Words With A MAD Coach

Chris Buffalo vs. Clay Johnson: Two Kicking Specialists, One Fascinating November Showdown
 
What happens when you match two fighters who love to kick, understand movement and have spent much of their lives developing their martial arts skills? This November, Chris Buffalo and Clay Johnson will provide an answer in a matchup that has captured my curiosity for reasons that extend well beyond their records.

We're talking North Carolina MMA, we're talking Fight For It, and more importantly, we're talking about the fighters who are becoming the new faces of the promotion.
Throughout 2025 and into 2026, we've watched a new generation of fighters step into the cage. Some have captured championships. Others have delivered spectacular finishes, fought their way through adversity, or simply demonstrated the kind of determination that makes you want to follow their careers.
I've identified approximately 20 fighters, professionals and amateurs, who I believe deserve recognition for what they've accomplished and what they potentially represent for the future of Fight For It.

On December 5th, Fight For It 29 brings an intriguing middleweight matchup to the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Paul Carson takes on Ralston Thomas in a 185-pound professional MMA contest. On paper, Carson appears to have the advantage, bringing an aggressive striking style, a willingness to finish fights, and a more credentialed wrestling background. But records and credentials don't always tell the complete story. Thomas presents an interesting challenge, particularly when considering the direction his combat sports career has taken recently. This isn't simply a matchup between two powerful athletes willing to exchange punches. It's a contest that raises questions about preparation, development, and whether the fighter we've seen in the past is the same fighter we'll see on December 5th.

Today we're looking at UFC Edmonton, headlined by Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott.
But this isn't your typical fight-by-fight breakdown.
After watching a card that delivered 12 finishes in 13 fights, I started asking myself a question: Has the UFC finally discovered its winning formula?
Think about it. A fight card without an overwhelming collection of household names, championship implications, or established superstars still managed to deliver an incredible night of entertainment.
Jasmine Jasudavicius and Erin Blanchfield provided the night's lone decision, while the rest of the card was filled with finishes.
And that's what caught my attention.
Do fans really need recognizable names to enjoy a UFC event? Does every fight need to advance a championship storyline? Or has the UFC discovered that exciting matchmaking and action-packed fights can sell the product without relying on superstar power?

Going through older videos to see what has changed in terms of my training philosophy and the fighting Ecosystem.

Another UFC show with plenty of finishes

Josh Hokitt and Sean Strickland news.  My Coach called in and reminded me that I'm not too old to learn new things.

I could say don't get stabbed, don't get shot at, don't get into car accidents, and so on.  I could focus on things out of my control. However, I'd rather focus on what I can control.  Try a smile and a reason to laugh.  There's power in it!

It’s Wednesday—Comic Book Day—and that got me thinking about something fighters often overlook: people need a reason to care about you beyond what happens in the cage.
Your interests, hobbies, work, family, creativity, and experiences aren’t distractions from your martial arts journey. They’re part of what makes you interesting—and many of the skills developed outside the gym can strengthen what you do inside it.

Taking a look at the Tapology  Rankings for the P4P list
 
Using Tapology’s North Carolina regional P4P rankings as the starting point, I work my way through the list—not necessarily to tear it apart or rebuild it, but to ask whether the rankings make sense right now.
For me, pound-for-pound shouldn't simply be a collection of good fighters with strong records. Activity matters. Recent performance matters. Level of competition matters. Momentum matters. And when you mix amateurs, developing professionals, veterans, undefeated prospects, and fighters who haven't competed recently into one regional list, the criteria become even more important.
 
The biggest question isn't whether Tapology got every position right.