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Oliver Lee Bateman

Oliver Bateman is a contributing writer to MEL Magazine. He writes about the extreme sides of fitness, the weirder sides of MMA and pro wrestling, and the unorthodox lifestyles of professional athletes. His writing on these topics has appeared in publications such as the Paris Review, the Atlantic, and the New Republic. Ever since he was a little kid, he's been really good at exercising.

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The Early Years of MMA Were a ‘No-Holds-Barred Freakshow’ That Couldn’t Be More Different From…

The Early Years of MMA Were a ‘No-Holds-Barred Freakshow’ That Couldn’t Be More Different From Today

If the Ability to Arm Wrestle Is the Ultimate Test of Toughness, Why Doesn’t Anyone Care About Pro…

If the Ability to Arm Wrestle Is the Ultimate Test of Toughness, Why Doesn’t Anyone Care About Pro Arm Wrestling?

We’ve Exhausted America’s Supply of Retro-Fitness Fads. Maybe It’s Time to Try Communism

In the gym at least…

Essential Reads for the Man Who Wants to Put on A Little Muscle

A Cultural History of Sylvester Stallone’s Rock-Hard Abs and Shredded Everything Else

The Pro Wrestling Body Type As We Know It Is All Because of Bruno Sammartino

How the Deadlift Reclaimed Its Rightful Spot at the Gym

Redefining Pro Wrestling’s Perfect Body Type

Death by Muscle

For Competitive Grippers, the Grip Is the Goal