http://fightchix.blogspot.com/ home of the official Fight Chix blog
06
Jun
09
Visit the home of our new blog
01
Jun
09
Congrats to Anthony Gomez
Anthony Gomez had a quick TKO victory this past weekend at Total Fight Challenge in Hammond IN. Anthony has refined his skill under the watchful eye of Miguel Torres, the current WEC 135lb Champ. Below are a few shots from Gomez’s fight. He worked the clinch early and attempted a deep guillotine choke. When that wasn’t there he hammered in knees to the head in the clinch. The fight went to the floor where it was stopped due to hammer fists for the TKO win.
Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall when a couple of girls get to chatting it up on the latest gossip? Well what if those two girls also happened to be two of the top female fighters in mixed martial arts, and one of them was listed as number 16 on the top 100 hottest woman according to Maxim magazine?
On a recent episode of Rear Naked Choke Radio with Joe and Ted, you got just that!
Joe and Ted, who are known for not just their love of MMA, but also the attention they give female MMA, had Tara LaRossa guest hosting and interviewing Gina Carano this past week.
Gina was finishing up a long day of promotion and meetings in Toronto with the soon to be released Round 5 action figure in her likeness. Gina sounded tired and not looking forward to another interview until she was greeted by Tara LaRossa. Right away the energy level shot up and it was two girls catching up.
No topics where off limits. Gina and Tara compared notes on pre-fight jitters, weight cutting, and rumors. One rumor Gina would like put to rest is the lesbian rumors concerning Tonya Evinger and the photos that had surfaced on the internet. Tara was there too, though not photographed, and she said it was everyone just joking around having fun.
On the topic of fighting, both Gina and Tara felt a fight between the two of them was unlikely. Gina, who is a top contender at 145lbs, feels she has enough challenges in her weight class without having Tara, now fighting at 125lbs, move up to challenge her. Tara was very vocal on how much she was looking forward to seeing Gina fight both Cyborg and Erin Toughill. Tara is also tired of the chatter coming from Erin Toughill, saying “she is all over the underground saying it is so hard (to cut to 145lbs) you don’t want to see me fight depleted…yeah I do, cause I want to see Gina kick your damn ass…”
One of the more interesting topics discussed is the 3min rounds versus 5min rounds for professional women’s MMA. Both ladies agreed they wanted 5min rounds. Gina and Tara both feel that the fights are over before they start and they need that time to get going. Tara went so far as to say she has never won a first round due to her slow starts. It came out that Molly Helsel has been working with the CSAC to find out why the rounds are 3min long for women. The conclusion is that the promoters set the round time limits. Tara didn’t want to complain too much, since she is working towards a contract with Strikeforce.
The ladies discussed training with Greg Jackson. Tara has made the trip out to New Mexico and was really impressed with “Yoda” as she called him. Gina said she would like to train out there sometime. Gina is happy at Xtreme Couture and is proud to represent her team and Las Vegas.
What girl talk would be complete without the mention of boys? Gina is dating but not committed as of yet. She feels love and marriage is one of the most important things in life and is cautious with who gets close to her. She does admit to having an eye for artsy types that she sometimes outweighs. Tara is a fan of 5′9″ and under 155lb wrestler types.
There was a lot more covered in the interview including the Maxim shoot, Gina and Tara’s girl crushes, fear of steam rooms, and Tara ripping Miesha Tate for mouthing off about Kim Couture.
For the full interview check out http://www.joeted.com/
30
May
09
Jen Widerstrom featured article
‘American Gladiators’ Making Leap to the Big Screen Full Article Here
May 12, 2009
Special for Bodybuilding Weekly
The stateside version of the new American Gladiators series is still looking for a home on cable television, but in the meantime it may be seen at a movie theatre near you.
Johnny Ferraro, creator of the “American Gladiators” TV franchise, is bringing a live-action adaptation of the property to the big screen.
The film will be based on the TV show that first aired in 1988 and has been on the air every year except one during the past 20 years. Most recently, NBC aired a primetime installment in 2008. The show has aired in more than 90 countries, with the format adapted for the local market in 14 of them.
Former Legendary Pictures chief marketing officer Scott Mednick is producing “American Gladiators.” The goal is to create an action story that takes place inside the world Ferraro has created.
“I look forward to creating a compelling story that launches a whole new set of characters,” Mednick said.
Development on the film is being funded through Sunset Pictures, with prexy Martin Guigui executive producing “American Gladiators” alongside Ferraro and Joe Allegro.
Ferraro noted “American Gladiators” was originally conceived as a film, but the property “took a detour and became a TV phenomenon.” Mednick, who recently began developing a film installment in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, has producing credits including “300″, “Superman Returns,” and the upcoming “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Roxanne Modafferi isn’t a household name in the US. She might not even be a household name in Japan, unless you are in her English class. Modafferi pays the bills as one of the world’s top female MMA fighters by teaching English in Japan. She trains at the gym that has produced names like Caol Uno, Yushin Okami and K-Taro Nakamura.
She doesn’t stop there. “In order to expand my horizons as a fighter, this year I’ve started visiting big brother Hiroyuki Abe’s AACC morning class, and have been taking lessons with Former King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku. They are both fantastic coaches,” Modafferi said.
Modafferi’s record stands at 13-4. Most of her wins coming by outworking her opponent in a decision. She has only been finished once in a fight, by submission, and has never been knocked out.
Modafferi has always been athletic. Born on September 24, 1982, in Wilmington, Delaware she took up Tae Kwon Do at age 13 and moved on to Kempo and Judo in high school. By college she was training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai. When she saw her first UFC on TV, she admits it wasn’t something she thought she would do and actually thought it was scary. But as more students who she trained with took up fighting, she decided to accept the ultimate challenge and become a professional fighter.
“Everyone always asks me why I fight,” Modafferi says. “I used to try to think of some philosophical answer, but it’s really just fun. It’s also the ultimate challenge for your strength, technique, and your heart. You really meet yourself for the first time on your journey into the ring or cage.”
When asked when her next fight is, she responds, “I wish I knew”
Such is the case for talented women in the sport of MMA.
Modafferi is analytical in her views of women’s mixed martial arts. She believes the casual fan still isn’t interested in seeing women beat each other up. Hardcore fans recognize the talent and professionalism of top level female fighters and look for matchups in larger organizations. Other female pros are all scrambling with their resumes, trying to get big fights. Some matchups have been good and some have been bad, like the recent Cyborg vs. Akano debacle.
“We have the responsibility of not only representing ourselves, but representing all female fighting in general,” Modafferi said.
Modafferi loves her job as an English teacher in Japan, but admits that if she lived in the US, she might get more chances to fight. It is hard for US-based promoters to fly a top level female fighter in from Japan. In Japan, she has difficulty finding women her level and size to compete against.
Being a female fighter is full of disappointment. Modafferi was supposed to face Tara LaRosa in the AFL/Iron Heart Crown Event in Chicago, but the fight was canceled on two weeks notice.
“I feel like I’m standing on an island waving my arms, screaming, ‘Notice me!’ MMA is crazy because it’s like a job you can’t do even when you want to. And the better resume you have, the less likely you are to be chosen.”
However, Modafferi has found a way to deal with the disappointment; “Ice cream!”
When she is away from the gym, Modafferi catches up on some of the top US shows like 24, Heroes and Prison Break. She also enjoys reading, keeping up with her blogs, and trying new foods.
“Last week I ate barracuda,” Modafferi said.
She has also been called a ninja when it comes to Dance Dance Revolution, and proudly boasts that she can do nine-step expert songs. That could really be considered training footwork!
Modaferri draws inspiration from her new coach, Kiuma Kunioku. She had lost the fire to fight until she started working with him and now admits she is dreaming of punch-kick combos. She also admires Aaron Riley’s never-die fighting spirit and thinks Matt Serra is the man, both in terms of skill and personally.
Like all fighters, Roxanne has her rituals. Before a fight, she will enjoy eggs and pancakes while watching some classic Dragon Ball Z, and post-fight she enjoys a chocolate milkshake.
Tara LaRosa was Modafferi’s toughest opponent to date.
“I’ll never forget her physical strength, and how she mounted me for most of the third round when we fought in MFC in 2006,” Modafferi said. “Next time we fight, I’m going to show her what it feels like.”
It could be a great rematch in the making. Modafferi is currently in talks with StrikeForce and is hoping for the best.
25
Apr
09
Through the Lens of Tracy Lee
Written by Jacob Nuesser
Courtesy of fightchix.com
If you have attended a major mixed martial arts event in the last four years, you have no doubt seen Tracy Lee. She is the pretty face ringside in designer jeans and MMA-branded top, welding her digital SLR and backpack with laptop and lenses. What sets Lee apart is that she is a self-made success story who has gained the trust of the fighters. That trust has lead to some of the most candid looks into fighters’ lives that have ever been documented.
Lee started off with a website called napkinnights.com. Living in Las Vegas, there is always a party going on, and that is where the photos started. Lee would shoot fighter after-parties and then started going to the fights. She enjoyed the fights, but since going to EVERY fight can be expensive, she started to shoot them so she could gain press access.
As Lee’s photography talents grew, her contacts and passion for the sport allowed her to branch out within the industry. She shoots a lot of the major clothing lines in the MMA industry, as well as outside the industry. She will also take on projects by performers and DJs. In the near future she will be working as the on set photographer for an upcoming movie.
When asked how she has earned the trust of so many fighters Lee responds, “I’m not quite sure how it happened, but I don’t question it too much. The guys trust me, and it seems because one fighter does, that trust is often handed on to the next, and then the next. I appreciate that they do so that I can continue to bring unique content.” While some fighters remain a bit elusive due to management, Lee understands, and finds it harder to find the time to go between training camps and hit all the fights she attends.
Lee has gained access to some of the biggest names in the sport, in some of the most personal times. “They have been some of the most memorable times of my life. I shot BJ, Urijah and crew as they ran up an active volcano. I shot Rampage as he finished his training camp in Liverpool. I went to Harajuku and Roppongi with Denis Kang. I shot Randy Couture’s Christmas party and Dan Henderson’s celebratory BBQ and Annual Pig Roast. Each and every one of the experiences has been amazing. I am thankful that I started blogging in ‘08 because I have a diary to look back on for the rest of my life,” Lee said.
When asked if she has any favorites, Lee responds, “I love working with Dan, Urijah and Rampage although it’s not limited to those guys. That’s the awesome thing about being in this industry. So many are really down to earth and fun to be around.”
Lee is solo on most of her fight journeys, but is always up for the adventure. She says the whole industry is a lot like a family. Her last trip to the UFC in Montréal included several after parties with MMA celebrities and she also introduced “Fighting” star, Channing Tatum, to Chuck Liddell. On the way to the introduction Tatum said “I’m gonna geek out”, star struck by his favorite fighter.
Tracy Lee has done a lot to capture private moments in the lives of several of the industries top MMA fighters, but her accomplishments extend beyond combatlifestyle.com. Her photos have appeared on yahoo.com, espn.com and several MMA sites, but Lee takes it all in stride. “You know, I have to admit that people enjoying my photos is one of my favorite things…I get emails and people coming up to me telling me that they enjoy what I am bringing to the table so it drives me to keep doing it and continue improving on it.”
With the recent passing of Charles “Mask” Lewis, Lee masterfully captured the emotion at the memorial service. She has, over the years, developed a friendship with the founders of Tapout. It was a personal favor to them that she was on location for the memorial, to document the event. She knew Lewis, but not as well as she would have liked, but feels fortunate to have spent as much time with him as she did. She has had a closer friendship with “Punkass” and says, “I can’t explain how awesome and down to earth they are.”
With as busy as Lee’s life is, one often wonders if and when she has any downtime -or even time for sleep. She has some breaks in between major fights, but often works on her blog and gears up for the next training camp or fight event. She used to train BJJ with Sergio Pehna in Las Vegas, but has been limited to workouts in hotel gyms, such is life, living on the road.
Tracy Lee is one of the hardest working women in the mixed martial arts industry. She has developed friendships that have allowed the general public access to the private lives of the sports brightest stars. She also appreciates other women in the industry. “There are a number of female photographers (Esther Lin, Daisy Rojas), Miss Rara from IMMAE, as well as Joanne from MMA Girls, and Melissa from the WEC. They are as passionate about the sport as I am and I’m lucky to be friends with them.”
The next time you are at a fight event in Vegas or a major promotion like the UFC or Strikeforce, be sure to look for Tracy Lee. She will be easy to find rushing around to get the best shot. Just make sure you follow her, because adventure and MMA’s A-list are sure to appear.
For more information on Tracy Lee visit http://www.combatlifestyle.com
19
Apr
09
A True Professional
Written by Jacob Nuesser
Tara LaRosa is disgusted that Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos did not make weight…then blamed it on her menstrual cycle! This is UNACCEPTABLE and UNPROFESSIONAL, and shows complete lack of dedication!!
This was the status update on Facebook from highly regarded, but under-promoted women’s MMA fighter Tara LaRosa. LaRosa is currently the No. 1 ranked female Bantamweight fighter according to WAMMA. With a 17-1 record and unbeaten since 2003 it is easy to see why she deserves that ranking. What is interesting is that many of her wins come from common opponents with the likes of Gina Carano, who is wildly regarded as the face of women’s MMA.
Tara LaRosa has never missed weight.
LaRosa has always been athletic. She grew up playing field hockey, basketball, and softball. While she was in college she joined the judo club. Field hockey came and went, but the judo evolved into no gi grappling, Brazilian ju-jitsu and Muay Thai. She started fighting in MMA in 2001.
LaRosa is a Bodog Champion and has fought in Hook and Shoot, SmackGirl, XFO, and recently, Extreme Challenge. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives and trains in Philadelphia at the Fight Factory. Under the guidance of Steve Haigh, Ricky Lee, Zach Makovsky and Michael Rankin, LaRosa cross-trains in all disciplines as well as strength and conditioning. She is a complete mixed martial artist who has nine submission wins and three more by way of KO.
Before a fight, fighters backstage will sleep, grapple or hit pads. LaRosa’s ritual is a bit different. “It seems to be a ritual for me to get really incredibly nervous before a fight,” LaRosa said. “It starts about 7-10 days out from a fight, then in the locker room before a fight… I can’t stop straightening things up. I also listen to music a lot to calm my nerves… and after I warm up, until I am called to the ring… I dance. I’m the only one that can hear the music from my ipod, but I’m just dancing away like I’m in a club. I’m fairly certain that anyone who has seen this is convinced that I’m a nut case! It helps me keep the nerves under control.”
LaRosa doesn’t have one specific influence that brought her into fighting, but she appreciates the work ethic of wrestlers. She cites Randy Couture and Jens Pulver as fighters she has looked up to. She is also a fan of the “little guy divisions” and enjoys the fighting skills of Miguel Torres, Zach Makovsky, Nat McIntyre, Uriah Faber, and some of the 155ers: Eddie Alvarez, Joachim Hansen, Frankie Edgar, Clay Guida, and Diego Sanchez.
When asked what she thinks of the current state of Women’s MMA she responds, “I don’t really know what to think …We finally have internationally recognized rankings through WAMMA for the four largest women’s weight classes (115, 125, 135, and 145), and there are again opportunities for women to get television exposure again from Strike Force, and Bellator. So, I guess it’s moving forward again, from where we seemed to have stalled with the demise of EliteXC and BodogFIGHT.”
The trick for promoters outside of the UFC is to stay in business long enough to expose and promote women’s MMA to the general public. Often, like the men’s lighter weight classes, female MMA matches are fast paced with a greater emphasis on technique. Gina Carono’s fights are often Fight of the Night candidates.
Does the UFC need to add a women’s division for women’s MMA to thrive? LaRosa doesn’t think so. “I think it just needs to be marketed correctly, and in the right places to gain exposure,” LaRosa said. “The UFC would be nice though. I would imagine that the WEC would pick up a women’s division since it kind of fits there pretty well.”
The WEC is creating a home for lighter-weight fighters, and perhaps women will find a home there as well. If female fighters are going to be taken seriously, just like any fighter, they need to treat the sport with respect and professionalism. This is where some think a few of the highly promoted females have fallen short. Carano has repeatedly missed weight and recently Cyborg missed by several pounds. As two of the top female draws, this is completely unprofessional. Both Carano and Cyborg are fighting much lighter fighters.
Josh Barnett has some strong feelings on Cyborg’s weight issues . “Her (Cyborg) victory is hollow and her turning a blind eye to her lack of professionalism is deplorable,” Barnett said. “Never once was an apology uttered. Never once did I see one act of accountability. I don’t know how to say it in Portuguese, but Cyborg is deserving of no respect and no praise. If you were ever a fan, I’d find someone of better character and better heart.”
That person is Tara LaRosa.
LaRosa takes the sport very seriously. “Missing weight is a cardinal sin,” LaRosa said. “When you neglect to make weight, it shows a lack of professionalism, lack of dedication, and a huge lack of respect for your opponent, the promotion, and the sport and everyone in it… especially, when it is a highly publicized event.”
But is it actually harder for women to make weight? Not according to LaRosa. “No, it is not that hard for a woman to make weight… regardless of wherever you may happen to be during your menstrual cycle. I’ve had 18 fights over seven years, and I have never missed weight. Sometimes the cut has been easy, and sometimes it has been really tough… it tests your resolve. To me, training and making weight for a fight is the most tedious and grueling part of the whole sport… the actual fight itself is easy! So, I’m very disappointed with this epidemic of persons both male and female that are missing weight.”
The promoters have been smart so far in the building of Cyborg and Carano. They are often fighting women who are moving up in weight just to fight them. This gives them the illusion of dominance. When compared pound-for-pound, LaRosa thinks there is more talent out there that isn’t being pushed. According to LaRosa there are a lot of tough and complete female fighters out there, like Megumi Fuji, Rosi Sexton, Michelle Tavares, and Roxanne Modafferi.
“These women have more complete skill sets in MMA, and much more experience,” LaRosa said.
Would LaRosa want to fight Carano or Cyborg? “I’d be interested in fighting Gina or Cyborg, but something would have to be worked out since they are two weight classes higher than what I am fighting at currently,” LaRosa said.
LaRosa doesn’t want to compromise her career as a top fighter at 135 lbs. for the lure of being an overnight sensation at a higher weight class. She feels that being lured to fight in higher weight classes can often be a taking a fight your set up to lose.
She is currently in negations with Strikeforce, and hopefully the 135 lb. talent-rich women’s division will begin to get the promotion and exposure it needs. Women’s MMA needs professionals to advance the sport, and one of the most talented is waiting for her shot.
For more information on Tara LaRosa visit http://www.taralarosa.net
Jacob Nuesser is a certified Jeet Kune Do instructor and trains at Hackneys Combat and FLO MMA. He is also the co-founder of FIGHT CHIX Apparel (www.fightchix.com)
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Cristiane Santos could probably walk down the street in any major city in the U.S. and not have a soul recognize her.
Many fight fans may not recognize her real name.
But say her nickname, Cyborg, and the reaction is always the same: When is she going to fight Gina Carano?
Santos, a Brazilian who meets jiu-jitsu specialist Hitomi Akano of Japan on Saturday’s Strikeforce Card at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Showtime, has been on a collision course with mixed martial arts’ most popular female fighter almost from the moment she made her U.S. debut on an Elite XC card in Stockton, Calif., on July 26.
She fights like a female version of Wanderlei Silva, one of the most feared strikers in mixed martial arts history.
“I don’t think a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me when Gina and Cyborg are going to fight,” Strikeforce promoter Scott Coker said. Strikeforce purchased many of the assets of Pro Elite, which was going out of business. Among them were the contracts of two of the most high-profile women in the business.
Saturday’s card is the first for Strikeforce since the purchase, but Coker said he never had planned to put Carano and Santos on this card. Carano, though, plans to fight again in the summer and that may be the time the fight occurs.
“Gina’s management wanted the fight right away, but it always seemed to make more sense to me to wait a little and to let it build,” Coker said.
Santos, 23, is as eager for the fight as Carano, which will be the biggest in women’s MMA history when it is held. Though Pro Elite considered it a pay-per-view bout, Coker said he’ll put the fight on Showtime.
She was a national-level handball player in Curritiba, Brazil, when Chute Boxe Academy trainer Rudimar Fedrigo happened to see her.
He saw her athleticism and her intensity and thought she’d be a natural for MMA. Santos, who was then known as Cristiane Justino, wasn’t so sure. But she reluctantly agreed to give it a try.
It turned out to be a life-changing event for her, and not just because she would go on to become among the elite female fighters in the world. On her first day in the gym, she met Evangelista Santos, an MMA fighter who was training at Chute Boxe. He eventually became her husband.
He, too, is nicknamed Cyborg, though there’s no argument in the family over who the real Cyborg is. “It’s his name,” she said. “I took it to honor him.” The Santoses aren’t the only couple in which both husband and wife became fighters – Randy and Kim Couture and Spencer and Emily Fisher are MMA fighters, while Brandon Vera is an MMA fighter and his wife, Kerry, is a Muay Thai boxer – though they’re the only ones who are known by the same name.
She said her style resembles her husband’s because he’s worked with her on her technique from the early days.
And she said it’s helped her mentally, as well. Every fighter has self doubts, but she said having a spouse who is a fighter as well makes a significant difference.
“He totally understands what I’m going through,” she said. “He’s an experienced fighter and has been around a long time. I may come across something I haven’t seen before and he can talk to me about it and explain it to me. And when I have a problem, he’s very understanding.”
She didn’t fight for nearly two years until joining Pro Elite, because she said there weren’t many women at or around her weight of between 140 and 150 pounds. She continued to train, but was getting frustrated by not being able to fight. Pro Elite, though, put it on two of its Elite XC cards and she suddenly skyrocketed to stardom.
“You just have to watch her first for a couple of minutes and you know why,” Coker said. “She’s like a Tasmanian Devil. From the first second, she’s all over you. She comes out and comes at you and tries to wear you down and knock you out. That’s the kind of fighter people love.”
Carano is one of the top draws in the sport, be it a man or a woman, and she also employs an entertaining style. Santos said she likes watching Carano fight, but would prefer to be the one in the cage swapping blows with her.
“She’s a pretty good fighter, but I don’t know how good she really is,” Santos said of Carano. “She always has a lot of media around her because she’s famous, but [fame] won’t win a fight. You have to do it in the cage.”
Santos said she doesn’t know all that much Akano, her opponent on Saturday, but insisted she won’t be looking ahead to a date with Carano.
“You know how MMA is,” she said. “There are so many ways to win and to lose. You have to be just as prepared for every fight. And I think one of my strengths is the way I prepare. I know [Akano] has very good jiu-jitsu, but my goal is to prove I’m an all-around fighter.”
BE THERE!
Fight Chix will be hosting another world famous after party at Level Night Club in Chicago after WEC Torres vs Mizugaki. Level is located at 1045 North Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611. The party will get started at 11:30 at go until 5am! (SO TAKE MONDAY OFF) Be sure to say hello to Elisabeth and Jake and Trevor. We are looking for hot girls who have what it takes to be a FIGHT CHIX model!
Chicago, Illinois 60611. The party will get started at 11:30 at go until 5am! (SO TAKE MONDAY OFF) Be sure to say hello to Elisabeth and Jake and Trevor. We are looking for hot girls who have what it takes to be a FIGHT CHIX model!
First 100 people in the door who mention FIGHT CHIX get a free prize!
Rumored to be there, Urijah Faber, PunkAss from TapouT, Miss Rara, Tracy Lee, and more!
Tara LaRosa born in Woodstown, New Jersey is a professional female mixed martial artist who previously fought in BodogFIGHT. She was the first and final BodogFIGHT 135 lbs champion. She recently defeated HOOKnSHOOT 125 lbs champion Cody Welchin in a non title fight at a HOOKnSHOOT/BodogFIGHT co-sponsored event. She is considered one of the top female Mixed Martial Arts fighter holding wins over other top Mixed Martial Arts fighters including of note Amanda Buckner and Kelly Kobald. LaRosa is presently signed with the American Fight League.
Tara has a 17-1 record and as a multiple champion in various promotions it is only a matter of time before this star gets to shine with the growth of Women’s MMA.
Tara said she would shoot us some photos from an upcoming shoot—but here is a shot of one of her BJJ trainers.
For more information on this crowd pleasing fighter check out her site at http://taralarosa.net/
