Originally posted by: Glixe
Date: December 09, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/mma-in-the-sports-section-mainstream-acceptance.43070/
Glixe said:
Actually there has been about 5 of the bigger stories in the last 6 months, but most write-ups have been about the kick-boxing club putting together different tournaments, but those are few and very far apart.
For the UFC and Strikeforce there really has been zip coverage before that last 6 months and then, as I said above, only about 5 bigger stories of late. Like others have said -- coverage of local sports is off the chart.
Latest one in our small(ish) rag.
One I was very surprised with, because it was a local write-up about Krzysztof Soszynski and his get back to fighting shape with local specialists.
Canadian UFC fighter’s road back begins in Victoria
By Mario Annicchiarico
Aug 11, 1:02 am EDT
Krzysztof Soszynski’s knees are starting to resemble a road map. Seven surgeries — including three in the last six months — will do that to even the most sculpted athlete.
So when the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight chose his avenue of therapy, the 34-year-old native of Poland, who moved to Winnipeg at age 10, didn’t hesitate in taking a road west to Victoria to hook up with soft tissue specialist Dr. Jamie Grimes of Synergy Health Management and nutritionist Chris Kinnear, whom he met at a UFC expo in Toronto.
“He talked to me about his joint problems. Just talking with him I think he realized I know my stuff and I think he was ready to make a small change,” said Kinnear, owner of Popeye’s, who now looks after Soszynski’s supplementary needs and is also a bit of a joint care specialist.
Grimes is known for helping Oakland A’s pitcher Rich Harden recover from his latest back woes.
“After seven operations, he doesn’t have that many left to go,” Kinnear added. “That’s when I mentioned Dr. Jamie Grimes, the guy who got me through my career. He’s the best soft tissue guy that I know of in the world, and definitely North America. I think it sounded right to him and I think after the first two weeks he feels he made the right choice.”
The smile on Soszynski’s broad face tells you that and two weeks into his one-month rehab, the six-foot-one, 205-pounder — dubbed The Polish Experiment — confirms his feelings.
“It tells you what kind of toll this sport takes on your body and how demanding it is as an athlete,” said Soszynski, who sports a record of 26-11-1. “That’s why I’m here in Victoria, hoping to never have another surgery again.
“I’ve been working really hard with the doctors at Synergy Health Management and with Chris here at Popeye’s. He’s been helping me with supplementation and talking about preventing injuries and using the facts to help out with my joints.”
Two weeks into his four-week recoupment, Soszynski — who has had 11 surgeries overall including repairs to his nose and elbow — believes he’s on the road to recovery.
“It’s been three weeks since the [last] surgery. I’m working with some amazing therapists,” said Soszynski, who once again re-tore cartilage in his knee in his win at UFC 131 in Vancouver against Mike Massenzio. “Fawn [Witing, a physiotherapist at Synergy], she’s been pushing me hard and helping me improve. And Jamie and Todd [Dr. Todd Levins, a naturopathic physician at Synergy] — they’ve been amazing.
“It’s getting better and better. I’m here for two more weeks. We get together every day. It’s three doctors who get together on a daily basis and talk about my rehabilitation and I’m looking forward to getting back in the cage in December.”
Rumour has it the Canadian may take on Tito Ortiz at the UFC 140 event slated for Toronto on Dec. 10. And if that comes off the very likeable, outgoing fighter, who used to work as a house man at the Fairmont Winnipeg hotel, will have a piece of Victoria to thank for it.
“It’s huge,” Kinnear said of Soszynski’s decision to rehab on Vancouver Island. “These guys are given large sums of money to cover their injuries and they can essentially go anywhere in the world. Through all his research, he felt the best treatment was right here in Victoria.
“I’m so excited for him,” added Kinnear. “Fighters just get used to fighting with injuries. I think he felt that was normal. I think in the first couple of weeks here we’ve dialed his diet a little tighter and along with the treatments, he feels like he’s already got a lot out of it.
“The big test will be when he goes back to Las Vegas and gets back into the training, that’s when his body will really respond. If he’s ready, he should be back in the ring in December in Toronto. If that’s the case, I’d love to be right there beside him in the ring and see him put his hands up because he sure works hard and it’s inspiring to see what these guys do.”
And it’s something Soszynski enjoys.
“It’s definitely tough, but I love the sport,” he said. “I Iove fighting in the UFC and I hope to do this for a few more years. As long as my body lets me, that’s why I’m here.”
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There were a couple of MMA stories in our newspaper again. One on GSP and the other on Krzysztof Soszynski. Since this story is a follow up to that one I thought I would post it.
Victoria medical team has Sosynski’s back
Krzysztof Sosynski will rely on his Victoria medical ties to help him get through his preliminary clash on the Ultimate Fighting Championship 140 card Saturday night in Toronto.
Sosynski has brought in part of his medical team from Synergy Wellness Centre. Dr. Jamie Grimes and Dr. Todd Levins both flew out to Toronto this morning to prepare Sosynski for his bout with Igor Pokrajac of Croatia on the undercard of the Jon (Bones) Jones vs. Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida main event at Air Canada Centre.
Sosynski, 22-12-1, was in Victoria this summer receiving treatment in between fights and faces Pokrajac, who is 23-8-0. In fact, Sosynski — who was born in Poland, grew up in Winnipeg and now calls Lake Forest, California, home — will be wearing the Synergy logo when he enters the octagon.
“This will be pretty cool,” admitted Grimes, who will actually work Sosynski’s corner. “It’ll be me and three other guys.
“It was quite a process. Not just anybody can be there. You have to send in your passport and they check your criminal record just to be behind the scenes.”
Sosynski, 34, came to Victoria for treatment on his battle-worn body — that includes knees that have endured six surgeries in the last year — and worked closely with the Synergy crew.
“I think it will help him with the fight, it’ll help him feel stronger,” said Grimes, a chiropractic specialist. “I’m going to loosen him up head to toe the next couple of days and do some lastminute stuff at the fight.”
Levins will focus on Sosynski’s knees through homeopathic treatment. Grimes, who has worked with Olympic and professional athletes throughout the world, has a routine to loosen fighters up.
“We get their muscles moving quicker and we make sure they’re not tight anywhere,” he said. “The shoulders have to be loose, hips are loose, their core and forearms are loose so that if they’re grappling they want to have as much grip strength as they can. Loose muscle is fast muscle, so anything that is tight slows you down.
“[Today] I will work his whole body. Friday will be less work and Saturday includes anything he needs completed before the fight.”
Which Grimes will have an up-close look at.
“His fights tend to be bloodbaths, too,” said Grimes. “He’s won three fight-of-the-night bonuses because they are usually the biggest battles.”
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