(Fighting, film, and Movember pioneer Bruce Lee)

Today would have been the birthday of martial artist and television and movie star Bruce Lee. Lee died tragically young, but still made an indelible mark on the world during his short life by demonstrating his unique abilities as a fighter, instructor and showman.

Part philosopher, part fighter and part entertainer, Lee did much to draw attention to martial arts in a more practical way as well as blow up stereotypes of Asian people around the world. As a practitioner and teacher, Bruce did not limit training to one set of dogmatic forms or a single style. Rather, he studied any and every style he could, from wing chun to western boxing to Judo and Jiu Jitsu. He took what worked from each and jettisoned what did not. He also was a pioneer in his emphasis on strength and conditioning.

To commemorate the man Dana White calls “the father of mixed martial arts,” we’re going to get out of the way and let you enjoy some videos of him tonight. One is a collection of grainy films showing Lee during demonstrations, a couple others are clips from films of his where he’s kicking butt in style and we’ve also included a couple full-length documentaries that we enjoy on the life and careers of Lee.

Enjoy and then get out there and train, like Bruce would have you do!

(Bruce Lee is “the father of mixed martial arts” — which more than qualifies him for a spot on the next UFC event poster. Video via LancasterLTD)

As we enter the first full week of Movember, your moustache-in-progress may be looking thin, patchy, and unattractive — more befitting a McPoyle than an alpha male. Stay strong and stick with it, because you have greatness in your future.

Thanks so much to the folks who have already contributed cash to our Movember team, the Mo’tato Nation; your money will help fund awareness efforts, research, and other critical support for men’s health issues. Last year, the Break and Friends network (which we’re a part of) raised over $40,000. If you want to help us smash that mark this year, please register and donate.

Onto the business at hand. Our good friends at Lancaster LTD — who are also celebrating Movember with a series of limited edition t-shirts — have pledged us a couple of their new Movember Bruce Lee tees for the Mo’tato Nation. To win one, simply guess the exact outcome of this Saturday’s main event fight between Rich Franklin and Cung Le at UFC on FUEL 6 in Macao, along with which bonus(es) the fight will earn, if any. Your entry should be in this format…

(Props: lancasterltd)

As you know, CagePotato is organizing a Movember team this year, and is currently accepting members and donations. Our friends at Lancaster LTD are honoring Movember as well, with a line of special edition t-shirts — featuring such manly men as Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, and Evel Knievel — and a series of short films focused on the personal legacies of these individuals. Check out the first installment above, in which Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion) talks about his love for Ali.

If you’re not already tapped out from donating cash to the Mo’tato Nation, please swing by the Lancaster LTD/Roots of Fight Movember network and consider chipping in a few bucks to the cause. Thanks so much, guys, and start getting your razors ready for Movember 1st!

(Brittney Palmer makes love to the camera for her 2013 calendar, via TitoCouture)

- Jose Aldo Opens as -175 Favorite Over Frankie Edgar at UFC 153 (MMAWeekly)

- Anderson Silva: ‘A Lot Of People Thought I Was Gay’ Growing Up (Fightline)

- That’s not urine, okay? It’s a home-made sport drink called Machida-Ade. (Facebook.com/CagePotato)

- Michael Bisping Talks Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen and UFC 152 Fight With Brian Stann (HeavyMMA)

- Matt Mitrione vs. Phil De Fries Slated for UFC 155 (MMAFighting)

- Dennis Siver vs. Eddie Yagin Moved To UFC On FOX 5, All UFC 151 Fights Now Rescheduled (BloodyElbow)

- MMA: Inside the Cage #109: “The Truth About Tag Team MMA” (MMA: Inside the Cage)

- Bruce Lee Kicked Fashion’s Ass (MadeMan)

- The 101 Greatest ESPN GameDay Signs – EVER (BustedCoverage)

- Does Alcohol Really Help People Get Along? (MensFitness)

- The 10 Worst Movies of Summer 2012 (Complex)

- Shay Maria Pops a Balloon on Her Boobs (WorldWideInterweb)

- 5 Reasons Burning Man Is Not as Cool as You Think (EgoTV)

Just a friendly reminder for you to set your PVR for 9:00 p.m. ET tonight so you don’t miss the acclaimed two-hour Bruce Lee documentary SPIKE TV is airing.

The film, “I Am Bruce Lee,” is a theatrical release currently playing in select theatres in Australia, the U.S. and Canada this month, and by all accounts it’s definitely worth watching, especially if you’re a fan of the late great martial artist and actor’s work.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/1stYoshi)

When I was a kid I used to dream about settling all of my conflicts Bruce Lee-style by knocking fools out with backfists and spinning roundhouses.

Now, there’s a pretty good chance that the video above is fake, considering the kick doesn’t seem to connect, but if it isn’t it’s one of the best incidences of poetic justice we’ve ever seen.

Dude insults rap battle opponent and gets shoved and called out by the poor sport before demonstrating some Ong Bak-esque Taekwondo on his ass. Cue walk-off KO.

Related after the jump: Check out an MMA rap battle between two crazy Canadians.

Victory, comrade!

Don’t worry- we didn’t forget about you. We were just a little busy yesterday. To demonstrate that your questions weren’t asked for no reason, we’ll jump right into answering them today. Unless, of course, you asked a question and we didn’t answer it. Then it was definitely asked for no reason. Oh well.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Kyle Gifford asks (via Facebook): Why haven’t you taken any questions from FB?

Above is the decidedly high-def looking promo for Bellator’s fifth season, kicking off on September 10th in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I mention the spiffyness of the visuals because one of the few complaints that I’ve ever leveled at BFC is the standard definition broadcasting. When the trailer was released a few weeks ago, I honestly thought it was just a little accidental irony.

Nope. A couple of days ago, it was announced that Bellator season five tournaments will be broadcast in HD baby! Now go dig out your cable programming guide and try to determine if you have EPIX. I’ve never heard of it, but apparently it’s an actual channel somewhere, so I’m going to call DISH Network and start offering them money until they can confirm that I’ll see Bellator in 1080p.

If you’re not excited about the upcoming season, watch that video again. You may not realize it, but that’s Bruce Lee talking about being like water. It’s some deep philosophical type shit, and it’s pretty much him guaranteeing that he’s going to join a tournament and wreck shop. Seeing the founder of Jeet Kun Do step away from his acting career and FINALLY step into the cage is going to be sick, and I’m looking forward to putting an end to all that speculation about how good he’d be.

(For an actual preview of two of the four planned tournaments this season, come on in past the jump.)

(Clash of the Titans? So which one’s the kraken? Props: shosports)

Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere. E-mail feedback@cagepotato.com for details on how your site can join the MMA Link Club…

- Handing Out Hardware: 2011 MMA Mid-Year Awards (Five Ounces of Pain)

- Georges St. Pierre ‘Grinds Down’ a Female at Boulevard 3 Nightclub in Hollywood (MMA Mania)

- Rashad Evans: “When Jon Jones loses (in the UFC), he’s going to quit in a fight” (FightOpinion)

- ProElite’s T. Jay Thompson Shares Details on the Promotion’s August 27th Return (MMAPayout)

- Video: If You Thought the Kim Couture Late Stoppage Was Bad… (MMA Convert)

- Exclusive: Will Frank Trigg Be the Third Fighter in a Row Retired by Tom “Kong” Watson? (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

- There’s Still Time to Enter the Chael Sonnen Baby-Onesie Design Contest; Check Out the Front-Runners Here (MiddleEasy)

- Half-Year in Review: 2011′s UFC Stats, Facts & Figures (MMA Fighting)

- Photo Gallery: Nam Phan Trains for UFC 133 Fight Against Mike Brown (LowKick)

- Bellator Fighting Championships Hosting Open Tryouts July 16th in New Jersey (5thRound)

- Round 5 Unveils Bruce Lee Figure Based on “Enter the Dragon” (TheFightNerd)

- Exclusive: Jon Jones Discusses UFC 135 Fight With Rampage, Feud With Rashad (NBC Sports MMA)

(Props: Brian Rule)

You loved him in "Wandy Throws the Hooks" — now, noted MMA impressionist Anderson Silva is back with this tribute to Bruce Lee. You’ll be amazed at his mimicry of broken-English kung fu dubbing, and his classic towel-as-nunchaku routine will bring a tear to your eye. Buy your tickets today!

This is a Pepsi commercial that will air during the Super Bowl.  From the looks of it, the goal is to show that each generation continues doing things that previous generations before them did, like drinking Pepsi!  

Gina Carano comes in around the 0:18 mark, right after Bruce Lee.  Before you get too worked up about the comparison, remember that this fun little SAT analogy game started by going from Bob Dylan to will.i.am, as if to prove that this generation is more superficial than every other one.  Still, MMA fighter in a Super Bowl ad.  Hooray.

(Just one of the reasons why you should rent “The Story of Ricky” immediately.)

Long before we became obsessed with MMA, martial arts flicks satisfied our thirst for blood. We now pay tribute to the best of the best — and the kickass fight scenes and iconic stars that made these movies so essential. Click the links for video clips, and let us know how you feel in the comments section…

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10. Kickboxer (1989)

Say what you will about Kickboxer, but it delivers what it promises. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, the European-accented brother to an American kickboxing champion (?) who travels to Thailand only to be paralyzed by the vicious Tong Po. It isn’t until Sloane seeks out the wisdom and awesomely unorthodox training of Xian Chow that he is ready to seek revenge in a brutal underground match that features no shortage of broken glass-encrusted fists and long, drawn-out screams.

Best Ass-Kicking: How do you prepare for the fight of your life? By getting drunk and beating up bar patrons while dancing horribly in pleated pants. How else?

Classic Quote: “I tell them you say they no good fighters… and that their mothers have sex with mules.” (Xian Chow)

9. The Legend of Drunken Master aka Drunken Master II (1994)