Author: By Duane Finley

As a fighter makes the transition from prospect to contender, adapting to a rapidly changing environment is a major part of the game. The talent level of the competition increases. A fighter’s profile and visibility shifts into a higher gear. And the bar rises on the expectation of performance inside the cage. While the transition can be difficult for some fighters to handle, the process is a necessary stage if a fighter hopes to rise into the championship realm.For surging lightweight Edson Barboza, the lessons learned along the way have made all the difference.The 27-year-old Brazilian earne … Read the Full Article Here

The UFC is synonymous with fighting. And on Wednesday afternoon, the sport’s most successful promotion took on a different kind of battle.With a collection of the superstars from their roster in tow, the UFC descended into downtown Las Vegas for an event dedicated to helping the needy children of the city. In conjunction with Zappos and as a part of their “Fight Week 2013” celebration, the UFC and their fighters brought 100 pairs of shoes to the children of Boys Town Nevada.The UFC has worked closely with Boys Town Nevada for the past decade, providing assistance in various forms over the cour … Read the Full Article Here

From 2005 to 2010, Jake Shields was recognized as one of the best fighters in the world. The Californian rose to prominence on the strength of an impressive 15-fight winning streak that spanned two different weight classes and included victories over the likes of Carlos Condit, Yushin Okami, Robbie Lawler and MMA legend Dan Henderson. During this time, Shields collected championships and critical acclaim, being recognized as one of the best fighters competing outside of the UFC Octagon. In the summer of 2010, the then-Strikeforce middleweight champion jumped ship, joining the UFC and beginning … Read the Full Article Here

When you are a fighter competing on the sport’s biggest stage, pressure is something you are familiar with. But when you are a young fighter, looking to gain traction with the most successful promotion in mixed martial arts, and you are in the midst of a two-fight losing skid, the pressure amplifies to an entirely different level.This is the reality Dustin Pague is facing.After competing on the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter, “The Disciple” entered the UFC fold looking to establish himself amongst the best in MMA. But that journey has been rife with struggle as the 25-year-old has found v … Read the Full Article Here

Young, hungry and aggressive.While there are other ways to describe Mike Wilkinson’s fighting style, those three words are as close to center as it gets. The 25-year-old Brit brings a hard-charging, no nonsense approach with him into the cage and is dead set on making his presence known inside the world famous Octagon. The Manchester native understands establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the featherweight division is going to be a sizable task, but adversity isn’t anything he’s conditioned to shy away from. After being selected to compete in The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes … Read the Full Article Here

When the “British Invasion” hit the UFC several years ago, the doors to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts were flung open, and fighters across the United Kingdom set their sights on making a home in the UFC.Seemingly overnight, scores of hard-nosed Brits took to the Octagon in hopes of battling their way onto the organization’s roster. Some would eventually climb high enough to obtain superstar status, where others broke against the harsh realities of the sport’s ultimate proving ground. While the high tide of the British surge would come and go, the avenues of export laid down by the in … Read the Full Article Here