Rob Font: Slow and Steady

Chances are you’ve heard Aesop’s classic fable about the tortoise and the hare – two unevenly matched competitors who engaged in a race.As the story goes, the hare rockets out to an early lead and, confident that he’s got the slow, plodding tortoise beaten handily, opts for a mid-race nap only to wake and discover that the methodical land-dwelling reptile has overtaken him and emerged victorious.The mixed martial arts version of this story plays out on the regional circuit, where eager fighters jockey for position, stockpiling victories in hopes of getting the call to the UFC.Some approach it … Read the Full Article Here

Chances are you’ve heard Aesop’s classic fable about the tortoise and the hare – two unevenly matched competitors who engaged in a race.As the story goes, the hare rockets out to an early lead and, confident that he’s got the slow, plodding tortoise beaten handily, opts for a mid-race nap only to wake and discover that the methodical land-dwelling reptile has overtaken him and emerged victorious.The mixed martial arts version of this story plays out on the regional circuit, where eager fighters jockey for position, stockpiling victories in hopes of getting the call to the UFC.Some approach it … Read the Full Article Here

Cub Swanson: The Long, Hard Road

Silence fills the line as a question that is equal parts simple and complex stops Cub Swanson dead in his tracks.Though he’s not much of a talker, the Palms Springs, California native has always been a thoughtful interview subject – someone that takes the time to answer every question in a thorough, genuine manner rather than breaking off platitudes and pulling another pat response from a well-rehearsed script.On the cusp of returning to the cage for the first time in just under a year and poised to position himself as the No. 1 contender in the talented featherweight division, being asked to … Read the Full Article Here

Silence fills the line as a question that is equal parts simple and complex stops Cub Swanson dead in his tracks.Though he’s not much of a talker, the Palms Springs, California native has always been a thoughtful interview subject – someone that takes the time to answer every question in a thorough, genuine manner rather than breaking off platitudes and pulling another pat response from a well-rehearsed script.On the cusp of returning to the cage for the first time in just under a year and poised to position himself as the No. 1 contender in the talented featherweight division, being asked to … Read the Full Article Here

Charles Oliveira: Beyond the Numbers

There are times when a fighter’s record doesn’t paint a complete picture. Though it lists their recent appearances and the outcome of those bouts, there is context and information that exists beyond the end result.Charles Oliveira has stepped into the Octagon 10 times. He’s 5-4 with a no contest to this point, leaving him one win on the happy side of average under the UFC banner, a record that doesn’t exactly jump off the page at you upon first glance.Perhaps more than any fighter on the UFC roster right now, the Brazilian featherweight falls into that “there is more to it than wins and losses … Read the Full Article Here

There are times when a fighter’s record doesn’t paint a complete picture. Though it lists their recent appearances and the outcome of those bouts, there is context and information that exists beyond the end result.Charles Oliveira has stepped into the Octagon 10 times. He’s 5-4 with a no contest to this point, leaving him one win on the happy side of average under the UFC banner, a record that doesn’t exactly jump off the page at you upon first glance.Perhaps more than any fighter on the UFC roster right now, the Brazilian featherweight falls into that “there is more to it than wins and losses … Read the Full Article Here

Carlos Diego Ferreira: Under Construction

A month before making his UFC debut, incoming lightweight Carlos Diego Ferreira was in San Diego preparing. With the emergence of Alliance MMA over the last several years, the California haven has become a choice training camp destination for many fighters, but it was a different kind of competition that brought the Brazilian to town.Ferreira, like thousands of others, descended upon Long Beach, California for the IBJJF World Championships at the end of May, competing alongside 65 others in the Adult Male Black Belt Middle division. Though things ultimately didn’t go his way on the mats, the u … Read the Full Article Here

A month before making his UFC debut, incoming lightweight Carlos Diego Ferreira was in San Diego preparing. With the emergence of Alliance MMA over the last several years, the California haven has become a choice training camp destination for many fighters, but it was a different kind of competition that brought the Brazilian to town.Ferreira, like thousands of others, descended upon Long Beach, California for the IBJJF World Championships at the end of May, competing alongside 65 others in the Adult Male Black Belt Middle division. Though things ultimately didn’t go his way on the mats, the u … Read the Full Article Here

Jake Matthews: Dedicated to the Dream

“I always say that with hard work and focus, dreams do come true. I believe that if you implement those two things, it’s inevitable that you’re going to succeed.”While some may dismiss the above quote as run-of-the-mill motivational material, it carries a different weight when it comes from Jake Matthews because at just 19 years old, “The Celtic Kid” is a testament to the words he speaks.A member of Team Australia on The Ultimate Fighter Nations, the unbeaten Melbourne native had a disappointing performance on the show, looking flat in a loss to eventual finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier in the w … Read the Full Article Here

“I always say that with hard work and focus, dreams do come true. I believe that if you implement those two things, it’s inevitable that you’re going to succeed.”While some may dismiss the above quote as run-of-the-mill motivational material, it carries a different weight when it comes from Jake Matthews because at just 19 years old, “The Celtic Kid” is a testament to the words he speaks.A member of Team Australia on The Ultimate Fighter Nations, the unbeaten Melbourne native had a disappointing performance on the show, looking flat in a loss to eventual finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier in the w … Read the Full Article Here

Ovince Saint Preux: Filling in the Blanks

From lightweight through heavyweight, fighters that used to compete under the Strikeforce banner hold down at least one spot in the Top 5 in each of those divisions, to say nothing of the women’s bantamweight ranks, where champion Ronda Rousey and five members of the Top 10 all count themselves as alums as well.Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Gilbert Melendez and Robbie Lawler have already fought for UFC gold, as did Nick Diaz, who transitioned to the UFC sooner than his contemporaries. Daniel Cormier is next in line in the 205-pound ranks, and Tyron Woodley isn’t too far off at welterweight either.N … Read the Full Article Here

From lightweight through heavyweight, fighters that used to compete under the Strikeforce banner hold down at least one spot in the Top 5 in each of those divisions, to say nothing of the women’s bantamweight ranks, where champion Ronda Rousey and five members of the Top 10 all count themselves as alums as well.Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Gilbert Melendez and Robbie Lawler have already fought for UFC gold, as did Nick Diaz, who transitioned to the UFC sooner than his contemporaries. Daniel Cormier is next in line in the 205-pound ranks, and Tyron Woodley isn’t too far off at welterweight either.N … Read the Full Article Here