Issue 107
November 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.
WEIGHING HEAVY
Reading the Big Debate (Anderson Silva cover issue) discussion of when to conduct the weigh-in, the obvious argument seems to have been over-looked. In the old days of boxing before the advent of pay-per-view, weigh-ins were always conducted immediately before the fight. A fighter coming in over weight usually paid a forfeit of some kind, and the fight proceeded; although most fighters came in at the proper weight, since they couldn’t afford a pay cut. Nowadays with millions of dollars on the line, a fight can’t afford to be canceled, hence the weigh-in the day before to ensure fighters have time to make the weight.
I don’t think the timing of the weigh-in matters much to fighters, as the weight cut is one of the most torturous parts of their training throughout the time leading up to the fight. But in modern times, barring catastrophic injury, the fight must go on for financial reasons for both the fighters and promoters.
Regards, Jerry Davis
Thanks for your message, Jerry. You make a valid point. We were purely questioning the uses of a second, unofficial weigh-in unrelated to contracted weights and only for information purposes. But you’re very right, fight-night weights, if dramatically different to the official numbers, could open the door to a raft of complaints and allegations from corner teams and whatnot, potentially throwing bouts into turmoil at the last moment. Not good for business.
BODYGUARD
Why don’t MMA fighters use elbow, knee and foot pads to reduce the risk of serious injuries to the extremities of the person doing the striking, and to the skin and vital organs of fighters who are receiving the impacts?
This simple change will reduce the chance of short- and long-term injuries, and the possible permanent disability of fighters. In addition, it will improve the quality of life, confidence and athletic life span of professional fighters.
Nami Bayan, via email
Nami, those health benefits would certainly be great. However, you’d have to quell both fighters’ and governing bodies’ concerns about the pads not becoming a nuisance in the full flow of a fight.
Furthermore there’s the argument gloves only protect the fist and not the face, and that mitts encourage fighters to hit harder because they’re less concerned about injuring themselves. That could of course lead to more of the afflictions you’re trying to avoid.
We’d love to see fewer injuries too, and who knows, maybe 10 years from now elbow, knee and foot protection will be mandatory. Folk in the ‘50s probably would have found it hard to believe hockey players would be forced to wear helmets in a few decades’ time.
READER TWEETS
@TheBryanWillett: LMAO! @danawhite is giving @arielhelwani tonnes of s**t right now lol. #ufcworldtour.
@tommy83boy: Great job @BrianStann on calling the fights.@UFC163.
@_awkwarddionna: Watching Highlights from #UFC163. Korean Zombie is Tough.
@AaronClapp: Robbie Lawler is the truth. What a beast.
@BackoftheHead: The Expendables 3 will have Harrison Ford and @RondaRousey. I hope she calls him a scruffy-looking nerf herder.
FIGHT TWEETS
@TimKennedyMMA
I would like to point out that @BrianStann is surprising no one by doing an absolutely fantastic job as a commentator tonight at #UFC163.
@CubSwanson
The Korean Zombie really won my respect tonight. I really hope that shoulder injury isn’t career ending because the fans love him.
@MieshaTate
If you support me being on the @joerogan podcast please bug him until it happens! #wouldloveto.
@ForrestGriffin
Recent research suggests that research is Boring.
@kennyflorian
Kind of cocky of the #RoyalBaby to hire a publicist at such a young age.
GALLERY
@scottg_nolimits: #ufconfox8 8 rows from the cage. Loving the fact @Kimschoreit is screaming her head off for these warriors
@Mr_RatedR17: @ufc here at the beacon theatre waiting on the #ufcworldtour press conference... Lines slowly pickin up
@CariDearden: Thank you @rory_macdonald for taking time to sign our #UFConFox8 poster and taking a pic while watching #UFC163!
During the recent Fight Week in Vegas I ran into the legendary ‘Godfather of Ground ‘n’ Pound’ Mark Coleman. And had some fun with Joe Benavidez.
Michael Hatch Arnold, MO
Me and Randy at Xtreme Couture. What an honor to meet and train with him – a great guy.
Thanks for the most well rounded MMA magazine available.
Barry Shaw, Los Angeles, CA
Rocking the Fighters Only look by the beach and pool in Majorca.
Linsey Carson, via email.
Meeting Tommy Maguire, Luke Barnatt and John Maguire.
Lee Roberts, via email
THE NEXT MMA SUPERSTARS
My girlfriend’s youngest son, doing it right.
Stephen Tait, via email
