The journey will forever trump the destination.

The road traveled and the lessons learned along the way are continuously building toward something. At least that's what we tell ourselves in those moments where direction for the next step can't be found. And because I believed wholeheartedly in the process I'd given everything to for the better part of a decade, however it worked out would've been fine with me.

Thousands of stories told and enough personal adventures to fill a few lifetimes made me realize that if I'd reached in the end of my run in mixed martial arts, I'd done, for the most part at least, what I'd set out to do.

This was my mindset in late March. A longform story from the year before carried over into the new year, and while there were options, I started to doubt if I could ever do better than what had been done in those installments. In full disclosure, the time involved and the deep dive taken wiped me out, and I started to wonder if the cup which had carried so much ambition, determination and creativity had finally been emptied.

And I was stuck in that particular gear when FloSports came into my life.

From the jump there was talk of building and the future and all of the bright-eyed thing that come with an endeavor that is truly new in an established space. There were solid conversations had, momentum built toward taking on a new role, and just when it appeared as if everything would materialize in my favor I did the most un-Finley thing in the world.

I backed out of the running for the job.

When I ended that phone call I found myself angry in a way I'd not experienced in a long time. For a man who lives with his head in the clouds at all times, how could an opportunity to build a site in my own vision give me cold feet. I know he hates when I make our conversations public but a call to my friend and mentor Thomas Gerbasi in the aftermath helped me iron a few things out.

There was never a question of capability, just a nudge from a friend who believed in me when I felt too tired and kicked around to carry on. Anyone who has a career in this field can attest to the lumps we take along the way, and I wasn't sure if I wanted it anymore. A few quick sage-like words from Gerbasi changed all of that.

Fortunately the phone rang back less than an hour later chasing me down to accept the position and I agreed. The next day I received my offer, which I accepted, and in no time at all I'd gone from despondent dreamer to motivated Senior Editor of FloCombat.com.

Upon closer look those feelings that had pressed me into feeling tired and zapped my motivation were fear and doubt. I was afraid of what would happen when all of the ideas and dreams I had were there for the taking. When the restraints that kept things always a step off were stripped away and I could do the work I truly wanted to do.

What a great problem to have and I touched down in Austin, TX. with a smile on my face

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****

In the weeks leading up to the launch I reached out to my good friend and storytelling protege Hunter Homistek.

We talked about this new opportunity and realistic routes that could be traveled. Hunter had taken the East Coast run of the MMA Road Trip project with me back when we both worked for Bleacher Report and when you share copious amount of windshield time and cut rate murder motel rooms together, there is ample opportunity to talk about how things would unfold in an ideal setting.

In order to build what the site I wanted to create I needed a mind like Hunter's involved. He hates me bringing up his child prodigy status but that's very much true, and anyone who has ever interacted with him personally or witnessed the dude shred a six string guitar understands. Hunter is simply a bright kid, but what appealed (and still very much does) for me was his ability to understand the rhythm of a great story.

There is plenty of belief in the Hemingway approach and cutting to the chase. Jimmy went to the store. Jimmy bought a soft drink. Jimmy went about his day.

On the flip I've always been more keen to the why and the underlying tones of motivation. I want to know what brought Jimmy to that store. What was Jimmy doing beforehand? Where in the Hell did Jimmy go once he left and why? It's great when you find someone else in this world as offbeat and complex as how you see yourself.

Flocombat officially launched on April 18 and we made a splash right out of the gate. Good stories registered throughout the MMA community and big project like the FloFilms with Frankie Edgar and Daniel Cormier served as a proper introduction for the new kids on the block. We were off and running and I was happy with the rag-tag group we'd assembled to do the damn thing.

But things were about to get bigger and crazier.

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****

I had just stepped off the plane in Florida when I got word that our own Jeremy Botter was going to break the news of the UFC sale.

We had been the first to break a few fight announcements or an injury here or there, but this was an entirely different ballgame. Once this news hit every eye in the sports world was going to be on FloCombat, and while the aforementioned is every site's dream, it wasn't something I was sure we were ready for.

Nevertheless, Botter was an experienced journalist and let the information out into the world.

I can still remember the look on Josh Samman's face when he picked me up from the airport and the news was all over Twitter.

"That's some f******g crazy sh*t," he laughed in the comfortable but powerful dude way he had about things. "Things are going to get pretty wild for you brother."

And while I miss him every day, and it sucked to even write or revisit those words, Samman was very much correct.

The UFC sale story kicked things to an entirely new level and we followed that up shortly after with the news Rory MacDonald had signed to Bellator. The combination of those two stories destroyed the notion of being a site with beginner legs, torched any safety net we had below, and put us out into the bigger game in full-throttled delivery.

Things were moving at break-neck speed and suddenly the stakes became higher. It was also around this time Jim Edwards signed onto the squad and what an amazing find he was. I wish I could sit here and say my leadership and foresight was that amazing, but the truth of the matter is "Skinny's" work ethic is the stuff of legend.

The dude simply hammers and with the team we already had assembled things shifted gears as we roared off into night to chase the horizon. It may seem strange to imagine a website in metaphors but that's how I think and by now I imagine anyone reading this is well aware of that.

****

"I dig what you guys are doing at Flo," Jon Jones said. "You guys are doing a good thing and I'm happy to be apart of it. Keep it up."

The former UFC light heavyweight champion had just submitted Dan Henderson in the main event at Submission Underground 2 and shared a few words of encouragement. Here was the greatest mixed martial artist of all time sharing a few genuine thoughts in the aftermath of his return to competition, and I couldn't help but feel his words were a stamp of sorts on the year that had flown by.

The truth of the matter is the large majority of 2016 whipped by like scenery blurring outside a bus window. Realizing we started from scratch nine months back to having an event the likes of SUG 2 that featured Jones, Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye and Miesha Tate to close out a great year gave cause to pause and appreciate. Knowing so many good things had been accomplished by a team composed of talented people I truly love and appreciate….well that's something special on a much different level.

In taking the leadership role at FloCombat it was my mission to create a space where fighter's stories could be told in a way they'd never been told before. Looking at the track record this year I'm confident we've done that. And the messages, tweets and conversations I've had with the fighters involved only back up that notion.

But where does the future go?


If this year was about building the foundation for FloCombat then 2017 is all about taking things to the next level. Everything is going to get bigger and part of the motivation for writing this was to get the MMA world excited for what is to come.

The other part behind this was to say thank you.

Without your support we never would've had the success we've experienced and it will always be of the utmost importance to share our appreciation for you taking this journey with us. Everyone on the team at FC has shared stories of fan interactions from all around the globe and our FCFanFest in November was the icing on the cake.

You guys make all the hard work worthwhile and we promise to always strive to give you a different look at the sport and fighters you love because of it.

The first big event of 2017 will be SUG 3 on FloGrappling which will be immediately followed by the official launch of the FloCombat Road Trip Project. Once again the young sage Hunter Homistek and I are jumping behind the wheel and going coast to coast to hit fight gyms all across this beautiful country.

This project will be fully interactive with tons of goods and giveaways and plenty of fan meetups along the journey. I've said it time and time again but what we are doing with this project isn't about us or anyone at FC. We are doing this to give you guys the stories you've always wanted and the organic looks into the lives of fighters you just can't get anywhere else.

That's the mission for 2017 and I want to thank everyone in advance for joining us.

YOU have validated the decision I made back in March and it's because of YOU FloCombat has had such a successful first year. You've helped us break all the rules in this MMA thing and we've had a hell of a lot of fun doing it.

Ole Bo's dive into Gonzo has been a hit just as The Big Glo and Skinny's endeavors have been well received and loved by the community. Thank you for allowing us to be who we are and because of that acceptance we'll be forever grateful.

Straight from the heart is the only way I know and that's what you'll always get from the team at FC.

Happy Holidays and Merry New Year from Bo and the Squad. Let's kick some ass in 2017!