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• September 02, 2008 in UFC

  The Compound MMA, Oceanside CA

   

  

  Dropped into the Compound MMA here in Oceanside for a workout. The owners, Claudia and Frank, and the manager Bill have always been very friendly and very supportive. I probably didn't come across too well the last time I was in. I just want to let them know I'm sorry about that. Like everyone else, I kind of lose sight of things sometimes. I would like to sincerely thank them, and I really appreciate everything.

  

  This is a great facility. Lots of mat room, a cage, and tons of functional equipment. This is where I'm going to be setting up camp when I get back into training in a few weeks.

  

  

  

  These are some more pictures from my neighborhood in Oceanside. I like this place.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 28, 2008 in UFC

  Wow!! I can't believe that just happened!

  It's 7:46 pm. I just came in from surfing, took off my wetsuit, walked in the door, and I'm sitting here in a towel writing this.

  The coolest thing just happened. Those who believe in such things might call it a sign. I don't know, I just know it was awesome to see.

  I had been surfing since 4 pm. I sat out on the water as the sun dropped lower and lower. It finally set, and there I was out on the water catching some last waves in the evening light. All the other surfers had gone in. I was the only one still on the water. I decided to catch one more wave and call it a day. I took it as far in to the beach as I could. I stepped off, grabbed my board and turned to look back out. The next wave in the set was just breaking 100 feet away, when suddenly a dolphin flew out of the top of it right where it was cresting, sailed about five or six feet above it and fifteen fifteen feet down, and then dropped back into the smooth face. for a moment or two I could see it's silhouette flying along the wave inside it, just ahead of the breakwater, incredibly smooth and fast. Then it was gone.

  I don't have a lot of experience with surfing, or with the ocean. What I just saw might be a common occurrence. I don't know. All I do know is that I was amazed by it.

  Tomorrow I'm catching a flight out of San Diego going to Milwaukee. Hope the have some good pictures, and some good stories to post up when I get back.

  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

  Evan

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 27, 2008 in UFC

  Headed to Milwawukee this weekend for the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary

  I've been sitting around this apartment, bored to tears, waiting on the last of the gear I need for the desert adventure to come in the mail. I've really been looking forward to getting out there. I've been writing about it a little bit here. It seems some MMA websites have reported on the story, posting up that I might die out in the desert, or that it might be my greatest opponent yet, etc. Come on guys. It's really common down in southern California to go out to the off road recreation areas in the desert about an hour away from LA and San Diego. So my plan is to go out to the desert, do some camping, ride the motorcycle, and shoot some guns. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. A lot of people do it. This isn't a version of "Into the Wild". I'm not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife, to try to live off the land. I'm going fully geared up, and I'm planning on having some fun.

  I do plan on going back pretty far, so I did mention in one of my posts that I wanted to make sure to have good quality gear. Any failure of gear out in the desert could cause a problem.

  So here I am waiting on this gear I ordered. Despite the surfing, and all the other things there are to do around here, I've been really anxious to go camping, and I've gotten really bored waiting.

  I got a call this afternoon from the UFC public relations department. Turns out they need someone last minute to make an appearance out in Milwaukee at the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary. Perfect. Gives me something to do. I'm a biker anyway.

  

  Heading off to the big party in Milwaukee this weekend, and when I get back, going to go play in the desert a little bit. Back into training after that.

   PS I'm flying in to Milwaukee. I'm in Oceanside right now. There's no way I could ride the bike and be there by this weekend.

   

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 23, 2008 in UFC

  Iron Warrior Fight League

  Been meaning to get this posted up. I took a trip to Indiana in May to watch the Iron Warrior Fight League show. Met a lot of great MMA fans. Had a really good time. 

  

   

   

  The fighters at the rules meeting. 

  

   

   

  There were some really good fights. I was busy over at the table, but the fights I did get to watch were really good. 

   

  

   

   

  No matter where you go, there always seems to be one of these weirdos trying to get in the shot.........oh, that's Dan. 

  

   

   

  Dan and Aric. I really want to thank them for helping me out. 

  

   

  This is Missy. She's one of the promoters of the show. Matt, Missy, Kassie, thanks for having me out. 

  

  The next day we dropped in at Intergrated Martial Arts. I think that's the name. It's been a little bit. It's where Chris Lytle, and Jake O'brien train. 

  

  Going a round with Chris. He's solid. 

  

  Dan Christison showing some technique.

   

  Jake O'brien

  

    

   

   

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 20, 2008 in UFC

  UFC 87, UFC 86 Forrest Griffin and Anderson Silva

  I've been putting this off for a while. This is where keeping this journal/blog becomes more work than fun. To tell it like it is, I compete, but I don't follow the sport. I never have. I train and focus a thousand percent when I have a fight signed, but when I don't, I'm busy with other adventures. I don't check up on MMA online. I don't read any magazines, and I watch very, very few of the shows. That isn't meant disrespectfully in any way to the sport, and to the fans. It just never has been my thing. I'm usually fully focused on what I'm doing, and if I'm not competing, I'm paying attention to something else. That's the way it's been with any sport in which I've been involved(wrestling, pole vaulting, BMX racing, snowboarding, surfing, cycling, football, bowling, mountain biking, surfing, skydiving, scuba diving, etc, etc). I'm better at playing the game, than watching the game.

  I'm not going to try to give a professional, fight by fight, play by play breakdown of the fights in UFC 87. There are plenty of guys who know what they're talking about, that are doing a great job of that. You'll be disappointed reading this if that's what you're expecting. This opening will probably be longer than what I have to say on the fights.

  Kenny Florian. I'm impressed with Kenny everytime I see him. I did watch some of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter show. I don't remember that I cared for him too much then. It was easy to feel a little resentful of the guys. I had put in so many years earning my place in MMA, in the UFC, and suddenly there were a bunch of these young guys getting an quick and easy road into the Octagon. I paid attention to some of the guys, kind of kept track of what they did, how they did in the sport after the show. A lot of the guys took that amazing opportunity they had for granted. They let the little bit of notoriety and fame go to their heads. I've always been impressed with Kenny and Forrest among others, because it seemed they didn't let it get out of control, they worked their asses off to take full advantage of all the opportunities they had. I respect that. And Kenny, he doesn't really look the part. I couldn't say he has a really intimidating look about him, but he always brings it in the ring. He's a workman. I respect that.

  Heath Herring took on a big challenge. Lesnar is inexperienced, but he has some solid positioning, and he's looks freaky strong. I respect that Heath kept battling all the way to the end.

  GSP looked smooth to me. I was really liking some of his transistions for the feet, the tie up or scramble, to the takedown. Some of those were smooth as silk. I watched him, taking mental notes of some things he does that I want to add to my game. That match was an educational one for me.

  UFC 86

  There are fighters that are just plan scary, ones that have the capacity, that have those moments of incredibly explosive raw and powerful athleticism. Combine that with solid technique, and the destruction of an opponent can take only a fraction of a second. That's Quinton Rampage Jackson.

  Then you've got The Ironman, those fighters who aren't amazingly graceful athletes, who aren't going to blow you away with beautifully excuted techniques. They are just steady, heavy, in your face. Hard to hurt, hard to stop, they are just going to keep coming at you. That's Forrest Griffin.

  I really enjoyed that fight.

  Anderson Silva is in a class by himself. What can be said that hasn't been said already? I gave him credit when he first came into the UFC, and when he became champion. He earned it. I expected him to falter, to fade after a fight or two. It happens. A fighter burns to be champion, struggles, pushes himself to the limits to get there,.....and then what? The fire seems to slowly go away, the desire burns less intense, and fresh, hungry fighters rise up. Not with Silva. I give him much respect for his endurance, for his staying power, for his steadiness. He seems to only get hungrier, and get better with each fight. He's taken on and easily beaten fighters that I thought he would struggle against, tthat I thought would beat him. He has a golden touch right now. And as important as anything else, he has maintained a very humble, respectful, professional, and sportsmanlike attitude. Like Forrest, he's a great representative of the best of the sport  Much respect for both from me.

   

   

   

   

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 16, 2008 in UFC

  Treasure hunting in the desert.

  It's Saturday night. I'm not out on the town socializing, not hanging out with friends, not chillin, watchin movies. I'm sitting on my couch beside a stack of books, listening to some Eddie Vedder, reading about the Southern California desert.

  I'm hoping that very soon I'll be sitting out in the quiet of the desert beneath a deep blue midnight sky, listening to the calm desert breeze. The idea going into the desert came to me soon after I moved to Oceanside. It was motivated by my friend Sara's talk of treasure hunting and lost gold, and my own insatiable appetite for adventure and exploration. I began to imagine what might be found in the deep reaches of the untracked desert. It became an obsession of sorts.

  "Treasure" doesn't necessarily refer to something material.

  Today, I ran to the store to pick up a few things, and with the lonesome, quiet desert thoughts on my mind, I couldn't help but be struck with their brutally stark contrast to my current surroundings, the amazing congestion in which we exist day to day. The landscape as far as I could see, crowded, choked, with me and the rest of the species, an almost writhing mass of organisms, fighting over space and resources,....on the highways, in the parking lots, on the sidewalks, and in the ailse of the stores. And to think, there are still places in the world where man has not been, where he has left no footprints, where the mysteries stand secure, untouched by human eyes. I want to go to these places, the quiet, timeless, ageless places, and sit, letting silence and solitude be my teachers.

  I've been gathering my gear for this adventure for over a month, not a long time by most standards, but far too long for my impatient nature. Being a minimalist by nature, wanting to carry only the essentials, and being extremely particular, it has been a little difficult to find just the right equipment. I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life. I've been doing a great deal of research and study. I want to know all I can about where I'm going, and I want to make sure I have the best equipment.

  One more week. I think one more week, and I'll be ready to go.

  

  I had been waiting on some parts I ordered for the bike. Aluminum luggage panniers, crash bars, and other necessities for a real adventure.

  

  

  It's always like Christmas when the Wells Fargo wagon comes to town. UPS, I know.

  

  My friend Jorge getting to work reading the instructions. I stay away from them as much as possible.

  

  Got to work with plenty of daylight left.

  

  It seems that aftermarket parts never seem to fit quite right. Slowed things down a bit. Got caught finishing up in the dark.

  

  The next day. The apartments are being painted, so I had to park both bikes out front on the street. The salt air is eating up my Harley. Not liking that.

  

  A few more small things, and the KLR will be ready for the great desert adventure.

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 12, 2008 in UFC

  Memories in a surfboard.

   

   

  

   My friend Jorge and went out and caught a few waves this afternoon. Getting the boards waxed up here. There's a long story behind my board. I picked it up in North Carolina when I was there framing beach houses. I took it with me to Illinois where I helped build a seed and grain processing plant, from there to Bozeman Montana, where I worked concrete, then Big Sky where I worked a night security at the ski resort. It's been all over with me, so many places I've lost count. I always carried it with me in the back of my truck or van, on my travels, all over the middle of the continent, through deserts, forests, mountains, and grasslands, thinking that someday I would make it back to one of the coasts and be able to surf again. I did finally make out to the San Francisco area. I spent time in Pacifica, Rockaway Beach, and a little farther north at Stinson Beach. I took the board back inland to the desert, Ridgecrest California, Las Vegas, and then to the middle of the continent with me to Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas for a while. It's finally back out on where it belongs, on the west coast. That board's been with me on so many adventures. It's good to get back out on the water. There's an indescribable peace there.

  

   

  

   

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 10, 2008 in UFC

  LA, San Diego, surfing, motorcycles, and UFC 87 in Oceanside !!!UPDATED!!!

  It's late. Just wanted to get these pictures up. I'll be back tomorrow to add the stories that go with them. Check back on this same post.

  

  As I said in the previous entry, I've decided to get an adventure motorcyle to ride far out into the desert to search for gold. ha ha I'm serious, and I'm not.

  I could just say I'm getting a motorcycle and I'm going do some off-roading in the desert. But why not make it more romantic, more mysterious, why not make it more of an adventure. I'm not just going out into the desert, I'm going out into the desert to hunt for lost treasure. Who knows, I could get lucky and find some gold, but I don't really expect to. I couldn't really say how much gold hunting I'll actually do. The important part I feel, what I'm going to enjoy the most, is just getting far out, away from civilization, into the quiet of the desert, and standing under the cobalt blue night sky filled with countless stars. I want to stand under that sky again, a sky that most in this lifetime will never have the chance to see. It is a sky that can only be seen far out in the wilds, far away from the noise, and the drowning lights of the city. It is crisp and clean, pure and shimmering. It is a pilgrimage that each of us should take at least once in our lives, a pilgrimage to worship beneath god's sky.

  So I say I'm going out into the desert to hunt for treasure, but I really say that just for fun. I'm going on a pigrimage of sorts, a journey to solitude, to do some thinking, and to pay my respects to the great mysteries.

   

  The picture above is of downtown LA one night as my friend Jorge and I were driving in to look at a motorcycle. I didn't end up buying it, but the journey was fun.

  

  This is a picture taken of downtown San Diego as Jorge and I were once again on our way to look at a bike.

  

  

  Found the right bike at the right price. It's a 2006 KLR650, inexpensive and capable. It's not the most amazing on, or off road machine, but it's perfect for what I need.

  

  My new bike, in the parking lot of North County Cycle in Vista. Changing out the battery here. Not sure if I had to do so much disassembly to get the job done, but I'm unfamiliar with the bike.

  On Thursday, I went out to start the bike. I was going to take it in to the DMV to get it registered. The battery was dead. For a little while I was wondering if I had gotten tricked, wondering if I had been sold a lemon. My friend Jorge helped me push start it. I thought after it had run a while, the battery would charge a little. We got it started and I took off to the DMV.

  I was a few blocks away from the DMV when I killed it at a stoplight. I pushed the start button.....nothing, nothing at all. I pushed it into a shopping center parking lot. So there I was, pushing this bike up and down the parking lot, getting it rolling as fast as I could, then hopping on and popping the clutch.....nothing. I was getting tired of sprinting down the parking lot trying to get this thing started. I was standing there, bent over with my hands on my knees, huffing and wheezing, sweat dripping to the ground, when two guys came up and asked if I needed some help. Glad they showed up. They helped me get it started, and I was off again.

  I managed to kill it a couple of more times down the road. I've never owned this type of bike. It's not like the Harley at all. I did a lot of pushing that afternoon. The battery, obviously wasn't taking a charge, so I decided to just head to the motorcycle dealership, and pick up a new one. Got there, and I didn't have the tools I needed to get to the battery. Had to borrow some from the shop. Bought a new battery for $88, and was on my way again.

  

  The typically long line at the DMV. It started outside. I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally made it to the counter, only find out that I was missing a signature of the seller. Oh man, all that time wasted. I have to go do it all again on Monday. It's typical of trying to get anything done at the DMV though, isn't it?

  

  At least I was able to get the bike inspected.

  The whole misadventure with the bike was my fault. I wasn't paying attention on Wednesday night when I parked it. I turned the key to lock the handlebars, but I was in a hurry, and didn't notice that I turned the key all the way to park, which turns on the taillight. It sat like that long enough to completely waste the battery. We all do dumb things sometimes. That was my latest dumb thing. Cost me almost $100.

  

  Saturday night, I caught UFC 87 at the Beach Club in Oceanside.

  

  

  Ths is my friend Greg.

  

   I'll try to write more about UFC 87 later. I was impressed with some of the guys. I have a few thoughts on the show.

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 08, 2008 in UFC

  Just stepped out my front door and took a look at the waves across the street.

  Friday August 8, 2008 3:23 pm Just stepped out my front door and took a look at the waves across the street. I think I'm going to do a little surfing in a minute. Ha ha, yeah, I'm bragging a little bit. This is an awesome set up. I'm really liking the new apt, and I'm getting really comfortable here in Oceanside. I'll be posting later tonight. Just bought a new motorcycle. Going to be starting a new adventure soon. Tomorrow I'll be catching UFC 87 at the Beach Club on the Coast Highway here in Oceanside. Might be riding the Harley back to Vegas to pick up a gun. Update later today.

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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• August 03, 2008 in UFC

  Back in Oceanside

  It's good to be back in Oceanside. I've been on the road since June so I'm looking forward to having the chance to slow down and rest a while. I've had my Harley parked in my back patio for the last couple of weeks. I haven't needed to start it up. I've been riding my mountain bike, and walking everywhere. Everything I need is close to the apartment.

  I'm planning on doing some surfing tomorrow. I spent last summer living on a boat in Oceanside Harbor. I had left my surfboard at my friend Dan's house, when I moved to Vegas. He dropped it by today, so I think it's time to do get out in the water. It's been a while. The last time I did any real surfing was at Rockaway Beach up in the San Francisco area.

  

  These are some pictures I took one night while I was riding the mountain bike around.

  

  

  This is the tunnel under the railroad tracks. The farmer's market is just on the other side.

  My friend Michele invited me to run the farmer's market with her. It's in downtown Oceanside every Thursday from 5 to 9. It was the first time I had been. There were all kind of boothes with everything available from clothes, to food, to jewelry, local produce, etc, etc. This place is my kind of speed.

  

  

  

  

  

  The little boy on the little horse.

  

  

  These were some funny guys. 

  

  

  

  This is my friend Agnes. I road with her an her husband Sherman(taking the picture) to my friend Jorge's birthday party at Hana.

  

  I felt the most practicle gift I could get for Jorge was a Viking Axe. Looks pretty excited here about the new leopard print g string someone had gotten for him.

   

  

   

  S Pacific

   

  I've been doing a lot of bike riding around here. I had decided I wanted to pick up a 20 inch street bike to bounce around town on. I used to race BMX, freestyle, and ride ramps. It's been a while, but I thought it would be fun to ride a little bit again. I found a good bike on Craigslist, but it was just outside of downtown San Diego. I made the call, and we agreed to meet at the 32nd and Commercial trolly station. All I have is the motorcycle, can't carry a bicycle on it, and I didn't want to bother my friends with driving me down. I hopped on the Coaster(train) in Oceanside and headed south. There's some great scenery along the way, a lot of it with a small beach town feel.

  

  

  

  

  Del Mar Park, the horse track. 

  

  

  The conductor checking tickets

  

  

  

  

  Santa Fe Depot, downtown San Diego.

  

  Read More »

  Posted by: Evan_Tanner

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