Author: By Duane Finley

If the fight game is an educational realm where excellence comes with tenacity and experience provides the highest yields, Derek Brunson is on the advanced track.At 29 years old and approaching four years in the professional ranks of the sport, the Wilmington, North Carolina native has shown a level of talent and moxie that has earned him a place on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts. That being said, no journey comes free of setbacks, and Brunson has used those hard knock nights to further a lesson plan that is already as on the fly as it gets.He is fully aware that the window to make an … Read the Full Article Here

The road to the UFC is rarely the same for any fighter that travels it.Where in the “dark ages” of the sport there were few passable options, the current era of mixed martial arts has spawned a veritable proving ground before one hits the ultimate proving ground. The regional circuit – once its own autonomous thing reserved for Saturday nights and local heroes – has become a feeder system to the next tier of organizations who come equipped with television deals and a roster lined with talent of both the recognizable and unknown varieties.Such is the environment in these worlds that a fighter c … Read the Full Article Here

When sizing up 2013, Quinn Mulhern had every intention of making it the best year of his professional career.The 29-year-old Jackson’s MMA fighter had built solid momentum under the Strikeforce banner by winning three consecutive showings, and with the doors of the San Jose-based promotion closing for good in the New Year, Mulhern had his sights set on making an immediate impact inside the Octagon. While his previous organization was also owned by the same parent company as his new home, everything – no matter how subtle the situation – comes with a unique level of intensity when the UFC stamp … Read the Full Article Here

Revenge can be a very powerful form of motivation.What initially starts out as an impulse slowly takes over the thought process, and once it obtains a sense of urgency, the road to obsession is not too far away. For all the things Miesha Tate wanted for herself – and on a grander scale the sport of women’s MMA – the aftermath of her loss to Ronda Rousey was the perfect environment for the seeds of vengeance to grow.And honestly who could blame her? Where Tate had been outspoken about her wishes to see women receive the proper amount of respect in the sport even though the grand stage of the UF … Read the Full Article Here

An athlete who makes his or her living in combat sports knows a thing or two about adversity. The very nature of fighting for a living is facing the challenges and obstacles which come when the cage door closes, and success is determined by a fighter’s ability to handle those twists and turns at a high percentage rate.While Robbie Peralta has hit those strides at different times of his career, his most current stretch has come with a fair share of low spots. The 27-year-old Californian rode a seven-fight winning streak across multiple stages to earn a place on the UFC roster, and while he made … Read the Full Article Here

The featherweight division has been on fire as of late and Diego Brandao has been keeping pace with the action stride for stride. The winner of the 14th installment of The Ultimate Fighter is in the midst of what is arguably the best run of his career as he’s collected three consecutive victories over solid competition in the 145-pound ranks.While the Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter has enjoyed longer winning streaks, his current run has come under the bright lights of the sport’s biggest stage, and has moved him closer to the elite level of a highly competitive division. Where his continued pro … Read the Full Article Here