Fighters Only

Issue 090

July 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]

ONLY FIGHTERS ONLY

Just a quick email to say how much I enjoy reading Fighters Only every month. Picking up a fresh new copy is a highlight of my week and absorbing my monthly dose of interviews, features and analysis keeps me going. There’s nothing quite like it. I got into MMA a few years ago after a friend telling me about it – I’ve been hooked ever since. And it’s down to your magazine that I manage to keep in touch with the sport I love. Thanks for all your hard work.

Michael Burn, via email

GOING GLOBAL

I’m pretty interested in this news of the brand new International MMA Federation being formed. Primarily because I believe it should now make noise about leading the way in clearing performance-enhancing drugs out of mixed martial arts. UFC president Dana White doesn’t see how his company can test all of its nearly 400 fighters, and why should he even have to?

Surely this is the sort of thing an international governing body should be doing. They should be setting standards for drug testing that all national-scale federations should abide by, and work closely with the stringent testing bodies of the World Anti-Doping Alliance and the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. Maybe, if a promotion pays its licensing fee to the IMMAF it gets it’s fighters tested by default. Why would a promotion do it through the IMMAF and not on their own, direct dollar? For the right to call their event ‘IMMAF Certified’ and reassure fans they’re watching a drug-free contest. I realize this is all ‘pie in the sky’ but we have to stop talking about the drug problem and actually start acting against it.

Guy Anderson, via email

FIGHTERS’ TWEETS

FORREST GRIFFIN (@FORRESTGRIFFIN)

If I had to pick one (more) guy to knock me out it [would] be @BrianStann cus he’d do it classy like.

JOSH BARNETT (@JOSHLBARNETT)

Long arms are awesome for fighting. Not so much when trying to find dress shirts. 17.5 neck... 38 sleeve. Fffffffffffuuuu…

MARK HUNT (@MARKHUNT1974)

My wife is going after my son with the wooden spoon ahhahahahaa poor woman has lost it.

JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ (@JOEJITSU)

I feel like I just ran out of meth. Finished season three of Breaking Bad. How do I watch season four?? When does it come out?? I’ll do anything. HELP.

KENNY FLORIAN (@KENNYFLORIAN)

Am I homeless? “No. I’m actually walking home.” #LA #Sweatpants

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

@kierandoherty31: Reading the article in @FightersOnly about the judging criteria and about whether it rewards the better fighter @danhardymma got it spot on!

@cagereligon: @FightersOnly @halitosismma @markhunt1974 Samoan Cinderella Man is the most boss nickname I’ve heard in a long time. Props for that one!

@josh_harling: Bought every issue of @FightersOnly for the last three years it’s by far the best magazine on planet earth #truth

@tomk27: There’s a reason why people were dodging Siyar Bahadurzada before he got to the @ufc. Now, you know why! @FightersOnly @danawhite #mma #UFC

@aragami9x: @FightersOnly thiago silva jus looks pure evil with that smile lol

@john_bagley: @FightersOnly boredom sorted before training #QualityMag

GALLERY

This picture was taken by my beautiful wife on our honeymoon at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas! We happened to cross paths with ‘The Axe Murderer’ Wanderlei Silva while out for a walk. He was an awesome guy and very approachable. He’s a great ambassador for the sport and a true legend!

Mike, Rochester, NY, via email

We had a surprise guest in our office today! ‘Mayhem’ Miller was kind enough to sign a print out of the FO cover he was featured on.

Natalie Gaitas, via email

Various shots taken at UFC 135 in Denver, Colorado. Also ran into Jens Pulver at the Sheridan Hotel while we were there.

Trevor Newton, CO, via email