New Articles, And Not Just About MMA This Time

I have two new articles on Crave Online this week. One of them, naturally, is about MMA (An Uncertain Future for Chuck Liddell). But the other is about my love affair with a certain tasteless reality TV show (Does Liking “Rock of Love” Make Me a Bad Person?).
If you’re reading this blog you’re [...]

The MMA Article I Never Want to Read Again

I think it’s great that so many people are now discovering mixed martial arts.  Increased interest equals increased airtime and exposure, which then leads to better pay for fighters, bigger shows, and better all around competition.
That’s all good stuff.  I can remember when UFC results never made the L.A. Times’ sports page, while somehow the [...]

New Dear Don at IFL.tv

The new edition of Dear Don: Advice from “The Predator” is on the IFL website today. In case you’re not familiar with the internet’s most popular MMA-related advice column, allow me to fill you in. Dear Don is where average jerks write in with questions about their sad, sad lives, and Don tells [...]

Liddell Makes Half-a-Million in Loss, Jardine Takes The Bus Home After Victory

After every event the UFC discloses their fighter payrolls to the State Athletic Commission or IRS or whoever it is that insists on seeing these things, and then a fairly predictable routine follows: 1) MMA fans marvel at how little some of their favorite fighters are making to entertain them with violence for $39.95 on [...]

The Rumors Are True

Today Sam Caplan announced that I will now be a contributing writer for his MMA blog, 5 oz. of Pain. As I’ve mentioned on here before, I’ve been a big fan of the site since I first saw his articles on CBS Sportsline, so it’s an honor and a privilege to write for it.
As [...]

Liddell Talks Retirement (But I’m Not Buying It)

Following his decision loss to Keith Jardine (who has reclaimed full “Dean of Mean” status with the victory), former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is said to be considering retirement. According to trend-follower Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports!, UFC president Dana White spoke about the possibility of Liddell hanging up his gloves.
“There’s a [...]

Upsets Leave Uncertain Future for UFC Stars

At the top of last night’s UFC pay-per-view broadcast, announcer Mike Goldberg mentioned that Chuck Liddell would fight former Pride champ Wanderlei Silva if he beat Keith Jardine in the evening’s main event.
He didn’t. Now we don’t know what’s going to happen to Liddell or Silva (much less Jardine). If Goldberg’s statement is [...]

UFC 76 Preview and Predictions

As difficult as it is for me to turn right around after the IFL Finals and get up for UFC 76, I’m going to dig deep and come up with as much enthusiasm as possible.
As usual, my preview and picks are coupled with the current odds from betus.com. Maybe this time I’ll lay some [...]

Post-Finals Reflection and Ramblings

One of the things I’ve always loved about fighting is that it is a prism through which a man’s true character can be viewed.  Never was that more evident to me than at last night’s IFL Finals, particularly in the bout between Ben Rothwell and Ricco Rodriguez.
If you’ve been following my coverage of the Finals, [...]

Blogging the IFL Finals: Day 3

When Ricco Rodriguez finally got on the scales at last night’s weigh-in, he answered a lot of questions without ever saying a word. For most fighters, the weigh-in is pretty routine. But with Ricco, who has struggled with fluctuating weight gain, you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the crowd [...]

Blogging the IFL Finals: Day 2

Since this is an MMA blog, I’m going to spare you most of my feelings on air travel and move on to more interesting topics, but first I have to say this: Jet Blue is what airlines should aspire to be.  They have TV’s in every seat, they apologize for delays by letting you watch [...]

Blogging the IFL Finals

I leave this afternoon for the World Team Championships in Florida. Maybe it’s narcissism or maybe it’s the inability to think of anything else to write about, but I thought it would be interesting to chronicle the experience of traveling with an MMA organization in a series of blog posts. If that doesn’t [...]

The Enigma of Ben Rothwell

Yesterday I learned that due to a biceps injury to Tom Sauer, former UFC heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez has been named as a replacement opponent for Ben Rothwell in the IFL Finals this Thursday. At first I was very excited, but now I’m just very nervous.
Having gotten to know Rothwell on a personal basis [...]

Elite XC’s Evinger: “I’d Like to Make Out with Gina (Carano)”. And the Crowd Goes Wild?

My personal struggle with women’s MMA continues. Thanks to comments made by Tonya Evinger at the latest Pro Elite press conference to hype her bout with Gina Carano at tonight’s Elite XC event in Hawaii, this inner conflict is only getting tougher…and weirder.
“I’d like to make out with Gina, but I am here [...]

New Fedor Story at Crave Online

My weekly MMA column is now available at Crave Online, and yes, it’s about Fedor Emelianenko. In the article I lay out three good reasons why the UFC should do whatever is necessary to add Fedor to their roster, even if it means letting him compete in some Sambo tournaments back home in Mother [...]