Watch MMA long enough and you are bound to experience at least one moment that leaves a lasting memory. Some moments leave you covering your face in a mixture of horror and disgust while others have you jumping out of your seat in amazement. There are far too many of these “mixed martial moments” to list in one blog article so I’ve picked 5 of my favorites.

#5 Cro Cop and Wanderlei size each other up

It may seem strange to think of a staredown as making the list of my top 5 “wow” moments but anyone who followed Pride FC during its heyday wouldn’t disagree. Cro Cop and Silva were both human wrecking machines whose fights tended to end violently. Mirko’s left head kick prematurely ended the nights of many fighters while Wanderlei’s “berserker” style and aggression was often too much for opponents to handle.

Cro Cop and Silva fought in different weight classes and only were able to meet due to Pride’s Open Weight Grand Prix format. The modern day equivalent to this fight would be an Anderson Silva vs Jon Jones scuffle. Click play on the video and see what happens when two ultra-aggressive fighters come face to face.

#4 Nogueira is too tough to tap

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir were opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 8 and, like most coaches on the show, the two had a tenuous relationship. Big Nog didn’t appreciate what he felt was a lack of respect shown to him by Mir which added a spark to the first matchup between the two. Mir took the first match by TKO becoming the first man to knock out Nogueira giving the Brazilian further reason to want a rematch.

Nogueira hurt Mir with punches and the fight went to the floor. Mir locked up a kimura and was able to snap Nogueira’s. To his credit, Big Nog never tapped out even while staring at his own broken arm, relying on the referee to save him from further damage. (Note: This video clip is graphic. Watch at your own discretion).

#3 Fedor taps out

If you watch the video below with the sound off and with no awareness when it comes to context, it looks like any other triangle choke victory. The reason this comes in as my #3 moment is because of the previously alluded to context.

Fedor Emelianenko was one of the great enigmas of MMA before he ever signed with Strikeforce. His soft-spoken, casual demeanor and aversion to the spotlight coupled with his incredible skill and undefeated record* created a man who was superseded by his own myth. All that came crashing down, along with several MMA website servers with a simple tap of the leg.

#2 Hendo lands an H-Bomb on Bisping

UFC 100 was a memorable event for several reasons but no single moment was more memorable than the second that Dan Henderson separated Michael Bisping from consciousness. The two had been opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: USA vs UK and frequently voiced their displeasure with one another. When doing an interview during the show Dan famously said, “He likes to open his mouth. That’s ok. I’ll get my chance to shut it.”

And he did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGXn4EnX0aY

#1 The Showtime Kick

I could probably create a top 5 list featuring only WEC fights and few would take exception to it. The UFC’s “little brother” packed some of the best punch of any major organizations in recent history. It was always simply a matter of time until the two promotions became one and, when the announcement finally came down, the WEC decided to go out in style.

The final fight card held under the WEC banner was headlined by the 155lb Champion Ben Henderson and challenger Anthony Pettis. The two engaged in a very entertaining fight that was too close to call right up until the end.  With 62 seconds to go in the final round of the final fight in WEC history, Anthony Pettis sent the promotion out in style.

That’s it! 5 of my favorite moments from MMA. What have I left out? What are your favorite MMA “wow” moments?

Brian Doerfler is the Social Media Manger for TITLE Boxing and TITLE MMA.

While many fighters continually struggle to compete in the lowest weight class possible-they diet, use sauna suits, sweat it out and will go to great lengths to make weight-there are still others who are only kidding themselves into thinking that they are competing at their optimal weight.  These fighters typically eat poorly, get beat when they shouldn’t and take unnecessary punishment by consistently going up against guys that are naturally bigger than they are.  The truth of the matter is, when it comes to participating in a sport that has distinguishable weight categories, there really is no excuse for a competitor to be fighting out of their ideal weight bracket.  The topic of weight is such a prominent part of the sport because it is so crucial to being competitive.

No, the rules and regulations are not perfect (in fact they’re far from it) and the entire weigh-in process is flawed, but the sport does at least provide some regulatory standards for fighting in categories that were established for helping even the playing field.  If you are negating that regulatory standard by choosing to be overweight, eating irresponsibly or being undisciplined, then you are really doing yourself a huge disservice.  By not maintaining your optimal competitive body weight, you are giving up an advantage even before the fight starts.  In preparation, slacking in this area may feel like the easy way out, but the price you pay in the ring isn’t easy at all.  It could be a hard lesson to learn.

Whether it’s in the amateur ranks or on a professional level, it’s a shame to see promising fighters lose on this premise. They should be winning. They should be more successful, but they’re fighting a battle with a handicap. Too often THEY don’t even understand why they’re not winning the big ones.  They’re good enough.  They’re tough enough.  They have all of the skills and yet they continually come up short. Is this you or a fighter you know? The answer to this can be found in how feel, how you look and what the numbers say.  If you feel lethargic, you may be carrying around extra weight.  If you work out like a fiend and still look doughy around the middle, you could probably stand to lose a few pounds.

This extra weight could be attributed to many different factors.  It could be due to inadequate training, a poorly designed nutritional plan, a lack of discipline in the gym or in your lifestyle outside the gym.  Regardless of why, if boxing is your passion or your profession, there is no reason, at the very least, for not knowing, scientifically, exactly where you stand.

There are three basic methods that cost little or nothing to administer and yet can give you a good idea of your specific body-fat ratio.  Once you know where you stand, it’s easier to set a goal to get there, whether that will require a change in eating habits, approach to training or an over-arching recommitment to the sport.

One method is to use a body fat caliper. These can be purchased for a few bucks online (ex: http://accumeasurefitness.com) and with the help of a friend or coach, will give you a fairly accurate reading by just taking a few quick measurements.

The second method is by using a body fat calculator. These are found at various businesses on the internet as well and, after you plug in a few body measurements, it will automatically calculate your percentages for you.  All you need is a tape measure, a scale and access to the internet (http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator).

A third approach is a new spin on an old classic and that’s a scale. Only now, scales come with built-in diagnostics that also help calculate body fat percentage and even body water content (ex: http://store.titleboxing.com/title-weight-scales.html.)  This is a simple, consistent way to continually monitor your weight and track your ongoing progress.

None of these methods are 100% exact, but each are very affordable and will give you a baseline indication if you are carrying around extra weight-weight that is keeping you from being as competitive as you could be.  It isn’t even a bad idea to use more than one of these methods or all three to check them against each other and/or find an average that you can then aim for.

The bottom line is…not showing up in prime athletic shape is not only detrimental to your pursuit or passion for this sport, but it also demonstrates a level of unprofessionalism and a real lack of discipline.  Granted, there are those athletes who, no matter want kind of shape they’re in or what their diet s are like, will ever have that lean, sculpted look.  Natural body type and genetics certainly play a role, but there are few athletes that can’t be at an ideal body fat percentage if they want to be and are attentive to their nutritional approach.

All it takes are the proper tools, time and attentiveness to your nutritional intake, but it is bound to pay off by tipping the scales in your favor.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

When it comes right down to it, everyone is a fighter in one respect or another.  You may be fighting to become the next champion of the world or simply fighting for a better life. You may be fighting to get that next big promotion at work or fighting to improve your health.  No matter what your particular pursuit may be, it has similarities to what a boxer encounters every time he enters the ring.  That’s actually part of the allure of the sport.  It can easily be seen as a great metaphor for life.

From the start, to make the most of your life, you have to prepare your mind and body…just like a fighter does.  A proper education and putting your thought processes to work is a critical building block for success.  Fighters do this in the gym, through sparring and through learning the ropes.  In life, it may translate into ongoing education, betterment workshops, or something as simple as reading.  Constantly learning and adapting is crucial to growth.  The phrase Knowledge is Power can apply to life inside or outside of the ropes.  That means, using your head as well as harnessing your physical abilities.  They go hand-in-hand.

The same goes for your health or general well-being.  Eat right, eat healthy and you’ll have the fuel and foundation to go the distance.  Feed your body a steady diet of junk food, fast food and processed convenience meals and those easy choices, will lead to hard realities.  Most fighters understand the concept of “garbage in – garbage out”.  Their livelihoods depend on it, but so does your life and career.  How you live your life, the choice you make to live right and how you approach each second of every round will show up on the scorecards at the end.

As you get close to “the main event”, if you expect to win the fight of life, you also have to determine your game plan or your strategy.  You have to know your competition, be able to size them up and figure out a way to be better than they are…better than your situation calls for.  You have to impose your will or orchestrate a game plan that works in your favor, regardless of what or who you may be facing in the other corner.

You also have to, before the first drop of sweat is produced, decide what you want and why you want it.  A fighter would never enter the ring with an ambiguous idea of what he’s there to accomplish. Once he steps through those ropes there are no questions what his goal is.  It is to win.  By any means necessary, no matter what it takes, his ultimate, personal measure of success will be through winning.  If you are at the fitness gym, your measure of success might be weight-loss, bench pressing more weight than ever before or just becoming more physically fit.  In the office, it might be that next new job promotion or a raise in salary.  In any case, you have to have a clear picture of what you’re striving for.   You don’t have to have the exact path to get there or have all of the answers, but you do need to know with a laser beam focus why you are there.

Then, you have to put in the effort. There are no shortcuts to success.  Natural ability or God-given talents will only get you so far.  Success requires hard work and dedication.  Winning in the office might require coming in early or leaving late.  Or maybe volunteering for extra work, even when that is the last thing you need on your plate.   Even a goal as simple as living a more fulfilling life requires effort.

Regardless of financial situation or life circumstances, a big part of fulfillment is just determining to be happy.  You don’t have to be content with your life, but you do have to appreciate where you are.  You will never move on to the next level of success or achievement, until you can find joy with what you have right now.  Again, you don’t have to be satisfied with your current lifestyle or circumstances, but if you are gracious or grateful for what you have (even if that’s just your health)…only then are you energetically, mentally and psychologically ready for the next big thing that life has to offer you.  Every day, every breath, every experience is a gift. You won’t get another one while you are shouting “This isn’t what I wanted!”  That’s just not how life works.

In life or between the ropes, you will face obstacles in the way of adversity or a difficult opponent.  You will be challenged by what you may have to endure or by someone else who is trying to rule over you.  You will most likely have to learn something during the course of the fight or in your life and, at some point you will have to decide how bad you really want it.  You may have to do some soul-searching when the going gets toughest and, in almost all instances, you will be forced to either grow…or give up.  That ultimate test is part of the refining fire that transforms an ordinary human being into a champion.

There are rounds you win and rounds you lose, but what really matters is how you finish the fight.  You will meet adversaries of all sizes, skill-sets and personalities.  How you handle each one will tell a great deal about how your life story unfolds.  The important thing to remember is that it is YOUR fight to win, it’s YOUR life.  YOU control the story of the fight and how it is told.  YOU write the script.  Every combination you throw is a paragraph and every round, a new chapter.  How many words you use, how you use them and how you punctuate every line is what will allow you to close the show and leave the ring, leave this life, as a champion.

Your life is your legacy, so fight the good fight and make it count.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

For the past two installments, we’ve dispelled some of the myths that relate to safety and explored the philosophical question of “why boxing” at all?  Assuming you’ve made it past those first two rounds and now want to know how to actually get started, there are some basic steps you can take and moves you can make that will help you find a gym or a coach that fit YOU like a glove.

Find a gym.  Boxing gyms aren’t typically found in the yellow pages, but there are resources on the internet that can lead you in the right direction.  You can look online at http://www.boxinggyms.com or contact your local Golden Gloves, who typically keep a record of gyms in the area.  Another option is to do a broad, general internet search for gyms in your proximity.  Just type in something like “Cleveland Boxing Gyms” or “Boxing Gyms in Las Vegas,” for instance, and see what all comes up in your area.  You can even track down and find gyms by doing a basic search on Facebook.  You won’t know exactly what you’ve found until you follow-up with an email, a phone call or messaging someone in charge, but just finding the gym is the first step.  The discovery process comes a little later.

Once you find a gym, expect to get registered with USA Boxing (the amateur boxing national governing body), purchase a mouthpiece, hand wraps of your own and, in some cases gloves too, (although some gyms keep numerous pairs on hand for use by their fighters.)  Those are all somewhat simplified, but basic beginning steps, just so you know what to expect.  Once you land in a gym that is right for you, a good coach will step you through the process and lead you in the right direction.  The next consideration for you is researching the gym itself.

Be sure the gym is within striking distance.  The old real estate adage that the appeal of a property is all about location, location, location holds some truth when selecting a gym too.  That’s not say that you can’t or shouldn’t be willing to drive several miles to find a boxing facility, but it can certainly impact your ability to be dependable and train there with the level of consistency you need.  It doesn’t have to be convenient, but be realistic and know that if the distance is too great, it might make your decision to get there more of a challenge.

Be open-minded.  Not all gyms look like the rusty, dusty, broken down sweat boxes from the movies. Gyms come in all shapes, sizes and settings.  They can range from home-run businesses to traditional brick and mortar operations, from store-front facades to vacant warehouses.  There is no real standard when it comes to boxing gyms.  So, the important thing is to choose one that fits your goals and personality.  If you’re not comfortable going into a large group setting, you may want to start with a more personal, one-on-one approach that you’d find with a home-based gym and personal coach.  Even more than the boxing equipment and a fancy ring, you’re buying into the coach.  What you learn is more important than where you learn it.

Choose your coach carefully.  This is the most crucial element.  The Trainer – Boxer relationship is a two way street and it has to be a good fit, for both parties.  The fighter has to be able to trust and rely on his coach.  In turn, the coach has to feel that his prospect has potential, is dedicated, disciplined and is coachable.   When first meeting a potential coach, the interview process should happen from both ways.   The coach will want to know why you’ve chosen boxing, what your boxing aspirations are, what you hope to accomplish and how much you’re willing to do, sacrifice and endure.  In turn, ask the coach about his coaching philosophy, how soon he has his boxers start sparring after they begin, how soon the fighter should expect to compete, what takes place during a workout session, what is expected of you, the boxer or your child throughout the process.  If any of these questions cannot be clearly answered or you feel uncomfortable with the answer that is given, it might be worth your while to keep looking.  As an example, if the coach talks about sparring and competition before he’s even seen you or your kid work out, has gotten a sense of his ability or competencies, you might want to visit other gyms before settling on that one.  Or, if a coach waxes-on about his own boxing  exploits, his great successful history in the sport and vast level of expertise, but never mentions teaching your kid the basic fundamentals, it’s probably a good idea to move on.   There are many phenomenal coaches in this sport.  There are also a great number of pompous wind-bags.  Don’t assume a coach knows what he’s talking about just because he has a towel draped over his shoulder.

There are any number of signs that will lead you to a good trainer and gym, but at the end of the day you will need to follow your gut.  If it feels right and good, then it is probably a good fit.  If you’re uneasy about the gym or coach, then don’t be afraid to keep shopping.  Overprotective is one thing, but it is you or your kids’ physical and mental well-being at stake so don’t ever be ashamed to say thanks, but no thanks and look at other options.  A good coach and credible gym will not be offended by you wanting to look at all of your options and find what’s right for you, your child and everyone involved.

Do judge the gym by its cover.  Look at the gym closely.  Survey the surroundings.  A good gym doesn’t have to be new, but it should be clean and maintained.  If there are bags not inflated, heavy bags that are packed-down and hard as a brick to hit, trash in every corner and equipment thrown about, then there’s a good chance that the fighters and the coach are either too busy or don’t respect their space.  They may not respect each other and don’t place real value on what they’re trying to accomplish in the sport.  Again, the equipment and surroundings don’t have to be new, but they should be clean and kept up.  New costs money.  Clean only requires effort.

As far as the environment goes, see that the fighters in the gym are working.  They shouldn’t be standing around watching others train, talking and milling about.  That’s not dedicated training and won’t teach you or your kid the level of discipline that boxing requires.  It won’t help develop the kind of single-mindedness it takes to succeed in the sport of boxing.  If you want a rec center or someplace to dump your kid off for a couple of hours or a new dive to hang out in, then that’s great.  But if you’re looking to learn how to box, then the fighters in the gym should be doing it…not just hanging around it or talking about it.  Real gyms and fighters are actively engaged in training and boxing.

Your success in the sport will can be greatly impacted by the gym you start in, the coach who teaches you the fundamentals and, in the end, what you do with all of it.  Your coach and other boxers in the gym will influence the kind of fighter you become so choose both partnerships wisely.  To some degree, you will be a reflection of them and they will be a reflection on you.  Either way, you will want to like what you see.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

Almost all sports are considered more mainstream and better understood by the general public than boxing. It has always been a little bit of mystery to parents and prospective fighters and yet, people still find their way to sport. Those few are intrigued, even though from the start, it’s harder to find out the how, why and where? Through their persistence though, they ultimately end up being the lucky few. They are the ones who persevere and follow that attraction towards the very thing that makes boxing so special. It’s different.

From the start, boxing requires a greater level of stepping out of your comfort zone. Even trying to find out the basics, the “how” and” why” is not easy. It requires a little digging, some research and facing that small fear of not really knowing exactly what you’re getting into. Once you get there though. Once you’ve found your way. The rewards can be enormous. Boxing is like no other sport on earth and, frankly, may not even be right for you. So, before you waste your time. Before you take that next step and walk through those gym doors, you might take a look at “why boxing” and see if it matches your expectations?

Boxing is a great way to express yourself. From the time we’re young we are taught to suppress our feelings. Don’t cry. Don’t get mad. Don’t be upset. Boxing, on the other hand, is a safe haven for these natural emotions. Anger and fear, frustration and ferocity, although must be controlled, can be expressed freely. In fact, a little fire in your belly will serve you and will be embraced by your boxing coach. Passion is what boxing is all about.

Boxing is an individual sport, but also provides a certain, unique camaraderie in the gym. This makes it the best of both worlds. It teaches a young man or woman how to take responsibility for themselves, win, lose or draw. A fighter can’t really place blame anywhere else when he loses. Even overbearing, overprotective parents have to take a backseat and let their kids stand on their own. Self reliance, self dependence, self confidence are all fantastic character traits that standing toe-to-toe in the ring can help develop like no other sport. Along with that though, you benefit from the support of your coach, the belief of your teammates and sparring partners. There’s a commonality in winning and losing that all athletes in the gym share and understand. You stand by yourself in the ring, but are never really alone.

In training or in the ring, make no mistake about it, boxing is one of the hardest sports in all of athletics. It’s physical and mental demands are unparalleled. In its most extreme conditions and in its most extreme form, fighters are forced to ask themselves questions they may never have imagined. The character traits that are required to be a fighter; like facing fear, being patient but persistent, exercising discipline day after day, round after round and even fighting through pain, they all can give you the strength to face any other opposition in life. What you face in the boxing ring is so extreme, so real, so unfiltered that it will make most anything else you experience in life comparatively easy.

At its best, boxing requires adherence to strict fundamentals and that takes discipline. Good technique and the execution of boxing skills are irreplaceable. Approach another sport with a lack of enthusiasm or focus and you might just experience a gutter ball or throw an interception – that’s a little embarrassing, but not all that devastating. Show that same lack of discipline in boxing and you experience pain, real physical pain. That’s why boxing requires an extra level of discipline and focus that many other sports don’t. When the stakes are higher, the level of investment both physical and emotional is greater. As a result, however, the payoff and rewards are greater as well.

Boxing gives you confidence. It instills you with a sense of what you’re mentally capable of and an awareness of your own physicality that is tremendously empowering. The very idea that you can defend yourself, to even the smallest degree, can provide a huge boost to your self-esteem. Self-reliance is in your genetic make-up and being able to take care of yourself plays a big role in that. It is a missing piece of the puzzle for many people who feel out of control of their own lives and ultimate destiny. From the beginning of time, humans were hard-wired to fight; for survival, for food, for freedom, for preservation and even for sport. Having an easy life, is not your ultimate goal. Testing yourself is. Boxing feeds that innate desire to feel pain, explore your vast abilities, to fail and experience victory. That’s why it’s called living and the boxing ring is one place you can experience all of that!

The benefits boxing provide ranges from being more physically fit than ever before, to feeling more confident than you ever have, to being able to actually fight better than you could have dreamed. It is invigorating and inspiring at its very best. It is devastating and disappointing at its very worst. And the best thing about it all is that through it all, you become stronger. You step up and step out and do what 99% of the general public are too scared to do and from that, you become better.

Whether you’re a kid starting out or an adult finally giving it a try, boxing will tell you tons about who you are and will give you all the answers you need about the simplest question…“what am I made of”?

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

From the beginning, boxing has had its ardent critics. Not unlike other sports, it has also had its share of tragedy.  In all honesty, accidents happen in competitive sports.  Athletes get hurt.  This is true in all sports and boxing is not immune.  But the fact is, boxing has no more risk than other contact sports and, in some cases is safer than many non-contact sports.   That’s reality and yet somewhere just beyond the spotlight, there’s always lurks the question of safety.

The real problem lies in how it is depicted by its detractors.  By some, boxing has been portrayed as brutal, primitive, and even outright deadly and yet it has survived and continues to be a favorite sport among fans and fitness enthusiasts who see it as a thing of beauty and not as barbaric.   So where does the false impression come from?  What is the real truth?  Is boxing as dangerous as they say?

Each year the National Safety Council compiles statistical data that tracks and records sports injuries in the United States.  Of the 37 sports reflected in the 2011 report, in terms of number of injuries (those that required treatment in hospital emergency rooms), boxing was 26^th on the list.  That means there were on 11 sports that could be considered safer than boxing (based solely on number of reported injuries).  Among those that reported fewer injuries than boxing were racquetball, archery and billiards.  Ranked highest on the list of more dangerous sports were (in order of highest number of injuries) bicycle riding, basketball and football.  Even bowling, cheerleading and tennis reported more injuries than boxing.  Would you hesitate to engage in any of those sports for fear of getting hurt?

Now, having made that case, you should also factor-in the overall number of participants on a nationwide level and know that there aren’t anywhere near as many athletes engaged in boxing as there are basketball or bicycle riding, but that doesn’t totally compensate the fact that, all sensationalism aside…the numbers prove that boxing is not as dangerous as it’s made out to be.

The real fact is that boxing is among the most regulated sports in all of athletics.  The very foundation of amateur boxing (where all fighters should start their pursuit) is built on providing a level playing field for the competitors.  Matches are made by pairing-up fighters who are of similar weight, age and share a similar amount of experience.  The goal is to make fights that are fair and competitive.  Now, compare that to football, where you may have two athletes who play two opposing positions and could be a hundred pounds apart.  They may be two or three years apart in age.  One player could even be fairly new to the sport, while the other has had several years of experience on the field and yet those two collide, full-force midfield, play after play.  When you look at the two objectively, factually, which approach sounds safer…two evenly-matched boxers or two very different players?  In terms of boxing, as long as the coaches in charge of match-making make logical decisions when pairing their fighters, boxing provides a fair, competitive environment.

The health and physical welfare of the athlete is paramount and when it comes to medical attention, boxing has gone the extra mile to insure the safety and protect the well-being of its athletes.  Doctors are on-site for pre-fight physicals (to determine the fighter’s health and ability to compete before he steps into the ring) and at least one physician is required to be present at all times during competition.  They monitor the fighters as the bout progresses and they even examine each fighter as they leave the ring.  The amount of medical presence that most other sports have is nothing more than an athletic trainer who is able to treat minor cuts, bumps, bruises or dislocations.  Not to diminish the role of an athletic trainer, but the level of expertise that a doctor has and his ability to respond to an emergency situation or injury are very different.

Aside from the doctor, there is always a referee in the ring with the two combatants, watching the action up close at all times.  He is there, not only to insure that all of the rules of the sport are followed, but also to continually monitor and gauge each of the fighter’s physical and mental state.  Aside from the doctor sitting at ringside and the coach in the corner, the third man in the ring is also charged with protecting the fighters.  A boxing referee is responsible for the game, but even more so, for monitoring the safety of the athletes.

So, if boxing is so safe, why do so many people think it’s not?  Many detractors of the sport have concluded that boxing is less safe than other contact sports because the goal of the combatants is to render each other unconscious.  In actuality, the real goal in boxing is to win.  It’s no different than any other sport and, in fact, most boxing matches are won on points, not by knockout.  The truth is that fewer than 7% of all professional bouts and less than 1% of all amateur matches end by way of knockout.

One of the major contributing factors to the idea that boxing is dangerous is the way it’s presented in the media.  The knockout or seeing another boxer hurt is dramatic and often grabs the headlines or makes the highlight reel.  The extra attention this type of moment receives feeds the general public’s misperception that boxing is all about putting the other guy to sleep.  For the two or three exciting, sudden-ending KO’s that most people see on SportsCenter, hundreds and thousands of other fights have come to a close and gone to the judge’s decision…on points, in front of a few hundred fans, away from the watchful eye of national television.  Both combatants may have experienced the typical bump or bruise from contact, but neither was hurt and both gained a tremendous amount of pride and satisfaction from competing.

Boxing, or any other sport for that matter, can be dangerous, especially if it is not taught or executed with safety in mind.  A good boxing coach will focus on laying a strong technical foundation that emphasizes all aspects of the game equally.  He will teach his boxing student, first and foremost, how to defend himself.  He will teach him how to wage an affective offensive attack, how to use the ring, how to employ strategy, when to punch, where to punch and when to move.  He will help instill a sense of ring generalship and how to protect himself at all times.  He will teach him an appreciation for the game, respect for his competitor and how to exercise self control.

Boxing is not about brute strength.  It is not about the destruction of another human being or demoralizing another athlete.  It is about practicing and employing the art of self defense.   Boxing is an art form and unique physical self-expression.  With all of its dynamics, mechanics and nuances, the beauty is in the skill it takes to perform masterfully under extreme competitive conditions.   It is using the human form to its greatest capacity in pursuit of athletic excellence.  With that, as any sport, comes some level of danger, but unless you test your limits, you may never really know your capabilities.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

Back in the day, they used the Tale of the Tape to measure the fighters against each other, but height, weight, reach and even record really only tell one side of the story.  The physical facts and how the fighters match-up is told more in the intangibles and most of that doesn’t even become apparent until fight night is well underway.

Leading up to it, you get some indications of where the fighters are, plus there are always plenty of opinions, so why not toss our hat in the ring and share some thoughts going into this mega-fight between two of the division’s top welterweights.

This Cinco de Mayo match-up on May 4th between Floyd Mayweather and Robert Guerrero will be a good, exciting fight.  It will not end in a quick knockout.  It will not be a one-sided beat down.  It will be a competitive battle and has the potential to show character traits of each fighter that most of the general public and boxing fans haven’t seen from either of them before.  Yes, styles make fights, but so do unknowns and intangibles and this fight is full of both.

Will Guerrero be able to ride the momentum he gained with his confidence-raising, crowd-pleasing win over Andre Berto?

Will Mayweather’s advancing age, extended time off, incarceration and family turmoil finally catch up with him?

One fighter fights for a legacy and the other, legitimacy.  Who will have the hunger edge…which fighter has more to prove? 

Floyd “Money” Mayweather is fighting to cement his place in history and stick it to the haters.  While Robert “Ghost” Guerrero sees this as his opportunity to break out of the shadows and embrace his long-awaited moment of glory and recognition. There are lots at stake and many unanswered questions going into this fight.  That adds to the suspense.  That adds to the drama.

It’s been said that boxing is the theatre of the unexpected and the stage is set for a star-studded performance by both combatants.  This match-up holds the possibility of an encore performance similar to Mayweather vs. Cotto or Guerrero vs. Berto that will make May Day a Fight-of-the-Year Contender.

Physically, emotionally and philosophically, here’s how it breaks down…

Robert Guerrero is real, authentic and relate-able, both inside and outside of the ring.  Regular boxing people, especially a large contingency of Hispanic fight fans, want Guerrero to win because he epitomizes the working man’s athlete.  His down-to-earth demeanor and workmanlike personae is the antithesis of Mayweather’s outgoing, over-the-top bravado.  This fight is the epitome of plain label versus designer brand boxing personalities and the practical boxing fans are putting their hard-earned cash on Guerrero.  The Mexican-American fighter WILL make this a fight. He’ll take it into the trenches and make it rough and dirty. That is a key to winning and he knows it.  But Mayweather will be working to keep enough distance on the inside and outside to fire shots from every angle and make the fight unfold on his terms.  He’s already said publically that HE will set the pace.

So…it’s obvious that both fighters know what they need to do and that’s to impose their will, their fight plan on the other fighter.  There won’t be any surprises here.  To be successful each fighter has to execute their game plan flawlessly and minimize their mistakes.

IN ORDER TO WIN:

Robert Guerrero has to do…

1) Set a ferocious pace. Make it a rough, tough, ugly battle. He has to apply constant pressure; much like Cotto did against Mayweather, but not leave gaps that Mayweather can fill with counter-punches and sharpshooting.  Cotto pressed and waited for a response, pushed the action, but then laid back for a response. Guerrero has to work and not wait for what comes back.  Being able to carry out that type of pressure requires total confidence that he will have the right response for EVERYTHING and also 100% belief in his conditioning.  Guerrero will have to know that he can give, give, give and still have more NO MATTER WHAT.  Pacing and pressure has to be Guerrero’s plan.  Deviating for it is not an option if he hopes to win.

2) Use the left cross often and aim low, not at Floyd’s head, but at his chest, at his arms and at his body. Floyd has exceptional defense and awareness of positioning, but his patented shoulder-roll style defense will not work as well against Guerrero’s southpaw stance, as long as Guerrero doesn’t limit his game to head-hunting. Punching everything, everywhere, every second of every round is what could win this fight for Guerrero.

What he must NOT do:

1) Guerrero has to avoid a tendency to smother his punches. Mayweather will use this as an opportunity to create just enough space (with an elbow push or a shoulder bump) to land hard, clean inside shots and take this close quarters brawling, mauling opportunity away from Guerrero.

2)  Guerrero has to work his way in behind meaningful punches and not fall in behind over-anxious shots that miss their mark.  Floyd Mayweather’s keen sense of distance and spacing would make that a drastic mistake.  It’s consistent, but controlled pressure and a high rate of work that will force Mayweather to react quickly, risk more often and think less, all in order to turn this into the rough, no-holds-barred type of fight that will favor Robert Guerrero.

What Floyd Mayweather has to do:

1) Start fast and catch Guerrero early. He can’t allow Guerrero to gain confidence, ride the Berto wave and get into a rhythm.  Mayweather has to shake off the rust early and make a statement from round one.  If he gives Guerrero the chance to believe he can win, then he will be battling a physical AND mental monster.

2) Mayweather also has to tie Guerrero up to break the action and gain boxing distance. Floyd likes to roll and make his opponents miss.  Guerrero may not miss as much, so Floyd may be forced to stop the action, in order to reset and take Guerrero’s momentum away.

What he must NOT do:

1) Languish on the ropes. He did this against Ortiz and Cotto both and, although he worked off the ropes well at times, he also took unnecessary punishment.  Doing that will give Guerrero the momentum he needs to win rounds, build-up points and gain confidence.

2) Don’t let Guerrero get off combinations, whether he’s landing or not.  If he lets Robert fire at will and outwork him, the judges might, just MIGHT give Guerrero the edge (ala: Timothy Bradley versus Manny

Pacquaio.) Champions aren’t afforded the benefit-of-the-doubt as much anymore.  You have to earn your title, prove you’re worthy of the multi-million dollar paydays, whether you’re a champion or a challenger.

At the end of the day, critics argue that Floyd has slowed, but he is a rare breed that is always in shape, not boxing shape mind you, but he’s still in shape and that bridges the gap.  It gives him a firm foundation to build from as he begins pre-fight preparations.  He is never starting from zero.

That’s an advantage for any athlete.  Also, you can view Mayweather’s age as a negative, but with age comes wisdom. It’s a trade-off.   Intelligent fighters adapt. Floyd will adapt.  Like him or not, there’s no denying what he’s capable of doing in the ring.  He backs up his bravado, puts butts in seats and does what he says he will do…43 times in a row so far anyway.

In spite of the knock that Guerrero isn’t exciting, that he fights to the level of his opponents (although it’s somewhat true); it’s not the whole story.  He has a lot to gain and even more to fight for.  Pride and purpose are major intangibles, plus Guerrero has huge huevos. He is just plain TOUGH.

All things considered, if you take emotions out of the equation…out of the prediction, if you don’t consider nationality, faith, public personae, your stylistic favorite and stop thinking with your heart and use your head…if you predict an outcome of the fight based on facts and boxing knowledge then you know who wins this fight.

It doesn’t take a boxing expert to tell you the outcome.  The quote goes…”When the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.” Who do you think has the better skill set, the better mind set and is dreaming bigger?

That’s who wins on May 4th.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.

Light Heavyweight was, for many years, seen as the “glamour” weight class in Mixed Martial Arts. Much like the Heavyweights in boxing, Light Heavyweights in MMA have typically been held in high esteem by fans of the sport. Many of the earliest superstars existed within the weight class making it one of the tougher ones to grade. One thing to note, I’m only rating the champions based on their championship tenure and not on their entire body of work. In other words, Tito Ortiz’s MMA record currently stands at 16-11-1 but he only held or fought for the title in 7 fights. For the purposes of this article, only those 7 fights will be considered.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Mar 19, 2011 – present) 4 title defenses

Jones is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and lineal MMA Light Heavyweight Champion. Given his age (25), his skill set, and the fact that he’s already beaten most of his toughest challengers, Jones could be set for an extended run at 205lbs. Of his 4 title defenses, only one of his opponents (Rashad Evans) made it to the final bell. Jon has made mention of a move to Heavyweight several times which may be the only thing that derails his winning streak. Jon is one of two champions on this list to never lose in a championship fight.

UFC Middleweight Champion* (Mar 13, 1998 – Nov 24, 1999) 4 title defenses

WEC Light Heavyweight Champion (Mar 27, 2003 – Aug, 2003) 0 title defenses

It’s a shame that most MMA fans only know Frank Shamrock as a part time announcer for a variety of shows. “Wrestling Observer” named Frank Fighter of the Decade for the 1990’s and was 3-time Fighter of the Year by “Full Contact Fighter” Magazine. Frank vacated both the UFC Light Heavyweight title (lack of competition) and the WEC Light Heavyweight title (move to Strikeforce) making him one of two fighters on this list to never lose a 205lb belt in any promotion. Shamrock also holds the distinction of finishing his opponents in both of his title victories and all 4 of his title defenses.

The biggest knock on Frank Shamrock was that the bulk of his career occurred while the sport was in its infancy. While Frank would be undersized by today’s standard for Light Heavyweight, I feel it’s important to give credit where credit is due.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Apr 16, 2005 – May 26, 2007) 4 title defenses

Liddell used his unorthodox striking style and freakish punching power to terrorize the UFC’s 205lb division for the better part of 3 years. His 4 title defenses included 2 TKO and 2 KO finishes of high caliber opponents. Chuck’s feud with our number 4 finisher, Tito Ortiz, helped drive new fans to the sport and provided some of the biggest pay-per-view numbers during the early stages of the Zuffa-led UFC.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Apr 14, 2000 – Sept 26, 2003) 5 title defenses

One of the sports early stars, Tito Ortiz actually has the most title defenses (5) of any fighter on my list. His notable wins during his reign include high profile names such as Wanderlei Silva and Ken Shamrock. However, the fact that both Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell hold wins over “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” forces him down the list.

Pride Middleweight Champion* (Nov 3, 2001 – Feb 24, 2007) 4 title defenses

While Silva was unsuccessful in his lone attempt at claiming UFC gold against Tito Ortiz, the “Axe Murderer” dominated Pride’s Middleweight division for over 5 years while simultaneously competing in Pride’s Middleweight and Openweight Grand Prix’s.  He claimed the Middleweight crown with a TKO win over Kazushi Sakuraba and defended his belt with wins over Quinton Jackson and Ricardo Arona.  Overall, Wanderlei wore the Pride Middleweight strap for 1,688 days making him the longest tenured champion on our list.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (May 26, 2007 – July 5, 2008) 1 title defense

While “Rampage’s” title reign was short lived, he undoubtedly made an impression while he was at the top.  Quinton was the man who ended Chuck Liddell’s 205lb rule with a surprise first round knockout of the “Iceman”. Jackson’s only title defense came against another future Hall-of-Famer when he defeated then-Pride Champion Dan Henderson by decision.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Sept 26, 2003 – Jan 31, 2004, Aug 21, 2004 – Apr 16, 2005)

Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (June 6, 2003 – Sept 26, 2003)

Between June 2003 and Feb 2006, 6 of Randy Couture’s 7 fights were for the UFC’s 205lb belt. Amazingly, he was unsuccessful in defending that title a single time even though he held the belt on two different occasions. While he may not have been the most successful champion when it comes to defending a belt, he gets high marks for the caliber of opponents he faced during his tenure. Originally winning the belt from Tito Ortiz, Randy traded wins with Vitor Belfort before losing a pair of fights to our number 3 titlist, Chuck Liddell.

Pride Middleweight Champion* (Feb 24, 2007 – Sept 8, 2007)

Stirkeforce Light Heavyweight Champion (Mar 5, 2001 – Sept 19, 2011)

Dan Henderson’s career has been marked by two things: (1) frequent movement between weight classes and (2) frequent movement between promotions.  Henderson’s Pride title victory over Wanderlei Silva occurred almost exactly one month prior to PRIDE being sold to Zuffa. His Strikeforce victory over Rafael Cavalcante occurred mere days before Zuffa acquired Strikeforce, giving him no opportunity to defend either belt.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (May 23, 2009 – May 8, 2010) 1 title defense

The Shokotan karate black belt’s rise to the championship was so unique that, upon winning the belt, UFC announcer Joe Rogan famously exclaimed “Welcome to the Machida Era!” Many in the MMA fan-base joined Rogan in his expectations that Lyoto’s reign atop the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division would be long. History didn’t quite pan out as everyone intended.

Machida’s first and only title defense came in a decision victory against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a fight that many felt Rua had won. The two would meet in a rematch 7 months later with Machida tasting defeat for the first time in his MMA career. Lyoto is schedule to face the winner of this Saturday’s title fight between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.

DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion (Sept 25, 2010 – current) 1 title defense

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion (Aug 15, 2009 – Apr 17, 2010)

Bleacher Report’s 2008 Fighter of the Year: Mousasi , like Dan Henderson, was the victim of promotional unrest during his reign. DREAM tentatively has a show scheduled for May 2013 but Mousasi’s place within the organization is probably tentative at best now that he’s under contract with the UFC. His Strikeforce reign lasted only 1 fight with no successful title defenses.

The Future of 205

The immediate future of the division as well as the lineal championship are at stake this weekend. Jon Jones will either cement his position at the top of my list or possibly fall a few spots should he lose. Looking beyond that fight, five of the champions that made my list are still active today with four of them (Jones, Machida, Henderson and Mousasi) still being relevant in the division. Add in several new fighters such as Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson and Phil Davis and you have the makings of top quality fights for years to come.

*Note: Pride did not have a Light Heavyweight division but the upper weight limit of the Middleweight division was 205lbs, which coincides with the current Light Heavyweight limit. The UFC’s early Middleweight division was likewise capped at 205lbs.

Brian Doerfler is the Social Media Manger for TITLE Boxing and TITLE MMA.

“Do you want to be a &*#$% fighter?!” UFC President Dana White made headlines when he gave what is possibly his most infamous speech to the first batch of TUF contestants. The message was clear: did these guys understand what they were in for? Did they really understand what it took to be a fighter? In the roughly 20 years that Mixed Martial Arts as we know it has been around, fighters have definitely figured it out. Or have they?

The success of The Ultimate Fighter has been linked to several factors. Possibly the most important of those factors was the ability of the UFC to convert fans of professional wrestling into MMA fans. Dana White and his business partners brilliantly placed the first season of TUF directly after WWE Raw on SPIKE TV without any commercial separation between the two programs. Wrestling fans who had just tuned in to watch RAW were treated to a new cast of TUF characters who greatly resembled athletes who had just appeared in the WWE programming. They were in shape. They were colorful. They had crazy hair and tattoos. They said inflammatory things that blurred the lines between appropriate and not appropriate. These athletes were raw (pardon the pun).

It shouldn’t come, then, as any surprise that a large contingent of MMA fans expect MMA fighters to behave like professional wrestlers. And what do we know of professional wrestling? Obviously there are intense physical demands on athletes in both sports but professional wrestlers have always excelled in “selling” their fights. Wrestlers are expected to be able to handle themselves while holding a microphone. They are expected to sell pay-per-views by saying inflammatory things towards their opponent. They are expected to fabricate a blood feud with their opponent even if one doesn’t exist.

Both wrestling and MMA are largely driven by pay-per-view revenue and it takes something extra to get fans to doll out $50 of their hard earned money. We don’t just want to see the sport. We want to see the end of a story. We want to see the final chapter. The first chapter is written by the UFC’s marketing machine. The second chapter is written by the fighters in their interviews. The final chapter takes place in the cage. Unfortunately, most fighters haven’t figured out the second chapter.

Next Saturday night, Chael Sonnen will help write the final chapter in his rivalry with Jon Jones. For his part, Chael has done everything in his power to promote the fight. A visit to his twitter account will show you that Chael tweets a daily countdown to the fight coupled with a clever statement.

You’ll notice that every tweet is hashtagged with “#UFC159”. Chael is spending every single day hyping the fight to his followers. He gets the sport.

Will Chael be successful on Saturday night? Will he walk away with the 205lb belt? Depending on which site you visit, Chael is somewhere between an 800 – 900 point underdog. The odds are not in his favor. The most likely scenario will see Jon Jones with his hand raised in victory. Sonnen will likely walk away from Saturday a loser. Or will he?

According to MMA-Manifesto Chael Sonnen currently sits at 53^rd on the disclosed, all-time UFC earning list. That’s not bad for a fighter whose UFC record currently sits at 6-5-0.  For his last fight against Anderson Silva, Chael made a reported $50,000. The key word in this statement is “reported”. Dana White and the UFC have frequently made mention of the fact that they are perfectly willing to reward fighters for helping the company be successful. What do you suppose they slid under the table for a fighter who helped drive over 1 million PPV buys at UFC 148?

Fighters by their very nature are driven by the desire to win. MMA is a sport full of testosterone and alpha-males (and now females) who are relentless in their pursuit of success. Hopefully, for the sake of the fighters, more athletes realize that success can be easily supplemented with a little bit of personality, and a lot of microphone work.

Brian Doerfler is the Social Media Manger for TITLE Boxing and TITLE MMA.

Although the phrase fight like a girl has been used in a derogative way in the past, there may be some actual value to doing just that.

Just as they are the ferocious protectors of their young in the animal kingdom, Women may in some cases be as emotionally and physically wired for fighting as men are.  Like men, women too have been naturally-gifted with the fight or flight response mechanism.  When confronted or put in a potentially dangerous situation, this complex hormonal response, triggered in their bodies, secretes over thirty different stress hormones, like adrenalin and cortisol; all having a collective, widespread effect on the body. This adrenaline rush can increase your awareness, physical strength, mental acuity and speed/response time, all in order to quickly and adequately handle the perceived threat.  This chemical reaction in the human body is not gender-specific.  In fact, women – who tend to be more emotionally connected by nature – may even be quicker to sense, react and respond to her body’s natural inclination to protect itself at all costs.

In terms of basic physicality, women also experience what could be considered benefits that relate to basic physical structure.  First, the female pelvis is larger and broader than it is in men, so women tend to have an advantage in where their natural center of gravity is.  They also tend to carry extra weight and place their balance in their hips, unlike men, who tend to carry their weight in their abdominal area.  This type of weight distribution allows some women to naturally sit down on their punches more thoroughly and maintain a more balanced center of gravity.  Dropping your center of gravity and sitting down on your punches adds leverage to its delivery.  To put it a little more bluntly, a little junk in your trunk may add some pop to your punch (as long as it s just a little junk and not the entire junkyard).

Another benefit that women may have is a lack of societal pressure that they should be fighters by nature.  Women aren’t necessarily expected to know how to fight.  In some cases this may make women “more coachable.”  They don’t enter into the gym or in a coaching environment with preconceived notions that they are tough and already know how to fight.  The male ego and pressure from society that they should be natural born killers already prevent some men from grasping the basic principles of boxing because they’re too macho to start from scratch and to be told how to fight.  They are so focused on showing how tough they are, that they skip over the proper technique and fundamentals that are needed to be an effective boxer.

Taking that one step further, it may even be safe to say that most women who walk into the gym may feel a greater need to prove themselves in the gym and in the ring.  Because of this, they are then more willing to go that extra mile to show everyone that they can hang with the guys, are just as tough and just as deserving to train, box or compete.  There’s a certain resolve or inner strength that comes from needing to earn your peers’ respect, so they tend to work harder, learn faster and not give up so quickly.

Unlike men, most women are not encouraged from an early age to develop actual strength, toughness and to develop themselves athletically, so you can’t compare real physical strength when it comes to boxing, or any form of athletics for that matter.   Physiologically though, by nature, even though men and women are competing on different physical levels, their abilities and capabilities are not all that different.  Having said that, in terms of some slight anatomical differences, numerous intangibles and the desire/ability to learn, women may experience some small advantages.

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules that apply to all men or all women.  These facts are blanket generalities in some cases, but there’s still no denying that there are some women who can just plain fight.  Gender aside and groin protector notwithstanding, women are making a distinct place for themselves in boxing…a place where fighting like a girl has a whole new meaning.

Doug Ward is the President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.