Hey, Hey there Muthers...I'm back!

Dan Severn's retirement wasn't guarded knowledge as he's been talking about it for the last year anyway. At 54 and 127 fights on the official resume, there was really nothing left for him to prove. Well, that could have been said quite a few years ago and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. The Beast appeared on stages large and small from the UFC and Pride to the rodeo, fought some of the best in the sport, is a UFC Hall of Famer, and has served various capacities such as referee and judge. He has also been an amazing ambassador of MMA from the beginning of his storied career. I hope to see him continue reffing, judging and to educate in those areas, as well as speak to the community on behalf of MMA. Congratulations Dan, thanks for introducing me to the sport I love.

The exodus has begun. Many former Strikeforce fighters are now migrating over to the UFC and will be appearing on upcoming cards. Tyron Woodley, Jordan Mein, Mizuto Hirota, Roger Bowling, and Isaac Vallie-Flagg joined Ronda Rousey in the first wave of the Strikeforce roster to officially sign with the UFC. Seeing names like Hirota and Bowling should be welcome signs for most of the non-marquee fighters hoping to get a shot in the UFC after Strikeforce is folded after Jan 12. This is a particularly exciting time for the UFC with lots and lots of good match-ups to be had in the coming months.

Lucas Martins, Kurt Holobaugh, Dan Hornbuckle, Pedro Nobre, Dustin Kimura, and Ildemar Alcantara have all replaced injured fighters on cards in their respective promotions. Training injuries have gone beyond the cute names of 'curse' or 'bug' and are now a huge part of MMA and since the debacle of UFC 151, Zuffa has accepted the fact that they need to plan accordingly. But injuries to one fighter are a major opportunity for another. I spin this far more positively than most, as many will poo poo a fill-ins' abilities and question how a matchmaker could condone such a travesty. Another way to look at this epidemic is to just accept the fact that fighters are training harder to prepare for the best opposition and injuries will occur, meaning every fighter in a high-level camp across the globe should be ready for the call that can possibly change their career in the sport. And screw the naysayers. To quote a great philosopher, "I most certainly did talk my way into this fight...I said YES."

So...you may or may not remember these posts that started as a semi-weekly fanpost over a year ago and then suddenly stopped way back in August. I went on a hiatus when a mounting work schedule and life intervened, the biggest being the birth of my son Jack. Hopefully I can continue to contribute these little write-ups and get back on a weekly schedule because I really enjoy contributing in some way to the BE community other than in snarky comments and stupid gifs. I hope you like them as well.

Please check out past issues

MMA Transaction Wire: August 10-14

MMA Transaction Wire: August 4-10

MMA Transaction Wire: August 2-3

MMA Transaction Wire: The July Round-Up - Is Sengoku back?!

MMA Transaction Wire: July 28-31

MMA Transaction Wire: July 25-27