United States Marine veteran, Matt Leyva (7-2 of Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA), will be headlining Jackson’s MMA Series VI, which takes place on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at the Hard Rock Casino Hotel Albuquerque, against the scrappy Federico “Kiko” Lopez. Leyva is a pedigreed wrestler, having attended West Mesa High School on the wrestling team all four years, under Coach Lenny Lovato (Sr.), along with teammates and best friends (then and now) Lenny Lovato, Jr. and Damacio Page. While other kids were saving to go on summer vacations, Leyva was saving up to take himself to wrestling nationals each year. When he finished high school, Leyva knew he didn’t want to go to college right away, but he...

As Ralph Waldo Emmerson once famously said, “fractures well cured makes us more strong”. And for former UFC welterweight contender Brian Foster, the hurdles he has had to overcome in his career have only increased his aspirations of achieving success. With a professional record of 15-5, and after his UFC debut in 2009, Foster has excited fans with stellar performances that have primarily ended via knockout. Throughout the battles he has had over the years inside the cage, these wars have contributed to his growth not only as a fighter but also as a person. “All the fights I have been in have helped me to be more humble about life like nothing could ever be as hard ya know”, Foster told US ...

Ran Weathers will face Yaotzin Meza (17-6) in the main event of “Sun City Battle II” a Martinez Brothers Production, on October 1, 2011 at El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, TX. Weathers (15-9-0), who trains out of Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA, sat down with US Combat Sports to discuss his upcoming headliner. He talked about his most recent fight against undefeated Jared Downing (7-0) on June 25, 2011 at Shark Fights 16.

Alberto Crane has never been afraid to take on new challenges in his career. It is this passion and dedication that has contributed to his extraordinary success over the years in his grappling and MMA career. Using the tools he has acquired along his journey, Crane has transformed from student to teacher while continuing to push through his own boundaries and challenge himself in martial arts. US Combat Sports had a chance to talk with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt as he discussed how he continues to keep motivated while helping others to achieve success in their careers.

US Combat Sports met with Travis Marx at Mean 1 MMA Fitness (a gym founded by UFC legend, Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine) to discuss his upcoming fight at Fresquez Productions’ “Clash in the Cage”, which takes place at 7:00pm on September 9, at Route 66 Casino Hotel, just west of Albuquerque, NM. Marx (17-3-0-1 of Jackson’s/Mean 1 MMA) will be facing Mikey Lovato (10-2-0 of Lovato Total Fitness) for the co-main event of the evening. Marx sat down to talk, just after fhe finished“circle” training, an exercise where the fighterengagesin several consecutive five-minute rounds, with fresh fighters each round)with other Mean 1 MMA teammates, which included Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm...