There Was a Fight Show in Brooklyn This Weekend

NEW YORK

There was another installment of Take It To The Top in Brooklyn this weekend. I missed it, but thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you and I can still get a feel for what it was like. Behold! One of the kickboxing bouts on the mixed MMA/kickboxing card!

Whither Thou Goest, Atlantic City

NEW JERSEY

The Revel, which has been hosting UFCs for a while now, will soon be closing its doors, the victim of lack of revenue, the ever-changing tides of legalized gambling and Atlantic City, N.J.'s role as a regional hub for people who like to throw their money away. But what, if anything, does this mean for the strange yet enduring marriage between MMA shows and the casinos there? After all, AC has been hosting such events for about 14 years, and has long been the home for such organizations as Ring of Combat and the Cage Fury Fighting Championship.

According to the Press of Atlantic City, "Atlantic City is betting on sports such as mixed martial arts to help save the city."

Top Team Serra/Longo Prospect Signs With Bellator

BELLATOR

A few months back I was wowed by Jonny Bonilla-Bowman's performance at a Combat at the Capitale and wrote about it. Well, according to former Bellator matchmaker Sam Caplan, the Team Serra/Longo prospect is one of the revamped Scott Coker-run organization's most recent signings.

The Latest on the Zuffa vs. New York Lawsuit

NEW YORK

The latest round of filings (i.e., the responses to the recent motions for summary judgment) in the Zuffa vs. New York State lawsuit were filed today, and while I'm still going through them, I just thought I'd post this little gem here. It's from the State's side and it's about how their interpretation of the law in regards to amateur MMA has been "consistent" throughout the years.

Gladius Fights Poster

NEW YORK

Throwback Thursday: A Pic With One of the Sport's Top Journos

AWESOME

He may be a West Coaster, but there have been occasions when renowned MMA journalist and trailblazer Josh Gross has come out east. One such instance was for an M-1 Global press conference here in Manhattan back in 2007. Never mind that Monte Cox was there wearing a suit, and Fedor Emelianenko was giving interviews. The highlight of my day was getting a pic with my esteemed peer. RESPECT.

MMAMadhouse Radio Liveblog: Part 4

NEW YORK

• A lot of talk about how New York State is falling short and how it's inexplicable that the sport isn't regulated.
• Okay, things have really gone off the rails with a ton of talk about judging, same-day weigh-ins, mandatory title fights and things like that. Stay on point, guys!
• Hey, the conversation is coming back to relevancy. MMA shows in Indian reservations upstate have happened, with Gladius having done a pro show on one.
• "I really didn't feel comfortable working with some of the promoters in New York State," says Forrest. 
• Forrest is going to be working with Gladius - "They do the best job out of everyone."

MMAMadhouse Radio Liveblog: Part 3

NEW YORK

• One promoter in Poughkeepsie once told Forrest that his own events were "so safe I don't even need an ambulance."
• One time, a trained referee Forrest knows went to an unsanctioned show as a spectator, and the officiating was so horrifying that he couldn't help but climb into the cage and take over.
• Forrest acknowledges that there certainly has been fighters competing in New York State - even upstate - who have fought with HIV and Hepatitis.
• Cory Schafer, the head honcho of the ISKA comes on as a guest. I interviewed him at length last week, but I've been waiting to hear what Forrest has to say before I posted it. Guess I'll put the interview up tomorrow...
• Schafer: "The misconception is that regulation is meant to protect the fighters from promoters. It's not. Regulation is meant to protect the fighters from themselves."

MMAMadhouse Radio Liveblog: Part 2

NEW YORK

• First up is Forrest giving some background on himself, which includes how he hooked up with the ISKA and became their point man in sanctioning amateur MMA in Upstate New York.
• He admits that he quit his role because it was an all-encompassing, time-consuming endeavor. 
• What's some of the stuff that goes on at unregulated shows in New York? No blood work, no uniform standards for equipment, lacking of suitable medical care, etc.
• According to Forrest, there are some promoters who don't use sanctioning bodies who do actually self-regulate pretty well. He names Don Lilly as one of them.
• On the flipside, there are some sanctioning bodies that absolutely suck.
• MMA is so young in New York that it's reflected in the quality of competitor. This was hammered home to Forrest when Fighters Source came to town with their national fighters. "For the most part, the bulk of the athletes in New York State are nowhere near the level of the rest of the country."

MMAMadhouse Radio Liveblog: Part 1

NEW YORK

Former ISKA rep Forrest Hobbick is about to go live on MMAMadhouse's radio show to dish on what he's witnessed firsthand in regards to the shadiness of New York amateur MMA promoters. Yes, I'm listening in, and yes, I'm taking notes (which will appear here). So sit down, strap in, sip your latte and get ready to hear some dirt.

Golden MMA Championships Poster

NEW YORK

MEDIA ALERT: Wednesday's MMAMadhouse Radio Show Is a Must-Listen

NEW YORK

Until recently, Forrest Hobbick was the ISKA's point man when it came to sanctioning amateur MMA events in New York. Well, on Wednesday night at 10pm EST, he'll be on MMAMadhouse's radio show, and he promises to dish on all the shady things he's seen at the various events that go on willy-nilly in Upstate New York.

Since my area of operations is pretty much New York City and Long Island (i.e., downstate), I will most certainly be listening (I even plan on calling in). There are a ton of events going on north of NYC with little to no regulation, events where the promoters have actually banned media from attending because they don't want their shadiness to be made public, so Forrest's insight will be invaluable.

The MUSU Challenge Approaches

NEW YORK

Guys, there are people literally training on rooftops in Harlem in preparation for the next Manup Standup Challenge, which will be held on Saturday, August 30 at a venue out in Queens. CAN YOU DIG IT?

New York Fight Exchange 4 Poster

NEW YORK

Cage Fury Fighting Championship 36 Behind-the-Scenes Video

NEW JERSEY

With the news that New Jersey-based promotion Cage Fury Fighting Championship has had yet another champion called up to the UFC, it is impossible to ignore that they're producing a great product that provides a viable platform for top local talent. So let's take a quick behind-the-scenes look at one of their recent shows - CFFC 36 - and see how the figurative sausage gets made.

Asylum Fight League 46 Poster

NEW JERSEY

Throwback Thursday: My Daughter Meets Everyone

AWESOME

My daughter "Emmy" is six now, but I've never been shy about bringing her around my job and letting her meet everyone. Here, then, are pics of her at various ages, meeting the likes of Peter Storm, Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Jeff Blatnick, Nick Lembo, photographer Zack Lynch, Mike Constantino, and Northeast fighter Chris Schlesinger.

Spirit FC 5 Poster

NEW YORK

Cage Wars 27 Poster

NEW YORK

Sherdog Examines MMA in New York

NEW YORK

Sherdog has turned its lens toward the MMA scene in New York, and the first part of their ongoing series of articles on the subject examines a bit of what's been going on with the legislative process and the hold-up in the Assembly. The broad strokes are nothing you have seen before, but Sherdog digs a little deeper and gets some decent quotes. 

For instance, there's this gem from UFC COO Ike Lawrence Epstein, who talks about his interactions with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: