It was another momentous year across the board for the combative sports world. 2012 saw continued domination from some of the best champions in history, an explosion of local combative sports, and much more. Thanks from all of us at US Combat Sports for supporting the local fight scene. See you in 2013.

The Combat Sports Clubhas announced the first ever grappling tournament in Las Cruces, NM. SouthwestGrapplefest 8 will take place January 12th, 2013 at Picacho Middle School, just thirty minutes from El Paso, and three hours from Tucson, AZ. and Albuquerque, NM. Host school - Picacho Middle School - is huge! with loads of parking.Grapplefests aredouble elimination, with Gi and NoGi divisions for all ages and skill levels. All placers 1st-4th recievea huge custom medal. Pre-registered competitors are invited to attend a freeBJJ seminar Friday 1/11 at weigh-ins with World Champion Rainey Whitsett. Everyone else is welcome to attend the seminar, competitor or not, for $20. Rainey had 9 Gold m...

On Friday, December 7th Holly "The Preacher's Daughter" Holm faced power punching Aussie Diana Prazak, delivering a flawless performance en route to a unanimous decision. Coming into the fight with an 11-1 record, seven by knockout, Prazak was undeniably a legitimate threat. Having recently avenged her knockout loss to Anne Mathis, it begged the question: would Holm employ the same stick and move strategy against Prazak. In the lead up press conference coach Mike Winklejohn spoke of Holm's evolution into a power puncher and finisher. These improvements were evident each time Holm stepped in and fired. She felt Prazak's power but stayed on the offense, more than on the run.

To explain how much former Marine and MMA fighter Matt Leyva is beloved by family, friends and fans is to explain how deafening the silence seemed after Leyva was dispatched by Anthony Birchak in the main event of Jackson's MMA Series X. After a minute and a half of frenetic exchanges on the feet and the canvas, Leyva was caught by a well-placed straight from Birchak at 1:22 of the first round. While disappointing, the loss for Leyva should serve as lesson and happens to the best on their way up. Big ups to Nick Urso in the co-main that should've been but wasn't, his opponent came in 15-pounds over. Did he forget what weight he was fighting at? I was looking forward to seein...

Nick Urso will be stepping into the cage as the co-main event at Jackson's MMA Series X, this Saturday, December 1, 2012, at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, NM. This will be his second professional fight at 135-lbs, as he faces Silver City's David Ruelas (1-1). Originally from Chicago, IL, Urso (4-1 of Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA) and his family moved to Florida when he was still a teenager. Already accustomed to being the smallest in any of his classes, Urso had been taught how to defend himself by his father, well versed in old-school boxing and kickboxing, "my father is very knowledgeable, and doesn't train by conventional methods", who drilled it into him from ...