Issue 050
June 2009
By Hywel Teague.
As the editor of the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine, I’m not supposed to have a favorite fighter, let alone more than one. A journalist is meant to adhere to a certain code of ethics. One of these principles is that we’ve got to remain objective and impartial at all times.
But, of course, just like anyone else in this business, journalists are fans of the sport too. I was a fan of this sport before I started writing about it, and I will certainly remain a fan long after I stop. Few of us are in this business for the money. Everyone I know does it because they have a genuine appreciation for the sport, and even the most jaded, hardened of hacks will admit to getting excited when certain fighters get in the ring.
I’m professional enough to be able to remain impartial when it matters. It certainly wouldn’t look good for me to be seen cheering from the press pit at ringside! But when I’m in the comfort of my own home, I can let my hair down (so to speak) and scream and shout and cheer-on my preferred fighters all I like.
Like any other fan of the sport, there are a few fighters who do it for me more than others. I’m very strict when it comes to Fighters Only – I never allow my personal feelings to dictate what goes into the pages of the magazine. Instead, myself and the team seek out the fighters we think you, the fans, want to read about. But as this is my monthly column I reckon I can get away with a little bit of self-indulgence once in a while, so I’m going to run through some of the fighters who I consider among my personal favorites.
First up is the Norwegian lightweight Joachim Hansen. I’ve been following Hansen closely for the best part of five years now, and though he looks like a sociopathic kitten-torturer, he brings an intensity to the ring that is hard to match. His striking is sharp, his ground skills slick, and he has one hell of an impressive record.
Aside from falling foul to submission virtuosos such as Shaolin and Shinya Aoki, he’s been in with some of the best lightweights in the world, and given many of them one hell of a run for their money. He’s got vicious boxing, super-smooth transitions, and a mean streak the size of the Sea of Japan. I love the fact that, no matter who he’s up against, he fights with an intensity that is hard to match – check out his ‘fight of the year’ contender with Eddie Alvarez for proof.
Another fighter I’m always excited to watch is the controversial Japanese fighter, Yoshihiro Akiyama. A judo gold medalist, Akiyama is a powerful and unpredictable middleweight competitor who has fans and haters in equal number. He’s vilified by some for his ‘cheating’ (there was a scandal where he was said to have greased up for his fight with Sakuraba, which was later deemed a no contest) but loved by many others for his wide range of skills and entertaining fights.
Akiyama is a David Beckham-type character in Japan – he can be found on magazine covers and even catwalks, but he’s still best known for his combative ability. He subbed the ferocious Melvin Manhoef and knocked out Denis Kang. Akiyama is for real, and he’s going to be one hell of an addition to the UFC 185lb division.
Last on my list of favorites is the little-known Jose Aldo. I actually saw Aldo fight in England back in 2005 (he blasted his opponent with punches in the first minute and celebrated by somersaulting off the top rope of the ring), and I’ve had half an eye on his career ever since. A featherweight fighter from the famous Nova Uniao team in Brazil, Aldo is a ball of energy when he competes. He attacks with a ferocity you don’t often find in men his size – he hits hard, kicks hard, and has a phenomenal ground game. He joined the WEC in 2008, and he’s been on a tear since, racking up four straight wins as of now, and he looks set to do great things indeed.
I suppose if you compare the three fighters I’ve listed, even though they are from very different backgrounds and have very different styles, they share certain characteristics. They’re all dynamic, entertaining fighters who don’t shy away from a confrontation, can fight skillfully and have the ability to finish a fight in every range, and will always look to finish a fight rather than play to the rules and look to ‘collect’ a win.
These are qualities I look for in any MMA fighter, and Hansen, Akiyama, and Aldo embody those ideals perfectly. Remaining impartial isn’t hard – I switch into ‘work mode’ when watching the fights and report on them accordingly. But like anyone who loves this sport, there are times when I want to kick back, drink a beer and watch some fights, and for pure entertainment, these three are hard to beat.
