Check out the Second Gerald Javier Documentary Clip

NEW YORK

The documentary on Aggressive Combat Championship king Gerald Javier continues to roll on with this second teaser clip, courtesy of 750 Sq Feet. Watch. Gain insight. Enjoy.

Reality Fighting 52 Poster

CONNECTICUT

Throwback Thursday: One of the Greatest Comebacks Ever

NEW JERSEY

It was one of the greatest comebacks I have ever seen in an MMA bout. Deividas Taurosevicius - Ring of Combat champ, IFL and WEC veteran, and all-around Terminator - took on future World Series of Fighting champ Marlon Moraes at ROC 38 on November 18, 2011, and the Brazilian was utterly kicking his ass. I mean, "DT" was getting smoked hard on the feet, and when it went to the ground, Moraes was wrecking him. It was almost a complete blowout.

But DT has always been made of stone, and somehow he escaped, reversed, and... well, watch.

A Letter from the MMA Platinum Gloves Promoter

NEW YORK

Here's a letter from Nic Canobbio, the promoter behind the Long Island-based organization MMA Platinum Gloves (posted with his permission):

Statement from Upstate New York Promotion Gladius Fights

NEW YORK

Gladius Fights in Ryan Ciotoli's amateur MMA promotion in Upstate New York. Here's his response the Deadspin article, which he posted on Facebook:

Statement from New York Fight Exchange

NEW YORK

The following was posted to Facebook by Mike Washington, one of the promoters of the New York City-based New York Fight Exchange:

For all those wondering what the New York Fight Exchange fighters have to go through and all the things we do alongside the World Kickboxing Association to ensure fighter safety before, during and after our events.

Steve Koepfer on Amateur MMA in New York

NEW YORK

A lot of research went into this Deadspin article I wrote, but the constraints of word counts meant much had to be cut. Here then is what "Sambo" Steve Koepfer had to say.

• You've had fighters compete in various New York-based promotions and under various sanctioning organizations. Do they all show the same level of sanctioning scrutiny (i.e., pre-fight medical screening, matchmaking, officiating, and postfight care)? How are they different?

Cage Fury Fighting Championship 36 Poster

NEW JERSEY

Deadspin Article on the New York Amateur MMA Scene

NEW YORK

I wrote THIS article for Deadspin on the New York amateur MMA scene, calling to task those who've let fighters who were medically disqualified in other states (for HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) compete here. Check it out.

Some things to note, though:

• I didn't come up with the "disaster" part of the title, that was added by Deadspin (which is fine - it's their site). I think there's a big, gaping hole in the medical screening of fighters, but I love going to New York shows and believe most of the promoters are doing a great job with regards to fighter safety.
• There definitely needs to be some oversight of what's going on at all the shows, and that's an issue the legislature has to address. No promoters or sanctioning bodies have been breaking the law. But the law itself is certainly broken.
• I don't know the identities of the fighters with HIV, Hepatitis or whatever, nor do I know what shows they fought on. I only know they exist.

That's all. Please let me know what you think in the comments.

UFC 173 Primer: Al Iaquinta in Action

UFC

UFC 173 is this weekend, and there's a lot to love about the main card - champ Renan Barao will get another chance to kill a man, Daniel Cormier will get to prove that Dan Henderson is old, and Robbie Lawler will get to show Jake Ellenberger what it means to stand and bang. But kicking off the prelim card on FOX Sports 1 is a bout between Al Iaquinta and Mitch Clarke, and guess what? AL IAQUINTA, YO.

Poster for Next Golden MMA Championships Show

NEW YORK

Some Manup Standup Action

NEW YORK

Thanks to all the big amateur MMA shows that seem to happen every month in New York City, the proud institution of the underground show is dying out. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's most certainly a sad thing.

There are rumbles that the next Manup Standup event will be happening in August. However, if I'm interpreting the signs correctly, MUSU has put together a single boxing vs. Tae Kwon Do fight for 10pm tonight on a rooftop in the projects in Harlem.

Fists of Fury MMA Show Poster

NEW YORK

Tito Ortiz, Tom DeBlass and a Cool Comic From Tap.Nap.Snap

AWESOME

All you need to know to appreciate this awesome comic is that the good folks at Tap.Nap.Snap made it. Heh-heh.

I Don't Even Have to Know the Details to Know That Renzo Had a Good Reason...

NEW YORK

According to the New York Post, Renzo Gracie was arrested along with six others (including his nephew Igor) outside a Manhattan nightclub early Monday morning for beating the holy hell out of a bouncer.

As per the Post:

It Doesn't Sound Like MMA is Getting Done in the Assembly This Year

NEW YORK

If you pinned your hopes on sanctioned MMA in New York courtesy of a brand-spanking new law this year, prepare to have your hopes dashed. The New York Daily News is reporting that the man in charge of legislative traffic - Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver - might be putting the issue off for another year.

Said the News:

Yours Truly Was on Yesterday's "The MMA Word" Podcast - Check it Out

AWESOME

I was on Mike Wellman's "The MMA Word" podcast yesterday, rapping about New York MMA and what's going on up in Albany with the MMA bills. Check it for the info, check it out for the insight, check it out just to hear my dulcet tones emanating from your speakers. Just check it out.

Would MMA Lose a Floor Vote in the Assembly?

NEW YORK

An editorial in the Albany Times-Union today is calling for the State Assembly to allow the MMA bill to the floor for a vote, with the presumption that it will lose such a vote if it were to happen.

Given the amount of support the sport has by both the Democrats and the Republicans, it's long been asserted that if the Assembly's MMA bill were to finally escape committee it wouldn't be long before it was made into law. Suggesting otherwise kind of flies in the face of basic math and logic...

The Best of Bellator's Pay-Per-View

BELLATOR

A lot of cool and interesting things happened at Bellator 120, which was the organization's first foray into the world of pay-per-view and, given how things played out, quite possibly their last. Of course, at the top of the list is former lightweight champ Michael Chandler losing a split decision to last-minute replacement Will Brooks. Then there's washed-up Tito Ortiz choking middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko to sleep, promising featherweight Shahbulat Shamhalaev getting his arm broken... the hits just kept on coming.

ROC 48 Postscript

NEW JERSEY

From what I saw on the GoFightLive broadcast, Ring of Combat 48 was a solid installment in the venerable Northeast promotion. However, since I wasn't there, I can't really give you much personal on-the-scene insight. But hey, what's Twitter and Instagram for if not to turn the whole world into a journalist collective?

Here then is some additional perspective on ROC 48, courtesy of social media.