UFC
The best thing about Dana White's vlogs are the behind-the-scenes stuff we're made privy to. For instance, did you know that it's totally cool to cry after you lose in the Octagon?
Monday, February 17, 2014
Jon Jones Stumps for MMA in New York
NEW YORK
UFC light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones did some stumping for the MMA in New York movement over the weekend, sending a letter to a Black and Puerto Rican legislative caucus that implored them to help push the MMA bill forward. The caucus was meeting in Albany to... do whatever it is they do up there - go to strip clubs? Eat steaks? Shiver in the cold? I've been to Albany a few times now and I'm still not entirely sure what it is they do.
Anyway, good on Jones for sending the letter. You can read it below.
UFC light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones did some stumping for the MMA in New York movement over the weekend, sending a letter to a Black and Puerto Rican legislative caucus that implored them to help push the MMA bill forward. The caucus was meeting in Albany to... do whatever it is they do up there - go to strip clubs? Eat steaks? Shiver in the cold? I've been to Albany a few times now and I'm still not entirely sure what it is they do.
Anyway, good on Jones for sending the letter. You can read it below.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Some UFC Fight Night 36 Vids
UFC
Here are some vids from last night's UFC, which had so many decisions that Baby Jesus wept.
Here are some vids from last night's UFC, which had so many decisions that Baby Jesus wept.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Mike Constantino One Step Closer to Becoming Dana White
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey-based coach, manager and all-around nice guy Mike Constantino is what you'd call a Rennaissance Man. When it comes to MMA, he literally almost does it all. Well, you can add "president of a top regional MMA promotion" the list, as Constantino is now the president of the Cage Fury Fighter Championships. Hooray, congrats, blah, blah, blah and all that. What's most notable about this news is how much like Dana White our pal Mike is getting to be. Let's lay out the facts for comparison, shall we?
Obviously, they're aren't alike in every way yet, but there are some traits they share. Are the similarities freaking you out like they freak me out?
New Jersey-based coach, manager and all-around nice guy Mike Constantino is what you'd call a Rennaissance Man. When it comes to MMA, he literally almost does it all. Well, you can add "president of a top regional MMA promotion" the list, as Constantino is now the president of the Cage Fury Fighter Championships. Hooray, congrats, blah, blah, blah and all that. What's most notable about this news is how much like Dana White our pal Mike is getting to be. Let's lay out the facts for comparison, shall we?
|
Mike Constantino
|
Dana White
|
|
president of CFFC
|
president of UFC
|
|
trained the likes of Jim and Dan Miller, and tons of other
fighters
|
former boxercise trainer
|
|
former fighter
|
fought on the hard streets of Boston
|
|
owns AMA Fight Club gym
|
probably has some sort of stake in the UFC Gym franchise
|
|
has a full head of well-maintained hair
|
bald as an eagle
|
|
lives in New Jersey, where it has snowed a lot
|
brought tons of artificial snow to his yard in Las Vegas so his
kids could make snowmen or something
|
Friday, February 14, 2014
UFC Fight Night 36's Northeast MMA Connection
UFC
Not that you would need any convincing, but there's a very good reason to tune in to UFC Fight Night 36 tomorrow night on FOX Sports 1. Sure, Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi are going to throw down, and presumably dance for five rounds or fuck each other up (I'm hoping for the latter). But tucked away earlier in the card, as one half of the first bout on the FOX Sports 1 broadcast, is Charles Oliveira. Yup, the same Charles Oliveira who beat Dom Stanco at ROC 24 to win the lightweight belt.
Small world, huh?
Anyway, here's a video of the UFC Fight Night 36 weigh-ins.
Not that you would need any convincing, but there's a very good reason to tune in to UFC Fight Night 36 tomorrow night on FOX Sports 1. Sure, Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi are going to throw down, and presumably dance for five rounds or fuck each other up (I'm hoping for the latter). But tucked away earlier in the card, as one half of the first bout on the FOX Sports 1 broadcast, is Charles Oliveira. Yup, the same Charles Oliveira who beat Dom Stanco at ROC 24 to win the lightweight belt.
Small world, huh?
Anyway, here's a video of the UFC Fight Night 36 weigh-ins.
For Your Viewing Pleasure, A New York Fight Exchange 1 Highlight Video
NEW YORK
Some organizations get off to a rocky start, some make all the right moves coming out of the gate. New York Fight Exchange, which held their debut event at a nightclub in Jamaica, Queens, in October, did everything right. From solid production value to strong matchmaking to a thrilling main event, the NYFE had it all - which they'll hope to replicate when they return to the Amazura Concert Hall on March 15.
Here's a highlight vid from their last show.
Some organizations get off to a rocky start, some make all the right moves coming out of the gate. New York Fight Exchange, which held their debut event at a nightclub in Jamaica, Queens, in October, did everything right. From solid production value to strong matchmaking to a thrilling main event, the NYFE had it all - which they'll hope to replicate when they return to the Amazura Concert Hall on March 15.
Here's a highlight vid from their last show.
Flashback: Eddie Fyvie vs. Jay Haas at CFFC 24
NEW JERSEY
Everyone gets old, even the 20-something lightweights who show all the promise in the world.
A few years ago, Upstate New York native Eddie Fyvie was a well-rounded, technical fighter who could submit guys just as easily as knock them out, and he was poised to do great things in the Northeast circuit. But injuries and such slowed him down, and adding Father Time to the equation - which makes even the best lose half a step - made chasing that elusive win that much harder.
Anyway, here's his CFFC 24 bout against Jay Haas, which took place on May 11, 2013. Believe me when I say the Fyvie of 2008 would've made for a very different outcome.
Everyone gets old, even the 20-something lightweights who show all the promise in the world.
A few years ago, Upstate New York native Eddie Fyvie was a well-rounded, technical fighter who could submit guys just as easily as knock them out, and he was poised to do great things in the Northeast circuit. But injuries and such slowed him down, and adding Father Time to the equation - which makes even the best lose half a step - made chasing that elusive win that much harder.
Anyway, here's his CFFC 24 bout against Jay Haas, which took place on May 11, 2013. Believe me when I say the Fyvie of 2008 would've made for a very different outcome.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Ring of Combat: Crunching the Numbers
NEW JERSEY
Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat is one of the longest-running regional promotions in the industry, and the longevity of the New Jersey-based organization can be attributed to a number of factors, not the least of which is its consistency in putting on competitive fights. How competitive are these fights? So much so that winning a ROC championship belt often bodes extremely well for the future of any fighter.
Like any good nerd, I've compiled some hard data on this subject, but before that, here are some facts for you:
Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat is one of the longest-running regional promotions in the industry, and the longevity of the New Jersey-based organization can be attributed to a number of factors, not the least of which is its consistency in putting on competitive fights. How competitive are these fights? So much so that winning a ROC championship belt often bodes extremely well for the future of any fighter.
Like any good nerd, I've compiled some hard data on this subject, but before that, here are some facts for you:
- The first ROC was on October 12, 2002, and took place at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
- All subsequent ROCs have been held at various locations in New Jersey, and in Atlantic City exclusively since ROC 10 on April 14, 2006.
- There have been 66 ROC champs since the promotion's inception.
- Of those 66, 23 have gone on to fight in the UFC, 14 have gone on to become TUF competitors, and 21 have made appearances in the Bellator cage.
Below is a breakdown of all of ROC's champs. Listed are the specific ROC event where they won their belt, the date of that event, and if that champ went on to the UFC, TUF or Bellator.
Watch Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler Kill Themselves
BELLATOR
The weather outside is frightful today, so here's a video of two men taking about 15 years off their lives.
The weather outside is frightful today, so here's a video of two men taking about 15 years off their lives.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
This is What Happens When Snow Tiger Kung Fu Fights San Bao
NEW YORK
From the last Manup Standup - 1.26.14 in Jamaica, Queens.
From the last Manup Standup - 1.26.14 in Jamaica, Queens.
A George Sullivan Video Tribute, Courtesy of CFFC
NEW JERSEY
What do you get when you're a Cage Fury Fighting Championship champ and the UFC gives you a call? If you're George Sullivan, you get this nice video tribute, which was aired during a break at last Saturday's CFFC in Atlantic City, N.J.
Sullivan has had some ups and downs lately - this profile in the Newark Star-Ledger didn't do him any favors, but he scored a win in his UFC debut - so some recognition by the local org he's called him for the last few years is pretty nice. And George deserves it, as he's a pretty nice guy himself.
What do you get when you're a Cage Fury Fighting Championship champ and the UFC gives you a call? If you're George Sullivan, you get this nice video tribute, which was aired during a break at last Saturday's CFFC in Atlantic City, N.J.
Sullivan has had some ups and downs lately - this profile in the Newark Star-Ledger didn't do him any favors, but he scored a win in his UFC debut - so some recognition by the local org he's called him for the last few years is pretty nice. And George deserves it, as he's a pretty nice guy himself.
VCS Champ Ashley Greenway Signs with Invicta FC
INVICTA FC
Victory Combat Sports 115-pound female champ Ashley Greenway has graduated to the big leagues, signing with top-flight all-women's organization Invicta FC. The North Carolina native will be competing in Invicta's 115-pound weight class, which was recently pillaged by the UFC for TUF 20.
When last we saw the amiable Greenway, she was armbarring Ashley Miller at a September VCS show at the Armory in Manhattan. Actually, scratch that. When we last saw Greenway, she was celebrating her win by getting another tattoo.
As you can tell by her collection of ink, Greenway wins a lot.
Victory Combat Sports 115-pound female champ Ashley Greenway has graduated to the big leagues, signing with top-flight all-women's organization Invicta FC. The North Carolina native will be competing in Invicta's 115-pound weight class, which was recently pillaged by the UFC for TUF 20.
When last we saw the amiable Greenway, she was armbarring Ashley Miller at a September VCS show at the Armory in Manhattan. Actually, scratch that. When we last saw Greenway, she was celebrating her win by getting another tattoo.
As you can tell by her collection of ink, Greenway wins a lot.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Already the Negative Vibes are Flowing in New York
NEW YORK
“I don’t see it as very likely this year,” one Assembly official said.
...
Opponents of the sport are latching on to a recent comment by Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship league, that opposition to contact sports like MMA highlights the “pussification of America.”
Sonia Ossorio, president of the city-chapter of the National Organization for Women, blasted the sport as “exploitive of its fighters and misogynistic towards women.”
“If the pussification of America means holding the tide against violence and misogyny, I’m all for it,” she said.All I have to say about this is that it's way too soon to be handicapping any odds. Also, there's more than one way to skin a cat, and this particular feline might be losing a good portion of its fur in the coming months.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
AKBF Show in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. - 2.1.14
NEW YORK
(Ed. note: the following report is courtesy of veteran writer Mark Jacobs. Check out his blog here.)
(Ed. note: the following report is courtesy of veteran writer Mark Jacobs. Check out his blog here.)
While Jim Genia was down at UFC 169 on Saturday night
sitting in a hot tub drinking pink ladies with Dana White, some of us were out
in the trenches doing the real work.
The AKBF event in Yorktown Heights, NY featured a
numbing 17 bouts of amateur MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing and grappling.
Highlights included Anderson Silva, who showed no
ill-effects of his broken leg in defeating Vinny Brightmaqn... wait, it was a
different Anderson Silva?
I thought there was something suspicious when he looked
much paler in person. He still impressed winning by quick first round
guillotine choke (and he insists Anderson Silva is his real name).
American Top Team’s Dean Hancock unleashed a devastating
body slam followed by some quick ground and pound mop up to finish Tim Knapp in
round one.
And local beast Gregy Styles was his usually cocky and
spectacular self, instantly taking opponent Santiago Milanese down with a
bodylock and then dropping right hands on him till Milanese liquefied into the
canvas. Styles must turn pro before any more amateurs are damaged beyond
repair!
Full Results:
1. Grappling: Ethan Gomez draw Sam McCormick
2. Grappling: Robert Fischer W. armbar vs. George
Petronella
3. MMA: Marcus Macrillo W. choke Rd. 1 vs. Mike Lopez
4. Muay Thai: Renzo Medoza W TKO Rd. 2 vs. Robert
Shoomaker
5. MMA: Anderson Silva W. guillotine choke Rd. 1 vs.
Vinny Brightmaqn
6. Grappling: Scott Hlubik draw Juan Santana
7. MMA: Eric Ott W ground and pound Rd. 1 vs. Joe Lowe
8. Kickboxing: Ben Tryree W decision vs. Therno Barry
9. MMA: Guy Croce W TKO Rd. 1 vs. Mike Douglass
10. Boxing: Christain Dellard W decision vs. Alex Delic
11. Muay Thai: Ray Angle W decision vs. Brian Cohen
12. MMA: Illya Kotau W TKO 3 vs. Melton Dane
13. MMA: John Marino W guillotine choke Rd. 1 vs. Alex
Gonzalez
14. MMA: Dean Hancock W TKO Rd. 1 vs. Tim Knapp
15. Muay Thai: John Ladisa W decision vs. Turpel
Khamayez
16. Muay Thai: Dante Goldsmith W decision vs. Gino Smith
17.
MMA: Gregy Styles W ground and pound Rd. 1 vs. Santiago Milanese
Monday, January 20, 2014
No Mercy 2 - 1.18.14
NEW YORK
Kickboxing bout results:
Kickboxing bout results:
- Deet Ramanathan def. Yusel Morejon via Unanimous Decision
- Justina Abruscato def. Emma Smith via TKO, R1
- Constantine Gemelas def. Andrew King via TKO, R3
- Meredith Connelly def. Aly Franco via Unanimous Decision
- Anthony Wolter def. Jackson Bynum via Unanimous Decision
- Ibraheem Abdeaal def. Pat Carroll via TKO, R1
- Stephanie Vargas def. Dawn Solomon via Unanimous Decision
- Rick Schaefer def. Ty Tucker via TKO, R2
Boxing bout result:
- Elvis Regis def. Ryan Peacock via TKO, R1
Grappling bout result:
- Danny Trujillo def. Rich Pabon via Decision
MMA bout results:
- Akram Gharib def. Matt Yablon via Submission (Armbar) in R2
- Vincent DeRiso def. Kevin Wall via Submission (Guillotine) in R1
- Jesse McBroom def. Marc Miglino via Unanimous Decision
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Monday, December 16, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)