Donnie Yen solidified his status as a martial arts legend with his role in the 2008 film "Ip Man," captivating audiences with his portrayal of the wing chun master. The success of "Ip Man" and its three sequels highlighted Yen's martial arts prowess and stunt work, but his filmography extends well beyond this series. Here are three exceptional Donnie Yen movies that showcase his versatility and skill outside of the Ip Man saga. Donnie Yen Movies Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010) Blending historical drama with superhero elements, "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen" casts Donnie Yen as a resistance leader against the Japanese occupation of China. Yen doubles as the action director, delivering mesmerising fight sequences while donning a costume reminiscent of Kato from The Green Hornet. The film pays homage to Bruce Lee's iconic roles, particularly through a climactic battle that features a relentless barrage of opponents and skilled nunchaku use, making it a thrilling watch for martial arts enthusiasts. Kung Fu Killer (2014) In "Kung Fu Killer," Yen portrays a martial arts instructor behind bars who bargains for his freedom to stop a serial killer targeting martial artists across various disciplines. Serving again as the action director, Yen crafts engaging and innovative combat scenes that explore the deeper meanings of martial arts. The film's narrative twists and thematic exploration make it a standout addition to Yen's filmography. Flash Point (2007) Directed by Wilson Yip, who collaborated with Yen on the Ip Man series and other projects, "Flash Point" is a gripping action film that pits Yen's rogue cop character against a trio of dangerous gangsters. The film is notable for its intense gunfights and hand-to-hand combat, with a particular emphasis on grappling techniques rarely seen in martial arts films. This collaboration between Yip and Yen showcases their dynamic partnership and offers an exhilarating experience for action movie fans. These films are available for streaming on potentially all major OTT platforms, providing a glimpse into the breadth of Donnie Yen's career beyond his iconic role as Ip Man. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his work, these movies are sure to entertain and impress.

French kickboxer-turned-mixed martial artist Cedric “Le Meilleur” Doumbe already holds himself in high regard when it comes to the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene in France, even if he’s only had a handful of professional fights in the sport.  While Doumbe has an impressive 75-7-1 record in kickboxing, he’s only had five professional MMA bouts – all wins by knockout. His latest foray into MMA was his most high-profile and most impressive to date, making his highly-anticipated Professional Fighters League (PFL) Europe debut by scoring a nine-second KO over fellow Frenchman Jordan Zebo.  With such a performance on the biggest stage that he’s been on, it’s no surprise that the 31-year old is laying claim to the title of “Face of MMA in France”.  “I think, and I’m 100 percent sure, I am the face of MMA in France, and everybody knows that,” Doumbe said  via a popular websit . “Of course, it’s hard to say because for some people, if you’re not in the UFC, you can’t be the face of MMA because they think that UFC is where the top guys are at. That’s not wrong, but still, you don’t have to be UFC champion to be the face of MMA in your country.” While France may not exactly be a hotbed of talent when it comes to MMA, there have been quite a few who have made their mark in the sport. Today, names like Benoit Saint-Denis, Nassourdine Imavov, Manon Fiorot, and Cyril Gane among others proudly fly the French flag in MMA.  Doumbe, whose moniker aptly translates to “The Best” in English, believes that he’s at a level above those aforementioned names.  “It doesn’t depend on your performance. It depends on who you are, what you do, can you sell out an Accor Arena in 20 minutes? I don’t think so,” he said. “You can’t be the face of (French) MMA. Cyril Gane, he sold out the Accor Arena in one hour or one day? I don’t think he can. I think these types of things make me the face of MMA in France.” As confident as Doumbe already sounds, he still has even bigger aspirations, one that includes capturing world championship gold.  “I want to be champion. I want to knock everyone out and show that I am the best and I can beat everybody also in MMA,” he expressed. “I just want to show people that I’m special, and there’s no one like Cedric Doumbe. I want to show it and make history.” Doumbe makes his return to the PFL SmartCage against fellow undefeated Baissangour "Baki" Chamsoudinov in the main event of PFL Europe 1 in Paris on Thursday, March 7th.

First-Ever Live Sports Programming on Fuse Kicks Off with Fight on February 24, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET/PT   In Addition to Live Events, Partnership Includes a Series of Special Shows and COMBATE GLOBAL Library Fights for El Rey Rebel FAST Channel Latino-owned  Fuse Media , the global leader of inclusive entertainment, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise COMBATE GLOBAL to be its exclusive English language broadcast partner beginning with a live television event on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET/PT from Miami, FL.  As part of the deal celebrating Latino sports, Fuse will broadcast a total of eight live events between the spring and summer that showcase the top male and female Hispanic MMA fighters in the world.  The agreement with COMBATE GLOBAL will also provide Fuse Media with the exclusive linear rights to 12 shows produced exclusively for the Fuse audience and featuring the biggest names and most exciting fights from COMBATE GLOBAL’s events, as well as celebrity guest athletes, movie stars and musicians who are passionate about combat sports.  Over 500 hours of library content consisting of past COMBATE GLOBAL fights will also be distributed on Fuse Media’s El Rey Rebel FAST channel.    “Fuse Media is entering into an exciting new chapter by offering free, live, world-class professional MMA events to our viewers, and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to enter this space with than COMBATE GLOBAL," stated Miguel Roggero, Chairman and CEO of Fuse Media. “This is a perfect marriage of two minority-targeted companies. COMBATE’s dedication to entertaining and catering to a young, diverse audience integrates seamlessly with Fuse's own audience demographic."  COMBATE GLOBAL has the youngest U.S. television audience of any MMA sports franchise, with a viewership on Spanish-language television that is evenly split between male and female. The franchise is rapidly becoming the second most popular sport (after soccer) among Latino sports fans worldwide. By partnering with COMBATE GLOBAL, Fuse Media is reaffirming its commitment to reach young diverse viewers with empowering programming while further solidifying Fuse's standing as one of the youngest and most multicultural English-language adult TV networks.  “COMBATE GLOBAL’s foundation and success has, to a great extent, been based on the growing Hispanic population in the U.S.” said Campbell McLaren, CEO, COMBATE GLOBAL. “In naming Fuse Media our official English-language broadcast partner, COMBATE GLOBAL will now reach the entire spectrum of the Latino audience, regardless of which language they consume their media. We are thrilled to be working with a partner that understands this audience and is as steadfast in their commitment to diversity as Fuse Media.”  On Saturday, February 24, COMBATE GLOBAL’s live main event will be a Mexico vs. USA welterweight (170 pounds) matchup between Javier Basurto (23-9) and Marcos Lloreda (13-8).   Lloreda, based in Miami, is looking for his third consecutive win in COMBATE GLOBAL action.  Basurto hails from Ecuador and has earned 78 percent of his victories by (T)KO or submission.  Other matchups on the card include a women's flyweight (125 pounds) bout between undefeated Veronica Vargas (2-0) of San Jose, Costa Rica squaring and Blanca Medina (1-1) of Sevilla, Spain via Miami; and a bantamweight (135 pounds) contest between 23-year-old rising star Brandon "El Prendido" Gonzalez (3-1) of Zacatecas, Zac., Mexico and Erik Villasmil (2-2) of Maracaibo, Venezuela via Atlanta, GA.

Cage Warriors has today confirmed the addition of a huge lightweight title bout to its already stacked CW 169 event at London’s indigo at The O2.  Returning champion George Hardwick will attempt the third defence of his 155lb crown, when he meets American challenger Lucas ‘Cassius’ Clay (10-3).  The bout will take place over five rounds at London’s indigo at The O2, on Saturday, March 30th, and airs live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. 27-year-old Hardwick, from Middlesbrough, UK, last competed in the famous yellow gloves in April of 2023, stopping Luxembourg’s Yann Liasse with a barrage of unanswered punches in the very first round.  Prior to that, he captured the vacant title in a brutal war of attrition against Kyle Driscoll, before making a successful defence against Chris Bungard.  Hardwick last saw action in a spirited defeat to the UFC’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady on Dana White’s Contender Series in August.  He’ll now return to the European leader in a bid to claim his championship outright with a third successful victory, kickstarting another UFC run in the process.  Challenging Hardwick will be St Louis, Missouri’s Lucas ‘Cassius’ Clay.  The 28-year-old, a product of St Charles MMA, initially came to prominence as one of the first fighters of note to hit a buggy choke in MMA competition.  A gifted amateur, Clay compiled a 9-1 record before making the leap to the pro ranks, where he has thus far achieved ten victories including four by way of submission.  “On March 30th, we've got the Cage Warriors lightweight champion back in action…”  said CW President Graham Boylan." “George Hardwick will defend his belt against Lucas Clay. Lucas is ten and three, has eight wins via submission (across amateur and pro) and he's never been finished. " “George has also never been finished and is coming in on a six fight Cage Warriors win-streak. This one is locked and loaded!"    The bout joins a number of high-profile contests previously announced for the card, including Jordan Vucenic vs Simone D’Anna, Lone’er Kavanagh vs Shawn Da Silva, Will Currie vs Leon Aliu, Matt Figlak vs Kamil Dołgowski and more.  Tickets are available via  CageWarriors.com , with the entire event airing live on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners.

Partnership to launch at PFL Europe’s Paris event Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Accor Arena The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced UNIBET as the official sportsbook and betting partner of PFL Europe in the UK and France in 2024 and 2025.  The two-year partnership kicks off at the 2024 PFL Europe Paris event on Thursday, March 7 live from Accor Arena. PFL and UNIBET previously partnered at PFL Europe’s Paris event in 2023, which became the biggest MMA event in French TV history.   “The PFL is proud to partner with UNIBET, the leading sportsbook for mixed martial arts across Europe,” said PFL SVP of International, James Frewin. “PFL Europe and UNIBET share many synergies, and we’re excited to provide fans across the UK and France an opportunity to enjoy a premium gaming experience." UNIBET is part of the Kindred Group - which incorporates nine of Europe’s most successful online gambling brands - has established a strong presence in combat sports in both France and the UK, while its wider portfolio includes leading football clubs in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia as well as prestigious horse racing events. Neil Banbury, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Kindred Group, said: “It is always Kindred’s ambition to partner with ambitious, forward-looking sports organisations. The speed of PFL’s growth and its undoubted potential made this an easy choice from our perspective. We can’t wait to support the PFL on its evolution, and we’re counting down the days until our partnership officially begins.”

BRAVE Combat Federation, recognized as the world’s most international MMA organization, has entered a broadcasting agreement with Arena Channels Group, part of Telekom Serbia, the leading telecom entity in the Balkans. This partnership ensures the broadcast of all BRAVE CF live events across the region via the company’s sports channels. Established by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, BRAVE CF dominates the European MMA market, having organized an unparalleled 22 events in 13 countries over six years. The organization has unveiled plans for a 2024 European Tour, featuring events in Slovenia, France, Germany, and inaugural events in Croatia and the Netherlands. BRAVE CF has significantly contributed to MMA's growth in Serbia, marking a milestone with the inaugural European BRAVE International Combat Week in Belgrade. This event, the world's largest combat sports festival, set attendance records by drawing over 20,000 spectators to the Stark Arena, fostering a thriving MMA ecosystem in Serbia with the backing of Arena Sport, the event’s official media ally. When commenting on the deal, BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid spoke of last year’s triumphal moment for the sport in Europe and spoke on how the broadcasting deal will be key in continuing to advance the sport in Europe. ‘’ First, I’d like to thank the General Director of Arena Channels Group Nebojša Žugić and the president of Serbian National Federation, Luka Nikolic. Last year, we put on our biggest show in Belgrade, with the support of the Serbian federation, and of course, Arena Sport. This event has elevated MMA in the Balkans and in Europe to never-before-seen levels. As the most global MMA organization in the world, BRAVE Combat Federation has a mission to bring in a new era for the sport in Europe, and this deal with Arena Sport is key in achieving this goal. This partnership is part of our strategies to implement our vision for the development of MMA in Europe, and Serbia will play a major role in making this vision successful. Serbia has a special place in BRAVE CF history, and I’m delighted to be able to announce this deal on the Serbian National day’’, said Mohammed Shahid. "It's a great accomplishment that they've recognized our country and region as a destination for investing in sports promotion and infrastructure. We look forward to Arena Channels Group becoming their media partner. All of this will contribute to achieving one of our top priorities – the popularization of martial arts in the region and the ongoing effort to invest in motivating young people to engage in sports, as it is crucial for the development of a healthy nation," said Nebojša Žugić, the General Director of Arena Channels Group. BRAVE Combat Federation Chief Operations Officer Valeria Lang hailed the work done by Arena Sport on the development of combat sports in Serbia and said she was looking forward to the impact the partnership with BRAVE CF will have on martial arts in Serbia and in Europe. ‘’Arena Sport has played a major role in elevating all combat sports on a national level in Serbia and bringing world-class sporting content to the Balkan region. With BRAVE CF’s vision of globalization and developing mixed martial arts in Europe, this is a partnership made in heaven. Together, we’ll be able to achieve so much more for martial arts in Serbia and in the Balkan region’’.

How do you get someone off you, someone who is mounted on you and pounding your face in? Most instructors will have long-winded explanations and a myriad of techniques to accomplish it, but I’ll keep it short. Real short. There are only four things you need to know, and they’re so easy that you’ll never forget them if you find yourself in this situation. But first, a little history lesson. French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) wrote a collection of letters called “Lettres Provinciales” in 1657. In one of them, he made a profound statement: “I have made this letter longer than usual, because I have not had time to make it shorter.” You’d think that it would take less time to write a short letter, and normally you’d be right. However, if you wanted to write a letter that was inspiring and thought-provoking — like a poem, for instance — it takes a great deal of thought and time to select the perfect words. To inspire, enlighten or motivate a reader to act is no easy feat. It’s no different for teaching self-defense. To survive combat, the thought process to select techniques and tactics must be short and to the point, which translates into faster reaction time and effectiveness. Every combat situation you may face has be condensed into the “short letter concept,” so to speak, or else you may end up wasting time and fail to deploy the correct solution. When your back is on the ground, you must think of your body dividing the surface of the ground into four quadrants, or four squares. One line divides the center of your body in half, from your head to your tailbone. The second line runs straight across your shoulders extending right and left. There are two upper squares above your shoulder line, and two lower squares below your shoulder line. Two boxes on your right side, and two boxes on your left side. No matter how you get the mounted attacker off-balance — be it with a hip buck, thrashing back and forth, or a finger jab to the eye. Once the attacker puts his hand down on the ground to regain his balance and keep from falling to the ground, the law of gravity means that he must place his hand in one of the four squares. When he does, it means that there are only four possibilities for you to take advantage of.If the hand is placed in one of the two upper squares above your shoulders, which are divided right and left by the center line of your head, then you’ll do a sweep. Now, at this point, I must “write my letter longer” so you will understand the concept, and once you do, you’ll always go with the shorter version in your mind when it counts most — in combat.Once the attacker’s hand touches the ground, you will push, or sweep, the attacker’s wrist or arm away from you so he falls in that direction. Using a common metaphor, you’re essentially knocking out one of the legs of a three-legged stool, and it will fall. To make sure you are successful, you must use your opposite hand to push the attacker’s body in the direction you want him to go, and assist with the opposite knee. Of course, once the attacker falls, you must immediately follow up (counterattack so he does not come back at you). If the attacker’s hand lands in a lower square, which is right and left of your body’s centerline and below your shoulder line, then lock his arm. Just reach around his arm, hook it, pull it in tight to your body and roll in that same direction. He no longer has that arm available to brace himself, and down he goes. You may even get the added benefit of breaking his stuck wrist as you roll onto it. This brings up a warning for training. When practicing this technique with a partner, you must first warn him or her to adjust the wrist so it’s not twisted the wrong way when the roll takes place. Once the warning is given and he or she responds, “OK, go,” then and only then can you roll into the direction of the lock. So what happens if the attacker tries to regain his balance after your destabilizing strike and places both hands in the two upper right and left squares at the same time? That’s easy. Pick one of his arms and then sweep it. Notice that I said, “one of his arms,” and not both. That’s because if you knock out both arms at the same time, his head or torso will fall straight down on your face. The goal is to launch him to one side or the other. It will never happen where the attacker will place his hands in both lower squares at the same time unless he fell backward for some reason. However, it is possible that the attacker will put one hand in an upper square and the second hand diagonally in the lower square at the same time In this case, you just pick the nearest “target” with your nearest “weapon,” and either sweep or lock it — but go after only one arm. If you go after both arms, he will just fall on top of you. Like I stated, I’ve been teaching my original “Jim Wagner 4 Square Take Off Rule” for a couple of decades now, and all the students who have cycled through my Ground Survival courses — people who have come to me from virtually every fighting system under the sun (civilian martial arts, law-enforcement defensive tactics and military combatives) — have confirmed that this is by far the easiest method to understand and use for this particular ground situation. Now, if someone comes along with a better way to teach it, I’ll run it through the testing process like I do with any new technique, tactic or training method I encounter. I have a bunch of experts try it and give their input. If there is some merit to it, I’ll see if beginners can take to it. If it is not easily understood, if it’s too complicated or if it’s not as good as what we already have, it is not adopted into the Jim Wagner Reality-Based Personal Protection system. However, if it turns out that the new way is better, it’s out with the old and in with the new. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me if my name is on it or not. It’s all about having the best methods available to stay alive. BE A HARD TARGET

Donnie Williams hails from Savannah, Georgia, USA. Before embarking on his journey in martial arts and acting, Donnie served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, stationed with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. During his Navy service, particularly when not deployed to Vietnam, Donnie devoted his spare time to learning Karate. He dedicated five hours a day to honing his Karate skills. Following his military tenure, Donnie continued his Karate training, actively participating in tournaments. Donnie's proficiency and confidence in martial arts catapulted him to win numerous titles and awards, ultimately earning him the prestigious title of Grandmaster and a 10th Degree Black Belt. In 1969, he played a pivotal role in co-founding the Black Karate Federation (BKF) in Los Angeles. The BKF aimed to encourage Black individuals to participate in the predominantly white karate tournament circuit at that time. It was through his involvement in Karate that Donnie Williams ventured into the world of movies. Casting agents, having approached the BKF, enlisted Donnie for an uncredited role in the Bruce Lee film, "Enter the Dragon" (1973). In this film, he bids farewell to his student "Williams," played by fellow black martial artist Jim Kelly, as the character departs for Hong Kong. In this interview, Black Belt's Tony Parrish talks with Donnie about his legacy and work.

As UFC 298 approaches, fans and analysts alike are buzzing with anticipation for the featherweight showdown between Topuria vs. Volkanovski. This bout is not just a clash of two elite fighters but a strategic chess match filled with nuances that could sway the outcome in either direction. Here are the top five things to watch out for in this highly anticipated encounter. 1. Volkanovski's Striking Versatility vs. Topuria's Power Alexander Volkanovski is renowned for his striking versatility, showcasing a diverse array of punches, kicks, and feints that keep his opponents guessing. His ability to mix up his attacks with precision and timing has been a key to his success. Against Ilia Topuria, a fighter known for his devastating power and ability to finish fights, Volkanovski's striking versatility will be crucial. The question is whether Volkanovski can maintain his dynamic striking approach while avoiding the powerful counters of Topuria. 2. Topuria's Ground Game Ilia Topuria has demonstrated a formidable ground game, with a solid base in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His ability to control opponents on the ground and find openings for submissions poses a significant threat to anyone in the featherweight division. While Volkanovski is no slouch on the ground, having shown strong wrestling and defensive jiu-jitsu, the depth of Topuria's ground skills could be a pivotal factor if the fight goes to the mat. 3. Pace and Cardio Alexander Volkanovski's exceptional cardio has been a defining feature of his fighting style. He maintains a high pace throughout rounds, which has worn down many of his opponents. Topuria, while explosive and powerful, will need to match or exceed this pace to keep up with Volkanovski's relentless pressure. The ability to maintain performance late into the fight could be decisive, especially if the bout goes to the later rounds. 4. Fight IQ and Adaptability Both fighters have shown high levels of fight IQ and adaptability in their careers. Volkanovski's strategic approach, adjusting his tactics mid-fight against various opponents, speaks volumes of his analytical ability inside the octagon. Topuria, on the other hand, has displayed his knack for reading his opponents and capitalizing on their mistakes. The fighter who better adjusts to the flow of the bout and exploits the openings will have a significant edge. 5. The Mental Game The psychological aspect of this fight cannot be understated. Volkanovski, having faced and overcome top-tier competition, has proven his mental fortitude time and again. Topuria, although newer to the spotlight of a high-profile UFC fight, has shown composure and confidence in his ascent. How each fighter handles the pressure, especially in the high-stakes moments of the fight, could very well determine the victor.

By Terry L. Wilson More than four decades ago, Linda Denley made history when she became the first Black woman inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. It was 1980, and she was named Competitor of the Year because she ruled the point karate world. The fighting philosophy that carried her there was straightforward. “I just want to win all the time,” she said about her attitude then and now. “Losing is embarrassing to me.” That mindset drove her to keep on winning, and her record earned her a place in numerous martial arts and sports-related halls of fame. Over the ensuing years, Denley morphed into a skilled instructor, and she’s still going strong. This is her origin story. PART 2 CHANGES IN THE SPORT Denley is quick to acknowledge that the world in which she excelled is different from the world of 2022. “There have been a lot of changes in the way tournaments were done over the years,” she said. “For one thing, the style of the fighters changed. When I was competing, it was easy to determine who the winner was. The winner was the person who was still standing. The loser would be bent over with their hands on their knees. In my era, fighting was very intense.” That said, Denley doesn’t think everything was better back in her day. “As far as competing in the sparring division, I think it’s a lot better now,” she said. “When I was coming up, we only had one division for women — it was 16 years and above, all ranks, all weights and all sizes. Now they have a division for every rank, every age and every weight. There are divisions for everyone!” Things were only slightly better for males, she said. “Back when we were competing, there were three divisions for men: light, middle and heavy. The last one standing in each division was champion.” I asked the champ if, when point fighting gave birth to full contact and then to kickboxing and mixed martial arts, new opportunities presented themselves. “I’ve never fought a full-contact match, and I have no intentions of ever doing so,” she replied. “Others have stated that I was knocking people out in the ring when it wasn’t full contact, but I have never knocked anyone out in the ring. Women fighting full contact is not my cup of tea.” Another trend Denley is not a fan of is the use of electronic sensors to determine whether a point is scored. Although she’s never competed under such a system, she said she’d rather trust qualified human beings. “I think a system using machines can weaken the sport,” she said. “Machines can only react to a touch. I prefer a human judge with the ability to see the technique and determine if the attack had enough power to be effective. But that’s just my opinion.” FIGHT LIKE A GIRL When asked about female fighters, Denley switched into no-holds barred mode. “Back in the day, women didn’t always get the respect that they do today,” she said. “I don’t think they were shown the appreciation they deserved for the ability they displayed either in fighting or forms. The women had to do twice as much and be twice as sharp in order to be labeled just as good as men.” Fortunately, they quickly proved they were up to the task. “When women began winning and taking center stage and we proved that we were just as capable as the men, things slowly began to change for us,” she said. “I hated being labeled. When someone would say, ‘She fights like a man,’ I didn’t understand because I didn’t know that karate techniques had a gender. A proper side kick is a proper side kick, and a bad side kick is obviously bad — same with punches. So I didn’t understand because a martial artist should fight like a martial artist, be it male or female.” During that tough time, a comment from martial arts promoter and fellow Black Belt Hall of Famer Joe Corley helped Denley cope. He said, “When I think about Linda Denley, I wish I could fight like a girl.” “That was an honor coming from Mr. Corley,” Denley said. Corley still regards himself as a fan. “Linda Denley is one of my favorite fighters of all time,” he told Black Belt. “And that’s not just because of how she fought in the ring but her entire essence as a martial artist. The first thing that attracted me to her as a martial artist was her attitude. Outside the ring, she walked softly and talked softly, but inside the ring, she was a warrior.” NEXT STOP: SELF-CONFIDENCE As the accolades poured in and Denley’s career exploded, Hollywood came knocking. She wound up appearing in six movies — one of them is Jackie Chan’s Armour of God — and on the covers of numerous martial arts magazines. “All of that was great, but for me, the real benefit of my martial arts training was that it taught me to be confident in myself,” she said. “It showed me that I can do anything I want and be a world champion as many times as I want and even appear in motion pictures.” Denley said she believes that whatever a person’s life goals might be, hard work equals success and commitment is the key to making dreams become reality. “If you give 110 percent, you can’t go wrong,” she said. “You must have a passion for whatever it is you are good at and you will be successful. I never dreamt of being a world champion. I never thought I’d be in the movies. I never thought I would travel the world and meet so many interesting people in and out of the martial arts. “But I have, and I’m very grateful for the experience. God has given me the ability to be good at something that I like doing, and I’ve had a great career doing something I love to do. It just doesn’t get any better than that.” UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION After the final bell had sounded and her career had come to a close, Linda Denley tallied her titles: She’d accumulated more than 70. That’s why from 1973 to 1996, she was the top-ranked female point fighter in the world. Renowned and feared for her fierce fighting spirit and heavy hands, she proved to the world that she was a martial arts champion. More important, she proved it to herself. Now a 10th degree in tang soo do, a 10th degree in the American Karate Black Belt Association and a fourth degree in taekwondo, she’s in a position to focus on paying it forward. She’s the owner and chief instructor at the Texas Black Belt Academy in Houston, which has been the case for the past 45 years. She also conducts seminars around the country, as well as her annual Space City Open Karate Championships in Houston. STAY HUMBLE In the 1980s and ’90s, Linda Denley dominated the women’s divisions on the sport-karate circuit, placing first at major tournaments in the United States and abroad. That included winning the Battle of Atlanta 11 times, the Diamond Nationals three times, the U.S. Open nine times, the Long Beach Internationals four times and the U.S. Capital Classic nine times. In 1985 she became the first American woman to win a semi-contact kickboxing title at the WAKO World Cup in London. She did it again in 1987 in Germany and yet again in 1990 in Italy. That made her the first female to hold three consecutive semi-contact kickboxing world titles. “My instructors taught me not to toot my own horn after my first world-championship win,” she said. “And they told me to be humble because I wasn’t finished. [They] also told me that a true world champion can win championship fights repeatedly and that’s what I had to do to prove myself. To be a true champion, I must do it again and again and again.” Which, of course, she did. Terry L. Wilson is a freelance writer and jujitsu practitioner based in San Diego.

In the fiercely competitive realm of the UFC's women's strawweight division, Amanda Lemos is making waves and laying out her roadmap to the top. Currently holding the 3rd rank in the division, Lemos has her eyes firmly set on a future clash with Tatiana Suarez, provided she emerges victorious in her upcoming bout against Mackenzie Dern. This strategic callout is not just about picking fights; it's a calculated move to edge closer to a title shot that could redefine her career. Amanda Lemos, a formidable force in the strawweight category, is gearing up for a significant fight against Mackenzie Dern. Lemos, known for her striking prowess and agility inside the octagon, understands the importance of each fight at this stage of her career. A win over Dern is crucial, but Lemos is already looking beyond, targeting Tatiana Suarez, another top contender in the division. Tatiana Suarez, unbeaten in her MMA career, represents a critical challenge for anyone in the strawweight division. Her wrestling base and relentless pressure have made her one of the most feared competitors in the category. For Lemos, a fight against Suarez isn't just another bout; it's a gateway to the title picture, a chance to prove she belongs among the elite. The strategic callout of Suarez by Lemos underscores a growing trend in modern MMA: fighters not only compete but also carefully plan their path to the top. In calling out Suarez, Lemos is not just looking for a fight; she's seeking an opportunity to leapfrog into title contention, a dream that every fighter harbours. However, the road to the title is fraught with challenges, and the fight against Mackenzie Dern is a hurdle Lemos must first overcome. Dern, a world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, presents a stylistic challenge that Lemos must navigate to keep her title aspirations alive. A victory over Dern would not only cement Lemos's position in the top ranks but also signal her readiness to take on the division's best, including Suarez. As the UFC strawweight division continues to evolve, the potential clash between Amanda Lemos and Tatiana Suarez looms large, promising fireworks and a high-stakes battle that could determine the next title challenger. For Lemos, the message is clear: win against Dern, and then it's time to turn the focus to Suarez, in what could be a defining moment in her pursuit of UFC gold. The anticipation builds as fans and pundits alike eagerly await Lemos's next move. With determination and skill on her side, Amanda Lemos is not just fighting for victories; she's fighting for her legacy in the women's strawweight division. The path is set, the goals are clear, and for Lemos, the time is now to make her mark and chase the ultimate prize in the UFC.

Luke Lessei made a statement in his ONE Championship debut against Smokin’ Jo Nattawut. However, the statement came in a razor-thin loss. In his return at ONE Fight Night 19  on Friday, February 16, he is looking to get in the win column and keep his star rising in the featherweight division.   To do so, he’ll have to knock off fellow American Eddie Abasolo. The prospect of establishing American Muay Thai on a global scale has the Iowan excited for the matchup.   “Two Americans trying to become the number one American, both coming off of battles against Thai fighters who are ranked. I mean, it’s kind of like this is like America’s best. You really don’t know what could happen in this fight,” Lessei told ONE .   As both men knock on the door of the title hunt, a win will be vital to their pursuit. It is not lost on Lessei, who is adamant he wants to show a clean performance and walk out with a win to affirm his standing within the division.   “I’m not sure what [Abasolo is] thinking, but I know how bad I want to win, and I know how bad I want to change the momentum because I don’t want to be known as the tough, durable guy,” Lessei admitted. “That’s not how I came up. I came up with clean technique, clean knockouts, efficient setups, and I’m a creator. I like to have created Muay Thai and technical, traditional Muay Thai.”   Although Lessei thrilled in his ONE debut, it was not quite the performance he wanted to have. In a gritty affair, the American showed his toughness, but he really wanted to display his crisp technique.   That is his focus ahead of his return to Bangkok.   “They already saw that I’m tough [in my last fight]. I’ve kind of got the people’s champ energy,” the American striker said.   “So now I want to show the new fans what I’ve been doing for years, and I want to show the fans that have been around this whole time why they love me, for ‘The Chef’ moves, for all the s*** that they’ve been seeing in my seminars and the Instagram videos and s*** like that. That’s what I’m out to show.”   “The Chef” is cooking up something special for Abasolo inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. Following his last outing, he is spurred by the confidence that he can survive a firefight against heavy hitters.   According to the American, that durability will play a bigger role in his second outing. In what he describes as a chess match, Lessei plans to put Abasolo away with his power and blue-collar mentality.   “I think right now the mindset going into it, the camp I’m having, I think I’m going to get Eddie out of there before three rounds. I think I’ll stop his smoothness and hit him with some combinations that are going to make him suffer,” Lessei said.   “It’ll get called. I think the fight’s going to get called late in the second or in the third round. I’m going to try to put him away.”   ONE Fight Night 19 airs live on Friday, February 16, on Prime Video. The action gets underway at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST and is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.