Issue 145

September 2016

Star Sighting

Here we go again

We’ve seen Demi Lovato in the audience of UFC shows before, but now she’s branching out. First the singer showed off her skills training with Randy Couture, Cung Le and Jay Glazer at the Unbreakable Performance Center in Hollywood, California. Then she flew to St Louis to catch the MMA and kickboxing action at Bellator 157: Dynamite 2 from premium cageside seats.

Celebrity Dojo

As real as it gets

Frank Grillo has a lifetime of martial arts experience. Not only is he well versed in the submission arts thanks to his training with Rickson Gracie and the Machado brothers, he has a background in boxing and wrestling for a well-rounded set of skills. No wonder the men and women fighting out of the Navy St gym in his fight-friendly TV show Kingdom look like they have the ability to compete in the UFC.

As seen on screen

Carpool combat

We don’t know how much BJJ training Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis has had, but he’s rolled enough to know how to beat up James Corden. A bout of impromptu garden grappling during ‘Carpool Karaoke’ on the Late Late Show ended when the singer pinned the presenter after a surprisingly technical pass into side control. 

Beyond The Cage

Dean of Screen

Former Ultimate Fighter competitor and long-time UFC light heavyweight Keith Jardine continued his successful post-MMA acting career in Preacher. He’s got the rugged, dangerous demeanor to fit the part of small-town Texas ne’er-do-well Verne perfectly – though ‘The Dean of Mean’ probably spends less time in a brothel than his character.

Model Salute

MMA’s favorite member of the military

A lot of ringcard girls pay lip service to their enthusiasm for MMA, but Shannon Ihrke is the real deal. Not only is she a regular in her local UFC gym, the list of promotions she’s represented is huge. And whether she’s at Bellator, Invicta FC, Pro Elite, King of the Cage or any other shows, the audience always stands to attention when this Marine veteran walks by between rounds.