Issue 087

April 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]

KID ‘N PLAY

This is a really emotive issue, but the fact remains that kids love MMA – including my eight and 10-year-olds who firmly believe that professional MMA is their calling. Both my children train in our kids’ classes and have asked when they are going to compete. What answer do you give them? Tell them no and you risk losing them to another sport? I think that we should take yet another page out of the Gracies’ book. They don’t teach children to punch, the reasoning being that if you get into a fight and punch the other kid, you get into trouble too.

Let kids do MMA under responsible trainers, but focus on foot movement and creating distance in the cage, takedowns, controlling movement on the ground, gaining and retaining control on the ground and submissions. No strikes of any sort in competition until they are 16. That way you build a good ground-fighting base. Kids could then take part safely from the age of around 10 and they won’t lose interest as they are not able to compete and win. Just my two cents.

Craig McFadyen, via email

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

I read that quote from Erik Paulson that you had in your last issue (March 2012) where he says he was disappointed to see Frank Mir break ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira’s arm and not check on ‘Big Nog’ after the fight and Jon Jones let an unconscious Lyoto Machida drop to the floor at UFC 140.

I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with the man. Mir’s I can kind of get. You’re going for a submission, you know it’s on, you know the guy should be tapping and you know he’s not going to get out. If you want to win the fight you have to keep on going with the sub. If Nogueira, or anyone, is that offended that their appendage ends up broken, they could have averted the issue by tapping in the first place.

Still, though, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options and Mir should have shown concern for his opponent’s welfare. At UFC 60, in 2006, Matt Hughes could have continued with the straight armbar he had on Royce Gracie but chose not to break the Brazilian’s arm. He still went on to win the fight.

Jon Jones dropping Machida on his face was just plain disrespectful. You can argue he was hyped on adrenaline or whatever but he was pretty casual in his celebration afterwards – if he could control himself then, why not when he released his guillotine on Machida?

Erik Paulson’s right, all fighters have to set a better example for the next generation. After all, sportsmanship is what keeps MMA a sport.

Claudia Vibiana, Seattle

FIGHTERS’ TWEETS

FORREST GRIFFIN (@FORRESTGRIFFIN)

Damn, I love the way I look! Smiled at a kid in the store and his mother ran over and grabbed him like he was about to fall off the Grand Canyon.

ROSS PEARSON (@ROSSTHEREALDEAL)

People think there is no challenge for Aldo at featherweight? I’m the only one at FW to give him a real fight! No back step just fight five rounds.

GEORGES ST PIERRE (@GEORGESSTPIERRE)

“Adversity introduces a man to himself.” 

–Albert Einstein

RONDA ROUSEY (@RONDAROUSEY)

Best advice my mom gave me today: “Never read the bottom half of the internet.” #stuffmymomsays

MATT HUGHES (@MATTHUGHES9X)

Walking through LAX airport wearing a @bjpenndotcom shirt and some guys says, ‘Hey BJ, good luck!’ How do I take that?

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

aragami9x: @vitorbelfort I was so impressed with ur victory@ufc142, I became a big fan wen I read ur piece in @FightersOnly magazine, much love bro!!

KeithburkeMMA: Listening to Bun-B after reading 

@TheDomin8r ‘What’s on your iPod’ in @FightersOnly

Mr_Rager: Stayed up to all hours reading @FightersOnly. Great issue!

Franco1684: @FightersOnly February issue, name one fighter on cover. Steph (wife), ‘Randy Savage.’ ‘Close honey that’s Chael Sonnen.’ She is trying, lol

MASacchetti: @FightersOnly MMA needs Sunday night fights

jdmith: @FightersOnly I thought @bisping won that fight [against Chael Sonnen]. Nonetheless, he looked great, and looks like he gained some much-deserved credit.