Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor, recently deposed as the ‘official malt beverage of the UFC’ has signed a sponsorship deal with yet another MMA fighter. Following in the footsteps of Tito Ortiz, BJ Penn has signed with the company according to a press release:
Two greatly respected Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) powers are combining forces [...]

The highest praise an interview can receive is when it changes your perspective on its subject. That’s the case with an excellent interview with Jens Pulver in the Seattle newspaper MMA blog where “Lil’ Evil” talks about the Pacific Northwest, his rough childhood, his devotion to Christianity and his love of video games along [...]

The Toronto Globe and Mail has an article today about judo’s increasing popularity and the role that MMA has played in driving it:

Tradition may be the most important part of judo, but the sport known as “the gentle way” is undergoing a renewal thanks to the rising interest in new, aggressive forms of fighting.
“Judo is [...]

Short but right on the money post over at BloodyElbow.com about the UFC’s counterproductive efforts to ‘censor’ what gets mentioned on their broadcasts:
One of the most interesting stories over the past year has been Zuffa’s attempt to control information. This started with the Randy Couture situation, where UFC decided to simply never mention him [...]

The South Florida Sun Sentinel has an article about Elite XC’s show on CBS. Probably nothing you haven’t read elsewhere. They play up the local connections of Kimbo Slice and EliteXC honcho Gary Shaw (a graduate of the University of Miami):
The first mixed martial arts event on prime time network television hopes to [...]

A couple of first time MMA fighters did something that you don’t see every day as they knocked each other out shortly after the start of their bout. The two now have records of 0-0-1.

The Ventura County Star has a big article about Kimbo Slice training at Bas Rutten’s facility in Thousand Oaks, CA:
Kevin Ferguson was 13 years old when he won his first brawl protecting a childhood friend from a bully.
“Other than being beaten up by my sister, that was my first fight,” recalled the 6-foot-2, 230-pound cage [...]

The debut MMA event from Affliction dubbed “Banned” in reference to the clothing company being “banned” by the UFC and Elite XC has completed all of the necessary requirements and has been given the go ahead by the California State Athletic Commission. Look for official announcements and ticket sale info in the next day [...]

Someone sent us an email asking for an explanation of the gogoplata. Not sure if it was in reference to something on Shinya Aoki or another article. It may have been in reference to WWE pro wrestling superstar The Undertaker, as he’s now using a version of the gogoplata as a finishing hold. [...]

MMAJunkie is reporting that Chris Leben’s DUI arrest violated the terms of his probation. That would definitely put his fight against Bisping in jeopardy but that’s probably the least of his problems at the moment:
UFC fighter Chris Leban arrested for DUI @ MMAJunkie