Jus wanna say Thank you to my family,friends, & fans. I'm Officially Retiring from Professional Fighting today!
— Jay Hieron (@Jayhieron) March 7, 2014
Hieron, a.k.a. "The Thoroughbred", made four appearances in the Octagon, and though he never managed to get a "W" there, he did fight against the likes of Georges St. Pierre, Jake Ellenberger and Tyron Woodley. He also was a regular in the IFL, and fought in Bellator, Strikeforce and the WEC.Saturday, March 8, 2014
Northeast MMA Vet Jay Hieron Retires
NEW YORK
Jay Hieron announced his retirement from MMA competition yesterday, and the move caps off a pretty amazing career that began right here in the Northeast nearly ten years ago.
Friday, March 7, 2014
From the Archives: Matt Serra in 1997
MATT SERRA
Fact: Matt Serra's accomplishments in jiu-jitsu and MMA make up much of the foundation upon which Northeast MMA is built upon. Also fact: BAMA Fight Night was pretty much the only place for MMA fights in the late '90s and early '00s, so of course the twain would inevitably meet.
I'm about 90% sure the following video is of Matt fighting in a BAMA Fight Night. The clues include a very mullett-ed referee that looks like Big Dan Miragliotta, a venue so intimate you're practically on top of the action, and that fact that this vid is from 1997.
I'm about 90% sure the following video is of Matt fighting in a BAMA Fight Night. The clues include a very mullett-ed referee that looks like Big Dan Miragliotta, a venue so intimate you're practically on top of the action, and that fact that this vid is from 1997.
The Long and Winding Road of Anthony Leone
BELLATOR
It's a wonderful thing when you can look at the very beginning of a fighter's career and then look at where they're at now and the only thing you can say is "Wow, that's crazy!" Such is the case with Anthony Leone, who had his first MMA fight ever at an UCL event at a grungy boxing gym in the South Bronx back in 2006, yet through a series of happy accidents is fighting in the main event of Bellator 111 tonight, taking on bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas for the belt. You know what that is?
THAT'S CRAZY!
Leone's career has certainly been a long and winding one with more than a few ups and downs. His first loss was in the WEC, against future UFC champ Renan Barao, and over the course of seven fights in 2010 and 2011, he went 2-5. But the New Yorker kept at it, and in his five fights since 2012 began, he's only lost once.
I'm not going to speculate on Leone's chances against Dantas, but I will tell you what that first fight back in November of 2006 was like. Come with me for a stroll down memory lane...
THAT'S CRAZY!
Leone's career has certainly been a long and winding one with more than a few ups and downs. His first loss was in the WEC, against future UFC champ Renan Barao, and over the course of seven fights in 2010 and 2011, he went 2-5. But the New Yorker kept at it, and in his five fights since 2012 began, he's only lost once.
I'm not going to speculate on Leone's chances against Dantas, but I will tell you what that first fight back in November of 2006 was like. Come with me for a stroll down memory lane...
Thursday, March 6, 2014
UFC 170 Highlights: Now With More Drama
UFC
Nothing says "drama" like slow-motion replays dubbed with orchestral music that begins with ghostly wailing - which is what the below UFC 170 highlight video contains. Seriously, watch this thing and tell me it doesn't remind you of about a million over-produced NFL videos that play in constant loops on Sundays during football season. I feel like it's almost a religious statement or something.
Nothing says "drama" like slow-motion replays dubbed with orchestral music that begins with ghostly wailing - which is what the below UFC 170 highlight video contains. Seriously, watch this thing and tell me it doesn't remind you of about a million over-produced NFL videos that play in constant loops on Sundays during football season. I feel like it's almost a religious statement or something.
Jesse McBroom - Long Island's No-Nonsense Scrapper
NEW YORK
For some, stepping into the cage against a tough opponent is an almost insurmountable task that requires the kind of guts and ability that can only be mustered with weeks of preparation.
Jesse McBroom scoffs at that notion.
For him, it's all about just getting in there and throwing down - which is what he intends to do on March 15, when he squares off against the New York Fight Exchange's welterweight champ Jerome Mickle at NYFE's "Ides of March" show. Jesse, who, alongside Bobby Campbell, runs a fight school in Copiague on Long Island, is taking the fight on 10 days notice. That's a testament to both his confidence and the depth of his combative sports resume.
Jesse McBroom scoffs at that notion.
For him, it's all about just getting in there and throwing down - which is what he intends to do on March 15, when he squares off against the New York Fight Exchange's welterweight champ Jerome Mickle at NYFE's "Ides of March" show. Jesse, who, alongside Bobby Campbell, runs a fight school in Copiague on Long Island, is taking the fight on 10 days notice. That's a testament to both his confidence and the depth of his combative sports resume.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Flashback: Cage Fury Fighting Championship 15
NEW JERSEY
The Cage Fury Fighting Championship has done some remarkable things in its time on Earth (Kimbo Slice's first fight, anyone?), and now they're experiencing a period of pretty decent growth, putting on shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with great frequency.
In honor of their success, here's a stroll down memory lane: pics from a show they did in June of 2012.
The Cage Fury Fighting Championship has done some remarkable things in its time on Earth (Kimbo Slice's first fight, anyone?), and now they're experiencing a period of pretty decent growth, putting on shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with great frequency.
In honor of their success, here's a stroll down memory lane: pics from a show they did in June of 2012.
Watch Alexander Gustafsson Do His Thing
UFC
Alexander Gustafsson is headlining UFC Fight Night 38 this weekend, so to get you prepared for the violence he'll likely bring, here's a video of him in action. Enjoy!
One on One with Carlos Brooks, TSMMA's Quiet Warrior
NEW YORK
He may have a career in the cage that's seen some ups and downs, but Carlos Brooks is living the dream. After all, he gets to train and train others - two things he loves - and he earns a living doing it.
I sat down with Carlos when I visited the new Manhattan TSMMA school last week (where he teaches), and as his students buzzed about preparing for class, the Ring of Combat and Bellator veteran talked of his goals, his son, and his recovery from the eye injury he sustained when he fought Tom DeBlass last April.
Check out the interview below.
I sat down with Carlos when I visited the new Manhattan TSMMA school last week (where he teaches), and as his students buzzed about preparing for class, the Ring of Combat and Bellator veteran talked of his goals, his son, and his recovery from the eye injury he sustained when he fought Tom DeBlass last April.
Check out the interview below.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Mickle vs. McBroom to Headline NYFE March 15 Show
NEW YORK
The next big MMA show in New York City will be the New York Fight Exchange's March 15 event, and though they've had to work to find a suitable opponent for welterweight champ Jerome Mickle, it seems they finally have one that will make for one heck of a main event contest.
Mickle will be defending his belt against veteran fighter Jesse McBroom.
Mickle will be defending his belt against veteran fighter Jesse McBroom.
UFC Fight Pass: Great for Watching UFCs at Odd Times
UFC
UFC Fight Pass has a wealth of videos from old MMA events in its library, but the greatest thing about the new online subscription service are the live events that are broadcast on it - events that take place in countries with vastly different time zones and therefore vastly different start time for the shows. Last week, we got to watch the TUF: China Finale (which took place in Macau) at 6:20am on Saturday morning; this Saturday it will be a Fight Night in London at 12:30pm. After years of being conditioned to expect UFC action on Saturday nights, these events at odd hours are a nice change of pace.
Anyway, here's a preview vid for Saturday's UFC.
Anyway, here's a preview vid for Saturday's UFC.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Jimmie Rivera on Aljamain Sterling: "I Don't Even Think He's That Good"
NEW YORK
To hear Jimmie Rivera tell it, Aljamain Sterling isn't all that.
At a visit to the Tiger Schulmann MMA school in Manhattan last week, The MMA Journalist sat down with the Bellator and WSOF veteran and talked with Rivera about his past, present and future. Rivera - who had just taught a kids' class and was about to teach a class full of adults - spoke of his TUF 14 loss to eventual runner-up Dennis Bermudez, as well as his goals in the sport. But one fighter on the UFC's roster drew much of Rivera's ire, a local fighter who Rivera claims twice turned down fights with him before the UFC called him up.
That fighter was Team Serra/Longo rep Sterling. Not long ago Rivera had pegged Sterling as someone who, if he beat him in the New Jersey regional circuit, would be his ticket back to the Octagon - a destination Rivera has been hoping to reach since before he won belts in King of the Cage and Ring of Combat.
At a visit to the Tiger Schulmann MMA school in Manhattan last week, The MMA Journalist sat down with the Bellator and WSOF veteran and talked with Rivera about his past, present and future. Rivera - who had just taught a kids' class and was about to teach a class full of adults - spoke of his TUF 14 loss to eventual runner-up Dennis Bermudez, as well as his goals in the sport. But one fighter on the UFC's roster drew much of Rivera's ire, a local fighter who Rivera claims twice turned down fights with him before the UFC called him up.
That fighter was Team Serra/Longo rep Sterling. Not long ago Rivera had pegged Sterling as someone who, if he beat him in the New Jersey regional circuit, would be his ticket back to the Octagon - a destination Rivera has been hoping to reach since before he won belts in King of the Cage and Ring of Combat.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Get to Know Bernardo Cano, One of New York City's MMA Champs
NEW YORK
While you were sleeping, New York's MMA scene was churning out amateur shows and crowning champs. One such champ is Bernardo Cano, who earned his welterweight belt in November at the last Golden MMA Championships with a pretty nice guillotine. Are you feeling a little left out because you didn't know this? Well, here's a video on Bernardo to help bring you up to speed.
While you were sleeping, New York's MMA scene was churning out amateur shows and crowning champs. One such champ is Bernardo Cano, who earned his welterweight belt in November at the last Golden MMA Championships with a pretty nice guillotine. Are you feeling a little left out because you didn't know this? Well, here's a video on Bernardo to help bring you up to speed.
Sunday Link Dump - 3.2.14
NEW YORK
If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, it still makes a sound. Such is the case with fighting in New York - even if I'm not there to cover it, it's still going on. Therefore, here are some links to stuff I did not cover, as well as things that are simply just relevant to The MMA Journalist is about. Consider it your Sunday reading assignment.
If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, it still makes a sound. Such is the case with fighting in New York - even if I'm not there to cover it, it's still going on. Therefore, here are some links to stuff I did not cover, as well as things that are simply just relevant to The MMA Journalist is about. Consider it your Sunday reading assignment.
- There was a Friday Night Fights kickboxing show at the Broad Street Ballroom and Bauzen was there to snap quality pics.
- Andrew Leone had his first fight in the UCL, now the New Yorker fights in ONE FC in Singapore. Pretty cool, huh?
- Oh look, another amateur MMA show, this one taking place upstate.
- In case you're a numbers person, here's some recent polling data on MMA's consumer base.
- Here's an oldie but a goodie by Peter Rugg. It gives some good insight to the NYC fight scene.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
An Amazing Video on New York Fighter Kenny Rivera
NEW YORK
The Underground Combat League has seen a lot of stud fighters come through its doors, and included among those ranks of badasses is Kenny Rivera, who used his UCL experience as a stepping stone and went on to compete in various amateur promotions in other states. When he returned, he won a UCL belt, then turned pro. How good is the veteran fighter? Last weekend, Rivera took a fight in Philadelphia on just a few days notice and earned a quick win via guillotine. Yeah, he's that good.
For a closer look at one of New York's best, check out this awesome video.
For a closer look at one of New York's best, check out this awesome video.
There Was a UFC this Morning, and the Stun Gun Made it Awesome
UFC
You know what sucks? Having to wake up before 8am on a Saturday because that's what time a UFC in Macau is airing. You know what makes it worth it? This:
Yeah, Dong Hyun Kim has been kicking ass lately.
You know what sucks? Having to wake up before 8am on a Saturday because that's what time a UFC in Macau is airing. You know what makes it worth it? This:
Yeah, Dong Hyun Kim has been kicking ass lately.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Into the Tigers' Den: A Tour of TSMMA's Manhattan School
NEW YORK
The path Northeast MMA has taken since the late 90s is a winding one, with each curve and bend in the road shaping fighters and gyms alike. Where once there were boutique schools teaching jiu-jitsu on matted basement floors, there are now great windowed storefronts revealing a sea of white and blue kimonos. Tae Kwon Do schools have half-cages set up. And in academies where a cotton gi was the standard uniform, now it's all about fight shorts and rashguards. This is evolution in action, a kind of trickle-down economics in which the UFC sets the pace and tone and everyone in the industry below adapts or dies.
But evolution is a reactionary thing, and some are much faster in reacting than others. For those who saw the writing on the wall the minute Royce Gracie choked out Ken Shamrock, change was just the acceptance of what would soon be the new reality of martial arts - and the teaching of martial arts.
That's where the Tiger Schulmann Mixed Martial Arts organization comes in.
But evolution is a reactionary thing, and some are much faster in reacting than others. For those who saw the writing on the wall the minute Royce Gracie choked out Ken Shamrock, change was just the acceptance of what would soon be the new reality of martial arts - and the teaching of martial arts.
That's where the Tiger Schulmann Mixed Martial Arts organization comes in.
Association of Boxing Commission's Won't Ban TRT/TUEs... Yet
TRT
The Association of Boxing Commissions is pretty much what it sounds like - a group of representatives from a multitude of boxing- and athletic commissions throughout the country who oversee combat sports. In their role as "big issue think tank", they've addressed possible changes to the Unified Rules, as well as reached out to government entities to alert them of potential problems with their oversight (or lack thereof) of particular aspects of mixed martial arts.
So what's their take on Nevada's banning of TRT/TUEs? Well, they're going to look into the matter further, but as of right now, they're sticking to their policy of strict exemption standards. Here's ABC president Tim Luekenhoff's official response:
The Association of Boxing Commissions is pretty much what it sounds like - a group of representatives from a multitude of boxing- and athletic commissions throughout the country who oversee combat sports. In their role as "big issue think tank", they've addressed possible changes to the Unified Rules, as well as reached out to government entities to alert them of potential problems with their oversight (or lack thereof) of particular aspects of mixed martial arts.
So what's their take on Nevada's banning of TRT/TUEs? Well, they're going to look into the matter further, but as of right now, they're sticking to their policy of strict exemption standards. Here's ABC president Tim Luekenhoff's official response:
The NJSACB's Response to Nevada's TRT/TUE Ban
NEW JERSEY
Earlier today the Nevada State Athletic Commission took the unprecedented step of banning all testosterone usage exemptions, thereby slaying the dragon of sanctioned TRT for MMA fighters seeking licenses in that state. Since New Jersey has long been considered to be one of the top jurisdictions in the nation when it comes to regulatory oversight of the sport, The MMA Journalist reached out to Nick Lembo of the NJSACB to see where the Garden State now stands in light of these recent dramatic developments.
Mr. Lembo's response:
Earlier today the Nevada State Athletic Commission took the unprecedented step of banning all testosterone usage exemptions, thereby slaying the dragon of sanctioned TRT for MMA fighters seeking licenses in that state. Since New Jersey has long been considered to be one of the top jurisdictions in the nation when it comes to regulatory oversight of the sport, The MMA Journalist reached out to Nick Lembo of the NJSACB to see where the Garden State now stands in light of these recent dramatic developments.
Mr. Lembo's response:
Thursday, February 27, 2014
One Good Reason to Watch TUF Brazil
UFC
There was a point in recent years when my interest in The Ultimate Fighter was superseded by the number of TUF installments, and the waters were further muddied by all these international versions of the show. But this upcoming season of TUF Brazil... this one might be cool.
March 9 on UFC Fight Pass, folks.
There was a point in recent years when my interest in The Ultimate Fighter was superseded by the number of TUF installments, and the waters were further muddied by all these international versions of the show. But this upcoming season of TUF Brazil... this one might be cool.
March 9 on UFC Fight Pass, folks.
Bellator Flashback: Nick Pace Almost Kills a Man
BELLATOR
The tenth season of Bellator MMA starts tonight with Bellator 110 at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and though I won't be there in person, you can bet I'll be watching all the action on SpikeTV.
To get you motivated to tune in, here's a highlight vid featuring New York-based fighter Nick Pace practically murdering someone back at Bellator 11. This particular card also had Lyman Good, Uriah Hall, Jimmie Rivera and Dave Branch all racking up wins, so it was a pretty good time for the home team.
The tenth season of Bellator MMA starts tonight with Bellator 110 at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and though I won't be there in person, you can bet I'll be watching all the action on SpikeTV.
To get you motivated to tune in, here's a highlight vid featuring New York-based fighter Nick Pace practically murdering someone back at Bellator 11. This particular card also had Lyman Good, Uriah Hall, Jimmie Rivera and Dave Branch all racking up wins, so it was a pretty good time for the home team.
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