It was Joe Agostini.
Friday, February 6, 2015
At CFFC 45, An MMA Pioneer Comes Home
NEW JERSEY
Yuichirou Tsuchida was a tall, stoic karate champ whose sensei father thought it’d be a good idea if his son was tested in an MMA bout. So in November of 2005, the two flew from their home in Japan to Atlantic City, N.J., and soon Tsuchida was standing proudly in a ring erected in the arena at the Trump Taj Mahal. Then the referee said “Go!” and for the next 31 seconds, the karate man got the shit beat out of him. Violently. Furiously. Convincingly. And when it was all over – courtesy of a referee who didn’t want to become an accessory to murder – all Tsuchida could do was wonder just who it was who had so soundly thrashed him.
It was Joe Agostini.
It was Joe Agostini.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
How Keen on MMA is Sheldon Silver's Likely Successor?
NEW YORK
There's been a lot of discussion about Assemblyman Carl Heastie and the likelihood of him replacing Sheldon Silver as Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and thankfully, MMA keeps coming up as a salient point. But just how keen on the sport is Heastie? Here's the Gotham Gazette with a little insight:
Things Are Still Looking Good for MMA in New York
NEW YORK
Thanks to a federal corruption probe forcing longtime New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to tender his resignation today, the legislative house where the MMA bill dies year after year is in flux in terms of who will be named his successor. Last week, the race to replace Speaker Silver seemed to be between Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Assemblyman Carl Heastie and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, with all but Nolan having supported MMA regulation in the past.
Now, that's all changed.
Now, that's all changed.
Must-Read Article on What Life Is Really Like for a Regional Fighter
NEW JERSEY
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The Press of Atlantic City has been devoting some digital ink to the goings on within the Garden State's cages for some time now, and there are occasions when they really nail it. This is one such instance. The article is called "The Struggles of a South Jersey Mixed Martial Arts Fighter," and it does a great job digging below the surface of what life is like for some of the region's more notable fighters.
Go ahead and try to tell me this lede isn't some seriously compelling stuff:
Go ahead and try to tell me this lede isn't some seriously compelling stuff:
Friday, January 30, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Pro MMA Will Come to New York This Year - Here's Why
NEW YORK
It's been a long and arduous trek to get the ban on professional MMA lifted in New York, but it looks like the end of the road is near. Here's why:
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Rest in Peace Bryan Vetell
NEW YORK
Bryan Vetell, a giant of a man who made his mark on the local MMA scene from 2004 to 2008, passed away last night at age 36.
As a skilled Greco-Roman wrestler weighing over 300 pounds (of solid muscle), Bryan was a force in the International Fight League, and racked up wins in Yamma Pit Fighting and Extreme Challenge when they came to New Jersey. But his most memorable bout was his first, which saw him take on fight veteran Kaream Ellington in the Underground Combat League in a clash reminiscent of what went on in Japan's PRIDE FC.
Bryan pretty much trained everywhere, and touched a lot of people in his short time on this planet.
Rest in peace, Bryan. You will be missed.
As a skilled Greco-Roman wrestler weighing over 300 pounds (of solid muscle), Bryan was a force in the International Fight League, and racked up wins in Yamma Pit Fighting and Extreme Challenge when they came to New Jersey. But his most memorable bout was his first, which saw him take on fight veteran Kaream Ellington in the Underground Combat League in a clash reminiscent of what went on in Japan's PRIDE FC.
Bryan pretty much trained everywhere, and touched a lot of people in his short time on this planet.
Rest in peace, Bryan. You will be missed.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Speaker Sheldon Silver to Step Down
NEW YORK
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was arrested by federal authorities on corruption charges last week, will be stepping down from his post while he fights the charges. As per the New York Daily News:
In terms of a timetable for getting an MMA bill done, it's hard to pin down when that could be - suffice to say that the session ends in June, and an MMA bill would be a low legislative priority compared to other issues. Regardless, with Speaker Silver out of the picture and four pro MMA Assemblyman helping run the show, it's safe to say that things are certainly looking up.
Embattled Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has agreed to step aside from his powerful perch while he faces federal corruption charges, the Daily News has learned.
A source with direct knowledge of the deal says the chamber will be run jointly by five veteran Assembly Democrats — Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester), Herman "Denny" Farrell (D-Manhattan), Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn), Cathy Nolan (D-Queens) and Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
"It's done," the source said.This sudden and dramatic turn of events is likely very good news for the MMA in New York effort, as four of the five names mentioned who will be stepping in to run the legislative show are supporters of the sport. In fact, Majority Leader Morelle was the sponsor of last year's MMA bill.
In terms of a timetable for getting an MMA bill done, it's hard to pin down when that could be - suffice to say that the session ends in June, and an MMA bill would be a low legislative priority compared to other issues. Regardless, with Speaker Silver out of the picture and four pro MMA Assemblyman helping run the show, it's safe to say that things are certainly looking up.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Ring of Combat 50 Liveblog
NEW JERSEY
Due to a confluence of events, my plan of sitting cageside for tonight's New York Fight Exchange event in Jamaica, Queens is a "no go". However, guess what's on pay-per-view for me to liveblog from the comfort of my own couch? That's right, ROC 50. So sit back and relax as I kick it old school and write about what I see.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
New York State Assembly MMA Bill Scorecard
NEW YORK
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is in cuffs, and the possibility of him getting the boot and a replacement being chosen could mean no more impasse when it comes to getting the MMA bill to the floor for a vote. But who would be his successor and would they be in favor of lifting the ban on the sport in New York? At this point, it's impossible to predict who could assume the role of Speaker, as the process could involve some Game of Thrones-esque power grabbing and bloodletting. However, thanks to hindsight, we can tell who in the Assembly supported MMA bills in the past. And here's the list!
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to Be Arrested on Corruption Charges Today
NEW YORK
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver - widely credited as the man who is keeping any and all MMA bills from getting a floor vote in the State Assembly - is expected to be arrested on corruption charges today. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by federal authorities on Speaker Silver's finances. Here's the New York Times with the skinny:
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
Underground Boxing in the Bronx, Because Why Not?
NEW YORK
I'm not much of a boxing fan, but I couldn't resist posting this one. Obviously, it's an "underground" event, but the crowd is pretty sizable and into it. It looks like many of the countless unsanctioned MMA events I've covered, minus the sloppy takedowns.
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