Colorado Springs – In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) reporting, few bloggers have been able to incorporate the personal experiences of the sport as well as John “JR” Houck, a reporter at HACnews.com. Houck, who was gearing up to enter the MMA amateur ranks until an injury sidelined him recently, uses his own experiences as a would-be-fighter in his interviews with many of the sport’s most popular fighters, from Kit Cope to Keith Jardine.

Houck, while rough around the edges, is a pup in the journalism/blogging world and still, his interviewing skills lead readers as if they were flies on a wall as the sport’s stars speak candidly. In an interview with Keith Jardine, Houck was able to get Jardine to call out Vin Diesel when Houck asked, “What Hollywood celebrity would you most like to put the beat down on?”

As many of you know by now, I’m an avid MMA fan and even though I rarely blog about the sport itself, I’m more content to enjoy watching the fights and read Houck’s interviews. His interviews are engaging with his subjects and paints the personalities of the fighters well. His reporting only solidifies my desire to remain firmly planted on my Green Couch during any MMA fights on satellite and leave the reporting to Houck and his colleagues at HACnews.com.

As the sport grows in depth and sophistication, so too will Houck’s already great interviewing skills, as well as HACnews.com. Be sure to read an underground fighter’s rise both in the ranks of fighters and in the blogging/journalistic field.

A sample of his latest interview:

JR recently caught up with WEC Lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough. “Razor” Rob talks on numerous topics including his Muay Thai background, his thoughts on his fights with Kit Cope and Rich Crunkilton, thoughts on other fighters, fighting in the UFC … You can read more on his interview with McCullough at HACnews.com

Happy readings and see you tomorrow for Monday Morning Weirdness.

Paotie