September 2012 Subscribe Now – FREE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MMAR READER 1.)
Letter From MMAR President
2.)
MMA Fight Card Listings
3.)
MMA Gym Directory
4.)
Featured Amateur Fighters
5.)
Featured Technique
6.)
Industry Advice
7.)
Featured Videos
8.)
Featured Photos
9.)
MMA Polls
10.)
Sponsors & Links
Contributors September 2012 President:
Michael Zuccarello
Vice President:
James McCullough
Industry Advice:
Molly Hoskinson
Technique:
MMA Life
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September 2012 LETTER FROM MMAR PRESIDENT
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MMARecruiter.com San Diego, California Phone: (619) 866-4198 www.mmarecruiter.com
Dear MMAR Readers, MMARecrutier.com has hit another benchmark! The total number of registered website members is over 17,000! This is great news for our website, all our members and the MMA community. This could not have been achieved without the help of our loyal members. We are extremely thankful to our members and networking partners who have helped us spread the word about our website. As MMARecruiter.com continues to grow, greater is the number of industry professionals that our website can help. Whether you are an aspiring fighter looking for a gym to start training, a fighter looking for an event to compete at, a promoter in need of fighters to fill spots on a fight card or even a fan looking for mainstream MMA news, our website is the perfect place to locate this information, plus much more. We truly hope that all of our members and website visitors find our content and information useful. If you do, be sure to tell your friends, industry contacts or anyone with an interest in MMA to join our website, “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Thanks for the support!
Sincerely,
Michael Zuccarello President MMARecruiter.com
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FIGHT CARD LISTINGS **DISCLAIMER**
MMA Recruiter is not the promoter or matchmaker for any of the events listed below. MMAR only reposts the fight card information. Fight cards are subject to change. Some fight card listings might be filled.
[ View All ] 09/01/12 - Ammy MMA - Milledgeville, GA Zombie Fight Productions Round One is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 1st, 2012 in Milledgeville, GA 09/02/12 - Ammy MMA - Las Vegas, NV Tuff-N-Uff is looking for an Amateur Heavyweight MMA Fighter to fill as spot on their upcoming fight card on September 2nd, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV. 09/02/12 - Ammy MMA - Goodlettsville, TN Silverado's Cagefights is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 2nd, 2012 in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. 09/07/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Calgary, Canada Hard Knocks Fighting Championship is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 7th, 2012 in Calgary, Canada. 09/08/12 - Ammy MMA - Sikeston, MO Absolute Fighting Challenge is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in Sikeston, Missouri. 09/08/12 - Ammy MMA - San Diego, CA Epic Fighting is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in San Diego, California. 09/08/12 - Ammy MMA - Marion, NC US Freedom Fighter Championships is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in Marion, North Carolina. 09/08/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Hinton, OK SCS # 13 Blood Fued is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in Hinton, Oklahoma. 09/08/12 - Ammy MMA - Upper Darby, PA New Breed Fighters is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
Continued on the next page...
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September 2012 Subscribe Now – FREE
FIGHT CARD LISTINGS **DISCLAIMER**
MMA Recruiter is not the promoter or matchmaker for any of the events listed below. MMAR only reposts the fight card information. Fight cards are subject to change. Some fight card listings might be filled.
[ View All ] 09/08/12 - Ammy MMA - Maumee, OH Purgatory Fight Series is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 8th, 2012 in Maumee, Ohio. 09/08/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Worcester, MA Validation MMA is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 22nd, 2012 in Worcester, Massachusetts. 09/15/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Barre, VT Xtreme Combat Promotion is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 15th, 2012 in Barre, Vermont. 09/15/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Springfield, IL Team Warrior Concepts is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 15th, 2012 in Springfield, Illinois. 09/15/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Coshocton, OH Explosive Fight Promotions is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 15th, 2012 in Coshocton, Ohio. 09/15/12 - Ammy MMA - Hancock, MI UPC is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 15th, 2012 in Hancock, Michigan. 09/21/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Tulsa, OK XFL is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 21st, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 09/22/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Columbus, GA Syndicate Promotions is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 22nd, 2012 in Columbus, Georgia. 09/29/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Bulter, PA Epic Leap entertainment is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 29th, 2012 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Continued on the next page...
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September 2012 Subscribe Now – FREE
FIGHT CARD LISTINGS **DISCLAIMER**
MMA Recruiter is not the promoter or matchmaker for any of the events listed below. MMAR only reposts the fight card information. Fight cards are subject to change. Some fight card listings might be filled.
[ View All ] 09/29/12 - Ammy MMA - St Augustine, FL Rumble in the Ancient City is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 29th, 2012 in St Augustine, Florida. 09/29/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Warren, MI Elite Federation of Kickboxers is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on September 29th, 2012 in Warren, Michigan. 10/05/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Stroudsburg, PA Sherman Cage Rage is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 5th, 2012 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 10/06/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Lac Flambeau, WI King of the Cage is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 6th, 2012 in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin. 10/13/12 - Ammy MMA - Nelsonville, OH National Fighting Circuit is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 13th, 2012 in Nelsonville, Ohio. 10/13/12 - Pro & Ammy - Rutland, VT Xtreme Combat Promotions is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 13th, 2012 in Rutland, Vermont. 10/13/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Dayton, OH Coalition of Combat is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 13th, 2012 in Dayton, Ohio. 10/13/12 - Pro & Ammy - Chester, PA Cagewars is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 13th, 2012 in Chester, Pennsylvania. 10/13/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Kalispel, MT ABSOLUTE Fight Factory is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 13th, 2012 in Kalispell, MT. Continued on the next page...
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September 2012 Subscribe Now – FREE
FIGHT CARD LISTINGS **DISCLAIMER**
MMA Recruiter is not the promoter or matchmaker for any of the events listed below. MMAR only reposts the fight card information. Fight cards are subject to change. Some fight card listings might be filled.
[ View All ] 10/14/12 - Ammy MMA - Hayward, CA Freestyle Fight League is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 14th, 2012 in Hayward, California. 10/19/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Indianapolis, IN Legends of Fighting Championship is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 19th, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 10/20/12 - Ammy MMA - Tyngsboro, MA Blacked Out MMA is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 20th, 2012 in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. 10/20/12 - Ammy MMA - Ventura, CA Combat Fight League is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on October 20th, 2012 in Ventura, California. 11/03/12 - Ammy MMA - Milwaukee, WI NAFC is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on November 3rd, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 11/03/12 - Ammy MMA - Gages, IL Topp Fighting MMA is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on November 3rd, 2012 in Gages Lake, Illinois. 11/21/12 - Pro & Ammy - Niles, OH Rocktagon MMA is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on November 21st, 2012 in Niles, Ohio. 12/01/12 - Pro & Ammy MMA - Walker MN King of the Cage is looking for both Pro and Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on December 1st, 2012 in Walker, Minnesota. 12/01/12 - Ammy MMA - St.Croix, Virgina Islands Paradise Fighting Championships is looking for Amateur MMA fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on December 1st, 2012 in St.Croix, Virgina Islands.
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MMA GYM DIRECTORY USA MMA GYMS Alabama
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September 2012 FEATURED FIGHTER – AMATEUR
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[ View Profile ] Fighter's Information Name:
Chad Wilson
Location:
Greenfield, OH
Age:
28
Skill Level:
Amateur
Weight Class:
135lbs
Height:
6' 0”
Ammy Record:
6-0-0
Fighting Style:
10th Planet JJ and Muay Thai
Training Information I Train At:
MMA Fit Club
My Instructors:
Mike Tom (BJJ) Jon Miller (Muay Thai & MMA) Paul Palacios (Wrestling)
Training Partners:
Damar Gibson. Paul Palacios. Lamontae Dixon. Brandon Reinhardt. Jon Miller. Joe Durham. Michael Conte. Nick Washington.
Accomplishments Accomplishments:
2 Amateur titles. Legends of Fighting Championship and Iron Warrior Fight League. 5 finishes and 1 decision.
[ View Profile ]
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September 2012 [ View Profile ]
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[ Get Featured ]
[ View Profile ] Fighter's Information Name:
Jason Huebbe
Location:
Illinois
Age:
28
Skill Level:
Amateur
Weight Class:
Heavyweight
Height:
6' 3”
Ammy Record:
8-0-0
Fighting Style:
Wrestling
Accomplishments Tournaments Won:
Extreme Challenge Heavyweight Super-Fight Series Tournament
Opponents 1. Recent Opponent: 2. Recent Opponent: 3. Recent Opponent: 4. Recent Opponent: 5. Recent Opponent:
Dave Swafford Charles Robuck Rashaad South Parnell Davis Jason Belyew
[ View Profile ]
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September 2012 FEATURED TECHNIQUE - CATCHING THE KICK
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[ Submit Your Technique ]
[ View Profile ] Name:
MMA Life
Website:
www.mmalife.tv
MMA Life the #1 app for MMA Instructional Training Videos. We add new videos on strength and conditioning, MMA techniques & moves, diets, and MMA strategies each and every week.
1. Juan wants to catch the kick deep in his armpit.
3. He catches the kick, steps with his right foot & slides his left foot away from the kick.
2. Juan wraps is left arm around the leg as close to the ankle as possible.
4. His right hand is blocking high & his left arm is clamping around the ankle as tight as possible.
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September 2012 INDUSTRY ADVICE
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[ Submit Your Advice ]
[ View Profile ] Name:
Holly Hoskinson
Website:
www.southernmma.net
Better Pay For Pro MMA Fighters By: Molly Hoskinson
Argue with me, I dare you. My job is to support and actively further the careers of professional fighters. I know what they go through. I know the expense that they incur to improve themselves every day. I also have a pretty good idea of what kind of money they are making to do this. Consider this: In order to become a professional, paid athlete in most states a fighter is required to fight at least 4-5 times as an amateur. Fighting at the amateur level requires expense. Gym fees, gear specific to fighting and training, time off work to train and to fight, licensing fees, medical expenses, I’m certain more could be named. Per year that is a cost of around two thousand dollars. Let’s say the average amateur fights for 2 years before turning pro - he is already in the hole by $4000 before he ever steps into the cage as a paid performer. Debut fighters are often paid anywhere between $250-500 purse and $250-500 win bonuses for smaller regional promotions. $500/500 is a high purse for a fledgling pro. Before reaching the level of national attention, most professionals are making a good deal less than $2000 for each fight and that is if they WIN - I have seen a fighter with 5 pro fights walk away from a loss with $250 for his trouble. So average that out - if you fight 4-6 times during the first year and you earn an average of $700 per fight, you’ve earned at the most $4200. Include the expenses you’ve incurred in the same year (which, although potentially less, are generally the same as that of amateur fighters) and you’ve LOST money, not earned it. Chances are your sponsors are not paying you in cash money although they may be relieving you of some of your expenses. Now, admittedly, this article is simplifying the issue. But let’s break down what VALUE means in terms of fighting and what factors affect pay on a local/regional level. (We’ll talk about the UFC later.) 1. Supply and demand. If you’re one of 16 fighters at your weight class in your region, your pay is going to be less. If you’re the only one within a large radius then obviously you’re worth more. If a promoter is desperately trying to fill a gap in a last minute card, your value is higher because demand is high and supply is low. Easy, it’s basic capitalism. Advertise Now - Phone: 619-866-4198 - www.mmarecruiter.com
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Better Pay For Pro MMA Fighters By: Molly Hoskinson
2. Ticket sales - Can you put butts in seats? Or, let’s be honest - conversely, are you willing to take a beating from a guy who CAN put butts in seats? 3. Age, size, and revenue of the promotion in question - obviously a newer promotion is going to have a smaller budget for shows. Many promoters lose money on their first few attempts. A solid promotion that has been in business a number of years is going to have more money to put into fighters. I have been criticized for not accepting low purses for the pro fighters that I manage. I have 7 guys, 2 of which do this to feed their families. How can I justify sending them to fight, putting their safety and well being at risk, for money that barely justifies the expenses they incur to train? Is it for my own benefit - my percentage is small, it is very negligible difference if someone earns $500 to fight or $1500 in terms of my overall revenue, especially when my expenses are taken into account. When one of my fighters reaches national level I will be compensated more and I can feel confident that I’ve earned the pay raise by way of standing by them in the early days when they needed the push. I believe by demanding a reasonable take for my fighters I am improving the situation for them and for other fighters. Nobody should be fighting for less than what he is worth. So how to determine a pro fighter’s value? I think a base pay scale based on experience would be valuable to begin negotiating. Base pay for pro debut + certain $ amount for each win + certain $ amount for each loss. Let’s say $500 for pro debut + $50 for each win +$25 for each loss. Alternatively this could be based upon a percentage of the promotion’s revenue, which would take into account the relatively higher purses for larger promotions. Win bonuses and finish bonuses can be negotiated based on skill level and opponents. A percentage of ticket sales is a very reasonable way to even out pay for those who can put butts in seats, they can have a chance to prove it. UFC fighters sometimes receive a percentage of PPV profit, this goes all the way up the chain. I have tried the math a variety of ways - it has benefits and drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that promoters in many cases simply cannot afford to pay these purses and if they cannot then they will stop having pro shows. This sounds bad -- but look at the big picture. It will increase attendance for the fewer promoters who CAN continue to host pro cards. So instead of having 6 promotions in a region competing for sales you will have 1 or 2. Quality of the promotions will increase once the others have faded. There is this idea that in MMA there should be a huge brotherhood of love and assistance from everyone - I think that’s bullshit, this is a business and fighters should treat their own careers as such. Love and brotherhood is fine, but don’t let it diminish your value, you aren’t putting your face and limbs in harm’s way out of love and brotherhood. If you are, keep fighting as an amateur. I am interested to know others’ opinions on this - it is NOT a publicly discussed topic very often, I find I get a lot of flack for my bulldog ways in terms of purses. I just wonder what would happen to the fight landscape if all pro fighters demanded the money that they deserve. I don’t think most UFC fighters make enough money either, if you don’t believe me go here. Then, for a bit of perspective, go here. Advertise Now - Phone: 619-866-4198 - www.mmarecruiter.com
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Dru Gardner
The answer to this question truly lies in the quality of skills, age, and professional level athleticism of the fighter in question. Take for instance amateur fighter turning professional, Andres Aleman ( 4-0 ammy, Miami, FL, American Top Team - Doral). Andres was a 3 time HS State wrestling champion, Olympic level powerlifter, and multiple jiu jitsu tournament winner that includes the NAGA World Champion at 125lbs. Andres is under the tutelage of UFC fighter Thiago Silva, and his brother Christopher Silva, both BJJ black belts. Andres obviously doesn't need 10, or 20 amateur fights before earning money doing what he was born to do. He claimed the sought after TWC 125 amateur title by dispatching of a 10-3 fighter, and defended it against an 11-0 opponent. Andres is only 20 years old. An opposite example is 1-1 professional fighter Dequan "The Tarantula" Townsend. Dequan competed over 30 times as an amateur, and spent most of that time winning all but 6 bouts. Dequan has always been a GIANT welterweight that cuts nearly 30lbs to compete. He has always been a devastating striker, but needed more time to develop a suitable ground game in order to take the next step. As soon as he defeated one of the most prolific grapplers know in Michigan by reverse triangle, the time had come to start getting paid. Dequan is 27 years old. These two examples are perfect for the situation this question creates. You have to study, and train with successful professional MMA fighters in order to gauge your competitiveness as a professional fighter. Here in Michigan, amateur MMA is not regulated. Some consider the atmosphere here a "free for all". This unregulated, but large MMA market opens the doors for fighters to fight every weekend if they wish. There are easily 50 'promoters' in Michigan, and 3-5 amateur events every weekend across the State. Being an unregulated market, a lot of amateur promotions allow UFC rules, including elbow strikes. A lot of the fighters that train and fight in Michigan are experienced in the highest level of competition in the cage. I'm not making a case for this being a positive atmosphere, I'm just stating the facts. However, with the lack of high-end initial training such as what Mr. Andres Aleman has been fortunate enough to receive, the cage experience is how the fighters compensate here. In addition, opportunities for Michigan fighters to fight professionally here are few and far between. The legislation that governs professional MMA here makes it very expensive for both the promoter, and the fighters, which limits pro events to a mere 3 per year if we are lucky. That's why you'll see a lot of Michigan amateur fighters fight 20, 30, and even 50+ times prior to making a professional debut. In conclusion, the number of amateur bouts a fighter has prior to becoming professional is normally a product of their environment. Dru Gardner, professional MMA matchmaker Total Warrior Combat (TWC) www.twczone.com Advertise Now - Phone: 619-866-4198 - www.mmarecruiter.com
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Lori Henderson
At Body Architecture MMA (BA MMA), we offer a very customized approach for each client in progressing to their pro MMA career, based on our general internal guidelines. We prefer our fighters to have about ten amateur fights before they consider pro fights. We start with evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, we work on a general fight strategy for the individual, then when they show they have done the work we start scheduling them in some grappling events. They will have to do anywhere from 3 to 5 or even more grappling tournaments until they demonstrate the ability to handle themselves on the mat. If you are not comfortable in a grappling tournament, a cage is only going to be worse. While ten is a nice round number, it also gives you the opportunity to explore your skills in the cage before it really counts on your record. One of the most important aspects is that you surround yourself with a team and management that helps you get good match-ups, looks out for your best interests and helps you identify the training regimen (including proper weight management) that will help you do your best. You don’t want “gimme” fights and you don’t want to be the “meat”, neither will give you a good learning experience. Taking a short notice fight is a really bad idea. While the “W” is nice, you need your amateur fights to be learning experiences. Make sure you are matched up against fighters with different styles so that you can become versatile and well rounded. From having experience in cornering and wrapping hands I can tell you a lot about who is prepared and is not. I will never schedule a fight for anyone who doesn’t put in the work I, or our coaches tell them to put in. If you have every excuse in the world why you can’t train tonight, put on a fan tee shirt and buy a ticket to watch. Being a fighter takes dedication and perseverance. Everyone has problems, what will set you apart is your ability to show up and train despite your problems. I will never ask you to fight, you need to tell me you want to fight. If you are waiting for a coach to tell you how great you are, you may be standing there for a long time. You have to want it and have the courage to speak up and say you want a fight. That demonstrates that you may have what it takes to get in the ring. Also, don’t be the loser who takes a fight and then backs out. There is nothing more irritating than unprofessionalism—backing out of a fight, not showing up, or not showing up on weight. You know what weight you signed up for, be on it. If you expect people to respect you, be someone that is respectable. There’s a lot that goes into fighting, and it isn’t for everyone. That’s okay. Don’t sign up for a fight until you are sure you are ready. But if you are up for the challenge, there is nothing like the thrill and excitement of the cage and my most important advice for you there is-- never let them see you coming and never leave it in the hands of the judges. Finish your fights! Lori Henderson, MS Body Architecture MMA & Personal Training www.bammafighter.com Advertise Now - Phone: 619-866-4198 - www.mmarecruiter.com
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Katrina Belcher
This is a great question, one I'm asked all the time, and I know just about everyone who's been in MMA has been asked at one time or another. There is no "set" answer to this question, in my opinion, as too many factors need to be taken into consideration. In a nutshell, I personally don't think a person should step into the pro-ring until they've trained for at least 2 years in at least one, if not more, of the martial arts systems that make up MMA. Next, they need to get involved in 3-6 exhibition fights, just to get used to being in the ring. This can easily be accomplished by competing with area-wide schools. After about 3-6 months, then start fighting on the amateur circuit and see how you do. After another 6 months, and 5-6 more ammy fights...then start thinking about going pro and talk to your trainers. Go get a couple more fights under your belt and see how you do. After all that, if you're still around and want to go pro, you'll at least have trained for 3 years, and had a total of approximately 12-14 fights. I wouldn't recommend anything less. So many people are jumping in on the MMA-bandwagon nowadays, but they just aren't taking the time to develop their skills. They see pro-fighters and think "I can do that...it looks so easy!" But what they don't understand is that it looks easy because that pro has been training for 8+ years in martial arts, and had 30+ amateur fights! If a person has just started training in one or more of the martial arts systems that make up MMA, and they've only been doing so for 3 months, and then they have 2-3 ammy fights and do well all of a sudden they're ready to go pro! I don't think this is a good idea, as it's hard to judge your ability in the ring, based on 3 months of training and a couple of fights. But if a person has been practicing martial arts for 3 years, and has 2-3 fights and does well, while I still think it's too early for them to then step into the pro-circuit, I feel this type of fighter can better judge his/her abilities and together with their trainer, make the decision to go pro. Don't be in such a rush to go pro that you don't develop good skills, and end up getting wiped out early in your career. Take your time. Train Alot. Then see the above! Katrina Belcher www.elitemmareferees.com ELITE MMA Referees
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Mike Camp
The pro game is vastly different. Many fighters take the bare minimum of required amateur bouts, against inferior competition, so as to pad their record. Then they wonder why they are not successful as a pro fighter. Technically, when you are a professional fighter, you want the best match-ups and the greatest amount of money. In our sport, I truly believe that you cannot assess a fighter, unless they have faced adversity. Sometimes winning fights conceals deficiencies. Therefore you should test your abilities as an amateur, so as to grow and improve on your flaws. I would much rather book a fighter who was 7-3 as an amateur, that fought stiffer competition, instead of a 10-0 fighter who fought weaker opponents. Of course, I am speaking in generalities. For example, my suggestions would not apply to someone who was an All American wrestler. Mike Camp Matchmaker www.facebook.com/MikeCampMMAtchmaking
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Elvis A. Lossa
When asked this question by a fighter, I respond with questions of my own. There are a lot of things that contribute to the decision of "going pro"; talent, experience and skill are just the beginning. I want to know about the fighter, before I can give a good answer. Something I value is maturity as well, a lot of people don't talk about it but there is more to this sport than keeping your hands up and hitting the other guy harder. The easiest answer to give is whatever the State and league will allow. My advice is to have a team of people with experience in the MMA industry, that can realistically evaluate your readiness to compete at the pro level. You can't answer this question with a standard 5 fights; because even then you can break it down by asking about wins, losses, decisions or how much experience the other fighters had. Let's break down what "pro" means. The dictionary uses these words to describe professional: expert, accomplished, skillful, masterly,masterful, fine, polished, skilled, proficient,competent, able, experienced, practiced,trained, seasoned, businesslike. If after a few fights those are the adjectives people would use to describe your skill then maybe you're ready. There is a commitment to being a professional anything and going pro isn't' something that should be taken lightly or mainly for the financial aspects. Be realistic about your skills. Find people who really do care about you and not just about the money you might be able to bring in. If your name (rep) warrants an offer to fight pro, then maybe you should start considering it. If you're just getting into the game and are already looking for money and sponsors, you might be in for a rough ride. Good luck out there! Elvis A. Lossa The Lossa Agency www.TheLossaCorporation.com/The-Lossa-Agency
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: R. Scott Morgan
Becoming a professional in any industry requires a certain level of education and preparation. The more prepared you are at anything. The more you are apt to succeed. MMA is no different. It is impossible to put a number on how many Amateur fights one needs to properly prepare themselves to be a successful Professional. The advantage of being an Amateur is it allows one to determine their weaknesses and develop their skill set in a competitive and somewhat safe environment. It allows one to grow at their own pace. One can learn from their mistakes as an Amateur so they can avoid them as a Pro. We are often asked this question by many who have participated in our events. Our answer is always the same. Aspiring athletes should take the opportunity to challenge themselves against the best Amateurs his or her weight class has to offer. They should maximize the opportunity to develop their talents as Amateurs and challenge themselves to learn and grow from the experience. They should expose themselves to all the intangibles one faces. Both inside and outside of the Cage. When their able to successfully compete against the top Amateurs in their region, they will find themselves better prepared to successfully compete at the next level. Finally, one should not allow Promoters, State Officials, Sanctioning Bodies, or Friends to influence such a decision. It should be a mutual agreement reached by the fighter and his/her trainers. R. Scott Morgan President / CEO CMTM, LLC, d/b/a; New Breed Fighters www.newbreedfighters.com newbreedfighters@comcast.net
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September 2012 INDUSTRY ADVICE
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How Many Amateur MMA Fights Should I Have Before Turning Pro? By: Ed Carr
It varies by state. Some states have certain rules and guidelines you must follow. Here at our school, it depends on your training and how your fights go. We like to have our fighters do 5 amateur fights, then we can sit down and discuss the future of the fighter. We analyze their performance, where they would like to go in the sport and what needs to be done to get them to the next level. I have been around amateur and professional fighting for many years. Anyone that turns pro after just a few fights, is really flirting with disaster and is going to get hurt. There is a huge difference between the two and also the approach that some fighters take in fighting. Being mismatched or over-matched can happen too easily at the pro level. When pro fighters look across the cage, they see in their mind another pro who should be capable of defending themselves and able to handle fighting at that level. Not all opponents are. Which is no place to be, if you aren't capable and have the experience needed. I say train hard, take your time and work your game. If you are part of a great team or school listen to your coaches, they will help you get to the next level. Ed Carr Team Link Hooksett www.teamlinkhooksettnh.com
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September 2012 FEATURED VIDEOS OF THE MONTH
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Aaron Osborne
Matthew Anderson
Lewis Rumsey
Leehenry Lilly
Shane Holbert
Ethan Mcqueen
Shannon Allen
David Wright
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September 2012 FEATURED PICTURES OF THE MONTH
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Michael Ward
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Michael Ward
Herry Hinton III
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MMA Polls
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What Percentage of Self-trained MMA Fighters Win Their Debut? 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.)
75% - 100% 50% - 74% 25% - 49% 0% - 24%
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When Should an MMA Fighter Start Looking For Sponsors? 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.)
Once the Fighter Turns Pro Once a Fighter Has a Winning Record With 5 Amateur Fights When Making Their Amateur Debut Before the fighter Steps Foot Into the Gym It all Depends on the Fighter's Name and Accomplishments
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What Kind of MMA Fight Card Do You Prefer? 1.) 2.) 3.)
All Amateur Mixed Card Pro/AM All Pro
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Is the UFC Referee Camera a Good Idea? 1.) 2.) 3.)
Yes. It is good for the sport. Not sure. No. It is not good for the sport.
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