Counting Our Blessings

With Thanksgiving having come and gone and the majority of us still trying to awaken from our collective food comas, the time has come for a bit of reflection.  We here at North Texas Fisticuffs have had an extraordinary couple of years covering the combative sports scene here in North Texas.  While this site has grown in leaps and bounds, none of it, and I repeat, none of it, would have been possible without all of the people in the DFW, and beyond, who have offered heaping helping of support.

While I wish I could thank every one of you individually, let’s be honest, that would be impossible.  However, in the holiday spirit, I feel it necessary to offer up some well deserved accolades to those whose support has made North Texas Fisticuffs the best local combative sports site in the world. So without further ado, some well deserved “Thank You” shout-outs to those who mean the world to me.

First and foremost, I have to give thanks to my wife and children who allow me the resources and understanding to cover the local fight game like no other.  I also cannot stress the amount of gratitude that I have for those individuals who lay the foundation of support that keeps this site humming smoothly.  Individuals such as my partner in crime Ed Garza who not only contributes the awe-inspiring pics you see on this site, but also serves as the other half of our dynamic duo that have covered the fight game all throughout this great state of Texas. In that same vein, I am extremely thankful to those who have contributed their time and talents to this site; people such as Raul Rangel, Sergio Hernandez, Jesse Rodriguez, Eric Brown, and Cyndi Torres.

NTF would be nothing without the support of the local fight community so it is with little doubt that I am extremely thankful and appreciative of a number of people who were quick to support us in our endeavors.  These people include, but are not limited to, individuals like Ricky Sanchez, Christine and Haz Lopez, Seth Fuller, Felipe Espinoza, Barney Flores, Vincent Reyes, Paulie Ayala, Burt McDonald, Hector Pena, Paul Vasquez, Joby Gaytan, Ray Ximinez, Roland Gamez, Lester Bedford, Wayne Harrison Jr,. Lou Mesorana, George Galvan, Greg Hatley, Alex Madrid, Sean Reed, John Escobar, the R&D Boxing homies Juan Garza and David Sanchez, and a slew of others who I failed to mention.

Along the same lines, I am extremely thankful for the support and access afforded to us by our local fighters.  Without you, there would be no North Texas Fisticuffs.  So, thank you to all the fighters who took time out of their busy schedules to grant us interviews and info.  Fighter like Durwyn and Lisa Lamb, Robert Marroquin, Luis Yanez, Hector Vazquez, Tony Mack, Jordan Jones, Christopher Jones, Ray Ximinez Jr, Joe Christopher, Rafael Casias, Johnny Bedford, Douglas Frey, Ryan Benoit, Jose Hernandez, Alex Clarkson, Corey Washington, Joey Dunmoodie, Forrest Curry, Casey Ramos, and a slew of others who I may have failed to mention by name, a sincere “Thank You.”

Last, but not least, I want to express my gratitude to those who have lent their recourses to held North Texas Fisticuffs grow to be the site you enjoy today.  To my former partner over at The Queensberry Rules, Tim Stark, I am indebted to you for instilling in me a sense of ethics and quality into my writing.  I am thankful to those who have made chosen to help spread the name and reach of North Texas Fisticuffs.  People like the crack team of developers on the Bloguin network for not only pimping out the site, but hosting it and spreading the word of NTF.  Also, thank you to our site sponsors Fuller MMATime(seriously, if you want to learn the various disciplines of MMA, this is the place to go in northeast Dallas) and my brother Neu Year and Feva Records.  In addition, shout out to our affiliate partners: Pegasus News, DOM Fight Gear, and Opposing Viewsfor spreading the message of North Texas Fisticuffs across the globe.

Seriously, a sincere “Thank You” from all of us at North Texas Fisticuffs.  Without you, there is no us.