Ronda Rousey already has world champion swag available

After a Super Bowl or World Series win, teams immediately sell shirts announcing their big win, but MMA had not caught up to the big four in terms of merchandising. That is, until new Strikeforce bantamweight champion started selling world championship tees from her website minutes after taking the belt from Miesha Tate with a first-round win.

Rousey showed her business savvy when pushing Strikeforce for a title shot after five fights. Why wouldn't she extend that to merchandising?

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ronda-rousey-already-world-champion-swag-available-060117363.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

UFC 144 video: The search for hardcore UFC fans in a Tokyo square

In what is a very unofficial study of Japan's interest in MMA, Ariel Helwani hit the streets in Tokyo to find hardcore UFC fans.

He combs through a bunch of 18-34 year olds and it was hard to find many that had more than a passing interest in the sport. Is this any worse than you'd find on the streets of most American cities? We're guessing yes. In any case, it's an interesting watch.

On the back end of the video, some of the more educated fans point to a lack of television, poor marketing and few good stories as the reasons for mixed martial arts' downturn in Japan. Others says with a recent spike in crime and the earthquake, people are shying away from events built around violence.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-144-video-search-hardcore-ufc-fans-toyko-221028977.html

Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade 

Watch the UFC on FX 2 Pre-Fight Press Conference LIVE Tonight at 7 PM EST

The UFC on FX 2 pre-fight press conference takes place today, and MMAFrenzy.com will be streaming the event LIVE tonight at 7 PM EST. The press conference is expected to feature UFC President Dana White, along with main card fighters Thiago Alves, Martin Kampmann, Ian McCall, Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, and Yasuhiro Urishitani.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27742/watch-the-ufc-on-fx-2-pre-fight-press-conference-live-tonight-at-7-pm-est/

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Cagewriter audio: Victor Conte speaks on Quinton Jackson testosterone issue

It's been another one of those weeks for the UFC.

First it was the Dakota Cochrane story and his past in the pornographic movie industry, now comes another star of the sport admitting that he's taking part in testosterone replacement therapy. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson admitted to using TRT.

Performing enhancing drug expert Victor Conte, known best for his involvement in the Balco scandal, tweeted earlier today that the UFC needs to deal with the issue of TRT head on and embrace more stringency when it comes to testing.

We tracked down Conte on "The MMA Insiders" show in Las Vegas. He did a spectacular job of explaining why he thinks MMA fighters turning to TRT is a farce.

Conte's explanation of Jackson's bloated physique makes some sense. It's not often a fighter misses weight by six pounds. Jackson lost the fight last weekend to Ryan Bader but he said it definitely made a difference in getting ready for it:

It was hard for me to train, it takes time to heal, I couldn't do certain things, but this was my first time ever using testosterone. I took what the doctor prescribed to me and I went to the pharmacy? I gave myself small doses and that [expletive] immediately changed me, that's why I am saying now I am not going to retire. I am not gonna retire no time soon, it's just unfortunate that I got this injury.

Conte's reference to VADA is the volunteer anti-doping agency.

Rampage quote via Fight Opinion from Fighter's Only Magazine

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/victor-conte-speaks-quinton-jackson-testosterone-issue-204846575.html

Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana 

A rock climbing training blog - why?

If you are hoping to improve your ability or learn more about training techniques and tools, then this blog will give you some of the answers - because that’s what I’m going to do too! I’ve been climbing for about three years and have developed enough basic ability to get me up 6a routes. I’ve set [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rock-climbing-blog/~3/aFRHTPVmui0/philsheard

Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett set for May 19

It appears that the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament has an end in sight after a year and a half since its beginning. Finalists Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett are scheduled to meet May 19. The bout was announced during the "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" card.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27790/daniel-cormier-vs-josh-barnett-set-for-may-19/

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Between Rampage?s kids and Japanese reporter, UFC folks take a beating in White vlog

(Warning: Video contains strong language)

Dana White takes us behind the scene of UFC 144 week. His latest vlog tracks the pre-fight press conference.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson expressed his love of Japan and said he wants to move there for a year. But it's not for a standard reason you'd expect. Jackson's children are of Japanese descent and they speak the language fluently.

"My kids be talking [expletive] about me man. They fluent. They talk [expletive] about me right in front of my face," Jackson said. "I just want to learn so I can talk [expletive] right back to them."

White gets some trash talk dealt his way when someone at the press conference says he put some weight on (6:42 mark). White jokes "thanks for insulting me."

Watch UFC 144 right here on Yahoo! Sports

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/between-rampage-kids-japanese-reporter-ufc-folks-beating-205016666.html

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade