Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – Before he was Bones Jones, NBT (Next Big Thing), Jon Jones was a 21-year old armed with talent, desire, and the dreams of every young fighter in mixed martial arts – to be in the UFC.
And despite a spotless 6-0 record, when he set foot inside the Octagon for the first time to face Andre Gusmao at UFC 87 in August of 2008, it was more than just another fight.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – Here’s a for instance – let’s say you show up to work as scheduled, the boss pulls you to the side and says you don’t have to work today, but here’s your check. Go enjoy yourself in the greatest city in the world, which is only 30 minutes away, come back, and then watch some fights on Saturday night.
Pretty cool, eh?

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – It’s been a long time since Vladimir Matyushenko’s last UFC headlining gig back in September of 2001 – nearly nine years, 16 fights, and a short layoff ago.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – “You gotta start growing up and taking things serious.”
The words directed at Jacob Volkmann two years ago didn’t come from his wife, his parents, or a close friend, but from the owner of a bank in his hometown of Fergus Falls, Minnesota who apparently believed that being a professional fighter wasn’t the right path for a family man who was also a practicing chiropractor.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – The fight is the same every day for Brian Stann. It’s a battle that doesn’t take place in a gym or in an Octagon, but wherever the UFC middleweight may open an email or catch a television news program. For a decorated war hero and Captain in the United States Marine Corps like Stann, it could take just one phone call and he will go from being a professional athlete to a leader back on the battlefields in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Martins Denis, UFC – The history of Brazilian MMA athletes who come from difficult beginnings in the sport due to the lack of proper training conditions is well known. Struggling all the time, eventually there comes a moment where they decide if it’s time to change things up and get a full-time job or stay the course in the hopes of achieving their fighting dreams.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – It was a fairly innocuous question, but when UFC middleweight contender Mark Munoz responded to a query about his readiness for the 185-pound title picture should he defeat Yushin Okami this weekend in San Diego, one word in his response told you everything you need to know about the competitor dubbed ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine.’

Martins Denis, UFC – If you had your eyes on nearly every Pride FC event since April of 2002, you would have seen the same tough guy in Mirko Cro Cop’s corner – current UFC light heavyweight Igor Pokrajac.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – One of the great aspects of mixed martial arts is that a fight is never truly over until the final bell rings. It’s a claim that few sports can make, as there are no 20-point touchdowns in football, a nine point shot in basketball, or a goal in hockey or soccer that awards five points. In other words, when it gets to a certain point, it’s time to pack it in and accept your defeat.

Rhett Butler, UFC – For former kickboxer turned MMA fighter Steve Steinbeiss, when he entered the UFC he expected a different outcome. The event was UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard and it was the UFC’s first appearance in Oklahoma. The striker was facing a veteran talent in Ryan Jensen and the stage was all set to show why he was chosen for the biggest show in the sport.