Personalities

Charles “Mask” Lewis 1963-2009

“Hopefully, at the end of the day, it would be said that I encouraged people to encourage.  Encouraged you to believe in yourself way past where you believed you could go.  Get you to believe in something that’s way up here, that you don’t really want to touch it, you really don’t want to believe…man, go believe in that, and focus on that thing, and when you do that, that’s when you’ll do something that sets you completely apart from everybody else.  It just takes one idea.  One.  To change the course of your history, your kids history, and influence many a millions of others.  There’s just one, but you’ve got to go up in that one little part that you’re thinking is just so crazy…it only sounds crazy because nobody else is thinking about it.  That’s your special gift; you gotta get up there in that, Whatever it is.

—Charles “Mask” Lewis, June 23, 1963 - March 11, 2009

Continue reading "Charles “Mask” Lewis 1963-2009"

Quote of the Day: Freddie Roach: “I think they’re using James”

“I think they’re using James as a way to say MMA fighters are better than boxers,” he said. “If he fights a quality ground guy, once he goes to the ground he’s gonna get killed. But if a guy chooses to stand up with James, James is gonna destroy him. That’s why they call him ‘Lights Out.’ I really don’t think there’s one fighter in MMA that could stand with James.”

—Boxing trainer Freddie Roach provides his thoughts on James Toney signing with the UFC and how his skills will translate to mixed martial arts.

HDNet to Debut New MMA Series “Fighting Words With Mike Straka”

DALLAS—HDNet announced today that it will add the new, original series “Fighting Words with Mike Straka,” to its Friday night lineup. The 30-minute one-on-one weekly interview program will feature revealing conversations with the top stars in mixed martial arts.  “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” is scheduled to debut on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET.  The premiere episode will feature a rare, 30-minute interview with one of the most influential people in Mixed Martial Arts - UFC President Dana White.

In the following weeks, host Mike Straka will present unique insights into the sport’s most interesting personalities including King Mo, Gegard Mousasi, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Matt Hughes, Frank Shamrock and Bobby Lashley.

Continue reading "HDNet to Debut New MMA Series “Fighting Words With Mike Straka”"

The Battle for MMA in Ontario Wages On

Sportsnet’s “Showdown” Joe Ferraro sits down with Noble Chummar, UFC’s legal counsel in Ontario, to look at the political fight taking place to bring mixed martial arts to Ontario.

Chummar belongs to a committee that is currently working to get the sport regulated in Ontario. According to Chummar, “The name of the game is patience. We can’t rush this because it’s too big and UFC completely supports the slow learning process, the slow education process of bringing people on side and we’re working at that pace to make it happen.”

Continue reading "The Battle for MMA in Ontario Wages On"

Quote of the Day: Jens Pulver: “They’re all gone”

“How could I have a falling out?  Fallen out with who?  There is nobody.  They’re all gone.  There was Pat, but Pat is too busy trying to make cash, making a living.  He ain’t coaching people.  Everyone always thought Pat had a magical touch and was teaching us all these magical things.  No he wasn’t.  No. Never.  Never ever.  It was a great combination of things that left.  Jeremy left, Matt left, Robbie left.  Matt Pena left.  Everybody grew up more or less.  We weren’t there anymore.  And that’s why the great experiment is over.”

—Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver tells ugo.com that there was no falling out with Team Miletich but that everyone moved on and the experiment is over.

Parisyan Withdraws From UFC 106

Karo “The Heat” Parisyan has pulled out of his UFC 106 bout with Dustin Hazelett.

UFC president Dana White made the announcement via Twitter, “Karo Parisyan has fucked over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!! He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!!”

Continue reading "Parisyan Withdraws From UFC 106"

Brock Lesnar Suffering From Intestinal Infection

UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was hospitalized earlier this week after it was discovered that he was suffering from a bacterial infection in his intestinal tract.

According to the Associated Press, UFC president Dana White said, “He’s in stable condition and should be released soon.” White was encouraging Lesnar to check into the May Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for further evaluation and treatment.

Continue reading "Brock Lesnar Suffering From Intestinal Infection"

Dana White’s UFC 105 Video Blog Part II

Dana White’s UFC 105 Video Blog

Dana White’s UFC 104 Video Blog (Part II)

Here is the second instalment of UFC president Dana White’s UFC 104 video blog. In the following episode, White continues with the Twitter craze, giving away tickets to fans for UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun.