UFC 108 Photos

Las Vegas- Covering a sporting event usually means trying to get peak action photos. The other part is getting moments of jublilation or dejection that can sum up a match in one photo. UFC 108 had all the elements that can make an engaging photo, great action-filled fights along with emotional wins and losses.

Martin Kampmann, left, celebrates, Cole Miller comforts Dan Lauzon after defeating him.Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva battle during the main event.Rashad Evans, left, and Dustin Hazelett pray before their bouts.Sam Stout, right, rocks Joe Lauzon in the Fight of the Night.Junior dos Santos, left, trades punches with Gilbert Yvel.Cole Miller, right, catches Dan Lauzon in an up kick.Jim Miller, left, submits Duane Ludwig.Jim Miller celebrates his submission over Duane Ludwig.

Portraits of Tito Ortiz

I covered an open workout with UFC fighter Tito Ortiz at his training facility in Big Bear Lake, CA. I used three Nikon SB-24 strobes triggered by Pocketwizards. For the formal portraits, I used Honl grids to get a beam of light focused on the subject.

Portraits of Lyoto Machida

I am trying to make portraits of UFC fighters on location using small battery powered strobes. I don't know what kind of conditions I may encounter at a gym so using the strobes on small lightstands gives me the flexibility of shaping the light without worrying about finding power.

UFC 100, Violence, Blood, and Sportsmanship?

 Jon Jones after choking out Jake O'Brien

UFC 100 was a huge milestone for mixed-martial arts and it is now covered like a mainstream sporting event. Over 200 media credentials were given out. There was a two day fan expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. UFC 100 was one of the toughest tickets to get as it sold out on pre-sale.

There were some ups and downs for the UFC. The revenues from the event from pay per view and the arena gate were huge but there were some controversey regarding the main event as the winner Brock Lesnar acted more in line with his former employer, the WWE, than what the organization was trying to promote. Not a good idea for Lesnar to flip the bird to the fans and trash the lead sponsor of the event, Bud Light. In another bout, Dan Henderson knocked out his opponent, Michael Bisping, but adding another punch to the unconcious fighter on the mat may have been overboard especially when he told fans afterwards that it "was to shut him up".

Los Angeles Time columnist TJ Simers had a scathing column on UFC 100. His main point was how he thought MMA fans were blood thirsty and loved violence. One of his comparsions was with the basketball. I wondered why he didn't compare it with football, where a few athletes die or get paralyzed every year, or boxing, which has a long history of maimed participants. How about when a pitcher in baseball throws at a hitter? MMA so far has a good record for stopping fights before serious injury has resulted.

I shot some bloody photos. Cuts from the head tend to bleed much more than other parts of the body. The actual damage to the fighter is minimal. Although it does further the stereotype of MMA as human cockfighting.

Mac Danzig suffers a nasty cut from an elbow from Jim MillerBrock Lesnar dominates Frank MirDan Henderson knocks out Michael BispingDan Henderson adds an extra blow to Michael Bisping

Dan Henderson celebrates by climbing the Ocatagon after defeating Michael Bisping

Portrait of Kimbo Slice at UFC 100

I caught up with Kevin Ferguson, also known in the youtube street fighting videos as Kimbo Slice, in Las Vegas. He has gone from underground street fighter to the very mainstream The Ultimate Fighter reality televison show on Spike TV.

Armed with only an LED video light and a Canon 5D with a 16-35mm lens, I embarked on an impromptu portrait session at the UFC 100 Fan Expo.