A Shakeup at the New York State Athletic Commission and What it Means for the Sport

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Longtime New York State Athletic Commission Chairperson Melvina Lathan was ousted today, and named as her replacement was Thomas Hoover, whose resume includes a stint running the boxing program for the Oneida Indian Nation in Upstate New York. It's unclear at this point where Commissioner Hoover stands on MMA, but the sport is certainly losing an ally with Commissioner Lathan's departure.

Watch a Kung Fu Master Get Smoked in Chinatown

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You know what probably sucks? Touting yourself as a master of kung fu, throwing down in a very public challenge match, getting creamed, and having the video disseminated across YouTube like the secret recipe to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Such was the case with Sifu Sharif Bey, who is based out of Syracuse and is a proponent of a particular style of kung fu called Hung Gar. Last month, Sifu Bey found himself taking on some guy wearing MMA gloves at the pavilion in Chinatown's Columbus Park - a spot where kung fu practitioners often meet to train and test themselves - and, well, let's just say that Sifu Bey got the worst of it.

Here's the video:

Combat at the Capitale Poster

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The 2015 Guide to MMA in New York

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If 2015 ends up being anything like 2014, then the New York MMA scene is going to be rich, vibrant and full of growth... and there will be about one thousand mainstream reporters, podcasters, radio broadcasters, TV producers and Columbia University School of Journalism students reaching out to me for some insight on it. So here is a handy-dandy guide to the scene, complete with info on the efforts to get pro MMA legalized, the key players in government, the promoters who've carved out their respective niches, and even some fighters to keep an eye on. Because what kind of journalist would I be if I didn't keep you informed? (Answer: a crappy one.)

Amateur Champ Marcus Surin Wins Pro Debut

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(Photo courtesy of Rafca Mercilus.)

The New York amateur MMA scene lost one of its more prominent champs on Saturday night, as Victory Combat Sports lightweight king Marcus Surin took the professional fighting plunge at a Reality Fighting installment at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Surin, the epitome of an ace grappler, won via rear naked choke - likely the first of many such victories to come.

It is a sad truth that all top amateur fighters will inevitably graduate to bigger and better things, but there is some upside to New York City losing one of its best: NOW A NEW KING MUST BE CHOSEN.

Five New York MMA Championship Bouts From 2014

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Now that we're officially cruising into 2015, we can look back at 2014 and reflect upon the year that was for the New York MMA scene. Was the law finally changed that would allow pro iterations of the sport back into the state? Hell no, but in terms of amateur fights, New York saw some huge growth and maturity.

To celebrate that, here are five title fights that occurred throughout the year in various promotions' cages. Note: this isn't a ranking of which were the best ones. This is just a walk down memory lane.

Yet Another NYFE 5 Poster

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New York Fight Exchange 5 Poster

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Because If You Ain't Wing Chun-ing in Central Park, You Might As Well Go Home

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Wing Chun versus Tae Kwon Do in Central Park - presented without comment:

Grapple at the Garden: Don't Mess With the Wrestlers

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Rule #1: Don't mess with wrestlers.

Rule #2: See Rule #1.

These rules were in full effect at the Team Renzo vs. Team Warren clash at Sunday's Grapple at the Garden, which saw teams fielded by Renzo Gracie and Bellator champ Joe Warren go at it on a mat laid down in the center of the arena at Madison Square Garden.

Grapple at the Garden: King Mo vs. Rolles Gracie

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Grapple at the Garden: The View From Matside

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Grapple at the Garden: Gray Maynard vs. Ozzy Dugubulov

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Grapple at the Garden: The Longview

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Aggressive Combat Championships 10 Poster

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Gladius Fights 14 Poster

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A Few More Fights From Saturday's Aggressive Combat Championships 9

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While you were watching Junior Dos Santos and Stipe Miocic kill each other on FOX on Saturday night, I was perched beside the cage at ACC 9, wielding my trusty Galaxy S4 like a futuristic combat correspondent. Curious about what you missed? Then be curious no more!

Watch Me On the Last East Coast MMA Show Installment of the Year

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It's been an interesting year for New York MMA fans. As a whole, the scene has grown and evolved to the point where there are over 50 events annually, while fighters, camps and even promotions have honed their craft to near perfection - or not. This was the topic of discussion at last night's year-end installment of the East Coast MMA Show, with host Tom Kilkenny and I hashing out the good, the bad and the ugly of 2014.

Aggressive Combat Championships Ends Year With a Bang

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Aggressive Combat Championships ended 2014 with a bang on Saturday night, with their fifth and final installment of the year bringing together two ultra-talented female fighters in the cage and letting them battle it out for a championship title.

In a very competitive three-round war, Jillian DeCoursey and Hannah McGuckin did 115-pound fighters everywhere proud as they struggled to impose their respective wills on each other - and for both ladies, who hail from strong grappling schools, that "will" involved finding the dominant position on the ground. Ultimately, it came down to the third round and who could gain the advantage, and that ended up being DeCoursey, who trapped McGuckin against the cage and rained hell from above.

ACC 9: Jillian DeCoursey vs. Hannah McGuckin

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