Fighting Words

Bruisers, Brawlers, & Bad Intentions

By: Scott Blackburn

Narrated by: Chris Ciulla, Suzanne Elise Freeman, Matt Godfrey, Stacy Gonzalez, Linda Jones, Courtney Fabrizio, Victor Clarke, M. Orenstein

Venture into a hard-hitting world of spiking adrenaline, tempered fear, and life-or-death stakes. With stories from award-winning authors and former fighters, Fighting Words brings you the best in combat sports fiction.

This collection goes beyond broken teeth and bloody knuckles, offering a unique glimpse into the human psyche. What are these bruisers and brawlers willing to do to get what they want? What chances are they willing to take to change their position in life and their future? What pain and fire are they willing to walk through to reach their ultimate goal?

Included in this anthology:

• Foreword by Chris Ciulla, narrated by the author
• Saint Bullethead by Nick Kolakowski, narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla
• Where the River Breaks by L.S. Goozdich, narrated by Victor Clarke
• Pure Wrath by A.M. Adair, narrated by Linda Jones
• Fight Club by David Moloney, narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla
• Conor McGregor Was a Friend of Mine by J.B. Stevens, narrated by Michael Orenstein
• Call Me Mina by Laura Brashear, narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
• A Fighting Life by Keith Roysdon, narrated by Courtney Fabrizio
• The Grit by Meredith R. Lyons, narrated by Suzanne Elise Freeman
• Bourbon BrawI by Ashley Erwin, narrated by Matt Godfrey
• The Cleaner by Jason Allison, narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla

©2025 Leonardo Audio (P)2025 Leonardo Audio

Critic reviews

“Tuck your chin, folks, this collection is a knockout.” -Wes Browne, Author of They All Fall the Same

Fantastic listen

These stories were so brutal and thought provoking. I loved listening to all the different narrators. Each story gave me a different perspective on life and the experiences that people go through, how they handle challenges and how things can change in a moment. Loved listening! Highly recommend.

Fantastic selection of fighting stories

I can't recommend this title enough - especially if you enjoy MMA and the like. Each story is vastly different from the last - and each hits home. The narration, by each of the readers, really drew me into each story. I also thought that the between story setups were a great addition to the flow of the book - and were narrated superbly by Chris Ciulla.

A Great Intro to Audiobooks!

This was my first audio book and I have to say it has gotten me hooked! As a fan of combat sports I really enjoyed these gritty stories about triumph and perseverance. If they're no good fights on tonight, this might be the next closest thing!

Stories that hit their mark!

The best thing about anthologies is discovering stories that you love from either new authors or longtime favorites. “Where the River Bends,” will speak to anyone who’s a fighter (in any capacity), and “The Grit” had me fully invested from the start. Since this anthology also had an outstanding cast of narrators, it was also a chance to enjoy hearing from new voice actors. Linda Jones absolutely crushed “Pure Wrath,” and it was a privilege to listen to her performance!