MLS 145: MMA, Iridescent Blackness, and Maurice Shelton

Tokyo Mega Late Show

Maurice Shelton is a semi-retired professional Mixed Martial Artist and trainer at a Tokyo UFC gym. Amongst other things, he is also a friend, co-host of the This Is Not Information podcast, historian, and actor. Regular ol renaissance man. I caught up with him last Friday to discuss his experiences training, fighting and teaching MMA in Japan. We discuss being Black in the largely non-Black online MMA community of the aughts as well as fighter unionization. Also some leftist politics. We were talking so long that we almost missed the opportunity to discuss an upcoming short film that Maurice stars as the main protagonist. Check this one out for the details on his fairly unique experience as a Black man within the MMA community in Japan. Also live reaction to the passing of the legendary Shock G. @maurice.l.shelton @thisisnotinfo https://youtube.com/channel/UCorLv0jxtlHwWFZODKLbwUw