Ram Gilboa
Israeli Natan Levy talks multi-country martial arts journey from ‘McDojo’ to the UFC
“2020 is a great year. Well, it’s been great to me,” Natan Levy (6-0 MMA) says, which goes to show you that life is existential by essence, and your mileage may vary. Levy, a 29-year-old Israeli, picked up an impressive technical submission win over Shaheen Santana in Dana White’s Contender Series. Levy, who spent his […]
Royce Gracie says ‘it’s hard to compare’ eras: Can fighters today fight in 1993?
“What Situation?” Royce Gracie asks when asked about the situation here, in Israel. In the lobby of the Sheraton Tel-Aviv beach hotel, where the top Bellator fighters and brass are stay for Bellator 234, he says it doesn’t bother him and he looks the part; all smiles, all calm. Except for the by now mechanic […]
Interview: Chael Sonnen recalls fighting GSP ‘in a basement’ back in 2014
As Bellator 234: Kharitonov vs Vassell gets ready to go in the city of Tel-Aviv, Israel, there have been some minor developments in another popular fighting field – war – that threaten to collide with the scheduled MMA event. Hundreds of rockets and missiles were launched from Gaza this week by the Islamic Jihad terrorist […]
The Quick and the Young: After 11 second win, Aviv Gozali is looking to set another Bellator record
Aviv Gozali’s 11 second submission win at the Bellator 225 prelims seemed to divide MMA’s social media in even half. The Israeli prospect’s heel-hook over Eduard Muravitskiy was either the most awesome thing since Jorge Masvidal flattened Ben Askren in 5 seconds – albeit on a smaller magnitude, or it showed of lack of sportsmanship, […]
Bellator MMA heavyweight prospect Adam Keresh reflects on big KO win vs. ‘Baby Fedor’
Adam Keresh (3-0 MMA, 2-0 Bellator) nabbed a great win at Bellator 209 earlier this month in Tel-Aviv, spoiling “Baby Fedor” Kirill Sidelnikov’s promotional debut. After what looked like an unnerving start – which included getting semi-suplexed onto the mat – Keresh remained poised. He promptly dropped the M-1, Affliction, and Rizin veteran with a […]
Take the B out of BJJ: A Mata Leão by any other name will still choke you out
I love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Love it, and everything about it. It’s an awesome martial-art. Day to day, among the greatest workouts and competitive sports, and can also be deadly when necessary. I love the moves, the matches, the atmosphere, the challenge, and the overwhelming simplicity, & complexity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; I pretty much view it […]
Interview: Royce Gracie says jiujitsu ‘got really really bad in the past 20 years’
Royce Gracie believes this is his fifteenth time in Israel. He’s given seminars at David Binyamin’s gyms in the country’s north, to the army, and vacationed in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. More recently, he’s been traveling over as a brand ambassador for Bellator. Twenty odd years on, the UFC 1, 2 & 4 winner is in […]
Fedor Emelianenko: It’s a pleasure to do business with Bellator MMA
“The Last Emperor” is sharing his presence in the Holy Land right now, where he arrived as ambassador for Bellator MMA, which will stage Bellator 188 in the Menora-Mivtachim Hall in Tel-Aviv this Thursday. (Noad Lahat versus Jeremiah Labiano is the new main-event, following a last-minute cancellation of Patricio Freire versus Daniel Weichel) I meet […]
Israeli judoka wins gold at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, hosts refuse to play his nation’s anthem
Israel had a good run in the first day of the IJF Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam, but you wouldn’t know it sitting in the stands. There were no Israeli flags visible in the IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City, and the nation’s anthem was not heard. When judoka Tal Flicker stood on the winner’s […]
Bellator 180: Israeli ‘Batman’ prepares to fight in Madison Square Garden
Most fans don’t know him, or likely haven’t even heard of him before. First name Haim, Last Gozali. Haim – pronounced Chaim – is common in Israel and means ‘Life’ in Hebrew. Gozali, uncommon, is the diminutive of ‘Chick’ – the bird kind. It’s a comically incongruous last name. This Chicky is bald, wide, stubbled, […]
How I became vice-champion in the Israeli Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships
Ole – that’s a real name – is a good old friend of mine. I actually vouched for him when he applied to renew his resident visa in Israel. Right now he’s trying with all his might and ability to choke me. I can see his stare transforming. His eyes glistening, his mouth gaping. I […]
Interview: A sit-down with Georges St-Pierre in Israel
This feature interview with former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is a guest column written by Israel-based writer Ram Gilboa. Editor’s note: It was also republished on the front page for November 3rd, 2017, the eve of GSP’s return. The Ritz Carlton Herzliya lobby has big glass walls overlooking the beach, and low, stout, round […]