Issue 125
February 2015
The sport’s strangest stories from around the globe.
Real life ‘Here Comes the Boom’ teacher returns to the cage
Colorado, USA
When teacher Mike Laurita was desperate to save his school wrestling program he took inspiration from the movie Here Comes The Boom starring Kevin James and took an MMA fight to cash in.
Two years ago, at the age of 52 he lost a unanimous decision but bagged $3,000, which was enough to save the team at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, where he coached for eight years. But it seems losing didn’t sit well.
“I wasn’t very happy with my performance. I’m a lot healthier now, a lot more ready, and I bugged my wife,” Laurita said.
Fast forward three years and 55-year-old coach Laurita – now retired from his role mentoring the wrestling team – took another fight, but this time it was for himself.
His wife made him a deal: lose 50lb, and you can fight. And that’s just what he did. He trained and dieted for months and was able to rally the whole school behind him.
After years of being there for his students, they made it known they were there for him on fight night. More than 100 pupils and faculty came along to support him.
Laurita threw some good punches, gained top control and lasted through three, three-minute rounds with a fighter more than 30 years younger than him. He didn’t win, but that didn’t matter to the crowd.
Not surprisingly, the coach wants to fight one more time, though he’s not sure if his wife will let him.
Ring of Combat reaches 50th event
New Jersey promotion Ring of Combat will hold its 50th event on January 23rd at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City.
The organization, which had its first event in October 2002, has had 90 of its up-and-coming fighters signed to the UFC over the years, including UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, TUF 19 winner Eddie Gordon, Al Iaquinta and Edson Barboza.
According to promoter Lou Neglia, he’s most proud of being able to stick around for 12 years while continuing to put on fantastic fights. “Not many promotions have made it to their 50th event and not many have produced the superstars that Ring of Combat has. I am very proud of all the Ring of Combat alumni, but also very proud of the new generation of ROC fighters who, by accepting tough fights in the Ring of Combat, are also preparing themselves for the road that leads to the Octagon.”
Milana Dudieva ties the knot in 4oz gloves
Peresvet, Russia
Here at Fighters Only, we take our jobs incredibly seriously. Sometimes you’ll find us holed up in FO towers, working way into the early hours of the morning to make sure you get the best possible MMA magazine each and every month. However, if given the choice, we probably wouldn’t wear a FO T-shirt to our wedding, which is why UFC bantamweight Milana Dudieva should be voted employee of the month by the promotion.
While the sole focus for most brides would be to make sure their hair and make-up were on point for the hundreds of snaps taken at the event, Dudieva made sure she included her job with the big day.
She rocked UFC gloves during the celebration and posed for pictures like it was fight week and not the most romantic day of her life. And if that wasn’t enough, she still took time to get an early workout in the morning after her wedding night too. If that’s not dedication, then we don’t know what is.
20 million
A recent Apple TV update incorporated UFC Fight Pass onto the streaming device, meaning the UFC’s online content system will be available in more than 20 million homes.
1st
Anthony Pettis joined the likes of Shaun White and Wayne Gretzky when he became the first MMA athlete to be put on the front of a Wheaties cereal box.
