Hi. I'm Simon Head – a sports writer, journalist, editor and all-round sports junkie. Welcome to my blog, newsletter, and (occasional) podcast, The Brit Pack.

A bit about me

After spending the majority of my first 20 years playing sport, I've spent the next 20+ years watching sport and writing about it instead. I've run the digital sports desk of a national newspaper, helped launch a major UK sports broadcaster, and written words for a plethora of national and international sports outlets from the UK to the US to the UAE.

During my career, I've covered Olympic Games, World Cups, FA Cup Finals, and UFC world title fights, and have (possibly) burned more midnight oil than any other UK journalist covering the craziest (and possibly the most exciting) sport on the planet – mixed martial arts.

I've managed the content of one of the world's largest online bookmakers, project-managed online sportsbook and casino launches, and co-written a bestselling football book. I even dabbled in a bit of radio back in the day. But my professional sporting focus is now on the world of combat sports, and I’ve been covering the sport of MMA for 15 years for major outlets on both sides of the pond. I now run my own sports freelancing business, and am available for editorial projects and event coverage via my website, simonheadsport.com.

A bit about the podcast

The Brit Pack podcast started out many, many years ago as a sounding board for me and my good friend and fellow UK-based MMA media colleague Chamatkar Sandhu to share our views on the sport of MMA. It was a small, but fun, show that we occasionally took on the road, recording live from cageside at a UFC event, and also from New York City before the UFC’s historic first event at Madison Square Garden – UFC 205.

Sadly, professional commitments for both of us forced the show into a hiatus, but we later returned for a second run before more commitments away from the mic meant we regretfully had to scale back, then stop, the show.

Since then I’ve recorded a few special one-off episodes, including a series of shows with my former colleagues and MMA Junkie Radio legends, “Gorgeous George” and “Goze”. Now, rather than bringing the shutters down on the show completely, I’ve decided to keep The Brit Pack rolling with some interview specials, and maybe a fun roundtable conversation or two.

A bit about The Brit Pack

The Brit Pack moniker was initially conceived to describe the podcast – with the original strapline of “Fighting talk with a distinctly British flavour” – but now The Brit Pack takes a slightly different meaning.

The focus has now turned to the athletes themselves, with this website largely looking at the fortunes of British fighters on the European and world stage. The podcast may widen the net a little, especially if I end up chatting with friends from across the pond. But, in the main, The Brit Pack will keep its primary focus on the talented athletes from British shores.

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to The Brit Pack newsletter, website and podcast. Every time I publish something new – written, audio, or video – you’ll get it, straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to The Brit Pack MMA

MMA coverage with a British accent, by UK-based reporter/editor Simon Head.

People

Sports journalist/editor since 1999. MMA reporter/editor since 2009. Host of The Brit Pack MMA Podcast.
MMA editor/reporter since 2009. Sports editor/journalist since 1999. Gills fan since 1990.