Issue 098

February 2013

Things we hear, things we see, things we know.

UFC’s Vitor Belfort turns self-help guru

It’s rumored a book penned by UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort on the topic of leadership will be released in Brazil within the next 12 months. It will mark the second Portuguese-language title the former UFC light heavyweight champion has published, the title of his first directly translating as Lessons Of Claw, Faith and Success. 

UFC poised for Italy?

Fighters Only has heard the UFC is planning on staging its first Italian event later this year. The country’s second-largest city, Milan, is said to be the intended location. The UFC recently re-signed Alessio Sakara to a four-fight deal. The American Top Team middleweight is currently the only Italian fighter on the company roster.

Enhancers rife in MMA?

UFC welterweight Dong Hyun Kim recently caused a stir when he was said to have estimated “90% of UFC fighters use performance enhancers.” He reportedly told a Korean TV show “it’s almost” as if “other athletes look down” on non-users. “It’s like non-users are bicyclists while steroid users are racing with motorcycles. But I am one of those ‘idiots’ that don’t use performance enhancers.”

Ex-Olympian to head MMA promotion

Seoul 1988 freestyle wrestling gold medalist Kenny Monday will be the president of new organization BattleGrounds MMA. Based in Monday’s home state of Oklahoma, the promotion’s vice president will be former Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou. Monday was one of the first Olympians to compete in mixed martial arts, scoring a TKO win in 1997 at Extreme Fighting 4.