Issue 058
January 2010
This is YOUR page to tell us what you think of all things Fighters Only and MMA! What do you like? What don’t you like? Who do you want to see fight who? Send us your pictures of you with fighters – and if you can slip a copy of FO into the pic, even better!
Write to us, including your contact details, by email to [email protected]
Is fame a distraction?
It is a well-known fact that MMA is becoming mainstream, but what effect will this have on the fighters? If they are to be noticed and shot (photographically) like the next big stars of the planet will they be able to cope with all the pressure that accompanies fame? Surely it will distract from their goals of becoming a champion or legend in the game.
The less egotistical fighters won’t be able to step out of the privacy of their home without being bothered by snappers. When once it was simply eat, sleep, train and then fight, now frustration may creep into their training because of being swamped by the press and public. Just look at how the private Forrest Griffin reacted recently when asked the simple question “why did you run from the ring after the Anderson Silva fight?” His frustration really came to a head.
Chris Windsor, via email
ED: Interesting point Chris, and very timely. Zuffa’s November ‘summit’ saw dozens of their fighters attend a series of seminars on how to deal with fame and live in the media eye.
Awards
Hey! I just wanted to say I love your magazine and looking forward to the results for the MMA awards, but I had one question. Why no love for Toby Imada’s inverted triangle over Jorge Masvidal? I didn’t see any mention of that as a candidate for submission of the year; that was a shocker for me. Any reason?
Derek, via email
ED: Hi Derek, voting is now over but next time please check the finalists carefully as Toby’s triangle was definitely one of the five finalists.
Step by step
Hey Fighters Only, great mag! I’ve been buying the mag since you launched but this is the first time I’ve ever written to you. I love what you are doing but I’ve got a request. You’re always featuring the big names and that’s great, I love reading about the top guys in the sport, but do you think you could maybe profile some more up and comers? There seem to be a load of new fighters coming into the UFC and I want to know about these guys so I can sound like I know what I’m talking about with my friends!
Also, I’m digging the training stuff you’re doing. There is some great info in there, I’m really liking the step-by-step techniques you’ve been doing. I only train a little bit so it’s good for me because it means I can go into the gym with an idea of what’s going on.
Keep up the good work!
Jack, Florida
GALLERY
Hi, I would like to share some pictures with you of my boyfriend who is currently in Afghanistan. He loves MMA! My boyfriend trains in his free time while over in Afghanistan. He has always dreamed that one day he could be a UFC fighter. He even got our daughter doing MMA, I’ve attached a photo of them.
The other photo, I surprised him with tickets to Carolina Fight Promotions (Oct 11, ‘08), where he got to meet and get a picture with Matt ‘The Terror’ Serra. I have never seen him so happy before. Besides the army, MMA is his life. Thank you for letting me share his pictures.
Lisa Moyers
Hi everyone at Fighters Only! I just purchased a subscription to your magazine and wanted to share here are a few cool pics from my visit to Philly for UFC 101.
I flew all the way out there from Northern California. From the pics you can tell I had a blast. I’m a true UFC / MMA fan to the core and a BJJ practitioner at Marco Nascimento’s Peninsula BJJ in Foster City, CA.
The lovely and super gorgeous Rachelle Leah after UFC 101, she was so sweet! Dana was so real, no ‘BS’ at his Q&A. Rollin VIP at ‘Club G’ with GSP! And met Matt Serra out on the streets of Philly.
Keep up the great work!
Dave Sands, San Francisco, CA
Hey Fighters Only! These are some pictures from UFC 97 in Montreal, Canada. My friends and I met a bunch of UFC and WEC fighters, and we literally bumped into Mike Thomas Brown when leaving the event and I managed to ‘squeeze’ into a picture with him! Thanks for the insightful articles, and amazing interviews!
Keep setting the standard for all other MMA publications high.
Tyler Tunstell, Toronto, Canada
