Odoms’ Traditional Touch for a Changing Game

No two fighters arrive to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts on the same path, just as goals and ambitions cannot be weighed out on the same scale. Every opportunity means something different and depends on the individual facing down the biggest m…

No two fighters arrive to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts on the same path, just as goals and ambitions cannot be weighed out on the same scale. Every opportunity means something different and depends on the individual facing down the biggest moment of their professional career.The first step of Richard Odoms’ dream coming true was receiving the call to compete under the UFC banner, and the second half will be when the Octagon door closes behind him in Sacramento later this month. The 39-year-old San Antonio-based fighter’s journey to his official UFC debut is as non-typica … Read the Full Article Here

UFC 178 on Tour: The Day After

 
The two-city press tour for UFC 178 got off to an explosive start on Monday in Las Vegas as Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier turned a routine face-off into a scuffle that spilled offstage and made national headlines across the sports world. On Tues…

 
The two-city press tour for UFC 178 got off to an explosive start on Monday in Las Vegas as Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier turned a routine face-off into a scuffle that spilled offstage and made national headlines across the sports world. On Tuesday, the light heavyweight champion and undefeated challenger were reunited for a press stop at Club Nokia at LA Live in Los Angeles and cooler heads prevailed.Instead of physical exchanges, Jones and Cormier were cordial to one another throughout, with the two light heavyweights keeping things on the lighter side as they focused on their upcom … Read the Full Article Here

Chas Skelly: The Scrapper Heads to Tulsa

Throughout the history of combat sports, different regions have been known to produce a certain type of fighter. Industrial footholds churn out gritty, blue-collar types, while fighters from coastal areas seem to possess a particular brand of finesse. While there are exceptions to every archetype, the rule has usually remained consistent. In the scope of that mix, Texans have always been known for their willingness to get in and get after it, and Chas Skelly is “Lone Star State” born and bred. The Arlington representative’s hard-nosed style is reflective of the brand of fighter his home state … Read the Full Article Here

Throughout the history of combat sports, different regions have been known to produce a certain type of fighter. Industrial footholds churn out gritty, blue-collar types, while fighters from coastal areas seem to possess a particular brand of finesse. While there are exceptions to every archetype, the rule has usually remained consistent. In the scope of that mix, Texans have always been known for their willingness to get in and get after it, and Chas Skelly is “Lone Star State” born and bred. The Arlington representative’s hard-nosed style is reflective of the brand of fighter his home state … Read the Full Article Here

Ben Kenney’s Fab Five

Ben Kenney has spent his entire life playing music.Over the past two decades, the New Jersey native has forged a versatile arsenal of skills that has taken him from his early days in Race Car, to an acclaimed stretch with Philadelphia’s musical institution The Roots, to behind the bass guitar for the multi-platinum modern rock staple Incubus. Kenney’s musical talents have taken him around the world and back ten times over, and while chords, beats, and harmonies are his first love, he’s always held a special place for mixed martial arts.From watching early UFC tapes with his older brother at th … Read the Full Article Here

Ben Kenney has spent his entire life playing music.Over the past two decades, the New Jersey native has forged a versatile arsenal of skills that has taken him from his early days in Race Car, to an acclaimed stretch with Philadelphia’s musical institution The Roots, to behind the bass guitar for the multi-platinum modern rock staple Incubus. Kenney’s musical talents have taken him around the world and back ten times over, and while chords, beats, and harmonies are his first love, he’s always held a special place for mixed martial arts.From watching early UFC tapes with his older brother at th … Read the Full Article Here

Anik and Stann Hone Their Craft in the Booth

There are many words that can be used to describe the environment of a live event on fight night, but unpredictable is the one that is commonly attached to the action. Despite the best efforts of expert analysts and visible trends of how an athlete has…

There are many words that can be used to describe the environment of a live event on fight night, but unpredictable is the one that is commonly attached to the action. Despite the best efforts of expert analysts and visible trends of how an athlete has been performing on their respective trajectories, there is simply no way to tell what will happen when two fighters step into the Octagon to go to work. As it has been proven time and time again over the past 20 years, the realm under the bright lights of the UFC banner is one of chaos and excitement, where anything can happen and often times do … Read the Full Article Here

Matt Brown: The Quiet Storm of The Immortal

Matt Brown’s intensity is a tangible, living, breathing thing. Yet, his presentation is as calm as the Ohio skies in June. That’s a testament to the personal growth he’s experienced after nearly a decade spent testing his own personal will, and breaking those of others in the fire of hand-to-hand combat.  Brown doesn’t step into the Octagon to shake hands and “bro hug;” he’s there to shred and destroy, and it’s a job he does far better than most.That said, the 33-year-old Columbus native wasn’t always the “Apex predator” of the welterweight fold. In fact, the hard-scrabble father of two s … Read the Full Article Here

Matt Brown’s intensity is a tangible, living, breathing thing. Yet, his presentation is as calm as the Ohio skies in June. That’s a testament to the personal growth he’s experienced after nearly a decade spent testing his own personal will, and breaking those of others in the fire of hand-to-hand combat.  Brown doesn’t step into the Octagon to shake hands and “bro hug;” he’s there to shred and destroy, and it’s a job he does far better than most.That said, the 33-year-old Columbus native wasn’t always the “Apex predator” of the welterweight fold. In fact, the hard-scrabble father of two s … Read the Full Article Here