emma may blog

Awesome image courtesy of Sergio Mora.

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2009 was crazy!

I hardly remember January. I just know that I didn’t have a YouTube account, a website, a Twitter account, an Iphone, and I’d never been to a live MMA event.

But my passion for mixed martial arts was growing. I would watch events and shout my observations and musings at the screen or the unfortunate person sitting next to me. “Look how much I have to say and how hilarious I am,’ I thought. Then it occurred to me that others may enjoy my musings, and I decided rather off-the-cuff to produce a video blog review of UFC 95. A video or two later, I noticed that the YouTube community drools over prediction vlogs and away I went!

Early in the year I watched in horror as an overweight Cristiane Cyborg nearly decapitated undersized Hitomi Akano. I was outraged by that fight and promptly wrote up a short article in response. I posted it on Bloody Elbow, who promoted the piece to their front page. That was exciting!

Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated

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And, Twitter, oh yes, Twitter. I thought Twitter was so stupid at first. I actually had to be convinced to give it a try if you can believe that. I started following Chris Parry, who is an editor for the Vancouver Sun. One day he tweeted a comical criticism of a Starbucks Barista and I at replied telling him basically that he was an impatient jerk. This must have amused him and he began following me. A couple months later he approached me and asked if I was ready for the big show! Next thing I knew I was interviewing UFC fighters and my articles were posted on the Vancouver Sun website.

Denis Kang, TUF 11 Competitor Marcus Vinicios, Bill Mahood, and Unidentified Dude at Honour Combat Championships

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So, yeah, it was a pretty sweet year. The highlight was going to UFC 100 and attacking Jon Jones with questions post fight while his mouth was full of pizza. The piece I wrote about attending UFC 100 is probably the one I’m most proud of from the 15 or 20 that I wrote for the Sun.

Logan Stanton does the rounds at UFC 100. Merry Christmas, Logan!

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My most personally rewarding MMA work came from reporting on local amateur events. It was inspiring to talk to these young guys and gals who dedicated so much of their blood, sweat and time to develop their skills and put their ass on the line in front of hundreds of people. I felt blessed to be able to give back to them by directing the attention of local newspaper readers to these fighters, and events and do my little bit to grow the sport.

I interview a cool cat at North American Challenge 25

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This month I attended the Vancouver city council meeting in which council voted to sanction MMA in the city for a trial period of 2 years. What a lovely way to close out the year. From the way the agreement was outlined it appears that only the biggest of professional promotions will be able to afford to come to town but, well, it’s a start.

Interviewing Dustin Dickson at North American Challenge 25

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And next year? I look forward to attending the UFC event set to hit town in June, as well as many other local events big and small. It all started with my videos so I will try to continue producing them though I have non-MMA related goals that will be competing for my time. Basically, I’ll just keep doing what’s in front of me and crossing my fingers.

Thanks for your support in checking out my blog, articles and videos! You all made my year.  Happy holidays! I wish you an awesome 2010.