UFC bantamweight and longtime MMA veteran Ivan Menjivar announced today that he intends to run for public office in Quebec. The 30-year-old Menjivar, who was born in El Salvador but has resided in Canada for most of his life, will be seeking a legislative position with the National Assembly of Quebec, under the "Parti de la Classe Moyenne du Quebec" (translation: Party of the Middle Class of Quebec, or PCMQ) in the Anjou-Louis-Riel district.
Said Menjivar via Twitter:
Je suis fier de porte ma candidature pour la circonscription Anjou-Louis-Riel. Comme member du Parti de la Classe Moyenne du Quebec! (Loose translation: "I am proud to carry the nomination for the Anjou-Louis-Riel district as a member of the Party of the Middle Class of Quebec!")
À touts mes amis facebookys s.v.p passe le mots: je suis candidat pour le PCMQ pour Anjou-Louis-Riel merci. (Loose translation: "To all my Facebookys please pass the word: I am a candidate for the PCMQ for Anjou-Louis-Riel. Thanks.")
Menjivar further stated that his platform includes addressing the war on corruption and the ethics of political parties, as well as the improvement of the health care system and access to a family doctor.
A brown belt in jiu-jitsu and member of the famed Tristar Gym in Montreal, Menjivar has long been known as a competitor who is unafraid of facing tough challenges, and can count among his past opponents such MMA stars as UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, former UFC featherweight champ Urijah Faber, and former UFC welterweight champ Matt Serra. Menjivar made his UFC debut at UFC 48, which took place on June 19, 2004. Since returning to the Octagon after a nearly seven-year hiatus, Menjivar has won four out of five fights.
Menjivar is not the first accomplished mixed martial artist to run for office. Other notable pugilistic politicians include: top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who ran for a position in the Oregon State Legislature; former top middleweight contender Matt Lindland, who also sought a position in the Oregon State Legislature; and retired UFC welterweight Chris Lytle, who ran in the Indiana State Senate race. None were successful.
Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio
As the saying goes, it's all about the Benjamins ? which, if my handy "Biggie Smalls Street Vernacular Dictionary ? Volume 2" is accurate, means it's ultimately all about money. Money is what fighters get when they take the biggest fights, sign the fattest contracts, and build up the most hype for whatever bouts they have scheduled for that week. And hey, that's not a bad thing. Fighting is a job, and the UFC is the top employer in the field, so why not make that wampum while you can? Anyway, all this should clue you in on what today's morning news roundup is about: money.
"The UFC supports many worthwhile causes, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center's goals of supporting human rights and offering programs for health and wellness are important causes that the entire UFC organization supports," Harris told MMAJunkie.com. "We are pleased to be able to show support for an organization that offers health and wellness programs and seeks to better our community."
This little tidbit has nothing to do with money, but it's a good deed that deserves some recognition.
That's all for now. Now, please, just leave me alone.
Gilbert Aldana José Aldo John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo AlmeidaÂ
What's an MMA promotion without a villain? Veteran fighter Frank Shamrock gives a crash course in evil to two of the sport's nicest guys: Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy.Alex Andrade Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe
What you see on television during a UFC broadcast is pretty cool, but what goes on backstage, away from the lights and the cameras, is so real and fascinating that it's practically another beast entirely. I've been credentialed for 17 UFCs, and though the last one I went to was UFC 55 (back in 2005), the access to the area behind the curtain - where the fighters are either mentally preparing themselves for combat or dealing with its after effects, and where the emotion is a thousand times more true and raw - was totally and completely money. I say all this because leading off today's news roundup is UFC president Dana White's latest video blog, which is the opening salvo in hyping UFC on FOX 4, but contains some sweet behind-the-scenes stuff on UFC 149.
So, @danawhite said whoever wins most impressively Saturday at #UFConFox gets a shot at @JonnyBones... I'm preemptively forfeiting my shot.
You know, we laugh, but if this were PRIDE in Japan, Lauzon could very well end up having to fight Jon Jones.
That's all for now.
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MostlySkateboarding/~3/i0Y5peHi8GA/paul-battlay.html
Jermaine Andrè Yoji Anjo Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril AbidiÂ
Now that the dust has settled on UFC on FOX 4, it's time for measured, analytical observations derived from the data gleaned from watching a bunch of high-level fighters try to take each other's heads off. Wait, did I say "measured, analytical observations"? Ha. I've been told my post-fight stuff is best described as "jibba-jabba", so maybe you should be the judge.
[Kevin Iole: Machida stands out, earns title shot at UFC on Fox 4]
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Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir has done us all a great service by agreeing to meet Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix winner Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce cage this fall. After all, the other opponents rumored to have been under consideration ? Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett (again), KJ Noons sitting on Ryan Couture's shoulders ? weren't really options at all, and who else is there on the Strikeforce roster to challenge Cormier? The answer is no one, and with Mir shucking the bonds of the UFC for a one-time-only crossover bout, we get to have a match-up that's compelling on paper and will likely be very fun to watch.
However, the move doesn't address the other glaring holes that need to be filled in the roster of the House That Scott Coker Built. Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez has beaten everyone that matters in his division, middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is without a worthy foe, and gosh darn it, you can only spread Keith Jardine so thin. So who else should the UFC send over to fill Strikeforce's ranks? Sure, the dough and exposure is nowhere near as great compared to what you get for fighting in the Octagon, but look at Nate Marquardt. The ex-UFC welterweight waltzed in, put up a heck of a fight against Tyron Woodley, and is now the owner of a shiny new belt. For the fighters, there is certainly value in crossing over. Here, then, is a list of fighters on the UFC roster who could be prime candidates for taking the Strikeforce fieldtrip. It is by no means complete ? please, feel free to add to them in the comments. And if you disagree with my suggestions? picture me sad. So very sad.
Jim Genia gets his tweet on here. Giddyup.
Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves Andre AmadeÂ
What's an MMA promotion without a villain? Veteran fighter Frank Shamrock gives a crash course in evil to two of the sport's nicest guys: Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy.Andre Amade Dean Amasinger Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen Alex AndradeÂ