Issue 120
October 2014
This is your page to tell us what you think of all things Fighters Only and MMA. Get your
feelings off your chest where it really matters – in print! Send us your best pictures with your favorite fighters, or copies of FO, and we’ll print them too.
SQUARE EYES
There’s been a lot of discussion online recently, and among people I know who are into MMA, about whether there are too many UFC shows on. There are pay-per-view events, big Fox cards, small Fox cards and even smaller Fight Pass cards. Sometimes two in a weekend.
I’ve noticed UFC president Dana White get annoyed at people complaining about the volume, sometimes saying they can’t be real fight fans. But I think the reason why some people are unhappy isn’t because they aren’t true UFC fans, it’s the opposite.
It seems to me they actually love MMA and the UFC and because of that they don’t want to miss anything. They want to watch every show but resent the fact the volume of events, mixed with the realities of life, mean they can’t justify the time to sit and watch every show.
If it wasn’t for the volume of events, they’d be able to watch them all. Thereby the number of events become the enemy. And you know the UFC is bound to do even more next year.
That’s my theory. Thought some other people might have their own?
Ben Township, via email
THREAD BARE
Watching the World Cup and seeing just how many people watch it, talk about it and get involved, it’s got me thinking that one day maybe MMA won’t be as big as soccer is around the world.
That’s not to say it can’t be very popular. I think it’s still got potential to grow. And don’t forget we’re not just talking about North America or the UK, or any other place that has had it for a while. Growth means when China and India and Africa finally start getting into it properly.
Still, though, bigger than the biggest sport in the world? That’s a large hill to climb. I mean, MMA is always getting bigger. But when was the last time you could walk up to almost anyone on the street and talk to them about last night’s fights and they have a clue what you’re talking about? That happens with the FIFA World Cup.
I’d love to see mixed martial arts that big, but it’s going to take a very long time.
Victor Garcia, via email
READER TWEETS
@QueenMarcheline: Sad that Gustafsson is out, but I like DC so it’s not so bad #UFC178
@daguilar9: Hendricks vs Lawler 2! Can’t wait for that rematch. #ufc #rematch
@swiftlefthook: If you love MMA you need to get @FightersOnly it’s the MMA equivalent to Ring Magazine!! Class mag!
@RosieCuppaTea: I have a backlog of @FightersOnly mags to read but also need to do the cleaning. Arrrgghhhh I can’t cope with the dilemma!
@TheFearlessFly: @FightersOnly is the greatest magazine ever. Not ONE dull article. Love it!
FIGHT TWEETS
@Schwarzenegger
Congratulations @TheNotoriousMMA on a fantastic victory yesterday. You are the McGregor-nator.
@dc_mma
@JonnyBones make me shut up! Bet you can’t!
@Ruthless_RL
Congrats @IamTheImmortal on one heck of a fight.!! I have so much respect for you.
@LukeRockhold
Golf courses installing 15” holes and foot (soccer) golf to increase revenue. WTF just lower the price and add some cute cart girls.
@Kingsbu
I’ve learned more about life in the small window I’ve fought than in any other venture. Life only continues to get better. I love you all :)
GALLERY
@triplejmma
#UFCFanExpo2014 with @lilmzhardkore and @ufc #royalty Dan “The Beast” Severn @danbeastsevern #UFCPioneer
@StanXavier
UFC San Jose can’t even describe how happy I am right now
Collette Ford
My 13-year-old daughter, India, putting Travis Browne in a head lock when we went to Vegas to see GSP vs. Hendricks.
Here is some artwork of one of my favorite fighters, Anderson ‘Spider’ Silva.
Romeo Kumar, via email
Lyoto Machida is my legend. This is for you.
Jon Heselwood, via email
I thought it was about time I honored the man who started it all off, Mitsuyo Maeda. Without him we may never have had the greatest sport on the planet.
Chris Morgan, via email
This is a recent photo of me and ‘The Outlaw’ Dan Hardy at a recent taping of BT Sport’s Beyond The Octagon in the UK. Top bloke.
Robert Bigham, via email
My hubby walks in from training and is caught in full mount by Spiderboy.
Linsey Carson, via email
Our daughter is 19 months old, and is already hitting pads while saying, ‘Jab!’ Maybe a future Rousey in the making?
Samantha Wheeler, via email
