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As a kid, Mike Rhodes was always getting into fights. With classmates, with kids in the neighborhood, even with friends on his youth and high school football and basketball teams.
Anger was his antidote for every problem. It was the emotion he knew best.
Maybe it was because his biological parents were so irresponsible and troubled — often strung out on drugs and in and out of jail — that a great-aunt adopted him at birth and raised him. Maybe it was because he met his father just once, on his 12th birthday, an encounter he described as "the most random thing ever."
Or, maybe Rhodes' hair-trigger temper was a defense mechanism, a fight-or-flight response in the "dog-eat-dog" neighborhood he called home in Waterloo, Iowa. Who knows? Rhodes is not a psychiatrist.
"I don't know if all that had anything to do with it, but I had a lot of problems growing up," he said. "Anger. Fighting in school. Running away from home. Having to do therapy with anger issues and stuff like that.
"I never got into the drug thing. That wasn't me. My issue was my anger. I was always getting in fights. I was a hothead. It was like, 'OK, you want to fight me? Let's fight.' I wasn't going to argue with you. I was never the conversational type."
All of that is at odds with the Mike Rhodes of today. Walk into the Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee and look for the guy with the biggest smile on his face. That's Rhodes.
"He's a very happy person," said trainer Duke Roufus. "He's very likable."
Rhodes' transformation from troubled kid to junior college basketball player to MMA champion — he held a Resurrection Fighting Alliance title belt and recently signed a multifight contract with the UFC — is one of the best stories in the rough-and-tumble world of mixed martial arts.
Rhodes (6-1) will make his UFC debut Jan. 25 against George Sullivan (14-3, 1 no contest) in a 170-pound bout on UFC on Fox 10 in Chicago.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," he said. "It'll be my first (UFC) fight. It's the first fight of the night. Get the party started."
Rhodes, 24, comes by his cage nickname — "Biggie" — honestly. He earned it as a 6-foot-1, 270-pound guard-forward at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
"I could physically play with bigger guys, use my body weight and push guys around a little bit," he said. "Everybody called me Charles Barkley. I had that mentality, too, and that was the reason I was able to play bigger guys.
"It was that physicality that kind of transferred over to fighting."
Rhodes got into mixed martial arts purely by accident. He started training in a cardio kickboxing class to lose weight and eventually shed 100 pounds. Along the way, he fell in love with the discipline and demands of MMA, which fit his skill set and his temperament.
"Getting in a cage and having people cheer you on ... it's the most primal sport there is," he said. "It's hand-to-hand combat. It goes back to prehistoric times. It's one on one, me and you, there's no excuses. The better man wins.
"There's something about it that just boils in your blood."
After visiting Roufusport with a friend, Rhodes took a leap of faith, packed his belongings and moved to Milwaukee. He lives with UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and Pettis' younger brother, Sergio, an up-and-coming UFC prospect who also is on the Jan. 25 card.
In October, Rhodes beat Alan Jouban in RFA 10 for the promotion's inaugural welterweight title. He was scheduled to defend the belt in February, but the UFC came calling.
"He's definitely a great athlete," Roufus said. "He's really easy to teach because he's used to playing sports. He's very dedicated. He's here at the gym constantly. This is a lifestyle for him. I see him as our next big guy in the UFC."
Said Anthony Pettis, "I don't take a lot of guys under my wing. I have my own career to focus on. But he's one of the guys who makes me better. I like to surround myself with guys who remind me of what I was like when I started."
Fighting definitely is in Rhodes' blood. In the fifth grade he punched a classmate in the eye for taking one of his Pokemon cards.
"Some people might argue, but arguments turned into physical altercations for me," he said. "I always wondered why. I don't consider myself a violent person, but I have the kind of personality where I don't take crap."
Rhodes said he started to turn his life around when the parents of a friend helped pave the way for him to transfer from Waterloo East High School to private Columbus Catholic for his senior year.
"My attitude started changing there," Rhodes said. "I didn't have any pressure on me to act a certain way so it was almost like a restart. I don't know where I would be if that family wouldn't have helped me out like that."
Maturity and perspective helped Rhodes learn how to control his temper, and MMA is a legal outlet for his aggression. Outside the cage, Roufus said, Rhodes is unfailingly positive and upbeat. And he studies everything Anthony Pettis does: his training regimen, his eating habits, the way he interacts with people and handles fans and the media.
"I want to be like him," Rhodes said. "He is where I want to be. We come from similar upbringings, single-parent homes. We have so much in common. We have the same goal and he's laying a road map on how to achieve it."
Rhodes' only loss as a professional was to Brandon Thatch, now a top welterweight prospect in the UFC.
"He lost that fight in March and I've never seen someone just go up the progression ladder like he has since that loss," Roufus said. "He's got that focus. In the last eight months, I've never seen someone take such a jump of skill, endurance and mind-set."
Rhodes has been savvy about using social media to market himself and has become a fan favorite in Milwaukee.
"I think it's the way I present myself," he said. "I'm very approachable. I'm a genuine person and I think tha
Anger was his antidote for every problem. It was the emotion he knew best.
Maybe it was because his biological parents were so irresponsible and troubled — often strung out on drugs and in and out of jail — that a great-aunt adopted him at birth and raised him. Maybe it was because he met his father just once, on his 12th birthday, an encounter he described as "the most random thing ever."
Or, maybe Rhodes' hair-trigger temper was a defense mechanism, a fight-or-flight response in the "dog-eat-dog" neighborhood he called home in Waterloo, Iowa. Who knows? Rhodes is not a psychiatrist.
"I don't know if all that had anything to do with it, but I had a lot of problems growing up," he said. "Anger. Fighting in school. Running away from home. Having to do therapy with anger issues and stuff like that.
"I never got into the drug thing. That wasn't me. My issue was my anger. I was always getting in fights. I was a hothead. It was like, 'OK, you want to fight me? Let's fight.' I wasn't going to argue with you. I was never the conversational type."
All of that is at odds with the Mike Rhodes of today. Walk into the Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee and look for the guy with the biggest smile on his face. That's Rhodes.
"He's a very happy person," said trainer Duke Roufus. "He's very likable."
Rhodes' transformation from troubled kid to junior college basketball player to MMA champion — he held a Resurrection Fighting Alliance title belt and recently signed a multifight contract with the UFC — is one of the best stories in the rough-and-tumble world of mixed martial arts.
Rhodes (6-1) will make his UFC debut Jan. 25 against George Sullivan (14-3, 1 no contest) in a 170-pound bout on UFC on Fox 10 in Chicago.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," he said. "It'll be my first (UFC) fight. It's the first fight of the night. Get the party started."
Rhodes, 24, comes by his cage nickname — "Biggie" — honestly. He earned it as a 6-foot-1, 270-pound guard-forward at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
"I could physically play with bigger guys, use my body weight and push guys around a little bit," he said. "Everybody called me Charles Barkley. I had that mentality, too, and that was the reason I was able to play bigger guys.
"It was that physicality that kind of transferred over to fighting."
Rhodes got into mixed martial arts purely by accident. He started training in a cardio kickboxing class to lose weight and eventually shed 100 pounds. Along the way, he fell in love with the discipline and demands of MMA, which fit his skill set and his temperament.
"Getting in a cage and having people cheer you on ... it's the most primal sport there is," he said. "It's hand-to-hand combat. It goes back to prehistoric times. It's one on one, me and you, there's no excuses. The better man wins.
"There's something about it that just boils in your blood."
After visiting Roufusport with a friend, Rhodes took a leap of faith, packed his belongings and moved to Milwaukee. He lives with UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and Pettis' younger brother, Sergio, an up-and-coming UFC prospect who also is on the Jan. 25 card.
In October, Rhodes beat Alan Jouban in RFA 10 for the promotion's inaugural welterweight title. He was scheduled to defend the belt in February, but the UFC came calling.
"He's definitely a great athlete," Roufus said. "He's really easy to teach because he's used to playing sports. He's very dedicated. He's here at the gym constantly. This is a lifestyle for him. I see him as our next big guy in the UFC."
Said Anthony Pettis, "I don't take a lot of guys under my wing. I have my own career to focus on. But he's one of the guys who makes me better. I like to surround myself with guys who remind me of what I was like when I started."
Fighting definitely is in Rhodes' blood. In the fifth grade he punched a classmate in the eye for taking one of his Pokemon cards.
"Some people might argue, but arguments turned into physical altercations for me," he said. "I always wondered why. I don't consider myself a violent person, but I have the kind of personality where I don't take crap."
Rhodes said he started to turn his life around when the parents of a friend helped pave the way for him to transfer from Waterloo East High School to private Columbus Catholic for his senior year.
"My attitude started changing there," Rhodes said. "I didn't have any pressure on me to act a certain way so it was almost like a restart. I don't know where I would be if that family wouldn't have helped me out like that."
Maturity and perspective helped Rhodes learn how to control his temper, and MMA is a legal outlet for his aggression. Outside the cage, Roufus said, Rhodes is unfailingly positive and upbeat. And he studies everything Anthony Pettis does: his training regimen, his eating habits, the way he interacts with people and handles fans and the media.
"I want to be like him," Rhodes said. "He is where I want to be. We come from similar upbringings, single-parent homes. We have so much in common. We have the same goal and he's laying a road map on how to achieve it."
Rhodes' only loss as a professional was to Brandon Thatch, now a top welterweight prospect in the UFC.
"He lost that fight in March and I've never seen someone just go up the progression ladder like he has since that loss," Roufus said. "He's got that focus. In the last eight months, I've never seen someone take such a jump of skill, endurance and mind-set."
Rhodes has been savvy about using social media to market himself and has become a fan favorite in Milwaukee.
"I think it's the way I present myself," he said. "I'm very approachable. I'm a genuine person and I think tha
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2006/12/07
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29893
"Yeah I don’t know, I would love to (so) never say never, but I am not going to come out and say I want to get in the cage"Tweet This Quote
Paul Gallen is gearing up for his third professional boxing match against 19 year old heavyweight prospect Herman Ene-Purcell next month, but won't rule out a potential MMA fight down the track.
“Wait and see," Gallen told MMA Kanvas at the Daniel Geale vs Garth Wood press conference yesterday when asked about a possible MMA fight in the future; “I am a blue belt in jiu jitsu, so do know a little bit about it.”
One of Rugby League’s hard hitters, Paul Gallen’s combat sports development will be tested in his upcoming boxing fight. Gallen was training boxing during Australia’s recent Rugby League World Cup campaign.
The New South Wales State of Origin/Cronulla Sharks Captain enjoys the fitness benefits of cross training in combat sports during the NRL off-season. Boxing under Mark Gambin and jiu jitsu with UFC veteran Bernardo "Trekko" Magalhaes at TP Gym Caringbah.
Related: NRL's Mark Geyer - 'Rugby League is 20 percent MMA'
Capable of super-human feats of endurance on the football field, and currently unbeaten inside a boxing ring, the multi-talented big big man isn't willing to sign on for an MMA fight just yet.
“Yeah I don’t know, I would love to (so) never say never, but I am not going to come out and say I want to get in the cage”.
While an MMA fight would be one of the toughest tests of Gallen's career, for now boxing fits in with the 32 year olds busy Rugby League schedule:
“Hopefully I come through it (the boxing match) okay. I just think that fitness wise its going to be great for me, keep me fresh for the year and once its over, just concentrate on footy.”
NRL star Paul Gallen would 'love to' have an MMA fight | MMA Kanvas
Paul Gallen is gearing up for his third professional boxing match against 19 year old heavyweight prospect Herman Ene-Purcell next month, but won't rule out a potential MMA fight down the track.
“Wait and see," Gallen told MMA Kanvas at the Daniel Geale vs Garth Wood press conference yesterday when asked about a possible MMA fight in the future; “I am a blue belt in jiu jitsu, so do know a little bit about it.”
One of Rugby League’s hard hitters, Paul Gallen’s combat sports development will be tested in his upcoming boxing fight. Gallen was training boxing during Australia’s recent Rugby League World Cup campaign.
The New South Wales State of Origin/Cronulla Sharks Captain enjoys the fitness benefits of cross training in combat sports during the NRL off-season. Boxing under Mark Gambin and jiu jitsu with UFC veteran Bernardo "Trekko" Magalhaes at TP Gym Caringbah.
Related: NRL's Mark Geyer - 'Rugby League is 20 percent MMA'
Capable of super-human feats of endurance on the football field, and currently unbeaten inside a boxing ring, the multi-talented big big man isn't willing to sign on for an MMA fight just yet.
“Yeah I don’t know, I would love to (so) never say never, but I am not going to come out and say I want to get in the cage”.
While an MMA fight would be one of the toughest tests of Gallen's career, for now boxing fits in with the 32 year olds busy Rugby League schedule:
“Hopefully I come through it (the boxing match) okay. I just think that fitness wise its going to be great for me, keep me fresh for the year and once its over, just concentrate on footy.”
NRL star Paul Gallen would 'love to' have an MMA fight | MMA Kanvas
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2006/12/07
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29893
As a high school freshman in a small town in northwest Oregon, Paige VanZant often went home with tears trickling down her face.
She was the victim of bullying. A pack of girls targeted her. They tried to make her life a nightmare. Barely 5-feet tall, she was one of the smallest kids in school, not physically able to defend herself.
VanZant’s mother, Rachel, often visited her daughter at school that freshman year, under the guise of offering her coffee, just to make sure Paige was all right.
“I just told her to be strong and positive and eventually it would pass and she’d get through it,” she said. “I think people just saw that she had a good spirit and kept her head up high and was happy and for whatever reason there were a few girls who bothered her. It was their goal in life to bring her down.”
Those girls wouldn’t want to mess with VanZant these days. Now standing 5-4 and a muscle-packed 115 pounds, VanZant is one of the top women’s mixed martial arts strawweight fighters in the nation.
The 19-year-old VanZant, who moved to Sparks after her freshman year of high school and graduated from TMCC High School in 2012, is in the midst of an intense five-month training camp as she prepares to compete on season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality television show that will crown the UFC’s first strawweight (115 pounds) champion. VanZant is one of 16 women who will compete for the title.
VanZant didn’t initially get into MMA fighting to combat bullying, but the sport has boosted her self-confidence and helped knock down some barriers she had built. It’s change her life.
“At first, I didn’t think there was a correlation, but now I look back at the bullying as one of the reasons I did like fighting,” VanZant said. “If that happens again, I can defend myself. I guess I have to thank the people who did those things to me because without them I don’t think I would have become a fighter.”
www-rgj-com/article/20140119/SPORTS/301190032/MMA-VanZant-from-victim-professional-fighter
She was the victim of bullying. A pack of girls targeted her. They tried to make her life a nightmare. Barely 5-feet tall, she was one of the smallest kids in school, not physically able to defend herself.
VanZant’s mother, Rachel, often visited her daughter at school that freshman year, under the guise of offering her coffee, just to make sure Paige was all right.
“I just told her to be strong and positive and eventually it would pass and she’d get through it,” she said. “I think people just saw that she had a good spirit and kept her head up high and was happy and for whatever reason there were a few girls who bothered her. It was their goal in life to bring her down.”
Those girls wouldn’t want to mess with VanZant these days. Now standing 5-4 and a muscle-packed 115 pounds, VanZant is one of the top women’s mixed martial arts strawweight fighters in the nation.
The 19-year-old VanZant, who moved to Sparks after her freshman year of high school and graduated from TMCC High School in 2012, is in the midst of an intense five-month training camp as she prepares to compete on season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality television show that will crown the UFC’s first strawweight (115 pounds) champion. VanZant is one of 16 women who will compete for the title.
VanZant didn’t initially get into MMA fighting to combat bullying, but the sport has boosted her self-confidence and helped knock down some barriers she had built. It’s change her life.
“At first, I didn’t think there was a correlation, but now I look back at the bullying as one of the reasons I did like fighting,” VanZant said. “If that happens again, I can defend myself. I guess I have to thank the people who did those things to me because without them I don’t think I would have become a fighter.”
www-rgj-com/article/20140119/SPORTS/301190032/MMA-VanZant-from-victim-professional-fighter
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Now all of his students can say: “My rabbi can beat up your rabbi.”
A California rabbi stepped into the cage for his first amateur MMA bout recently and won via TKO in the second round, according to FOX News (via The Algemeiner). Yossi Eilfort began training just six months ago under former UFC fighter Thierry Sokoudjou and said he never hit anyone in the face before.
His goal was to promote self-defense and fitness in the Orthodox Jewish community. Eilfort wanted the “physical, personal, mental challenge” -- not to injure someone.
“I believe if we’re not challenging ourselves, then we’re wasting time,” Eilfort said. Sokoudjou was clearly impressed.
“I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting,” he said. “But I was stoked. He never quits.”
Eilfort, 22, trained just about every day while juggling his duties at the synagogue. He even trained on Friday mornings, but had to skip his last few days of preparation before the fight to observe the Shabbat.
The big match was for Mansion Fights in North Hollywood. Before his bout, Eilfort saw a fellow fighter carted out on a stretcher. That would not be his fate. About 20 friends, family and congregation members watched him take his opponent down and beat him up, winning by TKO. Eilfort wasn’t even giving all he had -- he couldn’t.
“It was very uncomfortable hitting someone,” he said. “I actually held back, but I proved what I wanted.”
The next step? Eilfort wants to become a police chaplain and give self-defense seminars to students.
That sounds like New York rabbi and former cop Gary Moskowitz, who trains his students in mixed martial arts to defend against the awful “Knockout Game” trend. Maybe some promoter will match those two guys up in the cage. Just don’t try to hold that blockbuster on a Friday night.
Rabbi wins first amateur MMA bout by TKO | FOX Sports on MSN
A California rabbi stepped into the cage for his first amateur MMA bout recently and won via TKO in the second round, according to FOX News (via The Algemeiner). Yossi Eilfort began training just six months ago under former UFC fighter Thierry Sokoudjou and said he never hit anyone in the face before.
His goal was to promote self-defense and fitness in the Orthodox Jewish community. Eilfort wanted the “physical, personal, mental challenge” -- not to injure someone.
“I believe if we’re not challenging ourselves, then we’re wasting time,” Eilfort said. Sokoudjou was clearly impressed.
“I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting,” he said. “But I was stoked. He never quits.”
Eilfort, 22, trained just about every day while juggling his duties at the synagogue. He even trained on Friday mornings, but had to skip his last few days of preparation before the fight to observe the Shabbat.
The big match was for Mansion Fights in North Hollywood. Before his bout, Eilfort saw a fellow fighter carted out on a stretcher. That would not be his fate. About 20 friends, family and congregation members watched him take his opponent down and beat him up, winning by TKO. Eilfort wasn’t even giving all he had -- he couldn’t.
“It was very uncomfortable hitting someone,” he said. “I actually held back, but I proved what I wanted.”
The next step? Eilfort wants to become a police chaplain and give self-defense seminars to students.
That sounds like New York rabbi and former cop Gary Moskowitz, who trains his students in mixed martial arts to defend against the awful “Knockout Game” trend. Maybe some promoter will match those two guys up in the cage. Just don’t try to hold that blockbuster on a Friday night.
Rabbi wins first amateur MMA bout by TKO | FOX Sports on MSN
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2006/12/07
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29893
Chris “The Crippler” Leben, an often underappreciated pioneer of the UFC, has officially retired from MMA.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 star had been mulling over his next move after dropping his fourth consecutive loss to Uriah Hall at UFC 168. During an appearance on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Leben announced that he would be hanging up the gloves for good:
After [the Hall fight], I wanted to go back and reevaluate things and make sure that the decision wasn’t based purely on emotion. That was really what I wanted to do. And now, yes, I can say I’ve retired from competing in MMA.
Leben won’t be remembered as a champion or even a title contender. Hell, it would be far-fetched to even consider him a Hall of Famer.
But his importance to MMA is no less than any all-time great that ever stepped through the Octagon door. The original TUF season turned a mildly relevant sport into the fastest growing sport in the world. Leben’s name will be forever etched with the likes of Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian and others.
Despite never climbing to the top of the middleweight division, Leben has enjoyed several big moments in the UFC.
After making his debut in April 2005, he went on a five-fight win streak before earning a No. 1 contender’s bout against Anderson Silva. He would go on to lose that fight by TKO in the first round. Still, how many people in this world get to say they’ve competed against arguably the greatest fighter in MMA history?
Then there was Leben’s July 2010 fight against middleweight contender Yoshihiro Akiyama. A few days after knocking out Aaron Simpson, Leben was on the couch drinking beer and eating pizza when the UFC called and offered him the Akiyama fight on two weeks’ notice.
Being the red-headed daredevil that he was, Leben accepted the fight and went on to submit Akiyama in a “Fight of the Night” performance.
While the win over Akiyama was a major feather in his cap, Leben recalled his knockout victory over his hero Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132 as the best moment of his career:
Wanderlei has always been my hero, said Leben. When I started fighting, I used to walk two miles down to the store where I could buy these bootleg Pride videos and watch Wanderlei fight and watching him is really what got my into the sport. So that win over Wanderlei, probably for me, that was the icing on the cake.
For Leben, the decision to retire was more of a realization of the evolution of MMA. The current generation of fighters are world class athletes skilled in all aspects of fighting. Long gone are the days when you could make a run in the UFC just on being a tough guy:
I've had a wonderful career, said Leben. And again, I didn't start fighting until I was 21 years old. Back then you could actually get in the UFC, win and do well, just on being a tough guy. I was a tough guy, I had some techniques and stuff, and that always worked for me. But when you look at these guys now, like Uriah Hall, they're just a different breed of athlete than I am. The game has been evolving and changing so much, so rapidly, that I'm actually pretty happy that I can say I was in it for as long as I was in it.
Leben may be retiring from MMA competition, but he has no plans of leaving the sport entirely. He plans on sticking around as a coach at Alliance MMA and helping guide the careers of other young fighters.
Nothing in this world hits as hard as life, and Leben has certainly dealt with his fair share of troubles over the course of his 12-year career.
But in the face of overwhelming odds, he can finally ride off into the sunset with a bright smile across his face, knowing he left behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
Chris Leben Retires from MMA | Bleacher Report
The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 star had been mulling over his next move after dropping his fourth consecutive loss to Uriah Hall at UFC 168. During an appearance on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Leben announced that he would be hanging up the gloves for good:
After [the Hall fight], I wanted to go back and reevaluate things and make sure that the decision wasn’t based purely on emotion. That was really what I wanted to do. And now, yes, I can say I’ve retired from competing in MMA.
Leben won’t be remembered as a champion or even a title contender. Hell, it would be far-fetched to even consider him a Hall of Famer.
But his importance to MMA is no less than any all-time great that ever stepped through the Octagon door. The original TUF season turned a mildly relevant sport into the fastest growing sport in the world. Leben’s name will be forever etched with the likes of Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian and others.
Despite never climbing to the top of the middleweight division, Leben has enjoyed several big moments in the UFC.
After making his debut in April 2005, he went on a five-fight win streak before earning a No. 1 contender’s bout against Anderson Silva. He would go on to lose that fight by TKO in the first round. Still, how many people in this world get to say they’ve competed against arguably the greatest fighter in MMA history?
Then there was Leben’s July 2010 fight against middleweight contender Yoshihiro Akiyama. A few days after knocking out Aaron Simpson, Leben was on the couch drinking beer and eating pizza when the UFC called and offered him the Akiyama fight on two weeks’ notice.
Being the red-headed daredevil that he was, Leben accepted the fight and went on to submit Akiyama in a “Fight of the Night” performance.
While the win over Akiyama was a major feather in his cap, Leben recalled his knockout victory over his hero Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132 as the best moment of his career:
Wanderlei has always been my hero, said Leben. When I started fighting, I used to walk two miles down to the store where I could buy these bootleg Pride videos and watch Wanderlei fight and watching him is really what got my into the sport. So that win over Wanderlei, probably for me, that was the icing on the cake.
For Leben, the decision to retire was more of a realization of the evolution of MMA. The current generation of fighters are world class athletes skilled in all aspects of fighting. Long gone are the days when you could make a run in the UFC just on being a tough guy:
I've had a wonderful career, said Leben. And again, I didn't start fighting until I was 21 years old. Back then you could actually get in the UFC, win and do well, just on being a tough guy. I was a tough guy, I had some techniques and stuff, and that always worked for me. But when you look at these guys now, like Uriah Hall, they're just a different breed of athlete than I am. The game has been evolving and changing so much, so rapidly, that I'm actually pretty happy that I can say I was in it for as long as I was in it.
Leben may be retiring from MMA competition, but he has no plans of leaving the sport entirely. He plans on sticking around as a coach at Alliance MMA and helping guide the careers of other young fighters.
Nothing in this world hits as hard as life, and Leben has certainly dealt with his fair share of troubles over the course of his 12-year career.
But in the face of overwhelming odds, he can finally ride off into the sunset with a bright smile across his face, knowing he left behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
Chris Leben Retires from MMA | Bleacher Report
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2006/12/07
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"The beautiful thing about the UFC is that it has been pretty well established by now. The organisation just celebrated its 20 years in existence. Fighters are getting the experience they need in a variety of martial arts at a young age."
With the popularity of the UFC and MMA as a sport more broadly, the presence of kids training on the mats at a younger and younger age is now very much on the radar and UFC commentator and former fighter Kenny Florian, believes that fans are just starting to witness the products of early beginnings.
Tiger Woods was a child prodigy. He was introduced to golf before the age of two and by the age of eight he had won the age 10 boys' event, the youngest age group available at the Junior World Golf Championships. He then went on to win the Junior World Championships six times, including four consecutive wins from 1988 to 1991. It seems it is now only a matter of time before the UFC uncovers their Tiger Woods from the increasingly younger stock.
Perhaps one of the more entrenched examples in the UFC to date in terms of early starts in martial arts and later success in the UFC, is Lyoto Machida, who earned his first black belt in karate at age 12 and won numerous karate tournaments before entering the UFC. Florian believes, however, that fighters with a similarly early start in the fight world are beginning to dominate.
“You want to know my biggest regret? It haunts me almost every day and every night. I wish that I started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA at an earlier age,” Florian explained on Fox Sports recently. “The beautiful thing about the UFC is that it has been pretty well established by now. The organisation just celebrated its 20 years in existence. Fighters are getting the experience they need in a variety of martial arts at a young age.”
“Gyms, trainers and facilities are getting better and better. The sport and those involved are doing what us humans should be doing and that is evolving for the better,” he continued.
Florian has no doubts about the quality of young talent moving up the ranks and nominates a young Hawaiian flyweight from Waipahu, who had an impressive debut at UFC Fight Night 35, as a member of the brat pack that has most recently personified all the benefits of getting into the sport early.
“I was reminded of this when I saw this skinny Hawaiian named Louis Smolka compete at UFC Fight Night 35 in Atlanta. First of all, his nickname “The Last Samurai” is the title of one of my favorite movies so he totally stole my dream nickname,” Florian explained.
“Smolka goes out there against an extremely tough fighter in Alptekin Ozkilic for his debut and looks phenomenal. Have you seen my debut on the season finale of the Ultimate Fighter One against Diego Sanchez? I try to forget it!" He said.
The former four-divisional UFC combatant went on the point out the courage that comes with youth.
“Louis Smolka looked completely un-phased throughout his first fight in the Octagon. He continually flowed with whatever Ozkilic did to him. He never looked flustered and showed the composure of a 30-fight veteran. Prior to this fight, he had 6 fights total. Louis is 22 years old.
“His fluidity and precise strikes in the pocket was something to behold. Not only did he counter everything that the bigger and more experienced Ozkilic threw at him, he actually kept raising his level anytime he was pressured during the fight.
“Is Smolka talented? You better believe it but he seems extremely well trained. Smolka showed the composure of a veteran fighter and did this in his UFC debut showing a variety of techniques that requires years and years of hard work and timing."
Besides the young Hawaiian, Florian also nominated Australia’s own Robert Whittaker as a beneficiary of an early start in MMA alongside; Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Rory MacDonald, Max Holloway, Michael McDonald, Brad Tavares, Kelvin Gastelum and Erik Perez.
“Young fighters have me very excited about the future of this great sport,” Florian declared.
“I started training in BJJ at 20 years old. Didn’t have my first fight till I was 28. Now that I am retired and supposed to be enjoying the sport for what it is, I have to suffer while these young whippersnappers overwhelm the opposition with a vast array of weaponry," he said.
Florian’s view is also backed by evidence, referring to “Fightnomics” statistics showing that “fighters in their twenties have a far greater advantage over fighters in their thirties.”
“The young are starting their MMA training early and I’m jealous. The real truth is, I don’t hate the youngsters in the UFC, I am amazed by them. I admire their dedication to their craft at a young age and I marvel at their fighting capabilities. Kids these days!”
With MMA gyms across the world booming with youngsters doing everything from learning self defense, undertaking MMA purely for health and fitness; right through to fully fledged athletes ready to take on the MMA world, there is every chance we will see the Tiger Woods of the fight world emerge in the very near future.
With the popularity of the UFC and MMA as a sport more broadly, the presence of kids training on the mats at a younger and younger age is now very much on the radar and UFC commentator and former fighter Kenny Florian, believes that fans are just starting to witness the products of early beginnings.
Tiger Woods was a child prodigy. He was introduced to golf before the age of two and by the age of eight he had won the age 10 boys' event, the youngest age group available at the Junior World Golf Championships. He then went on to win the Junior World Championships six times, including four consecutive wins from 1988 to 1991. It seems it is now only a matter of time before the UFC uncovers their Tiger Woods from the increasingly younger stock.
Perhaps one of the more entrenched examples in the UFC to date in terms of early starts in martial arts and later success in the UFC, is Lyoto Machida, who earned his first black belt in karate at age 12 and won numerous karate tournaments before entering the UFC. Florian believes, however, that fighters with a similarly early start in the fight world are beginning to dominate.
“You want to know my biggest regret? It haunts me almost every day and every night. I wish that I started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and MMA at an earlier age,” Florian explained on Fox Sports recently. “The beautiful thing about the UFC is that it has been pretty well established by now. The organisation just celebrated its 20 years in existence. Fighters are getting the experience they need in a variety of martial arts at a young age.”
“Gyms, trainers and facilities are getting better and better. The sport and those involved are doing what us humans should be doing and that is evolving for the better,” he continued.
Florian has no doubts about the quality of young talent moving up the ranks and nominates a young Hawaiian flyweight from Waipahu, who had an impressive debut at UFC Fight Night 35, as a member of the brat pack that has most recently personified all the benefits of getting into the sport early.
“I was reminded of this when I saw this skinny Hawaiian named Louis Smolka compete at UFC Fight Night 35 in Atlanta. First of all, his nickname “The Last Samurai” is the title of one of my favorite movies so he totally stole my dream nickname,” Florian explained.
“Smolka goes out there against an extremely tough fighter in Alptekin Ozkilic for his debut and looks phenomenal. Have you seen my debut on the season finale of the Ultimate Fighter One against Diego Sanchez? I try to forget it!" He said.
The former four-divisional UFC combatant went on the point out the courage that comes with youth.
“Louis Smolka looked completely un-phased throughout his first fight in the Octagon. He continually flowed with whatever Ozkilic did to him. He never looked flustered and showed the composure of a 30-fight veteran. Prior to this fight, he had 6 fights total. Louis is 22 years old.
“His fluidity and precise strikes in the pocket was something to behold. Not only did he counter everything that the bigger and more experienced Ozkilic threw at him, he actually kept raising his level anytime he was pressured during the fight.
“Is Smolka talented? You better believe it but he seems extremely well trained. Smolka showed the composure of a veteran fighter and did this in his UFC debut showing a variety of techniques that requires years and years of hard work and timing."
Besides the young Hawaiian, Florian also nominated Australia’s own Robert Whittaker as a beneficiary of an early start in MMA alongside; Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Rory MacDonald, Max Holloway, Michael McDonald, Brad Tavares, Kelvin Gastelum and Erik Perez.
“Young fighters have me very excited about the future of this great sport,” Florian declared.
“I started training in BJJ at 20 years old. Didn’t have my first fight till I was 28. Now that I am retired and supposed to be enjoying the sport for what it is, I have to suffer while these young whippersnappers overwhelm the opposition with a vast array of weaponry," he said.
Florian’s view is also backed by evidence, referring to “Fightnomics” statistics showing that “fighters in their twenties have a far greater advantage over fighters in their thirties.”
“The young are starting their MMA training early and I’m jealous. The real truth is, I don’t hate the youngsters in the UFC, I am amazed by them. I admire their dedication to their craft at a young age and I marvel at their fighting capabilities. Kids these days!”
With MMA gyms across the world booming with youngsters doing everything from learning self defense, undertaking MMA purely for health and fitness; right through to fully fledged athletes ready to take on the MMA world, there is every chance we will see the Tiger Woods of the fight world emerge in the very near future.
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It could be a long time before Anderson Silva is able to return to MMA, but in the meantime, the former UFC middleweight champ is eyeing a boxing match with Roy Jones Jr.
During a chat with fans on his official Facebook page (h/t MMAFighting-com), Silva revealed that stepping into the ring with Jones was next on his itinerary, not returning to the UFC:
When I get better, that’s my biggest goal, especially because I won’t be able to fight MMA too soon. Fighting in boxing is in my plans, yes, as soon as I’m able to fight again. And Roy is a big idol.
At UFC 168, Silva suffered one of the worst injuries ever witnessed in the Octagon during his middleweight championship bout against Chris Weidman. He broke both his tibia and fibula in his left leg after throwing a kick and slamming his shin into Weidman’s knee.
The bone snapped in half on impact, leaving Silva curled up on the mat screaming in agony.
A general consensus amongst fans was that the curtains had finally closed on arguably the greatest career in MMA history. Dread swept over the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas that night like a funeral, as emergency personnel escorted Silva from the cage on a stretcher.
A titanium rod was inserted into Silva’s leg during an emergency surgery, and miraculously, doctors expect him to make a full recovery. In an interview with ESPN, UFC President Dana White announced that Silva’s timetable would be six months before he could return to training.
While this outlook seems optimistic, it could take anywhere up to a year or even two years before Silva is in the cage again kicking at full force. Until then, it only makes sense that he keeps himself busy.
What better way to do that than challenging one of boxing’s all-time greats to a punching match?
Anderson Silva Wants to Fight Roy Jones Jr. Before Returning to MMA | Bleacher Report
During a chat with fans on his official Facebook page (h/t MMAFighting-com), Silva revealed that stepping into the ring with Jones was next on his itinerary, not returning to the UFC:
When I get better, that’s my biggest goal, especially because I won’t be able to fight MMA too soon. Fighting in boxing is in my plans, yes, as soon as I’m able to fight again. And Roy is a big idol.
At UFC 168, Silva suffered one of the worst injuries ever witnessed in the Octagon during his middleweight championship bout against Chris Weidman. He broke both his tibia and fibula in his left leg after throwing a kick and slamming his shin into Weidman’s knee.
The bone snapped in half on impact, leaving Silva curled up on the mat screaming in agony.
A general consensus amongst fans was that the curtains had finally closed on arguably the greatest career in MMA history. Dread swept over the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas that night like a funeral, as emergency personnel escorted Silva from the cage on a stretcher.
A titanium rod was inserted into Silva’s leg during an emergency surgery, and miraculously, doctors expect him to make a full recovery. In an interview with ESPN, UFC President Dana White announced that Silva’s timetable would be six months before he could return to training.
While this outlook seems optimistic, it could take anywhere up to a year or even two years before Silva is in the cage again kicking at full force. Until then, it only makes sense that he keeps himself busy.
What better way to do that than challenging one of boxing’s all-time greats to a punching match?
Anderson Silva Wants to Fight Roy Jones Jr. Before Returning to MMA | Bleacher Report
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California-based Rabbi Yossi Eilfort recently started winding boxing wrap on his arms in addition to tefillin, winning his first amateur MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) match by technical knock-out in the second round.
Eilfort has learned Krav Maga for the past 12 years, but just 6 months ago began training in MMA under Thierry Sokoudjou at Team Quest Gym in Encinitas.
The rabbi's goal was not to hurt anyone. In fact, he reports feeling "uncomfortable hitting someone." Rather, by going through this personal challenge, he wanted to promote self-defense and fitness among the religious Jewish community. "I proved what I wanted," notes Eilfort.
While balancing his duties at the synagogue, the 22-year-old rabbi trained nearly every day in preparation for his debut fight. He even trained on Friday mornings, but skipped the last few Fridays before the fight because of Shabbat preparations.
“I believe if we’re not challenging ourselves, then we’re wasting time,” remarked Eilfort, who impressed his trainer Sokoudjou. “I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting,” said the Cameroon-native MMA and Judo expert, adding "but I was stoked. He never quits.”
Right before his match in North Hollywood, Eilfort was told another fighter was brought out on a stretcher after being knocked out in a matter of seconds. However the rabbi wasn't rattled, bringing down his opponent even while holding back by not striking the fighter's face directly.
Eilfort intends to use his training to become a police chaplain, giving self-defense seminars to Jewish students.
The Californian rabbi's story has been compared to New York rabbi and former cop Gary Moskowitz, who has been involved in teaching people to defend against the "knockout game" that has specifically targeted Jews in surprise assaults.
California Rabbi Wins First MMA Fight - Jewish World - News - Israel National News
Eilfort has learned Krav Maga for the past 12 years, but just 6 months ago began training in MMA under Thierry Sokoudjou at Team Quest Gym in Encinitas.
The rabbi's goal was not to hurt anyone. In fact, he reports feeling "uncomfortable hitting someone." Rather, by going through this personal challenge, he wanted to promote self-defense and fitness among the religious Jewish community. "I proved what I wanted," notes Eilfort.
While balancing his duties at the synagogue, the 22-year-old rabbi trained nearly every day in preparation for his debut fight. He even trained on Friday mornings, but skipped the last few Fridays before the fight because of Shabbat preparations.
“I believe if we’re not challenging ourselves, then we’re wasting time,” remarked Eilfort, who impressed his trainer Sokoudjou. “I never thought that a rabbi would be interested in fighting,” said the Cameroon-native MMA and Judo expert, adding "but I was stoked. He never quits.”
Right before his match in North Hollywood, Eilfort was told another fighter was brought out on a stretcher after being knocked out in a matter of seconds. However the rabbi wasn't rattled, bringing down his opponent even while holding back by not striking the fighter's face directly.
Eilfort intends to use his training to become a police chaplain, giving self-defense seminars to Jewish students.
The Californian rabbi's story has been compared to New York rabbi and former cop Gary Moskowitz, who has been involved in teaching people to defend against the "knockout game" that has specifically targeted Jews in surprise assaults.
California Rabbi Wins First MMA Fight - Jewish World - News - Israel National News
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MMA Fans and supporters of Bolta Nation came out to Great Falls for the Bolta Family Fight-A-thon
The Great Falls Rumble MMA event was a night of fighting and fundraising for the Bolta family, who lost John almost two weeks ago from a long battle with Leukemia.
Hundreds of supporters and MMA fighters came out to the event to cheer on twenty-six fighters that took to the ring.
Proceeds from shirts, bracelets, silent auction items and 50-50 raffle tickets will all go to the family fund.
Schelli, John's wife, says the communities support has been amazing.
"It's other worldly, I just cannot believe the love and support from the Great Falls community and from the MMA community and emotions are really high and not just for the fighters, but from the whole crowd. You can just feel am amazing energy and honestly it's like John is here. It's just a real spirit of victory is what i feel in the room right now," said Bolta.
The planning for this event started last November, knowing John might or might not attend the fight.
John is survived by wife Schelli and their daughter Kherinton.
MMA fighters raise money Saturday night in honor of John Bolta | KRTV-com
The Great Falls Rumble MMA event was a night of fighting and fundraising for the Bolta family, who lost John almost two weeks ago from a long battle with Leukemia.
Hundreds of supporters and MMA fighters came out to the event to cheer on twenty-six fighters that took to the ring.
Proceeds from shirts, bracelets, silent auction items and 50-50 raffle tickets will all go to the family fund.
Schelli, John's wife, says the communities support has been amazing.
"It's other worldly, I just cannot believe the love and support from the Great Falls community and from the MMA community and emotions are really high and not just for the fighters, but from the whole crowd. You can just feel am amazing energy and honestly it's like John is here. It's just a real spirit of victory is what i feel in the room right now," said Bolta.
The planning for this event started last November, knowing John might or might not attend the fight.
John is survived by wife Schelli and their daughter Kherinton.
MMA fighters raise money Saturday night in honor of John Bolta | KRTV-com
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The mystery surrounding Jose Maria Tome’s situation in the UFC is finally over.
Following several reports stating that "No Chance" has or hasn’t been released from the promotion following back-to-back losses in 2013, his manager Marcelo Brigadeiro confirmed to MMAFighting-com that he’s no longer signed with the UFC.
Tome (33-5, 2 no-contests), who is still listed on UFC’s official website, entered the UFC riding a 16-fight undefeated streak, but went 0-2 inside the Octagon.
"Now it’s time to sit down and analyze other offers," Brigadeiro told MMAFighting-com. "We’ll see what he should have done to win (in the UFC) and move on. He has no date to fight again yet."
Tome signed with the promotion to replace Phil Harris against John Lineker on short notice at UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro, last August. Lineker, who missed weight for the flyweight fight, defeated Tome via TKO. Tome returned to the Octagon three months later to fight Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night 32, but suffered another TKO.
"I think that, despite not winning (in the UFC), he did what we expected to do as far as being aggressive, doing great fights," he said. "When you get to a promotion as big as the UFC, you’re under pressure to deliver and sometimes you can’t be more cautious, so you don’t win.
"Jose Maria is a great athlete, he pleases the crowd and has done great during trainings at RFT. I can’t say what went wrong, actually. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen right now."
Jose Maria Tome released by the UFC - MMA Fighting
Following several reports stating that "No Chance" has or hasn’t been released from the promotion following back-to-back losses in 2013, his manager Marcelo Brigadeiro confirmed to MMAFighting-com that he’s no longer signed with the UFC.
Tome (33-5, 2 no-contests), who is still listed on UFC’s official website, entered the UFC riding a 16-fight undefeated streak, but went 0-2 inside the Octagon.
"Now it’s time to sit down and analyze other offers," Brigadeiro told MMAFighting-com. "We’ll see what he should have done to win (in the UFC) and move on. He has no date to fight again yet."
Tome signed with the promotion to replace Phil Harris against John Lineker on short notice at UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro, last August. Lineker, who missed weight for the flyweight fight, defeated Tome via TKO. Tome returned to the Octagon three months later to fight Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night 32, but suffered another TKO.
"I think that, despite not winning (in the UFC), he did what we expected to do as far as being aggressive, doing great fights," he said. "When you get to a promotion as big as the UFC, you’re under pressure to deliver and sometimes you can’t be more cautious, so you don’t win.
"Jose Maria is a great athlete, he pleases the crowd and has done great during trainings at RFT. I can’t say what went wrong, actually. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen right now."
Jose Maria Tome released by the UFC - MMA Fighting
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They have both taken their fair share of beatings in the ring.
So no wonder Mickey Rourke and MMA legend Chuck Liddell got on so well when they went for lunch together in Los Angeles on Monday.
No doubt the Wrestler star was relishing the chance to trade old war stories with the former UFC champion, who had a somewhat more successful career in pugilism than his actor friend.
Mickey, 61, continued to showcase his slimline figure at the meeting in Beverly Hills, and wore a denim jacket, white T-shirt, jeans and trainers.
And manly Chuck, 44, had no fear in wearing a pink T-shirt, though of course it would be a brave chap indeed that decided to mock the hardman, who won 21 of his 21 mixed martial arts fights and 20 of his 22 kickboxing bouts.
The retired pugilist, who also wore jeans, baseball cap and flip-flops, did try to add at a least an element of machismo to the outfit however, as his girlie top did feature Iron Man.
Mickey started boxing professionally in 1991 and claims most of the facial cosmetic procedures he underwent were to correct injuries sustained from the sport, in which he boasts a modest record of six wins and two draws.
He previously said: 'Most of it was to mend the mess of my face because of the boxing, but I went to the wrong guy to put my face back together.
‘I had my nose broken twice. I had five operations on my nose and one on a smashed cheekbone.
‘I had to have cartilage taken from my ear to rebuild my nose and a couple of operations to scrape out the cartilage because the scar tissue wasn't healing properly.
And just to pile on the agony, he said he was forced to undergo an even more excruciating procedure to solve another health problem.
He said: 'That was one of the most painful operations, but the worst was haemorrhoids.’
The actor is rumoured to be starring in a film about gay Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Despite age, Mickey has expressed his interest in the film and met with the 39-year-old in 2011.
Mickey has described the story of Gareth Thomas - who came out in 2009 - as being 'incredibly important'.
He added: 'This is an incredibly important story about equality and it’s something I want to make happen.'
Read more: The Wrestler and the fighter! Mickey Rourke lunches with MMA star Chuck Liddell | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
So no wonder Mickey Rourke and MMA legend Chuck Liddell got on so well when they went for lunch together in Los Angeles on Monday.
No doubt the Wrestler star was relishing the chance to trade old war stories with the former UFC champion, who had a somewhat more successful career in pugilism than his actor friend.
Mickey, 61, continued to showcase his slimline figure at the meeting in Beverly Hills, and wore a denim jacket, white T-shirt, jeans and trainers.
And manly Chuck, 44, had no fear in wearing a pink T-shirt, though of course it would be a brave chap indeed that decided to mock the hardman, who won 21 of his 21 mixed martial arts fights and 20 of his 22 kickboxing bouts.
The retired pugilist, who also wore jeans, baseball cap and flip-flops, did try to add at a least an element of machismo to the outfit however, as his girlie top did feature Iron Man.
Mickey started boxing professionally in 1991 and claims most of the facial cosmetic procedures he underwent were to correct injuries sustained from the sport, in which he boasts a modest record of six wins and two draws.
He previously said: 'Most of it was to mend the mess of my face because of the boxing, but I went to the wrong guy to put my face back together.
‘I had my nose broken twice. I had five operations on my nose and one on a smashed cheekbone.
‘I had to have cartilage taken from my ear to rebuild my nose and a couple of operations to scrape out the cartilage because the scar tissue wasn't healing properly.
And just to pile on the agony, he said he was forced to undergo an even more excruciating procedure to solve another health problem.
He said: 'That was one of the most painful operations, but the worst was haemorrhoids.’
The actor is rumoured to be starring in a film about gay Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Despite age, Mickey has expressed his interest in the film and met with the 39-year-old in 2011.
Mickey has described the story of Gareth Thomas - who came out in 2009 - as being 'incredibly important'.
He added: 'This is an incredibly important story about equality and it’s something I want to make happen.'
Read more: The Wrestler and the fighter! Mickey Rourke lunches with MMA star Chuck Liddell | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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Long-tenured UFC heavyweight Pat Barry will take an indefinite leave of absence from professional MMA and has been released from his UFC contract per his own request.
The news came Tuesday evening in a statement that was released to USA Today's MMAJunkie by Barry's manager, Brian Butler.
"[Barry] has come to the decision that he will be taking an indefinite leave from competing in MMA," the statement read. "The UFC and Zuffa have been very gracious in releasing him from his contract and Pat is very grateful for everything they have done for him and his career."
Barry, 34, was always popular with fans and Zuffa brass for his high-energy kickboxing style.
Unfortunately for Barry, however, his specialist's expertise as a striker did not translate to big UFC success. If he has indeed fought for the last time in an MMA cage, Barry will go out having lost three of his last four contests. Most recently, Barry took a first-round knockout loss to Soa Palelei in December.
Barry was 5-7 during his UFC career and 8-7 overall.
Barry's fatal flaw as a fighter was his relative lack of a polished ground game. That's very difficult to overcome in today's UFC, which demands that fighters be experts in all phases of combat.
A quote included in the statement directly addressed this aspect of Barry's career. “Over the past few fights I’ve just had this sinking feeling in my stomach whenever I have stepped into the Octagon and I realize, I DONT WANT TO WRESTLE [sic]," Barry said in the statement.
Barry also hinted in the statement that he might make a move back to kickboxing. Barry began his combat sports career as a kickboxer, amassing a 15-5 mark in that field, which included a long stint in the K-1 promotion.
"Not saying I will never do MMA again," Barry said in the statement. "But right now I just want to hit people."
Pat Barry Will Take Indefinite Leave from MMA, Released from UFC | Bleacher Report
The news came Tuesday evening in a statement that was released to USA Today's MMAJunkie by Barry's manager, Brian Butler.
"[Barry] has come to the decision that he will be taking an indefinite leave from competing in MMA," the statement read. "The UFC and Zuffa have been very gracious in releasing him from his contract and Pat is very grateful for everything they have done for him and his career."
Barry, 34, was always popular with fans and Zuffa brass for his high-energy kickboxing style.
Unfortunately for Barry, however, his specialist's expertise as a striker did not translate to big UFC success. If he has indeed fought for the last time in an MMA cage, Barry will go out having lost three of his last four contests. Most recently, Barry took a first-round knockout loss to Soa Palelei in December.
Barry was 5-7 during his UFC career and 8-7 overall.
Barry's fatal flaw as a fighter was his relative lack of a polished ground game. That's very difficult to overcome in today's UFC, which demands that fighters be experts in all phases of combat.
A quote included in the statement directly addressed this aspect of Barry's career. “Over the past few fights I’ve just had this sinking feeling in my stomach whenever I have stepped into the Octagon and I realize, I DONT WANT TO WRESTLE [sic]," Barry said in the statement.
Barry also hinted in the statement that he might make a move back to kickboxing. Barry began his combat sports career as a kickboxer, amassing a 15-5 mark in that field, which included a long stint in the K-1 promotion.
"Not saying I will never do MMA again," Barry said in the statement. "But right now I just want to hit people."
Pat Barry Will Take Indefinite Leave from MMA, Released from UFC | Bleacher Report
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Advocates of mixed martial arts said Tuesday they are ready to take another swing at getting the sport legalized in New York.
New York is the only state in the nation that doesn't allow professional MMA contests, and the Democratic-led Assembly continues to show opposition to it. The measure has passed four times in the Senate, which is partially controlled by Republicans.
"Part of the challenge, I think, is to get legislators who may have an opinion, but their opinion is formed or the context for their opinion is 15 years old, to change their minds," said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, a Democrat and the bill's primary sponsor,
"Once we are able to do that, we'll continue to gain converts."
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is suing New York to overturn its ban, and a federal judge last October ruled that the lawsuit could proceed if the world's largest MMA promoter can prove the state's ban is unconstitutionally vague.
MMA fighters and promoters were at the Capitol Tuesday to press for legislation, rather than a court remedy. They said the sport has evolved and having it regulated by the state would ensure safety precautions are being followed.
Proponents estimated that New York would gain about $135 million a year in additional revenue from fights at major venues, such as upstate arenas and Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
"I'm trying to get people to have a better understanding of the sport. It has evolved a lot," said Uriah Hall, a UFC fighter who grew up in New York City.
New York first banned MMA in 1997.
The legalization appeared to be close to a vote in the Assembly last year, but women lawmakers criticized MMA as sexist and it was beaten back under the cloud of sexual harassment cases in the chamber. Also, there has been pressure from New York unions to reject the measure because UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has been in a labor dispute with unions at his Las Vegas casinos.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, would again consider the bill this year, a spokesman said. Silver hasn't backed the measure, and he's been criticized for his handling of the sexual-harassment cases involving lawmakers' female aides last year.
"There has not been sufficient support in the past. We'll discuss it with our members at some point and see if there is any change," said Silver spokesman Michael Whyland.
MMA tries again to KO ban in New York
New York is the only state in the nation that doesn't allow professional MMA contests, and the Democratic-led Assembly continues to show opposition to it. The measure has passed four times in the Senate, which is partially controlled by Republicans.
"Part of the challenge, I think, is to get legislators who may have an opinion, but their opinion is formed or the context for their opinion is 15 years old, to change their minds," said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, a Democrat and the bill's primary sponsor,
"Once we are able to do that, we'll continue to gain converts."
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is suing New York to overturn its ban, and a federal judge last October ruled that the lawsuit could proceed if the world's largest MMA promoter can prove the state's ban is unconstitutionally vague.
MMA fighters and promoters were at the Capitol Tuesday to press for legislation, rather than a court remedy. They said the sport has evolved and having it regulated by the state would ensure safety precautions are being followed.
Proponents estimated that New York would gain about $135 million a year in additional revenue from fights at major venues, such as upstate arenas and Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
"I'm trying to get people to have a better understanding of the sport. It has evolved a lot," said Uriah Hall, a UFC fighter who grew up in New York City.
New York first banned MMA in 1997.
The legalization appeared to be close to a vote in the Assembly last year, but women lawmakers criticized MMA as sexist and it was beaten back under the cloud of sexual harassment cases in the chamber. Also, there has been pressure from New York unions to reject the measure because UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has been in a labor dispute with unions at his Las Vegas casinos.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, would again consider the bill this year, a spokesman said. Silver hasn't backed the measure, and he's been criticized for his handling of the sexual-harassment cases involving lawmakers' female aides last year.
"There has not been sufficient support in the past. We'll discuss it with our members at some point and see if there is any change," said Silver spokesman Michael Whyland.
MMA tries again to KO ban in New York
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Alan Patrick looked to make a flashy debut in his UFC debut. John Makdessi wasn't about to let it happen on his watch.
But Patrick still came out a winner. The Brazilian was more active than Makdessi in their UFC 169 bout. Whether he was effective was another matter, but it was enough to sway the judges. Patrick won a unanimous decision on scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.
Patrick came out looking for a spectacular finish in his UFC debut. But the fact he was doing so was a bit too obvious. Patrick telegraphed spinning back fist and kick attempts. Makdessi patiently and easily dodged and weaved the attempts, and answered Patrick's flash with solid technique, landing counterpunches and stuffing the bulk of his takedown attempts.
Round two was mostly more of the same, though Patrick did manage to briefly get Makdessi to the mat. Makdessi deftly wall walked his way back to his feet and regained the pace. Makdessi, however, never seemed to feel much urgency to pick up the pace.
Patrick flicked head kicks in the third round, a couple of which landed. But not enough to change the pace of the fight. Makdessi stayed content to lay back, counter, and stuff his takedown attempts, which were up to 11 of 12 by the end of the fight.
The judges don't have those stats in front of them, of course, and unanimous picked Patrick as the winner. Patrick improved to 12-0; Makdessi had a three-fight win streak snapped as he dropped to 12-3.
UFC 169 results: Alan Patrick scores upset of John Makdessi - MMA Fighting
But Patrick still came out a winner. The Brazilian was more active than Makdessi in their UFC 169 bout. Whether he was effective was another matter, but it was enough to sway the judges. Patrick won a unanimous decision on scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.
Patrick came out looking for a spectacular finish in his UFC debut. But the fact he was doing so was a bit too obvious. Patrick telegraphed spinning back fist and kick attempts. Makdessi patiently and easily dodged and weaved the attempts, and answered Patrick's flash with solid technique, landing counterpunches and stuffing the bulk of his takedown attempts.
Round two was mostly more of the same, though Patrick did manage to briefly get Makdessi to the mat. Makdessi deftly wall walked his way back to his feet and regained the pace. Makdessi, however, never seemed to feel much urgency to pick up the pace.
Patrick flicked head kicks in the third round, a couple of which landed. But not enough to change the pace of the fight. Makdessi stayed content to lay back, counter, and stuff his takedown attempts, which were up to 11 of 12 by the end of the fight.
The judges don't have those stats in front of them, of course, and unanimous picked Patrick as the winner. Patrick improved to 12-0; Makdessi had a three-fight win streak snapped as he dropped to 12-3.
UFC 169 results: Alan Patrick scores upset of John Makdessi - MMA Fighting
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With apologies to Rio de Janeiro, for one night Carnival was to be relocated to New Jersey.
It didn't turn out to be the most festive parade, though. The evening ended with more grousing than grinding. Few among the 14,308 at the Prudential Center seemed in the mood to dance to João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Those in the crowd did get to see a couple of latter-day Brazilian icons turn up the heat on Saturday night. UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barão. Featherweight belt holder José Aldo. The sizzling drumbeat of Brazil lives on in these emerging cultural heroes.
When first Aldo and then his training partner, Barão, walked into the octagon late in the evening, the pressure was on. There always is when you're a champion, of course, but on this night there was something bigger at stake. There was national pride to be defended.
Brazil may or may not be the birthplace of mixed martial arts, depending on which history text your school district buys. But its place as a hotbed is indisputable. The pulsing roots of Brazilian dominance in the octagon go all the way back to the beginning, from the disarming days of Royce Gracie all the way to the relentless reign of Anderson Silva. Yet this night began with Barão and Aldo as the only Brazilians with UFC championship belts.
It ended the same way. Como maravilhoso!
Barão (32-1, 1 NC) ended the night in style ... sort of. The 26-year old, unbeaten in 33 fights going back to 2005, knocked out Urijah Faber in the UFC 169 main event, but the stoppage at 3:42 of the first round was questioned by Faber and fans alike. Barão had wobbled "The California Kid" with an overhand right after previously putting him on his back with a straighter use of that fist. This time Faber backpedaled and the champion swarmed him, sending Faber face-first onto the canvas.
That's where Faber remained for the duration. Barão pounced on top of him and began clubbing away with right hands, 16 of them in succession. Some landed to the side of Faber's head. Others landed on Urijah's left arm, which the challenger held alongside his ear for protection. Referee Herb Dean was hovering nearby, and as Faber lay there motionless, the ref asked him to show him something. Faber gave a thumbs-up, but Dean either didn't see the gesture or didn't think that was enough of a showing, and jumped in and ended it.
Faber was confused. "He told me to do something, so I gave him a thumbs-up under there right before he stopped it," he said afterward. "I guess I could jump up and say, 'Hey, Herb, I'm OK.'" He didn't seem angry, though. He stressed that he considers Dean one of the best referees in the business, and said he didn't want to take anything away from Barão, adding, "He caught me with a clean shot."
Indeed, he did. The first big right hand that the Brazilian landed crumbled Faber, and the fight almost ended there. Faber survived that time, but when he got to his feet he took a couple more wobbling shots before the overhand right that was the beginning of the end.
Even the champ was surprised by that stoppage. "Yeah, a little bit," he said. "But I thought I rocked him."
Minutes earlier, Aldo (24-1) made history of his own, although not the type that excited anyone in UFC. When his co-main event meeting with Ricardo Lamas went the distance, it marked the 10th fight of the night to do so, making UFC 169 the card with the most decisions in the promotion's 20-year history.
But all decisions are not created equally. Whereas some bouts earlier in the evening played out like lullabies, Aldo's was don't-blink stuff. The champ was all fast-twitch fury, stalking with narrowed eyes focusing on leg kicks, body punches and other debilitating forms of attack. Once he found his range, he patiently damaged Lamas round after round in earning a unanimous decision, with all three judges giving him four of the five rounds.
Lamas had his moments, but they all came in the last half of the final round. And winning 2½ minutes of a 25-minute fight doesn't add up in a fighter's favor. Still, seeing him reverse Aldo on the mat, keep the champ on his back for the rest of the way, and getting in a couple of clean elbows amid Aldo's octopus defense was a positive takeaway. But it was Aldo's night ... which has been the case for 17 of his fight nights in a row.
However, the Brazilian's reign in the featherweight division appears near an end. At the post-fight press conference Aldo was asked about a move up to lightweight to challenge Anthony Pettis. At first, Aldo deferred to the will of UFC president Dana White, but when White then tossed the decision back his way, Aldo said, "Why not? We're ready to fight. Let's fight."
Moments later, White told the assembled media -- and Aldo -- that he'd just received a phone message from Pettis. The lightweight champ wants the fight, too. On a night filled with decisions that were largely ho-hum, here was one that fight fans everywhere could get behind.
Read More: Barão, Aldo uphold Brazilian pride with victories at UFC 169 - MMA - Jeff Wagenheim - SI-com
It didn't turn out to be the most festive parade, though. The evening ended with more grousing than grinding. Few among the 14,308 at the Prudential Center seemed in the mood to dance to João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Those in the crowd did get to see a couple of latter-day Brazilian icons turn up the heat on Saturday night. UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barão. Featherweight belt holder José Aldo. The sizzling drumbeat of Brazil lives on in these emerging cultural heroes.
When first Aldo and then his training partner, Barão, walked into the octagon late in the evening, the pressure was on. There always is when you're a champion, of course, but on this night there was something bigger at stake. There was national pride to be defended.
Brazil may or may not be the birthplace of mixed martial arts, depending on which history text your school district buys. But its place as a hotbed is indisputable. The pulsing roots of Brazilian dominance in the octagon go all the way back to the beginning, from the disarming days of Royce Gracie all the way to the relentless reign of Anderson Silva. Yet this night began with Barão and Aldo as the only Brazilians with UFC championship belts.
It ended the same way. Como maravilhoso!
Barão (32-1, 1 NC) ended the night in style ... sort of. The 26-year old, unbeaten in 33 fights going back to 2005, knocked out Urijah Faber in the UFC 169 main event, but the stoppage at 3:42 of the first round was questioned by Faber and fans alike. Barão had wobbled "The California Kid" with an overhand right after previously putting him on his back with a straighter use of that fist. This time Faber backpedaled and the champion swarmed him, sending Faber face-first onto the canvas.
That's where Faber remained for the duration. Barão pounced on top of him and began clubbing away with right hands, 16 of them in succession. Some landed to the side of Faber's head. Others landed on Urijah's left arm, which the challenger held alongside his ear for protection. Referee Herb Dean was hovering nearby, and as Faber lay there motionless, the ref asked him to show him something. Faber gave a thumbs-up, but Dean either didn't see the gesture or didn't think that was enough of a showing, and jumped in and ended it.
Faber was confused. "He told me to do something, so I gave him a thumbs-up under there right before he stopped it," he said afterward. "I guess I could jump up and say, 'Hey, Herb, I'm OK.'" He didn't seem angry, though. He stressed that he considers Dean one of the best referees in the business, and said he didn't want to take anything away from Barão, adding, "He caught me with a clean shot."
Indeed, he did. The first big right hand that the Brazilian landed crumbled Faber, and the fight almost ended there. Faber survived that time, but when he got to his feet he took a couple more wobbling shots before the overhand right that was the beginning of the end.
Even the champ was surprised by that stoppage. "Yeah, a little bit," he said. "But I thought I rocked him."
Minutes earlier, Aldo (24-1) made history of his own, although not the type that excited anyone in UFC. When his co-main event meeting with Ricardo Lamas went the distance, it marked the 10th fight of the night to do so, making UFC 169 the card with the most decisions in the promotion's 20-year history.
But all decisions are not created equally. Whereas some bouts earlier in the evening played out like lullabies, Aldo's was don't-blink stuff. The champ was all fast-twitch fury, stalking with narrowed eyes focusing on leg kicks, body punches and other debilitating forms of attack. Once he found his range, he patiently damaged Lamas round after round in earning a unanimous decision, with all three judges giving him four of the five rounds.
Lamas had his moments, but they all came in the last half of the final round. And winning 2½ minutes of a 25-minute fight doesn't add up in a fighter's favor. Still, seeing him reverse Aldo on the mat, keep the champ on his back for the rest of the way, and getting in a couple of clean elbows amid Aldo's octopus defense was a positive takeaway. But it was Aldo's night ... which has been the case for 17 of his fight nights in a row.
However, the Brazilian's reign in the featherweight division appears near an end. At the post-fight press conference Aldo was asked about a move up to lightweight to challenge Anthony Pettis. At first, Aldo deferred to the will of UFC president Dana White, but when White then tossed the decision back his way, Aldo said, "Why not? We're ready to fight. Let's fight."
Moments later, White told the assembled media -- and Aldo -- that he'd just received a phone message from Pettis. The lightweight champ wants the fight, too. On a night filled with decisions that were largely ho-hum, here was one that fight fans everywhere could get behind.
Read More: Barão, Aldo uphold Brazilian pride with victories at UFC 169 - MMA - Jeff Wagenheim - SI-com
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One of the most exciting heavyweights strikers in MMA is Pat Barry. Win or lose, he always put on exciting fights. He’s not always been able to string together wins, and because of a two-fight losing streak, he’s decided to retire from MMA — at least for now.
Barry has always shown weaknesses against wrestlers, and his chin hasn’t held up too well in his last UFC fights. Instead of fighting in the UFC, he is deciding to go back to his beloved sport, kickboxing. This is a smart move on his part as he won’t have to worry about the grappling aspect of fighting. He can just focus on his striking, which is lethal when he’s on his A game. It was revealed today that Barry has signed with Glory, one of the best kickboxing organizations out there right now.
Barry will be a great addition to Glory’s heavyweight roster, and it’s going to be fun to see him land his devastating kicks and punches without having to worry about getting taken down. Barry doesn’t have an opponent lined up yet, but hopefully they can keep him active and get some exciting fights for him.
And who knows, Barry may indeed come back to MMA, especially if he can put some wins together as a kick-boxer. Either way, it’s good to see him go out on his own terms, and hopefully he kind have great success fighting in the sport he once dominated when he was younger.
Read more at Pat Barry Retiring From MMA For Now
Barry has always shown weaknesses against wrestlers, and his chin hasn’t held up too well in his last UFC fights. Instead of fighting in the UFC, he is deciding to go back to his beloved sport, kickboxing. This is a smart move on his part as he won’t have to worry about the grappling aspect of fighting. He can just focus on his striking, which is lethal when he’s on his A game. It was revealed today that Barry has signed with Glory, one of the best kickboxing organizations out there right now.
Barry will be a great addition to Glory’s heavyweight roster, and it’s going to be fun to see him land his devastating kicks and punches without having to worry about getting taken down. Barry doesn’t have an opponent lined up yet, but hopefully they can keep him active and get some exciting fights for him.
And who knows, Barry may indeed come back to MMA, especially if he can put some wins together as a kick-boxer. Either way, it’s good to see him go out on his own terms, and hopefully he kind have great success fighting in the sport he once dominated when he was younger.
Read more at Pat Barry Retiring From MMA For Now
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Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White shot down rumors that Brock Lesnar was returning to mixed martial arts while speaking at a press conference Sunday.
“No, Brock Lesnar is not coming back. Brock Lesnar is not fighting. Does he want to come back? We’ve talked about him wanting to come back,” White said.
“He feels like he wasn’t 100-percent while he was here. He feels like he sold himself a little short, and all the stuff that I’ve told you before. But no, he’s not. We have no deal with Brock Lesnar. He’s not coming back anytime soon.”
The 36-year-old pro wrestler won the UFC heavyweight title in 2008, when he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 91 during his third year with the organization. He defended his title twice and retired in 2001 after back-to-back losses to Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem.
After retiring, Lesnar returned to World Wrestling Entertainment and will be under contract with the organization until 2015.
Read more: Brock Lesnar 'not coming back' to MMA - UPI-com
“No, Brock Lesnar is not coming back. Brock Lesnar is not fighting. Does he want to come back? We’ve talked about him wanting to come back,” White said.
“He feels like he wasn’t 100-percent while he was here. He feels like he sold himself a little short, and all the stuff that I’ve told you before. But no, he’s not. We have no deal with Brock Lesnar. He’s not coming back anytime soon.”
The 36-year-old pro wrestler won the UFC heavyweight title in 2008, when he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 91 during his third year with the organization. He defended his title twice and retired in 2001 after back-to-back losses to Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem.
After retiring, Lesnar returned to World Wrestling Entertainment and will be under contract with the organization until 2015.
Read more: Brock Lesnar 'not coming back' to MMA - UPI-com
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MMA Fighting has the 2013 World MMA Awards results for Friday's sixth annual World MMA Awards at the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, Nev.
MMA Fighting has been nominated for media source of the year and Ariel Helwani is up for journalist of the year honors.
The 2013 World MMA Awards ceremony will start at 10:30 p.m. ET. The winners are bolded below.
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year
1. Vitor Belfort
2. Urijah Faber
3. Demetrious Johnson
4. Chris Weidman
5. Cain Velasquez
Female Fighter of the Year
1. Joanne Calderwood
2. Alexis Davis
3. Jessica Eye
4. Holly Holm
5. Ronda Rousey
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
1. Travis Browne
2. TJ Grant
3. Conor McGregor
4. Nick Newell
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
International Fighter of the Year
1. Shinya Aoki
2. Alexander Gustafsson
3. Conor McGregor
4. Khabib Nurmagomedov
5. Alexander Shlemenko
Fight of the Year
1. Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann (UFC on Fuel TV 8)
2. Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez II (Bellator 106)
3. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 165)
4. Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez (UFC 166)
5. Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva (UFC Fight Night 33)
Knockout of the Year
1. Vitor Belfort (vs. Luke Rockhold, UFC on FX 8)
2. Junior Dos Santos (vs. Mark Hunt, UFC 160)
3. Emanuel Newton (vs. ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Bellator 90)
4. Julio Cesar Neves Jr (vs. Dener Dos Santos, WOCS 28)
5. Chris Weidman (vs. Anderson Silva, UFC 162)
Submission of the Year
1. Olivier Fontaine (vs. Sofian Benchohra, Lyon FC)
2. Josh Burkman (vs. Jon Fitch, WSOF 3)
3. Urijah Faber (vs. Ivan Menjivar, UFC 157)
4. Rose Namajunas (vs. Kathina Catron, Invicta 5)
5. Kenny Robertson (vs. Brock Jardine, UFC 157)
Comeback of the Year
1. Travis Browne (vs. Alistair Overeem, UFC Fight Night 26)
2. Blagoi Ivanov (career)
3. Robbie Lawler (career)
4. Michelle Waterson (vs. Jessica Penne, Invicta 5)
5. Tom Watson (vs. Stanislav Nedkov, UFC on Fuel TV 7)
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year
1. Henri Hooft
2. Duane Ludwig
3. Ray Longo
4. Andre Pederneiras
5. Duke Roufus
Gym of the Year
1. American Kickboxing Academy
2. Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA
3. Nova Uniao
4. Roufusport
5. Team Alpha Male
Trainer of the Year
1. Doug Balzarini
2. Jake Bonacci
3. Jonathan Chaimberg
4. Mike Dolce
5. Joel Jamieson
Referee of the Year
1. Herb Dean
2. Marc Goddard
3. Yves Lavigne
4. John McCarthy
5. Mario Yamasaki
Ringcard Girl of the Year
1. Jade Bryce
2. Arianny Celeste
3. Kat Kelley
4. Brittney Palmer
5. Mercedes Terrell
Leading Man
1. Victor Cui
2. Lorenzo Fertitta
3. Bjorn Rebney
4. Ray Sefo
5. Dana White
Personality of the Year
1. Bruce Buffer
2. Kenny Florian
3. Joe Rogan
4. Bas Rutten
5. Chael Sonnen
Best Promotion
1. Bellator MMA
2. Cage Warriors
3. One FC
4. UFC
5. WSOF
Best Lifestyle Clothing
1. Bad Boy
2. Fear the Fighter
3. Headrush
4. Roots of Fight
5. Torque
Best Technical Clothing
1. Bad Boy
2. Clinch Gear
3. Hayabusa
4. Jaco
5. Venum
Best Technical Equipment
1. Bad Boy
2. Century
3. Everlast
4. Hayabusa
5. Venum
Media Source of the Year
1. Inside MMA (AXS TV)
2. MMA Fighting
3. MMA Junkie
4. Sherdog
5. UFC Tonight (Fox Sports 1)
Journalist of the Year
1. Mike Chiappetta (Fox Sports)
2. Gareth A Davies (The Daily Telegraph / Fox Sports)
3. Ben Fowlkes (USA Today / MMA Junkie)
4. Ariel Helwani (MMA Fighting / Fox Sports)
5. John Morgan (USA Today / MMA Junkie)
MMA Fighting has been nominated for media source of the year and Ariel Helwani is up for journalist of the year honors.
The 2013 World MMA Awards ceremony will start at 10:30 p.m. ET. The winners are bolded below.
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year
1. Vitor Belfort
2. Urijah Faber
3. Demetrious Johnson
4. Chris Weidman
5. Cain Velasquez
Female Fighter of the Year
1. Joanne Calderwood
2. Alexis Davis
3. Jessica Eye
4. Holly Holm
5. Ronda Rousey
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
1. Travis Browne
2. TJ Grant
3. Conor McGregor
4. Nick Newell
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
International Fighter of the Year
1. Shinya Aoki
2. Alexander Gustafsson
3. Conor McGregor
4. Khabib Nurmagomedov
5. Alexander Shlemenko
Fight of the Year
1. Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann (UFC on Fuel TV 8)
2. Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez II (Bellator 106)
3. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 165)
4. Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez (UFC 166)
5. Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva (UFC Fight Night 33)
Knockout of the Year
1. Vitor Belfort (vs. Luke Rockhold, UFC on FX 8)
2. Junior Dos Santos (vs. Mark Hunt, UFC 160)
3. Emanuel Newton (vs. ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Bellator 90)
4. Julio Cesar Neves Jr (vs. Dener Dos Santos, WOCS 28)
5. Chris Weidman (vs. Anderson Silva, UFC 162)
Submission of the Year
1. Olivier Fontaine (vs. Sofian Benchohra, Lyon FC)
2. Josh Burkman (vs. Jon Fitch, WSOF 3)
3. Urijah Faber (vs. Ivan Menjivar, UFC 157)
4. Rose Namajunas (vs. Kathina Catron, Invicta 5)
5. Kenny Robertson (vs. Brock Jardine, UFC 157)
Comeback of the Year
1. Travis Browne (vs. Alistair Overeem, UFC Fight Night 26)
2. Blagoi Ivanov (career)
3. Robbie Lawler (career)
4. Michelle Waterson (vs. Jessica Penne, Invicta 5)
5. Tom Watson (vs. Stanislav Nedkov, UFC on Fuel TV 7)
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year
1. Henri Hooft
2. Duane Ludwig
3. Ray Longo
4. Andre Pederneiras
5. Duke Roufus
Gym of the Year
1. American Kickboxing Academy
2. Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA
3. Nova Uniao
4. Roufusport
5. Team Alpha Male
Trainer of the Year
1. Doug Balzarini
2. Jake Bonacci
3. Jonathan Chaimberg
4. Mike Dolce
5. Joel Jamieson
Referee of the Year
1. Herb Dean
2. Marc Goddard
3. Yves Lavigne
4. John McCarthy
5. Mario Yamasaki
Ringcard Girl of the Year
1. Jade Bryce
2. Arianny Celeste
3. Kat Kelley
4. Brittney Palmer
5. Mercedes Terrell
Leading Man
1. Victor Cui
2. Lorenzo Fertitta
3. Bjorn Rebney
4. Ray Sefo
5. Dana White
Personality of the Year
1. Bruce Buffer
2. Kenny Florian
3. Joe Rogan
4. Bas Rutten
5. Chael Sonnen
Best Promotion
1. Bellator MMA
2. Cage Warriors
3. One FC
4. UFC
5. WSOF
Best Lifestyle Clothing
1. Bad Boy
2. Fear the Fighter
3. Headrush
4. Roots of Fight
5. Torque
Best Technical Clothing
1. Bad Boy
2. Clinch Gear
3. Hayabusa
4. Jaco
5. Venum
Best Technical Equipment
1. Bad Boy
2. Century
3. Everlast
4. Hayabusa
5. Venum
Media Source of the Year
1. Inside MMA (AXS TV)
2. MMA Fighting
3. MMA Junkie
4. Sherdog
5. UFC Tonight (Fox Sports 1)
Journalist of the Year
1. Mike Chiappetta (Fox Sports)
2. Gareth A Davies (The Daily Telegraph / Fox Sports)
3. Ben Fowlkes (USA Today / MMA Junkie)
4. Ariel Helwani (MMA Fighting / Fox Sports)
5. John Morgan (USA Today / MMA Junkie)
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2006/12/07
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29893
The good news is that no one was killed or even hurt. Beyond that, nothing but bad news came out of the arrest of UFC fighter Thiago Silva late Thursday night at his home outside Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after an hours-long standoff with police.
Silva remained jailed Friday afternoon on several felony charges stemming from an incident in which the 31-year-old light heavyweight showed up at a jiu-jitsu gym and allegedly threatened his estranged wife, Thaysa, and the facility's owner, renowned black belt Pablo Popovitch, with a gun before fleeing to his home. After four hours barricaded inside, he surrendered to a SWAT team.
Prosecutors originally charged Silva with felony attempted murder, but at a hearing Friday morning Broward County judge John Hurley downgraded the charges to two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon and one each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. Silva, a Brazilian national, was deemed a flight risk and therefore denied bond.
Minutes after the court hearing, UFC president Dana White told SI-com, via text message, that the promotion soon would make a formal statement but that Silva "will NEVER fight in the UFC again." The company made it official within the hour, tersely: "The Ultimate Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Thiago Silva, effective immediately."
Silva, who fought 12 times in the UFC after joining the promotion in 2007, was scheduled to face Ovince St. Preux at UFC 171 next month.
The police report and statements made in court paint a picture of an ongoing domestic dispute. It's a sad story for all involved, most horrifyingly for Thaysa Silva. A black belt who has competed in the World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship, she has been married to Thiago for 13 years, according to a police report obtained by the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, and while they separated as a couple in late 2012, the Silvas continued to share a residence.
The newspaper reported that Thaysa Silva took out a restraining order against her husband last week following violent threats, and that she called 911 on Wednesday to say he was at the residence, threatening her again. In court, the judge read several threatening statements alleged to have been made by Thiago Silva, among them, "I am going to hire someone to kill you, and I am going to move my girlfriend in." Silva also is accused of having put a gun in his wife's mouth at that time. On Thursday night, he allegedly waved the gun in front of both Thayla Silva and Popovitch, with whom she's in a romantic relationship.
Thiago Silva will have his day in court. When that day comes, we surely will be told about his state of mind as his marriage fell apart. This is a man who had a thorny youth in the favelas of Sao Paolo, with his early biography filled with references to poverty, neglect, and physical abuse. His fighting career has followed a bumpy road, too, with one stretch of six bouts over four years producing but one victory. Two fights that would have been wins were declared no contests after Silva altered a urine test following one and tested positive for marijuana after the other. He won his last two UFC bouts, but even then ran into trouble, missing weight prior to his decision victory over Matt Hamill in October.
None of that is to suggest that Thiago Silva is a victim here. It just points to a troublesome back story, perhaps a degree of desperation, even helplessness. Here's a jiu-jitsu black belt, a man whom we all can agree is an expert in self-defense. Yet it was not a gi he is alleged to have brought to that gym with him.
While Silva is the one sitting in a jail cell, his former employer is no doubt going to be punished for the fighter's alleged deeds as well. The mug shot depicting a menacing-looking man in a buzzcut, tattoos covering his neck, is the very image of what many in the general public think when they hear the term "UFC fighter." Never mind that the promotion's fight card in Las Vegas later this month will feature three clean-cut Olympic athletes, or that most of the competitors on the roster of this and other fight organizations represent themselves and the sport of mixed martial arts with honor.
For that reason, it was wise of Dana White to unhesitatingly take a strong stance on Silva. Not that it was a surprise. The UFC president has the reflexes of a cat when it comes to reacting to anything that impacts his business. He often takes criticism for this, including from the owner of this byline. Often, White's unilateral proclamations give rise to suggestions that a fighters' union could do wonders for the athletes who compete inside the octagon. That still may be true, but here's one instance where the lack of such a body helps the sport as a whole. Could you imagine NFL commissioner Roger Goodell taking any action against a bad-apple player without first vetting it against the collective bargaining agreement?
The UFC has had plenty of black eyes inflicted on its image by fighters, from those spewing misogynist and homophobic rhetoric to those who've appeared on police blotters. Even some fans have gotten involved, most recently at last weekend's UFC 169, with Newark police reporting that two people were stabbed during altercations in the stands at the Prudential Center. MMA is a fighting sport that engenders a certain vibe. How many complaints did we hear after 10 of the 12 bouts on Saturday's card ended in decisions rather than knockouts or choke-outs? Not enough excitement, which is to say not enough violence.
An ongoing challenge for the UFC and other fight promotions will be to clarify for the greater public the brand of violence they're selling. And to stand with the rest of society against the violence with which they refuse to be associated.
Read More: [url=sportsillustrated-cnn-com/mma/news/20140207/thiago-silva-arrest-ufc/#ixzz2siTbtgVh]Thiago Silva arrest unfairly gives UFC bad name -
Silva remained jailed Friday afternoon on several felony charges stemming from an incident in which the 31-year-old light heavyweight showed up at a jiu-jitsu gym and allegedly threatened his estranged wife, Thaysa, and the facility's owner, renowned black belt Pablo Popovitch, with a gun before fleeing to his home. After four hours barricaded inside, he surrendered to a SWAT team.
Prosecutors originally charged Silva with felony attempted murder, but at a hearing Friday morning Broward County judge John Hurley downgraded the charges to two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon and one each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. Silva, a Brazilian national, was deemed a flight risk and therefore denied bond.
Minutes after the court hearing, UFC president Dana White told SI-com, via text message, that the promotion soon would make a formal statement but that Silva "will NEVER fight in the UFC again." The company made it official within the hour, tersely: "The Ultimate Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Thiago Silva, effective immediately."
Silva, who fought 12 times in the UFC after joining the promotion in 2007, was scheduled to face Ovince St. Preux at UFC 171 next month.
The police report and statements made in court paint a picture of an ongoing domestic dispute. It's a sad story for all involved, most horrifyingly for Thaysa Silva. A black belt who has competed in the World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship, she has been married to Thiago for 13 years, according to a police report obtained by the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, and while they separated as a couple in late 2012, the Silvas continued to share a residence.
The newspaper reported that Thaysa Silva took out a restraining order against her husband last week following violent threats, and that she called 911 on Wednesday to say he was at the residence, threatening her again. In court, the judge read several threatening statements alleged to have been made by Thiago Silva, among them, "I am going to hire someone to kill you, and I am going to move my girlfriend in." Silva also is accused of having put a gun in his wife's mouth at that time. On Thursday night, he allegedly waved the gun in front of both Thayla Silva and Popovitch, with whom she's in a romantic relationship.
Thiago Silva will have his day in court. When that day comes, we surely will be told about his state of mind as his marriage fell apart. This is a man who had a thorny youth in the favelas of Sao Paolo, with his early biography filled with references to poverty, neglect, and physical abuse. His fighting career has followed a bumpy road, too, with one stretch of six bouts over four years producing but one victory. Two fights that would have been wins were declared no contests after Silva altered a urine test following one and tested positive for marijuana after the other. He won his last two UFC bouts, but even then ran into trouble, missing weight prior to his decision victory over Matt Hamill in October.
None of that is to suggest that Thiago Silva is a victim here. It just points to a troublesome back story, perhaps a degree of desperation, even helplessness. Here's a jiu-jitsu black belt, a man whom we all can agree is an expert in self-defense. Yet it was not a gi he is alleged to have brought to that gym with him.
While Silva is the one sitting in a jail cell, his former employer is no doubt going to be punished for the fighter's alleged deeds as well. The mug shot depicting a menacing-looking man in a buzzcut, tattoos covering his neck, is the very image of what many in the general public think when they hear the term "UFC fighter." Never mind that the promotion's fight card in Las Vegas later this month will feature three clean-cut Olympic athletes, or that most of the competitors on the roster of this and other fight organizations represent themselves and the sport of mixed martial arts with honor.
For that reason, it was wise of Dana White to unhesitatingly take a strong stance on Silva. Not that it was a surprise. The UFC president has the reflexes of a cat when it comes to reacting to anything that impacts his business. He often takes criticism for this, including from the owner of this byline. Often, White's unilateral proclamations give rise to suggestions that a fighters' union could do wonders for the athletes who compete inside the octagon. That still may be true, but here's one instance where the lack of such a body helps the sport as a whole. Could you imagine NFL commissioner Roger Goodell taking any action against a bad-apple player without first vetting it against the collective bargaining agreement?
The UFC has had plenty of black eyes inflicted on its image by fighters, from those spewing misogynist and homophobic rhetoric to those who've appeared on police blotters. Even some fans have gotten involved, most recently at last weekend's UFC 169, with Newark police reporting that two people were stabbed during altercations in the stands at the Prudential Center. MMA is a fighting sport that engenders a certain vibe. How many complaints did we hear after 10 of the 12 bouts on Saturday's card ended in decisions rather than knockouts or choke-outs? Not enough excitement, which is to say not enough violence.
An ongoing challenge for the UFC and other fight promotions will be to clarify for the greater public the brand of violence they're selling. And to stand with the rest of society against the violence with which they refuse to be associated.
Read More: [url=sportsillustrated-cnn-com/mma/news/20140207/thiago-silva-arrest-ufc/#ixzz2siTbtgVh]Thiago Silva arrest unfairly gives UFC bad name -
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I'm back with master Rafael, training full time now, with him.
...
This whole 2013, pretty unlucky number for me.
...
I've been here training at Kings for a bout a year now and I feel like a new fighter. I'm ready to get on out there. I'm entertaining some offers from some different leagues that are around the globe. I'm just trying to find my home.
I don't want to go ahead and say who's offering me what. I didn't sign a non-disclosure agreement, however I think it would be unprofessional of me to mention who's doing what. But yeah, there's a couple of legitimate offers. And I'm like, "What? oh no, yeah! I'm going to fight again." It's starting to kinda materialize.
Of course that's not all that's on Miller's mind right now. Mayhem spent a good portion of 2013 in the news following a pair of arrests for domestic violence following a series of disputes with his girlfriend. The charges ended up seeing him in court, but it would appear that the fallout from them has been resolved. Miller addressed it in a somewhat circumlocuitous manner:
I forgive everybody, and I hope they forgive me. Because, what's the point in holding a grudge? I feel bad, of course. I popped off and told my friends, or the people who... You know, I was really hurt at the time, but now it's 2014. All that stuff's behind me, it's all in the past. If you don't have my number Twitter me and I'll apologize, or if you want to apologize. It doesn't matter, I forgive you anyway.
And of course, Miller could hardly go without addressing the other big story that saw him in the news last year. After a BAMMA USA event in October, Miller confronted Uriah Hall in the cage where Hall and several other guests had congregated. Miller proceeded to call Hall a "Bitch ass n***a" repeatedly, resulting in Hall taking a swing at Miller. Miller would later apologize to Hall, calling his own behavior "ghetto." Miller talked about the altercation again, spinning it as his own attempt to get Hall some free publicity.
I was just getting him some publicity. I knew people were, like, cameras out and stuff. It was... he's my brother, I love him. He's a good man. He'll be the damn champion. If he just allows himself to become the champion, he'll be the champion. I mean he's got to get through a damn sea of tough dudes, but I wish him the best.
You know, people, it really hurt my feelings calling me a racist. That was like the worst... I'm like, "What? Get out of here." Like, "I'm more black than I am racist."
The one thing Miller didn't address here was his ongoing knee problems. It's hard to imagine him making a return to active competition if he still hasn't received surgery for what is supposedly an entirely destroyed ACL. If he's still minus a working knee his rejuvenated MMA career may be something of a pipe dream.
Mayhem talks about returning to MMA, forgiveness, and Uriah Hall - Bloody Elbow