Out with the old and in with the new...

Thank God this year is over. I can't wait for 2009!

Out with the old and in with the new! Gosh I feel like I've been through so much this year. I've learned so much about myself probably more than I ever have. I finally let go of JD, someone I've cared for for almost four years, and let me tell you it is such a relief! If you've followed me with my blogs I used to write about him and his drunk dials, his selfishness that brought me down, and me accidentally calling him Jaycee that pissed him off lol. Well, I received an apology email from JD the day after Thanksgiving and didn't respond. Things are better left unsaid... and after seeing him at the club a few weeks ago and not feeling anything for him I realized that the chapter of him in my life is finally over. I used to think he was the most sexiest man in the world and after seeing him I thought to myself 'Eww... what the fuck was I thinking?' He was such a great learning experience I wouldn't change anything. Well no, I take that back... I wish I could change the way I look at him because I don't think I could ever respect him again. Its pretty sad to look at someone you used to admire in such a negative way. And don't get me wrong I've made my mistakes too and with him I learned that in life there are no guarantees and shit happens.

When I look back on 2008 I feel like it was definitely my year. I've got to travel all over the country and I partied like I've never partied before... and me and my partners put on the most successful IMMAE show we've ever had. When I think of 2009, I get excited and think about how much I want to make shit happen especially with my career and goals. In the beginning of 2008 Drea and I wrote down everything we wanted to accomplish this year. We posted it up in our bathroom so that every day we would see what we wanted to accomplish... and sure enough we accomplished 90% of what we wrote down. It's about believing in yourself and visualizing what you want and applying yourself and being productive about it.

Every year I become more grateful for the lessons I've learned to make me a better person and to continue to strive to succeed. I have the best parents in the world that have been together for 38 years; high school sweethearts. My brother and sister and cousins will always be the best blessing I'll ever have... and Drea too. Not only is she my best friend, she is my sister too. My family is my backbone, they are always there to remind me to continue to have my faith in God. No matter how bad things got this year, getting over those obstacles and looking back is always well worth the prayer that was said.

With all that being said, Happy New Year to you and yours and always remember everything happens for a reason and no matter how bad things have gotten in 2008, it could have been worse and things will always get better. Continue to believe in yourself and always have faith in God.

I'm blessed and you are too.

Out with the old and in with the new... Cheers to 2009!

Nakedness Day...

I've never felt sooo naked before in my life!

It's amazing on how much we depend on our phones everyday. Yesterday, Jaycee and I hit up Bahay Kubo for some Filipino food and then picked up Won and headed to the Fashion District. As soon as I BeenUp2'ed the photo of Won and Jaycee my phone received the error. My Blackberry bugged out on me and said 'App Error 205'. I couldn't use my phone at all... and I was out all day. Never again will I ever update my Blackberry with an update that At&t sent out... errr!

Needless to say, I felt naked all day without being able to make or receive calls, use the internet, be on blackberry messenger, check and receive emails.... OMG it was all bad.

After the Fashion District we went to the At&t store and they couldn't help me out with my phone, but at least I know I can upgrade on January 26th HAHA! Blackberry Bold here I come lol. They gave me an address to a store in Torrence that replaced Blackberrys and they closed at 9pm. So I dropped off Won and Jikka and headed straight to Torrence in traffic. I waited for an hour before I was helped, but at least I am set and good to go now. Its a good thing I backed up all of my information or else I would have been screwed.

My advice:
*Do not download the new At&t Bold update for the curve. It has errors.
*Always backup your information

Thank God I didn't have to re-add everyone on Blackberry Messenger... Whew!

... and that was my Nakedness day hehe.

My New Years Giveaway!

Contest Rules
1) Create a wish list at MixedMartialArts.com Online Store (max value $150.00)
2) Copy and paste the URL to your wish list here on this thread:http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.frame&thread=1393266&page=1&pc=34
3) Come up with your best UG New Year's Resolution and include it with your wishlist post.

Prizes
1) Everything on your wish list!
2) One item of your choice from your wish list
3) Free pro-membership or 1 yr. extension if existing pro

Deadline: January 31st, 2009 11:59 PST. At which time, I will choose my top ten favorite and create a 24-hour vote thread to determine the top three winners.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

P.S. You must be a member of www.MixedMartialArts.com. If you aren't you could sign up... it's free! :)

UFC 92 With My Family

Yesterday, I went out with my family for some dim sum and shopping. I forgot to charge my phone and after I BeenUp2'ed my dim sum photo my phone died. We didn't get home for a while and I was stressing because I didn't know where were were going to watch the UFC 92 fight. I asked my Dad the day before if we could order the fight and he said No, but when I asked him the day of fight and gave him the "Please Daddy..." with the pouty face he didn't say No, he said "Ask your Mom" HAHA! I love my parents. You'd think after 26 years the pouty face wouldn't work, but I'm the baby out of my brother and sister... and I still get what I want. HAHA! ;)

As soon as we ordered the fight I called my cousins and my sisters boyfriend to let them know we ordered the fight, and I called them from my Moms phone cause my phone was still dead. My Mom didn't have my sisters boyfriends number in her phone and she does now! lol. Everyone was excited. This UFC 92 card is the best of 2008 by far!

Since we were having company over and my Mom needed to bring a dish to a get together we made Fried Wontons. Fried Wontons is one of my Moms signature dishes and I was excited to make it cause I haven't made it in a long time.

Getting started on my Fried Wontons


I'm the best Wonton wrapper lol


Fried Wontons all done


These Fried Wontons were BOMB! They were all gone by the end of the night.

Normally on any given UFC in Las Vegas I would be there, but I stayed in Stockton after the Holiday because it's my sisters birthday and last year I didn't stay and went to UFC 79. I think next year I'll just get tickets for the whole family so we can be at the fights together because this experience being with them during a fight was AWESOME!

We had a lot of people over my Moms house watching the fight and all the yelling and screaming at the TV and in each others face was sooooo much fun LOL! My sister and her boyfriend had a bet going during the Forrest vs Rashad fight. Whoever wins gets a weeks Worth of massages. My sister lost cause she was rooting for Forrest LOL. During Nog vs Mir I was rooting for Nog and my cousin Roger was rooting for Mir and we were sitting next to each other talking shit. OMG but I was the happiest person in the whole house when Rampage won his fight. The last time I saw him was probably a month or so ago in Hollywood and he said that his training at Wolfslair was going really good and he felt ready and is getting more mentally prepared for his fight against Wandy. I am sooooo proud of him.... RAMPAGE IS BACK YALL!

Anyway, nothing can compare to watching MMA with my family...


After the fights we went to Club Envy where it was crackin'. I never seen Club Envy crackin' in Stockton and last night it was insane! My cousin Roger was deejaying and as always I had a blast with my family.

DJ RS1 aka my cousin Roger :)


My brother and sister... I love them more than anything!


... and that was my UFC 92 experience with my family!

Thanks for the awesome card, Zuffa!

Mark Wahlberg rocks the Pacman Knows Nike shirt at the Lakers game

When I went to the private Manny Pacquiao Nike event I bought this tee shirt for my Dad, Brother, and Sister for Christmas.



Today my sister's boyfriend, Jace, said that Mark Wahlberg was rockin' the shirt I bought my sister at the Lakers game last night. Sure enough I googled it and BAM!


Mark Wahlberg Shows The Lakers Some Love

I thought it was pretty dope! :) Mark Wahlberg will be forever OK in my book. ;)

I looked online and the shirts are about $90 to $100 because it was a limited edition shirt. Thank God I got it for $20! hehe :)

Merry Christmas!

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Last night my family opened gifts at 5:00am. My parents and I were waiting for my brother and sister to get home so that we could open our gifts. My Mom didn't want to wait till Christmas day because our other relatives would be at the house and she didn't want to be rude and open gifts in front of them. It was an immediate family gift opening session. My favorite part of opening our gifts was when my brother got his present lol.

It's not what it seems...


He was fooled LOL...


... and in the box was a card HAHA! I love my brother...


In the card was a picture of a phone; IOU for a new phone. Since he is here in town we can go with him to pick out his new phone. :)

I got what I wanted for Christmas. Santa said I was good this year hehe.

Right now I am enjoying my time with my family. I just fried bangus and squid. The unagi just got out of the oven and I am gonna get my grub on and enjoy the rest of my day with my family...

Merry Christmas to you all!

♥ Tamara

Affliction's Christmas Party...

Tracy came in from Las Vegas and came straight to my house to get ready for Affliction's Christmas party at Kress in Hollywood. As soon as we were done getting ready we headed straight to the club. We were almost there when I realized I left my business cards at home. Good thing I only live like two miles away from the club lol. Tracy turned around so that I could grab my business cards. We arrived at Kress at 9pm.

Affliction was handing out gift bags. I took one and then brought it back downstairs to the Christmas tree because I didn't want to carry it all night. Tracy told me that too as soon as I picked one up. I should have listened to her first lol. There was a Skinnie Magazine inside, some stickers and flyers, and an Affliction shirt.



They had an open hosted bar serving this vodka called Nuvo (I think that's how you spell it). I had three orange juice and Nuvo's and they were great! ha! While mingling at the bar I got to meet a couple of people from Affliction. Tracy and I noticed Josh Barnett walking in and we stopped to say Hi to him. He kept talking about his favorite Filipino foods like pancit and adobo. It brought the biggest smile to my face. He has such a great presence about him. I really can't wait to see him fight again.

Tracy and I...


There were a lot of IMMAE's clients there obviously a bunch of people from the MMA industry was there. Skinnie Magazine was one of the parties sponsors and we are one of their clients. It was nice to run into a lot of familiar faces that I haven't seen since our last event like Ryan from OTM and Ben from ADX. As soon as the third floor was getting packed people were stressing off of getting the VIP wristbands for access to the rooftop. I started to stress too cause Jaycee was taking forever to get to Kress and I was worried by the time he got there the VIP wristbands would be all gone.

Me and Ryan from OTM


By the time Jaycee and his friend Avo got there, Razor Rob McCullough and Ken Pavia got there too. So I quickly bbm'ed Tracy to get some VIP bands from Tom Atencio. They were all on the list, they just weren't letting them in because of the wristband issue. Needless to say everyone got in.

It took forever for the elevator to come down and while we were waiting Tracy snapped this photo...

Affliction Christmas Party
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

There were so many fighters and people from the MMA industry the entire rooftop was packed. Good thing I had extra drink tickets haha... and good thing Tracy doesn't drink either cause she gave me hers lol. We found ourselves having good conversations with Jason Mayhem Miller and Jaime Fletcher. By this time I must have had 8 drinks... On our way out we stopped by to say Bye and Thank You to Tom Atencio and took a quick picture.

Me and Jikka Jaycee rockin' our scarfs to the club lol

Affliction Christmas Party
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Jaime Fletcher, Avo, Jaycee, and I.

Affliction Christmas Party
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Jaycee, Me, Tom Atencio, and Antonio McKee

Affliction Christmas Party
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

I was surprised because all that alcohol didn't hit me much. When we left Tracy and I hit up Del Taco for some 99 cent Chicken Soft Tacos! Mmmmm... I don't know what it is about those tacos, but they always do it for me after the club lol. It wasn't until I got home the alcohol started to hit me. By the time I got home I ate my tacos, bbm'ed Jaycee to make sure he got home safely, and then I passed out. I woke up the next day with a huge headache and found myself working out at Runyon Canyon with Drea to sweat it out.

But the Christmas party was fun. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while...

Frank Shamrock's 12 Days of Christmas on MMA with Yac and J on Brawlerstv.com

I hope you guys enjoy this! :)

Happy Holidays from Frank Shamrock the Yac and J Crew...

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This weeks MMA Corner with MMA with Yac and J

Check it!

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Gameness Fighting Championships in Nashville Tennessee with Ed Clay

I'm sorry it took me so long to post this blog about my trip to Nashville Tennessee for the Gameness Fighting Championships...

Me and Ed Clay, one of my most favorite people on this planet!


Anyway, I had an awesome amazing time with Ed Clay of Gameness in Nashville. It's not that often I get to spend time with him and when we do we just have the best times. He has a new girlfriend... excuse me... He has a new HOT ass girlfriend Britni, and I couldn't wait to meet her. In Nashville, I got to eat at the Cracker Barrel, Whitts, The Waffle House, and Shoney's. :) Once I got to the Gameness gym I couldn't believe how big it was. While they were weighing in the fighters there were classes going on. I couldn't help but to notice the kids grappling class. There was this cute little 7 year old Asian boy rolling and I couldn't help but to think that one day if my kids aren't bomb ass soccer players like their mom, they will be some dope ass grapplers. ;)

Not only does Ed Clay own Gameness and hella real estate, he owns the Irish pub called Dan McGuinness in Nashville. Their potatoe soup is bomb! We ended up there the first night I got in and I was tired as shit.

Fight day, Tracy Lee flew in from North Carolina because she was covering the UFC's Fighting for the Troops event for CombatLifetsyle (Read her blog The Most Brutal Night of Fights Ever: Fight for the Troops). I met up with her at the Cracker Barrel for some breakfast... the food was BOMB! I wish they had one of those out here in California. The minute we got back to Ed's place we both knocked out for a nap. I probably slept 12 hours that day lol.

My meal at the Cracker Barrel


We wanted to rock Gameness apparel to the fight and didn't have any. So we found ourselves packing Britni's two seater car all the way to the Gameness Warehouse. As we were leaving it started to rain ice pellets. I was sooo excited and felt like a little girl because I never get to witness weather like that... I'm a California girl! As I was saying "Ohhh cool!" Tracy and Britni were like "Not so cool!" lol. We were starving and went through a Whitt's drive through. Gotta love that country fast food LOL. We hurried back to Ed's to eat and to and get ready, by the time we walked out the house it was snowing and we were in a snow storm (Yes, and still packing into this two seater car lol).


Gameness Fights: Before
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Me in the snow!


Excited to be in the snow!

Gameness Fights: Before
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

I love this picture! Britni, Tracy, and I... yes in the snow! :)

Gameness Fights: Before
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

The Gameness ring girls

Gameness Fights: The Show
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

At the fight I found myself playing Leslie Britton, the 'Octagon Mom' for the UFC. I was directing the ring girls on when to enter the ring with the right ring card, making sure the cornermen were out of the way when they exited lol. I gotta make sure Ed Clay's ring girls look good, ya know! ;) There were 8 amateur fights and 3 pro exhibitions fights. The fights were awesome! I was surprised by the talent they had in Tennessee. When I walked outside I seen Ed Clay's Gameness bus... they had TV's outside and on the side of the bus! Go ED!

Ed's dope ass Gameness bus

Gameness Fights: The Aftermath
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Me and Miss Tracy Lee

Gameness Fights: The Show
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

The sign says it all

Gameness Fights: The Show
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

JoeVIP from the UG

Gameness Fights: The Show
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

After the fight we packed the Gameness bus and headed to the club. The club owner was the only Asian person that I met the entire time I was out there lol. I was hoping I'd run into an Asian Southern Asian boy. An Asian man with that southern hospitality is always something that interested me.... hrmmm maybe one day lol.

Hey look... it's an Asian in Nashville other than me! haha

Gameness Fights: The Aftermath
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Britni and I with Mistah Clay

Gameness Fights: The Aftermath
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Ed, Me, Tracy, and Britni

Gameness Fights: The Aftermath
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

After the club we all went to the Waffle House and made ruckus. All I know is that the Chocolate Pie was bomb and off the chains. If only we had a Waffle House in LA... :)

Me and my Chocolate Pie from the Waffle House


The next day Ed took Britni and I to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. OMG it is such a beautiful place to be. It kinda reminded me of Las Vegas with all the lights and decorations inside the hotel. The only thing is that you didn't hear slot machines 24/7 and smelled smoke in the air. After that we ended up at Dan McGuinness again. We were there till 4AM having a good time and took a taxi back home... that's how much fun we were having.

Opryland Hotel


I wish I could have stayed and spent more time with Ed but I had to head back to LA plus he was on his way to Costa Rica to celebrate Britni's birthday. I am very proud of Ed and the whole Gameness team for putting on such a great first time event. It was such a success! Their next one is February 14th in Nashville Tennessee. I'm hoping to go and maybe bring my Valentine lol. For more information on the Gameness Fighting Championships visit www.gameness.com. Also for all of Tracy's blogs and pics from the trip, peep her blog Tennesse's first Legal MMA Event.

P.S. I ♥ You Mistah Clay! Thank you for everything. Your friendship means so much to me. Thank you for your constant support throughout everything I've been through these past few years, especially with IMMAE and JD. Cheers to 2009! *hugs*

♥ "Super T"

My MMA Corner Segment for this week on MMA with Yac & J

My first Filipino segment on the MMA Corner... Yeee! I love it when Randy calls Ron "Booang" HAHA!

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"Rara's Wish List Giveaway!"

First and foremost, Happy Holidays!

We’re giving away a wish list worth up to $150.00 to our online store here on the UG to three lucky contestants.

I’m hoping this will get us into the Holiday MMA Shopping spirit.

Whoever can come up with the best lyrics to one of the following three Christmas songs wins! Choose two or three lines from each song and rewrite them for the UG and MMA.

1.) 12 Days of Christmas

2.) Jingle Bells

3.) Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

The rules are as follows:

1.) Create a Wish List in the MMA store up to $150.00

2.) Click “Send Wish List” from the Wish List display page and copy and paste the Wish List url, under option 1, into this thread along with your lyrics

3.) Must only choose one song

The lyrics have to be UG and MMA related. Best Most Creative Wins!

The last day to enter will be at 5pm PST on Saturday, December 13th. I will announce the winners in a new thread created on Monday, December 15th. The winners will have their entire wish list sent to them in time for Christmas.

To Enter please go to this thread: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.frame&thread=1383632&page=1&gid=140246

P.S. You must be a member of www.MixedMartialArts.com. If you aren't you could sign up... it's free! :)

Thank you for your support! I appreciate it! Happy UG Holiday Shopping! ;)

Nashville TN here I come! Gameness Fighting Championships are here.

I'm sooo excited to leave for Nashville tomorrow. As some of you know Ed Clay is one of my best friends and is the owner of Gameness. The most successful gangster millionaire white boy I know hehe. I love him to death. Ed is having his first sanctioned fight in the state of Tennessee. I am so proud of him. I know how hard he has worked to put this event together and get MMA legalized in TN. I can't wait to spend the next few days in Nashville with him. I'm gonna be in the heart and soul of country music. Awwww gyeahh!

I know Tracy Lee will be there and I believe Arianny is gonna be there too. I'll have my girls and Ed Clay and fights... What more can a girl like me ask for.

I'm so excited!

To view the full fight card and for more information visit www.gameness.com
Nashville Tennessee here I come! :)

Remembering JJ Minor today...

I can't believe it's been 4 years since he has passed today... I miss him so much!

I remember JJ's energy... it was so strong. He was always wanting me to sing while he beat boxed Xscape's "You're My Little Secret". LOL. In high school you always caught us dancing together. I guess that's why senior year he was nominated Males Best Dancer and I was nominated Females Best Dancer.

He was always the life of the party and you could always catch him on the soccer field. We resembled each other so much that's why I called him "Kuya". Before he passed we got some girls and guys together to play soccer at Delta College for a scrimmage. I am so happy I got to share something we both loved so much together before he passed. We had so much fun that day.

Today, I remember all those good times I got to share with JJ. I know most of you do too. If you can please post your thoughts and comments in my blog.


My last photo with JJ

You will always be in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers JJ! Miss you and Love you! ♥ RA

R.I.P. JEFFERY JOEY MINOR ~ Sept. 13, 1982 - December 8, 2004

Nature Boy

Drea blows this song out of the water. I keep having her sing it to me over and over again.

But this live version of Nat King Cole singing it really gets to me. I love the guitar...

I haven't played much of the piano since my Grandmother passed away in 2002. She taught me how to play the piano and since she passed every time I touch a piano I get kinda emotional. This song makes me wanna go buy a keyboard just to learn the keys... then Drea and I could play it and sing it all day haha.

This song definitely puts me at ease.

Manny Pacquiao is my hero!

Whoooo hoooo! History is made! :)

I am such a proud Pinay. Manny is my hero!



Yesterday, Jaycee and I went to the Ricardo Montalban Theatre for the private Nike/Pacquiao event. Free food and drinks and a fight! What more can a girl like me ask for haha. It was a great place for me to network at that's why I chose to stay in LA than going to Vegas. I looked at Vegas like pleasure and I looked at this Nike event as business. I didn't want to let Jane down too... but Jaycee and I had fun. The event was cool plus Manny won.



After the fight we went to my sushi spot, Kura Sushi and then to club Element and had a blast. I've had a headache all day...

Congrats to WEC's Mark Munoz and TUF's Phillipe Nover!

Congrats to WEC's Mark Munoz and TUF's Phillipe Nover!!!

Manny Pacquiao is next!

Kababayan all day everyday!

Mark Munoz defeated Ricardo Barros by Technical Knock Out at 2:26 in the 1st round. Phillipe Nover won his fight on TUF. Filipinos are representing in MMA.

The next Filipino fighter to win is Manny Pacquiao.

Jane and I are heading to Vegas so watch out now... it's about to be on and crackin'.

See you in Vegas... :)

I wish I was in Vegas for WEC right now!

Man... Miguel Torres, Cub Swanson, Alex Karalexis, Joseph Benavidez, and my pinoy brother Mark Munoz is fighting in the WEC tonight! I wish I was there to support them. I've already gotten texts asking where I was at lol. I can't make it to all the fights although I do go to most of them. I'm not even going to go to UFC 92 because it's my sister's birthday and my entire family is going to San Diego that weekend to celebrate her birthday and our Christmas together. If I was superwoman I'd go to all of them if I could.

I hope they show Mark Munoz's fight on air. He has a dope ass walk out song that he sent me to listen to and it represents us Filipinos. :) This makes me excited because I can't wait for the UFC to go to the Philippines. If they have it at the end of May I plan on flying my family out there so we can all have a family vacation out there. It would be so much fun!

Anyway, I wish I was in Vegas to support my friends who are fighting especially Miguel and Mark. I will keep my hands peeled on my blackberry for real time updates of the undercards. I'll probably be BBMing Tracy Lee during the fights too.

Good luck to Miguel, Cub, Alex, Joseph, and Mark!

Jane and I are dorks!

I was on I-5 driving to LA and saw that Jane's BBM status said she was driving from the Bay to LA. I asked her where she was at and she said she just passed Westley and I had just passed Westley! I put on my hazards for her to see if she can see me and she was right behind me HAHA! She then put her hazards on and I saw her HAHA!

I know the pic is dark, but that's Jane in her Audi


She caught up to me and took a picture of me and I caught up to take a picture of her. When we pulled over to use the restroom we had to take a picture together to saver the moment lol.

Our pull over picture


Yes, Jane and I are dorks! LOL I ♥ her...
http://www.myspace.com/jandaya10