Ranger Up has uncovered some Top Secret combat techniques that the government doesn’t want you to know about.

USMA Dominates Grappler’s Quest

by

Chris Sinclair-Macleish

The United States Military Academy Mixed Martial Arts Team dominated the competition at the Grappler’s Quest Northeast Championship this past Saturday, September 26, 2009. The Grapplers Quest Northeast Championship is one of the largest tournaments in the country, offering approximately 1300 competitors from around the country, including 16 representatives of West point – the largest showing West Point has ever produced for a national tournament.

The team performed exceptionally at the Northeast Championship this year, walking away with a total of 13 medals. Team Captain and CIC Travis Anderson led by example, sweeping the competition away in his Intermediate Middleweight division, finishing in 1st place overall. He also competed in the Intermediate Absolute division (all weight classes combined) and won 2nd place after 7 grueling matches. Co-Captain and ACIC Will Nagy had a similarly strong showing, finishing 2nd in his Intermediate Light-Heavyweight division and 2nd in the Blue Belt Heavyweight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu division. Team OIC MAJ James Smith epitomized “Army Strong” by fighting through 7 long matches to take home 1st place in the Executive (ages 30-39) Beginner Cruiserweight division and 2nd in the Executive Beginner Absolute division. An additional milestone for West Point was reached at this tournament when, for the first time, female cadets represented the United States Military Academy at a national grappling competition. Lauren Stitch, a plebe with less than two months experience with the team upset her Women’s Beginner Class “C” (the lowest weight class) division by taking her opponents down to eventually take 2nd. Jennifer Smith demonstrated excellent ground technique, finishing the tournament with a 3rd place medal in Women’s Beginner Absolute division. Colby Brunette demonstrated his impressive ground game by finishing the tournament with a second place medal in the Beginner Lightweight division. Mitchell Hansen fought 6 long matches to win 2nd place in the Beginner Welterweight division. Christopher MacLeish fought hard to produce a 2nd place finish in the Beginner Light – Heavyweight division. Shinwon Moon excelled at his first tournament earning him a 2nd place medal in the Novice Lightweight division. Finally, Seth Merrigan finished strong as the only plebe to medal in the Intermediate level of competition. He finished the day with a 3rd place medal in the Intermediate Welterweight division.

The Northeastern Championship contained some of the largest brackets West Point MMA has ever seen at competition, often containing three or more pages worth of names. In all, West Point Mixed Martial Arts participated in 71 matches over the course of the day with nearly 70% of the team earning their way onto the podium, with several members wining multiple medals. Additionally, the members of West Point MMA achieved this success with less than half as much training time as the competitors they faced. The club believes this tournament was a resounding success. However, it was only a precursor to the continued success of a bourgeoning team that will successfully prepare them for their next national tournament on November 14, 2009, the North American Grappling Championships at Essex College in Newark, New Jersey. Go Army, Beat Navy!

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Conspiracy theories aren’t limited to Presidential assassinations, alien visitation, and Michael Jackson’s death. Mixed Martial Arts may have its own power players looking four moves ahead on the big chessboard for a massive windfall, and I’m not talking about Affliction. Enough has been said about that. Mark Chalifoux and I team up to play Woodward and Bernstein with a bag of chicken bones to get to the bottom of the story. Don’t ask us who our Deep Throat was.

Issue #1 – Now that UFC 100 has come and gone, what’s the next big milestone for MMA?

Kelly-It would be easy to use the Zuffa’s numbering system and say UFC 200 is the next big milestone in MMA, but there are other events that will take the sport to the next level. Although New York sanctioning MMA, breaking into the Mexican market, and signing Fedor are all big goals for the UFC, I think establishing a sustained presence in Japan is the Holy Grail for White and company. But they have significant obstacles to overcome before that ever happens. First off, in Japan MMA is family entertainment, which is why they don’t approve the use of elbows and disdain cuts. The Jim Miller – Mac Danzig blood bath at UFC 100 that resembled a scene from The Shining would not go over well. For that matter the Octagon has a stigma attached to it from the early UFC days as being brutal, so the Japanese networks would almost certainly want Zuffa to abandon their trademark arena. Lastly, Japanese audiences love the freakshow fights that we’ve all come to regard as pure humor here in the States. Would Dana White and Joe Silva be willing to stage such superficial events like Hong Man Choi versus Jose Canseco, install a ring, and ban elbows? Sure. And Gary Busey has a shot at nailing UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste. Until that happens the plausibility of the UFC having a prolonged presence in Japan is as likely as Kojak doing a Head and Shoulders commercial.

Mark- That’s depressing. The big milestone is gaining a foothold in Japan but it will never happen? Thanks for the buzzkill. Why not just say the next big milestone for the UFC will be to hold the first MMA event on the moon? I think it’s clear, and has been for some time, that the next milestone for the UFC, and even bigger than UFC 100, is making the jump to network TV. That’s the biggest obstacle between the UFC and legitimacy right now. The mainstream media is acknowledging MMA more but not as much as they should. Having some prime-time specials on one of the major networks is the only thing that can bring the UFC to the next level. The fans will increase, the coverage will increase, and everyone will be happy. No casual sports fan is going to want to shell out 50 bucks to watch the Super Bowl or to watch the BCS title game. And soon enough, the casual fan should be able to watch at least a few big UFC events every year. The thing that distresses me about a TV deal: Dana White says it’s not a huge priority. It looks like the UFC is more focused on global expansion. If that’s the case, then Japan will be big for the UFC but I think they are taking the smart route and building up the rest of the globe first. There’s too much competition and the UFC would have to make too many concessions, like you said, to make Japan a priority right now.

Issue #2-Will Shane Carwin become the people’s champion by knocking off the new MMA villain, Brock Lesnar?

Kelly-Yes. As we all know, Lesnar snapped back into WWE mode after defeating Frank Mir and got all uppity with the crowd with a double fisted middle finger salute accompanied by tortuous words about Bud Light. Bad move. Bud Light is as American as Chevrolet and Apple Pie, Mister Lesnar. Not only have you made enemies of the MMA community, but the NASCAR community, the beer drinking community, and the dude who spent hours making sure the Bud Light mat in the octagon was straight. Now heavyweight contender Shane Carwin is pissed. Carwin immediately posted a diatribe on his website about Brock and if he gets past Cain Velasquez (I think he will), he’s been guaranteed a title shot. Carwin has the power of a super-heavyweight, but moves as quick as a lightweight. The hype around him is legit and with Greg Jackson in his corner developing a fight strategy, Misses Lesnar might not get any lovin’ when the two meet.

Mark- I like the Carwin talk, I really do. I think he’s a tough guy and will be a great heavyweight for the UFC. Does he have a shot at knocking off Lesnar? Sure, all it takes is one lucky punch (see Serra, Matt). But if both bring their A-games? It’s impossible to go against Lesnar. Carwin’s resume leaves a lot to be desired. He may have more experience, but wins against Randy Couture and Frank Mir are far better than anything Carwin’s amassed. Couture is the master at developing a game plan but that didn’t help him with Lesnar. I simply don’t see how Carwin gets it done. Even with his wrestling background, I don’t think he outwrestles Lesnar. Lesnar is bigger and stronger, although Carwin is one of the bigger heavyweights he’ll face. Lesnar is also freakishly athletic and incredibly quick. He can also throw a pretty lethal punch. Lesnar’s game still has a lot of holes but his overwhelming size, his championship wrestling background (in college, not in terms of steel chairs and top ropes) and his athleticism do a damn fine job of masking those flaws.

Issue 3 - When will we get Anderson Silva v. GSP?

Mark - OK, enough is enough. We had to put up with Anderson Silva v. Patrick Cote and Thales Leites, but do we really have to suffer through GSP taking on Mike Swick or Martin Kampmann? Really? That’s supposed to be the next move for one of the biggest stars in the sport? The guy has dismantled the top two welterweights in the UFC with wins over Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves. Mike Swick is a capable fighter but he’s not ready for GSP. Let Fitch and Alves fight it out to see who gets a rematch and in the meantime, let’s make the fight Dana White has been talking about for months. GSP v. Anderson Silva. It’s time. White said he’d look into it if GSP got by Alves and he dominated Alves. This is the biggest fight the UFC can put together. Even bigger than Lesnar-Fedor, if you judge by skill rather than hype. If Anderson Silva gets by Forrest Griffin at UFC 101, then this shouldn’t even be a question.

Kelly – I have no argument with you that it’s time for this clash. With Silva fighting next month and GSP slightly injured, both can get sufficient rest to begin a training camp in mid-September and be ready to fight in…wait for it…late December. What’s that? Do I hear the big New Year’s Eve show calling on my phone? Let me answer it. Hello? What’s that you say? The UFC is just teasing us so we start talking up this fight before they reveal their devious plan to have GSP and Silva fight in the big end-of-year event in Vegas? That’s genus! In fact it’s nefarious! If Dana White suddenly started sporting a scar down the side of his face, I’d swear he was Dr. Evil. All kidding aside, I think both of these talented fighters have their timelines in place to clash at the end of year UFC blowout and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. Make it happen, DW!

Issue 4 - What’s the point of Dan Henderson v. Rich Franklin II?

Mark - The main event at UFC 103 is one I simply can’t figure out. Both fighters are coming off good wins but this wasn’t exactly a great fight the first time they met. I still think Franklin should’ve won the controversial split decision. All Henderson did was take him down occasionally. He didn’t do jack on the ground and his most impressive moves in the stand-up game where his head butt and eye poke, both illegal moves. And this fight was confusing at the time because Franklin is moving up to 205 and Henderson is not. Hendo wants another shot at Anderson Silva and Franklin wants to make a go at light heavyweight. How does this fight make sense at all? It could be entertaining but it still doesn’t make sense for either guy.

Kelly – Instead of looking at one fight, I try to put these little clues together to deconstruct the UFC’s grand strategy. Taking into consideration my theory that Joe Silva is trying to set up a big cash cow fight between GSP and Anderson Silva at the year-end blowout event, this fight makes sense and exposes the UFC’s little conspiracy. On the surface it’s hard to see a need for Henderson-Franklin 2. But reading between the lines, I’d say the UFC wants to keep Hendo away from Silva so they can set up the Silva-GSP fight. As you pointed out, Franklin really won their first meeting, but got robbed on the scorecards. By setting up a rematch, Franklin gets a chance to prove he’s better and the UFC keeps Dangerous Dan away from The Spider long enough to set up the GSP-Silva mega event in December. Win or lose, Dan won’t have time to prepare for a year-end showdown with Silva. If Franklin wins, he avenges the controversial loss and continues on his road to a 205 pound title shot. From a dolla dolla bills perspective, it eliminates the one uncontrollable variable that could spoil Dana’s dream of actually rolling naked in money.

Tim Kennedy’s Workout - 22 July 2009

Meritorious (on crack)

1. 400m Run
2. 10 225lbs Deadlift
3. 20 Burpees
4. 30 Pull-ups
5. 40 Hand stand push-ups
6. 50 Kettle bell swings (2pood)
7. 60 Sit-ups
8. 50 Kettle bell swings (2pood)
9. 40 Hand stand push-ups
10. 30 Pull-ups
11. 20 Burpees
12. 10 225lbs Deadlift
13. 400m run

Time to beat: 18:34

Last man: 26:07

MMA Takes on PTSD

by Kelly Crigger

“I hate being medicated,” Marine Lieutenant Lee Stuckey says through a thick Alabama accent. “But without it I can’t sleep right. I get night tremors, sweats, the works.” Stuckey’s situation is not uncommon among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder than can develop after exposure to a terrifying even or ordeal and is estimated to affect one in every eight veterans returning home from combat today. With two combat tours and a close encounter with an IED outside Camp Fallujah, Stuckey’s lucky-he has all of his limbs, his eyesight, and no serious loss of motor skills.   

But his return home brought a new set of challenges. Stuckey was placed in the medical platoon at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina with his fellow PTSD Marines. Although designed for rehabilitation, the environment was depressing.

“Marines get frustrated with the traditional treatment of talking it out,” Stuckey says. “Guys would just go back to their barracks rooms and drink away their pain all night. It just wasn’t a good situation.” 

An avid martial artist, Lieutenant Stuckey took it upon himself to drag a few Marines out of their lethargy and into Camp Lejuene’s Semper Fit gym. There they met Chilean immigrant Andrea Lucie, a fitness instructor who was exploring new ways of dealing with PTSD through a complex regimen of yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques for rehabilitation. But it was her background in martial arts that really got their attention.  

“A Muay Thai combination is hard for a patient suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury,” she says through an accent equally as daunting as Stuckey’s. “But it helps them focus because there are repetitive movements that they have to remember and it’s a disciplined act. Marines are disciplined people so they relate to it.” 

Before long Lucie was getting positive results and despite not having a degree in psychology, she designed her own plan that revolved around the thing Marines know best. By combining exhaustive MMA workouts that tapped into their adrenaline, yoga, and meditation for relaxation, Lucie found her Marines were adjusting to their surroundings better and sleeping more restfully.  

“Marines are more interested in physical challenges like MMA and traditional martial arts,” Lucie says. “They’d rather hit something than talk about how they feel.” 

That makes sense since young American men don’t join the US Marine Corps to sit behind a desk. They join to be fighters and even when their bodies are broken or their minds are suffering, they want a way to reconnect with their warrior ethos. Mixed Martial Arts does that and more. 

“MMA humbles Marines,” says Stuckey. “It shows them they don’t have to be aggressive that it’s okay to admit when you’re suffering. Marines are a culture of not showing weakness, so instead of seeking help when they have PTSD, many Marines just act like nothing’s wrong.”  

Lacking the money for a true medical study, Lucie presented her experiences to the Combat Operations Stress Control Conference in San Diego, California and got a good reception from the brass there. But attaboys don’t fund research, so what she and her colleagues are seeking now is someone to support a formal study on the linkage between Yoga, MMA, and PTSD. 

Lieutenant Stuckey doesn’t need a study. He just goes to sleep without a cocktail of medications. “If I have a hard MMA workout I don’t have to take the meds and sleep better than ever, but if I miss a workout for some reason then I still have to take them.” Sometimes it doesn’t take a shrink to figure out how the mind and body work.

I may not be perfect, but I try real hard to never to be the “ugly American” when I travel.  To this day I still love many of the cuisines I’ve encountered and I appreciate and treasure the different perspectives I have gained through my journeys.  I’d be a very different, and less complete, man without them.  There are a few American traditions, however, that I am certain are superior and I am unwilling to compromise in the acceptance of a better methodology.  I’ve given you examples of this in the past, whether it my horticultural partiality (pomegranate trees in particular) or my epic battle with the vampire bed bugs, but the one that I feel most passionately about is that there is only one proper way to shit is sitting (METTC depending of course).

In many cultures, the most comfortable position to do anything in is the “squat”.  They have their conversations in it, they eat in it, they fight and shoot from it (all of which I don’t mind), and lastly they defecate from it (this is where my tolerance abates). 

I remember distinctly being a kid, bladder about to burst, and I ran into our one bathroom.  There sitting happily was my father.  He may have been reading a magazine or a book.  Perhaps he was just enjoying those precious few minutes of solitude from his demon-possessed son (me).  Whatever the case may have been I knew that I was interrupting and I better vacate the vicinity promptly.  There was something about him sitting there, respectfully and proudly.  I knew at that time that there was only one way to shit.

Being imbedded with other foreign militaries has its perks, and for a few months on my last deployment I was assigned to a platoon of indigenous soldiers.   For the most part, it’s pretty awesome.  You get to learn new ways to do our business (fighting).  You get to try new equipment.  You get to learn some new swear words.  You even try your best to look like them (this might save your ass later because more often than not the guy behind the glass is always trying to hit the American). I did almost everything with them.  Once again, however, they put my defecation style to the test – and proud American that I am, I refused to give in. 

I was on mission.  I tracked down a metal folding chair and laser-cut a hole in the center of it.  Then I went into KBR’s bathroom, and tore out commandeered a toilet seat.  BAM! There was my new portable throne.

If you’ve read my other stories you are well aware of the fact that most of the locals think that I’m mental.  I’m the guy box jumping everything I walk up to (only making it on top of it 2 out of 3 times then destroying everything within reach when I bang my shin), picking up every seemingly heavy piece of broken equipment just to see how far I can throw it, putting on my body armor pro-mask and dragging a tire every where I run, and lastly taking out all my belonging from my hut to “declare war” on SOG trained bed bugs.  So I’m not sure I did myself any favors by periodically taking off with my Glock, modified chair, and reading material and climbing to the top of the nearest hilltop. In need for some time alone, I’d march up to that fitting spot, set my chair down, and do my business. 

Did my new comrades in arms think I was crazy?  Perhaps.

Did they understand that disturbing my precious few minutes of solitude was a perilous, and potentially life-ending mistake? 

Why yes they did.

Congratulations to Ranger Up fighter Kris “Savage” McCray for his devastating first round submission win over Ronnie Wuest in Fairfax Virginia last night. McCray, a Specialist in the Virginia Reserves and the son of a retired First Sergeant, took only thirty-nine seconds to lift Wuest in the air, slam him to the ground, and sink in a rear naked choke. The second he won, McCray did a back flip off the cage wall to celebrate as thirty Ranger Up supporters cheered him on. McCray is now 3-0 and could have the UFC in his future. 

Kris McCray and Ranger Up Girl Alex after McCray’s first round win at UWC 6.

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Earlier this month the California State Athletic Commission took the bold step of overturning victories for fighters who come up positive for a banned substance while the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) announced they were close to locking in a “major sponsor.” Meanwhile at UFC 97 Anderson Silva was accosted by critics for his mediocre performance against Thales Leites and an era ended when Chuck Liddell got KOd by Shogun Rua. I invited Mark Chalifoux from MMA Stomping Grounds to gnaw on these tidbits with me.

How will the California State Athletic Commission’s ruling that gives them the power to overturn a fight due to a positive result for a banned substance affect MMA?

Kelly-There’s an old saying-“locks only keep the honest people honest.” On the surface the CSACs decision will probably have its desired effect of causing fighters to rethink whether or not to jab a dirty needle in their arm, but only the ones who have an ounce of integrity in them. If a fighter is determined to give himself an advantage he will, no matter how Draconian an athletic commission’s penalties are. The Nevada State Athletic Commission already has this power (see Pride 33-Diaz vs. Gomi) and fighters still come up hot in that state after a fight, so how will it be any different in California? After all, it’s a 50-50 risk. If the fighter loses, then coming up hot for a banned substance won’t change the outcome. If he wins he has about a Somali pirate’s chance of getting busted because most MMA promotions don’t have the money to test all the fighters on the card. Even the richest organization, the UFC, doesn’t test 100% of the time. The down side of course, is the permanent tarnish on a fighter’s career if he comes up hot. Sean Sherk, Karo Parysian, and even the legendary Ken Shamrock will forever have their name associated with cheating, whether it’s deserved or not, for coming up positive for banned substances. That’s the real penalty, but plenty of guys seem willing to take the risks anyway.

Mark-Risks definitely aren’t worth the reward. However, the key here is doing something that can’t be tested. Baseball and football have mastered this (yet players still do stupid stuff, like steroids). The only problem with using something undetectable, like an HGH, is the person providing it getting busted. So if you’re in cahoots with someone you trust, go ahead and juice up. I do disagree that one test tarnishes a career. Thiago Alves failed a drug test but is still the top welterweight contender and has revived his career. It’s not easy and it’s a huge gamble but there will always be cheaters and new ways to cheat. No amount of fines or rules will stop that. You can limit it, or at least try, but you will never completely stop it.

Anderson Silva is to blame for the weak UFC 97 main event

Mark- In my opinion, the blame should be with the UFC and with Thales Leites. Anderson Silva was the champ and while I think he could’ve pressed a little more, it’s up to the challenger to make the move. Silva shouldn’t be blamed for Leites falling to his back anytime things started to get hectic. If he wanted a fight on the ground, it’s on him to take Silva there, not fall down enough until Silva gets bored and takes it to the ground. Leites was only going to win on the ground but his strategy was miserable. I blame the UFC because Leites had no business being in the cage with Silva that night. I much rather would’ve seen Silva-Franklin III than that fight. Leites had only one decent win and that was over Nate Marquardt and it was clear he didn’t have the skill set necessary to compete with Silva. Many champs have learned the hard way what can happen when you change your game plan or take someone lightly (see: Matt Serra taking down GSP). Silva had a fine game plan, he dominated the fight and walked away with an easy win. Blame Leites for the boring fight and blame the UFC for putting him in that place to begin with.

Kelly-Leites didn’t stand and bang with the champ, but Silva still should have finished him, if for no other reason than to deny Leites the distinction of being the first guy to force a decision against him in years. Now every casual fan will see Silva’s record and say, “wow, that Leites guy must be the shit. He took Silva the distance!” If the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing my kid’s preschool football team, does that mean they won’t be able to finish the game quickly because the kids aren’t playing on the same level? Do they have more of a chance against them than the Arizona Cardinals did? You’re right that Leites is not in Silva’s class, so the Spider should have knocked him silly before it got to the fifth round, especially after professing how disappointed he was in his own performance against Patrick Cote.

Chuck Liddell has fought his last fight

Mark-I can’t see Liddell hanging it up after the loss to Shogun. If Randy Couture and Mark Coleman can come back north of 40, I’m not ready to give up on the Iceman. I’ll readily admit that he’s past his prime, that his fight game hasn’t evolved at the rate of younger fighters and that he will no longer be relevant in the title picture. Still, he’s one of the biggest names in the sport’s history and can still fight (somewhat). There is money to be made off Chuck and while Dana White nobly acknowledged that and still said they wouldn’t go that route, I think it’s just a matter of time. Depending on what happens with Couture’s next fight, I think they could reasonably sell a Liddell v. Couture fight. Liddell taking on his former student from TUF in Forrest Griffin would be another entertaining fight. He’s not a main eventer anymore, but there are still a few fights I could talk myself into wanting to see. The reason Jordan’s and Ali’s of the world don’t leave in their prime is the competitiveness that made them great to begin with. You can’t just turn it off in Liddell and while we know he won’t be the Liddell of old, it doesn’t mean he still doesn’t have another solid performance or two in him.

Kelly-I also think Liddell won’t be able to resist the Siren call of the cage, but I hope he lashes himself to a mast like Odysseus and rides out the storm of desire. His last four fights have proven that every fighter has an expiration date and the nuclear bombs he once wielded in his hands are now mere chunks of stone that still hurt a lot, but don’t induce sleep as before. Dana White and Chuck himself have declared he’s done, but how many times have we heard that from extreme competitors only to have them come back? Liddell won’t be any different. He’ll get restless with a desk job or training up-and-comers and try his hand in the cage again. He may succeed once or twice or he may fail miserably, but either way it’s doubtful he’ll be a contender again. Has he fought his last fight? No. Has he won his last fight? Possibly. 

WAMMA says it’s about to lock up a major sponsor who will give them credibility. Can ANYONE really give WAMMA credibility?

Kelly-Yes, and its initials are UFC, but that will likely never happen. Until the UFC comes on board with WAMMA, it will be like the UN without the USA’s money-toothless. Most of the world’s true MMA champions fight outside their purview with the only exception being Fedor. So how can you ever profess to have any credibility in a sport where the best are outside of your jurisdiction and even worse, thumb their noses at you? The issue at stake here is power. It’s simply not in the UFC’s best interest to be a part of WAMMA because it diminishes their power. Collective organizations like WAMMA redistribute power among their members, so it’s a great opportunity for the little guys, like the Ultimate Warrior Challenge and Cage Rage, to get onto a level playing field and be treated the same as the big guys. But for a member who already negotiates from a power position, such as Zuffa, a collective body like WAMMA will only dilute their authority and benefit them very little. Zuffa’s best course of action is no action.

Mark- Hey, I’m a WAMMA voter! I don’t have any strong issues with the concept of WAMMA or what WAMMA is trying to accomplish. Granted, my involvement with WAMMA is limited to the fighter rankings, but the question comes down to power and the UFC has all of it. If the UFC doesn’t need to recognize WAMMA, why would they? For better or worse, in the eyes of much of the public, the UFC is MMA and credibility in the sport belongs to them. Even mainstream types were able to see through EliteXC and the fraud that was Kimbo Slice. The UFC marketing machine is second to none and that isn’t the absolute worst thing in the world. They care about growing the sport and expanding it, so in some cases, what’s good for the UFC is good for MMA. In short, I agree, WAMMA is screwed without the UFC.

This article was first published on MMAJunkie.com on 30 Nov 08. It’s reprinted here because I frickin’ wrote it and can reprint it wherever I want to. As a partner of the UWC, we feel it’s important for you to know why we get behind these guys. They are easily the best MMA show on the east coast and will be synonymous with Strikeforce in the near future. 

He was late. 

I had a seven o’clock beer-and-chicken-wing appointment with S. Marcello Foran, the CEO of Ultimate Warrior Sports Development — the parent company of upstart MMA promotion, Ultimate Warrior Challenge. It was 7:20 p.m., and the two beers I’d downed weren’t doing my empty stomach any favors. My head, however, was considerably pleased.

The UWC had completed four successful shows. But it was just a week after the high profile demise of EliteXC, and everyone in the sport was scrambling to make sure EliteXC’s decomposing body didn’t stink up their own operation. The Shaw family had proven once again that bad decisions and poor planning kills MMA dreams. EliteXC’s banishment to the promotion boneyard alongside BodogFight and the IFL was causing ripples throughout the industry. But if Foran was nervous about those developments when he arrived at the Fairfax, Virginia barbecue house, he didn’t show it. 

“Everyone gets what’s coming to them,” Foran said, sipping a cocktail. “You have to ask, where did they get their knowledge about doing MMA shows other than boxing? I don’t have all the answers, but I’m learning and evolving all the time, which is key to survival in this sport. Did they?” 

Foran is a seasoned businessman who started and owns UltimateVIP International, a VIP Luxury Lifestyle and Event Entertainment Company, and presides over several other successful companies. That alone sets him apart from so many other promoters who get into MMA because they watch the sport or want to make a quick buck (do you hear me Calvin Ayre?). 

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Foran has a friendship with MMA pioneer John Lewis, a co-founder of the now-defunct World Fighting Alliance, and former trainer of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He also has a kid brother Marcus Foran, who is a professional MMA fighter training with Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M., so he was flanked by MMA in his personal life before he ever debated getting into the business. In 2006, Foran decided to jump into MMA and started Ultimate Warrior Challenge in his native Washington, D.C. area, but without the Doctor Evil “I’m going to rule the world!” attitude. 

Some people learn from success and others through abject failure. Savvy businessmen mix both and add a dash of historical lessons learned by others to make a recipe for success. Here’s the UWC’s recipe:

UWC rule No. 1: Start small and establish credibility. 

Sounds easy right? How many promotions have gone too big too early and survived? The UWC has no plans to branch out from the East Coast in the next year and publicly states a simple desire to be the best show in the Washington, D.C. / Mid-Atlantic Region — and possibly the East Coast one day.

“The first show we did in Florida was like a ship in dry dock to see how to do it right and establish the show,” Foran says. “The first few events were all about establishing a level of expectation, developing the infrastructure, and getting credibility. We focused on taking care of the fighters, the trainers, and everyone so they leave there saying good things about us.”

It could have been easy for the UWC to let success go to their head after attracting 5,000 fans to their initial events. Early on, Foran had a glimpse of grandeur that faded quickly — and we should all be glad that it did. 

“In the beginning we had plans to make a play for big name fighters like Fedor (Emelianenko), Tito (Ortiz), and (Randy) Couture but then Mark Cuban (with HDNet Fights) and Affliction came along. Looking back on it, though, I’m so glad that they did because now I see that it’s better to keep it at this level and grow it slowly.”

UWC rule No. 2: Surround yourself with a balance of good businessmen and MMA contacts.

One of the reasons so many MMA promotions fail is because they load their higher ranks with people who knew MMA, but had never seen the inside of a “Business 101″ textbook. The UWC is stacked with two types of people: those with business and marketing skills and those with MMA credibility, such as Luke Thomas, Omar Olumee, and consultant John Lewis. 

“John actually talked me out of it,” Foran said. “He was a voice of reason saying go small, small, small, and then grow it. Don’t try to go big so quickly. When we first started, John helped me with direction. And I looked up to him as a mentor with his long time history as a fighter, promoter, and trainer to some of the biggest names in MMA. And with that advice I would take my marketing, business skills and sheer determination to grow the UWC.”

UWC rule No. 3: Showcase a mix of local talent and national names. 

Local fighters are the meat and potatoes of the UWC, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for bacon bits and steak sauce. The fight cards feature East Coast products, but with a mix of young guns from nationally known camps, like Greg Jackson’s MMA, Lloyd Irvin, American Top Team, FIT NHB, and others. With that model, the UWC fans get to see solid MMA action while also having an opportunity to see marquee names that they would otherwise have to road trip to the West Coast to get a glimpse of. The UWC’s third show also had young fighters from notable gyms on the card who brought their marquee trainers with them. So while Zach Light was fighting in the cage, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was in his corner. 

“We’ve been fortunate that we can have these big names like, “Rampage,” “Shogun” (Rua), (Andrei) Arlovski, Hermes Franca, Carlos Condit, Urijah Faber, Brandon Vera, and others as our guest at the shows,” Foran said. “We know there has to be a certain balance between entertainment and great fights.” But the big names are just a means to an end. 

“Their presence helps us grow awareness and gain exposure for MMA as a sport in the D.C. area — which is really what we set out to do from the start — while the local talent pool keeps them coming back,” Foran said. 

It’s ingenious marketing, and the end result is a loyal fan base and a consistent stage for the mid-Atlantic fighters to get better on. “We want to build our own fighters that rise up through the ranks and become UWC champions. We want to showcase the top local guys and hone their skills before they go off and conquer the rest of the world.”

UWC rule No. 4: Grow the organization in between the live shows. 

Foran knows how to make the most of the down time between events while other promoters are counting their money and patting themselves on the back. He makes professional DVD’s of the shows and distributes them to networks and mass media outlets to get the word out about the UWC. It shows his dedication to the job and leads nicely to rule No. 5.

UWC rule No. 5: Get a mass media deal. 

With just four shows completed, the UWC is already being broadcast on FSN’s SunSports and Sport South through FightZone TV, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic region, and satellite coverage due largely to Foran’s untiring efforts to get out there and spread the word about his organization. But he said the big feather in his cap is Sherdog.com. 

“Honestly, I would take Sherdog over a TV network anytime because I see a great opportunity to use the Internet to gain massive exposure quickly, and they were willing to take a chance on the UWC,” he said. “With Sherdog hungry MMA fans can come onto the site at anytime and watch it. They also have a worldwide audience and brand name recognition.”

Their arrangement with Sherdog to promote and stream UWC shows live around the world and make them available for download and viewing anytime for free has introduced the UWC to a whole new audience and pushed its boundaries far beyond the East Coast. The end result was a professional product and a wider fanbase.

UWC rule No. 6: Exercise financial efficiency. 

Incredibly, the UWC has a total deficit of less than one percent of the $50-plus million EliteXC spent — and that’s for all four UWC shows — and yet still maintains a polished and professional image. That’s extreme frugality with a big show feel, a combination almost unheard of in MMA today. 

You won’t find Foran and his crew needlessly spending money like EliteXC, which was widely ridiculed for blowing lavish amounts of cash on expensive office suites and costly live events. 

“All things being equal, I believe the UWC has grown farther in a shorter amount of time, spending less money than most,” Foran said. “It pains me to see the way EliteXC wasted money. If you gave me 10 percent of the venture capital some of these other shows started with there would be no limit to what I could build. If we were to fail it will be for different reasons than those other shows. You will never see the UWC in a position they put themselves in. 

“We will stay in the MMA game as long as we are making progress from show to show and reaching our goals. I like to say, ‘You can’t buy love, you can’t buy happiness, and you certainly can’t buy what it really takes to build a great MMA show.’”

UWC rule No. 7: Maintain a positive relationship with the UFC. 

Foran has met UFC Vice President Joe Silva, who attended a UWC show last April, and wants to stay on good terms with the juggernaut of MMA. Foran also hopes to catch the eye of UFC President Dana White one day in the near future. 

“I believe one of the reasons so many marquee names have been able to make appearances at UWC events is because we are not trying to threaten the UFC in any way,” Foran said. “We are actually promoting them. And it’s also because the UWC knows what their place is and wants to keep the lines of communication open. 

“If you’re a small and talented tech company you don’t threaten Bill Gates and Microsoft, you work hard, do a good job, and build something of value and eventually you may get a tap on the shoulder. I don’t care what anyone says, without the UFC laying the ground work we aren’t sitting here having this conversation and I’m not getting the opportunity to be a part of MMA history.”

Foran has no grandiose plans of conquering the UFC and is perfectly content with his position as a regional show and with whatever else the future brings. “We’re not competition for the UFC,” Foran said. “We’re not even thinking about it. My goal in MMA is to be a positive and productive part of this great sport. MMA is still a young sport, but it’s growing exponentially. And money is not the only thing that’s going to make you successful. I look at the people who are doing the best and try to follow their example and learn from the mistakes they made. Without naming names I would like to give a special thanks to all those that showed us what not to do.” 

The people who are doing the best (and don’t have the letter U in their moniker) are Scott Coker’s Strikeforce and Matt Lindland’s Sportfight. Sportfight is the best show in the Pacific Northwest and is widely regarded as one of the best in the country at showcasing regional talent. Scott Coker’s Strikeforce is also highly respected and has earned praise from Dana White and Foran himself. 

“Everyone who comes [to the UWC] leaves feeling like it was worth coming and wants to come back,” Foran said. “Strikeforce is like that. They’re the only ones with real longevity because they’ve taken their time and built their organization correctly.”

Like Foran, Coker just wants to put on a good show, has a network deal, and uses creative marketing to get his organization the exposure it needs (MMA at the Playboy Mansion? Brilliant!). Strikeforce pioneered the tactic of showcasing local talent and recognizable names, but there are some differences. Strikeforce has had more frequent shows — sixteen in two years versus four in a year for the UWC — and has bigger attendance numbers, though that can be attributed more to market demographics than anything (San Jose has a larger MMA fan base to draw from than the D.C. area). Strikeforce has also hosted MMA tournaments, which the UWC doesn’t have any plans for as of this article.

MMA fans on the West Coast have a veritable smorgasbord of events to choose from. Those of us on the East Coast, not so much. The UFC has only visited this side of the Mississippi twice in the last three-and-a-half years. While California is rolling in UFC, WEC, and Strikeforce action, we get … the Yamma Pit. The UWC is filling the void for those of us stuck in the first time zone of the day. And though it’s a risky venture in today’s economy, Foran isn’t worried.

“It may be more of a risk to start from ground zero and build an MMA show and build stars of that show,” Foran said. “But if it works, then it will make us much more viable and credible.”

In a day when so many promotions fail, the UWC has a sound base, a long-term vision, decent funding, and best of all no pretension. It’s easily the best MMA promotion in the mid-Atlantic coast region and possibly all of the Eastern U.S. For a guy who’s clearly as passionate about MMA as Marcello Foran, I can forgive his tardiness.

For more information on UWC, S Marcello Foran, and UltimateVIP International log on to UWC’s official site and Ultimate VIP International.

These days William Shatner spends his time impersonating a white Shaft tossing around ninja throwing stars as the Priceline Negotiator. No matter how much Hollywood tries to toughen him up, he’s still a polyunsaturated poster boy for KFC who poses no more threat in a bar fight than his bandoleer of Slim Fast shakes. But back in the day when green chicks threw their space undies at him, Captain James T. Kirk was a formidable foe, especially when he wielded an unwieldy Romulan scythe. He whooped giant Lizardmen with a homemade mortar tube, and schooled nefarious goatee-wearing Klingons. He traveled through time to save human history, solved the riddle of Tribbles, and outwitted a supposed God. Getting your Donnybrook on with a guy who bested a Vulcan at three-dimensional chess, rewired the Kubiyashi Maru simulator, and insisted on beaming down to every planet personally means you’re dealing with the Michael Jordan of control freaks. 

And that’s his weakness.

It takes a lot of rum, buggery, and the lash to keep 2000 space seamen in order, especially when you’re on a FIVE-YEAR MISSION into unknown parts of the galaxy (apparently earth in 2250 is run by vindictive and horny Jodies). Kirk doesn’t leave anything to chance, so you won’t find him rolling chicken bones to determine the outcome of a situation. He’s a walking billboard for a methodical strategist wracked with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Good for you because OCDs fear change and freak out like Amy Winehouse at a Guiness factory tour when anything is out of order. To defeat the legendary Captain who defiled the wrath of Khan, you have to get him out of his comfort zone, and I don’t mean his private harem of Orion slave girls on the holo-deck. 

Step 1 – Start off with some simple psyops from outside striking distance. Kirk thrives when he has the time to listen to his enemy’s monologue and digest it. But when the conversation jumps to ludicrous speed, his internal wiring shorts out. Guzzle a Red Bull like you’re Popeye downing spinach and let your tongue go like a Mexican boxing announcer. Not being able to comprehend his foe will plant the seed of doubt in his mind and make his OCD compass spin like he’s caught in a drunken dizzy bat race. He’ll feel the situation slipping out of control, which sets conditions for your success. 

Step 2 – Kirk is too manly to use a phaser, so don’t worry about disarming him. Throw a quick punching combination to distract him while closing the distance and secure a muay thai clinch with both of your hands behind his head. But instead of throwing knees into his soft underbelly, take both of your hands and toss his perfectly coiffed hair like it was a prison salad. Step back and prepare for the implosion. Like a cat in a microwave, Kirk’s internal pressure will build to critical mass until he makes a Jackson Pollock painting of his nearby surroundings. Seek shelter before his flying man-ass shrapnel splatters your Oakleys. 

When the fight is over and the arena is festooned with his innards, take his harem of Orion girls as your concubine and show them how we roll earth style. 

Copyright 2009 Kelly Crigger

March has got to be one of the slowest and darkest months in MMA history. Although UFC 96 featured some good action, it was marred by officiating controversy and left us with three weeks of nothing to do but watch American Idol (you know you do). The legendary Ken Shamrock came up hot for steroids and MMA lost a true pioneer when Mask was killed in a car wreck. The April calendar looks brighter, so as winter gives way to spring and we all look forward to taking the covers off of our grills, Sherdog radio host Scott Holmes and I have decided to regurgitate some of the appetizers as we wait for the main courses-UFC’s 98 to 100-in the coming months.

Issue 1 – UFC 96 featured 8 KO’s or TKOs out of 11 total fights. Does this mean striking is taking over as the dominant style in MMA?

 Kelly-I’m not sure what it means, but it makes for a lot of highlight reel footage! I like a knockout like the next guy, but a bunch of KO’s makes it hard to attract new people to the sport (especially women) when they have to watch through their fingers. I personally like a good tap out. There’s something cool about putting a guy in a position that’s so painful he quits. You can explain away a KO as a fluke or lucky, but you can’t deny it when someone cries Uncle. Getting back to the question-I think the striking is getting better. Just look at the Matt Hammill vs. Mark Munoz fight. Hammill’s striking has vastly improved and his high kick KO shows how far he’s come since his season of TUF. And it came against a wrestler no less. Grappling used to be the style everyone wanted to learn because taking a striker off his feet and bringing him into an uncomfortable world was an easy way to win. Now it seems even the grapplers are getting better at striking and making it too costly to get in close and attempt a takedown. Either that or fighters have gotten so focused on defending the takedown that they’re not defending their heads. Brain damage sucks.

Scott-It’s all cyclical to me. My generation just came off the 70’s and 80’s where we had so much kung fu and karate shoved down our throats in television and film. Everyone got a reality check once Royce Gracie began, literally, mopping the floor with opponents.  Turns out, spinning backflip kicks weren’t the best way to go. Then the scarier version of the ground game appeared when Brahma bulls like Mark Coleman stepped in. Air raid sirens began to sound off and every kickboxer grabbed his wife and children and ran to the nearest jiu-jitsu stand to learn survival techniques. Then the Chuck Lidell types started to appear, fighters with enough salty takedown defense that they were able to keep things on the feet in order to tip the scales back into the striker’s favor. Now, it’s back to being a free for all. If you go to any of the local fights chances are you will probably see a 10 fight card with 6 out of the 10 ending in a rear naked choke. So some things never change, but with the new breed of fighters being so well-versed in wrestling and JJ, I think we will see more upper tier fights end in KO because the technical proficiency from both parties limits their options and they are forcing them to swing away.

Issue 2 – Which is setting back the sport of MMA more? Immature fighters or incompetent referees?

 Kelly-True. I mean they both are in their own unique way. Fighters like Paul Daley, who’s failed to make weight twice in a row, and Chase Beebe, who didn’t even show up for his Ultimate Warrior Challenge weigh in (that he headlined!) are making MMA look like a bunch of kids in board shorts. It’s unprofessional to miss weight and ridiculous to shirk your legal obligations and fail to show up for a fight. It makes MMA look young and dumb, which may be where we’re really at and I’m the only one who thinks we’re not. This is a professional sport and even though it’s come a long way since Royce Gracie pulled Kimo’s ponytail out, we still have a long way to go before we can be even considered on the same level as hockey, let alone the big three sports-football, baseball, and curling…I mean basketball. The refs usually aren’t as bad as the fighters when it comes to infractions, but they’re more high profile. Yves Lavigne’s tardy stoppage of Pete Sell’s destruction at UFC 96 could have cost Sell a few cells-brain cells that is. Even Dana White, who loves to watch guys trade leather, jumped up like Jarred Shaw and banged on the cage for Lavigne to stop the fight, something he claims he’s never done before. On the other end of the spectrum, Rick Fike’s stoppage of Aaron Riley’s fight on the same card was equally as horrendous. I’m just shocked it wasn’t Dan Miragliotta in the cage that night. His nickname should be “divorce” because he has a habit of splitting people up too soon.

Scott- Referees, hands down. The days of blaming fighters and their antics for just about anything that “sets the sport back” are pretty moot considering the behemoth that MMA has become. I mean Rampage drank 200 Red Bulls, went bat crap/cat crap crazy thinking his truck was “Bigfoot” or “Gravedigger” and drove over 4 houses, did donuts around a pregnant woman (who later had a miscarriage) and was arrested at gunpoint and his name was forgotten by the end of that 24 hour news cycle. TUF house members can cut each other’s belly open with broken Heineken bottles all night long but it does nothing to affect the casual fan. However, that same fan might witness a referee stoppage that early or late could affect his decision to ever watch another event. Sure it’s good water-cooler fodder for Junie Browning to be able to drink a liter of vodka, whistle “Rocky Top” for 3 hours and throw lawn furniture in the pool. However, on the flip side it is not good to have people scratching their heads about screwy finishes or a stoppage if it keeps them from maintaining interest. In my mind, MMA still has a way to go when it comes to setting a true comprehensive standard in regards to referee involvement and judging in general.

Issue 3 – Tipping Points

Scott-Irony. Okay, so after everything I just said, I have always given one guilty party a pass and if I want to be honest about pointing fingers at those responsible for changing the landscape of MMA look no further than Charles Lewis Jr. Of course by now most have heard the crushing news about the wreck that took the life of “Mask” last week.  I’ve seen Charles and company at shows for longer than I can remember and although I had no personal relationship with the man, I will miss him and the impact he had. For years I thought that the whole over-the-top outfits and zany antics was a bit much but over time I respected him and realized the genius in his methods. “Tipping Point” is a buzz phrase you hear thrown out a ton these days but the arrival of the “Tapout” brand was just that. Following the letters U.F.C, there might be a more recognizable name than “Tapout” and it’s burrowed its way into most of America. That’s all fine and good but the most astounding fact is that after all these years I’ve never heard anyone mention one negative thing about Charles. In the gossipy world of MMA, that’s unheard of. He did his thing, his way and changed the game in the process.  I respect the hell out of that and although I don’t own a single Tapout product, I can honestly say that today I wish I had a closetful.    

Kelly-Let’s be honest. When you hear about a millionaire crashing his Ferrari during a street race, you don’t exactly weep. But when you hear it’s Charles “Mask” Lewis, it’s a different story. Why? Because he was different. Everyone likes to say that line at a funeral, but in this case, it’s more than true. I didn’t know Mask personally. I spent about 90 minutes with during two phone conversations him back in November for a story in the January issue of the magazine called “Unmasked.” Now that he’s gone that title seems like grim irony. In that hour and a half I could sense something about the guy. He was aloof and a dreamer, but he had a deep conviction that is seldom matched not just in the world of business, but anywhere. People with his kind of passion make headlines for a reason-they refuse to go through life on autopilot taking what’s handed to them. They strive for more. Unfortunately they seldom know when to stop. They don’t have an endstate in mind or a moon crater to plant their flag on and say, “This is it. This is where I want to be in life.” Maybe that’s why Mask chose to drive his Ferrari so fast that night. Maybe he was looking for something more. Who knows? Sulking over his loss won’t bring him back, as anyone who’s lost a buddy overseas can tell you. All we can do is remember him fondly, buckle our seatbelts, and keep moving on.

Issue 4 – How far will Ken Shamrock sink?

Kelly-Probably farther, unfortunately. Shamrock’s track record of self-destructive behavior might be written off as youthful antics or aggressive tendencies if he wasn’t 45 years old. But losing to Buzz Berry, getting cut before his fight with Kimbo, and now coming up hot for steroids makes me wonder why Shamrock is still considered a legend in the sport. A legend is someone whose entire career has maybe one fleck of incongruity on it, like Bas Rutten’s, not a checkerboard as Shamrock’s fighting life is now looking. In his quest to climb up to Couture’s status as a middle aged hero, Shamrock keeps stumbling on the first rung of the ladder. I understand that MMA is his life and he doesn’t have anything outside the gym, but Kaiser Permanente, when will it end? William Randolph Hearst said, “you can say anything you like about me, just spell my name right,” meaning no press is bad press. I don’t want to see the day when people say his name as the punch line to a joke, but it may be inevitable.

Scott- When I became a man, I put away childish things. That meant, no more celebrating birthdays like a girl, eating Brach’s candy, making out with my Pound Puppies or pro wrestling. So for me, this is a loaded question since I thought Ken hit bottom years ago when he creamed and cleared his way to 250 pounds and started swinging chairs in the WWF. I don’t see how anyone at this point could see Ken for nothing more than he is, a legend whose time has passed but the lure of a quick buck will have him entering cages and rings until it requires one of those seats the elderly use to get up stairs. The fact of the matter is at this point, his moneymaking options are limited to awful fight cards or worse, awful films. If I were his business manager I’d write down the best options for his future earning opportunity and “fighting” would be nowhere near the list.

Issue 5- Why Doesn’t New York have MMA Yet?

Scott-At this point in my life, I don’t have the time or inclination to pay attention to everything that’s going on in the world of MMA so forgive my ignorance on the matter but why is it that every week I see a headline pointing out the lack of MMA in New York? How is it possible that I can’t swing a dead possum around without hitting a few promoters in Alabama but NY are still wringing their hands. Don’t you people like money? Am I foolish to think that events at Madison Square Garden could smack of glitz and glamour that could rival Las Vegas or dare I say it, Canada? Seriously New York, if you’re going to teach me how to play 3-card monte or sell me a piece of the Brooklyn Bridge, at least have the decency to let me buy a 1/2 price fight tix along with my balcony seat to “Guys and Dolls.”

Kelly-Blame Phil Baroni, He scared the bejeesus out of local lawmakers and gave them cause to retreat back into their brownstone houses to sharpen sticks and wait out Armageddon like Robert Neville. Seriously, I also cannot fathom the lack of MMA in the same state that bound together and inspired a nation to say, “We are all New Yorkers” on 9-11. Back then the Empire State’s testosterone levels were so rampant that you’d be a suicidal fool to start a fight there. Now we can’t get the legislature to listen to common sense-that MMA is safer than boxing. Give me ten minutes in front of the state assembly and I’ll prove it. It’s absurd to think Renzo Gracie and Matt Serra don’t have the same opportunity to fight in their hometown as Greg Jackson in New Mexico, the 44th poorest state in the Union. New York City is allegedly the trinity of east coast culture, yet its backward thinking on MMA makes me wonder if the state’s officials have been cozying up to the liberal minded UN too long.

Issue 6- MMA Culture, what happened?

Scott-Something happened between the days when I would bore my friends to tears with facts and stats of my favorite fighters. No one knew what I was talking about and it was always took less effort to explain MMA to a complete novice than it did to someone that had it perpetually confused with pro wrestling and “Faces of Death.” Now I can’t swing my Snuggie around without hitting some know-it-all MMA honk with the requisite faux-hawk, sunglasses and bowling shirt replete with skull stitching and a matching black wristband. What happened?! When did this lovely sport get stolen by all these douchenozzles? Oh how I long for the days when MMA was just mine and only mine. When I meet a budding fan of the sport, I want to introduce them to MMA like it’s a first trip to Paris. I want to show you Paris, my Paris. I used to beam with pride when I told people that I covered the sport of MMA. Now I look at my shoes, fidgeting while they have trouble believing I’m involved since I don’t dress like a reject from the “Big Brother” casting pool.

Kelly-You were into MMA before me, so maybe I’m part of the problem. I wrote off UFC 1 and 2 as bar brawls and never paid it any attention until Chuck Liddell’s spinning back kick to Vitor Belfort’s ribs at UFC 37.5. That’s when I saw the potential that it could truly be a sport and paid $39.95 (a high price for a pay per view in 2003) to watch. I also see the MMA culture changing, but don’t think it will be permanent and don’t think it’s such a bad thing. There are a lot of Fair-weather Johnsons who only watched MMA while Kimbo was blitzkrieging through EliteXC’s tomato cans. Those guys will go back to football as soon as summer training camp starts. The change we see could also signify a maturing of the grassroots fanbase. Boxing was our father’s sport. MMA is ours, but even our generation isn’t getting younger. As we pass into the thirties and forties we tend to shed the ripped jeans and black t-shirts for a more polished look, which the sport needs more of, especially at the upper echelons. I see more businessmen coming into MMA, like the Ultimate Warrior Challenge’s Marcello Foran, with a solid game plan to promote fights and make money, unlike their failed predecessors, the WFA, BodogFight, and EliteXC who jumped into the pool to get wet and then ran for the house. This is a good thing because it will hold the athletes, managers, trainers, and everyone associated with MMA to a higher standard. And if our sport is going to survive and evolve, we’ll need more professionalism to keep us from douchenozzleism.

Ranger Up is proud to once again sponsor Kris “Savage” McCray when he fights Ronnie Wuest out of Team ROC this weekend at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Ranger Up is an official sponsor of the UWC and got behind McCray for his last fight-a win over Manny Okoye-in February. The Ultimate Warrior Challenge will be streamed live on Sherdog this Saturday, April 25th.

McCray recently tried out for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter and was recently called out to meet the UFC staff in Las Vegas. Ranger Up is hoping his mug will be gracing the TV screens everywhere on Spike TV in the near future.

Ranger Up fighter Damien Stelly faces Judo champion Hector Lombard this Friday, May 29th, at Bellator Fighting Championship’s seventh event in Monroe Louisiana. The Stelly-Lombard fight is the semifinal match for Bellator’s middleweight tournament. Stelly is coming off a three-round barn burner against a game Alex Andrade that Stelly won by unanimous decision. Lombard is also coming off a win and will be the most challenging fight Ranger Stelly has ever faced. Keith Mills of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club posted an in-depth interview with Stelly that you can see here: http://www.adcombat.com/Article.asp?Article_ID=18440 .

Ranger Up is proud to sponsor Staff Sergeant Stelly, an instructor at the Army Combatives School, once again.