Issue 164

February 2018

Someone has to be around to document the exchanges of limbs. Without anyone taking pictures, all MMA websites you visit would look boring. Of course, writers can tell you a story with text, but it’s not the same without an accompanying image of a fist landing flush on a fighter’s face, a winner’s joy when their hand is raised or their crestfallen opponent coming to terms with defeat. A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Before the action even begins there can be challenges. It takes skill to capture interesting images from a pre-fight shoot where 20-odd fighters take turns to stand in front of a green screen – especially when some of them might have concerns other than striking a pose for promotional purposes.

“It’s usually a day or two before weigh-ins so they’re getting dragged all over and if they’re main card, they have a lot more responsibilities and interviews, so it becomes part of the day they’re maybe not so excited about,” explains Lucas Noonan, the man behind the lens for Bellator MMA. “I try to do the best I can as quickly as I can… Some guys who’ve had one or two fights can come in with 15lb to cut and they’re completely dried out will come in and just stare at me with no emotion at all – that’s a little bit more difficult.”

Once combat begins, the challenge increases in the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it world of mixed martial arts. The men and women with the camera have to be on the ball, all the time, as they’re outside the cage looking in.

“I’m trying to anticipate what’s coming next because if I see it, it’s too late,” says Noonan. “For 14, sometimes 18 fights, that can be stressful, but I love it because I’m trying to capture the essence of the action. It all happens so quick and sometimes luck plays a part in it.

Then, once the fight’s over and the official verdict is announced they’ve got to be in place to capture the winner getting their hand raised – and the loser looking dejected, if they can. “It’s a tricky balance because sometimes the emotional story is not with the victor.

Sometimes I don’t think about it, sometimes I just go, but I’m always aware of what’s happening behind me so I can see if there’s a moment. It’s fun! I don’t stop moving all night once it starts.”

Besides the fighters themselves, few people have such a demanding job. When a card has a fight count that’s double figures, the shows last for hours, and Noonan is constantly sprinting through the arena, into the back while the commercials are rolling to use access that few other people have.

“I’m always running around, running backstage to shoot fighters getting wrapped if I can, because that’s part of the story I love to tell and see is the story behind what’s happening, the quiet moments. Sometimes there’ll be a locker room with 30 people in there, but one fighter by himself in that private time. I like to capture that so people can see a different aspect.”

Shooting in that kind of intimate setting isn’t straightforward, though. Both before and after a fight, an athlete can be an emotionally sensitive state. They’re either trying to get into a frame of mind to throw down, or they could be reflecting after giving their heart and soul in the cage. Often, the last thing they probably want is someone sticking a camera in their face.

“I try to be as invisible as possible,” Noonan adds. “I’ve trained Thai boxing and fought amateur so I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera and the need to have your space, but at the same time, to get the best shot, you have to be in their face, so I look for the balance.

“Once fighters get to a certain level they’re comfortable with it. Some guys’ personalities are that way where they don’t want anyone around them, so you just stay a little bit further back and try to capture them without knowing you’re there. Hopefully, when they see the photos afterwards, they’re happy.

“My favorite one is Michael Chandler against Benson Henderson. It’s black and white, he’s in a hallway in the back and blood is dripping down his face from his eye. There’s so much emotion going on there, he won, but he’s damaged. This guy just went through a war and it shows on his face.”