Issue 116
July 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.
DIE HARDER?
Is mixed martial arts harder to retire from than other sports because of the one thing that makes it so exciting: that you never know what’s going to happen?
I’ve been thinking about this for a while and have come to the conclusion that so many fighters find it so hard to hang up the gloves because MMA’s such a volatile sport. And they still rate their chances of closing out their career with one more knockout or submission win because people with the odds stacked against them in MMA have a much better success rate than in other sports. I’m sure we can all think of several upsets in the UFC alone of late.
I mean, if you’re playing soccer or basketball you know it’s time to hang it up when you’re too slow. Your team will win and lose games all the time and whether you ‘go out on a win’ is only partly your responsibility – it’s a team game after all. Plus, let’s say you’re on a sub-par squad, you can probably guess before the year even begins if you’re going to be challenging for a championship.
Not so in MMA. A lucky punch and you can call time with a KO win. Get on a good run and you can make an argument for a title shot. No wonder so many guys, and girls, find it hard to hang ‘em up.
Adam Braun, via email
RAISING CAIN
I’m starting to think the career of perhaps our sport’s greatest ever heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, is going to be remembered as one dampened by injuries; that he’ll be a guy remembered for being nearly great, but never quite truly legendary, because he can’t keep healthy.
He got injured when he won the title against Brock Lesnar, was injured heading into and coming out of his title loss to Junior Dos Santos and he’s currently finishing up recovering from another injury.
I hope the career of a potential future great is defined by his time in the ring, not under the knife.
Damon Laurence, via email
READER TWEETS
@MapleLeafMav: @FightersOnly One mistake is all it takes and THAT is why i love Mixed Martial Arts
@JoseSaucey: I’m so getting tickets to ufc 176 Aldo vs Mendes. It’s on my birthday
@BradWardFGN: I would like to see Romero vs Belfort winner fights winner of Weidman and Machida
@MariHdez_: I know they’re not from the same thing but I would love to see a UFC fight between Mayweather and Cain Velasquez.
@EEYYAN: Ridiculous how much boxers make compared to @UFC fighters. IMO Ronda would beat the f**k outta Mayweather. Feel free to argue
FIGHT TWEETS
@dc_mma
Guys for the record I wanna put something out there. After I fight Hendo which is a very hard fight, I don’t wanna fight any1 but the champ
@TheNotoriousMMA
This UFC featherweight division is STACKED.... with a who’s who of rookies.
@AndreiArlovski
Thank you very much to Dana White for taking me back to UFC
@TeamKhabib
My phone wasn’t stolen last night while at dinner, and I’m challenge one of Diaz Brothers! Anytime Anyplace Anyweight! it’s not problem
@mmasarah
The week’s about come to a close and I’m wondering, @MieshaTate how much time would you like to prepare? We both want it, fans want it too!
GALLERY
@caseyarnold_tx
At the @Rangers game with the coolest dude in the @ufc @LukeRockhold
@choppersson
@FightersOnly My youngest daughter and I recreating UFC 1.
@DonovanGreenlee
My weekend last weekend #UFC172
The next UFC women’s champion, Hanna Smith, aged six.
Paul Smith, via email
On March 15th we saw a much needed changing of the guard in the UFC welterweight division and so I hope you like my cartoon to honor the new champ.
Chris Morgan, via email
A quick pic of me an my son, Aiden, at KMMA Academy Kickboxing. Next champ.
Ian Maycox, via email
THE NEXT MMA SUPERSTARS
Alistair Brown, aged four. Starting young.
Bob Brown, via email
My son, Cody Powell, aged five, loves his little ninjas class at Battleground. He’s our little superstar.
Laura Powell, via email
