Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts by Kelly Crigger

Kelly Crigger eats too much raw fish, and he’s lucky Mark DellaGrotte didn’t slap a Muay Thai plum on him and knee him into oblivion, but he did write a really interesting book.

Kelly spent time at some of the best MMA camps of today in an effort to find out what makes fighters tick. He learns that each camp is different on the surface, but there are definitely qualities that all fighters possess to one degree or another.

As a reader of numerous MMA books I was at first hesitant to read Title Shot. After all, I read Sam Sheridan’s A Fighter's Heart: One Man's Journey Through the World of Fightingand thought this might be too similar. It wasn’t and I’m glad I chose to read it.

A few quick tidbits/stories that jumped out at me:

Marcus Davis, after almost being knocked out by Paul Taylor at UFC 75 (an event I was at live) came back to win by submission in spectacular fashion. I had no idea however, that for a few weeks afterward Marcus kept signing his name as Macus, leaving out the R. He said, “...and I couldn’t figure out why. He [Taylor] kicked me stupid.”

While at American Top Team Kelly was talking with Cole Miller and Miller said, “The Octagon is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been.” He went on to say, “I love it. It’s just the happiest place to be.” After Miller explained, the statements actually made sense.

Later on at ATT, Kelly talked with Jorge Masvidal, who as many fans know has had his fair share of street fights. Kelly went into the meeting with the idea that Masvidal would be a thug. Afterward he said, “Jorge Masvidal was not a punk. I knew the sport of MMA had evolved eons since the days of pure brawlers, but I had expected to find at least one dirtbag who lived to break bones and crush dreams.... But in gym after gym I had not found him.”

Aside from the professional fighters, Kelly spent time at the All Army Combatives Tournament. This proved to be a really unique glimpse into the pureness of the sport. These men (and one woman) fought their hearts out for pride, not money. And it was actually during this part of the book that I found myself turning the pages like it was a suspense novel.

With Kelly’s background as an Army Officer, Title Shot really did offer a look into MMA from a unique perspective. I think that anybody with a “Warrior’s Spirit” will enjoy it. And if not, at least you can take solace in the fact that he ate a lot of crappy Sushi while writing it.

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Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts