REAR NAKED CHOKE RADIO on JoeTed.com

We’re the smallest – and proudest — dog in the fight.

Rear Naked Choke Radio on JoeTed.com is honored to be one of the nominees for 2009 MMA Radio Show of the Year on The Underground.

• VOTE HERE (free registration required)
• Register here (if you are not registered)

“We could not be more humbled,” RNC co-host and Examiner.com MMA writer Joe Rizzo said.  “Getting recognized by The UG validates the hard work we have put into creating and enhancing the show, which is now into its fourth year.  Credibility with the fighters, trainers, promoters and fans is paramount with us.  To be nominated alongside the heavyweights is a tremendous honor.”

Rizzo, along with Ted Takvorian, founded the interview-based show in December 2006.  After months developing a format, they took the show in the direction of mixed martial arts, with former International Fight League (IFL) ring card girl Emily Miller becoming the first guest.

“Those first few months represented such a learning curve,” Takvorian said.  “I lean on Joe’s background as a sportswriter and broadcaster while working to represent the fans that are new to MMA.  Joe and I have been friends for 30 years, and we’re both more interested in people than things.  For the people of MMA to recognize us like this is very special to me.”

RNC Radio became the “unofficial official show of the IFL” soon after Miller’s debut.  Joe and Ted then pioneered the ringside live stream, broadcasting shows from nearly all of the promotion’s events thereafter, along the way incorporating the Rear Naked Choke Radio moniker.

Before the demise of the IFL, RNC Radio made the decision to expand its focus to all of MMA.  While the best of the UFC frequently are guests, Joe and Ted have since made significant strides in shedding unprecedented light on the women’s game, with pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter Tara LaRosa acting as a frequent co-host.

The top show of the nearly 200 in RNC Radio history was May 22, 2009, when LaRosa served as co-host with guest Gina Carano (listen here).  Joe and Ted took the show cageside to LaRosa’s three fights in 2009.

Shortly thereafter, Joe and Ted appeared on Fox Fight Game with Mike Straka (watch here).

More big developments came in the fall.

In September, Joe began a weekly series with contestant Zak Jensen, recapping every episode of The Ultimate Fighter 10 each Thursday morning.  When Roy “Big Country” Nelson became the champion, it was a proud moment for the show, as Roy has been a frequent guest and friend of the show since the IFL.

Brad Blackburn had co-hosted the show many times during the IFL days and has since taken to making his UFC fight announcements on the air with Joe and Ted.  The show follows Brad to Virginia for the biggest fight of his career, on Spike TV against Amir Sadollah at Ultimate Fight Night 20 on Monday, Jan. 11.

Another longtime friend, Strikeforce’s Benji Radach, was the catalyst for RNC Radio’s October move to its new home at LA Boxing on Route 17 South in Paramus, NJ.  Joe and Ted stream live weekly from LA Boxing, which is operated by Peter Rivera.

While 2009 was fantastic, we look forward to even greater things this year.  Most of all, we want to gain and keep the support of everyone in the MMA community.

We thank you.