(“He’s never going to be forgotten. I think about him still every day and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.” – Sam Stout)
We caught up with consummate crowd favorite Sam Stout over the weekend at the MMA Expo in Toronto and we touched on a number of topics, including how the healing process is going for him and his Team Tompkins teammates since losing friend and mentor Shawn Tompkins. We also spoke about how the team is rallying behind Mark Hominick this weekend as “The Machine” gets set to take to the Octagon for the first time in his career without “The Coach” in his corner Saturday night when he takes on “The Korean Zombie.”
Stout is candid about the affect Tompkins’ death had on him and he reveals the team’s plans moving forward. Definitely a must-watch interview.
Check it out after the jump.
(“He’s never going to be forgotten. I think about him still every day and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.” – Sam Stout)
We caught up with consummate crowd favorite Sam Stout over the weekend at the MMA Expo in Toronto and we touched on a number of topics, including how the healing process is going for him and his Team Tompkins teammates since losing friend and mentor Shawn Tompkins. We also spoke about how the team is rallying behind Mark Hominick this weekend as “The Machine” gets set to take to the Octagon for the first time in his career without “The Coach” in his corner Saturday night when he takes on “The Korean Zombie.”
Stout is candid about the affect Tompkins’ death had on him and he reveals the team’s plans moving forward. Definitely a must-watch interview.
Check it out below.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/CagePotato)
Editor’s note: If you’re wondering why Sam’s eyes are diverted throughout the interview, it’s because a line-up of girls who wanted to talk to the affable Canadian began to form beside us as we conducted the interview. They all waited until his scheduled signing time at the Xyience booth was up to come back to chat with him and were waiting patiently at both sides of the booth.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Toronto Police held a community works event this afternoon at the Rogers Center, and the message they sent to the kids in attendance was loud and clear. Bullying needs to stop, and we are all respons…
The Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Toronto Police held a community works event this afternoon at the Rogers Center, and the message they sent to the kids in attendance was loud and clear.
Bullying needs to stop, and we are all responsible for doing our own part to stop it.
Rogers Sportsnet MMA journalist and host of UFC Central “Showdown” Joe Ferraro was the Master of Ceremonies and UFC fighters Sam Stout, Mark Hominick, Matt Mitrione and Sean Pierson were on hand to speak to a large crowd of school kids about bullying, what it is in all forms, and what steps we can all take to make a difference in stopping it.
The event kicked off with the incredibly chilling YouTube video of Jonah Mowry on the Rogers Center big screen, and then UFC lightweight Sam Stout took the stage along with Toronto police officer Hooper to speak and educate those in attendance.
“You know a lot of people have been asking, well, why are they having UFC fighters come in and talk about bullying, guys that fight for a living, why are they talking about bullying? To me, fighting and bullying are two totally different things. I fight for the UFC, I train every day for it, I’m a professional. The guys I’m fighting are willing participants,” Stout opened.
“The difference between that and bullying is that bullying is one person that wants nothing to do with it, and one or more than one person attacking them. It doesn’t just mean physical abuse, there’s tons of different kinds of bullying that all needs to be stopped,” he continued.
Stout spoke in length and shared an experience he had in high school where his friend was being bullied and he stepped in, supported his “unpopular” friend and put a stop to it. Nothing physical had to be done.
UFC heavyweight and former NFL player Matt Mitrione then took the floor and told his inspiring story of how he made it to the NFL despite the many naysayers he encountered in life.
“You can get out and do what you want to do. Believe in it and don’t get hustled by anyone else. Walk to the beat of your own hustle. Be your own musician, dance to your own music and you’ll always be able to do what you want to do.”
After the speakers were finished, the kids were then able to come down to the Rogers Center floor and meet the fighters for autographs and pictures.
Despite some push back from the public on how wise it is to have Ultimate Fighters speaking on anti-bullying, the event delivered an important message, and is a perfect example of how the UFC gives back to the community’s that support them.
In April, the UFC pledged $129,000 to help at risk youth across Canada, and the Cabbagetown Youth Center has been the first to reap the benefits receiving a grant to buy all new sports equipment.
Please see the video attached for highlights of the event.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
While in attendance at the UFC press conference in which the promotion announced announced that it would be making it’s long-awaited debut in Ontario last year, I asked the company’s newly-appointed Canadian director of operations, Tom Wright, whether or not there were plans to implement any community-based programs such as in-school anti-bullying initiatives. Although it was early in his tenure, Wright told me that it was definitely something that they would be looking at and that programs such as these were some of the most rewarding he experienced as the head of the Canadian Football League Commissioner.
It’s been 19 months since Wright was hired and Zuffa announced this week that it’s planning on working with local schools in the Greater Toronto Area, where it’s Canadian branch is located, to implement a mentoring program for youth who have experienced bullying. Though it’s too early to tell, there are indications that a regular stream of fighters could speak to Toronto kids about their own experiences with bullying as youth, teachers and parents and if all goes well, it could become a implemented in schools across the country.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/ BlahBlahBlah2145)
While in attendance at the UFC press conference in which the promotion announced announced that it would be making it’s long-awaited debut in Ontario last year, I asked the company’s newly-appointed Canadian director of operations, Tom Wright, whether or not there were plans to implement any community-based programs such as in-school anti-bullying initiatives. Although it was early in his tenure, Wright told me that it was definitely something that they would be looking at and that programs such as these were some of the most rewarding he experienced as the head of the Canadian Football League Commissioner.
It’s been 19 months since Wright was hired and Zuffa announced this week that it’s planning on working with local schools in the Greater Toronto Area, where it’s Canadian branch is located, to implement a mentoring program for youth who have experienced bullying. Though it’s too early to tell, there are indications that a regular stream of fighters could speak to Toronto kids about their own experiences with bullying as youth, teachers and parents and if all goes well, it could become a implemented in schools across the country.
Ahead of this weekend’s UFC 140 event in the city, the UFC, in conjunction with the Toronto Police Services held a special event today at Saturday’s venue featuring some local fighters like Mark Hominick, Sean Pierson and Sam Stout and American fighters like bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz and ex-NFL player-turned UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione.
During the two-hour event, which wrapped up minutes ago, students listened to short speeches by the fighters about their own trials and tribulations with bullying growing up and were given an opportunity during a Q&A period to ask the fighters questions.
Critics of the sport have been vocal of their opposition to having fighters who punch, kick and choke their opponents for a living into the schools to tell kids to not do what they do outside of competition. Ironically, the same critics have been mostly silent about local boxing legend George Chuvalo and former Toronto Argonaut Mike “Pinball” Clemons visiting schools dozens of times every year.
Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford, whose brother Rob is the city’s mayor, told reporters over the weekend that he supported the initiative and that he hoped the city would embrace the program that will help at-risk youth, but his comments were met with a furor by his fellow municipal politicians who don’t agree with the partnership with schools in the city, even if bullying is a real epidemic there.
The question is, does fighting for a living actually make a person less credible when it comes to talking to kids about bullying?
The Mixed Martial Arts Expo rolled into the Pearson International Center in Mississauga this past Saturday, December 3, and many UFC fighters and stars were on hand to thrill Ontario fans. UFC fighters Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Carlos Condit, Sam St…
The Mixed Martial Arts Expo rolled into the Pearson International Center in Mississauga this past Saturday, December 3, and many UFC fighters and stars were on hand to thrill Ontario fans.
UFC fighters Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Carlos Condit, Sam Stout, Matt Mitrione, Stefan Struve and Jake Shields made appearances and signed autographs for the fans.
Bleacher Report MMA was on the scene to get some video footage and talk to UFC stars such as Mac Danzig, Ryan Ford, Carlos Newton and Brittney Palmer (See the video for all interviews and fighter appearances).
Thousands of fans were in attendance for the MMA Expo, which is in its sixth year of existence. The event proved a great opportunity for fans to mix and mingle with their favorite UFC stars and personalities.
The Expo also hosted the NAGA Toronto grappling and jiu jitsu championships in the same hall, featuring all ages and all levels of grappling from beginner to expert.
MMA Expo president Gerald Chopik deemed the event a success due to the strong turnout, and the atmosphere was clearly electric and felt by all.
“Thank you for helping making it the best show ever. Every fighter/celebrity I spoke with said it was an awesome time and they love the Toronto fans and atmosphere best of all,” Chopik posted on facebook.
The action and fun doesn’t stop there for MMA fans in the Greater Toronto Area, as UFC 140 takes place this Saturday, December 10.
Please check in here all week for all of my UFC 140 event week coverage
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
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.
Barboza has gone 3-0 in his UFC career, notching wins over TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson and WEC KO artist Anthony Njokuani. Etim, on the other hand, had rattled off four victories in his last five fights before being sidelined by a rib injury for over a year. Having fought six of his nine UFC contests on his home soil, it will be interesting to see how Etim reacts to the foreign crowd, especially one that has shown the capacity to commit bloodshed before.
(Don’t be fooled by its innocent exterior, the Stout will knock you out quicker than you can say “10.6 percent.”)
Barboza has gone 3-0 in his UFC career, notching wins over TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson and WEC KO artist Anthony Njokuani. Etim, on the other hand, had rattled off four victories in his last five fights before being sidelined by a rib injury for over a year. Having fought six of his nine UFC contests on his home soil, it will be interesting to see how Etim reacts to the foreign crowd, especially one that has shown the capacity to commit bloodshed before.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Toronto Police held a community works event this afternoon at the Rogers Center, and the message they sent to the kids in attendance was loud and clear.