Fight Factory debuted last night on Nuvo TV and for those who don’t get the channel, you guys are really missing out. The show debuted with two new episodes that were each an hour long and took fans inside the world of one of the most prominent gyms in…
Fight Factory debuted last night on Nuvo TV and for those who don’t get the channel, you guys are really missing out. The show debuted with two new episodes that were each an hour long and took fans inside the world of one of the most prominent gyms in the world, American Kickboxing Academy.
The show does a masterful job of bringing fans not only into the gym to watch the fighters train, but also into their personal lives, diving into every nuance that goes into running a successful gym like AKA and representing that name while stepping into the cage.
The cast for Fight Factory features a number of high profile names in the world of MMA along with some newcomers that aren’t household names yet. Staples of the AKA program like Cain Velasquez, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Daniel Cormier, Javier Mendez and Bob Cook all give their own views on what life is like inside the AKA “family.”
Fight Factory‘s pilot episodes begin with Velasquez preparing for his title showdown with Junior dos Santos from last year. Mendez, the head coach of AKA, is seen working tirelessly over getting the then-heavyweight champion ready to perform.
It’s nothing new as far as MMA fans are concerned, as we see the heavyweight monster in training while showcasing the skills that made him a world champion. The show attempts to make Velasquez into a source of inspiration for the Latino community.
While I didn’t personally care for the show attempting to mold Velasquez into the second coming of Zorro, I can appreciate the idea of Velasquez becoming a role model to a community that doesn’t always have one.
The most interesting part of the episode centers around two guys who are at completely different parts in their careers.
The first needs no introduction as Phil Baroni was once one of the top middleweights in the world. Possessing powerful hands with the physique of a Greek statue, Baroni completely embodied his nickname “The New York Bad Ass.”
But at this point in his career, Baroni finds himself in a situation like so many of MMA’s “old dogs.” He has a family and needs money, with fighting being his main source of income. The only problem with that is most of the MMA world thinks Baroni needs to hang up the gloves and call it a career.
During Baroni‘s time on the show, you can see the desperation in his eyes as he attempts to find a place among the AKA members. Baroni not only wants to fight and make money, but he also wants to be a part of the AKA family once more. It’s a truly emotional story watching a guy who was one of the most confident fighters in the game walking into Mendez’s office pleading for the chance to fight and to join the family once more.
The story of Mark Ellis is an entirely different emotional story during the premiere of Fight Factory. Ellis was an All-American national champion wrestler at the University of Missouri who is trying to break into the sport of MMA. Like many wrestlers before him, adjusting to getting hit in the face while grappling has become a mental struggle.
Ellis, used to being “the guy,” literally walks out of practice after sparring a round with Velasquez and realizes how far behind he is in the MMA game. However, the mental lapses don’t end there.
The AKA fighter is entering his second fight and the team is confident that Ellis will relax a bit more than he did in his first fight. It’s obvious that Ellis has the skills to be an MMA champion, but struggles with confidence in his own abilities in the lead up to his fight against Ryan Martinez.
Ellis ends up losing the bout to Martinez and it sets off a wide arrange of emotions within the AKA fighter. He goes from anger, to quitting MMA, to tears all within the matter of a few hours. The man was so upset by his performance he didn’t even want to collect his check before leaving the arena.
For all the crap Mendez received from Koscheck about not backing his fighters, it was a bit revealing to see the coach confront Ellis about the loss and attempt to motivate his promising prospect to continue to work hard.
Speaking of the Koscheck-Mendez drama, the show attempts to introduce their rivalry in the two-hour premiere. Koscheck talks mostly about his disdain of Mendez while struggling to find training partners and coaches for his new gym, Dethrone Base Camp.
We don’t really hear from Mendez on the situation, but I’m sure that’s to come during future episodes. Instead, the rest of the AKA family is shown how they are dealing with the situation. It’s an uneasy feeling that will seem to add tension as the season wears on with guys from both camps figuring out how to work around the Koscheck-Mendez rivalry.
With all the storylines from the top guys like Velasquez, to newcomers like Ellis and Gabriel Carrasco, the show was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. It’s much more than a reality show about a gym; it’s a show that could transform the views of many people about MMA as a sport and the fighters involved.
It may not be on a major cable network, but Fight Factory is a can’t-miss kind of show that belongs in prime time.
During a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Dana White said, “Globally, we’re already bigger than the NFL.” From a global stand point that may be true, but in the Pulp Fiction-esque United States, the NFL is still Marsellus Wallace. The UFC may never gain the notoriety that the NFL has in America but stand-out fighters continue to ink major product endorsement deals. Anderson Silva (Burger King, Budweiser), Georges St. Pierre (Gatorade, UnderArmor) and Jon Jones (Nike) are paving the way to success for future mixed martial artists. Although big-time corporate sponsorship for fighters is in its infancy, the other major professional sports leagues have seen their athletes gain almost as much notoriety outside the lines as within.
The UFC was purchased by Zuffa just over a decade ago and has been charging towards global domination ever since. Sure, the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL (well, maybe not the NHL) playoffs and championship contests annihilate the UFC ratings-wise but the premier MMA organization is gaining at a rapid pace. Take into account the combined several hundred years of history the 4 “major” professional leagues hold and it is glaringly apparent that the UFC and its stars are closing the gap like a fat dude towards a parked Roach Coach.
Comparing the UFC’s ratings and popularity with the aforementioned leagues is somewhat asinine and it would not be fair or rational to compare athletes from other sports with UFC fighters – but you have visited Cagepotato.com. We have never been accused of being fair or rational and matching fighters with their counterparts from around the world of other sporting organizations seemed as logical as a booze-filled headset.
Michael Jordan has become the benchmark to which all athletes are measured, although the comparisons have transcended far beyond the realm of athletics. Any activity or event draws comparisons to #23 (or #45 whatever). From Ken Jennings being the Michael Jordan of Jeopardy, to Joey Chestnut being the Michael Jordan of gluttony or Peter North being the Michael Jordan of male climax volume, Jordan is synonymous with superiority. In every single poll taken in the last decade regarding the “Top 100 NBA players in History” the battle is for #2 through #100. Michael Jordan is considered the greatest of all time in his medium (and I am not talking about minor league baseball). Anderson Silva, with his perfect 15-0 record and 10 consecutive title defenses in the UFC, has done things that may never be accomplished again in the history of mixed martial arts. Some day a fighter may come along (if he hasn’t already *foreshadowing*) and surpass Silva’s records but until his numbers fall, Anderson Silva is the Michael Jordan of MMA – period.
(Oh, you said you have a *flaggy* tattoo? I must have misheard you.)
During a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Dana White said, “Globally, we’re already bigger than the NFL.” From a global stand point that may be true, but in the Pulp Fiction-esque United States, the NFL is still Marsellus Wallace. The UFC may never gain the notoriety that the NFL has in America but stand-out fighters continue to ink major product endorsement deals. Anderson Silva (Burger King, Budweiser), Georges St. Pierre (Gatorade, UnderArmor) and Jon Jones (Nike) are paving the way to success for future mixed martial artists. Although big-time corporate sponsorship for fighters is in its infancy, the other major professional sports leagues have seen their athletes gain almost as much notoriety outside the lines as within.
The UFC was purchased by Zuffa just over a decade ago and has been charging towards global domination ever since. Sure, the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL (well, maybe not the NHL) playoffs and championship contests annihilate the UFC ratings-wise but the premier MMA organization is gaining at a rapid pace. Take into account the combined several hundred years of history the 4 “major” professional leagues hold and it is glaringly apparent that the UFC and its stars are closing the gap like a fat dude towards a parked Roach Coach.
Comparing the UFC’s ratings and popularity with the aforementioned leagues is somewhat asinine and it would not be fair or rational to compare athletes from other sports with UFC fighters – but you have visited Cagepotato.com. We have never been accused of being fair or rational and matching fighters with their counterparts from around the world of other sporting organizations seemed as logical as a booze-filled headset.
Michael Jordan has become the benchmark to which all athletes are measured, although the comparisons have transcended far beyond the realm of athletics. Any activity or event draws comparisons to #23 (or #45 whatever). From Ken Jennings being the Michael Jordan of Jeopardy, to Joey Chestnut being the Michael Jordan of gluttony or Peter North being the Michael Jordan of male climax volume, Jordan is synonymous with superiority. In every single poll taken in the last decade regarding the “Top 100 NBA players in History” the battle is for #2 through #100. Michael Jordan is considered the greatest of all time in his medium (and I am not talking about minor league baseball). Anderson Silva, with his perfect 15-0 record and 10 consecutive title defenses in the UFC, has done things that may never be accomplished again in the history of mixed martial arts. Some day a fighter may come along (if he hasn’t already *foreshadowing*) and surpass Silva’s records but until his numbers fall, Anderson Silva is the Michael Jordan of MMA – period.
GSP is the focal point of Canadian MMA. He is the big fish in a larger-less-populated pond and the entire weight of a nation rests on his shoulders every single time he enters the octagon. Derek Jeter plays in the biggest media market in the world and has been given the moniker “The Captain” for the most storied franchise in the history of team sports. There is a lot of pressure to perform for both world champions and they are viewed with a certain amount of reverence by fans, media, and contemporaries. Both men have graced the covers of athletic magazines as well as high fashion publications and in regards to their female fans, let’s just call them “popular.”
It has been covered on CP that there is a thin line between love and hate in regards to Jon Jones and the same can be said for Lebron James after “The Decision.” Both men are loved and hated regardless of their stellar performances during competition. Both men are just entering the recognizable primes of their careers and have already captured championships. Add in the fact that both men are genetic freaks compared to their colleagues and it appears that the dominance of Bones and King James has only just begun. Maybe?
Not that long ago, both Rampage and T.O. were at the top of their professions. Rampage was sporting the UFC light-heavyweight strap and T.O. was widely perceived as the best wide receiver in the NFL. Both men were flamboyant, arrogant and a bit unstable. While Rampage did it with his trash talking combined with a John Candy inspired freeway escapade, Owens did it with his touchdown celebrations and an accidental overdose. Now, Jackson is on the last fight of his UFC contract and T.O. is desperately trying to make the roster on an NFL team. How the mighty have fallen.
Josh Koscheck is a man fans love to hate. For years, many insiders considered that a sign of Josh’s native intelligence. He was probably a great guy in real life. That was our reasoning at least. The bad boy was just a jerk he invented for reality tele…
Josh Koscheck is a man fans love to hate. For years, many insiders considered that a sign of Josh’s native intelligence. He was probably a great guy in real life.
That was our reasoning at least. The bad boy was just a jerk he invented for reality television, a gimmick to cash in on UFC fans’ ire.
After all, everyone loves a good bad guy. In a sport filled with pleasant and reasonable people, stuffed to the brim with good sportsmanship and bro hugs, Koscheck stood out. He took no prisoners and was in it for the money, not the friendships.
Great gimmick, right?
Not so fast.
His explosive departure from the American Kickboxing Academy, his home for years, calls all that into question. What if, and this is just a what if, the Koscheck you saw on television was the real deal?
It’s looking more and more like that’s true. Recently, he told the world that he hoped AKA burned to the ground.
Yesterday, Bleacher Report visited AKA to get their take on Koscheck’s latest attack.
“He’s not a good guy,” head trainer Javier Mendez said. “He is who he is…the hate for me from him is real. And I did something I shouldn’t have done, that I regret. I shouldn’t have done it. Did it warrant what he’s doing? Hell no.”
Teammate Jon Fitch has a softer stance. He’s still friends with Koscheck and has a great working relationship with Mendez. He hoped to bring the two sides together, but realizes now that things have gone to far.
“It sucks,” Fitch told Bleacher Report. “It’s kind of like your parents getting divorced….Bottom line is, it’s Javier’s gym and we’ve got to support him and the team. If Koscheck doesn’t want to make the effort to mend things with Javier or work on things with Javier…that’s the decision he’s made. “
Mendez cuts right to the chase.
“I have no desire to sit down with him ever,” the trainer said. “For any reason.”
For more on the cast of characters that make up the American Kickboxing Academy, be sure to check out the new show Fight Factory, debuting August 15 on nuvoTV.
Be sure to sound off and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions.
UFC 151 is now in need of a new co-main event as the troubling injury bug has struck again. This time, the victim is Josh Koscheck.According to MMAWeekly, a bulging disc in the back of Koscheck has forced him to pull out of the UFC 151 co-main bout aga…
UFC 151 is now in need of a new co-main event as the troubling injury bug has struck again. This time, the victim is Josh Koscheck.
According to MMAWeekly, a bulging disc in the back of Koscheck has forced him to pull out of the UFC 151 co-main bout against Jake Ellenberger.
UFC 151 is scheduled for September 1st and will be headlined by a UFC light heavyweight championship bout between Champion Jon Jones and former Pride champion Dan Henderson.
The UFC will now be in a tough spot to find a new opponent for Ellenberger with just a little over three weeks remaining before the card.
Other bouts on the main card include a featherweight bout between Dennis Siver and Eddie Yagin, and a lightweight bout between Michael Johnson and Danny Castillo.
One name that comes to mind to possibly replace Koscheck is Siyar Bahadurzada, who earlier this week, threw his name in the hat to face B.J. Penn when Rory MacDonald was forced to pull out of UFC 152.
While Ellenberger is no B.J. Penn, he is still a top ten guy in the packed welterweight division, and a match-up against Bahadurzada would still be a nice co-main event—especially on less than a month notice.
With that in mind, take a look at this video, in which Kos has a casual conversation with friend and former training partner Jon Fitch, and discusses the beef with former camp American Kickboxing Academy (specifically, coach Javier Mendez) that he apparently just can’t let go of. In the video, he admits that he hopes AKA “burns to the ground” with “maybe one person” in it. Hint: Mendez is the person he’s hoping for. To be fair, Koscheck also openly admits to being a D-I-C-K dick, so at least he’s willing to man up about that whole issue.
See Javier’s response, courtesy of MMAFighting, after the jump.
(When Mendez refused to kiss Koscheck’s boo-boo and make it all better, a rivalry had officially been started.)
There are few things that are simply a given in the MMA world, and they are:
With that in mind, take a look at this video, in which Kos has a casual conversation with friend and former training partner Jon Fitch, and discusses the beef with former camp American Kickboxing Academy (specifically, coach Javier Mendez) that he apparently just can’t let go of. In the video, he admits that he hopes AKA “burns to the ground” with “maybe one person” in it. Hint: Mendez is the person he’s hoping for. To be fair, Koscheck also openly admits to being a D-I-C-K dick, so at least he’s willing to man up about that whole issue.
Javier’s response, courtesy of MMAFighting, is below.
(the question comes up at the 1:25 mark.)
“It’s who he is,” Javier states bluntly, laughing through the fact that his former student of eight years more or less just wished for him to die. At least they can agree on one thing: Josh Koscheck is a dick.
Fight Factory debuted last night on 
