Fight Night, Tomorrow!

In a recent article in the Telegraph, UFC fighter and potential world-champion Jake Shileds said, “…people told me over and over ‘you had better start eating meat if you want to be an athlete’. Maybe I’m proving them  all wrong.”

Saturday April 30th, the lean and green Jake Shields will take on Tornonto’s Georges St-Pierre for an opportunity to become the world’s first vegetarian to hold the world UFC title belt. The fact that Shields has made it this far, and that he is unbeaten in more than six years with a 15-0 record in that time makes me proud! Back in 2008 I interviewed Shields, check it out to see how far he’s come! The only question is, who’s having the fight-night party?

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Jake Shields lets out a long laugh when asked if he can strike a blow by becoming the first vegetarian to hold a UFC world title belt (at least we both think he would be the first). Shields, up close and personal, is a engaging character, modest and self-contained. He will need all those qualities, and more, when he steps in against Georges St-Pierre, a Canadian sporting superstar, here in Toronto at the Rogers Center, with the largest crowd ever seen at a UFC event. The arena will house 55,000 fans on the night. – The Telegraph

Here is a list of networks and websites on which to watch the fight.
Here is a list of sports bars across the country screening the fight (maybe they’ll serve vegan buffalo wings in honor of Jake?)

Viscous Vegetarians & Championship Fights

The UFC homepage had this image up yesterday! How cool is that? Vegan and vegetarian men are kicking serious ass, and on April 30th, Jake Shields will be fighting for the welterweight championship! Who is hosting a party in NYC to watch?

Mac Danzig’s $100K KO

by contributor, Pierre Grzybowski

Now that’s a battle cry. Vegan UFC fighter Mac Danzig scored a huge win Saturday night with a first-round knockout of Joe “Daddy” Stevenson—earning him an extra $100,000 for “Knockout of the Night.” As Stevenson advanced, Danzig stepped back and threw a left hook, ringing Stevenson’s bell, and toppling him face- first into the mat. Next up for veg fight fans: animal advocate Jake Shields will get his chance to strip Georges St. Pierre of the UFC welterweight title.

Animal Advocate Jake Shields Signs with Ultimate Fighting Championship

By Pierre Grzybowski

In his November 2008 interview with the Discerning Brute, life-long vegetarian and professional fighter Jake Shields was asked to complete the sentence: “In a perfect world…”

His answer: “…I’ll be the UFC Champion next year.”

Well, he’s a little behind schedule, but it looks like he will finally get his chance. Sherdog.com is reporting that Jake Shields has signed to fight in the UFC welterweight division, where he will make his debut October 23 at UFC 121. Ultimately, Shields will face reigning champ Georges St-Pierre to decide the best 170-pounder in the world.

While waiting for his October 23 UFC debut, read up on everything Shields has done for animals while not busy winning 14 consecutive fights over the last 5 years.

Pierre Grzybowski is the manager of the fur-free campaign for The Humane Society of the United States.  He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Danzig Wins, Hi-Top Brogues & Miami Dolphin’s Ricky Williams

Our favorite vegan tough-guy, Mac Danzig, won his bout against Justin Buchholz on the Feb. 7th, 2010 event, UFC 109 Relentless. Read the full article on UFC.com. Prior to the match, the fighters were asked in a video what their favorite junk-foods were. Danzig said, “Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies and Soy Ice Cream“. I’d have to agree, but I think coconut-cream based ice cream is a bit better…

Miami Dolphins’ running back Ricky Williams has a  Heisman Trophy, a Maxwell Award, and is a Pro Bowl MVP – but he’s also a vegetarian who participated in a faux-chicken wing taste-test for PETA a few days go. Check out the video, but please don’t ask “duh..Ricky, where do you get your protein?

Ricky is co-owner of a new restaurant, Proof, in Miami that has a lot of vegan options. The winning wings may have been gardein buffalo wings!

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Nanny State, made by  Dr. Shoes has some really cool, waxed canvas, tartan-lined, brogue boots in black, green, and brown.


A Discerning Brute: Mac Danzig

Mac Danzig is one tough vegan mo’fo’. Most mainstream athletes and trainers are not only skeptical of the vegan lifestyle – but they tend to ridicule it – imagining vegans to be frail, pale, and weak – and subscribing to outdated and dis-proven fallacies like the ‘protein myth’ and ‘calcium myth’.

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Touché. Mac has won numerous world titles in smaller organizations on his way to the UFC and is not only a fighter, but also a teacher of mixed martial arts in Hollywood California. A vegan, naturalist, animal rights activist and serious photographer, Danzig transcends the typical stereotype of a combat athlete.

Mac recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal article entitles “The 247 lb. Vegan” (thanks to Karen of Dawnwatch for the link) about the NFL star Tony Gonzalez and other pro-athletes who’ve tried the vegan diet like the NBA’s Salim Stoudamire of the Atlanta Hawks.


Mac Danzig

“From humble beginnings, to a meteoric rise towards the highest ranks of mixed martial arts, last month, on a vegan diet of brown-rice protein, beans, soy, nuts and vegetables, Mr. Danzig defeated the last of his challengers in Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter.” – WSJ

“…When fight fans learned Mr. Danzig was a vegan, some said they didn’t think he’d have the strength, or the stomach, to conquer the ultra-violent sport, which combines kick-boxing and wrestling. “It’s about animal rights,” Mr. Danzig says, “not human rights.” – WSJ

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Protein Shake for the Vegan Athlete:

If you’re into martial arts and looking for a good, vegan MMA glove – The folks on the Vegan Fittness Forum pointed out both Vitamins & Minerals of Brazil, and Everlast as makers of decent non-leather MMA gloves.Vegan MMa Glove?

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