Beast

July 1, 2015

When Merlino (The Hustle) became interested in mixed martial arts (MMA) and wanted to learn more about the sport, he studied several fighters at the Florida-based gym American Top Team (ATT). Fighters were analyzed in their homes, at fight camps, and even in the moments before, during, and after matches. Profiled are veteran fighters such as Jeff Monson, who continues to fight in his 40s as his body quickly deteriorates. Meanwhile, up-and-comers Mirsad Bektic and Steve Mocco's lives are examined in detail. Notably, there are mentions of Daniel Straus, an ex-con on his way to becoming a champion. Wins propel fighters up the ladder to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the highest organization in the sport. Merlino documents the highest goal (to win a UFC Championship) and the risks that come along with it: low pay, grueling practices, fight camps, and stress. VERDICT One of the best books written on MMA; readers don't have to be fans of the sport to appreciate this story. A worthy read for fans of sports, MMA, overcoming obstacles, and intimate portraits of unique individuals.--Jason L. Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll., Elkhorn Lib., WI

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 13, 2015
In this insightful look at mixed martial arts (MMA), Merlino offers a window into the sport's octagon ring through four "high-level fighters" from one of the three MMA "supercamps" in the U.S. Unlike other writers on the same topic, Merlino doesn't profile fighters whom readers might have heard about or seen on television; instead, he focuses on the guys who are still trying to make it to the top level. They are the men who fight to fight another day. While their paths are all different, with some fighting strictly within the U.S. while others travel all the way to Kazakhstan or Russia, each has one goal in mind: to make it in the sport. Success would provide money to support their families and their dreams, and they are all willing to do what is necessary, even if it means the destruction of their own health. One of the men Merlino profiles takes a second fight two weeks after being knocked out, because he was stiffed by the first fight's promoter and needed the money. Merlino provides an enhanced picture for anyone who wants to look past the glitz and glamour of the spotlights presented on television and see the grit and sacrifice required from anyone who wants to step into the octagon. Agent: Zoë Pagnamenta, Zoë Pagnamenta Agency.

Starred review from September 15, 2015
For two years, journalist and author Merlino (The Hustle, 2010) followed the lives of four aspiring fighters, and here he shares that experience in an intimate portrayal of the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Not only does he report on training, traveling, and sharing meals with the fighters, he also examines the psyche of the individual fighters and the more general motivations that drive men and women into such a brutal sport. The four fightersMirsad Bektic, a Bosnian refugee raised in Nebraska; Jeff Monson, a 41-year-old anarchist loved in Russia; Steve Mocco, an Olympic wrestler looking for success in MMA; and Daniel Straus, an ex-con battling long odds for successall share details of their past and present lives. Throughout the narrative, Merlino chronicles the history and rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Told in a candid and nicely flowing conversational tone, this story will certainly appeal to MMA followers but may also attract a broader range of sports fans, in the manner of John Feinstein's similar days-in-the-life accounts. The best of the growing collection of MMA literature.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 15, 2015
Journalist Merlino (The Hustle: One Team and Ten Lives in Black and White, 2010) delves into the fierce and unforgiving world of competitive mixed martial arts fighting. The no-holds-barred matches between MMA fighters, popularized by big-ticket Ultimate Fighting Championship specials, are a brutal combination of combat forms such as jujitsu, muay thai, kickboxing, and wrestling that takes place inside a caged arena. Unlike traditional boxing, MMA fighters are allowed to kick, takedown, and use grappling maneuvers to force their opponents to submit. The spectacle is a throwback to the days of gladiators, and MMA has attracted legions of fans for its testosterone-fueled mayhem. While it might seem easy to label the sport barbaric, the hulking fighters are mostly misunderstood. Seeking to correct this misrepresentation, Merlino-who inserted himself into the training camp at American Top Team, one of the most respected and revered MMA gyms in the country ("where you are received on your abilities, not your pedigree")-witnessed firsthand the struggle of each fighter striving to become a national prospect. Among them is Mirsad Bektic, whose family fled war-torn Bosnia when he was a child. Bektic represents a common theme among the many young aspiring fighters: MMA is a way of transcending their often tragic backgrounds. Some, however, just want to fight. Perhaps the most intriguing profile is of Jeff Monson, an over-the-hill fighter with a waning career and a master's degree in psychology. He's also a self-described anarchist and fervent anti-capitalist, and he's shy about sharing his beliefs. While the individual profiles vary, Merlino consistently captures the grit, determination, and sheer willpower of these hungry warriors. However, at times, the author is a static storyteller, trudging through repetitious detail and inserting chapters about his own involvement in the gym that read like noncommittal attempts at participatory journalism. A mostly fascinating expose of the personalities behind the growing business of fighting.

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