Issue 091

August 2012

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. [email protected]

CHAEL OUT, MAN

I am writing to say how much I enjoyed the Chael Sonnen interview in last month’s issue. I think he is just trying to have fun and build a fight with all of his ‘controversial’ statements, and he certainly seems to be succeeding. If people think what he is saying is disrespectful, they need to wake up and take it for the joke that it is. What really matters is that he comes to fight, and he has done that and been in nothing but exciting fights since he came back to the UFC.

Jase Shapiro, via email

JUDGE DREAD

In reply to Gareth A Davies’ column The Age-Old Scoring Debate (June 2012) I’ve done a tiny bit of judging and a lot of watching, as well as 39 years in the martial arts. First of all, no scoring system will ever compensate for poor judging based on bias. I’ve seen very experienced, well-known judges make some of the worst decisions imaginable out of the clear blue sky. It’s obvious that they’re getting a benefit somewhere to pick certain fighters. 

Sometimes it’s to promote the next big-money fight by a name fighter. Other times, they are either taking some type of benefit under the table, or one of the fighters is willing to allow a poor referee, not in his best interests, in order to possibly win the fight by KO or submission. There needs to be an effective way to over-ride these poor decisions and force a rematch.

Secondly, fighting in the ring is about ‘winning’ (as Charlie Sheen might say). Fighters don’t ‘win’ by back-pedaling and taking safe pot shots to stay out of danger. The last Nick Diaz fight (vs Carlos Condit, UFC 143) is a good example. I don’t pay money to watch some punk dance around out of harm’s way for five rounds. The guy who doesn’t want to engage or take a risk shouldn’t be rewarded with a victory. This Mayweather-type strategy (although not in his fight with Cotto) violates the audience-fighter relationship. People pay good money to watch a war, not patty-cakes. Again, aggression and desire to engage must count for more than reticence and ‘strategic withdrawal.’ That’s my opinion.

Jerry Davis, via email

FIGHTER TWEETS

JIM MILLER (@JIMMILLER_155)

Even in defeat, there is something oddly satisfying about trying to sleep with a cracked nose and blown ankle #thefans #theoctagon

GINA CARANO (@GINACARANO)

Dogs look so guilty going through airport security. #airportlife

KENNY FLORIAN (@KENNYFLORIAN)

What do I do in my free time? My hobbies include: Street Polo, memorizing lines from Bloodsport & restoring old Mazda Miatas from 2009.

DAN HARDY (@DANHARDYMMA)

Oh, I forgot to tell you... the Millennium Falcon that

@theFrankMir and fam got for me is complete! #LoveLego

DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON (@MIGHTYMOUSEUFC)

Up bright and early in Hawaii gonna get some grub then do some lap swimming in the ocean. Sharks beware of the mouse....squeak!!!!!!!

The posts that caught our eye this month in the online world of Fighters Only

@Joel_Boland: Got my mum reading the latest issue of

@FightersOnly and she now has a newfound respect for MMA!

@Jayhughes_: @RondaRousey Just read your section in

@FightersOnly, really enjoyed it! Looking forward to seeing in the ring again! #UFC #RouseyforUFC

@niallmoody: @martinrooney1 Just ordered ‘Warrior Cardio’ as I’ve always enjoyed the articles in @FightersOnly – Looking forward to getting stuck in!

@Shonuff89: Reading a great article in #FightersOnly.Magazine on controlling your mental state to perform on fight night.

@JewelSantini: I love reading @FightersOnly mag, especially when GSP is on the cover!!

@sidewinder3698: One plus side to night shifts, picking up your new issue of

@FightersOnly as staff are putting it on the shelf!