7 Reosolutions you should make as an MMA fan for 2013

Give the young guns a chance to shine.

There is a new breed of fighter being forged in the gyms across the world. They have access to better training partners, state of the art equipment, and world class trainers. Dietary supplements are easier to obtain and a proper diet is easier to maintain. There are guys like Rory MacDonald who reap the benefits of GSP as a training partner, and what would it be like rolling with Nate and Nick Diaz along with Cesar Gracie’s elite group.

AKA and Jackson’s have produced so many good fighters that walking in to those places has to be like walking in to a library of MMA knowledge and experience. Give the younger guys a chance. They might just shock you.

Never give up on the old guard.

One thing we can all say is that there are living legends fighting in the UFC today. They battle younger, faster, and stronger guys and somehow pull out a win when it counts.

Just a few examples are Dan Henderson knocking Michael Bisping out, Big Nog pummeling Brendan Schaub, Randy Couture vs. anybody, and Vitor Belfort submitting Anthony Johnon. The age differences are sometimes a short five years apart, but in MMA that can mean a lot. A 30 year old versus a 36 year old has a significant advantage. Just ask anyone at or around 35 what their body is like compared to then. Support the older guys because they can still bring it.
Never judge a fight by a card

Just go with the flow. Dana White is at the helm.

Sometimes it may seem that UFC President Dana White just waves his hand and makes things happens. That is probably 75% true. Johny Hendricks now has to face Jake Ellenberger instead of GSP like most feel he deserves. Why, you might ask? Because GSP asked for Nick Diaz and Dana granted his request.

In the UFC things don’t always make sense, but my advice is to hang on for the ride and just go with it.

Support your local MMA.

The best fighters in the world are being bred in the smaller cages in your neighborhood. Places like Hardrock MMA in Kentucky, Griggs Entertainment in Indiana, and Hawaii’s Rumble on the Rock. Granted Rumble is a bigger promotion than your average show, but it still builds fighters. You never know when the next big thing may be in a cage near you.

Watch Bellator.

Bellator may not be the UFC, but it is definitely a quality show. They bring a more intimate show format to the table. The lighting, cameras, and just about every other aspect of their televised broadcasts pretty much puts you in the cage with the fighters at times. They have tournaments that can reward a winning fighter with a title shot and sometimes six figure money rewards. Now that they are on Spike you have no excuse. Watch it.

Be a fan.

Sometimes we get caught up with the behind the scenes politics, internet fighter bashing, and office arguments that can come from discussions about MMA. Remember what it is like to be an objective fan. I find myself hating and loving fighters at times and it is often difficult to be neutral. Some fighters are jerks and we all know it. Once they step in the cage, unless you’re Nick Diaz, the time for talking is done and the time for fighting is now. Don’t get caught up in a mess of trash talk and don’t be afraid to jump on a bandwagon once in a while.

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