Bleacher Report - Articles by Ingrid Hernandez-Monroy

Vitor Belfort Never Quits

Ingrid Hernandez-Monroy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:41:28 -0400

Have you heard the news? Vitor Belfort is returning to the UFC!!! Now that Affliction has folded, many fighters from the cancelled Trilogy event are finding other promotions to compete in, and one of those big names is Vitor Belfort. For the first time in over four years, Belfort will be returning to the UFC. He will fight in September's UFC 101, replacing Dan Henderson in the fight against Rich Franklin. Belfort and Franklin will be competing at a catchweight of 195 lbs, which should work well for both fighters. Being a big fan of Vitor Belfort, I decided to take you back to the greatest, most memorable, and even the saddest moments of The Phenom while he was fighting in the UFC, Pride FC, and two Affliction events. He has certainly stood out over the years for his amazing speed and power. We all hope to see Belfort’s explosiveness when he returns to the UFC once again.

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Machida's Family Secret

Ingrid Hernandez-Monroy — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:31:29 -0400

Q: What Do Bear Grylls and Lyoto Machida Have in Common?

A: They know first-hand that the human body contains a natural substance that can be used to treat many ailments. In other words, they both drink their own urine.

If you've ever seen the show "Man vs. Wild" on the Discovery channel, you will likely remember seeing Bear Grylls hiking in the middle of pure wilderness, finding odd sources of food, and resorting to drinking his own urine in order to prevent dehydration. Many, many, MANY times, I've found myself watching the show and exclaiming, "Man, that guy is crazy. I would NEVER do that!"

While Grylls recommends doing this if you are in a life-or-death situation, Lyoto Machida happens to put this idea that drinking your own urine is good for you into daily practice.

Yes, Machida drinks his own urine every morning. According to the March 2009 issue of Tatame magazine, Machida's father is the one who started this family tradition, and Machida has been following it ever since.

Machida said, "People think it’s a joke (laughs). I never said it in the United States because I don’t know how the fans will react (laughs). I drink my urine every morning like a natural medicine.”

In all honesty, a lot of you reading this may be a little grossed out, as I was when I first found out. However, the information I found while writing this article was astounding enough to change my mind.

It turns out that urine therapy (known as "Urotherapy") has actually been promoted by people throughout many centuries and in numerous civilizations as a healing aid and survival resource for several diseases and conditions.

Hingu yogis call the practice of drinking urine "Amaroli."

Ancient Chinese medical texts talk about specific ways to use urine and how to purify it into a powdered crystal.

Aztecs used urine to heal wounds.

In 1519, when Ferdinand Magellan and his crew ran out of water during their voyage to circumnavigate the globe, guess what... they had to drink their own urine to survive.

The U.S. Marine's "Ten Commandments of Survival in the Desert When Lost or Stranded" say that rubbing urine on your body helps keep you cool and conserve sweat.

Morarji Desai, a former Prime Minister of India, said that drinking his morning urine on a daily basis was the reason for his longevity. He died in 1995 at the age of 99.

The list of people who have discovered the power of urine goes on.

Here are some things about urine that make it a popular "drink" among people who believe in alternative medicine.

(Note: This information is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical situation. )

Perceived benefits of drinking urine:
-Increased fertility
-Stimulates sexuality
-Used as a sleep aid
-Cures yeast infections, fever, oral infections, diabetes, and bladder problems
-Used recently to treat multiple symptoms of AIDS and is believed to help in treating cancer.
-Also, it's been used to clean wounds, heal cuts and rashes, and break down blood clots that can lead to strokes.

So, after learning all of this, am I going to start drinking a glass of my own urine every morning?

Hell no.

CORRECTION— If my health deteriorates and modern medicine doesn't help, I might consider it.

To Machida: Cheers!

You're NOT a Real MMA Fan if...

Ingrid Hernandez-Monroy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:56:16 -0400

Okay. Normally, I'm a laid-back person and welcome anybody who wants to learn more about this sport, but dammit, there's this one girl who comes to my fight parties every once in a while, and to put it bluntly—SHE DRIVES ME INSANE.

Unfortunately, she's someone's fiancee, so there's nothing I can do. Yuck.

I've never said anything to her, because I don't want to be a jerk. But since she's probably not going to read this, I'm starting a list for her and the rest of the people who give me a reason to vent.

This list is very open-ended.

PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING THAT ANNOYS YOU.

Ready? Here goes.

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You're NOT a real MMA fan if....

... you cheer for Matt Hughes...Because he's a country boy!

... you like Chris Leben and believed him when he said, "After he [Anderson Silva] gets in there with me and I knock him out, he may want to go back to Japan or somewhere where the competition is a little easier." (Leben's statement couldn't have been more wrong. Anderson Silva easily TKO'd Leben in the first round.)

... you don't know who Wanderlei Silva is.

... you talk about your work during a fight.

... you've only seen three UFC's and already you're trying to comment.

... you and your friends yell "Run, Forrest, Run!" during his entire fight.

... you arrive at the fight party and ask, "Oh, is Rampage fighting tonight?"

... you call him "Victor" Belfort.

.... you pay attention to what Goldberg says during a fight.

.... you complain that a fight is boring.

... In fact, you are the most annoying person in the world.

Please stop coming to my fight parties.

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Do you guys have a similar "annoyance" in your lives?

Please share and add to this list! Thanks.

UFC Legend Ken Shamrock Tests Positive for Steroid Use

Ingrid Hernandez-Monroy — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:43:48 -0400

After testing positive for steroid use, MMA icon Ken Shamrock is suspended for one year, just before facing Bobby Lashley in a heavyweight fight scheduled for March 21.

According to the California State Athletic Commission, Shamrock tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol, and two Nandrolone-based substances: 19-Norandrosterone and 19-Noretiocholanolone. So far, Shamrock has denied the allegations and is actively looking for a way to overturn the decision.

The positive test results prompted Shamrock's manager and attorney, Rod Donohoo, to investigate whether or not some legal over-the-counter drugs that Ken took prior to the test had anything to do with the reading.

The investigation is on-going, as well as an expedited appeal process.

As a titan in the blooming MMA scene of the mid-'90s, Lion's Den founder, and a well-known public figure in this sport, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" has a lot to lose with this suspension.

The upcoming "March Badness" by Square Ring Promotions event against Lashley was going to be the first time that two big champions from different sports (boxing and MMA) fought on the same card.

Eight-time world boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr. is the headlining boxer for the event, and now it is questionable whether Shamrock will be allowed to fight soon enough to be in this tournament.

If Shamrock's suspension is not overturned, he will be eligible to re-apply for licensure in California after February 1, 2010 and will have to pay a $2,500 fine.