Brian Ortega: Rising from Under the Radar

There is this mythical instrument supposedly used in mixed martial arts to gauge all things buzzworthy on the sport’s landscape. While no such tool of measurement actually exists, the realm of public opinion typically does a fair job of projecting a level of excitement surrounding a fighter or a particular bout. With this indicator in mind, very few fighters ever come to the UFC registering a tremendous amount of frequency, but it is every fighter’s goal to leave a solid spike on the radar in the aftermath of their debut performance.Brian Ortega doesn’t mind flying below the previously mention … Read the Full Article Here

There is this mythical instrument supposedly used in mixed martial arts to gauge all things buzzworthy on the sport’s landscape. While no such tool of measurement actually exists, the realm of public opinion typically does a fair job of projecting a level of excitement surrounding a fighter or a particular bout. With this indicator in mind, very few fighters ever come to the UFC registering a tremendous amount of frequency, but it is every fighter’s goal to leave a solid spike on the radar in the aftermath of their debut performance.Brian Ortega doesn’t mind flying below the previously mention … Read the Full Article Here

Daron Cruickshank: Detroit’s Next Great Export

The city of Detroit is an American institution. The Midwestern industrial hub was the birthplace of the automobile industry at the turn of the 20th century and the rhythm of machine presses and assembly lines became the foundation to the soundtrack of a nation’s growth.The mechanical constructs of “Motor City” would inspire – and eventually give way to -generations of individuals who would take Detroit’s blue collar essence and “anything is possible” mentality, and use it to craft their own version of expression. Suddenly, cars weren’t the only thing coming out of Northern Michigan, as music b … Read the Full Article Here

The city of Detroit is an American institution. The Midwestern industrial hub was the birthplace of the automobile industry at the turn of the 20th century and the rhythm of machine presses and assembly lines became the foundation to the soundtrack of a nation’s growth.The mechanical constructs of “Motor City” would inspire – and eventually give way to -generations of individuals who would take Detroit’s blue collar essence and “anything is possible” mentality, and use it to craft their own version of expression. Suddenly, cars weren’t the only thing coming out of Northern Michigan, as music b … Read the Full Article Here

Change is No Problem for Ilir Latifi

The environment of mixed martial arts is one that can shift in any direction on a moment’s notice. Things go wrong, athletes get hurt, and the opponent a fighter has been preparing for six weeks to face is suddenly replaced by an entirely different competitor, with a vastly different skill set. In order for a fighter in the current era of MMA to be successful, they have to be prepared to handle every break and curve that comes their way. Those that can adjust to these circumstances climb the ladder quickly. But those who stumble are forced to take a much longer path.Ilir Latifi has been on bot … Read the Full Article Here

The environment of mixed martial arts is one that can shift in any direction on a moment’s notice. Things go wrong, athletes get hurt, and the opponent a fighter has been preparing for six weeks to face is suddenly replaced by an entirely different competitor, with a vastly different skill set. In order for a fighter in the current era of MMA to be successful, they have to be prepared to handle every break and curve that comes their way. Those that can adjust to these circumstances climb the ladder quickly. But those who stumble are forced to take a much longer path.Ilir Latifi has been on bot … Read the Full Article Here

Donald Cerrone: The Legacy of a Cowboy

Donald Cerrone gives a special meaning to the term “keeping it moving.” Inside the Octagon, the hard-charging lightweight’s scrappy style has endeared him to the fighting faithful and that has made the 31-year-old a “must see” attraction any time his name is on a fight card. And for every bit of excitement he provides under the bright lights of the UFC banner, Cerrone’s live life to the fullest approach to the world beyond the chain links of the Octagon has elevated the Colorado native to a place where he’s nearly become an enigma at this point of his career.To put it simply: Cerrone hits ever … Read the Full Article Here

Donald Cerrone gives a special meaning to the term “keeping it moving.” Inside the Octagon, the hard-charging lightweight’s scrappy style has endeared him to the fighting faithful and that has made the 31-year-old a “must see” attraction any time his name is on a fight card. And for every bit of excitement he provides under the bright lights of the UFC banner, Cerrone’s live life to the fullest approach to the world beyond the chain links of the Octagon has elevated the Colorado native to a place where he’s nearly become an enigma at this point of his career.To put it simply: Cerrone hits ever … Read the Full Article Here

Proctor’s Progress

Joe Proctor isn’t worried about clichés or bolstered adjectives to describe the current state of his fighting skills as a mixed martial artist. The only word that matters to him is progress.The Massachusetts native bounced back from a lengthy layoff to pick up his first win since the summer of 2012 when he earned a unanimous decision over Cristiano Marcello at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi back in February. It was a strong performance from a man who had been itching to get back to work and put the weapons he had been forging inside the gym on display.“It felt awesome,” Proctor said. “It … Read the Full Article Here

Joe Proctor isn’t worried about clichés or bolstered adjectives to describe the current state of his fighting skills as a mixed martial artist. The only word that matters to him is progress.The Massachusetts native bounced back from a lengthy layoff to pick up his first win since the summer of 2012 when he earned a unanimous decision over Cristiano Marcello at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi back in February. It was a strong performance from a man who had been itching to get back to work and put the weapons he had been forging inside the gym on display.“It felt awesome,” Proctor said. “It … Read the Full Article Here

Derrick Lewis: From Darkness to the Bright Lights

Second chances can be difficult to come by.  Furthermore, when those opportunities of redemption do materialize, and the road often dreamed about does open up, the only thing one can hope is that they recognize the new path before them and have the courage to set out anew. Unfortunately, in many cases that particular window closes before a fresh start can be realized and the chance to make good gets filed away in the cluttered realm of “what could have been.”Derrick Lewis was perched and waiting for his second chance to come into focus, and he put everything he had into making that first … Read the Full Article Here

Second chances can be difficult to come by.  Furthermore, when those opportunities of redemption do materialize, and the road often dreamed about does open up, the only thing one can hope is that they recognize the new path before them and have the courage to set out anew. Unfortunately, in many cases that particular window closes before a fresh start can be realized and the chance to make good gets filed away in the cluttered realm of “what could have been.”Derrick Lewis was perched and waiting for his second chance to come into focus, and he put everything he had into making that first … Read the Full Article Here