Grudge Fight: Matt Serra on Matt Hughes Part 1
May 15th, 2009 by adminMatt Serra sits down with FOX Fight Game’s Mike Straka and talks upcoming fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 98 … “FOX Fight Game” “Mike Straka” “Matt Serra” “Matt Hughes” “UFC 98″ UFC mma “mixed martial arts” “Dana White” “Georges St Pierre” “Anderson Silva” Cote “Justin Craig” welterweight fighting fight cage octagon
By: cinephonic
About the Author:
By: cinephonic
About the Author:
The Fight of the Century? Really Dana?
May 15th, 2009 by admin
Thank god we have an interim heavyweight champion. The Brock Lesnar vs Randy Couture fight is the result of a perfect storm of politics that has been brewing within the UFC and Zuffa. Really though, it’s a microcosm of what has become a much larger issue of politics within the sport of MMA. The real issue? MMA is the new boxing.
Since its inception, Mixed Martial Arts organizations have billed themselves as leagues of opportunity for the best fighters. Indeed, the original UFC events were bracket tournaments that gave even the most obscure fighters the chance at #1. Now we know that it is neither healthy nor plausible to reenact this format. But the clarity within the sport is gone.
I was a fan of the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan for as long as they were in business. Pride promoted a championship tournament that gave us such fights as CroCop vs Barnett (in their primes mind you), Fedor vs Minotauro and Coleman vs Vovchanchyn. Those were the days when Genki Sudo’s entrances were the entertainment for the night, and the MMA was about the MMA.
No Mickey’s, no Bud Light, no BSN. Pride was about the fighting, not the promotions and sponsorships. I don’t mean to blame the UFC for being a business. I understand that as a for-profit entity, Dana White’s organization has a right to make money. But, as an MMA fan – and as a devout hater of boxing – I hate seeing the UFC’s size become a breeding ground for politics.
While I’m sure that the Lesnar/Couture fight will be a very entertaining fight - and hopefully a competitive one – why the hell is Dana White calling this the “Biggest fight in UFC history”? It’s called hype, and it’s a breeding ground for distractions like Kimbo Slice. Let’s let quality fights speak for themselves – we MMA fans are sophisticated and we don’t need the “entertainment”.
By: Cole Peyton (www.MeisterMMA.com)
About the Author:
Since its inception, Mixed Martial Arts organizations have billed themselves as leagues of opportunity for the best fighters. Indeed, the original UFC events were bracket tournaments that gave even the most obscure fighters the chance at #1. Now we know that it is neither healthy nor plausible to reenact this format. But the clarity within the sport is gone.
I was a fan of the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan for as long as they were in business. Pride promoted a championship tournament that gave us such fights as CroCop vs Barnett (in their primes mind you), Fedor vs Minotauro and Coleman vs Vovchanchyn. Those were the days when Genki Sudo’s entrances were the entertainment for the night, and the MMA was about the MMA.
No Mickey’s, no Bud Light, no BSN. Pride was about the fighting, not the promotions and sponsorships. I don’t mean to blame the UFC for being a business. I understand that as a for-profit entity, Dana White’s organization has a right to make money. But, as an MMA fan – and as a devout hater of boxing – I hate seeing the UFC’s size become a breeding ground for politics.
While I’m sure that the Lesnar/Couture fight will be a very entertaining fight - and hopefully a competitive one – why the hell is Dana White calling this the “Biggest fight in UFC history”? It’s called hype, and it’s a breeding ground for distractions like Kimbo Slice. Let’s let quality fights speak for themselves – we MMA fans are sophisticated and we don’t need the “entertainment”.
By: Cole Peyton (www.MeisterMMA.com)
About the Author:
Cole Peyton owns www.MeisterMMA.com and writes a weekly article.
Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Exercises based on Muay Thai
May 15th, 2009 by admin
Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is known in the Western fighting world as one of the “sprawl-and-brawl” disciplines of martial arts, focusing on striking the opponent more than grappling, clinching, or submission holds. Drenched in a long history as a royal art form of many traditions, this martial art also greatly accentuates the goals of conditioning and fitness in a fighter. Using Muay Thai techniques can greatly improve stamina for MMA fighters that practice in any area of martial arts.
Thai Pads: Training with Thai pads is a staple to any Muay Thai conditioning schedule. Proper work with these pads will help improve speed, power, timing, and conditioning. The key to getting a good workout is having a good trainer or training partner who knows how to hold the pads. Switching between the large foam pads and focus mitts help vary the workout between power and strength to speed and precision.
Shins: Shin conditioning is very specific to Muay Thai training. It is recommended to condition the shins by kicking a Thai pad or heavy bag for at least 100 times per day, but preferably closer to 500, depending on how vigorous of an exercise you’re looking for. Kick lightly at first to warm up, and then start kicking at full strength around the 30th kick. If your shins become sore, rest and massage them to avoid injury. A useful trick is to place your shin in between your middle knuckles and rub along the length of your shin several times to restore blood flow.
Mental Training: Muay Thai fighters believe that mental toughness is just as important in the ring as physical condition or skills. Meditation and praying are staples of Buddhism and Thai culture, so it should come as no surprise that this transfers over to Muay Thai boxing. This mental training concerns both visualization and positive thinking. While not physically training, a Muay Thai boxer is constantly visualizing their fighting moves in their head like a movie. This will help with reflexes and natural reactions because you’re practicing scenarios in your head all day and night. Positive thinking involves eating, breathing, and sleeping success and winning 24 hours a day. Negative thoughts must be neutralized by positive ones and a champion’s mindset put in place.
Muay Thai fighting is a very popular sport worldwide and has infinite room for advancement of skills. Learning the fighting techniques, conditioning drills, and traditional formalities can all help in any area of martial arts. So next time you’re training at the gym, don’t forget your Thai Pads, shin exercises, and to mentally train as well. Happy training!
By: abejundio
About the Author:
Thai Pads: Training with Thai pads is a staple to any Muay Thai conditioning schedule. Proper work with these pads will help improve speed, power, timing, and conditioning. The key to getting a good workout is having a good trainer or training partner who knows how to hold the pads. Switching between the large foam pads and focus mitts help vary the workout between power and strength to speed and precision.
Shins: Shin conditioning is very specific to Muay Thai training. It is recommended to condition the shins by kicking a Thai pad or heavy bag for at least 100 times per day, but preferably closer to 500, depending on how vigorous of an exercise you’re looking for. Kick lightly at first to warm up, and then start kicking at full strength around the 30th kick. If your shins become sore, rest and massage them to avoid injury. A useful trick is to place your shin in between your middle knuckles and rub along the length of your shin several times to restore blood flow.
Mental Training: Muay Thai fighters believe that mental toughness is just as important in the ring as physical condition or skills. Meditation and praying are staples of Buddhism and Thai culture, so it should come as no surprise that this transfers over to Muay Thai boxing. This mental training concerns both visualization and positive thinking. While not physically training, a Muay Thai boxer is constantly visualizing their fighting moves in their head like a movie. This will help with reflexes and natural reactions because you’re practicing scenarios in your head all day and night. Positive thinking involves eating, breathing, and sleeping success and winning 24 hours a day. Negative thoughts must be neutralized by positive ones and a champion’s mindset put in place.
Muay Thai fighting is a very popular sport worldwide and has infinite room for advancement of skills. Learning the fighting techniques, conditioning drills, and traditional formalities can all help in any area of martial arts. So next time you’re training at the gym, don’t forget your Thai Pads, shin exercises, and to mentally train as well. Happy training!
By: abejundio
About the Author:
For More Information about MMA Fights and Mixed Martial Arts Events.
Please visit: http://www.calltoarmsfights.com/
What Makes MMA Shirts So Great?
May 15th, 2009 by admin
Mixed martial arts is a full contact combat sport that involves a very large variety of fighting techniques that are mixed from martial arts traditions and are typically used in competitions. The rules of mixed martial arts allow for striking and grappling techniques both while standing and on the ground. Modern mixed martial arts really emerged as a competitive part of mainstream pop culture in 1993 with the beginning of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest recognized MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is currently headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Now that Mixed Martial Arts has become so mainstream in its popularity, it is almost guaranteed that you have seen someone walking around town sporting MMA shirts at some point. It is probably safe to assume that you thought these MMA shirts were really cool and wanted to find the nearest store that sold them. There are many different places to pick up some super cool MMA shirts, but checking online for sites that sell them is probably where you will find the best deals. There are many reasons to invest in MMA shirts, but if you are a man on the prowl, then getting the ladies is probably your number one.
MMA shirts are quickly becoming the best and easiest way to attract women. They are something that should be in your closet in multiples and are a piece of clothing that can be worn everyday. Women love a man in a mixed martial arts shirt and that is proved by the amount of women who are head over heels in love with guys like Chuck Liddell, Fedor Emelianenko, and Kevin Randleman. Women flock towards these men and it is not because they are wearing the latest pair of Dockers and polo shirt; it is because they wearing some of the coolest gear around.
When you wear a mixed martial arts shirt around town people know that you mean business. MMA is a great sport and by donning some of their gear, it proves that you have incredible tastes. It also shows people, men or women, that you are diverse in your interests which are always a wonderful trait to have. Mixed martial arts, especially the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is about as pure and raw as a sport can get. It pits two men against each other with nothing left to do but fight it out to determine who the best is. Check out MMA and learn more about what has everyone talking.
By: Phoenix Delray
About the Author:
Now that Mixed Martial Arts has become so mainstream in its popularity, it is almost guaranteed that you have seen someone walking around town sporting MMA shirts at some point. It is probably safe to assume that you thought these MMA shirts were really cool and wanted to find the nearest store that sold them. There are many different places to pick up some super cool MMA shirts, but checking online for sites that sell them is probably where you will find the best deals. There are many reasons to invest in MMA shirts, but if you are a man on the prowl, then getting the ladies is probably your number one.
MMA shirts are quickly becoming the best and easiest way to attract women. They are something that should be in your closet in multiples and are a piece of clothing that can be worn everyday. Women love a man in a mixed martial arts shirt and that is proved by the amount of women who are head over heels in love with guys like Chuck Liddell, Fedor Emelianenko, and Kevin Randleman. Women flock towards these men and it is not because they are wearing the latest pair of Dockers and polo shirt; it is because they wearing some of the coolest gear around.
When you wear a mixed martial arts shirt around town people know that you mean business. MMA is a great sport and by donning some of their gear, it proves that you have incredible tastes. It also shows people, men or women, that you are diverse in your interests which are always a wonderful trait to have. Mixed martial arts, especially the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is about as pure and raw as a sport can get. It pits two men against each other with nothing left to do but fight it out to determine who the best is. Check out MMA and learn more about what has everyone talking.
By: Phoenix Delray
About the Author:
For more information and a look at the MMA shirts available, please visit our website.
A Mma Overview
May 14th, 2009 by admin
MMA or mixed martial arts refers to a fighting competition that combines techniques form many other fighting styles such as boxing, wrestling, kick boxing, and martial arts. MMA fights begin standing up and resemble kick boxing with opponents trading punches and kicks. Almost all MMA fights make their way to the ground and then opponents continue to fight in a manner that resembles wrestling although the object is not to win by pinning your opponent. MMA became popular in the U.S. early 1990’s and the UFC, the biggest U.S. MMA organization was founded in 1993. Originally, MMA competitions were met with great controversy from politicians and concerned citizens because the UFC claimed to be a no-hold-barred competition and proved to be extremely violent with only a few rules. The idea behind the UFC was not a new one and the idea of creating a competition to determine which fighting style was the most effective began in the early 1900’s. MMA type competitions were popular in other countries and after their brutal introduction into the U.S. in 1993, they did not seem like they were going to stick around.
The initial disdain for the violent competition actually caused MMA fights to be banned from 20 states and even Pay Per View stopped televising MMA events. After a few years of shame, the UFC added rues and regulations and actually got sanctioning to become a legal sport. MMA has since become very popular and is loosing some of its brutal stigma. Rules were added to give the sport less violent image and prohibit, biting, eye gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, foul language, spitting, small joint manipulation, groin strikes, head butts, and kicking the head of an opponent while he is on the mat. Originally, the UFC had no weight classes, which only helped perpetuate the unruly image. The UFC now has weight classes and even screens fighters for drug use prior to entry into the ring.
MMA fights are won by knock out, submission, judge’s decision, or referee stoppage. Time limits were also added so that fights lasting longer than the set amount of rounds would be decided by judges. The referee and fight doctor can also stop a fight if they think that one fighter is not longer able to intelligently defend himself. Fighters must wear mouth guards and special fingerless gloves that protect the knuckles while allowing fighters to grapple.
Even thought the UFC and MMA fights were originally considered barbaric, they have come a long way since then. The UFC is gaining popularity and some PPV MMA fights have even outsold PPV boxing matches. With clear rules and sanctioning, MMA has made a comeback in the U.S. and is set to become the most popular combat sport. MMA already draws millions of fans and more and more fighters are conditioning themselves to be able to compete in the MMA ring. Even though it had a rocky start, MMA in the U.S. is quickly gaining ground and more and more people are accepting it as a legitimate sport.
By: James Liu
About the Author:
The initial disdain for the violent competition actually caused MMA fights to be banned from 20 states and even Pay Per View stopped televising MMA events. After a few years of shame, the UFC added rues and regulations and actually got sanctioning to become a legal sport. MMA has since become very popular and is loosing some of its brutal stigma. Rules were added to give the sport less violent image and prohibit, biting, eye gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, foul language, spitting, small joint manipulation, groin strikes, head butts, and kicking the head of an opponent while he is on the mat. Originally, the UFC had no weight classes, which only helped perpetuate the unruly image. The UFC now has weight classes and even screens fighters for drug use prior to entry into the ring.
MMA fights are won by knock out, submission, judge’s decision, or referee stoppage. Time limits were also added so that fights lasting longer than the set amount of rounds would be decided by judges. The referee and fight doctor can also stop a fight if they think that one fighter is not longer able to intelligently defend himself. Fighters must wear mouth guards and special fingerless gloves that protect the knuckles while allowing fighters to grapple.
Even thought the UFC and MMA fights were originally considered barbaric, they have come a long way since then. The UFC is gaining popularity and some PPV MMA fights have even outsold PPV boxing matches. With clear rules and sanctioning, MMA has made a comeback in the U.S. and is set to become the most popular combat sport. MMA already draws millions of fans and more and more fighters are conditioning themselves to be able to compete in the MMA ring. Even though it had a rocky start, MMA in the U.S. is quickly gaining ground and more and more people are accepting it as a legitimate sport.
By: James Liu
About the Author:
For more information go to www.budotv.com