For The Ultimate Fighter 15 winner and Spokane native Michael Chiesa, UFC 173 in Las Vegas is a homecoming of sorts.Vegas holds many good, and a few sad, memories for the lightweight. It is the place, after all, where he realized his dream of fighting in the UFC, by fighting his way through a grueling 13 week tournament in front of the nation on TUF 15. It’s also where he learned of the passing of his loving father Mark, whom Chiesa says has always been his inspiration.“I try to live by my dad’s code,” says Chiesa. “He showed me the definition of hard work. He was a guy who showed up every day … Read the Full Article Here
For The Ultimate Fighter 15 winner and Spokane native Michael Chiesa, UFC 173 in Las Vegas is a homecoming of sorts.Vegas holds many good, and a few sad, memories for the lightweight. It is the place, after all, where he realized his dream of fighting in the UFC, by fighting his way through a grueling 13 week tournament in front of the nation on TUF 15. It’s also where he learned of the passing of his loving father Mark, whom Chiesa says has always been his inspiration.“I try to live by my dad’s code,” says Chiesa. “He showed me the definition of hard work. He was a guy who showed up every day … Read the Full Article Here
Long Island, New York has long been home to the red-headed stepchild of Big Apple sports franchises. Long gone are the dynasty days of the National Hockey League’s 1980-1983 NY Islanders, the upstart team that won four Stanley Cup championships in a row. And since the team plans a move to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center beginning in the 2015 season, it’s up to a few tough guys fighting out of the city’s blue collar towns to keep Long Island, Strong Island.“I just finished watching (UFC middleweight champion) Chris Weidman sparring with (UFC light heavyweight) Gian Villante,” says lightweight and TU … Read the Full Article Here
Long Island, New York has long been home to the red-headed stepchild of Big Apple sports franchises. Long gone are the dynasty days of the National Hockey League’s 1980-1983 NY Islanders, the upstart team that won four Stanley Cup championships in a row. And since the team plans a move to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center beginning in the 2015 season, it’s up to a few tough guys fighting out of the city’s blue collar towns to keep Long Island, Strong Island.“I just finished watching (UFC middleweight champion) Chris Weidman sparring with (UFC light heavyweight) Gian Villante,” says lightweight and TU … Read the Full Article Here
When you see Matt Brown sitting backstage with his headphones on before his UFC Fight Night main event against Brazilian Erick Silva on Saturday, don’t assume that he’s pumping himself up with hip hop or heavy metal like so many fighters do.In fact, Brown is likely not even thinking about his fight.For “The Immortal,” the tunes that flow into his head are designed to transport him to a different environment altogether. You could say Brown is searching for a momentary lapse of reason to prepare him for a competition that most mere mortals would find too unreasonable to pursue.”I listen to Pink … Read the Full Article Here
When you see Matt Brown sitting backstage with his headphones on before his UFC Fight Night main event against Brazilian Erick Silva on Saturday, don’t assume that he’s pumping himself up with hip hop or heavy metal like so many fighters do.In fact, Brown is likely not even thinking about his fight.For “The Immortal,” the tunes that flow into his head are designed to transport him to a different environment altogether. You could say Brown is searching for a momentary lapse of reason to prepare him for a competition that most mere mortals would find too unreasonable to pursue.”I listen to Pink … Read the Full Article Here
For many mixed martial artists from Brazil, fighting started on the beach with friends before and after school with a recreational martial art called Capoeira. It was no different for Belo Horizonte native and UFC middleweight Rafael “Sapo” Natal.“I started Capoeira with my friends in Brazil, “says Natal. “Every day after school we would get together and practice. Maybe I will try some Capoeira in my next fight, but then I discovered jiu-jitsu and after two years I was a world champion and after that, in 2003, I got into MMA.”Natal has never looked back, and at 31, he is realizing a childhood … Read the Full Article Here
For many mixed martial artists from Brazil, fighting started on the beach with friends before and after school with a recreational martial art called Capoeira. It was no different for Belo Horizonte native and UFC middleweight Rafael “Sapo” Natal.“I started Capoeira with my friends in Brazil, “says Natal. “Every day after school we would get together and practice. Maybe I will try some Capoeira in my next fight, but then I discovered jiu-jitsu and after two years I was a world champion and after that, in 2003, I got into MMA.”Natal has never looked back, and at 31, he is realizing a childhood … Read the Full Article Here
When female bantamweight Liz Carmouche faces perennial contender Miesha Tate at UFC on FOX 11 on April 19, the former Marine corporal will be entering the cage with a walkout song befitting her status as one of the toughest fighters in the division.“‘Va Va Voom To The Moon’ by Fans Of Jimmy Century will be my walk out song,” she said. “It inspires me with confidence.”With lyrics like, ‘You might be the king of hustle but I’m the muscle, you can be the king of bling but I’m the ring,’ it’s easy to see why. But the seventh-ranked bantamweight in the world admits she is going to have her hands fu … Read the Full Article Here
When female bantamweight Liz Carmouche faces perennial contender Miesha Tate at UFC on FOX 11 on April 19, the former Marine corporal will be entering the cage with a walkout song befitting her status as one of the toughest fighters in the division.“‘Va Va Voom To The Moon’ by Fans Of Jimmy Century will be my walk out song,” she said. “It inspires me with confidence.”With lyrics like, ‘You might be the king of hustle but I’m the muscle, you can be the king of bling but I’m the ring,’ it’s easy to see why. But the seventh-ranked bantamweight in the world admits she is going to have her hands fu … Read the Full Article Here
In a fighting sense, Akira Corassani fancies himself a gangster. And while Renzo Gracie, the leader of the Renzo Gracie Fight Team, may be the Godfather, if you talk to the UFC featherweight, he is a more than willing soldier in his second family. “Everything I’m doing here in America and my development as a fighter, I give all credit to Ricardo Almeida, Mark Henry, Brian Blue, Chris Ligouri, Steve Rivera, Frankie Edgar, Frankie Perez, Jamal Patterson, Edson Barboza and Marlon Moraes,” he says. “We’re the East Coast Mafia man. We’re taking over.”Corassani will be facing one of the toughest guy … Read the Full Article Here
In a fighting sense, Akira Corassani fancies himself a gangster. And while Renzo Gracie, the leader of the Renzo Gracie Fight Team, may be the Godfather, if you talk to the UFC featherweight, he is a more than willing soldier in his second family. “Everything I’m doing here in America and my development as a fighter, I give all credit to Ricardo Almeida, Mark Henry, Brian Blue, Chris Ligouri, Steve Rivera, Frankie Edgar, Frankie Perez, Jamal Patterson, Edson Barboza and Marlon Moraes,” he says. “We’re the East Coast Mafia man. We’re taking over.”Corassani will be facing one of the toughest guy … Read the Full Article Here