IT was a real pleasure meeting professional poker player and model Lacey Jones when she visited Manila.

That’s (L-R) me, Lacey and INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla during the podcast recording session.

Lacey was also our guest on the second episode of our Sports Aficionado podcast, which featured her boyfriend, mixed martial arts fighter Heath Herring. Episode 3, however, is all about Lacey as she shares how she got into poker and modeling, while giving tips on how to improve your game.

Here’s the video of the podcast recording session, which we did at Crowne Plaza. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.

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NOT only is Mac Danzig “The Ultimate Fighter 6″ champion, but this mixed martial arts fighter is also doing his share in promoting vegetarianism.

The 27-year-old welterweight appears in a new testimonial ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific.

Here’s an excerpt from the PETA press statement:

“Animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses don’t have a fighting chance,” says Danzig, who forced his opponent, Tommy Speer, into submission using a rear naked choke just two minutes and one second into the first round of the championship match [in December]. “I don’t eat animals because I don’t want to contribute to their suffering — it’s that simple. Do yourself a favor, do the planet a favor, and help end animal abuse. Go veg.” Danzig got his shot at the crown by prevailing over his competitors on [Ultimate Fighting Championship's "The Ultimate Fighter," which airs] on Solar Sports.

Why is a vegan diet the diet of champions? Consumption of meat and other animal products has been conclusively linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity. Meat production is also a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and land degradation. And, of course, the best way to fight the cruelty of factory farms and slaughterhouses is to kick the meat habit.

ARE you confident that Manny Pacquiao will defeat his old foe, Juan Marquez, the reigning World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champ?

Well, Pacman has assured Filipinos that he will do just that on March 15 when he and Marquez clash at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Here are two videos taken by INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla during the press conference at Crowne Plaza.

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By Joey Alarilla
INQUIRER.net

EXPECT the fireworks to fly this Sunday, Dec. 9 at the “Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge” mixed martial arts competition which kicks off 1 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

I was at the Crowne Plaza hotel with INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla and INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania this afternoon for the press conference that formally introduced the fighters of the four teams competing in “Ring of Fire.”

Here’s a photo of (l-r) me, Erika, Royce Gracie and Alex taken by Rica Manalang, PR officer of Image Communicator, which is handling the publicity for the “Ring of Fire” event.

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By Joey Alarilla
INQUIRER.net

AS a longtime fan of mixed martial arts competitions, I can tell you it was a great pleasure to interview MMA fighters Kimo and Heath Herring. Kimo and Heath dropped by the INQUIRER.net office to help promote the “Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge” competition organized by Proelite.com and Platinum Fighting Productions, which will be held at 1 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Dec. 9.

Here are two video clips taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.

Here’s a clip of Kimo (left) and Benny Tuazon Jr., president of Fearless Fighting Productions, encouraging Filipino fans to watch “Ring of Fire” this Sunday.

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CONGRATULATIONS to Filipino boxing champs Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, who both defeated their Mexican opponents to retain their belts.

“The Filipino Flash” stopped Luis “Titi” Maldonado in the eighth round in Mashantucket, Connecticut, while “Boom Boom” won via a unanimous decision over Antonio “Barrio” Meza at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

In the same Boom Boom-Barrio fight card, AJ “Bazooka” Banal retained his World Boxing Organization Youth super flyweight with a ninth-round technical knockout against Mexican Jovanny “Bambino” Soto.

Kudos to our Filipino boxers!

INQUIRER.NET multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla interviewed Carina Purugganan, the country’s only female representative in the bodybuilding category of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games to be held this December in Thailand., for iVDO on Yahoo!

Visit iVDO on Yahoo! for more videos from INQUIRER.net and our partners.

YUP, INQUIRER.net now has its own Sports channel, which brings together its original online content, stories from other members of the Philippine Daily Inquirer Group of Publications, and video clips and other material from our partners such as Solar Sports and Raya Sports & Events.

The sites under the INQUIRER.net Sports channel include Solar Sports, Sports on iVDO, Sports Breaking News, Inquirer Sports, Cebu Daily News Sports, Sports Aficionado, The Pacquiao Files, HIP Golf Digest, Raya Sports, Hey, Joe by Ted Lerner. and Columnists.

The Sports on iVDO channel showcases the original video stories that INQUIRER.net is creating, including a video interview with Carina Purugganan, the country’s only female representative in the bodybuilding category of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games to be held this December in Thailand, and a feature on “The Filipino Flash,” International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization world flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr.

AFTER watching this video taken by INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla, you’ll know why International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has earned the nickname “The Filipino Flash.” Here he’s shown sparring with his father Nonito Donaire Sr., who is also his coach and trainer.

This video was taken during Donaire’s press conference at the IMAX parking lot for his upcoming bout against Mexico’s Luis “Titi” Maldonado on Dec. 2, which will be simulcast over Solar Sports and GMA Network.

Now I just have one question: If you’re a Filipino, how the heck are you supposed to say the nickname of Donaire’s Mexican opponent with a straight face, hehe

Want more videos from INQUIRER.net and our partners? Visit iVDO on Yahoo!

SUPERMAN almost did it, but Daryl Peach, the “Dazzler” from Blackpool, England, found the Kryptonite he needed to down Filipino Roberto Gomez, 17-15, and win the 2007 World Pool Championship.

Gomez, known internationally as Superman, had already made history as the first qualifier (non-seeded player) to make it all the way to the finals of the World Pool Championship. After coming from behind to level the match at 12 racks apiece, Gomez was flying high and seemed poised to win the championship as he took the next three racks to lead, 15-12.

Peach, however, who has also made history as the first Englishman to ever reach the finals of the World Pool Championship, refused to wilt and made his own comeback, with the predominantly pro-Filipino crowd at the Araneta Coliseum showing their appreciation for his great escapes from Gomez’s safeties and grace under pressure.

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