How many times have we heard the phrase “wrestling is the best base to have before entering MMA?” While the grinding style of some wrestlers is not always entertaining (cough, Jon Fitch, cough), it is hard to argue that it is effective. Wel…
How many times have we heard the phrase “wrestling is the best base to have before entering MMA?”
While the grinding style of some wrestlers is not always entertaining (cough, Jon Fitch, cough), it is hard to argue that it is effective.
Welterweight prospect Rick Story is one of many strong wrestlers looking to stake their claim as an upper echelon talent at 170 pounds.
After his upset win over Thiago Alves at UFC 129, “The Horror” Story is well on his way to that point.
Let’s take a look at a dozen of the most successful wrestlers in MMA right now; this list is in no particular order.
After weeks of trash talk, injury updates, opponent changes and motorboating, we now know that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will meet Jon Jones at UFC 135 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. Jackson is coming off of a decision win against Mat…
After weeks of trash talk, injury updates, opponent changes and motorboating, we now know that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will meet Jon Jones at UFC 135 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
Jackson is coming off of a decision win against Matt Hamill at UFC 130, while Jones has been nursing a hand injury since winning the title in March.
Jackson is a former UFC Lightweight Champion whose main goal is to knock guys out. As of late, though, Jackson has only been able to win (or lose) by decision.
Jones, on the other hand, has looked unstoppable, dominating each of his fights.
Can the former champ get his belt back? Or will Jones prove to be too much and continue his rise? Here’s an early breakdown of the fight!
Nate “The Great” Marquardt makes his debut in the welterweight division at UFC on Versus 4 event Sunday in Pittsburgh.But Marquardt’s success has been made in the middleweight division, where he ranks among the top five UFC fighters all-time in takedow…
Nate “The Great” Marquardt makes his debut in the welterweight division at UFC on Versus 4 event Sunday in Pittsburgh.
But Marquardt’s success has been made in the middleweight division, where he ranks among the top five UFC fighters all-time in takedown accuracy.
Making the list with Marquardt are two current champions and one fighter who also is scheduled to compete at UFC on Versus 4.
Charlie may be funny all right, but Dana always seems to have the last laugh Dana White is perfectly encapsulated by the following alliteration; Bald Bonce, Beer-Belly, Brawler-Boss, Brash Businessman, Big Balls, Big Bucks (any more double-Bs rela…
Charlie may be funny all right, but Dana always seems to have the last laugh
Dana White is perfectly encapsulated by the following alliteration; Bald Bonce, Beer-Belly, Brawler-Boss, Brash Businessman, Big Balls, Big Bucks (any more double-Bs related to the Baldfather, please let us know in the comments section).
Indeed, you will be hard pushed to identify another global sport in which followers are permitted such an insight into its competing personalities as MMA.
This is best epitomised by Dana, the frontman of the entire operation and the unequivocal face of the Mixed Martial Arts, who proactively and consciously represents the sport at all available opportunities.
Dana constantly uploads video blogs (vlogs) which chronicle his quotidian activities, particularly leading up to and during major events. When was the last time Don King, or Oscar de la Hoya granted the fans such backstage access into their dealings?
Señor White even has a doll (though he would be quick to assert that it’s actually an “action figurine”) dedicated to him. Drawing upon the same comparison, do Don King and ODLH boast statuettes? And even if they did, would anyone purchase them?
Whilst polarising opinion amongst certain fans, fighters and media men, the preponderance would confess an admiration for the likable CEO. Whilst cynics might detect ulterior motives, he seems to be a genuinely decent bloke and generally appears to look out for the best interests of the fighters and the sport as a whole.
I shall conclude this point with the “humble” opinion of Sean McCorkle, “To all of you that ask me what Dana is like, he’s pretty much exactly like you see him on his video logs. Definitely the coolest and most down to earth dude worth a couple hundred million bucks you’ll ever meet.”
However, this article purports to demonstrate the grand nature of Dana’s existence, rather than a character assessment per se.
Just when it looked like MMA was making ground to get sanctioned in New York, fans and fighters alike will again have to play the waiting game. Bloody Elbow has just reported that the MMA bill is absent “on the Agenda of the Ways and Means Commit…
Just when it looked like MMA was making ground to get sanctioned in New York, fans and fighters alike will again have to play the waiting game.
Bloody Elbow has just reported that the MMA bill is absent “on the Agenda of the Ways and Means Committee, which all but kills its chances.”
Bob Reilly, who has been serving as a Democratic New York State Assemblyman since 2004, has been the main man leading the crusade against the sport recently.
However, plenty of members of the New York legislature agree with Reilly’s stance.
Herman Farrell, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, was not very subtle in expressing his feelings about the combat in the cage.
“I don’t think very much of the sport,” Farrell said. “Next we’ll give them clubs with spikes on the end; that will be good.”
Obviously, Farrell agrees with Reilly that the sport is barbaric and should not be welcomed into the mainstream.
Justin Klein, who writes the Fight Lawyer Blog, assured tried to comfort MMA aficionados by pointing out simple facts that could help a similar bill in the future.
“Despite the setback, there is some room for optimism this year. Indeed, there was more mainstream media attention to the issue, which I believe and have previously written will be critical if we are going to get this done.”
Klein also added, “Moreover, the votes (when votes occurred) were more favorable to MMA than past years.”
Since West Virginia legalized MMA back in mid-March of this year, New York, Connecticut and Vermont remain the only three states that do not sanction the sport.
Current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who grew up in New York, issued this statement regarding the situation just less than a month ago:
“Critics of MMA have claimed different reasons for opposing regulation. But as our millions of fans and anyone who has been paying attention knows, these claims don’t hold up.”
“First they said it wasn’t a real sport. But MMA is the fastest-growing sport in the world, sets event gate and concession records, and millions watch fights on pay-per-view TV. We are highly trained athletes, Olympians and All-American college wrestlers.”
“MMA has gone mainstream. Fighters appear in ads for Microsoft, and UFC sponsors include the Marines, Harley Davidson and Anheuser-Busch. And it’s hard to argue with dollar figures. A recent study found New York regulation would generate $23 million in economic activity and create hundreds of local jobs.”
“Then detractors said it wasn’t safe. But we have some of the most rigorous safety standards, drug testing and officiating in professional sports.”
“All that our critics have left to say is MMA is barbaric. It is full of strategy, fluidity. Highly conditioned athletes look for momentary points of leverage and advantage — combining karate, jiu jitsu, wrestling and kickboxing, which can take decades to master.”
“MMA isn’t for everyone. But to call it brutal is to misunderstand the sport, its athletes and its fans. We’re not masochists, we’re college graduates, role models, Olympic champions. We have a greater safety record than the NFL and boxing, and with millions of fans, we are not going away.”
Speaking with Sergio Non from the USA Today, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones was candid with his current skill-set, admiration by MMA experts and his future within the sport.Humbled and flattered that he is considered one of the top po…
Speaking with Sergio Non from the USA Today, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones was candid with his current skill-set, admiration by MMA experts and his future within the sport.
Humbled and flattered that he is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, Jones stated that his one weakness is his jiu-jitsu game.
“I think jiu-jitsu is my biggest flaw,” Jones said, “and it’s something I’m attacking everyday to become the pound-for-pound best.”
A recent rivalry with “Suga” Rashad Evans has spawned since Jones captured the UFC championship on March 19, 2011 with a crushing defeat of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
“I practiced against Rashad on many days and in practice I always felt like I had the upper hand technically and strength wise and all facets of the sport,” Jones said.
The Jones-Evans rivalry will continue to build as both fighters are scheduled to compete against separate competition prior to possibly facing each other inside the Octagon.
On September 24, Jones will challenge Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 135.
Prior to the “Bones” – “Rampage” duel, Evans will square off against Phil Davis on August 6 at UFC 133.
If both Jones and Evans are victorious in their matchups, a future contest between these two former teammates is inevitable.
At just 23 years old, Jones is the youngest title-holder ever within the UFC.
Not only is “Bones” a dynamic fighter inside the Octagon and a tremendous fan favorite, he also receives accolades from fellow UFC competitors for his talents.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite fighter to watch of the young, up-and-coming crowd is Jon Jones,” UFC heavyweight Junior dos Santos said. “I think Jon Jones surprised the whole world with his talent and his excellent fighting execution.”
Pioneering offensive moves inside the cage has become a forte of Jon Jones. Whether it be spinning back kicks, spinning back elbows, knee strikes from about every angle and any position, Jones is quickly becoming the inventor of a myriad of movies copied by others.
“Seeing guys like Anthony Pettis throwing that kick off the cage, seeing guys do spinning back fists or spinning back kicks and stuff, it’s just opening up people’s minds. They’re realizing, ‘Hey, why don’t I work on a cool, special move or a signature move?’ I think in the future it won’t even be mentioned in interviews. Everyone’s going to be having real cool tricks that they do,” Jones stated to Non.
Jon Jones’ creativity inside the Octagon is second-to-none. He has exploded onto the UFC scene and risen to the top faster than any champion in history. A humble and gracious fighter, “Bones” will continue to mitigate his holes in his game.
I look forward to watching this young superstar continuing to grow as he proudly adorns the UFC light heavyweight championship.
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