Here at Total MMA we have sent one Andrew Wallace to Strikeforce twice now to report live on what usually are some of the more fun MMA events in the United States. He has gotten to hang out with Dave Meltzer, some girl who started a site about MMA afterparties, talked about his abs and professed his love for Judo. Upon given the task of watching UFC 2 to review, this is what happened.
Hi again! On my first article here, Jonathan characterized me as a neophyte: Some damn scrub who got into MMA when it became popular who lacks a real understanding of the sport, it’s history, etc. Hateful and cruel epithets to be sure but not entirely without merit. But it got me thinking: Am I the only one? I can’t be, I am basically a damn pimp when it comes to knowing about stuff and I’m pretty on the ball a lot of the time with my opinions and interests. So for my benefit, and the benefit of others who lack a root in the olden days of MMA, when fat men in black gis would bite each others groins off, I thought we could take a look back to UFC 2. I’ve never seen UFC 2 before, I don’t even know if I was alive when this first aired. So join me on a thrilling quest as I experience for the first time, some of you may also, and some of you will relive, UFC 2: NO HOLDS BARRED.
Posted in Andrew Wallace, Reviews, UFC | 1 Comment »
Posted by Jonathan Snowden on 1st July 2008
Editor’s Note: Andrew Wallace is not your normal MMA fan. He’s not your normal human being. He’s quickly becoming MMA’s Hunter S. Thompson, for better or worse. We sent Andrew to Strikeforce because he is guaranteed to notice things others miss and he will definitely bring back something other than a stale list of who-beat-whom.
By Andrew Wallace
It’s funny where life can take you. First, you and some Army guy are fake-arguing about gay marriage on a green wrestling board, the next thing you know he’s making you go to semi-popular regional fighting promotions for his webpage. I guess that’s not that funny, it’s just regular. Regardless, after the success and popularity (with my mom and two or three of her bewildered and undoubtedly lying friends) of my last field report, I have been sent into the trenches again, afforded the sincere privilege to cover Strikeforce for you all.
As usual, Total-MMA’s prestigious credentials carry over into the real world with the most luxurious of treatment: the man at the door (”Wallie” his nametag informs me, sort of a cretinous name but certainly no fault of his own) has never heard of me, the website, and his papers do not confirm my existence. Fortunately, an Anne Frank-esque faith in humanity prevails and I am granted that most coveted of press access. Compelling coverage, I am aware. It gets better!
In the press room, I have a pretty decent salad and one dinner roll (AbSummer: Can’t stop, won’t stop.) I am cornered by a fast talking shucking and jiving snake oil salesman who tries to convince me to get Total-MMA affiliated with some FCC MMA program. If anyone is interested, I got his email! Networkin’ it up in San Jose on a Friday night.
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Posted in Andrew Wallace, Strikeforce | 16 Comments »
Posted by Jonathan Snowden on 31st March 2008
Editor’s Note: Hardcore MMA fans live in their own insular little world. I know before I click what Josh Gross or Zach Arnold are going to say before they say it. I thought it might be interesting to send an outsider to watch a show up close. A, dare I say, TUF-Newb. What does a California hipster goofball think about MMA. We’re about to find out…
By Andrew Wallace
It was with great excitement that I accepted Jonathan’s kind offer to go to Strikeforce as a member of the prestigious total-mma.com’s elite journalism team. I don’t know much about MMA, or journalism, or anything. As I write this, I am on a train headed towards San Jose. My frantic writing in this notebook will probably give me away as a complete fool. I’m nervous. As a member of the media am I expected to sit passively, completely neutral to the nights proceedings? Or am I allowed to just completely lose my goddamn mind? I guess that all depends on if I find a bar before the show starts.
I have arrived and my mind is completely and utterly lost. As I write, I am in the press room watching Dave Meltzer eat meatloaf. This is the most incredible moment of my entire life, I want to just start laughing. Meltzer has a hearty appetite and an awkward manner of interpersonal interaction. He is my king.
Oh, the sneaky little fellow has crept off somewhere. I shall try to find him!
Total-MMA is apparently lacking in the prestige department as I am seated in a wheelchair landing. This is not ideal.
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Posted in Andrew Wallace, Elite XC, Frank Shamrock, Strikeforce | 1 Comment »
As most of you who come here once in a while may know, we have some Judo enthusiasts in the ranks, from our favorite dude to send to Strikeforce events to stalk Dave Meltzer, Andrew Wallace to our gentile Canadian scholar Kendall Shields. Both have been valuable contributors to this site and the project as a whole and will continue to for as long as they feel like talking about people grappling and hitting each other. Well, both have decided to start up a blog about their Judo exploits, news in the world of Judo, links to Judo matches and so on. If you remember from our Olympic coverage over the summer, Judo love can be incredibly infectious and I found myself, a guy who has to work at 6am staying up until about 2 in the morning watching Judo on the internet, waking up to catch the finals, going to work and throughout the day in cubical land streaming all of the judo that I missed while I was sleeping. So go ahead and bookmark their blog, add it to your news feeder and so on. Judo!
