Author: JP Smith

The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You–Episode 5

This week’s episode of The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You–Episode 5, brought to us by Round 5 and aired on collectbrucelee.com, features current UFC fighter Matt Mitrione and The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 contestant Andy Main, speaking ab…

This week’s episode of The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You–Episode 5, brought to us by Round 5 and aired on collectbrucelee.com, features current UFC fighter Matt Mitrione and The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 contestant Andy Main, speaking about Bruce Lee’s affect on the future of Mixed Martial Arts and the world.

Main speaks quietly, calmly and almost solemnly about his hero and the man who has inspired the universe.

“Bruce Lee has been an icon for martial arts in general and for me personally. I believe that Bruce Lee was really the first true mixed martial artist.”

What are the first words that come to mind when you think of Bruce Lee?

To Mitrione, they are “legend, originator…just one of a kind.”

Many people, both fighters and fans alike, may not have known that Lee regularly incorporated various forms of grappling into his training regimen.

“I have his book–The Tao of Jeet Kune Do–it’s still underneath my bed and I remember reading through it.

“That was actually the first exposure to grappling that I ever had…I don’t remember if it was takedowns, but it was some forms of grappling in the book. So, it was really awesome,” remembers Main.

No matter whom you ask about what Lee means to them, you will undoubtedly receive a unique answer in reply.

“Bruce Lee has impacted me in several ways, but more than anything else it’s the consciousness of unconscious movement; letting whatever happens happen, but making sure you’re always in control of whatever the situation is,” comments Mitrione.

The creators of this series, Round 5, a Canadian Mixed Martial Arts toy company would love to hear from the readers on how Bruce Lee has affected their lives.

To watch the previous episodes 1-4 go to collectbrucelee.com’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA News: Jon Jones & the Sport of MMA Needs Your Help

If you haven’t heard the news lately, the Mixed Martial Arts community is desperately trying to get the quickly growing sport sanctioned in New York State. MMA is legally sanctioned in 45 out of 48 of our great states that have athletic commissio…

If you haven’t heard the news lately, the Mixed Martial Arts community is desperately trying to get the quickly growing sport sanctioned in New York State.

MMA is legally sanctioned in 45 out of 48 of our great states that have athletic commissions, but still remains completely banned in the state of New York.

UFC President, Dana White has been the biggest advocate for the sport since he stepped onto the scene in 2001, when Zuffa, LLC purchased what is now the largest MMA promotion in the world.

While he may be the most active, White is not the only one pressing for change. We have also been hearing from the voices of the fighters themselves, the latest of which is none-other than native New Yorker and UFC light heavyweight champion, Jonny “Bones” Jones.

A letter written by Jones to the people of the United States went out in the MMAFacts.com newsletter today, urging us to take action now as there are only five days left before the legislative session ends.

 

Hi everyone,

Thanks to everyone who came out or watched me win the light heavyweight championship at UFC 128 in Newark! It was truly an honor and NY MMA fans are always incredible.

But as great as New Jersey was to visit, I wish I could compete in front of my friends and family in my home state of New York! Fighting in MSG would be a dream – it would be a feeling of making it. That’s why I need your help.

The New York State Senate has already passed the bill sanctioning MMA and the NYS Assembly passed it through the Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee, so we’re halfway there. I’ve been to Albany myself to talk to legislators, but I know that’s not enough. Elected officials need to know that their constituents want this bill passed. That’s where you come in.

Please call your Assemblyman or Assemblywoman by clicking here, and ask your friends to do the same.

If we can help push the bill through the Assembly, we’ll finally be able to watch fights in Madison Square Garden, my hometown of Rochester, and across this great state!

With only five days left before session ends, your calls are more important than ever. It only take a minute, we can do this!

Sincerely,

Jon

 

If you’re not a resident of New York, but would still like your voice to be heard, click here to sign the petition.


Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA News: UFC Middleweight Contender Chael Sonnen Calls out Lyoto Machida

According to his post on Twitter, UFC middleweight title contender, Chael Sonnen has officially called out Brazilian UFC light heavyweight title contender, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. “Hey Anderson, stick to what your country doe…

According to his post on Twitter, UFC middleweight title contender, Chael Sonnen has officially called out Brazilian UFC light heavyweight title contender, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

“Hey Anderson, stick to what your country does best; like soccer or harboring infectious disease. Oh, and tell Lyoto that I’M CALLING HIM OUT,” said Sonnen via his Twitter account.

With legal issues preventing the sanctioning of Sonnen by the California State Athletic Commission, time will only tell when he will be seen back in action.

Should Sonnen get his wish to face Machida, UFC fans will no doubt be excited for this potential matchup.

Sonnen is known for his outspoken and downright hilarious commentary outside of the cage, along with his brutal, non-stop blend of wrestling, boxing and sheer dominance inside the cage.

With a professional record of 25 wins and 11 losses, Sonnen is the only man to beat UFC middleweight champion, Anderson “The Spider” Silva for all five championship rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, until he got caught in a triangle choke at the end of Round Five and was forced to tap.

He also is the only fighter to drop Silva to the canvas, if even for a moment.

Sonnen by definition is a true fighter through and through and is notorious for being willing to fight anyone at any time, as he’s thrown verbal hand jabs at just about every UFC champion in every weight class above lightweight.

Regardless of whether he will get his wish to face Machida or not, you can be sure that whoever he fights next will be in for the fight of their life.

You can follow Sonnen on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/sonnench

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA Video: MMA Fighter vs. Street Fighter Behind Closed Doors

In this Youtube video, we see a fighter who some believe to be TUF 12 contestant Nam Phan as he demonstrates why a typical street fighter should never step into the cage against an experienced Mixed Martial Artist. While we have no confi…

In this Youtube video, we see a fighter who some believe to be TUF 12 contestant Nam Phan as he demonstrates why a typical street fighter should never step into the cage against an experienced Mixed Martial Artist.

While we have no confirmation at this time as to who the mysterious knockout artist actually is, he apparently knows what he’s doing as demonstrated by this vicious right hand, followed up with some serious ground n’ pound.

Regardless of who this fighter is, he handles himself like a professional against an obviously less-experienced, but much larger opponent.

While weight classes are a necessity in professional competition fighting, behind closed doors anything goes. This fight is a bit reminiscent of the early UFC fights when weight classes were nonexistent.

Remember kids, if you’re going to step up against a well-trained MMA fighter, keep your hands up and pray that you can somehow survive the onslaught that potentially awaits you.

 

UPDATE: We now have confirmation that the fighter in this video is indeed Nam Phan.

Check out this exclusive Bleacher Report MMA video in which Pham discusses his early, underground MMA events before the sport was sanctioned.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BleacherReportMMA1

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA Video: The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You–Episode 3

Canadian Mixed Martial Arts toy company, Round 5 has released the third episode in a 14-part mini-series titled, The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You. In today’s episode, the camera follows former WEC lightweight champion and current UFC ligh…

Canadian Mixed Martial Arts toy company, Round 5 has released the third episode in a 14-part mini-series titled, The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You.

In today’s episode, the camera follows former WEC lightweight champion and current UFC lightweight contender, Ben “Smooth” Henderson and former WEC and current UFC bantamweight fighter, Eddie Wineland behind the scenes of a UFC event as they talk about what Lee means to them, the sport of MMA and martial arts as a whole.

There is no doubt that Lee has touched the lives of millions across the globe in many ways, not just fighting.

“The first words that come to mind when I think of Bruce Lee [are] beautiful technician.

“Not just the martial arts aspect, but the way he lived his life in general, the way he lived his life in general, everything he did and the way he lived his life–awesome,” said Henderson.

To Eddie Wineland, Lee is a legend and he’s not alone with his thought.

“Bruce Lee, they guy’s a legend. I think he put martial arts on the map. Before, it was just Karate and all of that other stuff. But, him coming up with Jeet Kune Do and having his own style; the guy was just amazing.

“I mean, lighting fast–the guy is just a legend.”

Round 5 would appreciate the reader’s participation by telling us what Bruce Lee means to you and how he has affected your lives.

Make sure to catch Episode 4 of The Bruce Lee Story: As Told by You on collectbrucelee.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Round 5–Bruce Lee Limited Edition Figures Exclusive Sneak Peek

Canadian toy company Round 5 is at it again and has really outdone themselves this time. The release of the Bruce Lee Limited Edition line of figures has been confirmed by Round 5 and Bleacher Report has the privilege of showing an exclusive preview to…

Canadian toy company Round 5 is at it again and has really outdone themselves this time.

The release of the Bruce Lee Limited Edition line of figures has been confirmed by Round 5 and Bleacher Report has the privilege of showing an exclusive preview to all of you Bruce Lee fans out there!

To commemorate the release of this awesome new figure line, Damon Lau and the good people at Round 5 have filmed a 14 part mini-series titled, The Bruce Lees Story: As Told by You in which several people from the Mixed Martial Arts community, as well as actors and other known celebrities tell us how Lee has affected each of their lives in various ways.

Known as a martial artist first and foremost and creator of the martial art known as Jeet Kune Do or “Way of the intercepting Fist,” Lee has most certainly inspired everyone from Chuck Norris to Miguel Torres—and changed the landscape of martial arts forever.

Many people may not know that, besides being a martial artist and actor, Lee was writer, fight choreographer, loving husband and father, too.

Take a look at the mini-slide show and check out these incredible figures from Round 5 that are scheduled for release sometime in the fall of 2011.

If they aren’t enough to get you salivating, I don’t know what will!

Be sure to check out the The Bruce Lee Story: As told by You – Episode 2 on collectbrucelee.com.

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