Author: By Duane Finley

In the unpredictable world of mixed martial arts nothing is guaranteed…especially where title shots are concerned. Combat sports are realms where the large majority of triumphs are earned by the efficiency of work done in the live-fire environment of hand-to-hand squabbles. If you are the better man on fight night, and your hand is raised upon the bout’s conclusion, your opponent watches as the lion’s share of everything moves in your direction.The winner gets his hand raised. The winner gets his full fight purse on fight night. The winner receives the accolades and the promise of bigger thing … Read the Full Article Here

John Dodson’s enthusiasm is almost a tangible quality.The scrappy 29-year-old is one of the fight game’s most rambunctious figures, as his hyper-drive personality outside of the cage equals his kinetic energy inside. A paradox of good will and bad intentions; he flashes his larger than life smile just before the action begins, but as soon as the referee steps aside, he’s throwing thunder in an effort to put the opposition on their back.Once the fight concludes, the smile returns. And while it may seem like a reflection of his handiwork, the truth of the matter has more to do with the bigger pi … Read the Full Article Here

Thiago Silva’s reputation precedes him.The Brazilian knockout artist’s stone-cold stare and his aggressive killer instinct inside the Octagon have made the 30-year-old one of the most feared light heavyweights on the planet. While he’s yet to reach the championship level of the UFC’s crown jewel division, that doesn’t take anything away from the fact Silva is one of the toughest customers in the game.And that is where the reputation part comes in.Since coming to the sport’s biggest stage in 2007, the Team Blackzilians fighter has picked up eight victories. Two of those wins would be overturned … Read the Full Article Here

Mixed martial arts is a sport driven by the passion invested by the competitors inside the cage and the legions of fans supporting them from beyond the bright lights. For every significant victory or impressive performance a fighter logs in the live-fire environment of the Octagon, that work is amplified by the impression that action left on the fighting faithful.The momentum created by fan support can become fuel to motivation a fighter throughout his journey. While the attention span of the MMA fan base is undoubtedly fickle – giving and taking their adoration based on outcomes – there is a … Read the Full Article Here

Every time a fighter steps out into the Octagon, another career opportunity is presented.Whether that step is a jump to title contention, righting the ship to get back on track, or turning a corner where progress is concerned, each fight is a chance to move forward. Yet not every effort produces the desired results, and some contests carry a different weight of urgency. For veteran Chris Cariaso, the steps traveled throughout his seven years as a professional mixed martial artist have brought him to an interesting place. Over the course of his career, the Tucson-based fighter has proven to be … Read the Full Article Here

First impressions are crucial, especially when it is a moment a decade in the making.Every fighter who straps on the 4 oz. leather gloves does so with the hopes of one day competing on the sport’s biggest stage, and these dreams and ambitions have never been lost on Igor Araujo. The scrappy Brazilian honed his craft and built a solid resume by toppling the competition on multiple regional circuits, all in hopes of one day getting the call to join the UFC roster.With the ultra-competitive nature of the business and spots under the UFC banner limited, Araujo subscribed to the notion that hard wo … Read the Full Article Here