Fighters Only

Issue 103

July 2013

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.

SOAP BOX DERBY

In regards to the ‘Big Debate’ from the April 2013 issue (‘Has MMA overtaken boxing in terms of entertainment?’), here in the States I can’t say that mixed martial arts has replaced boxing. For one thing, a strong fan base of older boxing fans still exists, and they haven’t really warmed up to MMA. They much prefer boxing, even after exposure to the UFC. It’s mostly a young person’s sport. And, as the Timothy Bradley vs Ruslan Provodnikov WBO welterweight title fight proves, boxing still has a lot to offer.

Most people would rather see people swinging for the fences and going for the home run punch than wrestling for a submission. And a lot more people still hate the ‘savage’ image projected by cage fights. Our local paper, serving probably a million people in the surrounding area, promotes boxing, but never mentions MMA and ignored Ronda Rousey’s last fight, which was one of the biggest women’s events ever.

Boxing’s biggest problem here in America is the relative lack of big fights and stars. The Klitschko brothers, for instance, are pretty much persona non grata over here. I haven’t watched any of their fights in recent years. The heavyweight division is weak, and they prefer fighting in Germany. Mixed martial arts often fills the vacuum by default, which is not quite the same as ‘taking over’. The women’s fights, however, seem to be drawing in more men, and women, viewers. And, not to pull the ‘race card’, MMA has more white fighters. People who watch fights identify with the folk who like the same music, hobbies as them, and have the same background. MMA also has a wider sport base, i.e. wrestlers, and traditional and non-traditional fighting disciplines, which increases the numbers as far as fight appeal.

Regards, Jerry Davis

DIAZ DILEMMA?

The Diaz brothers, Nate and Nick, are well-rounded fighters, but they can’t do well against wrestlers. They should fight only jiu-jitsu guys because wrestlers are not their brands. Both brothers failed to be champions after following the same path against top wrestlers: Ben Henderson and Georges St Pierre ate them alive. I want to advise them to practice more judo and wrestling than jiu-jitsu. These classes will help them to be more solid instead of feeling frustrated. They should take at least a year off to practice wrestling. As I was watching the fight between GSP and Nick, it felt like déjà vu (in relation to Nate’s fight with Henderson) as I told two guys sitting next to me. The brothers know by now their weakness and it’s time for them to man up – seriously. Am I their consultant or a fortune teller? The Diazes need to be good at wrestling.

Gordon Blaise, New York

READER TWEETS

@Wee_Linz_: @FightersOnly not only is your mag a great read, it kills spiders too LOL #multifunctioningmag ;) x

@_NJae: Duudee.... I cannot WAIT for #tuf18 ! That s**t’s gon be CRAAYYY.

@FrydaWolff: I find it strange that there’s so much concern about sex happening in #tuf18. All of those women have been trained by and alongside men. Duh

@robbieartois: Watching the end of #ufconfox7 and seeing @sonnench’s promo.. Rightly or wrongly, surely this guy will cross over to pro wrestling some day

@ YerMomsFavorite: I do not know about everyone else, but I personally would love to see @ Cowboycerrone &

@GilbertMelendez meet in the Octagon at some point

FIGHT TWEETS

@JoeLauzon

DAMN Benson can kick… huge… ass… legs. #UFConFOX7

@brucebuffer

TY @FightersOnly for the cool cover story... I’m honored...

@MaguireTheOne

Im at the #TUF18 try outs in #Vegas and there is some bad ass chicks here!

@JonnyBones

Congratulations @karatehottiemma!! Have a baby, turn around and win a title... Sick

@BensonHenderson