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New York fight club earns YouTube fame
A violent street gang have started holding public fights in one of the busiest squares in New York, exchanging fierce blows in the hope of earning small change from tourists.
The “Union Square Spartans”, as they call themselves, are one of a number of real-life fight clubs that have sprung up since Chuck Palahniuk’s novel – about groups of men who fight to relieve the tedium of modern life - became a cult film in 1999.
Unlike the other clubs, who maintain their secrecy, the Spartans have begun uploading videos of their bare-knuckle bouts onto YouTube in the hope of drawing a bigger audience to their nightly fights.
The clips show pairs of combatants repeatedly punching and kicking each other until one is knocked to the floor.
They are urged on by raucous crowds of up to 300, who gather among the coffee houses and organic supermarkets that surround the busy Manhattan square.
The fighters, most of whom are homeless, have names like “Spider”, “Science” and “Legend”. They claim to have learned their trade in the city’s brutal underground fight clubs.
“Those places, they only stop the fight if the crowd stops cheering or begins leaving,” Legend, 23, recently told the New York magazine. “They don’t really care if you live or die.”
But their stylized Union Square bouts, which began last year, owe more to martial arts films than they do to the extreme violence of Palahniuk’s novel.
What started off as informal public sparring sessions are now semi-formalised contests, based on the rules of mixed-martial-arts, an increasingly popular fusion of boxing, wrestling, and various Asian disciplines.
Blows to the head are forbidden – mainly to avoid attracting the attention of police – and the aim is to improve your own fighting skills rather than humiliate or hurt your opponent. They took their name from the Hollywood film 300, about the Spartan warriors who fought to the death against the Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae
Fights consist of three five-minute rounds, after which the fighters bow and embrace.
“We fight in public because we have nowhere else to fight,” Spider told the magazine.
“If the economy keeps going bad, we could be in a civil war in two years. We’re gonna need to know how to defend ourselves.”
More than 20 Union Square Spartans videos have been posted on the group’s YouTube channel, and they also have their own MySpace page.
They hoped the videos would attract people willing to pay for fighting lessons, but there have so far been no takers.
The publicity has also drawn the attention of the New York police, who are now threatening to ban their bouts from the square. A violent street gang have started holding public fights in one of the busiest squares in New York, exchanging fierce blows in the hop... more -
Anderson Silva scores first round KO over Irvin
UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva reminded people why hes the best pound for pound fighter in MMA on Saturday night.
Bigger and Better, Silva Demolishes Irvin
By Thomas Gerbasi @ufc,com
–UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva didn’t see his pound for pound crown tarnished at all in his UFC light heavyweight debut against James Irvin tonight at The Pearl at The Palms. Instead, his 61 second knockout win showed that if anything, he’s getting better and more fearsome with each outing.
“I’m a Muay Thai fighter, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid,” said Silva. “I didn’t come up to the 205-pound division to disrespect any fighters, but if you stand up and exchange Muay Thai, this is what happens.”
After the ritual touch of gloves, both fighters traded kicks to start the festivities. A few tense moments later, Irvin fired a right kick to the side which Silva caught. ‘The Spider’ proceeded to fire a right hand straight down the pipe at Irvin that landed flush and put him on his back. Silva pounced with a series of shots, but just when ‘The Sandman’ appeared to be weathering the storm, a final right hand knocked him out at the 1:01 mark.
It was yet another clip for Silva’s highlight reel, but when it comes to a permanent stay at light heavyweight, the pride of Curitiba still wants to take care of business at 185 pounds unless bigger fights present themselves.
“This was my first time coming up here and it was a good experience,” said Silva. “But my responsibility is to defend the 185-pound title.”
With the win, Silva improves to 22-4. Irvin falls to 14-5 with 1 no contest. UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva reminded people why hes the best pound for pound fighter in MMA on Saturday night. ... more -
Fighting priests
These men of the cloth pack a serious punch.
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ESPN creates the sportscenter for MMA
This is the best MMA show out there right now. I feel as if I am watching Sportscenter every time I tune in. UFC lightweight contender, Kenny Florian is one of the hosts and he is tremendous on it. Anyone who is a MMA fan, should watch this show. This is the best MMA show out there right now. I feel as if I am watching Sportscenter every time I tune in. UFC lightweight contender... more
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When cars and bikes share more than the road
fact one/ this was not critical mass
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fact two/ I am unaware with certainty what words/actions were exchanged that caused this incident. Im the usual slow rider behind checking stuff, like this.
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lets coexist <3 fact one/ this was not critical mass - ... more -
Underground Fight Club gets some heat on the web.
This is a fight league I found while persuing on the web. It is well done and it was forwarded to me from some friends. I uploaded as many as I could on youtube and I am tranfering over to Current. This is a fight league I found while persuing on the web. It is well done and it was forwarded to me from some friends. I uploaded as ... more
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UFC 86 Medical Suspensions- Rampage out until January 09!
Here are the reports from this past Saturday's UFC86.
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Fedor To Fight 2 More in 2008
In many eyes Fedor is considered the pound for pound best fighter in the world (Personally I think he is highly overrated) He has a big fight coming up on July 19th against former 2time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. It looks like he plans to get more active this year, we shall see. In many eyes Fedor is considered the pound for pound best fighter in the world (Personally I think he is highly overrated) He has a bi... more
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Photos from UFC 86
If you haven't seen the event, here are some still shots from the event.
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UFC vs. BOXING
When I watch boxing nowadays I cant help that to me it feels like Im watching MMA fighters train.
Will boxing ever regain the popularity that the UFC currently holds?
When I watch boxing nowadays I cant help that to me it feels like Im watching MMA fighters train. ... more -
Fight Magazine 1st Anniversary Party at TAO (Photos)
Being an Ultimate Fighting junkie, I was deeply disappointed that Fight magazine had their one year anniversary at TAO in Las Vegas and there was no invitation in my mailbox.
Several of my favorites did show up to help celebrate including Urijah Faber, who is ranked 6th in the Pound for Pound category and BJ Penn, who is ranked 3rd in Pound for Pound and 1st in the Lightweight division. Being an Ultimate Fighting junkie, I was deeply disappointed that Fight magazine had their one year anniversary at TAO in Las Vegas an... more -
Wall fights back
You know when you are so mad at inanimate objects, and you just start kicking them? Occasionally, they fight back.
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MMA on CBS is the end of the world!
"I think the world is about to end.
This mixed martial arts fighting craze has me doubting society. When a television network like CBS lowers itself to have barroom brawlers going at it in prime time, it paints a sad picture of the sports world we all live in.
When did we regress to the point that watching a fighter try to rip off a bloodied ear of another fighter was worthy of invading our living rooms on Saturday night?
Please don't tell me this is disciplined martial arts. You can hide it behind any name you want, but in the end this is animal-like brutality that has no rightful place anywhere."
Rants of a misinformed man. MMA fighting is strictly controlled in such a way as to let you, whats the word... dabble?.. in your on bestiality. At the root of it most every man, and woman for that matter, has a side that likes to see to people just go at it. This is just a common part of the human psych. Better us watching it on tv and getting our kicks as opposed to going out and physically dabbling in it with an unsuspecting participant on the street. (bad times)
On another note. The fighters are strictly trained in a wide variety of martial arts. Maybe this fight wast the greatest example, considering Kimbo's brawling past. Most MMA fighters are trained in jujitsu, boxing, and muay thai. Being a student in boxing myself, i can tell you first hand that it is anything but beastly. It's tactical and demanding. With friends in muay thai and jujitsu, i can attest to the demanding training that is endured to master the art of fighting.
While some say we may have regressed, i say we have been like this from the begining, and if you don't like it, your just repressing your own instincts. "I think the world is about to end. ... more -
EliteXC Fighter Kimbo Slice ‘Tap Out’ Uproar
Some women enjoy watching HG TV. Me, I enjoy watching a good knock down drag out fight. If you watched the EliteXC fight on Saturday night on CBS, you might have been one of many who are saying that Kimbo Slice tapped out first in his fight against James Thompson. Some women enjoy watching HG TV. Me, I enjoy watching a good knock down drag out fight. If you watched the EliteXC fight on Saturday n... more
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Cow Kung Fu
Extreme funny kung fu Cow fighting Kuh macht Karate Pixar martial arts animation
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Man pokes great white shark in eye!
SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian man has described how he escaped from the jaws of a great white shark by poking it in the eye as it dragged him under water.
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Jason Cull, 37, told reporters from his hospital bed that he saw a dark shape approaching as he swam about 80 metres (yards) off the popular Middleton beach in Western Australia on Saturday.
At first he thought it was one of the dolphins he had been swimming with, but realised it was a shark as the four-metre (12-foot) monster closed in, local media reported Monday.
"It banged straight into me... and it grabbed me by the leg and dragged me under the water," said Cull, a schoolteacher and father of two.
"I just remember being dragged backwards underwater. I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye, and that's when it let go."
A volunteer at the local surf club, Joanne Lucas, 50, heard Cull's cries for help as she arrived at the beach and immediately dived in to rescue him.
"Instinct just kicked in," she told reporters. "I didn't even have to think about it, which is amazing really.
"I got to him and he said, 'Thank God. Thank you so much -- a shark has attacked my leg.'
"He had huge chunks taken out of his leg, his calf and the knee," Lucas said.
Cull underwent surgery at a regional hospital and doctors said he was expected to make a full recovery.
Middleton beach remained closed Monday as at least three great white sharks cruised offshore, avoiding efforts to herd them away, fisheries officials said.
A teenaged surfer was killed in a shark attack last month, bringing the death toll in Australia since 2000 to 12, according to the US-based International Shark Attack File.
Credit: Associated Press SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian man has described how he escaped from the jaws of a great white shark by poking it in the eye as it drag... more -
Fierce Fighting Breaks Out East of Beirut
Fierce clashes broke out on Sunday in the mountains east of Beirut between supporters of the Western-backed government and followers of Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran.
The fighting, in the Shouf and Aley districts in the mountains overlooking the capital, Beirut, followed overnight clashes in the northern city of Tripoli that left at least two people dead and five wounded, according to security officials. Fierce clashes broke out on Sunday in the mountains east of Beirut between supporters of the Western-backed government and followers o... more -
Hezbollah fighting continues, Lebanon TV station pulled off air
The BBC are reporting that the fighting in Lebanon is still ongoing and that a pro-government TV station has been shut down following the Lebanese crackdown on Hezbollah.
The UN Security Council have reportedly urged the warring parties to put a halt to the violence immediately, following warnings from the Lebanese government that it's unity was being put at risk if the ongoing political and civil unrest continues.
The BBC are reporting that the fighting in Lebanon is still ongoing and that a pro-government TV station has been shut down following ... more -
Silicon Valley 'Fight Club'
Wow. Apparently, life really does become meaningless when you’re at the top of your game, you’ve got the house, car, wife, kids and whatever the f*ck else you want. None of that means sh*t compared to the free gift of pain–or so says these Silicon Valley desk-jockeys, who’ve set up their own “fight club,” in an attempt to return to the roots of Man. Wow. Apparently, life really does become meaningless when you’re at the top of your game, you’ve got the house, car, wife, kids and wh... more
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Tour-bus driver attacked a white van man in front of his passengers
This is the moment a bus driver exploded with road rage and violently assaulted a motorist while passengers looked on in horror.
It happened in heavy traffic in front of dozens of people leaving Embankment Tube station in London yesterday afternoon.
The tour-bus driver was seen grappling, swinging punches and at one point appearing to try to smash the man's head into a railing.
This is the moment a bus driver exploded with road rage and violently assaulted a motorist while passengers looked on in horror. ... more
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