I am Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts News.

OK, not literally. But you get the point.

For years, I've talked about starting my own MMA Web site to keep Minnesota fans up to date on their favorite local fighters, events and organizations. In January of 2010, I finally got off my rear end and created this site.

mnmmanews.com will be 100 percent devoted to Minnesota mixed martial artists!

So why am I qualified to bring you this information?

Well, I've been a journalist for more than 10 years. I've worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Wisconsin since 1999, starting my career at the Mankato Free Press. From there, I spent time at the Red Wing Republican Eagle, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and now I'm at the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

I started covering MMA when I was working in Red Wing back in 2003. That means I haven't been there since "Day 1" like so many MMA "purists" claim to have been. But I've been around the sport for more than six years, covering it at the local and national level, mainly for newspapers and magazines.

My primary goal for this Web site is to give fighters more recognition. These are the hardest working athletes on the planet, and they deserve all the recognition they can get.

I'm also looking to make this a neutral place for people to read about Minnesota MMA, upcoming events and fighters. Want to get the word out about your upcoming fight or upcoming event? Please contact me at any time. Ways to make the site better? I'm always looking to improve.

So stick with me in the beginning. I'm learning this Web stuff on the fly. But let's make this site rock together.

Sincerely,

Ben Pherson

mnmmanews.com editor

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it