push the sport forward. Talent like Marquez's is sorely needed by the scene, to present this exciting and very technical sport in a way that does it and its athletes justice. Beautifully crafted cinematography is the best medium I can think of to explain MMA to the mainstream and to set it above the tawdry image it often has in the UK". 3 is the documentary that fans, not just across the UK but across the world, have been looking forward to. With the likes of Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett already cutting a name for themselves over in the States, 3 showcases a new breed of fierce MMA talent you can't afford to miss.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, uk, documentary

Read the full article at UltMMA

In less than three days, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will introduce its product to a very large audience as UFC on FOX 1 will be the inaugural event held on the network television station. The promotion and the FOX network recently announced their collaboration to give sports fans a dose of mixed martial arts (MMA) on one of the premier sports channels. UFC on FOX 1 will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between the two top heavyweights in the world today, champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender/challenger Junior dos Santos. As most fight fans already know the sport is made of thousands of fighters with different combinations of martial art backgrounds. But the one common theme seems to be that one single discipline reigns superior to all as the best true base with which to start. Even though we have already previewed the striking and grappling aspect of the sport, we have yet to really look into possibly the most important of them all. Wrestling. Ever since the early days of the sport when Mark Coleman, Mark Kerr and Randy Couture helped introduce the wrestling discipline into the sport, competitors and champions alike have captured the effectiveness of wrestling. That can best be seen in UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Saturday night’s headliner, UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez (See the fanpost about successful wrestling in MMA today). A common theme amongst non-hardcore fans of the sport is that misunderstanding or lack of knowledge in the ground game. To help with that, I have dug into some of Saturday night’s competitors and their usage of wrestling. For more on this, follow me into the extended entry: Before the massive heavyweight tilt in the main event, the co-main event will feature a stifling, grinding wrestler. Clay Guida, a seasoned veteran of more than five years within the promotion, will look to make a case for his first-ever title shot in the Octagon. Currently on a four-fight win streak, most notably defeating Anthony Pettis, Guida is on a tear and at the peak of his game (For a breakdown on his fight with Pettis click here). While not being extremely great at any one thing, Guida has made a career of turning fights ugly and frustrating opponents with his unrelenting style, unlimited gas tank and stifling top game. Guida has used the wrestling base to make a career for himself.    How many possible ways is there to get your opponent to the ground? The answer is several. And this clip of Guida shows a few of them. Wrestlers tend to rely on the "shoot" method of taking down an opponent and by that I am talking about shooting in on an opponents legs. Most often the takedowns are either a double- or single-leg takedown. The single leg takedown is focused around grabbing the lead leg of an opponent. It is a very simplistic method because as soon as you explode toward the leg and hug it, all that is needed to complete is another explosion forward that causes your opponent to go backward and then angle the leg off throwing him off balance. Often times you can land in side control or half guard. The double-leg takedown requires more technique and explosion. When shooting in toward the opponent and wrapping the legs up between the hips and knee. Deep into the middle of the thighs is the ideal place as you drive him backward to the mat. It is possible to slam from there, too. Guida works the double leg takedown in the clip above. The effectiveness of the takedown is solely based around control and pace. Using takedowns you position yourself in advantageous positions and put yourself in place to land effective strikes with minimal risk in comparison to standing. The shock and trauma of the takedown can also cause shock and brief paralysis, which can help you gain more dominant position or begin to overwhelm with strikes. Speaking of strikes on the ground, the heavyweight champion owns some of the more brutal ground and pound in the division and the sport. Velasquez is a two time All-American wrestler and Junior College National Champion. Those accolades shine in basically each and every fight in which Velasquez has competed. With a 68.2 percent success rate in his takedowns and 60.9 percent success rate for landing significant strikes, it is easy to see how he is the UFC Champion. Velasquez is so dominant in his fights that he also has the best ratio for times he hits in comparison to being hit at an impressive 6 to 1 ratio. So it is easy to understand the reason(s) his takedown ability and ground and pound are his bread and butter.    "Ground and pound" is the fiercest part of being taken down in a mixed martial arts fight. The term is used to describe the top fighter using his position to open up with strikes on the bottom fighter. So many wrestlers have refined this skill to really implement a devastating repertoire into the sport. Above, Velasquez wins his title from Brock Lesnar using his powerful strikes from above. What is important to look for when watching wrestlers like Velasquez is their position and weight distribution. Wrestlers have a knack for being able to sustain a position long enough and effectively enough to land the most powerful strikes. This is another reason and it may be the main reason as to why wrestling is the most effective base for the sport. Wrestlers can dictate where the fight goes and when they have it where they want they are able to utilize a great base, balance and position to unload strikes or even submissions (For more on top position click here). Even though Velasquez is an elite caliber wrestler and ground and pound artist, he also has very good Brazilian jiu-jitsu. To read more on that click here. Continuing with the theme of takedowns and ground and pound, the competitor who will face aforementioned Clay Guida knows a thing or two about the world of wrestling. Ben Henderson is a NAIA Wrestler and one of the best fighters in the world at mixing his grappling skills with his wrestling. Winning 12 of his last 13 fights, Henderson is knocking on the door for a title shot after two impressive showings against highly touted grapplers Mark Bocek and Jim Miller. He has a very similar style as his opponent, but many will say that he is vastly more versatile and well rounded. While that may be the case, there is no argument that he is one of the most gifted fighters around today.   This clip couldn’t be more perfect to show the essence of a great wrestling acumen. Henderson uses a trip takedown from the clinch to drive Mark Bocek to the mat, the Achilles Heel of a lot of wrestlers is jiu-jitsu. Bocek tries to showcase that by attempting to lock Henderson into an "Omoplata" submission (For more on the battle between wrestling vs. jiu-jitsu click here) Henderson, using flexibility to escape, sneaks his arm out and immediately begins to punch a grounded Bocek. Henderson not only took the fight to the place he wanted too, he defended the limited offense Bocek could threaten with and responded back with his own offense. This is where wrestlers excel so much in MMA -- they are able to stand for as long as they want and when they feel like changing the pace and hitting the mats they are able to do so. With Velasquez fighting a premier striker it will be anticipated that he attempts to ground his challenger. Meanwhile, with Henderson and Guida both being top grapplers, it will be interesting to see who gains the advantage in the wrestling and grappling departments. That is all for now, if you didn’t catch the first two installments on striking and grappling be sure to do so as we are only days away from a fight card that promises to showcase a variety of the sports disciplines.  

Posted in: fight, takedown, sport, ground, wrestler

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC president Dana White has been waiting for Saturday night for more than a decade. The UFC makes its network prime-time appearance on Fox will be a new peak in the growth of mixed martial arts from a banned sport into a billion-dollar enterprise.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, sport, art, growth

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

UFC president Dana White has been waiting for Saturday night for more than a decade. The UFC makes its network prime-time appearance on Fox will be a new peak in the growth of mixed martial arts from a banned sport into a billion-dollar enterprise.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, sport, art, growth

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Cain Velasquez is the UFC heavyweight champion, but he’s not too important to mop up the floor at his hometown gym.

Posted in: sport, champion, velasquez, success, floor

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Back in August I reported that the ESPN network in the UK -- a premium subscription service that includes live UFC content -- would not be airing the Dan Hardy vs Chris Lytle UFC on Versus card. The reason being ESPN had only contractually agreed to show a certain number of UFC shows per year which included numbered Pay Per View events and Ultimate Fight Nights. Because the UFC's U.S. Versus deal was made after the UFC's U.K. ESPN deal, this additional content would not be included on the ESPN programming schedule which at one point showed the preliminary fights of certain cards as well as a season of The Ultimate Fighter before dropping this coverage. A last minute deal with another subscription channel 'Premier Sports' to air the UFC event as a Free View show was made, and UK fans were able to watch after all. But only if they were a Sky Television customer. This weekend Premier Sports is again filling in for ESPN by airing the 'UFC on Fox' event as a Free View broadcast but again Premier Sports is only available through Sky Television. Similar to the USA where there are multiple cable and satellite providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network, the UK's main providers outside of the commercial and public service network channels consist of Sky Television and Virgin Media with various other smaller companies offering their own services. Both Sky Television and Virgin Media carry ESPN on subscription, with certain Virgin Media packages including ESPN as a standard sports option. Virgin Media does not at this time carry Premier Sports, and has an approximate customer base of 3.78 million people compared with Sky's 10 million+. Both would be considered low numbers for television carriage in the USA and Canada, but with the smaller UK population (est. 63 million), it's significant. FX in the UK -- which airs the current season of 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Mayhem vs Team Bisping' on Thursday nights -- is available on both Sky TV and Virgin Media and it is unknown why a deal wasn't attempted or reached with them so more of the UFC's fanbase could witness Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez attempt his first title defense against No#2 ranked challenger Junior dos Santos. It is possible FX in the UK did not have a gap in their programming schedule or they are simply not geared up for live broadcasts. UFC has shown its commitment to its UK fan base by getting another deal done with Premier Sports, likely at an expense to themselves by buying air time. But it's still far less than an ideal situation for all involved and it would be interesting to find out what the general opinion of ESPN is among UK UFC fans. The UFC's current deal with ESPN UK ends in August 2012. After the jump, full schedule and channel listing for the UFC on Premier Sports this weekend. Premier Sports - Sky Channel 433 Saturday Night, 12th November 12:30am GMT - Free View 'In Depth with Dana White', a half hour interview with the UFC President and American journalist Graham Bensinger. 01:00am GMT - Free View 'UFC Primetime', the 1 hour 24/7 style documentary on Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos that aired on Fox recently and is available through UFC.com. 02:00am GMT - Free View 'Velasquez vs Dos Santos', the main event. Preliminary fights can be watched via Facebook.com and Foxsports.com   Related Stories With TUF on FX UK, is UFC on Sky Sports Inevitable? Despite Dan Hardy Headlining, ESPN UK Not Broadcasting Versus Card

Posted in: ufc, espn, sport, sky, uk

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(London, 09/11/2011) MTV’s The Wrap-Up presents ‘3’, a cutting edge documentary focusing on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in partnership with HALO MMA. In follow up to UFC 138 when the world's eyes are turned upon UK talent, the film takes an in-depth look at three of the UK’s most sought after, upcoming mixed martial artists. Starring UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion, Jimi "Posterboy" Manuwa, UCMMA Featherweight Champion, "Capcom" Cory Tait and BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, Jack "Hammer" Marshman, the documentary directed by British Filmmaker Demetrio Marquez and produced by UK journalist Aundre Jacobs, showcases the lives of the three fighters, before and after a fight. Ground-breaking in MMA for its quality and craftsmanship, the film presents an intimate portrait of the athletes and explores what drew them into the sport and what lights their fires. Undefeated UCMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jimi Manuwa (10-0-0) has won 8 of his fights by knock out; 6 of his fights have been title bouts or defences; and it has never taken him more than two rounds to finish an opponent. Manuwa commented: "It's great being a part of this documentary and good to see UK fighters showing their skills. We've got a strong core of fighters coming through the ranks and I'm going to lead from the front. Hopefully this documentary will give people a chance to see my talents and show what goes on behind the scenes. It's a tough sport to be in but lions always eat first." The lightning fast UCMMA Featherweight Champion, Cory Tait (4-1-0) -touted as UK's the upcoming Anderson Silva- had this to say about the documentary: "It’s a great way to show people in the UK and around the world how hard working the UK MMA scene is, the following it has and the fighters it produces. I’m excited to be a part of this project." Undefeated BAMMA British Middleweight Champion, and serving British Armed Forces Afghan vet, Jack Marshman has a record of 9-0-0. Marshman recently wowed audiences at BAMMA 7 with his tremendous heart, after he came back from a sustained GnP battering at the hands of Carl Noon and turned fortune around to secure a legendary victory in the third round. Marshman said: "It's fantastic to be seen as a rising star in UKMMA and I'll do my best to meet those expectations. I've been overwhelmed by the support of UK fans, and the boys from 3 Para are always very vocal at my fights. It's good for people to see behind the scenes a bit and get to know me better. I'm learning and growing all the time as I'm hungry for more belts and tough opponents." Film-maker Demetrio Marquez commented: "Making '3' has been an amazing experience. A personal win for me is seeing people involved in the project who had no previous interest or opinion of MMA suddenly trying to school me with a bit of Wikipedia knowledge. That's why through our MTV documentaries, it's important that we aren't just covering the intricacies of the sport but humanising the athletes. This will help attract a new audience to MMA, just through simple things like having that one thing in common with a fighter.....be it you both like jerk chicken, have children, stay in for Jools Holland and so on. I honestly wouldn't be interested in telling their stories, if that wasn't the case; and I'm not in there asking the guys to talk trash about their opponents. I'm just trying to find the best opportunities to offer the audience a glimpse of their real characters both in and outside of fighting. This is why I'm delighted with the documentary- because I think particularly with Jimi Manuwa's part, you really get past that stone-cold killer image he has and uncover the true Poster Boy. So a massive thanks to Jimi, Cory and Jack and all of their team for welcoming us. They were all brilliant to work with and I wish them the best in their future fights. OSS!" Izzy Carnwath from HALO MMA commented: "It's really fantastic to see a prestigious media outlet such as MTV taking an interest in MMA in the UK and help to push the sport forward. Talent like Marquez's is sorely needed by the scene, to present this exciting and very technical sport in a way that does it and its athletes justice. Beautifully crafted cinematography is the best medium I can think of to explain MMA to the mainstream and to set it above the tawdry image it often has in the UK". 3 is the documentary that fans, not just across the UK but across the world, have been looking forward to. With the likes of Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett already cutting a name for themselves over in the States, 3 showcases a new breed of fierce MMA talent you can't afford to miss. 

Posted in: mma, sport, champion, uk, documentary

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"One of the great things about being a sports fan is remembering exactly where you were when a moment in history was created.... Regardless of the year, the teams or the outcome, sports give us an outlet and an opportunity to be a part of history. It’s something we can tell our kids about decades later, something we relive with our buddies over beers as we recount where we were and how our lives have changed since. In just a few days, we at the Ultimate Fighting Championship are presenting fans across the world with another opportunity to be a part of sports history. This Saturday, live and free on FOX from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., the UFC heavyweight championship of the world will be decided when undefeated Cain Velasquez defends his crown against knockout artist and number one contender Junior dos Santos. Not only does this mark our first event on FOX since we announced a multi-year broadcast agreement with the network this past summer, but it marks a return to the glory days for many sports fans. It signals a return to the days when sports’ biggest prize – the world heavyweight title – is decided live and free on network television." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White waxes poetic, penning a column in today's Chicago Sun-Times that invites mainstream sports fans to witness mixed martial arts (MMA) history this weekend. Of course, White is referring to the landmark UFC on FOX 1 one-hour television broadcast, which features a main event between UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. It is the first of many fights the will be featured on FOX; however, perhaps none will be more significant. To get his point across, White tugs on nostalgic sports heart strings, saying that the event on Nov. 12, 2011, which will begin at 9 p.m. ET, will be on the same historic level as Kirk Gibson's winning walk-off homerun in the 1998 World Series or Buster Douglas' upset of Mike Tyson with a stunning finish inside the Tokyo Dome back in 1990. Once again, White also assures fans that tuning into the "epic heavyweight title fight" on the FOX broadcast will not interfere with Manny Pacquiao's trilogy fight against Juan Manuel Marquez later in the evening. Think White's public plea is effective (and accurate) enough to reel in new fans or is he simply reaching in his comparisons?

Posted in: ufc, world, fox, sport, fan

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Good news for B.J. Penn fans. After a three round beatdown at the hands of Nick Diaz during last month's UFC 137 pay-per-view, the former lightweight and welterweight champion (perhaps hastily) declared his retirement from combat sports. But that doesn't mean he's fought his last fight: "I kinda think this is something that I should have did after the first Frankie Edgar fight. Bunch of my coaches pleaded with me to step away from the sport, take some time off. I was just kind of in the mix, I kept going, kept going, trying to push myself. I don’t really like the results I’ve been getting. Take some time off. Take some time away from the sport. If I ever feel it again, I’ll come back. If it interests me, if it excites me. I don’t want to be sitting in the locker room saying, I can’t believe I’m still doing this. If it excites me, we'll see how everything goes, but I definitely need some time away." Aside from the Penn faithful, that's good news for any mixed martial arts fan, especially when you consider the kind of impact the Hawaiian "Prodigy" has on the fight game. Love him or hate him, he puts asses in the seats. Hear more about his possible return (via Inside MMA) after the jump. How about it Maniacs, what's the over/under on his return?

Posted in: fight, time, sport, penn, i donrsquot

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UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is perhaps the best mixed martial artists in the world today. "Rush" is currently riding a nine-fight win streak with six title defenses and is arguably one of the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the sport alongside his middleweight counterpart, Anderson Silva. With a record of 22 wins with 2 losses -- both of which he later avenged -- St. Pierre has dominated the UFC's 170-pound division for the last six years and is considered by many to be the wholesome face of the promotion. However, if you ask the man himself, he feels that he is not yet the best. But, when the day comes that he realizes that he is the best in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), it will be time to walk away. Speaking to TheGlobeAndMail.com, the Canadian sensation talked about his future goals, finishing fights and having a violent side. Check it out: "I want to retire being the best pound-for-pound fighter that ever lived. It's very hard to say how to judge it, but when I think myself that I'm the best it will be the time to do something else in my life." "Rush" also went on to say, like many athletes, media and public relation duties is his least favorite part of his job. "I'm not going to lie, it's probably the part of my job I dislike the most, but I know it's important. Hopefully the (Fox) deal will take the sport to a new level, it will also bring a bigger range of audience, more sponsors, more visibility, more money -- increase the caliber of the sport." The often soft-spoken champ also touched on the necessity of having a violent side and his criticism for not finishing fights. "Everyone has a violent side; my job is to win, and in order to win most of the time I need to injure my opponent. It's a violent sport but in real life I'm not a violent guy. I'm an athlete in a full contact sport so it requires violence to win. I've had a lot of criticism about not finishing fights, but if there's anyone who wants to finish fights it's me. It's hard to stay champion and in the welterweight division today's number one can so easily become tomorrow's number two. The UFC welterweight champion has often been on the receiving end of harsh criticism and accused of coasting through fights and playing it safe. His last four title defenses have gone the distance, with his last stoppage win coming at UFC 94 against "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn after the Hawaiian's corner threw in the towel. "Rush" will try to add to his legacy by defeating former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012 in Las Vegas; a fight many consider to be one of the most anticipated of all time. A win over the Stockton slugger will definitely be a step in the right direction in St. Pierre's quest to be known as the best of all time. What, or who, else is left?

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, sport, welterweight

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Good news for those of you outside the US. The UFC finally released what channels UFC on FOX 1 “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” will air on across the globe. I’m not sure about the exact times in those countries, so you may want to check your local listings. Argentina – Fox Sports Australia – One HD Brazil – Globo Canada – Rogers SportsNet Croatia – Fight Channel Ireland – Setanta Italy – Sky Italia Japan – Wowow Korea – CJ Media Mena – OSN Mexico – Fox Sports New Zealand – Sky TV Philippines – ABS-CBN United Kingdom – Premiere Sports As a reminder, the prelims will stream live on Facebook and FoxSports.com at 4:45 pm ET/1:45 pm PT followed by the FOX broadcast in the US at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

Posted in: ufc, fox, sport, channels ufc, fox broadcast

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MMA fans and boxing have rarely appeared to get along. And vice versa. The narratives are as follows: MMA fans claim MMA is taking over. That boxing has ruined itself, and like God before the establishment, is "dead". Boxing doesn't give the fans what it wants. Conversely, MMA is a sport with no history, and little respect for the culture its bound by except to the Mountain Dew generation that appreciates it.  The sport of MMA is a nomad. it flaunts its lack of identity, and to the critics, it's just an extreme sport stripped of metaphor. Oh right, we're all a bunch of homophobes too. Beneath these memes are real truths, which explains why the conflict are so intense. Boxing does have real problems. To say it's dead is a gross misrepresentation, but to say that it's in need of help is not. For MMA, it's finally in a place where the new spotlight will spawn the presence of a real sports culture. Whether that culture sticks is another matter entirely, but for now, MMA can say "we've made it". Mixed martial arts is the NOFX of the sports world: popular, but not mainstream.  This weekend, both boxing and MMA delivered the goods. UFC 138 was a barnburner: the kind of card you hope for whenever you want to introduce your friends to what MMA is all about. HBO was having its own miracle as James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo created a modern classic of sorts. And this weekend, both sports are primed to deliver yet again. For MMA, it's a bigger deal for the collective fanbase and media: we're finally on primetime. The five hundred pound cherry on top is that fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos for the HW title. It's a fantastic fight. It's probably the best fight HW has had to offer since Mirko Filipovic vs. Fedor Emelianenko, and for some fans, it might be even better. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, meanwhile, are completing their trilogy. While the lack of Mayweather may upset casual fans and boxing critics, doing so simply ignores that the boxing main event this weekend means a potential end to a very unique trilogy. Both fights delivered: particularly the first one, eerily similar to Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II. Marquez was felled three times in the first round. Yet somehow, he battled back to outbox Manny for most of the fight. Unlike in years past, there's nothing to bitch about on either side. Kirkland, Barao, Angulo, and Munoz all put on memorable performances. It was the little guys who proved the critics wrong this past weekend. Now it's the star's turn to prove the two sports can, and should coexist. Nobody is asking you to hold hands with each other. But if you're a person who stays awake at night wondering which of the two sports will be victorious in the end, then in the words of Patton Oswalt, you're an unfortunate soul who will "miss everything cool and die angry". Speaking of everything that's cool, check out the first round of Kirkland/Angulo after the jump. Alfredo Angulo vs James Kirkland - Round 1 (via grishmugho)

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, boxing, fan

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Link Translation: After parting from the UFC's loss to Roy Nelson, Mirko Filipovic is exclusively featured on video chat site GOL.hr. Legend free fight could not be stopped in his farewell address to the fans. Mirko is honestly answered the questions that he did not stgli not ask, he knew that interested in the Croatian public. He said, among other things, he finally decided to say goodbye to the UFC, and active competition. Cro Cop's head right at the beginning of our video chat Sasha Lugonjić revealed his thoughts after the final defeat of Nelson in Las Vegas, after which he decided to retire. "I feel good, I'm happy because it was nevertheless passed a difficult period for me, v ažno is that everything is finished and I am a happy man today, I'm sorry that I lost and I admit, it will take me a long chase. Athlete I hate failures, but such were the circumstances, ten days before the fight I had problems with injuries, I fought injured but I do not want to look for excuses, nor be sissy. " First I have to repair the hand that does not remain disabled, then we will see in a year or two Mirko explained what those problems are. "I was hurt during a sparring, Sam Barry struck, while the injured hand, namely the muscle, I went to the examination and did not want to go to NY. The doctor told me I needed surgery, but I refused because I did not want to give up the fight. I was preparing myself for it for six months. Here are just now coming out of the hospital, I need urgently to surgery, we separated the tendon from the bone, threatening me to stay on the disabled hand, really it was a severe injury. I think it was good fight, but I felt the hand of the problems, I simply could not be true, but I do not want to draw it now. " Cro Cop answered the burning question, which is a continuation of your career? "I have forgiven, it has nothing to do with the defeat, despite the victory would certainly be forgiven by the UFC. I'm not planning to renew his contract, he asked me to kill this routine and training. I was a pro, I was an athlete in every sense of the words, I never saw the people did not match that I neglected to urlam in the ring, to act unfairly or that I come to fight a full hall which can be seen in other fighters. I think I gave a lot to this sport, I had a long, rich career, which lasted 20 years and I really have to complain so of course it could be better, but it could have been much worse. Anyone can beat anyone in this sport and this is the biggest problem. " As Mirko says the UFC which is considered to have a lot more? "Frankly, we never UFC did not lay down, I've never fought there with gusto, as was the case in Japan. Although I was a pro, I was never the same as in Pride. Old self died with PRIDE-infection. Lived I am Spartan, I renounced it all, not for me any dates or drinking alcohol, and recently started to bother me a routine, so I decided to forgive. " UFC I never lie, old self died with PRIDE-om UFC to him, never fair 'sit'. "The Pride was a brutal knee to the head on the floor, really cruel policies in Japan than in America, but here I was bothered by very different things. I do not want to say anything against the UFC, but I like the cage We are animals. That was the biggest shock and disturb me, and relationships within the organization. In the end, frankly, in my decision, ruled the money. I would have never forgiven that I have said a lot of 33's, if I knew that can still earn at least something, "said Mirko, and discovered that it was actually the most hurt in the UFC. "I only wanted to get money for what I did. I understand that people do their job, but it bothered me. The hardest thing in the whole story I sit weighing. It was terrible. It was such pomp and spectacle about it, we bring the two and a half hours earlier, killing me, people screaming, I really never liked it, it suits some people but not me. The day before the fight that really irritated me. " Can we look forward to a match against Fjdorora? "Now you do not, now only want to repair the arm, today or tomorrow, maybe, but not under the UFC. My racing career is over, but maybe in two years if it vanishes the fire in me, I do some matches in Japan or elsewhere. But Now, however injury, which is currently the most I think. " We can divide my career in the competitive and the financial Complaining to the making of her career and whether they could forgive and earlier? "On the eve of battle with Pat Barry I said a lot, but I told God, give me that beat Barry and that the fight takes place without injury. So far I've had six surgeries and of course I kalkurirao, if I hurt your knee, muscle or something. On the way back I said at the airport as it was my last fight and I'm really so decided. But the call was followed by the UFC and you can jump in for the match in peace. I was hesitant at the end of the pier and the next morning end up in hospital. " "Certainly I'm not complaining of anything, I did a lot in this sport and this fight when the injury occurred before the match against Nelson, I asked the Lord, why is this happening, but I did, it cost me head, but I'm not complaining. " Mirko also revealed that the decision in that it does not forgive the 33 years on the back. "Frankly, after the Grand Prix 2006th year they asked me why I withdrew before. I did not earn enough that I could say that I am secure livelihoods. Life writes weird stories and I could probably live five or ten years with the money. But I have decided to otherwise, can someone tell me what they want. Not that I now will no longer work, I have some investments that we should start to return, but then did not provide a definite existence. At such moments there offer the UFC. " I did not know that Pat Barry filmed our singing in the car. He is a great guy Can we expect a farewell fight? "I do not want to do farewell parties, not like some sort of fanfare and I never liked it. The United States has always annoyed me that the promotion and everything in Japan I had a different status, and I had to go to press conferences and odrađivati ​​these tasks, it is my all annoyed, "he complained Mirko. Are there friends in this sport? "The closest I have with Pat Barry, this is the only fighter who has been in my house. But with anyone in particular, be a friend to me for a special category." Who do you say the best heavyweight in the world? "It's hard to say. Dos Santos and Velasquez are now in the spotlight, there is Overeem, and ultimately there is the Congo, Barry, everyone everyone can win in this sport, with our bare hands." I have my own room in the house, which is open to all people who think they can help. Let me report You fought with Pat Barry, how did the recording to sing along in the car? "Oh, just, I did not even know how to record, after I saw it was only when he put me to put on Youtube, but I still never got to see." Why do not you try going to a known training camp abroad? "I'd gone mad, as they profited so much to lose. He could not leave children or friends. Just could not. Do not be pleased no matter how it's a good thing to go into these camps, personally I could not and did not like nothing before the end of a career change. " Might have to do in Croatia such a camp? "Unfortunately, it's hard. I have my own room in the house, which is open to all people who think they can help. Let me come forward, repeat. All they know for my bar in the Spanish, where they can leave their contact or slip past me. There is no general the problem. " Thanks to everyone who rejoiced with me, and I apologize if I hurt anyone. Maybe I was a language faster than the mind, but I never thought anything bad There have been other inquiries ... "I must say that I have received invitations to seminars. People have asked me for it, but do not realize that it is not easy and inexpensive. If you are trying to work honestly for me to take two and a half at least, and even to this and I want to work with each to show them how it looks in the ring. I asked for $ 1000 per hour. So when you take a psychiatrist to him for treatment. They refused me, explaining that people came to $ 100 for a seminar, Stefan Leko. I do not belittle anyone but for all that we now have and what I know, I got my sweat, with six of its operations and travel. " Have you watched the fight Stipe Miocic and would you help him in his career? "No, but I would certainly help. My door is open to everyone." Does it bother him that no athlete status in Croatia? "The problem with the acceptance is very high. Many of these are not considered sports, although there is a clear system of competition and strict rules, but for many it will be marginal. But many fighters to potentiate themselves. When you see these tattoos, say death on his back, to the anti propaganda for the sport and it is clear why it creates antagonism. Such relations in Croatia does not bother me, but I've gotten over it. " Favorite win? "There are many, but not to any particular stood out. Grand Prix was certainly special, and I've never been happier after that. And when I fight with Bob Sapp, it was also very special, I was very happy when I seen on the floor. He is now Sprdačina, and when he won twice Hoost nobody but me wanted to go with him into the ring. " The heaviest defeat? "Of course the last one." Mirko at the end of video chat and emotional address to supporters addressed the public: "Thanks to everyone who rejoiced with me, and I apologize if I hurt anyone. Maybe I was a language faster than the mind, but I never thought anything bad," he concluded Mirko Filipovic. submitted by FormlessD [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, people, mirko

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Posted in: mattyblayze link, mattyblayze, time, sport, mma

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If you were to chart the progression of European MMA, it would look something like a horror movie franchise. What began as promising, despite a rocky start has turned into a drunken, vain downward spiral. And so if the UK experiment were an entry in the Friday the 13th series, this would be its Jason Takes Manhattan: the one where New York is absent, and all we're left with is a young Kelly Hu, time wasted on a boat, a rooftop fight in which the resolution resembles Gonzaga's KO of CroCop, and Jason getting killed in the most convoluted, and dumbest way possibly (New York's sewers fill with toxic waste every election cycle or something, which turns Jason back into a little boy via shitty screenplay writing osmosis). In short, this is a very very bad card. Of course, I rarely feel the need to bitch about cards that have yet to happen. But this card is bad by any standard. Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz is a very good fight. But every other match prompts the question, "why?" What is Thiago Alves, a perennial WW contender, doing fighting a complete newcomer? Why is Terry Etim, once a promising prospect, fighting a guy whose mere presence is questionable? Cyrille Diabete vs. Anthony Perosh? Seriously?  Of course, bashing the card is not very interesting, for me or the readers of ole' HKL. So I'm interested in digging a little deeper, and luckily, Jordan Breen has already done the work when he interviewed Tim Leidecker yesterday on his Press Row segment. What's the state of UK MMA? Part of the problem is that yes, a young sport like MMA thrusting itself into a new market won't be easy. The other half of the equation is a lack of quality fighters. When it comes to quality, sports fans aren't stupid. They'll bite if you sell them champions. If there's a pattern for what made the show in Brazil such a success, it's that the fighters have done the work for the UFC insofar as Zuffa is selling the public champions. Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, and potentially Junior Dos Santos captivate the public because they win. It's as simple as that. For that reason, the media cares about these athletes. Something Breen points out, which is that you haven't seen this kind of communication between UK fighters, and in-house media as has been present with the Brazil media.  On top of that, Europe in general, suffers from a problem New Yorkers can relate to: regulation. In Holland, fighting in a cage is illegal. in France, ground and pound is outlawed. And for a place like Italy, which makes logical sense for a company named Zuffa, MMA has to deal with the cultural shrug of the shoulder over prizefighting. "The thing is, unlike in these other places fighting is legal in Italy, but on other hand it isn't the biggest fight sport market. The Italians, they just love their team sports to their individual sports. They love their football, their basketball. Their volleyball. But there aren't any great boxers, kickboxers, and even mixed martial artists", explains Leidecker. So if not Italy, where? With the exception of the UK, there are not places looking to get into the MMA business. Although Tim does mention Sweden. "Sweden is pretty certain because the Swedish MMA media is lobbying so hard and they are doing such a great job of covering the show and transporting the passion Swedish fans have of the sport so far". With Alexander Gustafsson on (as Goldberg loves to torture us with saying) the patented meteoric rise, perhaps it could make sense. But Gustafsson will need more than abilities. The fighters that do find success still have personalities to sell. While fans consider him an afterthought, Dennis Siver was on a quality run that had people talking about him as a potential contender. Despite this, the public still didn't warm up to him. "You always had Dennis Siver, and people really respected him, and liked him. But they couldn't really get behind him because he's just not that outgoing character. The Germans like a hero. A brash guy, a little bit. A charismatic guy." When the UFC began their business in the UK, it was a big deal. Financially, they poured money into advertising the sport, and they've put together some decent cards (though UFC 75 seems to be the final word on this matter). But interest has waned over the past several years. Getting back that interest requires a considerable bang. And this card is a whimper. Poll Thoughts on the UC 138 card? [Derek Suboticki]Quit yer' bitching[/Derek Suboticki] It's a bad card. In fact, I'd probably have more fun watching Baywatch.   0 votes | Results

Posted in: mma, sport, card, uk, european mma

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Viacom's investment in Bellator could have long-term implications for the mixed martial arts industry.

Posted in: bellator, sport, deal, art, bellator deal

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Joe Rogan wants you to know that if somebody like the UFC bought out K-1, it would be a financial goldmine of a sport.

Posted in: ufc, sport, joe, rogan, somebody

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Remember when being the “heavyweight champion of the world” equated to a multi-million dollar career and fame/recognition from those who were not even boxing fans? The past decade has proven time and again to sports fans world wide that in fact, boxing is a dying a very slow and painful death. How can this be? How can a sport that doesn’t even require a ball be losing its fan base? Since when did watching two pros battle it out with nothing but their fists become boring? There are endless reasons under speculation as to why boxing is not as acclaimed as it once was. Many feel MMA is to blame, which may be true at some level. MMA is growing their fan base hourly, if not by the minute with the UFC, Strikeforce, BAMMA, and Bellator franchises all gaining viewers daily. One must realize though, the two sports are not easily compared, it’s very apples and oranges to even attempt it. Boxing is but one facet of MMA, and boxing has also been around for centuries unlike the mere decades that MMA has under its belt. The two cannot be compared plain and simple, for proof watch the Randy Couture vs. James Toney fight…a clear example of why the two sports should never collide. A Detailed Breakdown of Couture vs. Toney Is it the cheap shots in boxing that is turning people off? Perhaps this is a more accurate description of why the sport is catching so much negative press. The Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz fight that recently occurred was won by what some considered to be a cheap blow. The Chad Dawson vs. Bernard Hopkins match ended via a tackling maneuver and cost Hopkins his title. It is these exact tendencies that can fuel the rumor mill and completely diminish a sport, and the effects are starting to show. Repairing the sport can be done, it isn’t completely gone as of just yet. Some suggestions would be to hold fights people actually want to see: Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Maidana vs. Rios Donaire vs. Mares-Agbeko II Wonjongkam vs. Segura Ah, the infamous pay per view issue. HBO is a great forum for boxing to continue, but it isn’t large enough to compete with the pay per views. In the UK for example, they do not gain a dollar from HBO they are run by Sky Sports, they don’t pay for UFC fights there either, they simply buy ESPN each month which is rather inexpensive and they instantly gain every UFC card. It’s this shaky practice that has so many moaning about boxing PPV’s and this past year HBO has not had a great year packed with fights. Add in a few questionable decisions or ref calls to that and you have a bunch of crabby boxing fans furious they paid for a set of fights that they feel were “fixed” or ended on poor ref calls. There needs to be a clean up of the never ending divisions. There are simply too many at this point and as a result it makes for a bunch of “okay” classes versus just a few truly solid ones. Someone that has accomplished even two or three different weight classes would be idolized for their achievements versus the ones that go through divisions and hold titles like its nothing. Money…this is by far an issue in Boxing. What funds actually go back into the sport to improve it and make it stronger? Not much, if any at all. Currently, the millions that are being made by top A list boxers are providing lavish lifestyles for them, going to promoters, trainers, television networks and managers. There is yet to be a good plan for insurance for boxers especially those just turning professional as well. Boxing is one of the most entertaining sports of all time. It can still be what it was, it can still be adored by boxing fans as well as MMA fans if it is fixed quickly. People love seeing a good fight, and to let an exceptional sport go to waste after centuries of existence would be a real tragedy to the professional sports industry. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, vs, sport, boxing, fan

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Anderson Silva has finally broken his silence on Chael Sonnen. Ever since Sonnen called Silva out at UFC 136 a few weeks ago, we’ve only heard from Silva’s manager Ed Soares, however after seeing a peculiar photo of Soares and Sonnen, Silva declared that he’s the only person that can speak for him. Well, he’s talking now, but the message isn’t much different from his manager’s. Speaking to Globo.com, Silva claims that Sonnen is “denigrating the image of the sport.” Translation via BE: I didn’t get to where I’m at by being arrogant or provoking someone. By doing these antics he ends up denigrating the image of the sport. There’s no room for that in this sport. The most important thing he did not do, which was to beat me. He even failed in a drug test, which is worse. The truth is Sonnen draws a lot of interest in the sport, which is anything but bad. Silva may truly mean what he says, but he has to know this is a fight that people want to see and whether he likes it or not, he’s eventually going to have to take it because that’s what the UFC wants. Or he could go with option B as Chael Sonnen explains in this interview with MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant. Uncle Chael doesn’t want to fight anybody who doesn’t want to fight him, but the problem is Sonnen still wants his belt, so if Silva doesn’t want to fight, he can just hand the belt over and they can just settle it “diplomatically.” Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: sport, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, image

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - UFC Japan Will Be PPV Event; Doubleheader Plans Abandoned (MMA Fighting) “The UFC’s long-awaited return to Japan on Feb. 26, 2012 will be a full pay-per-view level event, sources have confirmed to MMA Fighting as initially reported by Dave Meltzer. Zuffa has thus abandoned its controversial plan to have the UFC Japan event act as a free-to-air lead-in to a Las Vegas PPV event.” - Bjorn Rebney: Viacom buying Bellator is a major statement about MMA’s future (Fight Opinion) “It speaks volume to the strength of what I believe is the greatest sport on the face of the Earth. And, you know, we’re going to be transitioning to Spike in 2013. In the interim, we’ll be building out the brand and increasing and improving every element of what we do on MTV2 and EPIX & Spike.com. It just gives us an incredible opportunity to work with really smart people who understand our sport backward and forward to build this out and to continue to build traction around our tournament format, our objectivity and some of the greatest fighters on the face of the Earth. So, it gives us every tool to build this out for many, many, many years to come.” - Interview with Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren (MMA Mania) “Yeah he was a national champion in junior college but Jay [Hieron] is significantly overrating his wrestling ability. What you have to realize is that people who win national junior college tournaments, I pin them in 30 seconds. That’s no big deal. I mean, even at the highest, highest level at the NCAA tournament my senior year, in five matches I probably got 40 takedowns and that’s against the best of the best of the best guys in the United States in wrestling and Jay was never on that level” - Dana White Talks UFC 137, Strikeforce, Viacom, Plus Other News & Notes (MMA Convert) “Dana White announced at the beginning of the press conference that they have hired MMA Live anchor Jon Anik away from ESPN to commentate on the FX and TUF broadcasts. Anik will also have a role in other programming. MMA Weekly is reporting that Anik has signed a three-year deal with the UFC. Dana White said they’ll be working him so much, he’ll regret leaving ESPN.” - Thailand Floods – A Setback for MMA? (MiddleEasy) “Thailand has recently joined the mixed martial arts foray, really hitting the ground running in 2011.  The sport was slow to get going in Thailand where a majority of the combat sports fans are more apt to enjoy Thai boxing than mixed martial arts, regardless of the fact that it is part of the “mixed” in MMA.  As new players have arrived, the sport is beginning to catch on.  DareFC, the biggest player in Thailand has enjoyed the early successes of mixed martial arts, showcasing some of the regions talented strikers and grapplers.  Their business model is very unique, although one that works very well for the region.” - Nelson Getting A Little Help From His Friends (NBC Sports MMA) “Nelson told NBCSports.com that this isn’t the first time the casual friends have trained together — Nelson said he helped Mir prepare for a few fights “three-to-four years ago” — but this is the first time Nelson has called upon Mir for a training camp” - Video Timeline: MMA’s Greatest Techniques of the Year, 1993-2011 (Cage Potato) “Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents — while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil’ spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport’s modern inception.” - UFC on FOX prelims to air online (Five Ounces of Pain) “Everyone wanted to see the lightweight showdown between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida on November 12 and now they’ll be able to. No, the bout won’t air live on FOX prior to the heavyweight main event, but the entire UFC on FOX preliminary card will air online on Facebook.com and Fox.com.” - Jake Shields Signs with Authentic Sports Management (5thRound) “This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management,” said Shields. “ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters.” - Akira Corassani – Behind The Screen (Exclusive Interview) (LowKick) “Few days before Nick Diaz and BJ Penn square off inside the Octagon, TUF 14 bad boy Hamid “Akira” Corassani stops by for an exclusive interview with LowKick.com. Corassani currently entertains the Mixed Martial Arts fans around in his SpikeTV-documented quest for contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, representing Team Bisping somewhere in Nevada’s deserts (I don’t really know where the TUF Gym is).” - Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene (TheFightNerd) “New York doesn’t allow MMA right now, so fighters have to go to New Jersey to fight where its sanctioned or they have to go underground in New York city… but the book isn’t just about the underground fight scene in New York, it’s also about the development of sanctioned MMA in the east coast… In New Jersey, tehre was a show called BAMA Fight Night run by Big Dan Miragliotta. His show was the only show for the longest time, there weren’t sanctioned events in the North East, so Big Dan would hold these shows and people like Matt Serra, Nick Serra, Phil Baroni, they had their first fights at these events.” - Dana White: There Is a Chance That Strikeforce Lives (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “I met with Showtime yesterday, and I had a great meeting with them,” White told Helwani. “I’m jumping in. The way that it works, and I’ve explained this before, is that Lorenzo and I divide and conquer. We’re both so busy. We’re working on so much stuff and I think sort of to get this deal moving, you needed the kinder, gentler side of the UFC in there. Now, I am going to go in there and close it.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, event

Read the full article at MMA Payout

It's difficult to reminisce about Nick Diaz's career without taking a journey down a dilapidated road of memories. Youthful and imperfect, Diaz waged war on anything that stood in his path, creating animosity between himself and his opponents that could only be described as borderline insane. One extreme example was the fight that broke out between Diaz and Joe Riggs at a hospital after Riggs won a punishing unanimous decision at UFC 57 back in 2006. Not surprisingly, there's more. Diaz's involvement in a post-fight brawl after his teammate Jake Shields won the vacant Strikeforce middleweight crown in November of 2009 wasn't a surprise to most fans either. The famous image of both Shields and Diaz cocking back their fists to hit Jason 'Mayhem' Miller exudes Nick's persona in many ways. Some might describe him as a thug, others as a loyal friend. In either case, the image shows a Nick Diaz we have grown accustomed to over the years. Like a fine wine, Diaz has begun to mature with age however. In more recent interviews, we've been humbled by a more mellow Nick Diaz. A man who talks deeply about family and friends, wants to make sure his mother is taken care of, and sings the praises of his younger brother Nate. Those thoughts don't subdue his opinions on the fight game or who's to blame for his irregular attendance at media functions however. Those opinions have become more attached to thoughts on his continued presence in the sport. In the last couple of years, Diaz has went public with the fact that he isn't fighting because he has the competitive fire to compete. He's fighting for the money. He's a prizefighter, not a man bound to the sport by a cosmic force telling him that this was what he was born to do. He reiterated that opinion on Thursday in a candid twenty-five minute interview with Ariel Helwani. When pressed by Helwani about why he continues to fight, Diaz succumbed to his natural abilities. He's great at fighting, and despite the fact that he doesn't like beating on someone's face -- it's what he's good at. Many fans can probably relate to that logic. After all, how many of us hate our jobs, yet are very good at what we do? The prolonged presence of Diaz's dislike for the sport and all the intricacies that come along with being a top fighter creates an aura of uneasiness for some fans. B.J. Penn may be his opponent on Saturday night at UFC 137, but the reality is that Diaz may be on the brink of leaving the sport before the age of 30. That story, when it finally comes down the news wire, will create conflicting opinions, likely heavily laced with fans selfishly spouting off about how they are somehow owed greatness from a warrior they grew up adoring. "He's only 30!", "Why the hell would he retire now! He's awesome!" are lines we'll see incessantly fill the conversation. The reality is that Diaz's drive isn't as ingrained in him as it is for other fighters. Those fighters who are pushing themselves way past their prime are more willing to do what they need to do to continue fighting than a fighter like Diaz. For Diaz, his final moments in the cage won't be similar to that of Chris Lytle. He won't be fighting off the tears because he's leaving a sport he dearly loves. He'll be glad it's over. No cameras, press, or expectations. If money is his motivation, who knows exactly when he'll say enough is enough? He's only 28 years old, and he is at the prime of his career. He could make a lot of money if he continues winning. I get the sense, however, that Diaz may be the next fighter who truly walks off into the sunset at the top of his game, not because he's worried about his health or wants to spend more time with family. Because he wants to walk away from something he hates to do. Conventional wisdom suggests that Diaz won't take that step, but when has Diaz followed the accepted norm?

Posted in: diaz, nick, fighter, sport, he

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

- If You Think You Can Out-Swim Nick Diaz, You're Delusional. [Middle Easy] - UFC Japan Goes PPV, Double-Header Plans Scrapped. [Cage Potato] - Viewer's Guide to UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated] - Hatsu Hioki Ready to Wow American Fans. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Nick Diaz: Fight with BJ Penn Could Be my Last. [LowKick] - Penn is Mighty, But What's the Point? [NBC Sports] - Nick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing [MMAConvert] - Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre. [5th Round] - Career-Defining Moment for Every UFC 137 Fighter. [Bleacher Report] - Expert Predictions for UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated] - Bellator 56 Invades KC's Memorial Hall Saturday Night. [The Fight Nerd] - Dana White: If There Was a Gay Fighter in UFC, I Wish He'd Come Out. [MMA Mania] - Bellator 55: 168,000 Viewers. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, sport, ufc i

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Din Thomas and B.J. Penn pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The FIght Nerd reviews Jim Genia's new book on the New York underground fighting scene, Lowkick catches up with current Ultimate Fighter season 14 fighter Akira Corassani and Fight Opinion investigates some causes for the UFC's recent downturn in pay-per-view buyrates. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with TUF 14's Akira Corassani (LowKick) "There isn't a right or wrong team. You see very early, it's not a team sport. People are selling each other out and eventually, when it goes down, everybody is going to fight each other. So, the whole thing was just a matter of what kind of fighter you are yourself. " - Penn is mighty, but what's the point? (NBC Sports MMA) No matter what BJ Penn does in his UFC 137 main event match with Nick Diaz, it's not likely to help him get another title shot. - Video Timeline: MMA's greatest techniques of the year, 1993-2011 (Cage Potato) Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents - while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil' spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport's modern inception. - GUFC 137 breakdown: The undercard (Five Ounces of Pain) Losing a marquee main event is a substantial blow for any card, let alone one headlined by a title fight featuring one of the sport's biggest stars. Luckily, this weekend's card had an equally compelling co-main event (which has now been promoted to main event status) and a potentially action-packed undercard, making UFC 137 a can't-miss show for MMA hardcores. - Covering the bases with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting) Dana White discusses UFC 137, Showtime talks, Bellator sale and more - Jake Shields signs with Authentic Sports Management (5thRound) "This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management," said Shields. "ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters." - If you think you can out swim Nick Diaz, you're clearly delusional (video) (MiddleEasy) Our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, was under the belief that he 'almost' beat Nick Diaz in a pool race the night he arrived in Las Vegas for UFC 137. Granted everyone's definition of 'almost' varies, but fortunately we have documentation of this swimming contest. If almost means he didn't even finish the second lap, then sure, LayzieTheSavage 'almost' beat Nick Diaz. - Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene (TheFightNerd) "New York doesn't allow MMA right now, so fighters have to go to New Jersey to fight where its sanctioned or they have to go underground in New York city... but the book isn't just about the underground fight scene in New York, it's also about the development of sanctioned MMA in the east coast... In New Jersey, there was a show called BAMA Fight Night run by Big Dan Miragliotta. His show was the only show for the longest time, there weren't sanctioned events in the North East, so Big Dan would hold these shows and people like Matt Serra, Nick Serra, Phil Baroni, they had their first fights at these events." - Author Jim Genia - Dave Meltzer: Piracy is a major factor in why UFC PPV buy rates are declining (Fight Opinion) Injuries & too many shows are the main reasons why UFC PPV buys are down this year. Those underlying causes are the reason for a reported spike in piracy of UFC PPV events being streamed online. Dave elaborated on this conundrum for the UFC during his interview with Jack. - CageHero rebrands itself (MMA Payout) MMA Payout had the opportunity to speak with the owners of CageHero, Mark Mastrandrea and Ian Parker as it recently re-branded itself focusing its business to target kids. Once a sponsor of fighters in the octagon, it has a new web site, a new clothing line and its CageHero Kid - UFC 137 fight card: Which fighter has the most to lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA) UFC 137 houses a lot of names that have a lot riding on their fights. BJ Penn , Nick Diaz and Mirko Cro Cop all have a lot riding on their fights. But there is one guy who has more riding on his shoulders then these guys, Hatsu Hioki. - Bellator 56 preview - Get ready for the man blanket! (MMA Convert) It is a sad state of affairs when the most common thing said about an organization's champ is that he's a "work in progress". But such is the case with Bellator welterweight grandmaster Ben Askren, who is shockingly weak in the striking and submissions department, yet un-freakin'-stoppable when it comes to wrestling.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, sport

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that it has agreed to terms with broadcaster Jon Anik, who will serve as a commentator and on-air talent for the fastest-growing sports organization in the world. The 33-year-old Boston native, who has served as a top ESPN host for nearly six years, will handle play-by-play duties for upcoming UFC® events to air on FX and FUEL TV. Jon will also fulfill the newly-created host position for the revamped Ultimate Fighter® on FX.  In addition, he will host UFC’s new magazine show, Ultimate Insider, which premieres on FUEL TV in January.“Jon Anik has been a top tier talent at ESPN for a number of years and I’ve made it a priority to bring him over to the UFC as we start our new partnership with FOX,” UFC President Dana White said. “It’s critical to seek out the best talent in the business as our company continues to grow.”  Anik, who began his stint with ESPN in 2006 as a SportsCenter anchor, has handled play-by-play duties for college football and the 2010 WBC heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Shannon Briggs. He now heads Octagon-side with the opportunity to fulfill what he calls “a chance of a lifetime.”“The UFC is one of the strongest brands in sports, and in my opinion, it’s the greatest sport in the world,” Anik said. “The product speaks for itself. More frequently than any other sport, the UFC delivers. I had the chance to be on the road at UFC events when I was with ESPN and what separates the UFC from other sports is that it prides itself on being hands-on and fan-friendly.” “I look forward to helping play a small role in bringing the UFC to as many people across the world as possible. I’m really excited to a part of an organization that is filled with quality people who are the best in the world at what they do.”Anik, his wife, Christine, and their daughter, Riley will relocate to Las Vegas. He will be based out of the UFC’s corporate headquarters.

Posted in: ufc, sport, ufc ’s, anik, playbyplay duties

Read the full article at UFC

Who will win at UFC 137? The Yahoo! Sports staff has their say.

Posted in: ufc, sport, prediction, yahoo, staff

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Thailand has recently joined the mixed martial arts foray, really hitting the ground running in 2011.  The sport was slow to get going in Thailand where a majority of the combat sports fans are more apt to enjoy Thai boxing than mixed martial arts, regardless of the fact that it is part of the "mixed" in MMA.  As new players have arrived, the sport is beginning to catch on.  DareFC, the biggest player in Thailand has enjoyed the early successes of mixed martial arts, showcasing some of the regions talented strikers and grapplers.  Their business model is very unique, although one that works very well for the region. It also gives fighters a chance that otherwise, would not be able to showcase their skills.  That sparks the question - Will the catastrophic floods in Thailand put the sport on hold or will it persevere? Read More...

Posted in: sport, thailand, mmajapan part, business model, thai boxing

Read the full article at Middle Easy

In his latest Yahoo! Sports exclusive blog, B.J. Penn says he no longer follows his own press. Not even this blog.

Posted in: sport, blog, yahoo, bj, yahoo sports

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Miami, Fl USA - October 20th 2011: The MMA Power Tour, a TRMG Sports property, officially confirmed last night the official card to be  presented on December 9th 2011 at the Palacio de los Deportes in Costa Rica. The card includes several UFC veterans including Carmelo Marrero (Heavyweight) and Alvin Robinson (Lightweight) plus the Ultimate Fighter contestant Ariel Sexton. The card will include 12 fights, 7 of them with international elite fighters and 5 of them with some of the best local fighters. The international card will have as co-main events of the evening Carmelo "The Fury" Marrero Vs. Steven "The Panda" Banks and Alvin "The Kid" Robinson Vs. Fabio "Jungle Boy" Serrao. The rest of the fights are: Jason Lee Vs. Rod Richters, Ariel Sexton Vs. Scott Cleve, Sky Moiseichik Vs. Wesley Dunlap, Andrew Montanez Vs. Mark Korsnowski and Ramico Blackmon Vs. Daniel Sensintaffar. Local fights have not been confirmed yet. It will be the first time so many UFC veterans visit Central America in what promises to be the best MMA event in the history of the region. The MMA Power Tour will continue their tour on February 25th 2011 in Colombia followed by Mexico March 17th 2011, Dominican Republic April 14th 2011, Panama May 19th 2011, Miami June 23rd 2011, and Brazil in a date yet to be confirmed. The MMA Power Tour is an organization developed by TRMG Sports to take the fastest growing sport in the planet to newer territories that have been "craving" to see the best fighters in the world. It also has as the main purpose to promote the practice of the sport and bring along with the amazing fights, an entire platform that will help the sport to grow and be practiced under the right conditions and following the standards of the best organizations in the world. The first event will be promoted by Addictive 4u, a Costa Rican production company that already has under their belt the biggest concerts of 2011 in the territory and now wants to continue doing history by bringing the first event of this magnitude to the territory. Tickets will be on sale, October 21st 2011 online at www.publitickets.com by clicking here.

Posted in: mma, vs, sport, tour, card

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Is Viacom buying into Bellator good for the sport? Kid Nate answers that question and many more in "Viacom Buying Bellator Is Good For MMA." Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: bellator, question, sport, answer, viacom

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

In his blog for Yahoo! Sports, BJ Penn says he's glad to be fighting in the UFC 137 main event after GSP pulled out.

Posted in: gsp, sport, blog, yahoo, penn

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

MMAFrenzy.com presents its latest podcast, where host Steve “bsbiz” Barnes is joined by writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison providing analysis of this week’s MMA news and recaps of recent events. This week’s topics include post-UFC 136 musings, the inherent risks of the sport, George Roop’s recent comments on Chad Mendes, the debut of our “Lytle List,” and waffles. Click the link to play or right-click and “save as” to download. 04 Episode 4 [10_23]

Posted in: chad mendes, bryan robison, waffles click, sport, week

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

As a lifelong practitioner of judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not to mention a founding member of MMA's famed American Top Team academy, noted MMA manager Alex Davis has seen the sport grow from the beaches and jungles of his native Brazil to a global phenomenon. And while Davis believes there are still plenty of opportunities for growth in the sport, he's also bothered by a growing enemy within the sport: ego. "Time and time again, I find myself staring ego in the face," Davis recently told MMAjunkie.com. "A lot of money has been spent, events have been created, fights have been accepted, enemies have been made and big decisions taken - all based on ego.

Posted in: mma, sport, davi, ego, brazilian jiujitsu

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Former UFC middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen will co-host the 2011 World MMA Awards on Nov. 30, alongside sports television personality Molly Qerim

Posted in: world, sport, fox sports, sonnen, award

Read the full article at Sherdog

The discussion surrounding the realization that the UFC is experiencing a decline in their pay-per-view business from last year to this year has been exacerbated by the recent low point of UFC 136. The card, headlined by a UFC lightweight title showdown between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, produced an estimated 250,000 buys, which makes it one of the worst PPVs in terms of revenue of the year. It was, however, one of the best cards in terms of action and entertainment value. It simply didn't have the star power or promotional power to garner more interest from fans. The blame can't solely rest on whether Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard pander to the cameras. The UFC's marketing machine didn't promote an emerging star in Chael Sonnen at all in the lead-up to the fight, likely a decision based on the fact that his opponent, Brian Stann, was an American war hero who was immune to verbal jabs. Sonnen's own out-of-the-cage legal run-ins with the law were also probable reasons to keep him a low priority in the event's promotion. Other reasons have surfaced that are broader in scope than the attributes of UFC 137. There is a general sense that the UFC may have oversaturated the landscape. The counterargument to that has been that the quality of events has been significantly lower this year due to injuries that have destroyed potentially solid revenue-earning cards. The UFC's event schedule has also made it difficult, running sometimes two or three events in a short timespan. Obviously, that makes it tough on a fan's wallet, and it creates an environment where one must choose which cards to buy. Some weight classes lack appeal with fans due to unfamiliarity or the diminished star power of their most prominent fighters. What about our cultural propensity to gravitate toward the heavier weights, or the fact that the UFC only fields a few proven stars? We could sit here for hours speculating. Star power is a factor that has its hands in almost every one of those issues. It's an idea that can alleviate the smaller problems while singlehandedly propping up entire events. The perfect example is Brock Lesnar, a man who can bring over one million buys to an event by simply having his name on a poster and press release. What do the current stars in the UFC have that others don't? Skill has never been the issue. It's always boiled down to what fighters can offer emotionally for fans. St. Pierre is probably the least reliant on that idea, but he's gained his status by nationalism, playing the good guy opposite the bad, and having a love-hate or loving relationship with every fan who watches the sport. Lesnar and Jackson, on the other hand, have personalities that intrigue fans, crossover appeal to different segments of people, and the physical gifts to provide jaw-dropping entertainment. They fit a mold that is seen as the Holy Grail of what a star should look like. The discussion surrounding the realization that the UFC is experiencing a decline in their pay-per-view business from last year to this year has been exacerbated by the recent low point of UFC 136. The card, headlined by a UFC lightweight title showdown between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, produced an estimated 250,000 buys, which makes it one of the worst PPVs in terms of revenue of the year. It was, however, one of the best cards in terms of action and entertainment value. It simply didn't have the star power or promotional power to garner more interest from fans. The blame can't solely rest on whether Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard pander to the cameras. The UFC's marketing machine didn't promote an emerging star in Chael Sonnen at all in the lead-up to the fight, likely a decision based on the fact that his opponent, Brian Stann, was an American war hero who was immune to verbal jabs. Sonnen's own out-of-the-cage legal run-ins with the law were also probable reasons to keep him a low priority in the event's promotion. Other reasons have surfaced that are broader in scope than the attributes of UFC 137. There is a general sense that the UFC may have oversaturated the landscape. The counterargument to that has been that the quality of events has been significantly lower this year due to injuries that have destroyed potentially solid revenue-earning cards. The UFC's event schedule has also made it difficult, running sometimes two or three events in a short timespan. Obviously, that makes it tough on a fan's wallet, and it creates an environment where one must choose which cards to buy. Some weight classes lack appeal with fans due to unfamiliarity or the diminished star power of their most prominent fighters. What about our cultural propensity to gravitate toward the heavier weights, or the fact that the UFC only fields a few proven stars? We could sit here for hours speculating. Star power is a factor that has its hands in almost every one of those issues. It's an idea that can alleviate the smaller problems while singlehandedly propping up entire events. The perfect example is Brock Lesnar, a man who can bring over one million buys to an event by simply having his name on a poster and press release. What do the current stars in the UFC have that others don't? Skill has never been the issue. It's always boiled down to what fighters can offer emotionally for fans. St. Pierre is probably the least reliant on that idea, but he's gained his status by nationalism, playing the good guy opposite the bad, and having a love-hate or loving relationship with every fan who watches the sport. Lesnar and Jackson, on the other hand, have personalities that intrigue fans, crossover appeal to different segments of people, and the physical gifts to provide jaw-dropping entertainment. They fit a mold that is seen as the Holy Grail of what a star should look like. Are there other fighters who possess those talents, and why isn't the current system in place to build those stars working? Out of an enormous roster of talent, the UFC has very few proven draws. We can eliminate most of the roster because they aren't featured, but that still leaves the upper-echelon talent in every division available for the star treatment. Why aren't there more stars then? The UFC's model, as MMAMania.com's Geno Mrosko opined yesterday during a conversation we had on Twitter, is based on excitement, emotional investment, and worth-your-money performances. If you're paying $55 dollars for a PPV, it better deliver. Imagine if the NFL ran under the same model. As Mrosko stated, Terrell Owens might be the main attraction and defense wouldn't be as important. What other sport shares this similar type of prioritization of appeal? Basketball. Personalities on top of exciting performances fuel interest in the sport. If that's the case for the NBA, then why can't the UFC create a bevy of stars with that same idea? Every one of those sports has time on their side. Fanbases that consistently replenish themselves across generations, the build-up of an end goal for its participants and fans every year, and an established farm system that is not only creating talent, but driving interest and creating insane levels of revenue every year, especially in basketball and football. The UFC has none of that, nor will it likely ever have that sort of structure in place. Those are long-terms problems. In the short-term, the UFC must still deal with the fact that they can't seem to drive interest in the ligher weight classes. The personalities don't exist to build within the current mold of how to drive stars, and nobody stands out as the man to break that mold. There is hardly any focus on personal stories either, which the UFC consistently fails to leverage. There doesn't need to be a Countdown show to tell those stories. There just needs to be a bigger outlet to get the message across to fans.  How does the UFC progressively move toward a better way to build stars? The issues that plague it due to its uniqueness as a sport won't disappear, but they should only hinder it from maintaining fans across generations. Unless you're going to create teams based on fight camps or move to some sort of seasonal format like Bellator that actually has major relevance to the landscape of the sport, those issues are always going to remain unsolved. Time is an issue that is solved by sustaining the business. As the sport progresses and remains in the public's field of vision, it will gain more fans because it is seen as a legitimate sport. The more understanding by the public that this is, in fact, a competitive sport, not human cockfighting, the more sports' fans will embrace it. It will also expand the UFC's demographic from the 18-34 crowd to the larger 18-49 crowd. Eventually, we'll all be grandfathers watching this sport, and perhaps out kids and our kids' kids will be watching alongside us with interest. That expands the UFC's advertising potential and fanbase, adding years to its viability. Time only solves the issue of creating an established fanbase and enough viability to intrigue a more general sports fan, or a casual fan, as we like to call it, in MMA's case. The new Fox deal should provide a platform for more creative means to promoting fighters. Crossover promotion of the UFC with other sports is key, and publicizing backgrounds of fighters and creating an emotional connection is something the UFC can leverage with the new deal as well.  In the aftermath of the UFC 137 buyrate news, many pundits clamored that the UFC needs to do a better job of producing stars without actually providing ideas to solve the problem. I can't fault those people, however, because there isn't clear how to do that. The new Fox deal will give the UFC a significant tool to increasing its chances, but I don't believe it's going to create a blueprint that can consistently create stars for the UFC for years to come. There will always be obstacles that stop the UFC from toppling the NFL, NBA, or MLB. The reality is that there is no obvious answer, only a myriad of perplexing problems that don't have the advantage of a historical counterpart to reference. At least not at the levels that Dana White is hoping to propel the UFC into in the coming years.

Posted in: ufc, star, sport, year, fan

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Coffee's for closers only. But mixed martial arts? That's for everyone. Even New Yorkers! That's according to David Mamet, one of the few writers that doesn't leave me feeling embarrassed when I unholster my Webster in an effort to keep up. Having said that, don't expect any half-assed attempt to litter this post with big words, for the same reason I wouldn't spar with Floyd Mayweather or bring a knife to a gun fight. Anyway, the legendary screenwriter and the man behind 2008's Redbelt is taking aim at New York State's "wearisome folly" against the sport of MMA. Specifically, the state-wide ban on live events that sends millions of dollars in revenue to New Jersey and Philadelphia. From his NY Post blog: Coffee's for closers only. But mixed martial arts? That's for everyone. Even New Yorkers! That's according to David Mamet, one of the few writers that doesn't leave me feeling embarrassed when I unholster my Webster in an effort to keep up. Having said that, don't expect any half-assed attempt to litter this post with big words, for the same reason I wouldn't spar with Floyd Mayweather or bring a knife to a gun fight. Anyway, the legendary screenwriter and the man behind 2008's Redbelt is taking aim at New York State's "wearisome folly" against the sport of MMA. Specifically, the state-wide ban on live events that sends millions of dollars in revenue to New Jersey and Philadelphia. From his NY Post blog: "American sentiment has, in the last century, and with some exceptions, endorsed prize fighting as legitimate sport. It is less dangerous to the individual not only than grand prix racing, but than professional football -- but the specter of men drawing and shedding blood, understandably, has its detractors ... It is, statistically, less harmful than boxing, as boxing’s major and frequent injuries are trauma to the brain, resulting from that same haymaker sung in story and song as the decider in the barroom brawl ... Opponents of Mixed Martial Arts in New York state have enacted a statute to ban the exhibition its proponents hold is protected under the First Amendment as "artistic expression." Now, as a longtime student and fan of mixed martial arts, I hope these opponents fail ... In our transformation into a country of maiden aunts, we have forgotten that phrase concurrent to The Greatest Generation, "Mind your own business." The purpose of law, our Constitution teaches, is to allow people to interact free from government intervention. To criminalize or otherwise sanction now this, now that, at the whim of a vocal minority is, retail, wearisome folly. Wholesale, it is the road to serfdom." UFC President Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta stormed Madison Square Garden (MSG) earlier this year with New York assemblyman Dean Murray and MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil to present an independent economic impact study indicating the "Empire State" would generate about $16 million from the UFC alone based on just two pay-per-view (PPV) events per year, split between "The World's Most Famous Arena" and Buffalo's HSBC Arena. And that doesn't include the jobs and additional income from regional or independent promotions also throwing their hat into the New York fight scene. Put simply, money talks … and the UFC has the numbers to back it up. Unfortunately, no one is listening, which has prompted proponents like Mamet to take center stage to help drive the cage-roots movement. Maybe State Assemblyman Bob Reilly, one of the sport's biggest detractors, is afraid of losing his set of steak knives. For more on New York's MMA ban click here.

Posted in: sport, art, state, york, ban

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- Pat Barry and Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Sing a Duet. [Middle Easy] - Texas Expands Drug Testing for UFC 136. [Sports Illustrated] - New Legislation Would Give Wisconsin Towns Power to Make MMA Illegal. [Cage Potato] - Zoila Gurgel tears ACL, forced to withdraw from Bellator 57 fight. [Five Ounces of Pain] - The 20 Creepiest Fighters in the Sport's History. [Low Kick] - More Surgery for Shane Carwin. [NBC Sports] - Ed Soares: 'We'll Probably End Up Having To Fight Chael Sonnen Twice.' [MMA Convert] - Joe Lauzon Challenges Anthony Pettis to a February Fight. [5th Round] - Is UFC 137 Still Worth the Money Without GSP? [Bleacher Report] - Victor Conte Talks Steroids in MMA & Boxing. [The Fight Nerd] - Nick Diaz Must Make the Most of His Second Chance. [Sports Illustrated] - Fabricio Werdum 'For Sure' Wants to Come Back to the UFC. [MMA Mania] - Update on Fox-Direct TV contract dispute. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fabricio werdum, duet middle

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The New York Post ran an editorial this week calling for New York to sanction MMA events. The question of MMA legislation in New York has been an ongoing battle for some time, so it is not a shock to see the Post bring it up. However, the interesting thing about the editorial? It was written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet.  A long-time fan of MMA, Mamet argues that the sport should be sanctioned based primarily on first amendment free speech ideas, and also states that the US is becoming too much a "maiden aunt." He also brings in the familiar argument that MMA is less dangerous than many other sports, including boxing. And he mixes it all in with some... shall we say, unique, turns of phrase: In our transformation into a country of maiden aunts, we have forgotten that phrase concurrent to The Greatest Generation, "Mind your own business." The purpose of law, our Constitution teaches, is to allow people to interact free from government intervention. To criminalize or otherwise sanction now this, now that, at the whim of a vocal minority is, retail, wearisome folly. Wholesale, it is the road to serfdom. Really, the whole thing is worth a read, partly just to see what such an acclaimed voice has to say about the sport, and partly because, frankly, it's pretty out there.  For the full scope of Mamet's intriguing opinion, click here. Like any other MMA fan, I want to see the sport gain sanctioning in New York. And the former theater nerd in me is happy to see Mamet come out in support of this fight. But Mamet's argument feels a bit off here. In this piece, he compares MMA to the burning of the American flag and he draws parallels between the sport and the sexual practices of various cults. I am not convinced that this is the best way to go in order for MMA to gain acceptance. Do we really want MMA to be sanctioned on these grounds - that it's no worse than dunking a crucifix in urine? And is this the argument that will actually win people over? I have my doubts. David Mamet may best be known in MMA circles as the Director of Redbelt, the 2008 MMA-based film that featured former UFC champion Randy Couture. But he's also an acclaimed author and one of the greatest playwrights of the American stage. His play Glengarry Glen Ross won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.

Posted in: mma, sport, david, york, mamet

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Donald Cerrone isn't planning for his retirement – or much of anything beyond his next fight.

Posted in: sport, life, anything, cerrone, retirement –

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Yesterday, news broke that Paulo Filho had been hospitalized due to a Rohypnol addiction. Turns out, Filho says that's not true. Well...the hospitalized part. "Ely" says that the man who released that info is a "crazy person and a thief." Not only that, but Filho says that after November, he's done with the sport of MMA. That's right, he's retiring. Filho spoke with Tatame.com regarding all of the news surrounding him in the past 24 hours. Filho not only spoke about that, but said he's done after fighting Mamed Khalidov in November. That is, if he even makes it to that bout in Poland. Yesterday, news broke that Paulo Filho had been hospitalized due to a Rohypnol addiction. Turns out, Filho says that's not true. Well...the hospitalized part. "Ely" says that the man who released that info is a "crazy person and a thief." Not only that, but Filho says that after November, he's done with the sport of MMA. That's right, he's retiring. Filho spoke with Tatame.com regarding all of the news surrounding him in the past 24 hours. Filho not only spoke about that, but said he's done after fighting Mamed Khalidov in November. That is, if he even makes it to that bout in Poland. "I’m very upset. That’s something people say and give you space to think about drugs and other things. My biggest problem only was medicine (rohypnol). He’s a crazy person. Man, people invented a lot of stuff, and unfortunately I gave them reasons to think that. He said that just to avoid paying what he owns me. I gave him an opportunity and he couldn’t take it. He took my money and I don’t know what he did with that. I just don’t know where’s my money. I have bills to debts to pay and people are charging me. I’m choosing retirement, man… I may fight in November (in Poland) because I already signed the contract, after that I will retire. I don’t want this anymore. I had good and horrible moments. I did what I could, it’s over. I was far from what I could have been, but I’m satisfied. It’s over." Filho was once considered a top middleweight in the sport of MMA. A BJJ black belt under Carlson Gracie and the one time WEC middleweight champ, Filho has had struggles with addiction that have hindered his progression in MMA. Filho was a multiple time CBJJ World Champ and ADCC Brazilian Trials Champion in the sport of jiu jitsu. He holds 10 submission wins in his MMA career and even submitted current middleweight UFC title contender Chael Sonnen back in 2007 to defend his WEC belt. It's hard to say just how successful he would have been in the sport, but it's sad to see him retire after his own demons stifled his MMA career.

Posted in: mma, sport, november, filho, he

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All Carlos Condit has ever wanted since signing with the UFC was the chance to fight for the welterweight title. After stunning Dong Hyun Kim earlier this year, he finally got the chance to challenge Georges St. Pierre for the 170-pound strap at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. And he had a little help from Nick Diaz. But just under two weeks from the fight, "Rush" blew out his knee in training camp, postponing the contest until an undetermined point in 2012. Condit's reaction: "It's been a roller coaster to say the least. I'm trying not to get bummed out about the situation and trying to stay positive. It's just something that happens, it's the nature of the sport. I'm just trying to keep a positive outlook, it's the best I can do." Hear more from "The Natural Born Killer" in his interview with FOX Sports after the jump. All Carlos Condit has ever wanted since signing with the UFC was the chance to fight for the welterweight title. After stunning Dong Hyun Kim earlier this year, he finally got the chance to challenge Georges St. Pierre for the 170-pound strap at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. And he had a little help from Nick Diaz. But just under two weeks from the fight, "Rush" blew out his knee in training camp, postponing the contest until an undetermined point in 2012. Condit's reaction: "It's been a roller coaster to say the least. I'm trying not to get bummed out about the situation and trying to stay positive. It's just something that happens, it's the nature of the sport. I'm just trying to keep a positive outlook, it's the best I can do." Hear more from "The Natural Born Killer" in his interview with FOX Sports after the jump. Anyone think the layoff will help Condit get better? Or is he overmatched regardless of how long he trains?

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, condit, carlos condit

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Filed under: UFCThe new UFC 137 event poster features the tagline "Expect the Unexpected." It is fitting given that there have been multiple main event switches leading up to the October 29 date, but it could just as easily be referring solely to one of the men gracing the artwork. For years, Nick Diaz has been an enigma to many on the outside looking in. His friends and teammates say he is fiercely loyal, hard-working and yes, even kind-hearted. But we rarely see that side of him. The public face of Diaz is usually scowling, irritable and contemptuous. That duality may well be an accurate portrayal of Diaz in his private and public settings, and it may not be a bad thing. Because Diaz's personality perfectly fits into a sport like MMA. To his fans, he's an ass-kicking, counterculture anti-hero. To his detractors, he's an irascible ingrate. Whatever it is, he's a one-man phenomenon. On Wednesday, Diaz was scheduled to be one of four participants in a media teleconference, along with his opponent BJ Penn as well as heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo. But when the call began, Diaz was nowhere to be found. The UFC had been in constant communication with Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie, a company spokesperson said, and they were still searching for him as the call began. Through Twitter, UFC president Dana White put the blame on his staff, saying they "dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no-show." But Diaz did show up, just not on time, dialing in 40 minutes late and saying that no one had told him it was going on until that moment. Whether you believe that or not is of course, up to you. But it must be noted that Mitrione and Kongo were invited to the call on Tuesday, and they were around at the appointed time. In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn't be a big deal, but based on Diaz missing two previous press conferences that cost him a title fight, it became a story. But that quickly changed. When he arrived late, it became only part of the story. And when he started talking, it became moot. Better late than never, after all. He said that he regretted the actions (or inactions) that led to his removal from the St-Pierre fight. That he wasn't happy about fighting Penn. That he believes Penn to be a better all-around fighter than GSP. That someone in his camp was getting paid way too much and not doing their job of handling his schedule. That the Strikeforce belt never meant much to him. In 15 minutes, Diaz did more to shift the narrative of UFC 137 storylines than Penn, Mitrione and Kongo did in the preceding 40. That's just the way it is when he speaks. And isn't that the point of conference calls and press conferences? When it comes to those, Diaz says more with less than anyone in MMA. If he was as verbose and microphone friendly as say, Chael Sonnen, it wouldn't quite be the same. Diaz shows up when he wants, wedges open a window into his mind, and lets you in look in just long enough to find yourself fascinated and wanting more. That's true for the fans, it's true for the media, it's even true for the fighters. Just ask Penn, who called Diaz "a great character of the sport." "I think there's nothing wrong with the media focusing on that stuff," he said. "It's something to talk about. It's a story. I don't want to say it's good for the sport, the guy not showing up for the press conference, but it is another character in the sport, you know?" That Penn ended his answer with a question seemed perfectly fitting, too. Sometimes Diaz leaves you with an uneasy feeling, like you're not sure if you're in the midst of watching someone unravel, or you're just watching someone who's conflicted. Hopefully it's the latter, because Diaz's talents deserve a worthy showcase of invested fans. And in some ways, this whole bizarre UFC 137 scenario may end up benefitting all the parties involved. Diaz was very well known by MMA fans prior to this, but an untold number of others are getting a taste of his brilliance or madness before a possible showdown with St-Pierre. If Diaz can walk away with a win over Penn, and St-Pierre eventually beats Carlos Condit, the Diaz-GSP fight becomes exponentially bigger than it would have been. In the end though, no one summarized Diaz better than he did himself. He seems to be able to compartmentalize his life into its various parts. The fighter is different from the person. The problems are put away into their own corner to be ignored. Each moment belongs in its own box. "I don't know what's going to happen with me, but it's not going to make a difference whether or not I whine or cry about it or panic," he said. "I'm just going to do what I always do: train. And when it's time to fight, I go fight." Outside of the cage, we never quite know what to expect of Diaz. He is wildly unpredictable and generally ducks attention, but he when speaks, he says exactly what's on his mind, consequences be damned. And inside the cage, we know exactly what to expect. Win or lose, he will force his opponent into a pitched battle. He will attempt to break your will, consequences be damned. You may like him or you may not, but it's hard to deny that in a sport full of singular personalities, he's one of the most intriguing ones MMA has ever seen. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, sport, penn

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The UFC 137 fight card just took a major hit as UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been forced off...

Posted in: ufc, gsp, sport, welterweight, champion

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Filed under: Fighting, MMA Fighting ExclusiveLas Vegas can be the saddest place in the world. Some say it's a city based on hope, but the flipside is that it's a city built on losing. Lost slot machine pulls and broken dreams erected those castles we call hotels. Every time I fly into McCarran Airport, I look at the faces arriving with me, smiling and happy. And then I look at those waiting to leave, exhausted and beaten. It's all so efficiently run, old losers out, new money in. It's a city of luck, and few have it. I think about that when I cover sports. Luck is the intangible that athletes alternately crave and fear, because they never know if it's going to work for or against them. For IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon on Sunday, luck was not on his side. I don't know nearly enough about auto racing to say whether Wheldon could have done anything to prevent his involvement in the crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but I doubt it. And certainly there was nothing he could have done to prevent his car crashing the way it did, cockpit first into the wall. Wheldon's death predictably led to a flurry of questions asking what could have been done differently. That's understandable in the sense that no one wants this sort of thing to happen again, so it's worth a closer examination of safeguards. But it also undercuts the absolute and tragic truth that sports are risky, and people die participating in them all too often. I also think about that when I cover MMA. Our sport is undeniably violent. It's not violent in any different way than football or ice hockey, but because it doesn't try to hide what it is, because it is directly violent, as opposed to creating man-made objectives like touchdowns and goals to disguise the danger, it is slightly less palatable to those who prefer their hard truths hidden. We put safety measures in place for sports like auto racing, football, hockey and MMA in an attempt to limit injury and ward off death, but the fact of the matter is, we can never guarantee it. As long as humans have walked the earth, we've attempted to go higher, longer, faster. We've pushed limits. We've walked the edge of what's possible, knowing that only the result will determine when we've gone too far. Sports is at its best, a celebration of surpassing previously assumed limitations, and at worst, a cautionary tale about dreaming bigger than possibilities. Not just team sports, but things like mountain climbing, skiing and horse racing are all guilty of the same. UFC president Dana White likes to say that fighting is in our DNA, and he's partly right, because survival is the basest human instinct, and what is survival if not a fight? But beyond that, our DNA is programmed to test borders. It's why we've shot manned rockets off to the moon and explored the depths of the sea. Fighting is simply a personal test of limits with the hope of learning some greater truth about life and ourselves. Even when you fail, there is nobility in the effort. On November 12, the UFC will introduce their brand of the sport to a network television audience for the first time. Understandably, there is a lot of excitement about the possibilities of expanding the fan base and growing MMA. We tend to only see the positives that such a move holds. But as always, we must know that danger lurks around every corner. As much as we like to tout the UFC's safety record -- and it is a strong one -- there's been plenty of times we've had to hold our breath until a fighter got up from a bad knockout and walked off on his own power. There is always a price to be paid for participation in physical sports. Maybe it is something simple, like a broken bone or muscle tear, but unfortunately, there are always worse possible outcomes. Recently, the hot-button issue has been concussions, a problem which has already quietly reared its head in a sport like ours. Former UFC fighter Jeff Joslin retired in his early 30s after experiencing a series of concussions. Chuck Liddell was essentially forced into retirement after being knocked unconscious in three straight fights. But we tend to sweep that kind of thing under the rug in favor of more glamorous subjects. Next week I will head back to Las Vegas again for UFC 137. Two of the featured fighters on the card are Georges St-Pierre, who is often criticized for a style that is said to be risk-averse, and Nick Diaz, a fighter who is aggressive while sometimes bordering on reckless. The interesting thing is that with either their actions or thoughts, they say the same thing. St-Pierre's style makes it clear he understands the danger inherent in a fight and chooses a tactical route. And despite Diaz's action-oriented style, he has repeatedly said he does not enjoy fighting. Fans and media often ask our favorite athletes to throw caution to the wind. But when you live in the world that they do, it is hard to lose sight of what we often forget: that there is danger in every moment. There have already been two deaths -- Sam Vazquez and Michael Kirkham -- in the sport stemming from sanctioned competition. Think about that next time you're quick to criticize a fighter for employing an actual strategy. These men accept ultimate risk every time they step into the athletic arena. Wheldon knew it when he strapped into his seatbelt, and GSP knows it when the cage door is locked behind him. The athletes participate in search of the perfect performance, and we watch because it is riveting to see men test the limits of what's possible. At least our sport is generally honest in its possibilities. There are real people with real lives behind the pretty punches and powerful kicks. When they land, lives can be changed forever. Fortunately that is rare, but the stark truth is this: even with all the safety measures in place, sometimes the only thing that saves us from the worst possible outcome is a little bit of luck. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, time, sport, thing, weve

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MMA Fighting and TSN report that Vancouver is likely out of the UFC’s rotation of events for 2012. It announced 2012 events in Montreal and Toronto and another “surprise” Canadian city according to UFC’s director of operations Tom Wright. Wright indicated that the lack of regulatory movement, not financial success was the reason that it would not return in 2012. Via MMA Fighting: The shows certainly weren’t financial failures. 2010′s UFC 115 did a $4.2 million gate, while UFC 131, held this past June, drew a $2.8 million gate. Instead, the problem is regulatory stalling. Both of the UFC’s events were held during a two-year test period held by the city after overturning a previous ban on MMA. That test period will end in the coming months and apparently, the prospects of sanctioned MMA will go with it. Via TSN: “And the disappointing thing for our sport is that after a two-year test period, they’ve had two tests — ours,” Wright said Wednesday. “Because no other promotion could afford the indemnification or the insurance costs or the other things — or actually have the perseverance to get an event to be held there. Payout Perspective: A disappointment to MMA fans in the Pacific Northwest. Last June’s event was set to be the return of Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately, due to Lesnar’s health issues, Lesnar’s late scratch likely affected the attendance for the show (yet, it still did pretty well). Taking Vancouver off of the schedule is a sign for the need of uniform regulation in Canada. This is something the UFC has lobbied for in Ottawa. Bloody Elbow was critical of Vancouver for granting the UFC the opportunity to hold events in its city but not doing anything to ensure a lasting relationship with the sport of MMA. BE argues that Vancouver officials made unreasonable monetary requests of the UFC to cover for insurance, extra police security, etc. while not creating laws which would regulate the sport in the province. Certainly, this would be the UFC’s point of view as well. Notwithstanding Vancouver’s loss, there are other Canadian cities more than willing to hold a UFC event and work with the UFC regarding regulating MMA. For Pacific Northwest MMA fans, perhaps Seattle will be a new destination for a UFC PPV. It had the highest attendance for a UFC Fight Night and the Seattle media embraced the sport. With the Key Arena dormant except the random concert and the WNBA’s Storm in the summer, Seattle has a great venue to house the sport.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, event, vancouver

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Here are the rules I'll go first: Although I watched early UFC as a show, I never thought of MMA as a sport until Pride. I still hate to see elbows designed to end the fight via cut and prefer the knees on the ground (N-S shouldn't be a relatively safe position). submitted by daengbo [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, sport, rule, n-s shouldn, rules i

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On Thursday, Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of sports and event programming for Showtime, resigned after a nineteen years with the subscription-based network. Hershman was pivotal to the growth of mixed martial arts, bringing the sport to the network in 2007 in the form of EliteXC. EliteXC inevitably failed, but Hershman kept his resolve, adding Strikeforce to the portfolio and helping the small California-based promotion become a major player in the mixed martial arts' world. Hershman isn't leaving the industry however. He's been named the new president of HBO Sports, opening up the possibility that HBO will lift their embargo on the sport. In the aftermath of the news, there were also questions revolving around Showtime's continued committment to the sport. Will they work out a deal to keep Strikeforce on Showtime? Will they remain in the MMA business? BloodyElbow.com's own Brent Brookhouse opined yesterday that Hershman's move to HBO is likely focused more on helping boxing grow on the network versus bringing in a new option: Hershman's move to HBO isn't likely to bring MMA to that network either. Boxing remains a big part of HBO's identity and despite uninformed opinions that the network will eventually give up on the sport, they actually are investing even more in the sport. In 2012 the network is launching a midweek boxing show that will feature competitive fights on a smaller budget to try to aid the process of building up stars. I couldn't agree more, and I find it perplexing that the immediate reaction from many fans and media was the blatantly optimistic opinion that HBO will now open its doors to MMA. As for Showtime's future in the sport, Strikeforce is an option, although there are many reasons why staying connected to Zuffa may be the wrong way to go. These are only micro issues underneath the larger macro problem that start-ups and networks promoting MMA are entering the sport with an even steeper slope than we've ever seen before. The UFC's expansive reach, years and years of brand saturation, and buyout of the second largest promotion in the world has turned their large lake into an ocean, sucking the water from all the smaller lakes and ponds. They control a vast majority of the relevant talent in the sport with only a few outliers who are able to draw any semblance of interest from fans. Ten years ago, start-ups had options. EliteXC and Strikeforce both fed off veteran talent, both to promote their main card and test young prospects, while also taking advantage of regional honey holes like southern California. The more options, the more talent was willing to negotiate and take the best offer, especially when those smaller promotions were gaining traction in the television landscape. Fast forward to today, and we see that EliteXC has crumbled, Strikeforce has been swallowed by Zuffa, and casual interest outside of the UFC is at an all-time low. Look no further than ProElite for proof. I'm not attempting to be the most cynical man on the planet, but it's difficult to see a progressive trend of growth when Pedro Rizzo vs. Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Fulton are the top two fights on one of the newest start-ups in the sport. The proven formula of growing prospective talent while bringing in name value doesn't work any longer because name value has disappeared. Who is Reagan Penn and Mark Ellis, assuming they progress into bona fide talents, going to fight down the road? The optimistic fans will throw Bellator right into my face. Look at what they've done! They've signed a bevy of great prospects, many of which are featured on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report. They have notable names that fans will tune in to watch. Unfortunately, they are hindered by MTV2's decision to keep them on Saturday nights, going head-to-head with the UFC, and that's not their most glaring problem. Whether it's a start-up promotion or an established brand like Bellator, finding recognized veterans to prop up cards and draw in fans who wouldn't normally watch the card is becoming harder and harder to do. In fact, it's impossible to do these days. Bellator is going to find out quickly that Eddie Alvarez has nobody to fight. Same goes for the rest of their champions. What does any of this have to do with Showtime and HBO? In my opinion, Showtime's best option is to let Strikeforce go and start their own series. It isn't necessarily a promotion, more of a series of shows designed to build cheap programming and maintain subscribers. After the failure of EliteXC and the piece-by-piece stripping of anything worth a damn from Strikeforce by the UFC, Showtime's biggest issue has been outside forces crushing their MMA programming. The problem, however, is that there isn't any talent to build from. It's pointless for HBO to waste the money entering the market unless they want low budget, cheap programming regardless of name value. Same goes for Showtime. Even if they retain Strikeforce, it's going to be tough for them to gain enough steam to move away from sustainability into growth. The mere second a prospect begins showing signs of greatness, Zuffa will swoop in and sign him to a UFC contract. Smaller promotions in North America and beyond serve a purpose as development platforms for prospects, but I believe the days of spectacular growth, growth seen in two or three years in the market are gone. There isn't enough recognizable talent available to help small promotions gain eyes, and building prospects to a casual fanbase requires money to promote them. Even the latter is a risky endeavor. Will fans care more about Eduardo Dantas if they spend a lot of money promoting him? Who has he beaten? Who is Wilson Reis? Those are questions people will ask. Be honest and ask yourself... what fighters, outside of Zuffa, would you actually tune in to watch? Most will cite Bellator fighters, perhaps Nate Marquardt, Roger Huerta, or Shinya Aoki. How many of those are viable options for a promotion like Titan FC to bring in? Will that help them keep your interest for a prolonged period of time? Probably not. The point is that it isn't a large number. It's so small that there are barely any options for regional promotions looking to make an impact to consider.  This isn't the boom years of MMA any longer. The upward trend is slowly flattening out, and the UFC has come out as a massive presence. In North America, they dominate the landscape. Internationally, there is opportunity. More on that later. For promotions like Shark Fights and Titan Fighting Championships however, it doesn't look good. 

Posted in: promotion, hbo, strikeforce, sport, showtime

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Showtime sports leader Ken Hershman has stepped down from the cable network and will now accept a role as the president of HBO Sports instead.

Posted in: sport, cable network, ken hershman, hbo sports, ken

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Move over Theo Epstein, you're not the only General Manager switching teams. In an interesting bit of news today, it has come to light that Ken Hershman, Showtime's Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports and Event programming, has left his job at Showtime, according to a report by Broadcasting & Cable. It is also believed that Hershman will now head over to HBO to replace Ross Greenburg as President of HBO Sports. A statement was released by a Showtime spokesperson earlier today: "Sports has been an important part of our content lineup at Showtime for many years. We have a great team and great programming in place and our commitment to sports remains strong. We have no announcement about a successor at this time, when we do we will let everyone know." Hershman is responsible for introducing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the rotation of the popular cable channel Showtime. Hershman's first venture with MMA began with Elite XC and eventually continued with the deal he struck with Scott Coker and his San Jose-based organization. With the news of Hershman's resignation, could this be another sign of things to come for MMA on Showtime, namely Strikeforce? Dana White has often been critical of Ken Hershman and the way he runs his business with Showtime. So much so, that UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta has been running the operations and meetings with Showtime since Zuffa acquired Strikeforce which also included its deal with Showtime earlier this year. Is this another sign of the soon-to-be demise of Strikeforce? Or is this much ado about nothing? Discuss.

Posted in: sport, showtime, hershman, ken hershman, hbo sports

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Showtime Executive Vice President and General Manger of Sports and Event Programming Ken Hershman (Pictured) has resigned from his positions at the premium cable network.

Posted in: sport, showtime, hershman, manger, premium

Read the full article at Sherdog

Ken Hershman has been at Showtime since 1992, serving as the general manager of sports and event programming for several years. He has now expected to jump to HBO where he will replace Ross Greenburg. The most obvious sport this impacts is boxing as Hershman was one of the primary players in turning Showtime into a much more competitive network with HBO with a much smaller budget. Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook talks about the impact on the boxing world: HBO has already shown improvement in the second half of 2011, so Hershman coming on board should keep that momentum rolling. It's worth wondering what he's like with a major budget, though. There is a legitimate worry that he might get lazy with everything being that much easier. Things like the Super Six didn't come easy, and took a lot of work on his part. But doing something similar at HBO would, in theory, be far easier. This could be both a good and bad thing. Showtime has no successor in place for Hershman, and I wouldn't expect them to name anyone to a long-term position until 2012. As a boxing fan, without being corny, I'd like to tip my hat to what Hershman did at Showtime, and I feel good for him that his hard work has rewarded him with this opportunity. It's not about HBO being better at Showtime, but facts are facts, and HBO is the bigger fish. Hershman was absolutely, 100%, without question the man most qualified for the job at HBO Sports, and it's good to see that guy get it. Hershman was a big part of getting MMA onto Showtime (and CBS) and some MMA fans may even remember the pre-Zuffa owned Strikeforce days when Dana White would accuse Hershman and Showtime of being the ones actually running the promotion. Hershman responded to those claims to Sports Illustrated last June: We want to make sure that people understand our place in this sport. We're putting a lot of money and commitment into this sport. We're in it for the long run. We're not going anywhere, despite what anyone may suggest. All the kicking and screaming makes us hold true to that more firmly... I would say there isn't a network that I'm aware of that doesn't ensure the quality of what they put on the network meets whatever criteria they've established. There isn't one fight that gets on the air that I'm not satisfied meets the expectations that out subscribers hold us to. It would be irresponsible for me not to do otherwise. But to suggest that I'm running Strikeforce or controlling the matchups is ludicrous. The question becomes if Showtime will retain that commitment to the sport with Hershman's departure. Showtime execs are no doubt aware that Zuffa has been stripping Strikeforce for parts to beef up the UFC and that relationship seems likely to die the second the current TV deal is up. M-1 Global is likely to continue to be ratings death and even smaller ShoBox level boxing events will do better ratings for little more than the same price. Hershman's move to HBO isn't likely to bring MMA to that network either. Boxing remains a big part of HBO's identity and despite uninformed opinions that the network will eventually give up on the sport, they actually are investing even more in the sport. In 2012 the network is launching a midweek boxing show that will feature competitive fights on a smaller budget to try to aid the process of building up stars. Being realistic, there just aren't enough legitimate fighters outside of Zuffa control for either network to make any sort of long-term investment into MMA at this point. Bellator would be the only even somewhat reasonable option but their structure would have to change entirely as it simply doesn't work with the limited dates provided by the HBO and Showtime schedule. If we didn't already know that we were seeing the beginning of the end of MMA on premium cable, we should know for sure now.

Posted in: hbo, sport, showtime, network, hershman

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Ken Hershman has stepped down from his position as executive vice president and general manager of Showtime's sports and events programming, reportedly in favor of a position at rival premium-cable outlet HBO. Hershman, has long been considered a supporter of MMA and will apparently replace Ross Greenburg, who recently stepped down from his role as president of HBO Sports and was not necessarily a believer in the sport. Despite his past support of MMA, Hershman and UFC president Dana White have often failed to see eye-to-eye, and the two have often traded verbal barbs in the media.

Posted in: hbo, sport, president, hershman, ken hershman

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Ken Hershman, Showtime's Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports & Event Programming, has resigned, the premium cable network confirmed to MMAFighting.com on Thursday afternoon. Broadcasting & Cable first reported the news earlier in the day. The outlet is also reporting that Hershman, who left Showtime earlier this week, will replace Ross Greenburg as president of HBO Sports in the coming days. Showtime officials would not confirm where Hershman was headed and HBO officials could not be reached for comment. Hershman began working for Showtime in 1992 in the network's law department. He was named head of Showtime Sports in 2003. In 2007, Hershman brought MMA to the network when EliteXC debuted, and he stuck with the sport following the demise of EliteXC in 2008, striking a deal with Strikeforce in 2009. Of course, this news comes at an interesting time for Strikeforce with all sorts of speculation about its future. Showtime officials would not confirm whether Strikeforce would continue to air on the network next year when its current contract expires, however, a network spokesperson did say that they are still as committed as ever to the sport. UFC president Dana White has made no secret of the fact that he has never seen eye-to-eye with Hershman, however, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has been running Strikeforce and dealing with Showtime since Zuffa purchased the fight promotion in March. Depending on who replaces Hershman, his departure could either signal the end of MMA on Showtime or breathe new life into the struggling Strikeforce brand. Conversely, Hershman's reported arrival at HBO could open the doors for MMA to air on the network for the first time in its history. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, network, hershman

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Rory Singer hasn’t competed as a professional mixed martial artist since February 2009, but “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 alumnus has stayed close to the sport he loves.

Posted in: sport, georgia ’s, singer, hasn, alumnus

Read the full article at Sherdog

Now Dana White knows exactly how it feels to be a Mega Man fan. I can think of quite a few childhood memories that can be summed up in the same eloquent phrasing the UFC head honcho uses in regards to the growth of the UFC brand: "I will get to the next level or *expletive* die". But this isn't about Mega man (or is it?), this is about the UFC growing at a rapid pace, heading to Fox and putting on thirty four live events next year. Here is what the exhausted but inspired Dana had to say to MMAJunkie. "This year was a big year for us,"  "But the next year is going to be the real big year for mixed martial arts. Next year is going to be the real big year for MMA. Next year is the one that's going to change everything and take it to the next level." "It's been crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. When you want to achieve and you want to do what we're doing, this is how you do it, and this is what you have to do. In no way, shape or form am I like, 'I need to lay off; [expletive] this.' "I love it. We have a plan. The next two years ... definitely the next is going to beat the living s--- out of me. The next year is going to be a real rough one for me. But I'm down for this. This is what I want to do. I have a plan; I know how I want to execute this next year. Because in my opinion, the next two years are the most important two years for this company and this sport." "I think we hit a lot fight fans with that first step (on cable television). Now we're reaching people that would have never watched us in a million years. It's the perfect time. We did that first fight on FOX, and it was such a huge success. 2002 we did the 'Best Damn Sports Show.' (People say) '[S---], we should have gotten that deal then.' But it wasn't time. It didn't happen then because it wasn't time. We weren't ready for that. We're ready now. "All the ducks are in a row, we've got this thing dialed in, we know what we're doing, we're the best at what we do, and now we're going to go out there, and we're going to f------ nail this in the next two years." "Hold this tape and watch what happens at the end of next year and where we are and what we're talking about. And believe me, I will f------- die before I let this not happen. I don't give a s---- how many cities or countries I have to fly to in the next 10 days or next year. I am focused and excited and ready to do this." Props to Dana and the UFC for blowing up the sport in just under a decade, but this is still more impressive. [source]

Posted in: ufc, sport, dana, year, level

Read the full article at Middle Easy

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Tyrone Spong has been one of the three names being tossed around as a fighter leaving the sport of Kickboxing in their rear view to pursue another sport. The other two are of course Badr Hari and Gokhan Saki who have lofty goals to move into the Heavyweight Boxing arena and make a huge impact. What actually happens is yet-to-be-seen, but for now there is no doubt what their intentions are. MMANation.com's Matt Roth went to UFC 136 and proves why it is nice for a friend and kickboxing fan to be at a big combat sports event like this, as he not only recognizes who Tyrone Spong is and interviews him, but asks him the right questions that people actually want to know about. Read More and Watch the Interview...

Posted in: sport, spong, tyrone spong, kickboxing fan, tyrone

Read the full article at Middle Easy

If there was a moment during last night's lightweight championship bout when Frankie Edgar seemed defeated, it was gone within the blink of an eye. Late in the first round, with under a minute to go, after the champion had been dropped by a barrage of hooks, uppercuts, and knees from Gray Maynard, after the champion had begun lunging forward recklessly, desperate to close distance, he was clipped by a stiff right cross from his challenger and for the briefest second his arms dropped and he was vulnerable to anything Maynard wanted to do. But in the time it would've taken just to begin thinking Edgar was out of it, his hands were right back up and he had reset himself to finish out the round. Bolstered by an indomitable will, Edgar went into the second frame calmly and found his range, able to avoid most of Maynard's shots while peppering "The Bully" with his own. As the third round rolled through, Edgar began showcasing the quick, darting style of boxing that won him the title against B.J. Penn, dancing into range with slick head movement to land combinations and dancing out to avoid Maynard's counters. Then, in the fourth, as the two combatants jostled for control in a brief scramble, Edgar landed an uppercut that staggered Maynard. As his Maynard reeled, Edgar charged in and landed thunderous hooks that felled his opponent, then continued to pummel him until Josh Rosenthal stepped in to save Maynard from further punishment. It was the culmination of twelve rounds that have come to define Edgar as a champion, even more so than his pair of fights against Penn. Maynard notched the only defeat on Edgar's record back in 2008, a smothering decision victory long before either man had truly come into his own as a fighter. These last two fights, however, have been contests between athletes at their maximum potential and at the pinnacle of the sport. They drew a match on New Year's Day in a bout that also saw Maynard batter Edgar early on, only to have the defending champ launch an incredible comeback signified by the iconic slam in round two. Although their first match won't be appearing on any "Best Fights of All Time" lists, the past two contests have been truly epic encounters. Seeing Edgar, a natural featherweight, withstand the punishment of Maynard, who could probably compete at welterweight, then take the fight to his opponent after whole rounds on the brink of defeat reminds me of why I follow the sport. Edgar's resilience suggests he won't relinquish his title unless his opponent is prying it from his cold dead hands, and Maynard set out to do just that. It's the sort of collision we all hope to see every time we tune in. Edgar vs. Maynard has become the sort of series people will opine about for generations, a trilogy the likes of which MMA has long needed to supplement its thin history. Fans of each sport often haphazardly compare boxing and MMA, but hands down boxing can claim a richer tradition with dozens of famed series acting as pillars of the sport's pantheon. Bowe/Holyfield, Barrera/Morales, and, of course, Ali/Frazier all come to mind. MMA has no such comparable history, and to suggest so would be ludicrous. As the ongoing history is written, though, Edgar/Maynard is one hell of chapter on which to begin. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

Posted in: round, sport, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

The puck dropped on the NHL season this past Thursday and I hear that there is some big MMA event this weekend in Texas called UFC 136. While I usually never miss out of a big UFC event, I have to make a slight exception this weekend when the Colorado Avalanche open their season against the Detroit Red Wings. Luckily I have two TVs in my room, so I’ll be able to catch all the action in the cage and on the ice. With this being a big sports weekend in my house, as my two favorite sports going head to head, it got me thinking about fighters on the UFC 136 main card and who their NHL counterparts would be. *Frankie Edgar – Mike Richards: Both guys have a ton of heart and give it all they have with every fight/shift. I’m a big fan of Richards and he’s a guy that I would want on my hockey team. Conversely, while I’m not a huge fan of Edgar (although I have nothing against him), he’s a guy I would want in my gym because he works hard and makes his training partners better. Also, both guys are very active. We all know about Edgar’s movement and all-around activity in fights, but Richards is a guy who plays all three zones and contributes on special teams. Final Reasoning: Heart, activity. *Gray Maynard – Loui Eriksson: Many hockey fans don’t realize how good Eriksson is because of the team he plays for, just like many MMA fans don’t realize how good Maynard is because of his fighting style. Eriksson is a consistent player in the NHL and a guy you can count on to put up 50-60 points every season. While Maynard isn’t the most exciting fighter in the world, you can’t argue with results. He has wins over good lightweights, is undefeated in the sport, and is a guy you can count on to give you a tough fight. Final Reasoning: Consistent but under the radar. *Jose Aldo – Steven Stamkos: Aldo is one of the top five fighters in the sport, he’s young, and he’s exciting to watch. Stamkos is one of the top five players in the sport, he’s young, and he’s exciting to watch. I love watching both guys when they’re in action, not only because I love watching the best in their sport, but because I know they’re going to do something exciting. They can either get it done quickly or methodically and when they’re in action, they’re an absolute treat to watch. Final Reasoning: Young, talented, exciting. *Kenny Florian – Joe Thornton: After losing to Maynard at UFC 118, Dana White labeled Florian a “choker.” That’s a term that Thornton has dealt with for awhile during his NHL career. One of the best players in the regular season, Thornton rarely shows up come playoff time. Florian has that same kind of history, getting it done in lesser fights, but coming up short when a title is on the line. Sometimes they show flashes of brilliance under the brightest lights, but the end result is always the same: their hand doesn’t get raised. Final Reasoning: Doesn’t perform well under pressure. *Chael Sonnen – Jeremy Roenick: Ok, so Roenick is retired while Sonnen is still fighting, but my initial option for Sonnen, Sean Avery, has actually won a Stanley Cup while Sonnen failed to win the his sports biggest honor. Plus Avery is third line player who is now in the minors. When he played, Roenick was one of the biggest trash talkers he backed it up with his brilliant play on the ice, unless he was facing Patrick Roy. Sonnen is definitely one of the biggest trash talkers in MMA and he usually backs it up in the cage, unless someone wraps their legs around his neck. Final Reasoning: Talks trash, usually backs it up. *Brian Stann – Ryan Miller: In 2010, Miller became a hero to all the US hockey bandwagon fans who jumped on during the Olympics with his performance in Vancouver. Stann is of course a real American hero, having served time in the military. As a player, Miller struggled in his early NHL career, found himself in the minors, and has turned into one of the best netminders in the league. As a fighter, Stann struggled at light heavyweight, found himself at Greg Jacksons, and is now a top contender at middleweight. Final Reasoning: American heroes, found themselves after early struggles. *Melvin Guillard – Martin St. Louis: MMA fans know all about Guillard’s story. Blessed with the world in potential, “The Young Assassin” went through some hard times in his career before finally living up to that potential in recent years. St. Louis might not have been blessed with Guillard’s psychical talents, standing just 5’8’’ but he was a late bloomer in the sport. He was undrafted, didn’t produce in Calgary and then went to Tampa Bay where he’s gone on to win the MVP award. Like St. Louis, Guillard uses to his speed to burn his opponents. Final Reasoning: Late bloomers, speed. *Joe Lauzon – Steve Mason: In his first year in the league, Mason won the rookie of the year award as a goalie and carried the Columbus Blue Jackets to the playoffs for the first time. In his second and third seasons, Mason became a very average goaltender and hasn’t come close to bringing his team back to the playoffs. Sounds a lot like Lauzon, who starts off very fast in the 1st round and then fades in rounds two and three. At least n one calls Mason “Creepy” as a nickname. Final Reasoning: Starts fast, fades faster. *Leonard Garcia – Erik Cole: Garcia’s style isn’t pretty but it involves a lot of power and aggression, which leads him to getting decisions that maybe he doesn’t earn. Cole is the same type of player on the ice. He’s a power player who takes the puck to the net and draws penalties because of it. Granted Cole earns those calls while Garcia benefits from blindness, but the style is essentially the same. Final Reasoning: Powerful, aggressive, earns calls that maybe they shouldn’t. *Nam Phan – Patric Hornqvist: Both guys are just serviceable in their sport with the ability to surprise you. Hornqvist isn’t well known around the league but he’s the type of player who can score a hat trick in any game even if he hasn’t done anything for weeks. Phan is the type of fighter who can give anyone a solid fight, even though his record isn’t all that great. Final Reasoning: Serviceable but effective.

Posted in: guy, ’t, sport, player, reasoning

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

- It's true, Chael Sonnen is the most interesting man on the planet. [Middle Easy] - Edgar-Maynard trilogy unlikely, but necessary. [Sports Illustrated] - The eight greatest pranks in 'Ultimate Fighter' history. [CagePotato] - Kenny Florian doesn't care where people rank Jose Aldo. [Fives Ounces of Pain] - Rashad Evans understands the reasoning behind Jones vs. Machida. [LowKick] - High stakes for Sonnen, Stann. [NBC Sports] - Dana White talks UFC 136 & more. [MMA Convert] - Third time's the fInal charm for Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. [5th Round] - 4 trilogies that need to happen after Edgar-Maynard [Bleacher Report] - Worst UFC cake ever... again! [The Fight Nerd] - Viewer's guide to UFC 136. [Sports Illustrated] - UFC 136: Brian Stann only needs five seconds to knockout Chael Sonnen [MMA Mania] - Ed Soares: Machida wanted to fight Dan Henderson [Fight Opinion] - MFC signs deal with TSN. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, rashad evans

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Renzo Gracie and Frankie Edgar pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Dustin Niece shares a blog about TUF season 14 with The Fight Nerd, Cage Potato shares seven of the most insanely dangerous combat sports ever thought up and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes explains who needs a win at UFC 136 to keep their job The full list of links is after the jump. - Gray Maynard: I took a piece of Frankie Edgar's chin at UFC 125 (LowKick) "I took a piece of that chin in the last fight. You can't do that in too many fights. There's some heavy-hitters now, you've got Ben Henderson, Gilbert Melendez, Cowboy Cerrone, etc. You've got a lot of guys that have some power now. If you can keep away from that, that's good, but if you do get hit, there's only so many times that you can do a fight like that." - Chiappetta's Primer: UFC 136 edition (NBC Sports MMA) If things had worked out a bit differently, Anthony "Showtime" Pettis might have been headlining UFC 136. Instead, he's on the prelims against the dangerous Jeremy Stephens. Pettis is still a highly regarded young talent, but the power striker Stephens is a dangerous opponent. The lightweight division is long on talent, so Pettis has to win or risk being left behind. - The seven most insanely dangerous combat sports ever invented (Cage Potato) "Over the past two decades, Mixed Martial Arts has evolved from a no-holds-barred freak show to a heavily regulated, network television ready enterprise that is accepted by a large slice of the general public. But even with the sport's modern improvements and safeguards, there are still detractors who contend that MMA is nothing more than low-bred street-fighting operating under the guise of an organized competition...[W]e thought we'd give the MMA critics some perspective by presenting a list of the most brutal and dangerous combat "sports" ever invented. From shock-fighting to bear-baiting, they defy logic, celebrate gratuitous violence, and remind us just how far the human race has come." - Grappling with Issues - 10/5/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Should Gilbert Melendez get an immediate UFC lightweight title shot? Lambert: No, only because the winner of Guida vs. Henderson definitely deserves a title shot based on their track record. While Melendez is one of the best lightweights in the world, I don't think he should jump the winner of that fight and get a title shot. - The Cut List: Who's in desperate need of a win at UFC 136? (MMA Fighting) UFC 136 may be the rare event to include two title fights, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some men fighting for their livelihoods in Houston this Saturday night. We all know that professional pugilism isn't the line of work you go into if you really crave job security, but some of this weekend's competitors are on much shakier ground than others, and it might take only one more loss to send them plummeting into the void of unemployment. Who are they, and what are their chances to revive their careers with a win at UFC 136? For answers, we turn to The Cut List.  - Roland Delorme discusses Akira and Neace's growing feud on The Ultimate Fighter 14 (5thRound) After the team picks and the first fight, we started to get comfortable in the house and things started become routine; eat, train, sleep, repeat. Even the beef between Akira Corassani and Dustin Neace was becoming routine. It wasn't just for cameras, either. They truly hated each other, but it was all Akira's fault considering Dustin really did nothing but be himself and Akira seemed to see weakness in that, which is a huge mistake. - Lyoto Machida was at a birthday party when he accepted the fight against Jon Jones (MiddleEasy) "I was at a birthday party last night and I heard I'd be fighting Jon Jones. I accepted immediately, I couldn't announce it at the time, though. Ed and Joinha told me to hold the information and it was complicated, I had to stop talking at all (laughs). In the morning I want to give a class and, when I came back, the contract was there for me to sign it. It was a reason for me to be happy, because that's why we enter these battles for." - TUF Times Blog: Season 14, Episode 3 - with Dustin Neace (TheFightNerd) "I know people want to know about me and Akira but the truth is me and him got along great before the show started. The first time we were in Vegas for the tryouts, I thought he was funny and would consider him someone I could hang out with. He was always finding ways to make things happen that would just make you laugh so hard. The first few days in the house he was alright, then the team picks happened." - Is the state of MMA's heavyweight division lacking in quality? (Fight Opinion) "I mean, Andrei Arlovski's a good example... At one point in time it would have made sense to use Andrei Arlovski when he wanted to stand and knock guys out. He doesn't want to do that any more. I mean, that fight with Ray Lopez was disgraceful and the Travis Fulton fight is going to be a joke and it's going to be depressing to watch... and yet those are the kinds that fights that we're treated to over and over again." - UFC.com traffic on the Decline? (MMA Payout) One important indicator as to how popular a product or service is at a given time with the general public is to measure the size of their Internet audience, or how many visitors their website receives. We decided to take a look at website traffic statistics for UFC.com from the various leaders in the website analysis business. The hope here is get some better insight into the UFC's popularity trending over the past year through the promotions online presence. - UFC 140: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida head-to-toe breakdown (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Now that their apparent rift is mended, Machida is back in the top contender spot. But regaining the title will be a tall order-both figuratively and literally-against the seemingly unstoppable Jones. Here's the head-to-toe breakdown for this sure to be exciting championship bout.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, sport

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Former K-1 kickboxer and Roufusport fighter Pat Barry is considered one of the most personable characters under the UFC banner. His propensity to wage war with opponents by way of comic relief breeds a different kind of hype in the lead-up to his fights. Saturday's main card bout with Stefan Struve at UFC on Versus 6 in Washington D.C. was solely promoted by the fact that Barry was over one foot shorter than the giant Dutch submission artist. Barry, standing on the scale after he weighed in on Friday afternoon, jokingly stayed on the scale for the staredown, making their heights somewhat comparable. Laughter echoed through the halls of the D.C. Armory., a reaction that Barry has induced in fans since his debut in the UFC. According to UFC President Dana White, Pat Barry is also "one of those guys", meaning he's a fighter who strives to win, goes for the kill, throws caution to the wind. There isn't any "lay n' pray" mentality in Barry's style. He fights to knock out his opponents, or faces the consequences if he's unable to fulfill his self-assigned job requirement. He has been on the end of the latter in his last two performances, which includes a submission loss to Stefan Struve on Saturday night at the Verizon Center. During the post-fight scrum with the media, White commented on Barry's future with the UFC. He reiterated what many fans already knew. Barry likely won't be going anywhere because he's an exciting and entertaining fighter. White's answer, and if we really think about it -- White's philosophy on fighting in general, fuels the debate of sport vs. entertainment in a different way. In the past, we've talked about how Jon Fitch is heavily position on the sport side of the topic, but the UFC gives more opportunities and second chances to many fighters who play to the entertainment side of the issue. Both Chris Leben and Matt Brown were given opportunites despite meeting the normal criteria for termination. Sport vs. entertainment debates normally involve arguments about pitting the best vs. best versus creating stylistically fan-friendly match-ups. In this case however, it's more of a micro topic to that macro issue involving a single fighter. Pat Barry fits the bill as an entertaining fighter, but his skills, as we saw against Struve on Saturday night, are far from what one might expect to see in the UFC. Maybe we should get used to it. After all, we sat through two abysmal heavyweight performances at UFC 135.  I imagine my opinion that Pat Barry should be sent packing will be met with stiff resistence, and I won't deny the fact that there is plenty of evidence to suggest he stick around in the UFC. Obviously, the division is one of the most shallow in the entire world, why cut a man with some potential? Barry is also an entertaining fighter who put some hype into a fight with Stefan Struve. Enough hype, in fact, that the heavyweight bout gained more interest than the UFC bantamweight main event showdown between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson on the same card. What about the sport side of the argument? Barry has spoken in great lengths about how he needs to improve his overall game, yet we haven't seen the improvements we've hoped for from the former K-1 fighter. His striking, while heralded as the elite of the elite, isn't first-class. He was never a highly successful K-1 fighter. There is a difference between "K-1 level" striker and "elite striker". The two terms aren't synonymous. Barry hasn't transitioned those skills well to the Octagon. He's understandably hesistant at times due to the threat of takedowns and completeley defenseless in other instances due to his propensity to go for the kill. Barry can't compete with anyone who has the know-how to work from their back and threaten with submissions. The most glaring weakness for Barry is his fight IQ. Even in early fights, it was apparent that he needed guidance. Remember Tim Hague? Footage exists of Hague being dismantled by leg kicks, yet Barry attempted to show off an improved ground game in their battle at UFC 98. Barry got choked out in one minute and forty-two seconds. How about the bull charge at a stunned Cheick Kongo at UFC on Versus 4 in June? Keeping your hands down is a recipe for disaster, even if the perception is that your opponent is close to finished. He found that out the hard way. Despite all of these problems, Barry is rewarded for his exciting style and comic relief. I get it. The UFC needs fighters like Pat Barry to maintain interest. What's best for Pat Barry though? This is a business, and the UFC wants to make money with fan-friendly fights. But is the best action here to keep rewarding Barry and pitting him against stand-up fighters? It seems like it would be more beneficial for Barry to improve in the minor leagues and work his way back into the mix with more confidence and consistency. Wishful thinking, I guess. The division is too shallow to waste time allowing Barry to improve in the regional circuit. He's 32 years old, and he doesn't have loads of time to capitalize on his popularity. Keeping around heavyweights who can't hack it because the divisional numbers are lingering is against the sport side of the argument however. Barry, for everything he brings to the table, is barely skilled enough to succeed in the UFC. I personally love Pat Barry's mentality toward the fight game, but it would be nice if he followed it. He needs to improve by leaps and bounds, and that isn't happening when he's getting large checks to throw caution to the wind and dive right into power hooks and triangle chokes. 

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, sport, barry

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

When Anthony Johnson's shin connected like a Barry Bonds-swung baseball bat to Charlie Brenneman's skull, everybody assumed the best and the worst. The best for "Rumble" who seemed to be back to his knockout ways after being blanketed by Josh Koscheck and then doing the same to Dan Hardy. The worst for "The Spaniard" who, after becoming a Cinderella inside the Octagon when he beat Rick Story in a fight he took on one day's notice, seemed well on his way to waking up and saying, "What happened?" as the ringside medical staff took a look at him. But it was neither. It was somewhere in the middle and altogether unsatisfying. It wasn't a result of either fighter but instead that of the third man inside the Octagon. It was Mario Yamasaki's job to protect the fighters but his actions directly led to the the conclusion of the bout. The end didn't come when Brenneman could no longer defend himself. It didn't come when Johnson was tapping to a submission. It came when Yamasaki jumped the gun and ended the fight entirely too early. And that kind of behavior from referees needs to stop. This is nothing new to mixed martial arts (MMA). Botched referee calls are as old as the sport. The very first UFC saw Royce Gracie catch Ken Shamrock in a choke which forced the American to tap. The referee simply stood there while the confusion began to mount up. The Brazilian released the hold only to reapply it when he thought the fight hadn't been stopped. A blown call from John McCarthy at the company's inaugural event in Japan led to a frustrated Kazushi Sakuraba holding a sit-down protest in the middle of the Octagon. Frank Trigg nearly became the UFC Welterweight Champion when an inadvertent knee strike to the groin caught Matt Hughes and had the Hall of Famer reeling. It went unnoticed by the referee, Mario Yamasaki, and Trigg nearly finished off his rival right then and there. The list is as long as Stefan Struve's arms and some have simply become accustomed to these kinds of calls and have resigned themselves to the fact that yes, we will likely see one instance of bad refereeing each event. And that's exactly what is most frustrating. We shouldn't throw our hands up and accept this fate. We should want and demand more. The fans -- and especially the fighters -- deserve a higher standard to be held. There is almost no uniformity in refereeing. One referee will admonish a fighter a handful of times for an infraction but never take a point. Another will take a point for another infraction without so much as a warning. There is a level of discretion when it comes to officiating a fight, one that doesn't exist in sports like football or baseball, but there can still be standards across the board. If a fighter is grabbing his opponent's shorts, issue a warning. If it continues, threaten to take a point. If the fighter still insists on bending the rules, they'll be penalized. There, now you have uniformity amongst referees at least for that example. Not to say that exact model should be used but something concrete and on the books, so to speak, should be established. McCarthy has taken steps to help achieve this with his C.O.M.M.A.N.D. training program but it's only until a sport-wide course becomes the norm will we actually see consistency between referees. They should also be expected to attend annual seminars as a refresher. The same is expected of all the major sports in America so why not MMA? Of course, no amount of training, classes, or seminars would have prevented Yamasaki's honorable but misguided instincts last night. He saw the kick connect viciously and instead of looking at Brenneman and the condition he was in, he immediately stopped the fight without realizing "The Spaniard" was fully conscious and aware. Would Johnson have finished his opponent off soon after had the fight not been stopped? Likely. But the sport -- along with its fighters and fans -- doesn't operate in what ifs and hypotheticals. It's in everyone's best interest to allow fights to end as conclusively as possible. Being a referee is a thankless job because it should be. We should barely even notice them inside the cage. And their actions certainly shouldn't be headlines the day after a fight.

Posted in: fight, fighter, sport, referee, mario yamasaki

Read the full article at MMA Mania

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] The recent news of Badr Hari's departure from the Kickboxing world into the world of Boxing has shaken up many kickboxing fans, as do higher level fighters like Cosmo Alexandre making his MMA debut tomorrow and guys like Tyrone Spong and Gokhan Saki looking into other combat sports to make a possible home as well. I can understand it, but it feels like an alarmist reaction to a sport that is finally getting its sea legs without K-1 to prop it up. In a recent interview with Luke Thomas of MMANation, Pat Barry not only discussed his upcoming fight this weekend for the UFC, but also discussed the current state of Kickboxing as well. Pat Barry echoes all of the thoughts that many Kickboxing fans believe; someone needs to put some serious money into Kickboxing in the United States and promote it right and it would do well. Fans love to see fighters knock each other around, yet Kickboxing has a rather meager following in the US. Pat does not see Kickboxing dying any time soon, nor does he see a few fighters heading to other combat sports as a serious detriment. Watch the interview...

Posted in: sport, combat sports, kickboxing, barry, kickboxing fans

Read the full article at Middle Easy

submitted by tbolts48 [link] [comment]

Posted in: science, sport, tbolt, maynard, sport science

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The CBC reports that UFC stars Mark Hominick and Yves Jabouin lobbied Parliament requesting a change in the Criminal Code in Ottawa. While Canadian MMA fans are some of the most dedicated to the sport, only 6 of the 10 provinces sanction the sport due to uncertainty with federal law. The article focuses on the lobbying efforts of the UFC and while no one could deny that UFC 129’s mainstream exposure and monetary success is a definite factor for the push to change the code, the UFC stressed the “safety and cross-country consistency” as reasons for amendment to the Ottawa law. Via CBCSports.ca: Current federal law says anyone who engages in or aids, abets, umpires or reports on a prize fight “is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.” The only exception to the “prize fight” definition in the law are provincially sanctioned events in which “the contestants wear boxing gloves of not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass.” Judging from Thursday’s reception, there appears to be all-party support for changes to the federal law, so the event was less about lobbying legislators than it was about swinging a skeptical public over to the merits of the latest “sweet science.” Canadians Hominick and Jabouin, were part lobbyists and part celebrities as they posed with locals as they fielded questions about their sport. Payout Perspective: While the UFC stresses the safety regulations as the reasons for the change in the laws, its obvious that the economic impact is an overwhelming reason for Ottawa and other Canadian provinces should warm to MMA regulation. Realistically, reading the article it appears that the code is in need of an update as the legislation likely occurred in a time when MMA did not exist. Certainly the economic success of UFC 129 in Toronto has helped sway people on the fence about allowing the sport in its province. Still, having its fighters come out and answer questions about its sport help educate those skeptical about it is a good piece to the road to having MMA in Ottawa and the rest of Canada.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, ottawa, law

Read the full article at MMA Payout

Young Stefan Struve has a world of potential, but he’s already in a must-win situation

Posted in: sport, stefan struve, struve, skyscraping struve, must-win

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

I feel like we are reaching a sort of plateau in the evolution of MMA as a sport. We have fighters emerging in each weight division who are exemplars of every area of specialization relevant to MMA. We have champions who are so completely dominant that it becomes an exercise in futility even trying to find a viable opponent for them. I'd like to have a discussion to see what you all think. My personal thoughts are that this is a sort of Age of Heroes for MMA. These champions who are emerging are the forefathers of what MMA will be for the foreseeable future, just an amalgamation of everything great that has come before them. Just a really fucking exciting time in the sport's history. submitted by applesforadam [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, champion, weight division, sort

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If you don't know by now, It's Showtime announced that Badr Hari will be retiring from kickboxing after his January 28th, 2012 bout to pursue a pro boxing career. Ironically, his opponent in that last bout, Gokhan Saki, is also considering leaving the sport, but he wants to switch to MMA.  So Badr has one bout left if the K-1 WGP doesn't go down, then goes into boxing. It's just too bad he's not going to be a very good boxer, for a few reasons. First off, I'm not really surprised at this. Hari is infatuated with boxing and has been for a long time. People want him to go into MMA, but he's never been that interested. On The Voice vs. Badr Hari, he couldn't even name Cain Velasquez when shown a picture of him. But he went on and on about boxing. Cool, he's going to try it out. But I'm not sure he knows what he's getting himself into when it comes to professional boxing. First off, the sport is way more cutthroat than kickboxing (surprisingly enough), especially in the US. And it's not a sport that will let a guy walk in with little to no experience and get big fights, especially at heavyweight. Badr's already 26, almost 27. That's really late to be getting a start in the boxing game. Unless he takes a ton of fights very quickly, he's not going to work his way up. Sure there are shortcuts, like taking fights with old, faded names that need paychecks really badly. But if anyone believes he'll be fighting a Klitscho anytime soon, well...you're dreaming. Unless there's a third Klit brother in the backwaters of the Crimea that no one's heard of that's like 3-1 or something. Another major problem is that, as David mentioned in his piece, Hari gets hit a lot in kickboxing. Yes they are very different sports, but he's never shown any sort of excellent defensive boxing. Is he going to be able to put aside his kickboxing instincts and learn defense? Honestly, I don't think he can. So you'll have a tall, rangy, light-ish heavyweight that isn't great at protecting himself. Not very promising. Finally, Badr's got anger problems. I really hope he doesn't want to kick my ass just for writing this, and I'm just a self-important, yet oddly charming writer on the internet (@TB_Money!). He had major problems controlling his temper in kickboxing and on the street, and I don't think it will be any different in boxing. Even if he does turn out to be a high-level boxer, he's his own worst enemy and he'll likely blow it all up before he can get to the top. Overall, while I'm a huge Badr Hari fan and I really want him to succeed in whatever sport he chooses to compete in, I just don't see it happening. Kickboxing might not be at the level it was at a few years ago, but there are more big-money matchups left for him in kickboxing than there would be in boxing, unless he makes it to the very top of the sport. I understand wanting to try new things, and kickboxing will still be there if he ever chooses to come back. But he's going to get chewed up and spit out by the monstrous ugly machine that is the North American boxing scene, and I don't want to see that happen.

Posted in: sport, boxing, kickboxing, hari, badr

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

The planet may sporadically disappear from the amount of concentrated awesome at this moment in the space/time continuum. For those of you who don't remember, XARM is a sport created by the former co-creator of UFC, Art Davie. Essentially, two guys are tied by their left hand to a podium. The goal is to either knock your opponent out, submit him or defeat him in arm wrestling. Yeah, it's like the open-source version of combat sports. You sort of just get your win however you can. The sport just enjoyed one full season before going out of business in 2008. Now today, XARM just released a promo announcing their new season, and it's definitely something you want to watch. [Source]

Posted in: sport, combat sports, xarm, open-source version, art davie

Read the full article at Middle Easy

A genuine icon of the Octagon, Chuck Liddell has kept active since retiring last year after being knocked out in the closing seconds of a fight against Rich Franklin he would have likely won had it continued. Not only has Liddell continued to pursue opportunities in the acting world but he’s kept a close eye on the day-to-day operations of the UFC as the company’s Vice President of Business Development. While specifics of his job have never been made available, a few things Liddell recently weighed-in on relating to the organization was the state of officiating and the UFC’s upcoming debut on network television. A Look Back at Liddell’s Storied Career “There are so many different ways to wins, so many different ways to do things…the way people are gonna see a fight (is different), but (it takes) education. You’ve got to educate the referees and the judges. Hopefully they do their homework and get better and better and don’t just sit out there and decide who is gonna win,” Liddell said to a group of reporters in a video from MMAFighting. As far as the November 12 UFC on FOX show, Liddell expressed clear excitement about the company he’s called home for a decade finally making it onto a network. “I think the FOX deal is great. It’s the next step for the sport. I’m very excited about it for all the guys,” Liddell explained before mentioning he wished it had happened a bit earlier for personal reasons. “Of course, I wish I was still in my prime and fighting, but I still love the sport and I love seeing it grow to this point.” In terms of coming back for one more match-up in the infamous eight-sided cage, Liddell ruled the possibility out as much as he might yearn to mix it up in the ring again. “I still want to fight. I still like fighting. But my reasons for my retirement stay the same and there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m happy doing what I’m doing promoting the sport…hopefully growing the sport I love.” Liddell retired from MMA after suffering a trio of consecutive knockout losses. However, for years he was one of the sport’s most dominant fighters, rendering a number of respected peers into goo with his precise, powerful striking. Among the twenty-one opponents Liddell has beaten are Wanderlei Silva, Renato Sobral, Tito Ortiz, and Randy Couture. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: i ’m, sport, “ i, chuck liddell, liddell

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UFC president Dana White recently took the time to throw a few jabs the way of HBO's Larry Merchant for the commentator's post-fight interview-turned-argument with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. White said that HBO should fire the "senile" Merchant for his actions. Merchant recently responded to the situation, giving his opinion of White and the UFC to Boxing Scene. On Dana: "Let's see, anyone who can make a multimillion dollar business out of street fighting has to be respected." Merchant opened up during our recent conversation. "My opinion is that anyone is allowed to put up a tent, put on a show, and invite people to come. And obviously he's had a lot of success. Good for him." On MMA's appeal: "I don't watch it. I don't get a so-called sport in which you can have a 6-2 record and be called a world champion. I just don't appreciate the finer points of MMA." On Dana's criticism: "It's a free country. I'm a commentator, and if I'm commenting and observing on others than how can I not be open to others observing and commenting on me?" There will certainly be MMA fans who get mad that Merchant took a few shots at the sport. But he's an 80 year old man who has been involved with boxing for most of his life. He is not the target audience for the UFC and it's not crazy to think that the sport doesn't appeal to him. Merchant is not everyone's cup of tea and he has certainly been out of line at times in his career. But I've always enjoyed that he isn't there to sell the fight or fighters, that's not his job. He does go too far trying to establish his own narratives on fights and can be overly negative much of the time. He was "over the line" with Floyd after the fight to a degree, but again...he's 80 years old. I think Larry just doesn't have it in him to be pushed around by a guy like Floyd and he'd just as soon get into it with him and get fired than back down.

Posted in: ufc, larry merchant, sport, dana, merchant

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Follow all the action live from UFC 135, which features the light heavyweight title match between Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Posted in: ufc, jon jones, heavyweight, sport, expert analysis

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The few fans who showed up at Dream 17 at least saw their favorite fighters win.

Posted in: fighter, japanese, dream, sport, nightmare

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

I don't like Jon Jones. Anyone who has followed my writing here knows that isn't anything new for me to say. It may be minor or petty or whatever, but his public persona rubs me the wrong way. It's not a case of carefully protecting his image, it's the way that protection is carried out. ESPN's Chad Dundas expanded on the idea that MMA fans expect some sort of edge to their fighters: Where other sports are over-processed, staid and self-serious, the UFC has taken pains over the years to come off as casual, edgy and a little bit unpredictable. It was a "reality" show, after all, that gave the UFC its first foothold in the mainstream. More recently, one of its core promotional tactics has been to utilize unfiltered blasts of social media to connect with fans. "As Real as It Gets," promised the company's own slogan for a time. For better and worse, the political correctness that hampers mainstream entities like the NFL and NBA hasn't quite caught up to MMA yet. At least part of the sport's appeal has always been grounded in hardcore fans feeling like they really know their heroes and fans have come to expect "realness" from MMA personalities with the same regularity they expect a pay-per-view or two every month. But between this and the article I wrote earlier about Jones and Quinton Jackson's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live to hype up their UFC 135 I've come to a very solid conclusion. It's just simply that I don't like Jon Jones. And that's okay. It's not that he is "too good." If there is anything I do genuinely love, it's watching Jon Jones fight. When Bones is in the cage there is a sort of beautiful violence to his performances. You can try to pick apart the level of competition he has faced, but when it comes down to examining how he has beaten them, it becomes a pointless exercise. He is a great talent. It's not that he doesn't work hard. From all reports Jones is an extremely hard worker who is dedicated to his craft. The skills he shows inside the cage aren't something a man is simply born with. And it also isn't that I expect some sort of edgy behavior. Yes, I've said that I think Jones comes across as a phony in interviews. But I've also said that guys (like Rampage) have been "too real" in their inability to tone it down in the media. It's probably bordering on a double-standard. But it's possible for people to come across as genuine and "real" while still toning it down a little for media appearances. My genuine concern is that I hear from fans every day who feel like they have no connection to Jones or think he is fake. If his public persona has been so carefully put together that he isn't connecting with fans, he will not draw the big numbers that someone of his talent should. Maybe eventually we see Jon get more comfortable and start to act more natural in the media. He is only 24 and it may be slightly unfair to pin all of this pressure on him to be a top level fighter and completely media savvy, but that's what comes with the belt. But the real point here is that it's okay to like or dislike athletes for any reason at all. It's part of being a sports fan. I grew up thinking Darryl Talley was the greatest football player the world had ever seen because he wore Spider-Man spandex under his uniform and was nicknamed "The Duke of Awesome." Meanwhile, I hated John Elway because of something about his face. It may be stupid, but being a sports fan has always been inherently stupid. We pick laundry to root for in team sports and we shell out $60 to watch fights involving guys who are more than -400 favorites. So stop freaking out every time someone doesn't like a fighter you think is great. It doesn't really matter, unless it stops that person from putting down money to watch them fight. Then it's kind of a big deal. If someone doesn't like Jones because they think he comes across as fake or because he won't sign replica title belts or really for any reason, who cares? Why get twisted up if someone doesn't like Josh Koscheck for his hair? Or Cub Swanson for his horrible tattoos? Or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for his...okay, look, you have to like Nogueira. Fans are going to be fans, and that means making decisions on who they root for based on totally valid or totally stupid things. That's just part of the fun.

Posted in: jon, jone, sport, fan, &nbsp

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

In the last 24 hours news outlets of the BBC and Sky - two of the most watched televised news sources in the United Kingdom - attempted to smear Mixed Martial Arts with a 'Cage Fighting' story about an 8 and 9 year old boy competing in a match at an event held in a labour club in Preston, Lancashire - the home county that formed Catch As Catch Can Wrestling -  in front of an audience of 250 adults. The trouble is it wasn't even a Mixed Martial Arts bout. The two boys competed in an exhibition Submission Grappling match. No strikes were thrown. No slams were landed. No padding or head gear was needed or necessary, much to the outraged contrary of The British Medical Association and a so called impartial press with the BBC video journalist claiming 'Every blow is broadcast on the Internet'. The only headgear used in grappling matches are the type that prevents cauliflower ears and wearing of them is optional not to mention the jury is still out on whether head gear in striking sports makes any difference to the threat of concussion and other brain trauma related ailments. How is this exhibition match different to when children who take up Jiu Jitsu, Judo or Amateur Wrestling compete in front of hundreds of adults like we see at BJJ tournaments or American School district meets? Are children being exploited for the sole entertainment of adults? Of course not. It just happened to take part in a 'Cage'. The BBC spoke to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt who had the following to say: The first thing is we do want to encourage young people to do more sport, and we've been talking about that, and I think Boxing for example has a terrificly important role in helping young people; it can help channel aggression - getting more young people to do sport is great. I do ask myself if it really has to be in a cage, it just feels to me ... it feels very barbaric and I know that there are concerns about children that young doing a sport like that. I think if adults choose to do it, that's one thing. But I know you're going to talk to someone later about that and get an expert view, but I suppose I do share some of the shock I expect many of your viewers will feel. Hunt isn't your average politician. As Secretary of State he's in charge of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport within the current political landscape. That means his opinion will carry with it weight, no matter how uninformed that opinion is unless it's allowed to be fairly challenged. Hunt believes Boxing plays an important role in helping young people and yet refers to what he saw a barbaric. I would like to point Mr Hunt to the 'Incidence of Injury in Professional Mixed Martial Arts Competitions' study by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I'd also like to point out In Submission Grappling intentionally trying to concuss your opponent is not allowed and in Mixed Martial Arts you can potentially finish a fight without a single punch, kick, knee or elbow landing on the head. Hunt asks if it really has to be contested in a cage, not knowing of the safety element a fenced enclosure provides for its participants. With a sport that includes grappling the 'cage' primarily acts as a reinforced play pen to prevent the participants from falling out and injuring themselves as has been documented several times when MMA fights have taken place in a Boxing ring. Just a quick google image search for 'play pen' used for children produces many pictures of pint sized 'cages' in a variety of shapes, including octagons but nobody bats an eyelash. The NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - chimed in calling the match 'disturbing' and warned parents not to allow children to take part in the sport while they were developing. For an organisation as respected as the NSPCC who strive to protect children from cruelty at the hands of adults it is disappointing that they completely missed the mark by letting ignorance cloud their judgment and giving what was likely a knee-jerk response. Sky News took a typically more sensationalist approach by leading off with this nugget: Unlike the bare-knuckle boxing of the film Fight Club, cage fighting is legal and a fully regulated combat sport. The Sky News piece continues to suffer, citing Alex Reid as the UK's most high profile figure and claiming the Children's version of the sport doesn't include striking - presumably this research done by the journalist by spending a whole 2 minutes watching the video clip that was available to him. Sky News, whose Sky Sports channel had a regular weekly program called 'Cage Fighter' and has aired a season of The Ultimate Fighter as well as UFC events in the past. But then even with the UFC on Fox deal that shouldn't stop Fox News from continuing to spin the yarns they're known for. Another instance of media sensationalism, another instance of politicians and government bodies not knowing what they're talking about but having a great platform to say something - anything - regardless while those with an actual ability to tell the other side of the story are drowned out or ignored. Unfortunately all this means is other news outlets and needless voices parroting the narrative until the next non-story comes along they can waste our time with. I think I might go back to bed.

Posted in: sport, cage, sky, news, children

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A little bit of news that got lost during the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 conference call the other day was Dana White announcing the season would air for the first time on the FX network in the UK. The show will air on Thursday evenings less than 24 hours after the show airs on Spike TV in America which is significant for a couple of reasons: the previous TV deal for airing The Ultimate Fighter on FIVE USA (part of the Channel 5 network) meant UK fans had to wait until the following Tuesday to see the most recent episode, and the move to FX sees The Ultimate Fighter broadcast for the first time in High Definition. FX in the UK also benefits from being within the first 30 channels structured on the Sky Digitial Satellite platform (channel number 124, where 101 is the first channel available) making it relatively easy to find compared to FIVE USA (channel number 174) in the Entertainment section. With such a quick turnaround in getting a new deal for TUF to air in the UK that works out better for the fans, the Fox-UFC partnership continues to pay dividends early on. But what does this have to do with UFC coverage possibly moving from ESPN UK to Sky Sports in the future? For that we need only look at the career of David Hill, Chairman of Fox Sports. Working for Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in the 1980's, Hill helped launch Sky Television and Eurosport in the UK in 1988. In 1990 when Sky Television and British Sky Broadcasting merged, Hill became the head of sports programming and development and formed Sky Sports. For a sports network to succeed especially one on a premium subscription service Hill quickly realised the importance of securing broadcast rights to Premier League Football (Soccer), the most watched sport in the UK. Similarly Fox Sports success on the big Fox network and FX more than a decade later hinged on securing broadcast rights for the NFL. In other words the success and lessons learned with Sky Sports then has helped with the success of the Fox Sports division now. The Sky platform is still part owned by Rupert Murdoch - his son James Murdoch is the current Chairman of Sky - who recently tried to acquire full control of Sky in a buyout because of the millions of pounds profit it had been generating. As of April 2011 Sky's operating profit for the business year had risen 24% to £790 million - about $1.23 Billion. Owning a respectable 39.1% slice Murdoch's attempted takeover was thwarted when his public and business image took a pounding from the Phone Hacking and News of the World scandal with repercussions and consequences still emerging now. David Hill is still one of Murdoch's right hand men in the Television Media world and with UFC's desire to work with Fox globally a move to Sky Sports would make sense. Dana White also hasn't been shy about feeling slighted by ESPN America at times when it comes to minimal news coverage of the UFC even if the two entities seem to kiss and make up soon after a public falling out. While the deal with ESPN UK in 2009 included full coverage of events that included The Ultimate Fighter, ESPN has since been scaling back its coverage by dropping future seasons of TUF and opting out of airing Versus cards - including the most recent one headlined by the UK's Dan Hardy in what many thought could be his last fight with the promotion in a do or die battle with Chris Lytle. Worse still due to a technology issue with the digital 'freeview' platform live UFC events watched on ESPN outside of Sky, Virgin Media and BT Vision would be cut short when the service shut down at 5am local time - just 2 hours after a UFC event would typically start until the most recent decision to start UFC events an hour earlier stateside. Sky Sports has had 20 years to establish itself as the dominant sports destination in the UK with ESPN trying to play catch up but combined with the entertainment channels Sky offers including it's flagship channel Sky One in addition to FX, Sky has more resources to help the UFC grow in the UK. If we're already seeing cross-promotion of the UFC via segments during NFL and MLB games on Fox it stands to reason Sky Sports is capable of offering similar cross-promotion with its Soccer, Rugby, Cricket and Tennis coverage. UFC has attempted to work with Sky in the past though, having some old programming air on Sky Sports in the run up to UFC 38: The Brawl At The Albert Hall in 2002 that aired on the Sky Box Office Pay Per View platform. A disappointing buy rate combined with a Zuffa run UFC that was still three years away from its break through first season of The Ultimate Fighter lead to UFC coverage being dropped and bounced around other PPV outlets or as a tape delayed option on second tier entertainment channels such as the now defunct Bravo (the UK Bravo having no relation to the US Bravo) before finally landing with the ill-fated Setanta Sports and then on to upstart ESPN UK. While Sky Sports had been in negotiations for UFC coverage when Setanta Sports went into receivership it was speculated that the WWE's presence on Sky Sports as well as Sky Box Office PPV acted as a barrier for the UFC getting a deal done. But now UFC have a long term partnership with Fox we may see a deal get done with Sky when ESPN's broadcast rights are up next year.

Posted in: ufc, sport, sky, uk, sky sports

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v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} "Artists have a vested interest in our believing in the flash of revelation, the so-called inspiration . . . [shining] down from heavens as a ray of grace. In reality, the imagination of the good artist or thinker produces continuously good, mediocre, and bad things, but his judgment, trained and sharpened to a fine point, rejects, selects, connects . . . All great artists and thinkers [are] great workers, indefatigable not only in inventing, but also in rejecting, sifting, transforming, ordering."- Friedrich Nietzsche On March 19th, 2011, Jon Jones had arrived. His opponent, and then champ, Mauricio Rua was said to be the perfect foil: it was Jones' skill vs. Rua's will. A complete cliche, sure, but descriptive enough of the match on display. We knew what Rua, the savage product of Chute Boxe, was capable of. What of Jones? When the fight unfolded, it became very clear, very fast who the better fighter was. Shogun didn't even seem to exist on the same planet. Sure he fought valiantly, but at the cost of prolonging a beatdown that was as calculated as it was callous. Is there an underlying truth to the way we describe Jones' talent as otherwordly? As 'supernatural'? You may hear Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan torture the use of words like "athletic", "explosive", and phrases like "fast twitch muscle fibers" are hammered into our skulls with zero nuance or explanation. What does it mean to be athletic? Or explosive? So about that... Within each cell of your body lies the famous double helix: a unique biological structure containing paragraphs of genetic code. This 'code' refers to genes, which trigger the production of proteins (this is where genes get their Star Trek-like names: by the proteins they initiate in the body), which ultimately form traits. Traits like "athletic and explosive", it turns out. And to that end, we'll look at various genes: genes that, in theory, should create the perfect athlete (like a Jon Jones). A great athlete should be fast, and so let's look at that. Is there one? It turns out there is. This "speed gene" is called ACTN3: if you have the gene variant that produces ACTN3 (alpha-actinin-3), your body produces a protein associated with muscle fibers that are able to contract rapidly (the "fast twitch muscle fibers" Goldberg never shuts up about). However, as you have a pair of chromosomes, you have two copies, and it turns out a person with two X copies prevents the protein from being triggered in the body. If you're reading this, you're probably not an Olympic sprinter, as no Olympic sprinter that has been put under a microscope has the two X copies. Why would they? It's simple math, right? If you have the X copies that don't trigger the protein, you don't have the fast twitch muscle fibers. What about endurance, and "anabolic response to intense exercise training"? The gene for that has a name and it's called ACE (a gene that triggers the production of an angiotensin-converting enzyme). The wonderful pop-science writer of genetics, Matt Ridley, elaborates: For more than 10 years geneticists have been finding examples of a simple pattern: People who are good at sports requiring strength are more likely to have deletions in the ACE gene while people who are good at endurance sports are more likely to have inserts. The count when it comes to genes linked with physical performance is more than 200, so let's take a look at one more potential ingredient to Jones' genetic success. And a very provocative one at that. It's called COMT (a gene that triggers the production of awkward sounding catechol-O-methyl transferase), and depending on the version of the gene you have, has been associated with decreased pain sensitivity, and reduced anxiety during stressful situations. As the pubmed link notes, it has been provocatively titled the "warrior" gene. An advantageous ingredient for someone who fights for a living, right? So there it is. The secret to Jon Jones' success is written in his DNA. Case closed.   Well, not so fast. One of the hottest (and hotly debated) fields of study in science, and one highlighted in Time's recent special issue of the latest in scientific discoveries, is epigenetics: the study of how environment affects the actual architecture of your DNA. So far you've been reading about genes, and what they do if you have versions that trigger certain proteins. So perhaps you've concluded that genes determine athletic success. Let's go back to the speed gene, and consider East African runners. Of the top 10 sprinters of all time in the 100 meters, all are of West African descent. Even crazier, three quarters of all elite distance runners come from a small tribe from Kenya called the Kalenjin. Last year, David Epstein ran a large feature on genetics in sports (what are the genes that mold individuals for sport and do they exist?), and he turned to Yannis Pitsiladis, a biologist out of the University of Glasgow. Pitsiladis decided to take a look at what made the distance runners of the Kalenjin different from their fellow Kenyans. The difference? Well, there seemed to be several, and none of them had to do with genetics. For one, runners, growing up as children were more likely to live several miles from school (traveling eight to twelve kilometers each day from the age of seven). Individuals from the Kalenjin tribe were more likely to rely on their feet in order to get to school, and being located near the Rift Valley allowed them to train at altitude in addition. As David Epstein would add during his PBS interview: ...There are other things that didn't make the article like the way they eat develops, or influences their body development...they eat no refined sugar for what's called a low glycemic index diet, and they end up being small people, which is good for long distance running. The Atlantic's David Shenk elaborates, the Kalenjin also benefit from a mild year round climate. Even cultural factors appear to be at play, as their historical dedication to running might be connected to the economic incentives of cattle raiding, and individual achievement appears to be stressed more than 'team spirit' (perhaps explaining why soccer, a "Kenyan sport", is ignored by the Kalenjin tribe of Kenya).   Most people more or less understand the relationship between nature (biology on the one hand) and nurture (environment on the other). Surely an interaction of the two is the answer. After all, a gene that triggers the production of a protein that enhances speed means little if no one ever fosters your interest in sports with the smell of a baseball field, or the intensity of the green gridiron. So what more does the science of "nurture" say? Quite a bit. Using Jones as the example, it may be easy to chalk up what he's capable of as mere "athleticism". But there is nothing uniquely athletic about most of what we see in his arsenal. It's important to the execution, but not its genesis. Jones has a laundry list of various grappling credentials, which is a feat given his age: a Junior Wrestling Championship at Iowa Central Community College, a Northeast Junior Greco-Roman Regional Championship in 2004, a National JUCO Championship, etc. There's a unique, and very wrong, attitude that typically accompanies how we view talent: a view expressed in haphazard ways by sports broadcasters of all types. As David Shenk notes: When it comes to the question of individual potential, though, it's important to avoid what neuroscientist and musicologist Daniel J. Levitin calls "the circular logic of talent." "When we say that someone is talented," he says, "we think we mean that they have some innate predisposition to excel, but in the end, we only apply the term retrospectively, after they have made significant achievements." Talent, as Shenk goes on to note, is a process. Achievement can't be bottled into the expression of genes, or the experience of 10, 000 hours. A combination of many factors have to be present, and so someone like Jones is not just an assembly of proper DNA (most people actually have the proper genes for athletic prowess, and in fact, Yannis Pitsiladis notes in his genetic analysis of graduate students versus world class athletes, that some students are more of a "genetic outlier" than the athletes), but of effort, and not just effort, but of a unique synthesis between the two. In some cases, nature can't be escaped, and in a case like Huntington's, the unflinching reality of determinism becomes unavoidable. But athletic prowess is much more complicated. Going back to Matt Ridley on the ACE gene: At first sight, the ACE discovery flies in the face of the recent fashion for emphasizing effort rather than talent: 10,000 hours of practice and all that. "Bounce," Matthew Syed's recent book on sports, argues that the "talent theory is not merely flawed in theory: It is also insidious in practice, robbing individuals and institutions of the motivation to change themselves and society." Leaving aside the flaw in his logic-talent is often seen as the ticket out of social disadvantage-such conclusions seem to ignore the recent genetic discoveries that I've described. Yet the neat thing about the ACE study is that, while it implies a role for nature, it does not do so at the expense of nurture. Indeed, it underlines the role of effort. Experiments with randomly chosen layabouts who were put on identical exercise-bicycle regimes reveal that those with ACE deletions are not stronger. They just put on more muscle as a consequence of exercise. To put it generally, their nature is expressed through nurture. The recent emphasis on neuroplasticity has also highlighted the malleability of the human body, not just through physical activity, but through mental activity as well. This was the phenomenon scientists found when studying London cab drivers in the late 1990's. The more experienced cab drivers had a larger posterior hippocampus (associated with memory in connection with geography), which coincided with their experience as cabbies (the more experience, the larger that portion of the hippocampus). To further emphasize this "biology of freedom", Pascual-Leone of the National Institutes of Health conducted a study involving two different groups to play the piano (no one involved had experience playing). Both groups were asked to practice a certain, but simple melody for two hours a day over the course of five days. One group practiced that melody for two hours with a piano. The other group could only imagine playing the melody. Lo and behold, through a technology called transcranial magentic stimulation, Leone found that both groups exhibited the same changes in the brain. Imagination became a force as strong as biology. Much of what science is now discovering is a sort of unique freedom we've had the metaphysical impression of not possessing. Take this bizarre example. If you rewire a ferret's brain so that the retina is jacked into the animal's auditory cortex, it will still see. The auditory cortex actually adapts to detect light just as the visual cortex would normally do (in an experiment performed by a scientist named Mriganka Sur at MIT). Comparable phenomenon occurs in humans when we look at the deaf, and/or blind. In reflecting on Sur's unique experiment, Jonah Lehrer argues for an interesting metaphor for DNA and one that counters the notion that Jon Jones is simply adopting a genetic welfare check: The best metaphor for our DNA is literature. Like all classic literary texts, our genome is defined not by the certainty of its meaning, but by its linguistic instability, its ability to encourage a multiplicity of interpretations. What makes a novel or poem immortal is its innate complexity, the way every reader discovers in the same words a different story...Our genome works the same way. Life imitates art.    Imagination seems to be a component of Jones' attitude in the cage as much as it is outside of it. When you look at Jones fight, with his crazy spinning back elbows, and his unique arsenal of high impact throws it's clear that Jones wouldn't be successful without that imagination. I'm not sure this is appreciated by the critics. Speaking of: Jonathan Snowden at MMA Nation articulates (on why fans can't relate to Jones): Jones' isn't a story of hard work and dedication, though he undoubtedly puts in work at the gym. It's a tale of physical gifts. When a reader pokes a little sarcastic fun at this statement, Snowden counters with: How have things shifted so far towards political correctness that you can’t identify a freak athlete as a freak athlete because he’s African American? Well, it's simple: because putting achievement into a box of stereotypes, and uninformed cliches flies in the face what we understand about how the body and brain work together to achieve success. It's not that "anyone can do it", but it's certainly not that success is simply a matter of genetic dowry. In a way this criticism reflects what Nicholas Carr calls "the shallows": in the age of information, everyone is educated enough to have an opinion, but not educated enough to orchestrate that information into understanding. In the world of personalized information, news instead of content, we see the parts but not the whole. Everyone can have a voice now, and so it's more important to be heard than to observe. Here we have a 24 year old kid at the top of the MMA world, handling his newfound fame as reasonably well as he can, while doing random acts of good deeds (one GPS snatcher at a time), and I'm supposed to hate the kid because the world now gives you a larger window into his personal life (as if a 24 year old doesn't have a license to be aloof, and sometimes wrong)?  To be fair to Snowden, this isn't directed at him personally (especially as an author of two well received books). And I could just be overreacting. But the critics bore the hell out of me: especially when you consider, as Jordan Breen noted in yesterday's radio show "the sanctimony that accompanies it" (the Jones criticism). Maybe I just don't care that a 24 year old athlete who makes millions behaves in a way I sometimes find disagreeable. The MMA blogosphere desperately wants a villain, and they're doing their best to sell you that idea. But Jones never put people's lives in danger going on a vehicular rampage (as his opponent this Saturday has done), and unlike Floyd Mayweather, he hasn't been targeted by the police on multiple counts nearing the double digits of domestic violence. Yet Mayweather is praised for his showmanship, and Jackson heralded for his humor (despite an infamous incident with a reporter that clearly crossed the line).     If Jon Jones wins this Saturday, he owes his victory to nature, to nurture, and to his imagination. Those are his tools: tools he sculpted with his bare hands. And as a simple observer, and a fan of sports, it's all I'm personally interested in.     References: 1. Hyperlinking makes this job more of a chore than it needs to be, so I'm going old school with this one. Here's last year's 9 page Sports Illustrated feature David Epstein wrote on genetics, and athletic performance. I plagiarized the whole thing so do yourself a favor and check out the real deal. 2. The Genius in All of Us. David Shenk. It's light reading even by pop science standards (mainly due to how short the book is), but a fantastic introduction to anyone interested in epigenetics. Hardcore science geeks may find a lot of stuff to contend here, as Shenk seems to speak with conviction in debunking "consensus" (especially with regard to twin studies): always a red flag. Still a good read. 3. Nature Via Nurture. Matt Ridley. Ridley's an absolute boss when it comes to communicating concepts in genetics to the lay reader. He's also one of the few thinkers who doesn't seem to have a dog in the nature/nurture fight camps, and being stuck in the middle doesn't make him any less entertaining.   4. The Shallows. Nicholas Carr. Though a Finalist for the Pullitzer Prize on Carr's own theory about the negative effects the internet has had on the brain, there's a ton of information to chew on besides Carr's criticism of the internet. While the theory itself is provocative (and light on real support), the book itself is worth the read, especially as it traverses through topics like neuroplasticity, and the social impact of primitive, or early technology (like the invention of the watch). 5. Proust Was a Neuroscientist. Jonah Lehrer. I've sung the praises of this book before, but it's more of an anthology: collecting and connecting various artists with scientific phenomenon before they became scientific principles.  6. Be wary of those that imply epigenetics is some kind of reversal of Darwinian processes. Even respectable places like The Guardian, and Newscientist have made bombastic claims about how "Darwin was wrong". Jerry Coyne has a fantastic piece up dealing with what epigenetics actually is, and what it means for evolutionary principles.

Posted in: jone, sport, gene, nature, body

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Who will win at UFC 135? The Yahoo! Sports MMA staff gives you their picks.

Posted in: ufc, sport, prediction, yahoo, expert

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Tony Ferguson is a successful athlete. Actually, make that a “very” successful athlete. UFC fans know Ferguson best for being the most recent winner of The Ultimate Fighter at welterweight in June. And this wasn’t the first time Ferguson has been rewarded in a particular sport with accolades and a championship. He has enjoyed a long standing tradition with winning throughout high school, college, and, now, in the UFC. Ferguson’s dedication to winning in other sports is now entirely focused on his career in the Octagon and the competition better watch out because “El Cucuy”, aka the Spanish boogieman, is coming for them. “I'm an athlete,” states Ferguson. “I'm an all around athlete. I played football, baseball and I wrestled and I varsity lettered in all of them year after year. MMA is a sport and I'm glad to be an athlete in it. It's my passion. Wrestling was my passion and I've been wrestling since I was six. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm able to compete at a professional level, make some money, create my own niche, be able to express myself and be able to fall back on it when I want to teach it. MMA is the best thing that ever happened to me and then being employed by the UFC is the next. It's not going to stop here. I want to earn my right to fight for that belt. Winning that tournament took a lot of work, but it is just one of the steps and I'm willing to work harder to keep going in this. Rome wasn't built in a night.”The first stone laid in Ferguson’s UFC empire was winning the 13th season of TUF with a first round knockout victory over Ramsey Nijem. As if winning TUF wasn’t enough, Ferguson was also awarded “Knockout of the Night” honors. This capped off Ferguson’s clean sweep of finishing all of his opponents - Justin Edwards, Ryan McGillivray, and Chuck O’Neil - by KO/TKO in his stint on TUF. He was also Team Lesnar’s third pick, and following the show, Ferguson continued to train with Lesnar and his team, DeathClutch, to prepare for the finale. “That was probably the craziest six weeks of my life living in that house,” admits Ferguson. “Anything that could have happened happened and it was a life learning experience. I learned a lot about myself and I bettered myself. I got stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. When I was over at DeathClutch preparing for Ramsey, it just prepared me mentally to kick some butt. I'm here to win. I wasn't there to lose. When I was on the show I made friends, but I was there to win. It was a tournament and I'm used to tournaments because I'm a wrestler. The one thing about wrestling tournaments, you can look up your opponents, but it doesn't matter once you're out there and on the mat. Names don't matter. It's all about skills and talent and that's what I brought to the table.”Now, the 27-year old’s skills and talents are locked onto a new target and with that a new division. On September 24th at UFC 135 in Denver, Ferguson will drop to 155 and take on veteran Aaron Riley. The move to lightweight was made per the suggestion of UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, which Ferguson took, and he is ready for the challenges that await him, namely Riley. The Jackson’s MMA product has a 29-12-1 record and is coming off a decision win over Joe Brammer at UFC 114. “He's got a lot of good people he's working with, he's going to bring his A game, he's a well rounded fighter and I see him coming out striking and then trying to take me down kind of like how Ramsey did,” estimates Ferguson, who at 12-2 has a fraction of the fights Riley has, but has more than enough confidence in himself to make up for any lack of experience. “I know he's going to be game, but so am I. I'm bringing it 150% all the time every day, so he's going to have to worry about me. The UFC is the premier place for me to work and I'm going to be fighting here for years, so he's going to have to get through me if he wants to stick around.”The Grand Valley State University alum has competed at lightweight once before, which was in March 2010 against David Gardner. “I was more aggressive in that fight,” laughs Ferguson, who is already an offensive minded fighter with 11 of his 12 wins coming by stoppage (8 KO/TKO, 3 sub). “When I don't want to cut weight and I have to cut weight it makes me a little bit more aggressive. I was mentally more focused and zeroed in because I had to cut weight.”To prepare for his second fight in the Octagon, “El Cucuy” has been cutting his time between team DeathClutch in Alexandria, Minnesota and, his previous gym, Knuckleheadz Boxing in Ventura, California. In his four fights involving TUF, Ferguson showed off the hard work he had put in transforming himself from an NCAA division II national championship winner to a fearsome knockout puncher. Ferguson’s two gyms appear to be a perfect fit to continue that evolution as a wrestler with Marty Morgan (DeathClutch) and Joe "Hoss" Janik (Knuckleheadz). For good measure, Ferguson also does some training with Greg Nelson and the plethora of UFC stars at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. All this coaching, all this time training, and all this effort, it’s exactly what he wants to get stronger and better himself in the UFC. And, it’s always been this way for Ferguson - numerous sports and numerous coaches with an endless amount of practice. His success in sports is only matched by his drive to continue it. Ferguson is a determined machine, churning up time in dark gyms to put on stellar performances when the lights are on and it matters most.“I remember every single drill that every coach that I've ever had made us do, whether its footwork drills or pushups - it doesn't matter,” he explains. “I remember it in my head and I still utilize all of it. When I played football, I was a cornerback and we won state in 2000 and we played where the Detroit Lions play. I still wear my championship ring on my right hand. I wear my team national championship ring from Grande Valley State on my left. I succeeded in three sports: football, baseball and wrestling. That's what kept me out of trouble and kept me in school. I had to keep my GPA up to play and I had to practice if I was going to play. In mixed martial arts, I feel like if I'm not going to give 150% in there then I'm not going to invite my family to watch me fight because I'm going to go in there and get knocked out. That's why I put in my time to practice and I give my effort.”This Saturday, the up and comer is looking to begin his stay in the lightweight division with a win over Riley. “My opponents should fear me,” affirms Ferguson, who wants his winning of TUF to be a starting point for only greater victories to come in the Octagon. “I'm a shape-shifter in there and I adapt and evolve to exactly what is at hand. Once that cage door closes, my opponent has to deal with me. There's only one person in that cage that's going to save them and that's the ref.” And once that ref steps in, it’s another win for “El Cucuy”.

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, ferguson, “ i

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Following today's UFC on Fox press conference, Fox Sports personality Jay Glazer will sit down for an unprecedented, intimate Q&A with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and opponent Junior dos Santos.Watch the broadcast at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT on the Fox Sports Facebook page. Glazer's MMA knowledge extends beyond on-air reporting - he's personally and professionally been involved with the sport and its major players for years, giving him the unique perspective to question these two heavy hitters.

Posted in: fox, sport, dos santos.watch, q &amp, glazer

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I'm kind of conflicted about last night's boxing shenanigans. For starters, I care very little about the sport. There's a laundry list a mile long filled with things wrong with it. The only one I'll really mention here is that the best athletes no longer look at boxing as an avenue out - and they haven't for a couple of decades. The best American athletes gravitate towards the NBA if they're tall, football if they're big and everything else if they can't hack it in those. With baseball, skateboarding, hockey, soccer, boxing and mixed martial arts getting the scraps that the big two team sports aren't, the nation doesn't care nearly as much as it did about any of those as it used to. Yes, baseball is still #2 in terms of popularity, but many of the best and brightest in the sport aren't the true "athletes" who could have done any sport they felt like, but happened to choose baseball. Insert your own Explosive and Athletic joke if you so desire, but I'm not referring to race. In general, baseball players are not the raw, physical athletic specimens you see playing power forward or defensive end. Regardless of skin color, it's just not usually the Joe Athlete that could dunk a ball, throw 40 yards in the air, run a 4.5 40, golf with no handicap of the world that becomes a baseball player. What I'm trying to say is that the future Pretty Boy Floyd's of the world are not becoming boxers. They've found a better avenue to use their athleticism to make money that doesn't require getting punched in the head ten thousand times. Make no mistake, Mayweather is a phenomenal athlete. Fast and powerful, adept at not taking damage, and great instincts. Boxing used to get some of the cream of the crop because that was their best shot out of abject poverty - now they go elsewhere. Getting back to Saturday night, I find myself looking at it from different angles. For starters, I'm fairly certain that Cortez, the ref, did not actually restart the fight, and simply went with what happened, because to go in any other direction means the blame falls squarely on his shoulders. If you look at his ugly mug as the events transpire, he is astounded by what is happening, and after Ortiz hits the canvas, he looks off into the crowd, as if asking Paulo Filho what he should do. His eyes come across a gentleman at ringside in a striped ref-looking like shirt. I don't think that man was a referee for the fight, and merely an excited person, but that man immediately jumps up and starts yelling a 10-count while using his fingers as a counting prop. Cortez, in perhaps the smartest moment of his life, realizes that he's supposed to be the one doing that, and then starts counting, picking up at four where the striped shirt gentleman left off at. Having said that, I find almost no fault in Mayweather taking the opportunity to suckerpunch Ortiz into Bolivia. I once wrote a Fanpost stating that it ain't cheating unless you get caught. That and if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying. There's no such thing as great sportsmanship when you're playing for money, and even less so when it is a combat sport and the other guy's job is to do damage to you. Was Mayweather's act unsportsmanlike? Probably. Does that mean he isn't supposed to do it? No, not really. Let's take a second and label everyone in the ring for a moment. Cortez is as sharp as a bowl of jello and should probably be fired, Ortiz is a sap and a fool for trusting anyone in the ring other than himself to do the right thing and Mayweather is a scumbag - a winning, opportunistic scumbag, but a bag nonetheless (and not just for his action in round 4 that night, but that's another story). But wait! There's more! After the fight, Money went and had one of these on live TV: In case you couldn't tell, this video has audio that is almost certainly not work safe, is definitely not PC safe and is funny as hell. Floyd had his opportunity to look like a complete idiot in front of the world and took it. Took it and RAN with it. There is, however, an old saying that goes "there's no such thing as bad publicity." Brock Lesnar helped prove that in our sport. Muhammad Ali and Jack Johnson did it generations ago in boxing. Lebron James. Michael Vick. Bill Belichick. Chad Ochocinco. Loudmouths, criminals, poor sports, egomaniacs... their common thread is that they draw eyes. Now personally, Mayweather has still failed with me, as I have zero intention of ever paying money to watch him fight. Not in a rematch against Ortiz, not even to fight Pacquiao. To be fair to him, should he ever fight Pac, I'm sure some friends of mine will head over to a bar and I'll join them, so indirectly, May will get some dollars out of my pocket - just not directly into his. In the interest of disclosure, I don't even pay for most UFC events. I have a working internet connection and lack enough scruples to be willing to find shady websites showing unclear videos instead of always spending money on this, a sport I care a ton about. Getting back off of me and to the subject. Mayweather has almost certainly managed to milk more fame and money out of this event than anyone ever expected he would. Some people with more disposable income will be curious enough to see what happens in the rematch to buy it should they do it again - and there's no reason they shouldn't. It will make both men very wealthy all over again and it will keep him from having to seriously risk his undefeated record and face Pac. Good for him, whoop-dee-do and all that. Boxing has been in such a rut for decades that anything that brings eyes to it, even if it's their second biggest star acting like a cartoon character, is good for it. They need the eyes if they want to stay relevant in this nation (and much of the world outside of a few enclaves, such as Mexico, Russia, etc). It will still survive and have plenty of participants - it is as simplistic a combat sport as you can get and thus great for people in poorer areas of the world to practice in. This is the reason soccer is so widely followed - you don't even need shoes to play it, just a round object and some flat(ish) ground. For boxing to ever thrive again, however, it must become interesting again. You can use a ton of adjectives to describe Saturday's event, but interesting is certainly accurate, regardless of your stance on it. Fraser Coffeen wrote on BE: Whether you want to see him win, or you want to see him humbled in defeat, you want to know what will happen next, and you'll pay to find out.   I won't pay, but I'll care a little more than I used to, even if it's for the latter result. Mission partly accomplished for PBF, which is really all boxing can ask for these days from any of it's stars.

Posted in: fight, mayweather, sport, boxing, money

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