SHERDOG
This site claims it “serves up heaping fistfuls of mixed martial arts.” That’s an accurate claim, as the site does a great job of presenting MMA news. Sherdog covered a recent show by the Strike Force promotion in California. The coverage included live play-by-play, video clips and a post-fight interview with one of the winners. You can’t ask for much more without buying a ticket to the show.
Sherdog has a good selection of videos. This is essential now that so many people are watching shows on the web. Sherdog also has a “fight finder” search engine with detailed records on thousands of fighers. Sherdog also has a lively forum section. As you can probably tell, Sherdog is one of the top sites in the MMA business and it’s a must-bookmark if you care at all about the sport.
FULL CONTACT FIGHTER
This site has its strengths and weaknesses. It has a comprehensive news section and an outstanding database of information on fighters. The FCF database is better than Sherdog’s because it has more information on amateur fighters.
However, FCF does not have the extensive collection of video clips that Sherdog presents regularly. FCF does have a great selection of merchandise. Your best bet is to check both sites and play to their strengths.
MMA TORCH
This is an offshoot of PW Torch, which is one of the best sources for pro wrestling news. Wade Keller and his reporters are just getting their feet wet in MMA, but they are making a good effort. The site contains news and columns covering the big promotions like UFC and Pride, as well as upcoming groups like IFL and Bodog. As time goes on, MMA Torch will get better as a news source. The site is all-text, so don’t expect anything fancy.
MMA.TV
If you’re a serious MMA fan who is thinking of participating in the sport someday, you should check out MMA.TV. It has an updated list of shows around the country, and it can also help you find a place to train. The UnderGround Forums include promoters and fighters talking about their business, so it’s a great place to learn.
MMA.TV also features a “yellow pages” section where you can find magazines, training camps, sportswear, DVDs, supplements and training equipment.
UFC FIGHTING ONLINE
This website aims to cover the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion from top to bottom. It contains results, profiles, news and an introduction to UFC. It also has articles about fighting techniques, which is great if you’re trying to break into the sport.
MMAFIGHTING.COM
This is a good site if you want to quickly hit the day’s MMA news and move on to something else. It has a newswire in the middle of the front page, as well as a calendar of MMA events on the right side of the front page. If you feel like sticking around, you can read reviews of MMA shows, shop in the online store or check a listing of UFC entrance music.
