Video Interview with Strikeforce Fighter Jorge Gurgel

In addition to my video interview with Marcus Davis and Dustin Hazelett, I was also able to interview the man behind the JG MMA Academy himself, Jorge Gurgel.

Gurgel took the time to speak with me about his upcoming fight against KJ Noons as well as switching up his training camp and doing the entire camp at his home gym.

To see the interview, visit Pro MMA Now.

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Video Interview with UFC Fighter Dustin Hazelett

In addition to my video interview with UFC fighter Marcus Davis, I also recently had the chance to speak with UFC fighter Dustin Hazelett, who will face Rick Story at this weekend's UFC 117 event.

To check out my interview with Hazelett, visit Pro MMA Now.


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Video Interview with UFC Fighter Marcus Davis

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to catch up with UFC fighter "The Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis. Davis spoke to me about his upcoming fight against Nate Diaz, what it means to be fighting in Boston, and what he thinks about his opponent.

I was also able to speak with Jorge Gurgel and Dustin Hazelett - those interviews will be posted in the coming days.

To check out my interview with Davis, visit Pro MMA Now.

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The Cageside Beat Update

My radio show, The Cageside Beat, the official radio show of ProMMAnow.com is continuing to bring MMA fans some of the best interviews and commentary out there. We have been lucky enough to continue to enjoy some great guests such as Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Danny "Boy" Downes (who stepped in on just a few days notice to fight Chris Horodecki in the WEC), and Zoila Frausto, one of the fastest up and coming women's fighters in MMA. Check out each of their episodes on the embedded player in the sidebar, or click on the links below.

Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal

Danny "Boy" Downes

Zoila Frausto

For an extra treat, follow the jump to see a highlight video of Zoila's dominant win over Rosi Sexton at a recent Bellator MMA event in Louisville, KY.
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For more news on The Cageside Beat, be sure to connect with The Cageside Beat on Twitter, @CagesideBeat, and Facebook.


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My product review of Brandon Quick's "Chokes" app for the iPhone

From time to time I have the opportunity to review some great products from generous companies like BudoVideos and Victory Belt.

Normally the products I review are instructional books or DVDs, but recently I had the opportunity to review something new - an iPhone application on chokes from my friend Brandon "Never Quit" Quick.

It's a great product and has potential for some excellent application - it's also a very cost-effective training supplement for anyone that trains BJJ or MMA.

Head over to Pro MMA Now to check out my review.

Take a look at iTunes to purchase Chokes. At just $2.99 (plus tax), it's a steal.

Enjoy.


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Kentucky Fighter Chad Corvin Signs With UFC

Although it is no longer breaking news, this is something worth checking out in case you haven't seen it yet. Kentucky fighter Chad Corvin has signed a contract with the UFC. Chad spoke exclusively to me for a release I originally published on Pro MMA Now.

Readers of PreviouslyViewed should be familiar with Chad as I was able to complete some interviews with him before and after his last fight with the Florida-based XFC.

Head over to Pro MMA Now to check out what Chad and his trainer had to say about Chad signing with the UFC and what kind of effect he'll have on the UFC heavyweight division. The post also includes a video of one of Chad's recent fights with Rico Hattingh. Don't blink, it doesn't last long.

Enjoy.



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ProMMA.info is now Pro MMA Now (ProMMANow.com)

Although this may not come as breaking news to any of you who regularly follow my writing and/or radio show, or even those who simply look at the other MMA links on this page, ProMMA.info underwent some changes lately, and is now Pro MMA Now. The site sports a new name and domain as well as an excellent new design. Make sure to head over there and check out the new site.

Pro MMA Now.

Enjoy.

-PreView

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iBN Sports and ProMMA.info Announce Partnership

iBN Sports and ProMMA.info have announced a strategic partnership that will meld the high-quality video and broadcasting capabilities of iBN with the top-notch MMA interviews, news, and commentary.

It is an excellent arrangement for both sites, and exclusive video content from iBN is already up and running on ProMMA.info.

For the full press release, head over to ProMMA.info.

Enjoy.

-PreView

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ICF: Balance of Power Post-Event Interview with Larry Shelton (9/10/09)

A couple weekends ago, I attended the ICF event, Balance of Power. There were a number of entertaining fights and exciting finishes, but the headline fight easily generated the most pre-fight hype. Florence, KY police officer Larry "K-9" Shelton faced off against Cincinnati attorney Eric "Bulldog" Deters. Deters had long been stating he wanted to fight a police officer (he is known, among other things, for suing police for misconduct) and Shelton stepped up to the plate. Shelton ended up beating Deters in the first round via TKO due to strikes and I caught up with him after the event to get some comments.

You can see what Shelton had to say, and catch a video of the fight, after the jump.

Brian Furby: Big win over Eric Deters tonight, how did you feel going into the fight?

Larry Shelton: I was very calm. I trained so hard with Scott O’Brien and Dan McMillan and I felt very comfortable.

Brian Furby: There was a lot of pre-fight hype and trash talk going on – did that affect your preparation at all?

Larry Shelton: I didn’t think about it at all, I just trained hard, not so much for Eric Deters but for any fighter. I just went out there and gave it my best.

Brian Furby: Once you got in the cage, what did you think about Deters as an opponent?

Larry Shelton: I don’t think he was comfortable in the cage. That may be lack of experience but I have to admit I respect him now. He opened his mouth, but got in there and I respect that. He may do some things I disagree with but I respect that.





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Integrity Never Taps Out: A Profile of Brandon "Never Quit" Quick (August 25, 2009)

Brandon “Never Quit” Quick is a name you should recognize as being at the top of the no gi BJJ scene. No stranger to the digital age in which we live, Quick has spread his techniques all over the world, making use of sites like YouTube, offering online training seminars, and most recently, the release of a three-DVD set, Fade to Black. Formerly affiliated with 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, Quick is now focused on the development of his own students and school, Trinity Combat Academy.

Over the past few months, I have been exchanging calls and emails with Quick, talking about everything from his new DVD set to his philosophies on jiu jitsu to his extensive tattoos. He arranged for me to receive a copy of Fade to Black, and my review on that will be coming soon (Hint: Anyone who wants to step up their choke repertoire in a big way should pick it up) but for now, I have narrowed my own focus to the man behind the DVD set and the ideas and motivation behind the man.



Quick was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. His parents split when he was young, and while his mother stayed in the Valley, his father bounced around from Manhattan Beach to Marina Del Rey to parts of the Valley. Adopted as a child herself, Quick’s mother tried to give back to society by welcoming in foster kids herself, a move that Quick said “just added to the chaos in the end.” In addition to the fact that seven or so people would live with them at different times, Quick’s mother also adopted some of the local boys who Quick thought of as his brothers. However, these additions to his family also brought them sorrow as one of his oldest brothers ended up missing and one passed away. However, Quick’s oldest brother, by blood, is still alive and doing well.

Quick has no qualms about the area in which he grew up, saying, “[it] sure wasn’t Disneyland and it seemed like everyone was involved with gangs,” and even his mother’s relocation of their family to Santa Clarita, which also saw his father relocate to the area as well, came too late for some. By Quick’s own admission, he got into his fair share of trouble, but when he realized he was going nowhere, he signed “a contract with Uncle Sam and I was off to Basic Training.”

“I joined the Army and specialized in explosives. I went to Iraq the first year it kicked off in 2003-2004. We went all over from Baghdad to Fallujah to the Syrian border. It was a lot different then, less politics - we smashed the enemy. Now the troops have one hand tied behind their backs with all the political junk that is going on. I have even been on missions that were totally distorted by the media. It made me so mad at all of it I still to this day don’t watch the news. There were some friends of mine who came home and some who didn’t. The real story is the guys who have been to Iraq three times and Afghanistan twice and yet the media cares more about Michael Jackson than they do the worst fighting that has gone on in Afghanistan since the first day we stepped foot there. We as a nation have become desensitized to the wars we are in and what our troops are doing. Some care but in reality 99% don’t even think about it once during their day.”

Quick’s experiences in Iraq contributed to a small part of the extensive tattoo work he has spanning both arms and his chest.

“My whole left arm is evil - dead friends, skulls, ghosts, Iraq and a spider web represent all of the bad stuff I have experienced in my life. My right arm has the crucifixion, Jesus, two arch angels, my daughter’s name and phoenixes all symbolizing my turn to Christ and rising out of the ashes. The battle of good vs evil is on my chest with my name in the middle because we are all caught in that battle. I have FTW [F**k the world] on my bottom lip [that I got] when I was at a point in life when I hated life. Now I love life, my wife and new daughter. My calf has a person’s face splitting open to a skull reminding me of two-faced people”

Quick’s martial arts background is not limited to only BJJ. He has also trained in boxing, muay thai, mma, and wrestling for sport, and krav maga, Japanese jiu jitsu and kali for self defense. However, Quick’s involvement in BJJ came at a young age. Describing his exposure to the art as a “typical story” of seeing Royce Gracie’s skills in the UFC, he got into BJJ around 1996 but always like striking as well. “As a kid I got into a ton of street fights,” Quick said. “My boys and I just loved to scrap. Sometimes you might see us in the front lawn or garage scrapping just for fun. It was the early days, though, hardly anyone knew about the ground game and it wasn’t as big [as it is now].” But even in the early days, Quick recognized the inherent strategy inherent in BJJ, describing it in terms of a “chess match”. It’s that aspect of BJJ that intrigued him the most and why he still does it today.

“[My motivation is] the love of the sport! The next generation of kids! Competition! Fighting, fitness or fun…sometimes it’s one more than the other but either way I take what I do seriously because I want to know that whether a student has been training one day or five years that if they need to use what they learned that [given] day they can. After being in combat zones and lots of fights on the street I know what fighting for my life is like, literally. People can use jiu jitsu for the cage, street or competition but I train them all the same. I teach them that BJJ is finesse, an art form but at the same time [it is] kill or be killed.”

And Quick takes great pride in making sure his students are ready for whatever situation they encounter, and he places a high value on the student/teacher relationship. He wants to impart to his students his style of grappling, teaching, his values and the importance of being open-minded to learning. In addition to teaching, he still trains and competes himself. Four days a week he trains two hours during the day and two at night and one day he utilizes one free roll session. However, he also understands the value of training with people outside his own group so he also spends some days rolling at another school to refine his own techniques, which include wrestling. Trinity Combat Academy has a college wrestler from Iowa teaching both Greco and Folk style, and Quick works wrestling in almost all of his no gi classes. In addition to all this, Quick also incorporates conditioning workouts and weight training, and at least once a week drills only technique with a sparring partner.

“It’s the greatest feeling on earth when you see people rolling how you taught them, especially when they have never trained anywhere else. Even more so is when my students go and compete with the techniques and values taught to them and win time and time again. On the other hand it can be difficult to train myself when I am teaching so much and it’s difficult to compete at the same event my students are coached by me at. The last competition I coached for nine hours and them competed. I will never do that again. I have to compete at different competitions than my students so I can focus on myself more. As for me being a student, that is why I choose to align myself with someone. I can always learn more! As one of my students said “In the same way you are a mentor and coach to us, that is what you need for yourself.” To add to that I bring in people in to the school for seminars and I travel and train as well. When I teach seminars I learn from people as well. I seem to always find a new movement or variation when I go to other schools. That is what is so beautiful about grappling. It never ends and I can never know enough.”

Quick prefers no gi BJJ to gi simply because he likes no gi better. “In [no gi] competition, practically everything is legal: leg locks, cranks, slicers, Twisters, and everyone can compete, such as submission grapplers, sambo players, BJJ players, wrestlers, pankration fighters, and MMA fighters. I just don’t like the rules in BJJ. I have nothing against the gi, I hope BJJ goes to the Olympics. I just prefer no gi.”

When it comes to individual techniques, Quick’s favorite is the Darce. When I asked why he chose to put a DVD set focused solely on chokes, he stated, “Those are my favorite submissions and I work them the most, just ahead of leg locks. A choke is harder to defend, takes more energy from you, can stop a dude on anything from adrenaline to drugs. In war it kills your enemy. An armbar will just make him scream. I had put a lot of time into the head and arm chokes, there isn’t a real good video on them [out there], Darces and Peruvians have been out there [for a while] but not an instructional [DVD] on just those and their options. When I was with Eddie Bravo he gave me full blessing and had faith in my teaching ability as did I. It [the DVD set] also includes guillotines, gators, reverse arm triangles (aka the RAT) and arm triangles. Budovideos produced it and did a sick job.”

Quick is also a fan of the competitive aspects of the art and their application both in traditional tournaments and in MMA. For traditional BJJ, he lists Robert Drysdale, Marcelo Garcia, Jeff Glover, Leo Vieira and Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles as some at the top of the game. For MMA, he sees Shinya Aoki, Wagnney Fabiano, Miguel Torres, Demian Maia, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza as the fighters with the top grappling skills. But Quick also commented that MMA has recently exploded in popularity and so it is hard to just pick one guy, but he does love watching Aoki, both for skill and entertainment value.

Wrapping things up, I had to ask Quick about his recent split from Eddie Bravo and 10th Planet. As word spread that Quick had left, the forums were awash with rumors and speculation, not just about Quick leaving but about his military service, his skill level, everything. Here is what Quick had to say:

“I am no longer with Eddie Bravo or waiving the 10th Planet flag. The whole thing has turned into a big game of telephone on the internet. “I heard this from this guy, on this forum who says he heard from another guy that he heard Brandon say this.” Eddie and I split. I am not going to throw mud at Eddie because in the end I will still have mud on my fingers. What has become comical is these guys on the internet of all places have made it their life. It’s all some people do - sit around on a computer and talk smack and in reality they don’t know squat. They just know what someone told them. One guy even brought my family into it. So I have washed my hands of the whole situation, what is done is done and I have moved on and so has 10th Planet. People just talk smack to each other now, it’s not even about me anymore. 99.9% of these guys use it as entertainment for themselves. All of the internet drama hasn’t changed a thing except me not doing seminars at a 10th Planet school. I still conduct seminars world wide for schools and the military, am opening a second school, coming out with Fade to Black the book, have my online training BrandonQuick.com and my students are still with me including instructors working underneath me in Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas and New Mexico, my students continue to perform well at tournaments as usual. I am working with another BJJ instructor right now, Robert Drysdale. He is a super cool person and his jitsu obviously speaks for itself.. I could easily just call what I do Submission Grappling but I have been training in BJJ so long that I want to stay with it. There are many reasons, I would like to earn a black belt still, my students want belts and I would like to offer gi and nogi at my school but will offer judo, wrestling and leg locks as well.”

The split has not slown Quick down a bit (no pun intended). Just yesterday, Quick returned from a trip to Sweden where he was hosting seminars. Additionally, he still has stops to make in Oklahoma City and Denver just this month.

Thanks to Quick for taking the time out of his busy teaching and training schedule to correspond with me over the past couple months – I have definitely learned a lot about him and had a lot of fun, and I have really enjoyed Fade to Black. As I said, my full review on that is coming soon.

For more information on Brandon Quick and the Trinity Combat Academy, head over to Trinity Combat Academy. To register for Quick’s online training courses, go here. To purchase Fade to Black, check out Budovideos.com. For information on seminars and private instruction, feel free to email Brandon - bquick[at]trinitycombatacademy.com

Here is the video trailer for Fade to Black:




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Review of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's Instructional DVD Series (August 29, 2009)

When asked who is the best brazilian jiu jitsu player in MMA today, I think the first name on most people’s minds would be Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira. Able to submit his opponents almost at will, Nogueira’s submissions skills inside the cage are on a level far above any other competitor’s. True, guys like Demian Maia and Dustin Hazelett are showing some impressive skills of their own, but Nogueira is on a level entirely his own. Given that, it should come as no surprise that Nogueira has released a three-DVD series focusing on some of the most important aspects of effectively using BJJ in MMA.

Thanks to the very generous people at Victory Belt, I received a copy of Nogueira’s instructional DVDs to review.

If I were forced to pick one word to describe the three DVDs, it would probably be voluminous. Two of three DVDs feature almost two hours worth of techniques, and the third DVD features over two hours of techniques. This running time does not include the time dedicated to extras on each of the DVDs, a couple of which are almost worth the price of the DVDs themselves.

As I did with my review of Machida's DVD set, I will give you a general overview and my thoughts on the DVDs.

Let me be clear – these are DVDs meant for MMA practitioners. Sure, the techniques featured in the DVDs would largely be helpful to anyone looking to improve his or her BJJ game, but the context in which Nogueira offers the instruction is using the techniques in MMA. Both he and his sparring partner (his twin brother, Antonio “Lil Nog” Nogueira) wear MMA gloves throughout the entirety of the instruction and many of the helpful hints Nogueira offers are meant to be useful strictly for MMA because many of them are based on how to effectively use position to set up good striking.

Not to mention, just take a look at the titles: Half, Inside Hooks, & Downed Guards for MMA, Guard for MMA, and Passing Guard for MMA. Additionally, the cover of each DVD has Mixed Martial Arts: The Ultimate Instructional Set at the top of each DVD. For future reference, the total set (but not these three DVDs) also includes instruction from Anderson Silva, via Boxing for MMA featuring Silva, a DVD that I will review separately.

Although sold separately, and not as a set, the DVDs are meant to be viewed as a series and in a particular order, each building on the skills and techniques in the last. Although it is not necessary to watch one before watching the other, the progression between the three is logical and natural.

It makes sense that Nogueira would make an instructional set like this – having fought a number of top fighters all across the world, and having effectively used jiu jitsu on many of them, his useful and efficient instruction draws not only on his massive knowledge of jiu jitsu, but the realistic application of it that he has been able to use throughout his MMA career.

Now, on to the DVDs.

The DVDs are narrated by Brian Rule (also a producer on the project), but the instruction is given by Nogueira himself, in English. I did not see an option to access any other languages via subtitles or other spoken languages but this did not bother me as I was not looking for instruction in any other language.

Each DVD has both instruction and bonus materials. Within the instruction sections are technique after technique, all flowing in a logical and natural progression.

The techniques on each DVD are divided into five main sections based on position. Within each of the five sections are techniques that flow from that position. Watching the DVD, one can “play all” and watch all of the techniques and sections in a row, or simply access the techniques menu to view the techniques individually.

The thing I found most helpful (and very innovative) on each of the DVDs was what Victory Belt dubbed the “Revolutionary DVD menu design”, which features the replays of individual techniques from different angles. I know you are probably saying to yourself, “That doesn’t sound too special,” but it is not just the replays or angles that made it so useful to me – it’s the “revolutionary menu design”, which replays whatever technique and angle you pick over and over and over until you stop the DVD or return to the prior menu.

Whenever I have worked on a technique (on a DVD) with which I am not already familiar, I never enjoyed having to constantly pause working with my sparring partner to hit a button on the DVD player or remote to go back to the beginning of the technique in case we wanted to watch it again. This new menu design takes care of that problem. It will literally replay the same technique over and over until you choose to stop it, and this is from whatever view/angle (you have three to choose from with each technique) you choose. I know that any of familiar with techniques in any combat sport or martial art understands the importance of repetition. It develops muscle memory and makes you more familiar and instinctual with your own movements. While you are on your way to physically mastering these techniques, this unique option allows you the opportunity to simultaneously visually master them by being able to familiarize yourself with the different angles at your own pace without having to stop to move the DVD back during your training.

There is no verbal instruction from Nogueira while watching this option – his commentary comes only during the actual “instruction” phase of each technique. However, I did not find that to be much of a problem because during the instruction phase, Nogueira goes over the techniques slowly and methodically to make sure the viewers understand as many of the nuances of each position as possible. Then, in watching the replays, Nogueira demonstrates the technique at a slightly faster speed. Just as with many BJJ and other martial art classes, you have the technical instruction and then you work the application of the technical instruction. Again, a logical progression.

Guard for MMA

From Victory Belt:

In Guard for MMA, Rodrigo reveals for the first time his entire guard system, presenting his patented posture controls as well as all the explosive sweeps, effortless transitions, brutal submissions that they produce. Unlike most DVDs, Guard for MMA is not a collection of random moves – the techniques flow together with purpose, allowing you to capitalize on all your opponent’s defensive reactions. More than twenty years in the making, this DVD will drastically improve the ground game of any fighter who studies it.

The bonus feature in this DVD is a 40-minute interview with Nogueira, featuring sections on his childhood, life in general, and training. Perhaps the segment I found most interesting was Nogueira talking about being run over by a truck when he was a child. Just hearing the amount of injury he sustained, and survived, makes me respect him even more. And after having heard how he survived all of that, it’s no surprise to me that he can take as much punishment as he can in the cage.

Passing Guard for MMA

From Victory Belt:

In Passing Guard for MMA, Rodrigo presents for the first time his own proven methods for destroying your opponents’ closed guard, open guard, downed guard, inside hooks guard, and half guard. Dozens of detailed techniques shot from multiple angle convey how to control, attack, and pass guards like never before.

The bonus feature on this DVD is a section on grappling drills and conditioning exercises featuring 28 different things to do. As one would expect, this section emphasizes warm-up, physical fitness in general, and technique interwoven with both. These drills and exercises could easily make up a whole workout themselves. Many of the drills and exercises are ones that anyone who has attended a BJJ or MMA class has likely done, but I still caught a few new ones. All of the drills and exercises, even though demonstrated for only a short amount of time, really emphasized the amount of control that Nogueira has over his own body and it is not at all hard to tell that he truly does practice what he preaches.

Half, Inside Hooks, & Downed Guards for MMA

From Victory Belt:

In Half, Inside Hooks, & Downed Guards for MMA, Rodrigo unveils proven systems for each of these respective guard positions, teaching the dozens of unstoppable sweeps, crafty escapes, and bone-breaking submissions that they yield.

The bonus feature on this DVD was easily my favorite of all of them, and as I mentioned in the beginning of this review, this feature is one that, alone, is worth the price of the DVD. It is a 30-minute jiu jitsu sparring session (a very intense sparring session) between the Nogueira brothers. Now, you should not expect to see any flying armbars or anything like that, but I know many of you can imagine the skill displayed in this session between two men who have trained together their entire lives and really know BJJ. It was definitely very entertaining to watch, but it was also very easy to pick out many of the various techniques that Nogueira showed throughout the DVDs, and the ease with which he could put them into action.

At the beginning, I mentioned that if I had to pick one word to describe this series, it would be voluminous. If I had to pick a second word, it would be “practical”. Not that all of Nogueira’s moves would help you win in a street fight (although I'm sure many of them wouldn't hurt), but practical in the sense that these moves really do appear to be useful for MMA - as I am not a fighter, I cannot say that I have tried them in the cage myself - but as I said earlier, Nogueira really stresses the MMA applications. Numerous times throughout all three DVDs, you will hear Nogueira talking about “staying busy”, which generally means landing strikes to the body or head of your opponent. In fact, many of the positions that Nogueira teaches are ones which will, if done properly, put you in a great position to work some solid ground and pound and avoid being swept or reversed.

I think my favorite technique that Nogueira demonstrated on the DVDs was the underpass to Anaconda choke on Passing Guard for MMA. Although I generally favor a good kimura or triangle in training, the ease with which Nogueira was able to make this transition made me wonder why every fighter does not try to pull this off at least once in every fight.

Overall, I was very pleased with the DVDs. Although no overly complicated, it took me a few minutes to get used to the style of navigation within the menus. However, once I had successfully cycled through the menus a couple of times, it was no problem. The production value was high, the narration was good, and the instruction was obviously top-notch.

Thank you again to Victory Belt for the opportunity to review this great DVD series.

Each DVD sells for approximately $35, which I think is a fair price based on the large number of techniques one can find on any of the DVDs.

You can purchase Guard for MMA here, Passing Guard for MMA here, and Half, Inside Hooks & Downed Guard for MMA here.

Additionally, Victory Belt has released a wealth of excellent materials recently, in both DVD and book form, and my reviews on all of them are forthcoming.




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My New Writing Gig - PRO MMA

As I mentioned in my most recent post, FightTicker.com is shutting down effective this Saturday, September 26, 2009. However, I wanted to let you all know that my blogging will still continue. I have joined the top-notch staff over at PROMMA.info, an excellent MMA site.

More info after the jump.

PRO MMA is a great MMA site. I first ran into site President/Owner Jack Bratcher and site VP/Editor Denny Hodge at an XFC show in Knoxville. We had some good discussions that night on the XFC show and the state of MMA blogging and reporting. Then, I met PRO MMA staff writer Dusty Adams at an RFL show in Indiana. I'd planned on live blogging that show but when I arrived was asked to commentate. I jumped at the chance, but needed a second man to play the Joe Rogan to my Mike Goldberg (or vice versa). I happened to run into Dusty, there to cover the show for PRO MMA, so I asked if he'd like to give me a hand and we did an excellent job commentating the show (if I do say so myself).

When I learned that FightTicker might be shutting down, I started making inquiries with some sites who were looking for writers and with some sites who had previously contacted me about writing for them. Ultimately, I decided that PRO MMA would be the best fit for me, and I am really excited about this new opportunity.

I do have some things to learn in terms of posting format and other logistical issues but I am hitting the ground running.

I will continue to do the live coverage of all of the shows I normally go to, as well as provide you with the best in regional and national MMA news, commentary, product reviews, and original content. I have some great things in the works right now, including some previously announced product reviews including Brandon Quick's 3-DVD set called Fade to Black, and some great products recently sent to me by Victory Belt. Additionally, mine and Puddin's radio show, Cageside Seats, will be up and running full swing again in the very near future, after I sort out some of the technical details.

And that's just me - PRO MMA already has a number of great writers and big things are happening with the site, including a blog from TUF 10 competitor Justin Wren. Wren will be posting weekly updates on his experiences on TUF, and his first entry is already in the books. You can check that out here.

I'm really happy to be part of the PRO MMA crew. It's going to be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to contributing what I can to PRO MMA's already strong staff.

-PreView

EDIT: I edited the article to correctly note that Cageside Seats is not just my radio show, but mine and Puddin's :)


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Review of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's Instructional DVD Series

Thanks to the generous folks at Victory Belt, I had the chance to review Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's 3-DVD instructional set on BJJ for MMA.

In short, it's an excellent series, and the DVDs showcase a revolutionary menu that should make picking up the techniques a whole lot easier.

You can find my full review on the set as well as links to purchase the DVDs on FightTicker.com.

Enjoy.

-PreView

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Integrity Never Taps Out: A Profile of Brandon "Never Quit" Quick

Over the past few months I have been corresponding via phone and email with Brandon Quick about a number of topics covering everything from the no gi BJJ game to his extensive tattoos to his newly released DVD set, Fade to Black.

To read my profile of Brandon, head over to FightTicker.com.

You can find info on Quick's online training seminars here, and info on his new school, Trinity Combat Academy, here.

For information on setting up seminars or private instruction, feel free to contact Brandon via email at bquick[at]trinitycombatacademy.com.

To purchase Fade to Black, head on over to Budovideos.com.

Here is the video teaser trailer for Fade to Black:




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Vanessa Bohleber-Higdon Featured in Women's MMA Reality Show.

The first female fighter I interviewed, Vanessa Bohleber, has been featured in the new Women's MMA reality show, Fight Life, produced by Warm Springs Productions. You can find all the details on the show as well as a link to an extended trailer on a write-up I just did for FightTicker.com.


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FightTicker.com Exclusive: Interview With "Simply Believe" Director Bobby Razak

Only a couple of months ago, the mixed martial arts world lost a giant. When Charles "MASK" Lewis was killed in a tragic car accident, the MMA community at large mourned. Numerous articles and posts popped up over blogs and news outlets across the country and memorials in the form of online tributes, letters to the TapouT company, tribute websites, original artwork, and an empty seat at UFC and WEC events all served as reminders of a man who did so much to change the face of MMA in his own way.

Another tribute emerged as a short but poignant look at the man known to the MMA world as Mask - a tribute in the form of a 15 minute short film that juxtaposed iconic images and quotations from Mask alongside comments about Mask and his contributions to the MMA world from some of the biggest names in the fight game.

Check after the jump for the full interview as well as some videos from Razak.

Pulling together such a great film so quickly after Mask's death, and doing it in such a way that would be true to Mask's legacy happened under the watchful eye of one director, a man no stranger to TapouT and their style, an indie filmmaker that Sports Illustrated believes "may be king of the (mma) screen" - Bobby Razak.

After learning more about Razak through a mutual friend, I sought him out to get some comments from him on the development of Simply Believe and his own background.

Razak was born and raised in London, England and had what he describes as a typical English school boy background. He moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college to make his mark in the movie business. He left his family and friends behind for this new chapter in his life, and told me, "It was hard but had to be done."

Razak is no stranger to the combat sports world either. He has trained in boxing, thai boxing, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, and even kung fu and Kyukoshin Karate. In addition to Razak's extensive work with TapouT, he has also directed other films about mixed martial arts and non-fighting related topics as well.

FightTicker: What made you want to get into filmmaking?

Bobby Razak: I always wanted to make films since I was a young boy. I saw Spartacus when I was 5, the house was being renovated and I was upstairs watching it in the small box in my parents room.. It brought so many emotions into my body. I just knew I wanted to create something like that, Spartacus just blew me away. That and a whole heap of destiny - I was born to do this.

FT: Who are some of your film influences?

Razak: I love Film Noir, the destructive path of a man who is a victim of circumstance has always fascinated me. Its like Macbeth and Shakespeare , Macbeth was a victim of his circumstance as opposed to his individual Greed. Macbeth was a loyal soldier did his King no wrong but the prophesy of the three witches and the Greed of his wife convinced him he had to take this path. I always felt if Macbeth had let the course run naturally he would have been a great king as opposed to forcing the issue with deceit.

This is the core of film noir and It always tripped me out. (Mr Henry my English studies teacher - wherever you are - one love.) Some film noir classics: Robert Ryan, The Setup, to me is the greatest fight film of all time. Of course Double Indemnity, Asphalt Jungle by the great John Houston is a stunning piece on the post-McCarthy paranoia that was sweeping America in the 50's. Sunset Blvd. is a great social commentary on Hollywood and lure this town has in the process of selling your soul for the almighty dollar and fame. I love movies, also the Run Run Shaw Kung fu films of the seventies greatly influenced me to, , 36 Chambers, Drunken Master, Fatal Flying Guillotines. I love movies - they transport you into another world and another life. I still use films as a tool for when I want to escape being Bobby Razak

FT: With your own fighting background and interest in film, was fighting related filmmaking something you always had in mind?

Razak: Kinda sorta - Dad purchased me a Bruce Lee poster when I was 6 - the booklet with the 3 marks on his chest, from Enter the Dragon . I finally watched it and it blew me away. I knew from then that martial arts would always be a big factor in my creative endeavors. Bruce Lee was a giant to me; his energy, grace, power, speed, his presence always keep me in awe. In many ways I think he is the grandfather of modern day mixed martial arts along with Helio Gracie

FT: Was there one thing that really made you want to do film work on fighting?

Razak: Yes, the love for martial arts. I trained, I fought and competed, and I bounced for many years. It's in my blood. I'm from East London, you got to fight for respect there.


FT: What was your first mma film?

Razak: Rites of Passage

FT: Tell me about and Rites of Passage.

Razak: Rites was the first intelligent documentary on the overall state of what was beginning to mold itself into the sport of MMA. When I made Rites there was no MMA - it was NHB [No Holds Barred].

FT: What is the overarching message you want people to take from your work?

Razak: Choices. Whatever choices you make in life will determine the final outcome. Destiny can play a role in these choices but at the end of the day you make that choice, for better or worse. I also want to inspire people. When you watch something I direct and produce I want you to look deep within and think "How can I take myself to another level?".

FT: How did you get hooked up with TapouT?

Razak: Ive known the guys 12 years now. Mask came to me when I was making Rites and asked If he could get his T-shirts on the fighters and his logo on the box. Mask said he had no cash but would make it up to me one day and help my career. He was a man of his word.

FT: What all have you done for TapouT?

Razak: Wow thats a lot - ok here goes
Bloodline commercial
Bloodline short film
Pit fight Redux Commercial
Pit fight Redux short film
Underdogs commercial
Underdogs short film
Robert Drysdale commercial
Underground Kings promo
Mask man commercial
Mask man short film
Skechers Ninja spot
Skechers ninja short film
(the last four have not been aired yet)

FT: From the TapouT shows and interviews and things, it’s not hard to see that all three of that TapouT guys, particularly Mask, were involved in all levels of the company – how closely did they work with you when you were working on all these projects?

Razak: Not too close, I did my own things, they trusted my vision. Pit fight was shot like seven years ago and after the success of Bloodlines Mask wanted to show something retro from back in the day. All the fights in Pitfght were real .

FT: You were tasked with a huge project – directing “Simply Believe”, the Mask tribute – what does it mean to you to be able to do a project based on someone who had so much influence on the MMA scene?

Razak: It was my honor and I felt it was my right. Nobody else could have directed Believe or even the Underdogs short. I knew this man intricately, his life and what he went through. I got thousands of emails for Simply Believe , even M. Night Shyamalan (director of The Sixth Sense and The Village) reached out to me and watched. It was amazing to get that response. It also drove me a little crazy. I started filming Believe the day after Charlie died, it was too much emotionally for me. I also lost my father in March three years earlier. I don't know if I could ever put myself through that again. I also had a lot of negative people in my life who were just hating on me so the combination of energies was rough but it was a great learning experience and a great eye opener to how people can be jealous of you when you things are going big for you and what to avoid [Laughs].

FT: What is it that you want people to know about Mask from Simply Believe?

Razak: Man, Mask was all love, brother.

FT: Are there any of your personal experiences or impressions with and of Mask that you’d like to share with us?

Razak: He was about to jump off a huge building for his Mask man commercial, he didn't know the full ramification of what he was going to do, he was terrified. I had to take him back on the stairs and speak to him that he was always pushing for people to bring their "A" game and to never let fear hinder them and now it was his shot to do something crazy and prove to the world that he had balls of steel by jumping off this building with a couple of wires.


FT: Obviously your main medium is film and visual portrayals, but what words would use to describe what Mask did for the sport?

Razak: Mask kept the sport alive in the early years financially, with support, with his energy. He is one of the founding fathers of our sport, he is part of that interwoven fabric which created the evolution of our sport. He is as important as Takuan Soho , Miyamoto Musashi, Usheba, Jigaro Kano, Mas Oyama, Bruce Lee. He is Charles "Mask" Lewis.

FT: What are some other projects you’re currently working on?

Razak: I'm in post-production for the Underdogs feature which is on the history of MMA from a southern cali perspective and I just booked a new film and commercial and another short - top secret right now but it's gonna be amazing - I start shooting second week in June.

FT: Are there non-fighting films/documentaries you’re doing/have done?

Razak: Yes, I did a love film called Love Pain Eternal which was got accepted at Cannes last year. I also love romantic comedies and love stories so I definitely want to move more in that direction in 2011 after the big films are finished. I'm known to be a romantic [laughs], and people say I'm funny so want to give it a shot.

FT: Who are some of your favorite fighters in MMA?

Razak: Fedor and GSP

FT: Anyone you’d like to thank or give a shout out to?

Razak: My lawyer, J. Fagerholm, my editors Chris and Gabriel. To Jade , thank you for everything and your support. To my composer Rob Persuad - two Tottenham boys in Hollywood doing our thing is crazy buts its happening.

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Thanks to Bobby for taking time out of his schedule to talk with me and answer some questions. In addition to everything else, he is currently working on two feature-length films: one is Underdogs, that will be an in-depth look at the history of MMA as a whole - Razak mentioned it could run close to three hours. The second is a piece about Mexican fighters and the impact they've made on the sport as seen through their eyes, featuring UFC fighter Cain Velasquez among others.

I'm also including some video segments, including Simply Believe, some of which Razak directed, some of which he is featured in.

For more information on Razak and some more of his videos, check out his myspace page.

Simply Believe

Simply Believe from Bobby Razak on Vimeo.

Underdogs Video Blog

Underdogs Blog from Bobby Razak on Vimeo.

Rites of Passage Trailer

Rites of Passage Trailer from Bobby Razak on Vimeo.

(Originally posted on FightTicker.com)


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FightTicker.com Exclusive: Pre-Fight Profile on XFC Fighter C.T. Turner

One of the matches that I'm most looking forward to at this Saturday's XFC 8: Regional Conflict event in Knoxville Tennessee is a middleweight match-up between Julio Gallegos (1-0 Pro/8-2 Am) and CT Turner (6-3 Pro/6-2 Am). In Turner's first fight at middleweight (Turner fought all of his other MMA matches at Light Heavyweight), he looks to turn the tables on Gallegos, who handed Turner a loss in Turner's fight as an amateur. In this fight between two hard-hitters who have an earned mutual respect, as my buddy Mike Menninger said in his profile of Gallegos, this fight has all the makings for Fight of the Night.

Check after the jump for the full profile on Turner as well as videos of some of his previous fights.

When a friend of mine initially brought Highlander MMA to my attention, after mentioning Highlander MMA founder and current XFC Head Trainer Mike Yanez, the next name that came up was C.T. I remember him exclaiming, "Man, Highlander has this one guy who is a beast at Light Heavyweight. His name is C.T. - he's a hard hitter and has a great ground game." After seeing some of the numerous videos of C.T.'s fights and grappling matches on YouTube, some of which you'll find below, I had to agree. I was able to catch up with Turner via phone to discuss his upcoming match with Gallegos as well as his thoughts on his still young MMA career.

For those of you who read my semi-live blog from XFC 7, you'll remember that C.T. got caught on the wrong end of a head kick from Ovince St. Preux. However, quick to get down to business when I asked him if that loss changed the way he prepped for this fight, Turner replied, "It brought to light a bad habit. Next question." On a side note, Turner, who has been training with St. Preux's upcoming opponent Ombey Mobley feels Mobley won't make that same mistake and predicts a victory for Mobley via a Ground and Pound KO in Round 1.

Turner's MMA career thus far - 6-3 as a pro and 6-2 as an amateur is somewhat surprising in that he only started training about two years ago with Mike Yanez and the Highlander Fight Team and relocated to Tampa to train at the XFC facilities when the opportunity presented itself. Turner describes his life before MMA as one with no direction, "any which way but loose," but he feels his fast-tracked MMA career is what he needed to do to survive and keep himself motivated. Turner views his MMA career as having had a great run so far. He commented that he's had more fights than many other pros starting out and that he views his losses as learning experiences, "kind of like paid training at the workplace. You wear a suit and tie, I wear shorts and a cup."

Discussing the move to middleweight, Turner feels it's made him better in all aspects of his fight game. He jokingly commented that he hadn't been at this weight since he was 12 years old, but more seriously remarked that he feels faster and just as strong as he was at 205, noting that the improvement in cardio comes naturally with the weight loss as there is less weight to move around. He also noted that his flexibility has improved as well. He spoke to his diet as playing a big role in the drop, telling me that "I feel like a skinny white girl."

Never one to forgo an attempt on humor, when I asked him about his thoughts on Gallegos, Turner replied "He bangs, he bangs," parodying a popular song from a few years ago.

However, as I stated before, the respect shown by Gallegos was reciprocated by Turner. When asked about how he was feeling going into the fight, he stated, "Relaxed, another day at the office. But there's more anticipation because Julio was my very first mma fight two years ago and my first loss. We have a lot of respect for each other. Nothing personal, but winning is what I plan to do, with extreme prejudice. I'm sure he's thinking the same."

Wrapping up our interview, Turner wanted to thank Brawl and Maul, Highlander Fight Team, Mike Yanez, and his team in Tampa.

With Turner looking to bounce back in the XFC's second show in Knoxville, I wouldn't be surprised to see this fight as a three-round war between two of the toughest guys on the card. Regardless of how the fight goes, it's going to be an exciting one.

For more information on the XFC and the full fight card for this weekend's event, check out the XFC's website.

Here are some highlight videos from some of Turner's previous fights.










(Originally posted on FightTicker.com)

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FightTicker.com Exclusive: Junie Browning Discusses Upcoming Fight With Cole Miller

I recently caught up with Junie Browning (via phone) after he'd arrived in Nashville for his upcoming fight against Cole Miller. Junie took some time out of his schedule to discuss his upcoming fight with Miller as well as his move to Xtreme Couture.

Check after the jump for the full interview

FightTicker: Just a few days out from your fight with Cole Miller, how are you feeling?

Junie Browning: I feel awesome. I'm actually walking around Nashville now.

FT: How did you training camp go?

Browning: It was awesome. I did everything I did in this camp for the last one plus some.

FT: A colleague of mine on FightTicker, John Buhl (aka jmb35) recently interviewed Cole Miller and Cole said he plans to beat you wherever the fight goes and that he thinks he's a way better fighter than you except maybe in wrestling - how do you feel about that?

Browning: Ah, he'll see. We'll see about that. I think he's been playing way too many video games, he's been getting too many of those combos, and that's not real life. He'll see. This isn't "Street Fighter," the good guy doesn't always win [Laughs].

FT: So you've implied you're the bad guy - you seem to have a really different approach to training and things now than you did on the show, how's training been going for you since you left the show?

Browning: The training out here [Las Vegas] is awesome. It's extreme training scenarios for extreme fighters, I think. There's no reason you can't get good out here. You can get good by default.

FT: Why Xtreme Couture?

Browning: It wasn't necessarily even Xtreme Couture, it was really Shawn Thompkins. Plus Xtreme Couture has the best Lightweights there are.

FT: Do you still train at 4 Seasons at all?

Browning? Nah, that was a good camp and stuff, but I had to be around more people who take it a little bit more seriously. Everyone out here [in Vegas] is more professional, people back home just do it for a hobby. This is something - being in the UFC isn't something you can just do part time, do for fun or do it for a hobby, you have to do it like a job. I'm out in Vegas for good now. It's just something I felt I had to do. You're part of the people you associate with and back home, they want to do it for fun and I couldn't treat it like that anymore, I couldn't treat it like a game anymore.

FT: What do you think about Miller in general?

Browning: I don't know much about him so I can't make any comments about him. I think all the stuff he's saying is to hype it up and stuff, to convince himself but I think he really knows what the outcome is going to be. I'm not Andy Wang or Jeremy Stephens.

FT: What about Miller's win over Jorge Gurgel?

Browning: I think Gurgel was beating the crap out of him, but he just made a mistake - anything can happen in a fight, but I feel like Gurgel was pretty much dominating him until the end of the fight.

FT: Your conditioning appears to have improved leaps and bounds since you left the show - is a rematch with Efrain Escudero something you'd be interested in?

Browning: Yeah, I'd do it right now out here on the street if I could just to show him that wasn't even me at 30 or 40% when I was on the show.

FT: So you think you're at 100% now?

Browning: Yeah, definitely.

FT: Your brother Rob ended up with a spot on TUF - when he was going for the tryouts, what kind of advice did you give him?

Browning: I just told him don't drink as much as I did, have fun, it's something you experience once in your life so make the best of it. Try and get your name out there as much as possible and try not to lose.

FT: So is this going to be something we see in the future, the Browning brothers going on a tear in the UFC like the Miller brothers have?

Browning: [Laughs]. That would be cool. He hasn't really told me much about the show. I don't even know what necessarily happens on it, but I know we'll be the most insane people ever on the show.

FT: You've said in some other recent interviews you haven't been drinking or partying, anything like that - what have you been up to besides training?

Browning: Just playing videogames mostly. Watch some movies, I try to concentrate on fighting. I don't really go out or anything, too many distractions and temptations and stuff so I just try to avoid it completely, stay home, play videogames and have a lot of sex.

FT: So you don't buy into the whole abstinence before a fight idea?

Browning: No, that's an old boxing rumor, that's not true at all. I actually think it would hurt you not to have sex before a fight.

FT: The videogames, the not going out - is that just fight prep or are you not going out at all?

Browning: It's not going to be like this year-round. As soon as this fight's over, I'm going to go get drunk and have some fun, you know what I mean? It's almost like a reward to yourself for training so hard, but 2-3 months out, I won't drink or party anything, I totally avoid it. Or if I do go out, I don't drink, I just hang out with friends.

FT: Do you think you're ever going to get past the reputation you set for yourself on TUF, or is that something you don't have a problem with?

Browning: Nah, I don't really care. Some people like it, some people hate it, I don't really care. I don't think there's really anything I have to do to get rid of that reputation. When people see me fight a few more times people will realize I'm not the same person.

FT: About fighting a few more times - where do you see yourself in the UFC's Lightweight division now?

Browning: I'm the best looking guy in the Lightweight division, I know that [Laughs]. Time will tell. I don't believe I'm even close to being one of the top guys right now, but I think I have the most potential and within the next few years, I could beat anybody.

FT: Thanks for your time Junie - is there anybody you want to thank?

Browning: Denaro Sports Marketing and TapouT.

----------

Browning was a nice guy to talk to - when I messaged him about the interview, he responded almost immediately. At the weigh-in for tomorrow's UFN 18 event, it appears that Browning wasn't even the one playing the "bad boy" role. Here is a video of his and Miller's weigh-ins.

-PreView

(Originally posted on FightTicker.com)




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Watch FightTicker.com Founder/Owner Pramit Mohapatra on "Inside MMA" Online

As I wrote about here, FightTicker.com Founder/Owner Pramit Mohapatra was on the most recent episode of HDNet's Inside MMA. For those of you who don't have HDNet, the full episode is now available for viewing. You can find it on FightTicker.

It was a great episode, and Pramit did a great job. Check it out. Also, for any of you interested in Pramit's shirt, you can check out the company that made it, Fight For Life USA, here.

-PreView



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FightTicker: A Social Issues Contributor's Thoughts on UFC 95 and 96

One of my colleagues on FightTicker is David Mayeda, PhD, FightTicker.com Social Issues Contributor. Dave is also well-known for having been the lead author on one of the authoritative texts on the social issues surrounding MMA. You can purchase his book here.

On FightTicker, Dave writes about a number of interesting subjects; two of his most recent articles have been on the aftermath of UFC 95 and the pre-event hype surrounding the upcoming UFC 96.

You can find his article on UFC 95 here and his article on UFC 96 here.

Take the time to check them out - Dave always offers great commentary on whatever aspect of MMA he chooses to write about.

-PreView


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