Mark Munoz: Out of the Darkness and Into the Octagon

“I’m in the best shape of my career. I’ve never felt this good before.”We’ve heard it a thousand times from a thousand fighters. Some break out one of the sport’s chief clichés every other fight. It’s gotten to the point that we just accept it to be a half-truth.After all, what fighter is going to tell the reporters hovered around them at a media event or the guy on the other end of the phone asking questions that training camp hasn’t gone as well as it could; that they’re a little heavier than they’d like to be heading into fight week, and that ideally, they’d have two or three additional wee … Read the Full Article Here

“I’m in the best shape of my career. I’ve never felt this good before.”We’ve heard it a thousand times from a thousand fighters. Some break out one of the sport’s chief clichés every other fight. It’s gotten to the point that we just accept it to be a half-truth.After all, what fighter is going to tell the reporters hovered around them at a media event or the guy on the other end of the phone asking questions that training camp hasn’t gone as well as it could; that they’re a little heavier than they’d like to be heading into fight week, and that ideally, they’d have two or three additional wee … Read the Full Article Here

Mike Pierce’s New Attitude

Mike Pierce sports an 8-3 record in the UFC.Of the three men to beat him, only Johny Hendricks has yet to fight for a title, and that fact will change come November, “Good Lord willing” as Hendricks would say. Last time out, Pierce put an end to Seth Baczynski’s six fight winning streak, his third consecutive victory since losing a close, debated split decision to Josh Koscheck at UFC 143.Next Saturday night, the 32-year-old Portland, Oregon native will return to action at UFC 162. Rather than taking on a fellow fringe contender in a preliminary card bout feature on FX, Pierce will serve as on … Read the Full Article Here

Mike Pierce sports an 8-3 record in the UFC.Of the three men to beat him, only Johny Hendricks has yet to fight for a title, and that fact will change come November, “Good Lord willing” as Hendricks would say. Last time out, Pierce put an end to Seth Baczynski’s six fight winning streak, his third consecutive victory since losing a close, debated split decision to Josh Koscheck at UFC 143.Next Saturday night, the 32-year-old Portland, Oregon native will return to action at UFC 162. Rather than taking on a fellow fringe contender in a preliminary card bout feature on FX, Pierce will serve as on … Read the Full Article Here

Rashad Evans: Refocused and Ready To Fight

All that matters is this fight.The last fight is history, and what comes next is completely unknown, so heading into UFC 161, all Rashad Evans is thinking about are Dan Henderson and the task at hand.That’s a very different mindset and set of circumstances than what the former Ultimate Fighter winner and UFC light heavyweight champion has usually encountered during fight week.A fixture at or near the top of the 205-pound weight class for the better part of the last five years, each of Evans’ last 10 or 11 fights have been accompanied by championship implications and one eye on the future. For … Read the Full Article Here

All that matters is this fight.The last fight is history, and what comes next is completely unknown, so heading into UFC 161, all Rashad Evans is thinking about are Dan Henderson and the task at hand.That’s a very different mindset and set of circumstances than what the former Ultimate Fighter winner and UFC light heavyweight champion has usually encountered during fight week.A fixture at or near the top of the 205-pound weight class for the better part of the last five years, each of Evans’ last 10 or 11 fights have been accompanied by championship implications and one eye on the future. For … Read the Full Article Here

Stipe Miocic: The Rebound

In team sports, where lengthy regular season schedules serve as the prelude to the arduous grind known as the playoffs, suffering a loss or two or 30 along the way isn’t uncommon.Over an 80-game schedule, a .625 winning percentage is good for a top four seed in the second season, and home field advantage for at least one round of the playoffs. Getting invited to the dance is the first order of business, and from there, as long as you always win one more than the other guys, you can still emerge as the champions when everything is said and done.In fighting, every loss matters.Wins move you forw … Read the Full Article Here

In team sports, where lengthy regular season schedules serve as the prelude to the arduous grind known as the playoffs, suffering a loss or two or 30 along the way isn’t uncommon.Over an 80-game schedule, a .625 winning percentage is good for a top four seed in the second season, and home field advantage for at least one round of the playoffs. Getting invited to the dance is the first order of business, and from there, as long as you always win one more than the other guys, you can still emerge as the champions when everything is said and done.In fighting, every loss matters.Wins move you forw … Read the Full Article Here

The Evolution of Pat Barry

Most fighters competing at the highest level in the sport will tell you that their sights have been set on becoming a champions since long before they got the call to join the UFC roster.Fighting on the regional circuit, the opportunity to step into the Octagon serves as motivation, but envisioning Dana White wrapping that 12 pounds of leather and gold around their waist is the ultimate goal, fueling training sessions and standing as the answer every time they ask themselves, “Why am I doing this?”Pat Barry isn’t most fighters.The charismatic UFC heavyweight is a cult hero amongst fight fans; … Read the Full Article Here

Most fighters competing at the highest level in the sport will tell you that their sights have been set on becoming a champions since long before they got the call to join the UFC roster.Fighting on the regional circuit, the opportunity to step into the Octagon serves as motivation, but envisioning Dana White wrapping that 12 pounds of leather and gold around their waist is the ultimate goal, fueling training sessions and standing as the answer every time they ask themselves, “Why am I doing this?”Pat Barry isn’t most fighters.The charismatic UFC heavyweight is a cult hero amongst fight fans; … Read the Full Article Here

Shawn Jordan: The Savage is Still Learning

Following an impressive career on the gridiron at Louisiana State University, you wouldn’t think Shawn Jordan would be fazed by stepping into an athletic competition in front of a packed arena.After all, LSU plays their home games before more than 90,000 people at Tiger Stadium, and Jordan was a part of two National Championship teams during his time donning the purple and yellow. But there is a difference between stepping onto the football field with your teammates and walking into the Octagon solo, and despite his big game experience, the UFC heavyweight is still getting used to being one of … Read the Full Article Here

Following an impressive career on the gridiron at Louisiana State University, you wouldn’t think Shawn Jordan would be fazed by stepping into an athletic competition in front of a packed arena.After all, LSU plays their home games before more than 90,000 people at Tiger Stadium, and Jordan was a part of two National Championship teams during his time donning the purple and yellow. But there is a difference between stepping onto the football field with your teammates and walking into the Octagon solo, and despite his big game experience, the UFC heavyweight is still getting used to being one of … Read the Full Article Here