Fightin' Words
A mixed martial arts blog about UFC, Strikeforce and other MMA promotions and fighters
Lorenzo Fertitta's statement on MMA not coming to a New York again
Photo credit: FX
UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta released this statement Tuesday night when the New York State Assembly failed to bring the bill to legalize MMA in the state to a full vote of its members:
“While our disappointment cannot be overstated, our commitment to seeing New York legalize the fastest growing sport in the nation and the world is intact and undeterred. We continue to strongly believe...
Read more »Rashad Evans on winning and losing
Photo credit: AP
Earlier this week, Newsday asked Rashad Evans a few questions on winning and losing and the mentality involved with both. Here are his answers as Evans prepares to fight Dan Henderson at UFC 161 on Saturday night in Winnipeg:
“After you win a fight, you feel like you’re on top of the world and it feels like everything you've done has paid off. It’s such a rewarding feeling. But when you lose...
Read more »Another lost title shot for Anthony Pettis
Photo credit: Getty
This time, Anthony Pettis had his name on a contract and UFC marketing materials clearly indicating that he would fight for a title.
The past two times he was supposed to get a title shot, it never materialized. And on Friday, news broke that Pettis suffered a torn meniscus in his knee while training in Brazil and has to pull out of his featherweight title shot against Jose Aldo at UFC 163...
Read more »Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson set for UFC 165
Photo credit: Getty Images
At lunch in Manhattan this past January, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was flipping through photos via an app on his phone. The poster of those photos was Alexander Gustafsson.
At the time, Jones said he was interested in learning more about the Swedish light heavyweight. Jones said Gustafsson seemed like a cool guy, but "I'm still gonna knock him out, though."
It...
Read more »MMA, New York, the Assembly and time
Photo credit: AP
Eight calendar days remain, including today, until the New York State's legislative session comes to a close.
Not a lot of time left for the bill to legalize mixed martial arts to get passed, right? Well, to paraphrase a recent interview with Assemb. Matthew Titone from Staten Island, one day is like a lifetime in politics in Albany.
Still, the positive vibes from March when the bill...
Read more »A quick moment with Rashad Evans
Photo credit: Getty Images
You see him on television doing interviews or appearing as an analyst, and one thing is clear: Rashad Evans has a winning personality and a million-dollar smile.
He's also one heck of a fighter, with 22 wins in 25 career attempts. Fight No. 26 is Saturday against Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in Winnipeg.
Evans is also human, a characteristic often overlooked in athletes by consumers of the...
Read more »Jon Fitch and Josh Burkman WSOF feature videos
Photo credit: UFC Photo
Jon Fitch and Josh Burkman headline World Series of Fighting 3 this Friday in Las Vegas in what is the newer MMA promotion's biggest fight so far.
Below are featured videos on each fighter leading up to WSOF 3 on NBC Sports Network at 11 p.m. ET Friday.
Jon Fitch
Josh Burkman
Newsday's app users can watch the videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ZruI4joDA...
Read more »Anderson Silva, soccer star?
Photo credit: Getty Buda Mendes
Good comedy can transcend nearly any language barrier.
This video, in Portuguese with no subtitles, attempts to answer this basic question: What would have happened if UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva became a soccer star instead?
Whether or not you can understand Portuguese is irrelevant to the amusement you'll get from watching this video that hit YouTube on Wednesday, 24 days...
Read more »Urijah Faber pops a jab at Dominick Cruz
Photo credit: FX
Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz enjoy a relationship of respect and contempt.
In the latest round of their well-documented and blatantly public dislike for one another, Faber threw a jab at Cruz on Tuesday night's edition of "UFC Tonight."
Faber, a former WEC champion was asked if he wants another title shot. Here's his response:
“I would love for that to happen. Do we...
Read more »The winning and losing of Roy Nelson
Photo credit: AP
The disconnect between UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson and its president Dana White goes back to the very first episode of Season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter."
When White sad he had something big planned for that season, the former IFL champion Nelson figured it meant him. Six minutes and twenty seconds into that season of "TUF," Nelson let it be known he was wrong.
"Dana...
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