Tag: Matt Hughes

Frank Trigg: Fighter, Commentator And Now the Dr. Phil of MMA

Disclaimer: This article is graphic in some tones, but this is word for word from the mouth of Frank Trigg.When hear the name Frank Trigg, you think of the UFC veteran who has fought the likes of Matt Hughes, Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck just to n…

Disclaimer: This article is graphic in some tones, but this is word for word from the mouth of Frank Trigg.

When hear the name Frank Trigg, you think of the UFC veteran who has fought the likes of Matt Hughes, Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck just to name a few. When thinking of Trigg, you also think of the announcing he does with Michael Schiavello on HDNet.

An expert on women and relationships? That is the last thing you would think of when it comes to any fighter. Trigg isn’t most fighters though.

Trigg recently launched a dating and relationship blog for women, which started on ProMMANow.com and has also been picked up recently by USA Today.

A guy who travels the world commentating events and  doing various different adventures, Trigg explains how he found time to start the blog entitled “Ask Trigg.”

My PR girl Melissa Ingram kept hitting me up, and she was like, ‘Hey, my friend needs this advice.’

My other friends are coming up to me about dating advice, this friend about their marriage breakups, girlfriend breakups. What was going on, yeah I went through that same thing, too. Jack Bratcher over at ProMMANow.com, he goes ‘Hey, why don’t you do a blog on my website?’

He was thinking we could do a MMA blog, and then Melissa cross-checked me saying, ‘Why don’t we do a relationship blog?’ That is something Frank is trying to branch into, and we will go and put this together.

Once it hit ProMMANow.com, USA Today picked it up the first two weeks it was out. USA Today picked it up as the No. 1 relationship blog, and that was a big deal.

Last week, it didn’t get picked up because with the holidays, no one’s at work. Most of us are at our computers at work, and that wasn’t going because everyone was on vacation, so the next week, hopefully coming out with one and be back as the No. 1 blog for USA Today and see what happens.

It all came about because I have had so much history with women and failing, actually really, with women. That’s my No. 1 thing: having to realize why did I fail, why is this thing falling apart, why did this thing not work, or why did this one thing work, why is this thing working for me, what’s going on? Just being able to express to my friends, and just turn it into this blog.

With any type of blog like this, you are going to get some weird and confusing stuff from people. Trigg explains the weirdest advice he has been asked.

We haven’t done a blog on it yet. I don’t think we will at this point. The weirdest thing I’ve gotten is that, ‘Hey, I really want to be tied up, and I’m really into role pay and folk scar play and blindfolds. All that stuff gets me off, and my boyfriend will not. I’ve tried everything. I bought all the products. I’ve put all the wrist ties, the ankle ties, all the little scarves, all the blindfolds and all that stuff and had everything available. Told him exactly. Gave him the DVD, gave him everything, and he will just not do what I do. How do I convince this guy to make him want to be this kind of person? To make him want to do this with me.’

And how to approach my boyfriend who wants to have anal sex, but I’ve never done it before. How do I approach that with him? How to approach getting it together and doing it together.

The two weirdest things that are multiple—not just one person—emailing me that question. Multitudes of people emailing me that question. What to do and how to go about it.

Check out new “Ask Trigg” blog updates every Wednesday on ProMMANow.com. Ladies can send their dating and relationship questions to [email protected].

You can listen to the two-part interview with Frank Trigg here.

You can follow me on Twitter @fightclubchi.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Koscheck Says He’s Still Fighting Feb. 4, Possibly at 185


(“Master Seagal says that nobody can defend this kick if you do it with your tongue out.”)

In a series of tweets he posted today in response to the news today that his upcoming UFC 143 opponent Carlos Condit would be stepping in for an injured Georges St-Pierre against Nick Diaz on the card, Josh Koscheck proved he hasn’t lost his place as one of the UFC’s greatest heels.

The always outspoken American Kickboxing Academy fighter directed his first message on the subject at Condit, inferring that “The Natural Born Killer” dodged a bullet by not having to face him and, “get [his] ass beat.”


(“Master Seagal says that nobody can defend this kick if you do it with your tongue out.”)

In a series of tweets he posted today in response to the news today that his upcoming UFC 143 opponent Carlos Condit would be stepping in for an injured Georges St-Pierre against Nick Diaz on the card, Josh Koscheck proved he hasn’t lost his place as one of the UFC’s greatest heels.

The always outspoken American Kickboxing Academy fighter directed his first message on the subject at Condit, inferring that “The Natural Born Killer” dodged a bullet by not having to face him and, “get [his] ass beat.”

His second tweet was much more optimistic, as he predicted that he’ll likely take on the winner of the bout since GSP will be on the shelf for an estimated 10 months.

Interestingly, though, Kos, whose sole win at 170 since losing to GSP a year ago at UFC 124 came against an aging veteran in Matt Hughes, really won’t be proving to anyone that he deserves a title bout if he gets the fight he’s asking for.

UFC championship contender rankings: how do they work?

 

 

On This Day in MMA History: A Future MMA Legend and UFC Hall of Famer Named ‘Lil’ Evil’ Was Born


(Pulver for UFC HOF 2011)

On this day 37 years ago, a boy named Jens Johnnie Pulver was born into a tumultuous household in Sunnyside, Washington.

Jens escaped from the violence and psychological abuse he, his sister, two brothers and mother endured daily from his namesake father who was a hard-drinking horse jockey, by dominating on the wrestling mats on weekends. It was there that his family would pretend they didn’t have a monster waiting for them back at their house and where they would escape from the sad reality that was their home life.

11 years ago this winter Pulver picked up and made the trek from California, where he had lived since moving out in his teens, to Davenport, Iowa with only a suitcase and a bag of change. He was put up by his soon-to-be manager Monte Cox when he showed up on his doorstep to ask the powerful agent to represent him. The Cox family took him in and treated him as one of their own children, while he set up shop training out of the fabled Miletich gym alongside some of Cox’s other marquee stable fighters like Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia and the team’s leader, Pat Miletich.


(Pulver for UFC HOF 2011)

On this day 37 years ago, a boy named Jens Johnnie Pulver was born into a tumultuous household in Sunnyside, Washington.

Jens escaped from the violence and psychological abuse he, his sister, two brothers and mother endured daily from his namesake father who was a hard-drinking horse jockey, by dominating on the wrestling mats on weekends. It was there that his family would pretend they didn’t have a monster waiting for them back at their house and where they would escape from the sad reality that was their home life.

11 years ago this winter Pulver picked up and made the trek from California, where he had lived since moving out in his teens, to Davenport, Iowa with only a suitcase and a bag of change. He was put up by his soon-to-be manager Monte Cox when he showed up on his doorstep to ask the powerful agent to represent him. The Cox family took him in and treated him as one of their own children, while he set up shop training out of the fabled Miletich gym alongside some of Cox’s other marquee stable fighters like Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia and the team’s leader, Pat Miletich.

The move paid off in spades.

Jens won his next six fights and picked up the UFC lightweight strap two fights after joining Team Miletich. He would only defend the title twice after deciding to walk away from the promotion to pursue more fights since he was only competing twice a year under the then SEG-owned promotion.

His go-for-broke style of fighting was his biggest asset, but also his biggest flaw as a fighter as it sometimes left “Lil’ Evil” susceptible to knockouts and submissions.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/Hel13torm)

During an interview I did with him back in 2008 prior to his WEC title fight against Urijah Faber, Jens had a moment of retrospective reflection about how far the sport had come from when he first made a name for himself.

“I’ve had big fights in my career, and I’ve had a lot of monumental moments and pioneered a lot of things, but this really just plays out to time. It’s crazy,” Pulver said. “You’ve got to remember, I was in the UFC when it was the same five people asking the questions and that was it. I remember when the weigh-ins gradually went from 50 people to 100 people. It’s such a huge difference from the way things used to be. I’m like a proud father. When I started and I made a commitment to this sport, I was making $750 in the UFC, and it was banned in all but three states. There was no future and to see [media attention and interest] like this – it’s perfect.”

Unfortunately, Pulver is one of the legends of the sport who never really cashed in on the spoils that came about as a result of the TUF explosion, even though he was one of the coaches on a subsequent season of the show.

Although his recent career hasn’t been as successful as it once was, Pulver has achieved more in his 12 years in the cage than many ever will. Hopefully a UFC Hall of Fame induction is in his future. Even if it isn’t, as Jens told me three years ago, he’s already achieved what he set out to do when he began in the sport.

“When I first started fighting I wrote down two goals on a piece of paper,” Pulver explained. “I found [that piece of paper] and read it, and it says, ‘Own a house,’ and ‘Win a world championship.’ I’m buying my house and I’ve already won the world title.”

Carlos Newton Quietly Retires from MMA Competition to Focus On Helping to Improve the Regulation of the Sport

By Mike Russell

We caught up with Carlos Newton briefly over the weekend in Toronto at the MMA Expo and the former UFC welterweight champion surprised us with the news that he has retired.

“I’m retired,” Newton explained. “The sport just isn’t as competitive as it used to be.”

Instead of focusing on preparing to fight inside the cage, “The Ronin” says he has turned his focus on fighting for proper regulation by the people who officiate both inside and outside of it.

“I’m just concentrating on helping to improve the regulation of the sport and I’m looking into becoming a judge. I think that as fighters we have a lot more knowledge and insight into the intricacies of what’s going on in a fight than someone who has never competed. MMA judging needs fixing and I’m hoping I can help do it.”

By Mike Russell

We caught up with Carlos Newton briefly over the weekend in Toronto at the MMA Expo and the former UFC welterweight champion surprised us with the news that he has retired.

“I’m retired,” Newton explained. “The sport just isn’t as competitive as it used to be.”

Instead of focusing on preparing to fight inside the cage, “The Ronin” says he has turned his focus on fighting for proper regulation by the people who officiate both inside and outside of it.

“I’m just concentrating on helping to improve the regulation of the sport and I’m looking into becoming a judge. I think that as fighters we have a lot more knowledge and insight into the intricacies of what’s going on in a fight than someone who has never competed. MMA judging needs fixing and I’m hoping I can help do it.”

Having competed sporadically over the past few years, the 35-year-old Canadian racked up a 3-4 record in his past seven fights since 2006, but two of those losses were decisions to UFC vets Brian Ebersole (unanimous) and Renzo Gracie (split).

He will perhaps be best remembered, however, for his controversial knockout loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 134 back in 2001.

With a triangle choke locked in, Hughes picked Newton up carried him over to the cage in front of his corner and slammed him on the canvas, knocking the champion out and winning the strap. On further inspection of the replay of the bout, it appears that Hughes was actually choked unconscious by the triangle and simply fell down, dropping Carlos in the process. The impact actually woke him up and when referee “Big” John McCarthy tapped him to inform him he had won, he asked him what had happened.


(Video courtesy of Videolog/esportesdagalera)

Although he denied being out, Hughes can be heard on the original video telling his cornerman, Pat Miletich, “I was out. I was out.”


(Video courtesy of YouTube/PGudmunson)

He says that retirement won’t mean taking time off to relax on a sunny beach.

“I’m still training and teaching and I’ve got my [construction project management] business and a few other ventures I’m working on,” he explained. “I’m also [still going] to architecture school.”

Newton, who retires with a 16-14 record, (which is deceiving considering the level of competitionsays that martial arts and MMA is a part of him, and as such, no matter if he’s competing or not, fighting will be in his life in some way or another.

“I’ll always be involved with the sport,” he said. “Definitely.”

UFC 140: The 20 Greatest Canadian Mixed Martial Artists of All Time

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to make its eighth appearance north of the border on December 10th with UFC 140: Jones vs Machida taking place from the Air Canada Center in Toronto.It will mark the third time this year that the UFC has c…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to make its eighth appearance north of the border on December 10th with UFC 140: Jones vs Machida taking place from the Air Canada Center in Toronto.

It will mark the third time this year that the UFC has come to Canada and the fight card is once again packed with many of Canada’s best mixed martial artists.

Canadian fighters are as prominent as ever in the organization with the best talent in the world and are also in high spots in the many world rankings floating around in the universe.

I love keeping track of the top fighters in the world right now, but this stacked card has prompted me to look back and take a crack at my list for Top 20 Greatest Canadian MMA Fighters of All Time.

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UFC on FOX: 11 Fights to Entertain and Educate New Fans Before UFC on FOX

Getting new people into MMA and teaching them about the sport is easy if you do it right.How do you do it right? You show them the right fights.Of the thousands of MMA fights there are dozens upon dozens that can be shown to a non-MMA fan in order to c…

Getting new people into MMA and teaching them about the sport is easy if you do it right.

How do you do it right? You show them the right fights.

Of the thousands of MMA fights there are dozens upon dozens that can be shown to a non-MMA fan in order to convert them over to the light side of the force.

Converting fans has special relevance in light of the UFC‘s nearing debut on FOX. It’ll be important to give the new “recruits” a proper grounding in what the sport means and what a good fight is.

What are some of the best MMA fights to illustrate key points as well as entertain? Read and find out!

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