Thursday, May 1, 2014
Throwback Thursday: Shelby Walker's Five-Second KO of Angela Wilson
AWESOME
Above is the only pic I managed to take of Shelby Walker's fight against Angela Wilson at Ring of Fury 3 (back on May 3, 2003). Why is that the only pic? Because "Shelbygirl" knocked Wilson out in five seconds, and there was literally no time to do anything other than say "Holy crap!"
Throwback Thursday: Denis Kang vs. Keith Rockel at Ring of Fury 3
AWESOME
In 2003, the options for taking in some live MMA were pretty thin compared to how they are now - so thin, in fact, that I would often drive up to Massachusetts just to have a show to cover. Thankfully, Massachusetts had a quality organization called Ring of Fury churning out good fights, and though ROF only managed a few installments, some of those bouts were pretty memorable.
Here's the headlining bout of their third show, which featured local favorite Keith Rockel taking on young Canadian up-and-comer Denis Kang. And yes, the venue was a nightclub, which was a pretty new and edgy concept for a fight venue at the time.
Here's the headlining bout of their third show, which featured local favorite Keith Rockel taking on young Canadian up-and-comer Denis Kang. And yes, the venue was a nightclub, which was a pretty new and edgy concept for a fight venue at the time.
Yesterday's Press Conference in Albany Generates Some Media Attention
NEW YORK
Things may be moving a bit slow for MMA in the legislative process, but yesterday's press conference in Albany was at least successful in generating some much needed media attention. Instead of focusing on economic benefits, organizers went the "MMA is empowering for females" route by having young ladies talk about what training in the sport has done for them. In turn, the speakers did their part in extolling the sport's virtues.
From the Capitol Confidential blog:
From the Capitol Confidential blog:
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
From Today's MMA in New York Albany Presser
NEW YORK
Our speakers did a fantastic job today! They represent New Yorkers and their need for #MMA legalization! pic.twitter.com/kDWGV9EHYt
— MMA4NY (@MMA4NY) April 30, 2014
Fighters Source: The "X" Factor in the New York Amateur MMA Scene
NEW YORK
Last year Fighters Source made a splash in New York City by setting up shop at the Hammerstein Ballroom and packing the place with fans for their "Kings of New York" show. But amateur MMA is a "local" business endeavor (meaning local fighters drive ticket sales), and since the scene here is thick with New York-based promoters sporting ties to gyms here, the Florida-based organization hasn't been back.
Which isn't to say Fighters Source has been dormant. They haven't. In fact, they've been building momentum as a national amateur MMA group that orchestrates events throughout the country, events that pit local teams against "away" teams. For example, on Saturday night in Cortland, Fighters Source paired with Upstate New York promotion Gladius Fights for show that saw a clash between the "Syracuse Gladius" against the "Nashville Renegades".
Which isn't to say Fighters Source has been dormant. They haven't. In fact, they've been building momentum as a national amateur MMA group that orchestrates events throughout the country, events that pit local teams against "away" teams. For example, on Saturday night in Cortland, Fighters Source paired with Upstate New York promotion Gladius Fights for show that saw a clash between the "Syracuse Gladius" against the "Nashville Renegades".
New York MMA Legislative Status Report: "Meh"
NEW YORK
Not a lot has been going on with the legislative side of the MMA in New York movement lately. There are still a bunch of bills on the backburner, and though none of them have seen any action since the session began, there's still some time before the session ends on June 19 for something to get done.
There is, however, a press conference being held in today in Albany, and at it three female students and one female kickboxing instructor will talk about how MMA is empowering to women. There's no star power attached to the event (i.e., no Zuffa brass or well-known fighters scheduled to appear), but it's being held in the Legislative Office Building, so reporters will at least show up out of habit.
And that's it. That's all that's been going on. Given the progress and level of discussion generated on the issue, I'd rate this year's chances of the pro MMA ban being lifted in Albany a "meh."
There is, however, a press conference being held in today in Albany, and at it three female students and one female kickboxing instructor will talk about how MMA is empowering to women. There's no star power attached to the event (i.e., no Zuffa brass or well-known fighters scheduled to appear), but it's being held in the Legislative Office Building, so reporters will at least show up out of habit.
And that's it. That's all that's been going on. Given the progress and level of discussion generated on the issue, I'd rate this year's chances of the pro MMA ban being lifted in Albany a "meh."
UFC Fight Night 40 Primer: Erik Koch in Action
UFC
Up next for fans of UFC action is UFC Fight Night 40 on May 10, which is headlined by a slugfest between Matt Brown and Erick Silva. But Erik Koch is taking on Darren Cruickshank further down on the card, and because the UFC wants you to be excited for that fight too, they posted Koch's brief battle with Raphael Assuncao. Watch and enjoy.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Flashback: The TUF 2 Tryouts
UFC
The tryouts for season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter went down in Las Vegas, N.V. yesterday, and Bleacher Report ace scribe Jeremy Botter was on hand to witness what has over the course of almost ten years become an event in and of itself. Read his report here, and tell me if you don't get the impression that the tryout process is a well-oiled machine. It is, isn't it?
But the tryouts didn't start out that way. For the first season of TUF, the UFC simply called up a bunch of promising fighters and said, "Hey, want to do a reality show?" Only when that initial season proved to be a runaway success did the word "tryouts" enter into the equation.
But the tryouts didn't start out that way. For the first season of TUF, the UFC simply called up a bunch of promising fighters and said, "Hey, want to do a reality show?" Only when that initial season proved to be a runaway success did the word "tryouts" enter into the equation.
Aggressive Combat Championship 6: The Next Big NYC MMA Show on Tap
NEW YORK
The next big MMA show in New York City will be Aggressive Combat Championship 6, which is slated for May 10 at York College in Queens. A preliminary version of the card can be found here, and after the jump you can check out an ACC highlight video.
If you're reluctant to take the "E" train to the last stop and stroll through Jamaica, Queens, to get to the venue, then fear not, because I'll be on scene providing my usual coverage.
If you're reluctant to take the "E" train to the last stop and stroll through Jamaica, Queens, to get to the venue, then fear not, because I'll be on scene providing my usual coverage.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Flashback: Night of Macacao - 2.7.09
NEW JERSEY
Picture if you will a one-shot MMA event catering solely to the somewhat substantial Brazilian population of Newark, N.J. Every bout on the card pits a Brazilian against an American, culminating in a match-up featuring the eponymous "Macacao" (a.k.a., vale tudo legend Jorge Patino), and all this occurs before a partisan crowd that could very easily verge on riot should one of their brethren lose in the cage.
Yeah, "Night of Macacao" was pretty awesome. Here are the pics from it:
Yeah, "Night of Macacao" was pretty awesome. Here are the pics from it:
What's the Opposite of Having a Lot of Heart?
NOT AWESOME
I don't know the backstory to this so I don't know why the fight played out the way it did, but damn did that fighter show a lot of heart.
A LOT OF HEART.
I don't know the backstory to this so I don't know why the fight played out the way it did, but damn did that fighter show a lot of heart.
A LOT OF HEART.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Marcus Surin Defends Belt, Then Gets Into Car Accident
NEW YORK
It was a violence-filled night for VCS lightweight champ Marcus Surin on Friday. First, he went about two and a half rounds with a hungry challenger in Yuting Hong in the cage. Then, after his win, Surin found himself in a car accident.
"We're okay," said Surin when The MMA Journalist reached out to him for a comment. "The car I was in was totaled but no one sustained any injuries."
"We're okay," said Surin when The MMA Journalist reached out to him for a comment. "The car I was in was totaled but no one sustained any injuries."
Observations From My Couch: UFC 172
UFC
- I like Charlie Brenneman and want to see him do well, but he needs to never fight in the UFC again. Brenneman is dominant in the regional circuit; he's on the path to long-term brain trauma in the Octagon.
- For someone so tall and lanky, Jessamyn Duke sure fought like a short person. What the hell was her game plan?
- Takanori Gomi looked woefully out of shape and yet still managed to put forth an exciting, crowd-pleasing bout. Thus is the power of the Gomi.
Tom Muller: A Look Back at One of the Northeast's Most Dominant Heavyweights
NEW YORK
Few things are more annoying than a stud fighter coming onto the scene, making an impact with a win or two, then disappearing forever more. Well, if you were to compile a list of such Northeast fighters, without question, Tom Muller's name would be at the top.
From 2002 to 2004, Muller was a tall, lanky heavyweight who took the jiu-jitsu that Matt Serra taught him and absolutely dominated his opponents in Ring of Combat. In all four times he fought he won via submission, and in his last outing at ROC 7, he dethroned champ Carlos Moreno and took his belt.
Then he retired.
From 2002 to 2004, Muller was a tall, lanky heavyweight who took the jiu-jitsu that Matt Serra taught him and absolutely dominated his opponents in Ring of Combat. In all four times he fought he won via submission, and in his last outing at ROC 7, he dethroned champ Carlos Moreno and took his belt.
Then he retired.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Victory Combat Sports Scores Another Home Run
NEW YORK
The New York MMA bar has been set once again to new heights, courtesy of Victory Combat Sports' Victory V show at Terminal 5 in Manhattan and the 20 fighters who left it all in the cage last night. With 2,100 thrilled onlookers crammed into the venue, battles raged for the sake of two championship belts, and yet even in those bouts where no titles were up for grabs, wars were waged still.
Friday, April 25, 2014
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