Editor-in-Chief, Fightland
Senior Editor, VICE Sports
Served as editor-in-chief of VICE Media's innovative Fightland vertical where he guided the editorial voice while overseeing writers, photographers, and artists in five continents; creating a commercial and cultural hub for boxing and mixed martial arts. At Fightland, Michael played a central role in a rebranding effort aimed at reimagining the overall tone and aesthetic of traditionally unapproachable sports.
His significant body of work spans over 3,000 pieces of original content composed of writing, editing, and video production—setting a standard in quality content and audience building.
He was one of the first hires at the VICE Los Angeles office while still in its infancy, anchoring an entire digital property during a time of massive shift and growth. He also managed all of the vertical's social media channels, where he continuously exceeded traffic and engagement goals, proving himself to be one of the most skilled social producers at VICE in addition to his role as editor-in-chief.
Thai Prison Fights
MMA vs. Monsanto
The Female Taekwondo Fighters Of Kurdistan
Awakening Martial Arts In Modern China
Moving Portraits: Kailin Curran
Selected Editorial:
Joel Tudor on the Art of Surfing, Fighting, and Style
Against the Odds: Bpaet Becomes a Muay Thai Fighter
Fighting for Identity: The Life of a Transgender Kickboxer in Rural Thailand
Darkness Before Dawn: A Fighter’s Road to Recovery
The Fighters of El Chorrillo
Fighting the Shackles of Slavery: ‘Kicking and Knocking’ in the Antebellum South
One Night in Thailand: Gamblers, Child Fighters, and Muay Thai
Banchamek Surin: Inside Buakaw's Gym in Rural Isaan
Kron Gracie on Jiu-Jitsu, Skateboarding, Older Brothers, and Famous Fathers
Fighting the Cult of Domesticity
The Women Boxers Who Fought for Their Right to Be Pro
The Twisted and Terrible History of Men Fighting Bears
The Street Fighting Life of Abraham Lincoln
Changing the Way We Talk About Autism in Martial Arts
Why Kimbo Slice Mattered to the Autism Community
A Shaolin Monk Tries Mixed Martial Arts
Martial Art Pretenders: A History of Imitators and Snake Oil