Badge of Honor for the New Fighter: Mangled Ear

To herald its full arrival as a major sport, mixed martial arts has claimed a signature injury: cauliflower ear.

TV Spotlight Shines on Celebrated Street Brawler

Kevin Ferguson, a mixed martial artist who goes by the name Kimbo Slice, is a knockout artist who has garnered Internet fame for bare-knuckle brawling.

Ultimate Branding

A clothing line promises the “lifestyle” of people who kick one another in the face.

Failed Test Prompts Complaint

To herald its full arrival as a major sport, mixed martial arts has claimed a signature injury: cauliflower ear.

Ultimate Fighting Recruits Military to Its Ranks

The military has embraced mixed martial arts fighting to build morale, aid recruiting and enhance soldiers’ skills.

The Businessman Who Finds Time to Fight

A former all-American running back, Jamal Patterson now spends his days selling orthodontic supplies and his nights engaging in mixed martial arts.

Unified Title at Middleweight

The Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Anderson Silva choked out Dan Henderson, a champion in the rival Pride Fighting Championships series, at 4 minutes 52 seconds of the second round to claim middleweight supremacy at U.F.C. 82 on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio.

SPORTS BRIEFING | MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; Fighter Dies 6 Weeks After Bout

Sam Vasquez, a 35-year-old fighter from Houston, was injured in a sanctioned bout in his hometown Oct. 20 and died Friday in a hospice. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Vasquez’s death, but a spokeswoman said it could be several days before the official cause is determined.Vasquez was hospitalized after he was knocked out by Vince Libardi of San Antonio in the third round of a fight at the Renegades Extreme Fighting show. He lost consciousness and had a seizure.

Tapes Capture Bold Claims of Bronx Man in Terror Plot

In tapes played at a trial, Tarik Shah, a bassist, ninja and would-be terrorist, is heard planning an Al Qaeda combat training center in New York City....

[TS] MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; A 5-Foot-6 Bruiser's Journey From East Meadow to a Title Bout

Huntington.

In China, Jeers and Cheers for ‘Kung Fu Panda’

Sometimes it is important to take a political stand. And sometimes it is just fun to watch a cartoon panda trying to do kung fu.

Going to the Mat to Welcome a Sport to Broadcast TV

CBS announcer Gus Johnson has taken a month of jiu-jitsu training to prepare for Saturday’s EliteXC mixed martial arts card.

Getting Your Kicks on Television

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has emerged from almost complete disrepute to become perhaps the fastest-growing spectator sport in America....

For Soldiers, a Fringe Fighting Sport Finds Mainstream Appeal

Soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C. took to the ring in a mixed martial arts competition, a sport the military has recently endorsed.

[TS] THE FACE; Diet by the Sword

Mary Tannen slashes her way to fitness.

Prime-Time Deal With CBS

Mixed martial arts will be broadcast on one of the major television networks for the first time. CBS announced a deal with ProElite, which produces mixed martial arts events, to broadcast in prime time two-hour live specials four times a year on Saturday nights. Douglas DeLuca, the chief executive of ProElite, called it a “pivotal moment for the sport.”.

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP; St. Pierre Dominates Hughes; Liddell Bests Silva

Georges St. Pierre submitted Matt Hughes to win the interim welterweight title on Saturday, while Chuck Liddell resumed his winning ways in a convincing decision victory over Wanderlei Silva.

MOVIE REVIEW | 'WAR'; Martial Arts With a Gun Instead Of a Kick

Today, it seems, anyone seeking a pleasant summer afternoon of Asian-style fisticuffs must settle for the kind of urban-action/martial-arts hybrid that is “War.”

Morton Knocked Out 38 Seconds Into Bout

After his mixed martial arts loss to Bernard Ackah of the Ivory Coast., former N.F.L. receiver Johnnie Morton was suspended for refusing to take a drug test....

Bronx Man Pleads Guilty in Terror Case

The man, Tarik Shah, pleaded guilty to plotting to teach would-be Qaeda operatives how to wage jihad with hand-to-hand combat....

Men Behaving Extremely, With True Believers' Passion

“Protagonist” is an enthralling documentary exploration of people with obsessive needs for control and self-mastery.

MOVIE REVIEW | 'PROTAGONIST'; Men Behaving Extremely, With True Believers’ Passion

“Protagonist” is an enthralling documentary exploration of people with obsessive needs for control and self-mastery.

[TS] EXECUTIVE PURSUITS; In the Corner With the Gladiators: Trying Out the Life of the Cut Man

Cut men tend to the wounds of mixed martial arts fighters, who combine elements of boxing, wrestling, karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.

Drug Testing Hasn’t Grown With a Sport

Mixed martial arts, a young and booming sport, has no national or international governing body and lacks a rigorous drug-testing policy....

Claims of Molestation Resurface for Judo Official

The United States Olympic Committee is investigating claims that a high-ranking USA Judo official drugged and sexually molested teenage competitors in the late 1970s.

From the Edge of Madness to Fighting's Mainstream

In just a few years, mixed martial arts has gone from being considered criminal to being considered a legitimate rival to boxing.

[TS] ULTIMATE FIGHTING; Mixed Martial Arts, From the Edge of Madness to Fighting's Mainstream

In just a few years, mixed martial arts has gone from being considered criminal to being considered a legitimate rival to boxing.

CLASS IS IN SESSION: STREET KATA; Hard, Easy or Just Right?

STREET KATA.

Cuban Athlete Is Barred for Kicking Referee’s Face

A Cuban tae kwon do athlete and his coach were barred for life after the athlete kicked a referee in the face following his disqualification in his bronze medal match.

[TS] II: True-Life Tales; Former-Self Defense

The author clears his mind, and defeats the mullet-wearing attacker of his memory.

[TS] Bong Soo Han, 73, Orchestrator Of Martial Arts Scenes

Bong Soo Han helped revolutionize Hollywood’ s understanding of martial arts by creating fight sequences for modern American films.

[TS] How a Cast Got Its Kicks. And Throws. And Punches.

The rule at rehearsals was simple: “ If you hit someone for real, you owe them a beer,” said Timothy Haskell, director of “ The Jaded Assassin.”

Cuban Athlete Is Barred for Kicking Referee in the Face

Ángel Valodia Matos charged at the referee after being disqualified for taking too long in an injury timeout.

Texas: Ex-Chief of Norris Charity Pleads Guilty

The former chief executive of Chuck Norris's martial arts program for inner-city children has pleaded guilty to stealing from the Houston charity.

[TS] Few Rules, but to the Fighters, Pure Sport

The Underground Combat League stages bouts in New York City that belong to a class of sport sometimes called mixed martial arts.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; A 5-Foot-6 Bruiser’s Journey From East Meadow to a Title Bout

Huntington....

THE FACE; Diet by the Sword

Mary Tannen slashes her way to fitness....

[TS] FIGHTING; An Ultimate Warrior Is Used to Fighting for His Life

Brian Stann is juggling the responsibilities of life as a husband, future father, Marine officer and having an undefeated record in World Extreme Cagefighting.

[TS] CHEERING SECTION; Woman Joins Fight Club

Kat Amano, a 24-year-old writer and editor who lives in Nashville, trains in jujitsu and is a fan of mixed martial arts, which includes elements of kick boxing, jujitsu and wrestling.

How a Cast Got Its Kicks. And Throws. And Punches.

The rule at rehearsals was simple: “If you hit someone for real, you owe them a beer,” said Timothy Haskell, director of “The Jaded Assassin.”...

EXECUTIVE PURSUITS; In the Corner With the Gladiators: Trying Out the Life of the Cut Man

Cut men tend to the wounds of mixed martial arts fighters, who combine elements of boxing, wrestling, karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in one of the country’s fastest-growing sports....

[TS] FIGHTING; No Helmet, No Padding And, in the Ring, No Escape

Former N.F.L. receiver Johnnie Morton will begin his second career June 2 in perhaps the only sport more violent and more dangerous than professional football.

DANCE REVIEW; A Blending of Euripides, Martial Arts and Noh

On Thursday night at La MaMa, Company East performed “ Medea,” with a sudden nod toward modern questions of gender identity.

[TS] MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; New Moves for an Age-Old Sport

In the primal pursuit known as mixed martial arts, Renzo Gracie may be the closest thing to a philosopher one will find.

Sparring Partners Put the Team Before All Else

Atony Graf’s role in the Olympics is a strange one: be a punching bag for members of the U.S. tae kwon do team.

Three Siblings Headed to Beijing in Tae Kwon Do

The Lopez family of suburban Houston has become the dominant force in American tae kwon do, and will be sending three siblings to Beijing.

Gladiator

Just because he keeps a fist in both the underground and state-sanctioned worlds of mixed martial arts doesn't mean Shad Smith lacks an inner life.

[TS] THE GOODS; A Soap That Goes to the Mat

Guy Sako, who originally created Defense Soap for amateur wrestlers, keeps his sales consistent by marketing to practitioners of mixed martial arts.

TELEVISION REVIEW; Beware the No. 2 Fighter With a Fierce Mission

“ Afro Samurai,” the new animated five-part series on Spike TV, has showdowns that start off all Kurosawa, with swords and solemn words, but soon turn “ Superfly,” with guns and funk.

[TS] PERSONAL BUSINESS: EXECUTIVE PURSUITS; In This Martial Art, Jack Benny Becomes a Sponge With Spikes

In ki chuan do, you can learn Jack Benny moves that can inspire you to unleash your inner animal in less than half an hour.

Mismatches in the Ring Draw Toughman Critics

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The roundhouse punch that caught Jerrid Duncan took with it his memory of the night.

II: True-Life Tales; Former-Self Defense

The author clears his mind, and defeats the mullet-wearing attacker of his memory.

MOVIE REVIEW | 'WAR'; Martial Arts With a Gun Instead of a Kick

Today, it seems, anyone seeking a pleasant summer afternoon of Asian-style fisticuffs must settle for the kind of urban-action/martial-arts hybrid that is “War.”...

[TS] CRITIC$(RSQUO$)S CHOICE; New DVDs

A frequent candidate for the finest martial arts movie ever made, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” has at last been rescued from video bargain bins by the Weinstein Company.

[TS] Controversial Sport and Its Stars Kick Their Way Toward the Mainstream

Dismissed as too brutal by critics and banned in some states, mixed martial arts is gaining popularity and making progress in its fight for respect.

[TS] FILM; Exit Kicking: Jet Li's Martial Arts Swan Song

It’ s fairly alarming news that Jet Li is calling his new picture, “ Fearless,” the “ conclusion to my life as a martial arts star.”

Once-Secret Martial Art Rises in Ring’s Bright Lights

Recently the increased popularity of mixed martial arts in the United States has brought attention to a Russian discipline of hand-to-hand combat called sambo.

Men Behaving Extremely, With True Believers’ Passion

“Protagonist” is an enthralling documentary exploration of people with obsessive needs for control and self-mastery.

The Color of Victory? Rethinking the Power of a Blue Judo Uniform

Can the color of an athlete's uniform affect success?

CRITIC$(RSQUO$)S CHOICE; New DVDs

A frequent candidate for the finest martial arts movie ever made, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” has at last been rescued from video bargain bins by the Weinstein Company.

[TS] It's All Geek to Me

Lack of critical respect for “ 300” and other science fiction means nothing to fans. They made peace with their own dorkiness long ago.

THEATER REVIEW; A Martial Arts Film, Only Live

The first decapitation gets a laugh. The shadow puppets are hits. But Michael Voyer’ s innovative martial-arts fantasy is all about the battles.

Corrections: For the Record

Corrections to Oct 21 article and picture caption about tryouts in Mamaroneck, NY, for league of martial arts fighters

ULTIMATE FIGHTING; Mixed Martial Arts, From the Edge of Madness to Fighting's Mainstream

In just a few years, mixed martial arts has gone from being considered criminal to being considered a legitimate rival to boxing.

TRUE-LIFE TALES; Former-Self Defense

The author clears his mind, and defeats the mullet-wearing attacker of his memory....

From the Edge of Madness to Fighting’s Mainstream

In just a few years, mixed martial arts has gone from being considered criminal to being considered a legitimate rival to boxing....

[TS] 50 Guys, All Trying To Look Like Bruce Lee

Finding one man who looks just like that legendary martial arts master was a challenge, even in an actor-rich, Asian-rich city like Los Angeles.

To the Fighter in Red Go a Few More Spoils

A German study has found that referees consistently favor the tae kwon do fighter wearing red, although the researchers say they are not sure why.

WORLD BRIEFING; Colombia: Wrong Target

Police say that armed man who tried to rob karate school in Bucaramanga, Colombia, was disarmed by dozens of students there

Men Behaving Extremely, With True Believers’ Passion

“Protagonist” is an enthralling documentary exploration of people with obsessive needs for control and self-mastery.

A Kinder, Gentler (but Not by Much) Brand of Fighting

More than 100 men tried out Saturday to become team fighters in the International Fight League, a mixed martial arts organization.

FIGHTING; An Ultimate Warrior Is Used to Fighting for His Life

Brian Stann is juggling the responsibilities of life as a husband, future father, Marine officer and having an undefeated record in World Extreme Cagefighting.

VITAL SIGNS: EXERCISE; A Little Tai Chi Can Go A Long Way Against Shingles

Older people who practice tai chi may be better equipped to fight off the virus that causes shingles or experience a milder case of it, researchers say.

MUSIC REVIEW; A Rocker Who Likes Limelight. Lots of It.

Something terrible happened at the David Lee Roth concert at the Nokia Theater in Times Square on Thursday night: The show kept going.

Drug Testing Hasn’t Grown With a Sport

Mixed martial arts, a young and booming sport, has no national or international governing body and lacks a rigorous drug-testing policy.

Diet by the Sword

Mary Tannen slashes her way to fitness.

FIGHTING; No Helmet, No Padding And, in the Ring, No Escape

Former N.F.L. receiver Johnnie Morton will begin his second career June 2 in perhaps the only sport more violent and more dangerous than professional football.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; Marine Is Used to Fighting for His Life

Brian Stann is juggling the responsibilities of life as a husband, future father, Marine officer and having an undefeated record in World Extreme Cagefighting....

[TS] MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; No Holds (or Kicks, or Punches) Barred

Mixed martial arts, a sport combining martial arts with boxing, has a star and many aspiring fighters.

Judge’s Ruling Protested

USA Taekwondo filed a protest Friday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking changes in the sport’s judging protocols after Steven Lopez’s disputed quarterfinal loss in the Beijing Olympics. Lopez was a two-time defending Olympic champion heading into Beijing and a favorite to win a third gold medal. He wound up with a bronze after he had a point deducted because of a series of penalties.

In the Corner With the Gladiators: Trying Out the Life of the Cut Man

Cut men tend to the wounds of mixed martial arts fighters, who combine elements of boxing, wrestling, karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.

METROPOLITAN DIARY

Tai chi — a discipline, a way of life ... a popular hot drink?

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS; No Helmet, No Pads, No Escape

Former N.F.L. receiver Johnnie Morton will begin his second career June 2 in perhaps the only sport more violent and more dangerous than professional football....

[TS] After 30 Years, a Man's Vision for Karate Thrives as a Way of Life

Students celebrated Seido, a form of karate born in Brooklyn in 1976 that is intended to emphasize students' moral character and emotional strength.

First for the United States Is Also a Personal Triumph

Ronda Rousey, who has emerged as a compelling character at these Olympics, beat Germany’s Annett Boehm, 10-0, for the bronze at 70 kilograms.

Martial Arts With a Gun Instead of a Kick

Today, it seems, anyone seeking a pleasant summer afternoon of Asian-style fisticuffs must settle for the kind of urban-action/martial-arts hybrid that is “War.”

[$] METROPOLITAN DIARY

Tai chi — a discipline, a way of life ... a popular hot drink?

THE GOODS; A Soap That Goes to the Mat

Guy Sako, who originally created Defense Soap for amateur wrestlers, keeps his sales consistent by marketing to practitioners of mixed martial arts....

TELEVISION REVIEW; A Crash Course in Martial Arts With Multicultural Footnotes

As a travelogue and an exercise in improving foreign relations, the History Channel’s show on martial arts is charming and, despite its subject matter, harmless....

[TS] METROPOLITAN DIARY

Tai chi — a discipline, a way of life ... a popular hot drink?

[TS] Swords and Shouts Next Door, but Don't Call 911

Residents of neighboring high-rises have grown accustomed to the boisterous practices held by a tight-knit group of urban samurais.

Ultimate Fighting Star Found Dead

Evan Tanner, an Ultimate Fighting Championship star, has died in the desert east of San Diego, possibly of heat exposure. Sheriff’s Lt. George Moreno said Tanner, 37, was found Monday about two miles from his campsite in the Palo Verdes Mountains, where temperatures had reached 110 degrees. Spike.com .

A Soap That Goes to the Mat

Guy Sako, who originally created Defense Soap for amateur wrestlers, keeps his sales consistent by marketing to practitioners of mixed martial arts.

CRITICS CHOICE; New DVDs

A frequent candidate for the finest martial arts movie ever made, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” has at last been rescued from video bargain bins....

[TS] NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: GREENWICH VILLAGE; This Monk Is a Boldface Name

As a young monk in the legendary Shaolin Temple in China, Sifu Shi Yan Ming learned to break rocks with his skull, deflect blades with his skin, sleep while hanging upside down from a tree branch, and dangle a 50-pound weight from his scrotum.

Slovakia Defeats Bulgaria, 82-0

Evan Tanner, an Ultimate Fighting Championship star, was found dead in the desert east of San Diego, possibly a victim of heat exposure. Sheriff’s Lt. George Moreno said Tanner, 37, was found Monday about two miles from his campsite in the Palo Verdes Mountains, where temperatures reached 110 degrees. Spike.com .

Rousey’s Journey Out of Pain, Through Judo

Ronda Rousey is favored to become the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo and while she looks forward to competing, she also carries along the past.

A Crash Course in Martial Arts With Multicultural Footnotes

As a travelogue and an exercise in improving foreign relations, the History Channel’s show on martial arts is charming and, despite its subject matter, harmless.

HARVEY JOURNAL; Veterans of Storm Find Relief in Combat

For a group of men, the best way to cope with the stresses of life after Hurricane Katrina turned out to be martial arts....

[TS] OPENERS: THE GOODS; Real Ninjas Don't Wear Blue

JUDGING by 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints, authentic ninjas favored open-toed sandals slipped over sheer black socks. Such footwear may have been silent, and thus ideal for sneaking up on nobles marked for assassination, but it didn' t offer much protection against stubbed toes. So tomorrow night, when hundreds of thousands of trick-or-treaters dressed as ninjas hit the streets, most will be donning sneakers or boots, bowing to their worried parents' wishes.

Former U.F.C. Champ Found Dead

Evan Tanner, a former U.F.C. middleweight champion, was found in the desert east of San Diego on Monday. A preliminary coroner’s report suggests he died of heat exposure.

Former-Self Defense

The author clears his mind, and defeats the mullet-wearing attacker of his memory.

Drug Testing Hasn't Grown With a Sport

Mixed martial arts, a young and booming sport, has no national or international governing body and lacks a rigorous drug-testing policy.

[TS] TELEVISION; Kung Fu Fightin' Anime Stars, Born In the U.S.A.

The creators of 6-year-old boys' favorite cartoon figures aren' t actually Asian. But, they say, they have tried yoga.

New Olympics, New Champions in Judo

The end came suddenly for Ludwig Paischer of Austria on Saturday, as it did for all of Choi Minho’s opponents on Saturday.

New DVDs

A frequent candidate for the finest martial arts movie ever made, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” has at last been rescued from video bargain bins by the Weinstein Company.

Sports Briefing

Mixed Martial Arts....

Exercise: A Little Tai Chi Can Go a Long Way Against Shingles

Older people who practice tai chi may be better equipped to fight off the virus that causes shingles or experience a milder case of it, researchers say....

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR; It’s All Geek to Me

Lack of critical respect for “300” and other science fiction means nothing to fans. They made peace with their own dorkiness long ago....

[TS] NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: GRAMERCY PARK; Food, Flowers, Fitness: Versatile Merchant Expands His Empire

Sal Anthony' s, on Irving Place near East 17th Street in Manhattan, is the kind of neighborhood restaurant where regulars tend to wave off the ample menu; the usual will do. But while Sal Anthony' s is a familiar presence on the city' s Italian dining scene, rather less noticed is how its proprietor, Anthony Macagnone, has become head of a curiously improbable empire.

Ultimate Fighting Tries to Gain a Foothold in Europe

The Ultimate Fighting Championship intends to step into European markets while also creating a fan base largely from scratch.

No Helmet, No Pads, No Escape

Former N.F.L. receiver Johnnie Morton will begin his second career June 2 in perhaps the only sport more violent and more dangerous than professional football.

[TS] 2 Exercises Help Older People Stay on Their Feet

Two Chinese exercise techniques may improve the balance of older people and help prevent falls, according to two new studies.

Ultimate Fighting, Toned Down, Seeks Legalization

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is beginning a public campaign to legalize so-called mixed martial arts fighting in New York State, 11 years after being banned.

Veterans of Storm Find Relief in Combat

For a group of men, the best way to cope with the stresses of life after Hurricane Katrina turned out to be martial arts.

[TS] Defendant's Lawyer Claims Anti-Muslim Bias in Charges

One of the lawyers of a man charged with conspiring to aid Al Qaeda says his client was singled out for being a Muslim.

For the Marshall Islands, a Debut on a World Stage

For the first time, the Marshall Islands are competing in the Olympics.

Marine Is Used to Fighting for His Life

Brian Stann is juggling the responsibilities of life as a husband, future father, Marine officer and having an undefeated record in World Extreme Cagefighting.