Here’s a really interesting video from Fox 17 Sports out of Grand Rapids. Some big changes could be happening for our amateur MMA community. Use the comment section to weigh in and let us know what you think.
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The last thing we need are fat losers like Greg Ahrens and Paul Simpson involved in any kind of legislation for Michigan mma. Ahrens and his boyfriend, Matt Flynn, are the shadiest promoters in the state. They put amateurs in basketball shorts with no business being in the cage together. Their shows will have like 25 fights and not one will go to the 2nd round because of awful matchups. They dick around pro fighters already and a lot of them won’t even fight for them anymore. What would you expect from a failed boxer/promoter who is just trying to “cash in” on the mma craze. As for Simpson, just look at his shitty website to see how organized this fat guy who can barely talk is. He puts on the weakest shows in West Michigan.
If there is going to be legislation to our sport, let get the right people behind it.
Well Mr.Wrestleben . True I am not a public speaker,nor a web-master. However this fat guy will stand up for the right things such as the safety of this sport. I have argued to get MMA Amateurs , what the hell have you done accept sit on your arm chair and complain,,if you can’t suit up and do anything positive for this sport than don’t knock the ones that will. your agruements/statements are purely based on Biasness.
Before Michigan MMA can do anything good the “true” promoters of this sport need to ban together and weed out those that are making the bad name for us all. Competition is always a good thing, as long as its in the best interest of the sport. Quit making it a “big dick” competition and lets grow this sport in Michigan, because this state has the chance to be a real leader in MMA. But when you these guys who have watched a few UFC events thinking they can all of a sudden be a promoter, asking fans to weigh in because they had a fighter drop out is ridiculous.
Matt I agree with you on alot of what you just said, but I have an email from somebody off the show your team just fought on in Lansing at the Lansing Center saying they got paidto quote “a hundo” to get in there and fight. Now you being a guy I have talked to alot about the sport of MMA do you feel right about letting your student face a match up like that?
I am a licenced promoter in the State of Michigan and have been for the last 12 years. I take that responsibility very seriously. I take issue with your accusation when you clearly do not have any evidence to support such a ridiculous claim. Slander and defamation of character is a very serious crime and if you continue you will be contacted by my attorneys.
I think Paul did just fine and kept the focus on the MAMA organization. Greg sounded like a rich kid pushing his weight. If you aint got the money to buy in you cant play.
Fact is until legislation goes through to stop the bad promotions you can’t do anything to stop them. There will always be people who will step up and fight. They will bring their families to the shows and the bad people will make their money.
wrestleben are you a fighter or promoter? Just wondering because you sound real butt hurt like you cant compete with Greg and Matt or Paul, or you got into the cage for the first time ever in your life and got smashed. Now you will never hear me talk bad about any fighter that gets in there and puts it all on the line, trained or untrained. This is the amatuer ranks this is where people come to see if this is something they want to persue. I am just curious to what promoter (s) yu think should have a say. please take your time and also tell me why you think them.
To be honest , some of you guys sound like little girls, maybe if you would put as much effort into your shows or training and help build the sport in this state, instead of screwing fighters and stabbing people in the back , some good might come out of it!
Paul and Ron put on some pretty good shows, as far as websites, it costs money at least they have one unlike a lot of other promotions with just a Facebook or MySpace page. Some effort is better than no effort! It does cost a lot of money for someone to hire a webmaster to deck out a website and keep it updated, with news pics and videos! Some promotions make more money than others so they can afford to make a better website, that doesn’t mean that they have better fighters or fights; a website is nothing more than an advertisement with some news on it, mixed up with some picas and other b.s.
Second of all, I don’t think anyone should be going on the 11oclock news bashing other promoters and talking bad about the sport, it affects us all, either name drop or keep your mouth closed. Bashing anyone or a promotion on the news gives the sport a bad name period! Some of us have been busting our asses for years now to get away from the NHB, human Cock Fighting stereo type that has been giving to the sport and trash talking publicly like that does not help one bit so think before you speak!
I don’t remember any of you around when we first started putting on shows in this great state, we got cease and desist orders at every show to close up shop, but we did them anyways and went to court and fought the state! If you’re going to talk about state rules, or what other shows do or don’t do! Look in the mirror before you open your mouth and make sure your doing your part to before you speak about a fellow fighter or promoter! We don’t need any more Don King wannabe’s in Michigan mma there is enough already!
Last but not least do your f#$%ing job! If you’re a promoter, promote the damn fighters they are the ones making your name brand and putting money in your pocket, plain and simple! If you treat the fighters well they support and promote the show, if they do well they create a fan base, if they have a fan base you have people at your show and make money! The fighters make the sport not the promotion!
Fighters if your reading this you run this sport not us! If it wasn’t for you guys putting all that hard work in at the gym, none of us would be here! Through your blood, sweat and tears is what this great sport is forged on! You the fighter/s make this sport what it is; we just give you a place to showcase your hard work at!
Some promotions are good, some flat out suck, some upcoming fighters are the next superstars of the sport and some just do it because it’s the cool thing to do right now! That will never changes there will always be true sportsmen and wannabe’s, If your true to the sport do your best to support it, don’t worry about what someone else is doing, worry about how you’re going to perfect your next event , or up your training in some aspect! Flat out leave the soap opera out of our sport and give it back to boxing, because we don’t want it here anymore!
“Quote of the day” put up or shut up! This is a sport of honor, respect, and loyalty! Where true warriors belong, what hardcore fans love. It’s taking over the world one show at a time and nothing can stop it.
MMA is not for bitches! Put up or shut up, if you have a problem with someone, be a man and confront them about it and don’t hide behind a fake name! Support the sport like you care, stop riding the coat tails of others, and quit running your mouth! Support the fighters they are the ones putting food on your table!
I’m out I’m sick of hearing myself talk.
My names Josh Lawrence,Pro- fighter and owner of Genesis Fighting Championship! I support Michigan MMA fighters because I am one! Anyone have a problem with my ramblings, give me a call or ask me what show I’ll be at next and I’d love to talk to you about it.
Hope u enjoyed my rant, I’m out Fockers!
Thats it? The last post on this was 2 months ago? I can tell you from the ground level things are bad in MI because there is no organization for the amature level. A championship belt or title means nothing because the guy next door has one to! And if the guy across the street wants one he can get a couple of fights under his belt and get a chance a title belt some where all by watching some tapes in his basement and a few fights with his sister for practice! I’ve seen some pretty shady stuff. Fighters should be trained appropriately and there should be a legit ranking system. Amature should have pass pors with their fights recorded. The list goes on with the troubles at the amature level. But as long as there is fight in every backyard, bar, field or rental hall there is gonna be some kid wanting his 15 minutes of fame and it will be that way until someone ends up in a coma or dead. Ive even heard tales of guys showing up high or drunl and still allowed to fight at some shows. I suppose all these promoters should sit down together and get things under control themselves before big brother does it and screws it all up.
tshoot ill have you know that i have a 2-0 amateur record and i train in my garage and learn just by watching videos and tons of old fights, just because i cant afford to go have someone teach me mma doesnt mean i shouldnt compete i agree this isnt a place for just anyone to jump in but if your work very hard
I feel ya. I’m training with Bas Rutten via DVD.
I’m hoping I’ll be ready by Nov 20th
Tshoot’s has many good points that some of us have been trying to work on for years! hmmmm i think i might know this guy! I’m all for having the state jump in and creating a state ranking system. I have one on the michigan underground fight forum, that i update the first of every month but it’s a real pain in the ass. I scan fight michigan for fight results and all the states promotions websites and google fighters, but most of the promoters in the state do not turn in fight results nor keep up to date info or any info for that matter on their champions or roster.
I”m all for the state taking over and having a state title some what like ISKA or USKBA, and the promoter has to sanction the fight and they have their rankings and titles.
I would also love to see each fighter with a passport book like usa boxing like we had in golden gloves which had all the dates when fighters fought last, info on suspentions. some fighters fight 2-3 times a month that should not be allowed. if you get ko-tko’d a fighter should be suspened for 60-90 days and have med check before competing again.
But it’s up to the state. i don’t know why they just don’t adopt ohio’s rules, or IL rules and run with it, all aspects of the game should be under the state like some of these other states and all problems would be solved, it would weed out the yahoo guys that shouldn’t promote and also help the guys that promote right to shine!
State regulation is coming whether it’s wanted and needed or not. The biggest concern I have with state regulation is the fact that this state has had a hard time running anything without making it somewhat worse.
Pro shows on tribal lands run more smoothly and with loss cost to the promoter than they do off the reservations.
The balance between cleaning up the fringe element in our sport and the creation of overbearing, business killing regulation is one that this State has demonstrated a very hard time in finding.