Bloody Mess for June - A look at some overlooked stories from a busy month in MMA

If you think keeping up with just the MMA events held by the UFC, Bellator, WSOF, Invicta FC, One FC, and others can prove too much to follow, try keeping up with all the mixed martial arts related news. To help those that don't want to spend their hours perusing the web, here is a roundup of the stories that most MMA media sites seemed to have missed.

From Emily Miller and Erika Pesantes of the Sun Sentinel, a look at Garret Holeve, a mixed martial artist with Down syndrome from Cooper City, Florida looking to have his first sanctioned MMA bout.

From Dennis Silva II of The Monitor, a story on amateur fighter Enrique Arellano who faces the decision of whether to turn pro or not.

From Cody Goodwin in the Baltimore Sun, a profile of James "Binky" Jones, a 44-year-old fighter who came late to MMA but who is nevertheless just as passionate about it as fighters half his age.

From Tom Kenchington of the Canberra Times in Australia on the surprising jobs some local fighters work during the day. Amongst those profiled is Rachel Head, a 45-year-old single mother and teacher, and  Chris Goldrick, a 27-year-old accounts manager at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

From Ali Khaled in United Arab Emirate's The National, a look at how the increasing popularity of martial arts in the UAE is creating new oppportunites for fighters, trainers, and promoters in the Gulf state.  Also from The National a look at the UFC's Ramsey Nijem, a Palestinian-American fighter who has struck a cord with Arab fans throughout the region.

From the Mid-Day in India, news that actor Sidharth Malhotra is training for his upcoming role as an MMA fighter in a Bollywood remake of "Warrior"

Some important June dates in combat sports history.

In the June, 1899 issue of Parson's Magazine, Edward Barton-Wright names his new hybrid martial arts "Bartitsu"

On June 6, 2003, at UFC 43, Randy Couture comes out of retirement to upset Chuck Liddell and capture the UFC interim light heavyweight title.

On June 10, 1916, in an early mixed contest by two of the most successful participants of such contests, Judoka Tokugoro Ito, using a stranglehold, avenges his previous loss to catch-as-catch-can wrestler Ad Santel. The "mixed contests" of Ito and Santel would not only eventually give rise to vale tudo in Brazil but would also serve as the inspiration for the "Slam Bang Western Style" of professional wrestling that developed in the 1920s.

On June 19, 1936 Max Schmeling upset the then undefeated Joe Louis, knocking him out in the 12th round. His victory was cause for celebration in Nazi Germany, while, upon hearing the news, grown men were seen weeping in Harlem.

On June 20, 2004 at Pride Critical Countdown, Quinton Jackson "Slampages" Ricardo Arona and Fedor Emelianenko survives a Randleplex by Kevin Randleman.

On June 22, 2002 at UFC 37.5: As Real as It Gets, Robbie Lawler vs Steve Berger becomes the first mixed martial arts fight to be aired on US cable television. Also on this day, in 1938 Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling by TKO in the first round of their rematch.

On June 23, 2002, at Pride 21, Don Frye and Yoshihiro Takayama play Rock'em Sock'em Robots with each other for 6 full minutes. At that same event Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko made their Pride debuts

On June 24, 1998 at Pride 3, Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Carlos Newton in one of the greatest grappling exhibitions ever in a mixed martial arts contest.

On June 26. 2010, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, after 3472 days and 27 fights, Fedor Emelianenko finally lost, tapping out to Fabricio Werdum via a triangle choke. At that same event Frank Shamrock officially announced his retirement.

On June 28, 2006 at Ultimate Fight Night 5, Anderson Silva made his UFC debut where he defeated Chris Leben in 49 seconds for the first of his UFC record 16 straight wins.

On June 30, 2001, World Extreme Cagefighting holds their very first event in Lemoore, California. The WEC would go on to hold 52 more events before it was discontinued and merged into the UFC.