New York MMA Photography Focusing on Organized Violence since 2001
Local New Yorkers Clean Up at MMA World Expo
The Jacob Javits convention center in the far west side of midtown Manhattan hosted the World MMA Expo this past November 17-18, 2011. The multi-faceted event was comprised of a jiu-jitsu tournament, mixed-fighting exhibition matches in a cage, autograph signings from famous MMA stars, panel discussions, and more. NY MMA stars Kenny Rivera and Jonathan [...]
America’s Only NHB Show Strikes Again in NYC
In another action-packed unsanctioned MMA event, Peter Storm hosted the Underground Combat League – New York’s only NHB show. This time out we saw the return of hard-hitting Kenny Rivera who stormed back onto the scene and took Chad Hernandez into deep waters earning the split decision victory and becoming the UCL’s only reigning champion. [...]
Ottavia Bourdain: Grappling with Greatness
MMA disciple Ottavia Bourdain takes her grappling seriously, working out about five times a week with BJJ giant Igor Gracie at the Renzo Gracie Academy in NYC. I spent an hour at the academy shooting the friendly and enthusiastic martial artist at work preparing for an upcoming grappling tourniment that she plans to compete in. [...]
NY Voices Its Love For MMA
A loyal crowd of MMA faithfuls gathered in front of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NYC Office at 633 Third Avenue to rally for the legalization of professional mixed martial arts in New York. As one of the last holdouts, New York is currently preventing valuable sports revenue from boosting its economic goals. This backwards bureaucratic policy [...]
Underground Fights Pop Off During MMA Media Event
Unsanctioned MMA fights in a cage in downtown Manhattan were the focal point of a book launch event this past Saturday hosted by authors Jim Genia (Raw Combat) and Matthew Polly (Tapped Out). It nearly came to blows in the ring as Genia and Polly faced off, each clutching copies of their book in a [...]
Raw Combat – A Book About Real Underground MMA
Decades from now, long after MMA has been sanctioned and “legalized” in New York State, the tales and history of the mysterious and hidden world of Underground MMA would have long been forgotten … but for this book right here. Having personally attended and photographed just about every NYUCL show since the beginning of the [...]
Local NYC Fighters Hungry For Experience
Local New York City fighters ride the subway to undisclosed locations every month or two to test their fighting skills in reality scenarios. Style vs. Style vs. Crosstraining – the NYUCL is the original proving ground for the up-and-coming hard-hitting young breed of combatants, forced to fight off the radar until the Athletic Commission sanctions [...]
Closed Door Vale Tudo Invitational Fights in NYC
Hiding in plain sight, Peter Storm’s Underground Combat League showcases unsanctioned Vale Tudo MMA fights in NYC. By invitation only, both spectators and fighters attend the city’s only long-running legitimate MMA show. Operating just outside of the reaches of the NY Athletic Commission, this event is a throwback to the early days of MMA, using [...]
New Yorkers Rally to Legalize MMA
The Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York organized by MMA instructor Stephen Koepfer held its first public rally in lower Manhattan across the street from New York City’s city hall. The rally popped off on On February 8th, 2011 as a crowd of MMA loyalists gathered in front of Sheldon Silver’s district [...]
UFC’s First Lightweight Championship Fight
Caol Uno calmly strategized his escape from BJ Penn’s grasp. Just minutes from glory, the two courageous lightweights honed in on the UFC’s first lightweight belt. Two UFCs prior, Uno and Penn both advanced in the lightweight tourniment which led them to this fight. At the end of five hard fought rounds, the UFC 41 [...]
At UFC 32 Tito Ortiz Reigned Suprime
Soon after Zuffa purchased the UFC in 2001, UFC 32 took the NYC area by storm. Blasting off just miles from the heart of the city, the Arena at the old Meadowlands in NJ was host to Tito Ortiz and Elvis Sinosic, headliners of this pivotal fight show. Tito showed the world why he was [...]
Hard Hitting Sluggers Go To War In NYC
If you want to fight in NYC, you need an invitation to compete at the City’s only MMA club, the Underground Combat League. There is no publicity and no purse. These are not prize fighters, they are hard hitting warriors who fight for honor and experience. Tossing aside the usual rules that govern sanctioned MMA [...]
New York Mixed Martial Arts Movie Screening
New York City, the future home of MMA, was host to a media screening of a hip MMA documentary directed by Kahleem Poole-Tehada and produced by Stephen Koepfer. “New York Mixed Martial Arts” explains the history of New York MMA and gives you a glimpse into the MMA minds of fighters, polititions, journalists, and insiders [...]
Underground Legend Iron Will Blasts his Opponent
Teacup Kung Fu was the style claimed by “Iron Will” back in September of 2004 when he faced NYC Boxer “Lump” Rasheen. The party didn’t last long though. After landing a few glancing blows to the much larger boxer, UCL legend “Iron Will” got blasted off his feet, pounced on, and throat choked into submission. [...]
And Not a Single Cat Challenged Her That Day
With the grace and swagger of a seasoned prizefighter, the gym cat took center ring shortly before the first fight was set to begin. In those few moments she gave fair warning to those who followed her: own the canvas, be at peace, never lose focus. Her lessons were lost on most that day.
Phil Baroni Cements Top 5 All Time MMA KO
Dribbling his opponent’s head off the cage twelve times in a couple of seconds cemented Phil Baroni’s knockout of recently dethroned middleweight champ Dave Menne at UFC 39 as one of the most exciting and popular finishes in MMA history. After one of the most explosive finishes in Zuffa-era UFC, Phil straddled the cage and [...]
White Collars & Underground Fights in NYC
His entourage wore suits and ties. They could buy the room if they cared to. Between high-stakes deals, they took a train from Wall Street and watched as their friend and coworker demolished his opponent with a series of viscious punches and kicks. After his fight, the anonymous fighter changed back into his business attire [...]
Human Enigma Marches To His Destiny
Usually when the bell rings or in this case, the ref steps in, the fight is over. Not the case this time around. Emotionally charged underground fighter, tattooed from belly to cranium and identifying himself as “Sekau Mau Mau,” needed to be contained in his corner by promoter Peter Storm following his beatdown loss at [...]
James Funaro KOs “Prison Fighter” Christian Darrow
When self-proclaimed undefeated prison fighter and underground MMA champion Christian “Wargod” Darrow showed up on the local Long Island, NY scene opening a new MMA gym, it rubbed some people the wrong way. After months of online trash talking, a parking lot fight, and a no-show at the NYUCL, Darrow showed up late one night [...]
The Most Dominant Champion in MMA Questions it All
Fedor Emelianenko dominated the worldwide MMA heavyweight division for over a decade going undefeated and beating the best of the best. As a small heavyweight fighter who routinely obliterated much bigger competition, Fedor calmly contemplated retirement after getting severely beaten during the second round of his Grand Prix fight against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at Strikeforce [...]