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Sat, 25 May 2013 17:48:06 PDT
 To kick off UFC 160, Jeremy Stephens beat Estevan Payan with a 30-26, 20-26, 30-27 decision. The bout was so bloody that it left deep, red-colored stains in the Octagon. It was really, really bloody. 
You can see the blood leaking from Payan's head here.
 And how it stained both men's shorts here.
 So. Much. Blood.
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Sat, 25 May 2013 07:28:55 PDT
Considering Fallon Fox won her first two fights in the first round, it was expected for the first openly trans fighter to walk through her next opponent, Allanna Jones at Championship Fighting Alliance on Friday. In her first nationally televised bout, Fox won with a submission in the third round, but it was not the overwhelming win that oddsmakers were expecting. You can watch the full fight in the video above. Fox and Jones both made mistakes like keeping their hands too low and holding their chin out too far throughout the bout. They looked like two inexperienced fighters because that's what they are. Much of the controversy that surrounded Fox was the perception that since she was born a man, she would have clear advantage over her opponents. As Sherdog's Jordan Breen pointed out, "So, did anyone watch that and think, 'Wow, what an insurmountable advantage Fallon Fox has, no one could ever beat her!'?" She beat a 2-1 fighter, but not soundly. When she goes up in level of competition, as she will do in the next round of the CFA tournament, she will have a hard time. Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Antonio Silva eager to prove he's a cut above in UFC 160 rematch with Cain Velasquez
• Yahoo! writers, readers make their UFC 160 picks
• Four questions that will be answered by UFC 160
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Sat, 25 May 2013 06:56:04 PDT
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Fri, 24 May 2013 12:07:25 PDT
 As another week of MMA comes to a close, let's take a look at what was hot and what was not so hot.
Hot -- Bryan Pedersen: Many legislators have talked about the economic benefits of MMA when the sport is legalized. Few have gone the extra mile to find out what it feels like to be in a cage to fight. Pedersen will do that in Cheyenne, Wyo., this weekend. No matter the result, it's admirable that he has even gone the distance to train and join the first fights to take place in Wyoming's capitol.
Not -- Renan Barao: The interim bantamweight men's champ was injured and had to pull out of his main event bout with Eddie Wineland at UFC 161. Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans' fight is now the main event, and Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic was added.
Hot -- John Cholish: After losing to Gleison Tibau at UFC on FX 8, Cholish decided to hang up his fighting gloves. Before he left, he decided to give his fight purse to Oklahoma tornado survivors.
Kudos to Cholish.
Not -- Brett Atchley: The manager who specializes in female fighters has been accused of bad behavior by several fighters separately. His alleged improprieties include accosting fighters, telling them he would "blackball them" from Invicta though president Shannon Knapp has denied anyone has the power to do this, and sharing the confidential details of a client's contract. His response?
"It's really easy for women to play the victim, especially when they make their mind up that they're going to do it. Because everyone will believe them," Atchley said to MMA Junkie.
Stereotyping women is not a smart thing to do, particularly by someone who makes his living off of them.
Still taking temperature -- Cain Velasquez: He lost the UFC heavyweight championship belt once, and managed to get it back. Will he defend it on Saturday night against Antonio Silva at UFC 160?
Thanks for reading Cagewriter this week. Check us out on Twitter and Facebook for bonus UFC 160 coverage.
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Fri, 24 May 2013 11:14:42 PDT
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is in Russia this weekend. He met retired great Fedor Emelianenko and tried a McDonald's that was apparently of a higher quality than ones in the U.S. He also found time to go back and forth with a possible future opponent.
Ouch! But it's not worries about their images that will keep this pair out of the cage. The dislocated toe Jones suffered during his fight with former middleweight Chael Sonnen is causing some problems. UFC president Dana White talked it about on Thursday.
"He says he feels great, the toe's healing good, but the problem is that ligament," he said. "That ligament popped. Anytime you tear a ligament, blood flow helps repair the thing and heal, and you don't get a lot of blood flow to the toe. Who knows? This thing could be six weeks, it could be six months."
Still, if these two are already pestering each other, the build up to a potential fight could be lots of fun.
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Fri, 24 May 2013 08:02:51 PDT
 With UFC 160 in less than two days, it's time to make picks. Thank you to all the Cagereaders who made picks and voted in polls on Cagewriter's Facebook page. If you want to join in the fun, check out Cagewriter on Facebook here.
Kevin Iole: Cain Velasquez TKO3 Big Foot Silva -- I believe Silva will be more competitive and won't make the mistake he made last time. But as the fight goes on, it swings even more in Velasquez's favor, given his vastly superior cardio. I expect him to slowly wear Silva down and stop him around the fight's midpoint. Maggie Hendricks: Cain Velasquez W5 Antonio Silva --Velasquez has better wrestling and better cardio than Silva, and it will pay off as he defends his belt. Cagereader: 92 percent of Cagereaders said Cain Velasquez will win.
Cain has to much heart unless you knock him out he's not going! And Big Foot doesn't deserve another shot yet anyway!! -- Michael Gabbard __ Kevin Iole: Junior dos Santos Sub1 Mark Hunt -- Junior would be a fool to stand and trade with Hunt. I think he'll look to get it to the ground and finish it there. Maggie Hendricks: Junior dos Santos W3 Mark Hunt -- JDS has the footwork to exhaust Hunt and wear him down. Cagereader: 68 percent of Cagereaders said Junior dos Santos will win.
Dos Santos will use superior speed and footwork to outclass Hunt. Too much credibility is given to Hunts striking because of the mythological "K1 Striker" label. Truth be told, he won that title with technically sound striking with a lot of power, not exceptionally good striking. Most of his wins in MMA have had nothing to do with his savvy striking but his chin and insane power. Honestly thought those who don't think Dos Santos is on another level with his speed and footwork are lying to themselves aside from Cain who has touched him? I know this logic isn't very sound but it took Hunt a while to put away Struve, and JDS took less than a minute and the logic truly is his speed, timing, and explosive nature outweigh the punchers chance Hunt brings to the table. It will be a pick apart clinic Hunt swinging at air getting battered by a fighter who will dart in and out like a heavyweight Machida. -- John Hensley __  Kevin Iole: T.J. Grant W3 Gray Maynard -- More of a hunch than anything, but Grant has been on a roll and he might catch Maynard looking past him.
Maggie Hendricks: Gray Maynard W3 T.J. Grant -- Maynard is very good at neutralizing his opponents' skill. Cagereaders: 83 percent of Cagereaders think Maynard will win.
Maynard is going to use lay and pray to get his title shot. I see a boring fight ahead. Maynard via decision. -- Christopher Walder __ Kevin Iole: Glover Teixeira TKO3 James Te Huna -- It will be tougher than expecrted, but Teixeira's varied game will win out in the end. Maggie Hendricks: Glover Teixeira TKO2 James Te Huna -- It's been an impressive start in the UFC for Teixeira, and that won't stop on Saturday. His power will be on display. Cagereaders: 76 percent of Cagereaders think Teixeira will take it.
The well-rounded skill set and chin will allow him to weather the storm, get Te Huna to the ground and grind him out. -- John Hensley -- Kevin Iole: Donald Cerrone W3 K.J. Noons -- It should be an explosive fight, but if Cerrone remains under control, he'll handle Noons. Maggie Hendricks: Donald Cerrone W3 KJ Noons -- Cerrone will be looking to come back after his loss to Anthony Pettis. Cagereaders: 87 percent of Cagereaders say Donald Cerrone will win. Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Antonio Silva eager to prove he's a cut above in UFC 160 rematch with Cain Velasquez
• Yahoo! writers, readers make their UFC 160 picks
• Four questions that will be answered by UFC 160
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Thu, 23 May 2013 13:29:03 PDT
 UFC 160 is just days away. What questions will be answered by Saturday's fights?
Who is the greatest heavyweight in all of the land? Cain Velasquez dominated Antonio Silva in their first bout, but that was a Silva who had just lost to Daniel Cormier. Now, coming off the shocking knockout of Alistair Overeem, will we see an improved Silva or will Velasquez hold onto his belt? Will Benson Henderson's next opponent impress? The winner of T.J. Grant's bout with Gray Maynard is supposed to get a title bout with Benson Henderson. But as we know from experience, title shots can be taken away if Maynard and Grant don't deliver on Saturday night. Can Donald Cerrone get past the mental problems he has had in the cage? There's no questioning Cerrone's talent. He has the skill to be a force in the cage, but then why did he lose to Anthony Pettis? He visited a sports psychologist after that January loss. "It's trying to figure out, what do I do in the cage that I don't do in training?" Cerrone said to MMA Junkie. "Because in training, I don't lose a round."
Since he trains at Jackson's MMA, this is no small feat. Can he translate that training into performance in the cage against Strikeforce import K.J. Noons? Which up-and-coming lightweight will win? Khabib Nurmagomedov is 19-0 and needed just two minutes to take out Thiago Tavares in January. Abel Trujillo is 10-4, but won his last five fights. His TKO of Marcu Levesseur was one of the more memorable finishes of late last year. Which of these lightweight up-and-comers will come out with a win? Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Antonio Silva eager to prove he's a cut above in UFC 160 rematch with Cain Velasquez
• Mark Hunt revels in the role of underdog
• Donald Cerrone braces for showdown with K.J. Noons
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Thu, 23 May 2013 06:33:47 PDT
When interviewing UFC president Dana White after fights, media usually want to know about title fight opportunities, implications of wins or losses, and where the UFC is headed next. Press conferences rarely present opportunities to get White to talk about who would win in a fight between him and UFC chairman Lorenzo Fertitta or White's music preferences. On "UFC Tonight," Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen asked White those very questions. They even got him to sing on what White called "the most embarrassing interview ever."
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Wed, 22 May 2013 14:13:36 PDT
In an interview with Newsday, former UFC champ Matt Serra said he is walking away from fighting. He wouldn't quite say the retirement word, but his last fight was in September of 2010. Blood clots have affected his health, and he doesn't want to be an aging fighter. "An aging fighter?" Serra said. "You know, it's like an aging stripper, but not as funny. Not a lot of people want to see that." He should also consider walking away from interviews after delivering that choice line. How will he ever top it? His candor in interviews always made Serra a fun person to cover. Serra finishes with a record of 11-7, but will be most remembered for being one of the two men who beat UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. At UFC 69, Serra fought the perfect fight against GSP. He was aggressive and won with a TKO in the first round. Serra surrendered the belt back to GSP in their next bout, but his legacy was set. He had taken out the king. Outside of his own fight career, Serra has touched the MMA world by being one of its teachers and advocates. He has two BJJ schools on Long Island, and has coached several UFC fighters, including UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman. Thanks for the memories, Matt. Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• There's no quit in UFC heavyweight Junior dos Santos
• Photos: Junior dos Santos eyes comeback
• Antonio Silva out to prove his loss to Cain Velasquez was a fluke
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Wed, 22 May 2013 12:42:31 PDT
 Early Wednesday morning, an FBI agent shot and killed someone they were questioning for his connections with the Boston Marathon bombers. Ibragim Todashev, the suspect, was an MMA fighter with a 1-0 professional record.
Todashev, who was reportedly a friend of deceased bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, fought in July of 2012. He submitted Bradford May with a guillotine in the first round of their bout at Real Fighting Championships in Florida.
Khusen Taramov, a friend of Todashev's, said that Tsarnaev and Todashev trained together in Boston. Tsarnaev trained and competed as a boxer.
"He used to talk on the phone with him (Tsarnaev)," said Taramov. "They talked last time a month ago. After the bombing, I couldn't believe it."
Todashev was reportedly being questioned about a triple-murder in Massachusetts in September of 2011. The FBI said in a statement Todashev posed an imminent threat to the agent.
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Wed, 22 May 2013 05:53:55 PDT
Romance isn't normally what you think of when you think of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but it happened for Justin Saikaley, a BJJ student in Canada. He was grappling with his girlfriend when he found the perfect time to pop the question with the help of some friends. Most men don't propose from the triangle choke, but it clearly works for these two. Best wishes to them both.
Thanks, MMA Fighting.
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Tue, 21 May 2013 13:45:52 PDT
 Rumors began to swirl on Friday that UFC men's bantamweight interim champion Renan Barao was injured and out of his UFC 161 main event bout against Eddie Wineland. The UFC confirmed the news today, and promoted Dan Henderson's bout with Rashad Evans to the main event.
Both fighters are former champions who are coming off losses. Evans, who was once the UFC light heavyweight champ, loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Jon Jones in his last two fights. One-time Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Henderson lost to Lyoto Machida at UFC 157. With their fight happening in just a few weeks, the bout will be three rounds instead of the usual five for main events. Barao's injury means that both champions of the UFC's men's bantamweight division are now injured. Dominick Cruz hasn't fought since October of 2011 due to knee injuries. If Barao can't return soon, will there be an interim interim belt? Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• UFC 160 could be launching pad for Canadian T.J. Grant
• Shane Mosley shuns retirement, plans to chase another world title
• Fallon Fox: The Ultimate Fighting Conundrum
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Tue, 21 May 2013 11:21:34 PDT
UFC president Dana White put out his first video blog for UFC 160, and it's a behind the scenes look at the UFC's last pay-per-view event. The moments not to miss:
-- Bryan Caraway and Pat Healy discussing Healy's submission. Caraway, who had the only other submission win at UFC 159, said he was cheering for Healy to win by a knockout, not a submission, so that the Submission of the Night bonus would be Caraway's. The strange thing is Caraway did end up with the bonus because Healy's win was overturned by a failed drug test.
-- Michael Bisping yelling, "[Expletive] you guys!" to no one in particular
-- During warm-ups, Chael Sonnen showed off acrobatic skill. After losing to Jon Jones, he still showed a side that doesn't come through when he's trash talking to sell a fight.
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Tue, 21 May 2013 04:52:01 PDT
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Mon, 20 May 2013 14:09:46 PDT
 As a state legislator in Wyoming, Bryan Pedersen helped author the bill to legalize and regulate MMA in his home state. This weekend, he will test that bill by fighting at the Colosseum Fight Series, the first fights in Cheyenne since the bill passed.
Pedersen, who is 38 years old, has trained in MMA for the past four years. Like many fighters, he originally tried out the sport for fitness reasons only. But once MMA was allowed in his state, and Cheyenne was set to host fights, Pedersen couldn't help but say yes to an offer to fight on the CFS card. "This is not something I normally do," he said to the Wyoming Star-Tribune. "But I really believe in the sport."
He served for six years in the Wyoming state legislature. Now a financial consultant, he plans on making this both his debut and retirement bout. The weigh-ins will take place at a familiar venue for Pedersen -- the steps of the Wyoming State Capitol Building. Pedersen is taking the fight seriously, as he drives an hour and a half daily to Easton Training Center in Colorado, the training home of UFC veteran Eliot Marshall. "I have a goal," he said. "Without a goal, you wouldn’t do it. It creates a sense of urgency and panic. Because every day I’m not training, my opponent is probably getting better. And I’m not."
He's the latest government official to set his sights on the cage, though Pedersen appears to be taking his fight more seriously than the two mayors in south Florida who are planning a bout. Perhaps MMA should become part of the legislative process. Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Gray Maynard is back in UFC lightweight title picture
• Transgendered fighter Fallon Fox's struggle a journey in itself
• Shane Mosley shuns retirement, plans to chase another world title
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Mon, 20 May 2013 06:40:21 PDT
Who stood out in Saturday night's fights?
No. 1 star -- Vitor Belfort*: We will be watching highlights of that knockout for years to come. The timing, explosion and landing spot of the kick were just perfect. The knockout was so great the UFC didn't even have to say who they were talking about when they announced who the $50,000 Knockout of the Night bonus was awarded to.
Then why the asterisk? Because it's hard to look at what Belfort did and not wonder if the testosterone replacement therapy he used throughout his camp played a part. His late-career resurgence doesn't pass the smell test.
No. 2 star -- Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza: Did Chris Camozzi even realize he was in the arm triangle choke that Souza so expertly applied? Souza's performance on Saturday night served notice to the UFC middleweights. It also earned him a $50,000 Submission of the Night bonus. All in all, it was a pretty good start in the UFC for the Strikeforce veteran.
No. 3 star -- Fabio Maldonado: Perhaps it wasn't the prettiest win of the night, but it got the job done against some tough odds. Maldonado withstood a kick to the groin that made even me wince and came back to win by decision. That's more than enough to earn a star.
Who stood out for you? Speak up on Facebook or Twitter.
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Sat, 18 May 2013 21:11:08 PDT
From his rousing entrance to his quick submission win, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza had a memorable UFC debut at UFC on FX 8 with a first-round win over Chris Camozzi.
Souza is one of the UFC's best BJJ practitioners, and he put on a show on Saturday night. He took down Camozzi, and smoothly worked him on the ground until Souza caught him in an arm-triangle choke. It was so smooth and fast that Camozzi was choked out within seconds. The fight was stopped at 3:27 in the first round.
Souza, whose nickname means "alligator" in Portuguese, celebrated with his trademark crawl around the cage. He stood up and led the raucous crowd in gator chomps.
This is Souza's fourth straight win, and all four wins were by stoppage. He has shown a more well-rounded game during his recent Strikeforce fights, but had no problem returning to his jiu-jitsu roots in the win over Camozzi. With such a strong debut, Souza should be in the conversation for a middleweight title shot soon.
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Sat, 18 May 2013 20:06:21 PDT
Vitor Belfort gave fans in his home country of Brazil plenty to be happy about at UFC on FX 8 on Saturday, delivering a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold that is sure to make UFC highlight reels for years to come.
Belfort held off Rockhold's takedown attempts early, and then set up to deliver a perfect knockout kick halfway through the round. Near the fence, Belfort landed a spinning kick to Rockhold's face. It landed flush, and Rockhold fell to the ground. Belfort finished with ground and pound. The fight was stopped at 2:32 in the first round.
It's Belfort's second straight win by knockout. He knocked out Michael Bisping in January, and before that, moved up to light heavyweight and lost a title fight to Jon Jones. His record is now 23-10. He already has a loss against UFC champion Anderson Silva, but is this fight enough to ask for another title shot? He wouldn't say.
"I'm here to fight. I don't pick fights. I accept fights," Belfort said after the win.
There was plenty of bad blood between the two before the fight began. Belfort is one of the UFC fighters who has an exemption to use testosterone replacement therapy. Rockhold viewed this as sanctioned cheating, and wasn't afraid to say so. The two had to be separated during Friday's weigh-ins as Rockhold got in Belfort's face.
This was Rockhold's first fight in the UFC. He is now 11-2, with most of his wins coming in Strikeforce, where he was the middleweight champion.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Faceplant: The worst head-first slide ever?
• Patriots' Rob Gronkowski to have fourth surgery on forearm
• 'Sandlot' actors hit the big leagues, but still look like kids
• Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki offers to take 'significant pay cut' to woo free agents
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Fri, 17 May 2013 14:18:55 PDT
 It's been a crazy, crazy week in MMA. Let's get right to finding out what's hot and what's not.
Not -- Pat Healy: After a memorable, double-bonus winning fight at UFC 159, Healy tested positive for marijuana. He lost his bonuses, worth $130,000. It was a very costly lesson.
Hot -- Bryan Caraway: He was the only other fighter at UFC 159 by submission, so he picked up Healy's vacated bonus.
Not -- Nate Diaz: In a Twitter conversation today, someone from GLAAD spelled out exactly why Diaz's tweet that got him suspended was so hurtful.
"When you use an anti-gay slur, even not to describe a gay person, what you tell all gay people is, 'My subconscious wanted to find the worst insult it could, and what it came up with ... was you.'"
In using the f-word to describe Caraway, Diaz not only used the language of hate, but also put his own standing with the UFC in jeopardy.
Hot -- Tarec Saffiedine's son: If you missed it, watch Tarec Saffiedine's son throw some combinations on a laundry hamper. If you watched it, watch it again. It's still adorable.
Not -- Paul Kelly: Since losing to Donald Cerrone at UFC 126 and getting cut by the UFC, British fighter Paul Kelly's life has taken a surprising turn. He was convicted for trafficking heroin in the United Kingdom. He is reportedly facing a long prison term.
Still taking temperature -- Luke Rockhold and Vitor Belfort: The two will face off on Saturday night in Brazil on FX. Considering the bad blood between the fighters, this should be a fun one.
Thank you for reading Cagewriter. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Fri, 17 May 2013 05:13:32 PDT
 UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has been suspended by the promotion for using a homophobic slur in a tweet about fellow fighter Bryan Caraway. After Pat Healy lost his UFC 159 Submission of the Night bonus for testing positive for marijuana, the bonus was given to Caraway. Diaz apparently didn't think Caraway should have accepted the money. Apologies for the language he used in the tweet showing on Cagewriter:
He followed that up with a slur against women. The UFC responded quickly, suspending Diaz as they investigate what their next move is. The promotion issued a statement on the matter. "We are very disappointed by Nate Diaz's comments, which are in no way reflective of our organization. Nate is currently suspended pending internal investigation and we will provide further comment once the matter has been decided."
Diaz's Mike Kogan manager then responded that Diaz wasn't using a homophobic slur. Instead, he told MMA Junkie that Diaz was using a misogynistic term. "Guess what? The word [expletive], at least in Northern California, and where Nate is from, means bitch. It means you're a little punk. It has nothing to do with homosexuals at all. So when Nate made the comment that he made, he didn't make it in reference to homosexuals or calling Caraway a homosexual. He just said it was a bitch move."
Calling someone that word isn't OK, either. Kogan's defense of his fighter is completely out of touch with the UFC's fighter code of conduct, which reads that a fighter will be disciplined for "insulting language about a person's ... gender or sexual orientation." Whether it's a misogynistic or homophobic term, fighters are specifically told not to use it by their code of conduct. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Vitor Belfort's long career arouses suspicion
• Mayors to settle differences in the cage
• Pat Healy’s positive drug test costs him $130,000
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Thu, 16 May 2013 11:02:52 PDT
 The UFC is in Brazil again for Saturday's UFC on FX bouts. The top of the card holds a contentious bout between two fighters who clearly don't like each other. What do you need to know before tuning in?
Will Luke Rockhold keep octagon jitters at bay? Luke Rockhold spent most of his career in Strikeforce. He worked his way up through the challengers system to become the promotion's final middleweight champion. Now, he finally gets a chance to show he belongs in the UFC. He won't have an easy entry, fighting Vitor Belfort, who is coming off of a TKO win over Michael Bisping in January. Will he avoid octagon jitters and keep his fight streak alive?
Has Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza continued to grow as a fighter? Souza well-credentialed in jiu-jitsu, but his fight game has become more well-rounded in recent bouts. He'll face Chris Camozzi, who is on a four-fight win streak. Will Souza show the complete fight game he did in Strikeforce?
Is Nik Lentz among the best of the loaded featherweights? Since dropping down to 145 lbs., Lentz is 2-0. He'll face Hacran Dias on his home territory. Both fighters have a chance at getting closer to Jose Aldo and the featherweight belt with a win. Which one will come away the winner?
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Thu, 16 May 2013 08:02:41 PDT
 Mayors in competing cities often place bets when there sports teams face off. Quite often, they offer the city's signature foods and gifts. For this year's Super Bowl, the San Francisco mayor spent a day in service in Baltimore after the Ravens won. But two mayors in south Florida are upending that tradition. They'll be the ones competing.
Carlos Hernandez, the mayor of Hialeah, and Michael Pizzi, the mayor of Miami Lakes, plan to square off for charity. It started as a discussion over dinner -- and a few drinks -- over who could beat each other up. It snowballed from there.
Hernandez, 52, says he has trained with the Gracies, one of MMA's most important families. Pizzi has another plan.
"Carlos is an athlete into aerobics," Pizzi said to MMA Junkie. "I'm of the Tank Abbott (and) Roy Nelson school of training, which is have a six-pack of beer, get off a bar stool and knock the guy out in the first three punches."
While Nelson does like to show off his belly, he's in a bit better shape than Pizzi says.
The two mayors haven't set a date for the bout yet as they are still looking for a promoter. The Miami Herald reports the fight will take place in Hernandez's home turf of Hialeah. Money they raise from the bout will go to programs benefiting children in each mayor's city.
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Wed, 15 May 2013 15:37:34 PDT
 Vitor Belfort started his MMA career in 1996. To give you an idea of how long he has been around, consider this: When he made his debut, Michael Jordan and the Bulls were about to embark on their 72-10 season. Bil Clinton was the president. Yahoo was just two years old. "Beverly Hills, 90210," the greatest television show of all time, was on the air, and I was a senior in high school.
Since that first fight, a 12-second knockout of Jon Hess, he's fought 31 more times, putting together a record of 22-10. His 33rd fight is Saturday against Luke Rockhold, the 28-year-old Strikeforce middleweight champ. Now 36, Belfort fought twice in a tournament at UFC 12. He knocked out two opponents in a total of two minutes. He went 1-2 against Randy Couture, beat Wanderlei Silva but lost to Kazushi Sakuraba. He's fought in Pride, Affliction and the UFC. He had Jon Jones in an armbar, coming the closest to beating Jones of any of the light heavyweight champion's opponents. But the longevity of his career has contributed to the controversy swirling around him now. Like Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Quinton Jackson, Belfort is one of the fighters who is on testosterone replacement therapy. It's allowed with a doctor's note, but not all fighters are for it. Rockhold thinks Belfort taking testosterone, a hormone that helps athletes add muscle and aggressiveness, is fishy. "Just look at his physique," Rockhold said. "Look at how he looks at [36 years old]. You can't tell me that at his age, something like that looks natural. TRT use is something I don't agree with at all," Rockhold said. "It's a way to get around the system. They say TRT is needed for low testosterone, that it's a medical condition. Well, what causes low testosterone? Prolonged steroid use is one cause."
Testosterone also naturally decreases in men as they grow older. With TRT, fighters get the benefit of their years of experience without one of the drawbacks of being an older fighter. Is it fair for Belfort to use TRT? Speak up on Facebook or Twitter. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• UFC suspends Nate Diaz for homophobic slur
• Mayors to settle differences in the cage
• Pat Healy’s positive drug test costs him $130,000
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Wed, 15 May 2013 08:41:18 PDT
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Wed, 15 May 2013 06:32:15 PDT
 After losing to UFC champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen called out Wanderlei Silva for a bout. Silva responded on Fuel's "UFC Tonight," and his words just may gross you out.
"Jon Jones and Anderson Silva have been too nice to Chael. I want to suck his blood. I want to smell it. Not just fight – I want to hurt him. Chael is a joke, man. He’s going to be second forever. He’s never going to be first," Silva said to Ariel Helwani.
MMA is a bloody sport, and we're used to seeing blood cover fighters, their clothes and canvases. But we are not vampires, sparkly or otherwise. Blood sucking, Wanderlei? Really? Perhaps Wand is a fan of the "Twilight" novels, but let's keep the vampire aspects out of MMA and in young adults novels, OK?
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Mon, 13 May 2013 12:25:06 PDT
 After winning her Invicta debut with a rear-naked choke, Laura Sanko was scheduled to fight on Invicta's July card. She had to pull out of her atomweight (105 lb.) bout. It wasn't an injury that knocked her off the card. She can't fight because she's pregnant.
Sanko said she's about two and a half months along, so she will be well into her second trimester when the fights take place on July 13. Recent fights have been called off because of cuts, dehydration and injuries of every sort. It's nice to see a fight called for a good reason.
Female fighters have to submit proof of a negative pregnancy test before fights to get licensed. As an extra precaution, Invicta, an all-female promotion, does additional testing. Sanko found out with enough time that Invicta did find a replacement. Cassie Robb will fight Livia Von Pletterberg in Sanko's place.
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Mon, 13 May 2013 06:39:12 PDT
This is Strikeforce champion Tarec Saffiedine's 2-year-old son, and he has some training to do on this laundry basket. Check out his technique on low kicks. Clearly, he has been watching his dad and learning from him. The older Saffiedine is making his UFC debut in July against Robbie Lawler. Will he be as effective as his son is against the laundry hamper?
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Fri, 10 May 2013 09:56:18 PDT
 When Cat Zingano beat Miesha Tate at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale in April, it marked the first time a mother fought in, and won, a UFC bout. Weeks later, it was Sara McMann winning. Another mom, another raised hand. Mothers are 2-0 in the UFC.
Zingano told Cagewriter in February that she doesn't have to look far to find motivation in a fight because of her son.
"When someone has their arms around my neck, I think I have to be here for my child. Nothing's going to stop me."
But really, is there any surprise to see a mother win a fight? Whether it's getting her children to clean her room, getting a bully to back off, or just keeping her children alive, all moms are fighters.
My mom is a fighter. When she was a high schooler, that fighting spirit got her into trouble. It was before Title IX and well before women were allowed to wrestle or box or beat the snot out of their opponents in a cage. So she fought in the hallways of her high school, which led to many visits to many different principals' offices. Though she gave up her pugilistic ways as she grew up and had kids, the fighting spirit never went away. She fought for cleaner air, better schools, better programs for kids in our town, and when she was diagnosed with cancer, she decided to fight for the cancer survivors who had it much worse than she did.
My mother-in-law, too, was a fighter. After her second diagnosis of cancer, she fought to have the life she wanted in her final years. She knew cancer would end her life much too early, so she fought to spend time surrounded by family, friends and the gardens she so happily cultivated. Even when cancer stole every bit of her energy, she fought to spend her few minutes with her children, friends and family.
Every mom of a UFC fighter I've come across has been a fighter. Inevitably, her first fight was to keep her son or daughter out of the cage. After giving up that fight, she focused her fight to make sure her fighter was ready for the cage. Ronda Rousey's mom did this by waking her daughter up with armbars. Chael Sonnen's mom does it by being at her son's side when training. Rashad Evans' mom does it with motivational speeches that would make Eric Taylor proud.
If you can, spend some time with that fighter you call mom this Mother's Day. Listen to her stories about her fight. The next time you see a mom in the cage, it won't surprise you to see her with her hand raised.
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Fri, 10 May 2013 06:49:53 PDT
 Remember when the only way to watch the UFC was on pay-per-view? And even then, the preliminary fights were only available to the people in the arena? It wasn't that long ago. On Thursday, the UFC announced three deals that will give fans more ways to watch their fights.
-- Fox Sports 1 is going to launch in August, and the new station will devote plenty of airtime to the UFC. It will start with UFC on Fox 1 1, an event name that needs work. The program covering this show will run seven and a half hours, meaning that an entire UFC event will be on one channel. -- That will just be the start of the UFC presence on this channel, that will be a rebrand of the Speed network. A live show is planned for August 28, and another live show leading into "The Ultimate Fighter" will run on Sept. 4, with TUF starting at 10 p.m. ET. -- Cagereaders in the United Kingdom will start watching BT Sport, as the UFC agreed to a three-year deal with that station. Like with Fox Sports 1, it's a new station, and will air live events and programming specifically for the UK market. Let's all hope for a Michael Bisping reality series. -- The UFC also announced a new channel on YouTube. The promotion will offer a pay-for subscription channel that will give fans the option to watch some of their best known fights, and shows like "UFC Unleashed" and "Best of PRIDE" for $5.99 a month. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Thu, 09 May 2013 10:14:44 PDT
 As the head coach, UFC veteran Duane Ludwig has helped Team Alpha Male fighters make major strides towards title shots. What's his secret? Well, he likes to break down fighting tape in an altered state.
"It's freakin' legal. Let me address this issue," Ludwig said to MMA Mania. "When I watch film, I watch film normal how I am now. Then I watch film when I'm high on marijuana. I also watch the film again when I have Alpha Brain in my system. I watch film from three different states of consciousness just to get different looks at things. Just to see if maybe I missed a step or a nice little detail just to get different looks on things. I take this serious as hell."
Alpha Brain is a supplement that claims to help customers find "lucid dreams, mental drive, focus and mental acuity." Sure. The fine people at WebMD say marijuana affects people differently. Some of its effects include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Other possible effects include distorted sense of time, magical or "random" thinking, short-term memory loss, and anxiety and depression. Ludwig lives in California, which is governed by medical marijuana laws. Marijuana laws are loosening up around the country, so as Ludwig says, "It's freakin' legal." It's an interesting method. We'll see if it continues to work for his fighters. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Former Notre Dame fullback Asaph Schwapp dies at age 26
• Chris Webber deserves apology from Michigan, NCAA
• Orioles flying up the MLB Power Rankings
• Manti Te'o among first rookies to sign deal
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Thu, 09 May 2013 06:51:28 PDT
 Last week, Chael Sonnen called out Wanderlei Silva over a years-old dispute they had over a misunderstanding that was caught on videotape. A week later, the fight hasn't been made. Sonnen has now stepped up his game, trying to get a fight with Silva on the UFC on Fox Sports 1 card in Boston in August.
Sonnen was nice enough to even make the poster. He added the image at right to his Twitter background. Not only does he want to fight Silva in August, but he's hoping for a five-round bout in the headlining spot.
Thiago Alves is expected to take on Matt Brown on this card, and Connor McGregor has been campaigning for a bout. Sonnen wants this fight so badly he's even willing to give up a portion of his purse to help Silva's hometown.
Silva was born and raised in Curitiba, Brazil, and still identifies with Brazil, but his gym is in Las Vegas. Sonnen was able to talk his way into a fight with Jon Jones. Will he get his wish here?
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Wed, 08 May 2013 13:47:16 PDT
The MMA world sometimes resembles a traveling circus. It moves from one city to another, as the UFC or Bellator sets up shop, puts on its show, then moves on. But some stops stand out. Here are Cagewriter's best fight towns. Cities were judged on support of MMA cards, local MMA scenes, strength of commission and just an overall feeling of MMA love. Here, in no particular order, are the eight best cities for MMA. Montreal -- Canadians LOVE MMA. They're nuts about it. Nowhere is that better exemplified than in Montreal, which consistently packs the Bell Centre when the UFC rolls into town. UFC 83, the event where native son Georges St-Pierre won the welterweight championship belt back from Matt Serra, was the fastest sellout in UFC history. Their fervor hasn't died down, and they are the home for Tri-Star MMA, the training home of GSP. Kansas City -- Wait. You say. Kansas City? Have there been any UFC, WEC or Strikeforce cards in Kansas City? Well, not recently. But here's the thing that makes Kansas City an awesome fight town: Kansas City fans support all MMA. There's a reason Bellator, Invicta, RFA, Legacy, and other promotions keep returning, and it's not just the excellent barbeque. Kansas City fans come out for MMA. They also have the support of several MMA gyms, including HD MMA, owned by Strikeforce and UFC fighter Jason High and WEC veteran L.C. Davis. Columbus, Ohio -- Start with a well-run, thorough commission. Throw in a crowd that gives every fight a college football game feel. Add in underrated MMA gyms nearby and the yearly spectacle of the Arnolds, and you have one great fight town.  Rio de Janeiro -- At UFC 134, the UFC returned to the second biggest city in fight-loving Brazil for the first time in 13 years, and no one knew just how tight the city's embrace would be. From fans lining up hours before the card to get into their raucous celebrations when their Brazilian fighter won, Rio gave the UFC good reason to return.
Saitama, Japan -- Going to a fight at Saitama Super Arena should be on every MMA fan's bucket list. Perhaps that would be best accomplished with a time machine that could whisk you back to a PRIDE event there, with a football-sized crowd and the amazing Lenne Hardt screaming out the name of each fighter. But the UFC had an event there in 2012, and it would be wise to return there to bring fights to the knowledgeable fight fans of Japan. London, England -- London crowds make fights fun. Yes, they complain -- A LOT -- if they feel if they've been slighted by a fight card, but they also show up and support their fighters, no matter what happens. Los Angeles and Orange County -- It may be cheating to group these two, but together, they've been integral to the growth of MMA. It's filled with fight gyms, and the fans have supported some of the sport's biggest events. In February, two women headlined for the UFC for the first time, and the southern California crowd happily supported it. Las Vegas -- It's the fight capitol of the world. It's where the UFC lives. It's where huge fight weekends take place, dozens of fight gyms make their home, and the powerful Nevada State Athletic Commission does its thing. Agree? Disagree? Speak up on Facebook or on Twitter. Related UFC video on Yahoo! Sports:
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Wed, 08 May 2013 04:56:58 PDT
 After a 12-2 career, UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin announced his retirement on Twitter on Tuesday night.
Of Carwin's 12 wins, not one went to the judges. He had seven knockouts and five submissions. He hasn't been in the cage since 2011. The last time he was in the spotlight was in the fall of 2012, when he was a coach on "The Ultimate Fighter." Unfortunately, his knee was injured before he could fight opposing coach Roy Nelson. I remember hearing about Carwin well before I saw him fight. It was back when preliminary fights weren't aired. Everyone who had watched him fight couldn't stop talking about this guy who quickly knocked out Christian Wellisch and Neil Wain. Then at UFC 96, I watched him absolutely destroy Gabriel Gonzaga in just over a minute. He hadn't been overhyped. After that, he knocked out Frank Mir in the first round of their bout. What most MMA fans will remember about Carwin is that he came within seconds of taking out the then-invincible Brock Lesnar at UFC 116. But after losing to Lesnar in the second round, a dropped decision to Junior dos Santos at UFC 131 and a host of injuries, Carwin has decided to hang up his extra-large gloves.
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Tue, 07 May 2013 08:53:18 PDT
 After eye pokes were a huge problem at UFC 159, the UFC said they will propose a rule change to have doctors decide if fights should end because of an eye poke. On Cagewriter's Facebook page, we asked readers what could be done in fights to reduce this foul that has messed up too many bouts.
One reader thinks fighters should have to take more responsibility for when certain kind of strikes go awry.
Fine Michael Bisping for sure. You shouldn't be allowed to throw a punch with your index finger extended and say sorry, it was an accident. When there is a disincentive to pawing at each others' faces openhanded they will stop doing it and eye pokes will go down. -- Knowa Metcalf
Bisping's eye poke is what ended his bout with Alan Belcher. Fining athletes to change their behavior has a precedent. The NFL has levied fines for certain types of hits, though inconsistency in enforcement has been a problem.
Changing up the equipment used in fights could also be a solution.
It's simple, extend an individual finger pad with a slightly cupped angle to it that still allows the fingers to be open and closed, but the tips of the fingers would be slightly covered and the hands would not open 100%... But more like 90-95%, thereby reducing the ability for the fingers to completely extend and poke the opponent in the eye. Finger straps would hold the pads to the fingers. -- Michael Carter
As far as eye pokes, the best solution may not be in the gloves but rather in the design of an ultra thin goggle. Something that won't interfere with sight, can be vented to avoid fogging, but also very streamlined and as unobtrusive as possible. -- Al Lamp
But inadvertent eye pokes, like groin shots, are going to happen.
I see eye pokes like I see groin shots, they are gonna happen. Designing a different glove may help a little, but even boxers get thumbs in the eyes and their whole hand is covered. I say treat eye pokes as a foul, a warning on the first one and take points away for any after the warning. Give the person who got poked 5 minutes to recover just like a groin shot. If they dont recover then stop the fight after a doctor looks at it. -- Bruce Leighty
Like every other problem that comes up in a sport where two people are fighting each other, eye pokes will likely never go away completely. Being open to innovation will help MMA reduce this annoying way to end fights.
Thank you to everyone who responded. You can join in the fun by liking Cagewriter on Facebook.
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Tue, 07 May 2013 06:04:54 PDT
 UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is $50,000 lighter today, as he was fined that amount for skipping out on a day of media in Los Angeles. Silva is scheduled to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 162. Ignoring promotion of that fight didn't sit well with UFC president Dana White.
"He doesn't like talking to the media, but it's part of his contractual obligation," White said to USA Today. "Everybody wants more money, more money, more money, but nobody wants to sell the fight or go out and talk to the media. Talking to the media is part of your job, whether you like it or not."
The UFC's newly instituted code of conduct opens the door for the promotion to fine fighters who engage in conduct that "puts at risk the promotion of a UFC event," including "failure to deliver, engage in or otherwise execute any and all promotional responsibilities."
Silva is hardly the first athlete to lose a whole lot of money for missing out on media obligations. In the NBA, LeBron James was fined $25,000 in 2009 for skipping a postgame press conference after his team was knocked out of the playoffs. When he was with the Washington Wizards, Gilbert Arenas was fined the same amount for not making himself available to media. Osi Umeniyora didn't go to a mandatory Super Bowl media session before his New York Giants won it in 2012, and had to pay out $20,000.
The biggest difference is that UFC athletes aren't required to make themselves available to the media nearly as often as NFL and NBA athletes are. For each of his fights, Silva will usually have to do a press conference when the fight is announced, a media conference call, one or two media events during fight week, and a postfight press conference if his health allows. For three fights a year, Silva is required to face the media 10-15 times a year.
Compare that to an NBA player like James. Between post-game interviews, post-practice interviews, and off-season interviews to help sell the Miami Heat season tickets, James has to meet with media at least 100 times a year.
Plus, UFC fighters have a financial stake in making sure their names are as popular as possible. Popularity means sponsors will pay more. It also means more fans will pay for a pay-per-view, affecting how much he will get off of pay-per-view sales.
When you combine a possible fine with other financial hits a fighter can take, it just makes more sense for fighters to put up with media. I promise. We're not that bad.
***UPDATE***
Anderson Silva gave his side of the situation early Tuesday in an interview with Brazil's Veja magazine. The segment was translated for Cagewriter by Yahoo's Fernando Arbex.
He said that what happened was a miscommunication between he and the UFC. He said he was aware of the appointment only Monday, when he was going to Los Angeles International airport (LAX) to catch a flight to Brazil.
“I've never missed a single appointment with UFC. I would never book a trip to Brazil if I knew I was supposed to be in Los Angeles. Everybody knows that I always lock in [media appearances so I can] devote myself to training, which is my priority. I’m an athlete and my focus will always be to train and be ready for the challenges”
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Mon, 06 May 2013 14:22:14 PDT
 UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has already changed the UFC. As the first woman to sign with MMA's biggest promotion and its first champion, Rousey made history when she beat Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. According to one magazine, Rousey isn't just changing MMA. She is one of Business Insider's "50 Women Changing the World."
Ranked 42nd on the list, Business Insider points out that the trash-talking Rousey has changed the sports world. She shares the list with fellow athletes Brittney Griner and Serena Williams, as well as Sen. Gabrielle Giffords, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Rousey's mark on the sporting landscape is unquestionable, but BI is right to say she is having an effect beyond sports. Her popularity proves that her reach is far beyond MMA fans. And her popularity is not slowing down. Rousey was on the cover of ESPN the Magazine's 15th anniversary magazine, and recently posed for Maxim magazine's Hot 100. She will coach against Cat Zingano in the next edition of "The Ultimate Fighter," slated to premiere in September. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Mon, 06 May 2013 06:15:20 PDT
Anthony Pettis has shown off his acrobatic ability in fights. The former WEC lightweight champion is still remembered for his kick off the cage that clinched his win over Benson Henderson. Now, imagine what he can do with capoeira training? Pettis has been training in Brazil, and as shown in the video above, has picked up some skills from the Brazilian martial art that mixes acrobatics, dancing and fighting.
He'll fight Jose Aldo in August for the UFC featherweight belt. Do you think we'll see him pull out any of these tricks at UFC 163? Speak up on Facebook or on Twitter.
Thanks, MMA Fighting.
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Fri, 03 May 2013 14:17:42 PDT
 A slow week in MMA? So what. Let's decide what's hot, what's not, what is just a big ball of confusion.
Not -- Costa Philippou: Remember how his fight with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza was listed as one of the best of the month? Too bad it's off. A cut forced Phillippou off in training, and Chris Camozzi is stepping in to fight Souza at UFC on FX 8. Rafael Natal will now fight Joao Zeferino. Hot -- Jon Jones: He defended his title for the fifth time, tying the record set by Tito Ortiz in 2002. Sure, he jacked up his toe, but he didn't seem to mind. Not -- Eyes: It's been a tough week for eyes. Eye pokes were the reason behind two of the stoppages at UFC 159. But things are looking up as the UFC will try to change the rules behind eye pokes in the coming months. Hot -- Chael Sonnen: "But Maggie!" you say. "He lost his fight to Jon Jones. How can he be on the hot list?" Because the loss was completely expected, and the man didn't miss a beat. He stayed in the spotlight by bringing out an old feud with Wanderlei Silva, and ripping him on Twitter. Not, or maybe hot, or who knows -- Cheick Kongo: After getting knocked out by Roy Nelson, Kongo's profile disappeared from the UFC site. Then, two reputable MMA news outlets reported Kongo's contract has run out, and that the UFC had no plans to re-sign the French fighter. But Kongo keeps insisting on his Twitter page that he has no plans to leave the UFC. Thanks for sticking with Cagewriter this week. Follow CW on Twitter and Facebook. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Fri, 03 May 2013 07:11:38 PDT
Spend some time this morning taking a behind-the-scenes look at Jon Jones' win over Chael Sonnen on Saturday. You'll see a Jones who is incredibly loose and relaxed before, during and after his fight. He seemed to enjoy this win more than his other title defenses, even commenting on how his happiness level is higher than it ever has been.
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Thu, 02 May 2013 12:48:05 PDT
 After a busy run in April, May is a relatively slow month for MMA. You can spend the extra time and money you're not spending on fights on a Mother's Day gift. After you've taken your mother to brunch, check out these fights:
Mike Treadwell vs. Chris Treadwell, MFC 37, May 10: This is the brother vs. brother bout. Watch and record it on AXS, then record it. When you and your brother fight during that Mother's Day brunch, show the fight and tell your mom it could be much worse.
Costa Philippou vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, UFC on FX 8, May 18: Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak, with his last bout a TKO over Tim Boetsch. Souza is one of the latest Strikeforce imports, and he has a three-fight win streak, a nasty ground game and striking that gets more impressive with every game. Check it out before the Vitor Belfort-Luke Rockhold bout.
Fallon Fox vs. Allannah Jones, Championship Fighting Alliance, May 24: No matter your feelings on Fallon Fox, you probably want to see her fight. Some want to see her get knocked out. Some want to see how the first openly trans fighter has handled the spotlight. You can see her bout with Allannah Jones at Championship Fighting Alliance 11 which will air on AXS TV. Fox-Jones is on the undercard of the event headlined by Strikeforce standout Mike Kyle and Alistair Overeem's brother Valentijn.
Every single bout on UFC 160, May 25: The limited quantity of UFC bouts in May is made up for by the quality of fights at UFC 160. It starts with the main event. Cain Velasquez will test his title in a rematch with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, and former champ Junior dos Santos will fight Mark Hunt in a another heavyweight bout. T.J. Grant and Gray Maynard are fighting for the next lightweight title shot. Even the preliminary card has fighters that are really fun to watch, like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Brian Bowles.
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Thu, 02 May 2013 06:21:54 PDT
There are plenty of fight highlight videos, but few give such a stark, behind-the-scenes look as this one. Some of the moments carry more weight when you know the story behind them. Melvin Guillard hugging Donald Cerrone and coach Greg Jackson is a beautiful moment on its own, but takes on more significance when you know Guillard once trained with Jackson and Cerrone. The run-up to their fight was tense, but afterwards they shared a hug.
But most of the images need no background. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva celebrating after he knocked out Alistair Overeem, Joe Benavidez giving a quick fist-bump through the curtain of the medical area, and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua not wanting to put a hat on his bruised, swollen head say enough.
Thanks to MMA Fighting.
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Wed, 01 May 2013 11:21:02 PDT
 Chael Sonnen's loss to Jon Jones at UFC 159 put his career in question. At 36 years old, and with title losses in two different divisions, would Sonnen consider retiring? He answered that question on Fuel's "UFC Tonight," and that answer is no.
"I have a lot of goals I want to achieve still, and retirement won't help me get that done," Sonnen said. He said the weight class is up for debate, though he liked the switch to light heavyweight after years as a middleweight. He would also be happy to fight at a catchweight, like Rich Franklin did for a few fights when moving up in weight. But there's no question about who he wants to fight. "I'm not going anywhere until me and Wanderlei [Silva] straighten this thing out once and for all," Like Sonnen, Silva has moved between middleweight, light heavyweight and catchweights somewhere between. He is also 36, but the sensible match-up isn't why Sonnen is interested in this bout. Sonnen has a problem with this video from 2010: Here is how Sonnen viewed this video. "Wanderlei pulled a really dirtbag move on me one time. We're in a van, he mutters something at me, I can't understand what he's saying. He then puts it on YouTube with subtitles because he knows I can't understand him. He puts in these subtitles and I don't know if it's what he's said or not. Essentially, he tells me off, and it looks as though I'm conceding to him. That doesn't fly. If he calls you out, whether it's in a van or not, if you're a fighter, you must respond. I'm ready to respond." Silva responded by tweeting this: And then sharing the above video and saying, "Real men talk face to face." Is this a fight you want to see, Cagereaders? Speak up on Facebook or Twitter. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Wed, 01 May 2013 06:13:40 PDT
 During UFC 159, UFC commentator Joe Rogan interviewed Tommy Rowlands, a former world team member for USA Wrestling and a two-time national champion for Ohio State. Rowlands talked about wrestling's big role in mixed martial arts and how the UFC was supporting the effort to keep Olympic wrestling alive. The sport, a mainstay of the Olympics since the ancient games, was not kept as a core sport for the 2020 Olympics and will have to fight to keep its spot after the 2016 Olympics.
The UFC and the Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling announced the start of a partnership weeks ago, and Rowlands' appearance was part of that partnership. It turns out the whole discussion between the two groups started after a terse Twitter conversation between Rowlands and UFC president Dana White. [Also: Chael Sonnen not retiring, eyes Wanderlei Silva] Rowlands told Cagewriter he read the headline of a story that indicated White viewed the Olympics dropping wrestling as an opportunity. He tweeted White his disgust with this view, and White responded. This tense conversation turned as White and Rowlands decided to speak, and finished with this. "For me to say I regretted it would be a lie, when I thought was I saw wrestling was boring, I felt the need to defend my sport," Rowlands said. "He admitted he was emotional, he was able to say I would never dis wrestling. I said if you’re up for it, give me a call and we can talk." Rowlands, White and members from CPOW met a week later in Las Vegas to discuss the ways they can support each other. Rowlands appearance on the UFC 159 telecast was the first step. Since the relationship is new, they are still developing their next steps. Bill Scherr, the chairman of CPOW, said White's open relationship with MMA fans is what allowed this relationship to begin. "To his credit, Dana has an open door policy with fans, and Tommy was able to walk right through," Scherr said. "We're still figuring out what we can offer them and what we can learn from them." To learn more about CPOW's efforts to keep Olympic wrestling thriving, check out their website and follow them on Twitter. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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• Likely preseason No. 1 Kentucky will face tough non-conference schedule
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Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:52:34 PDT
 Eye pokes are one of the problems facing MMA commissions as they try to evolve and keep up with the sport's explosive growth. Since eye pokes happen often, some rules are already in place, but more ideas need to be implemented to help the problem.
But a problem came up at a fight in Brazil that even the most prescient commission couldn't have expected. At WOCS 25 in Brazil, a staff member used glue to fix a hanging decal from a fight banner as staff worked on Carlo Alberto Lobo after the second round of his bout with Marcos Nene. The glue dripped onto Lobo's eye. Thinking it was the Vaseline that is applied to a fighter's face to discourage cuts, he rubbed it and ending up gluing his eye shut.
Fight staff worked like crazy to open Lobo's eye back up, but it didn't work. The fight was stopped. The crazy part? They had to go the scorecards and Lobo still won.
Thanks, Middle Easy.
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Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:41:56 PDT
 UFC president Dana White is proud of his Boston roots. He openly cheers for the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins on Twitter, and he was downright giddy when he announced the UFC would return to Boston on Aug. 17. The Boston Marathon bombing affected him, and he and the UFC responded to the tragedy.
White called the act cowardly:
“How cowardly and disgusting that these people, who lived in the city as long as they did, did that. To put the bag right next to kids, I don’t even like talking about it. It’s just disgusting.
He told the Boston Globe that he and the Fertitta brothers donated personally to the One Fund, which will help the people most affected by the bombings. The UFC and Fox also gave money.
The UFC also did something on a smaller scale that still gave some smiles to Boston UFC fans. The days after UFC 159, they conducted their #Hunt4UFC in Boston. Usually, the UFC only does their Twitter-based scavenger hunt in fight cities. White tweeted locations where Bostonians could find UFC gear. On Monday, Red Sox player and friend of the UFC Shane Victorino participated.
White and the UFC's actions won't erase what happened to Boston, but it can help some of its citizens on the way to recovery.
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Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:19:00 PDT
 Alan Belcher. Gian Villante. Anthony Johnson. Wagner Prado. Waachiim Spiritwolf. Constantinos Phillippou. These fighters have all been on the wrong end of an inadvertent eye poke and the inadequate set of rules that accompany eye pokes. What can be done in a sport where open-fingered gloves are used and strikes to any part of the face are allowed?
The UFC's vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner has one idea that he thinks will help situations like the one that arose during Villante's loss. Ovince St-Preux inadvertently poked Villante in the eye. Referee Kevin Mulhall didn't see the poke, but Villante stepped back and said he was poked in the eye. Mulhall asked Villante if he could see, Villante responded he couldn't, and in accordance with MMA rules, the fight was stopped.
What Ratner wants to do is take the referee out of the decision to stop the fight. Since it's a medical decision, let the fight doctor make it. It will also give fighters time to recover as they wait for the doctor to come into the cage.
"I think by bringing the doctor in, just the whole operation will take a couple of minutes, and I think that should alleviate most of the pain and give us enough time to make sure the guy can fight," Ratner said.
Ratner will introduce this change to the Association of Boxing Commissions, the national oversight group of state MMA and boxing associations.
Referee John McCarthy also favors this approach:
A change to allow some extra time would also keep fighters out of the weird position of possibly lying to officials. Villante honestly answered the question, "Can you see?" He didn't think Mulhall would stop the fight because of it. This situation could make fighters think twice about how they answer the question, which could put their health in danger.
 The open-fingered gloves don't help. Fighters use sparring gloves that are smaller than boxing gloves in training, but the gloves' size would get in the way during ground fighting and submission attempts. UFC commentator Joe Rogan has spoken during many fights about the need for a better design for fight gloves, but none have surfaced among high-level fighting.
How can MMA fix this problem? Great ideas don't have to come from executives or state commissioners. If you have an idea to combat eye pokes, share it on Cagewriter's Facebook page. We'll feature the best ones in a post.
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Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:11:39 PDT
UFC 159 had a run of some odd injuries. How are the fighters feeling now? First up, Alan Belcher, whose eye gushed blood after Michael Bisping accidentally poked him. Belcher's career went on hiatus in 2010 and 2011 when he had to undergo emergency eye surgery to save his vision. The sight of a doctor checking out Belcher's vision was worrisome. Luckily, he just needed stitches on his eyelid. Bisping beat Belcher on Saturday, but is facing some medical issues of his own. He is suffering from nerve damage that requires surgery. "I have stenosis, which is a trapped nerve that causes atrophy and numbness in my right arm,” Bisping said on Fuel TV after his fight at UFC 159. “It’s progressively getting worse and worse. I saw a surgeon about six weeks before this fight and they told me I needed surgery (but) there was no way I was going to pull out of this fight.” He said that he will head home and sort everything out when he decides his next steps are. Finally, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones' toe nearly tore off during his fight with Chael Sonnen. Doctors fixed it up, and here's his update: Thankfully, bone is no longer sticking out of his body. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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• Watch: Favorites for Hart, Vezina and Calder trophies
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Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:23:29 PDT
 UFC 159 was a bizarre event — possibly cursed by demons — but there were still plenty of standout performances by fighters whose bouts ended normally. Who stood out for you? Speak up on Twitter or on Facebook.
No. 1 star -- Jon Jones: As we've said since the fight was made, Chael Sonnen was not the right competition for UFC light heavyweight Jones because he is middleweight coming off of a loss. Jones could have taken Sonnen lightly and still probably won, but he didn't do that. He used the fight as another opportunity to show his dominance, beating Sonnen at his own game by taking him down several times before finishing the fight near the end of the first round. Would the fight have been stopped if they made it out of the first round, and the referee had noticed Jones' mangled toe? Who cares? It didn't happen, and Jones is still the champ. No. 2 star -- Pat Healy: The UFC's already stacked lightweight division somehow got even tough with Healy's performance on Saturday night. Along with Jim Miller, he put on a show then finished the fight in the third round. He won both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night, meaning Healy walked away with an extra $130,000. No. 3 star -- Sara McMann: As an Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler, McMann is one of the most decorated athletes to join the UFC. This means she had big expectations to perform, and she exceeded them. McMann used wrestling and power to stop Sheila Gaff in the first round. Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Jets show disdain for Tim Tebow
• ThePostGame: The road to Jason Collins' revelation
• Just how big is Jimmie Johnson’s points lead?
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Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:29:24 PDT
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Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:05:15 PDT
 To the surprise of few, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones held onto his championship belt with a first-round TKO of Chael Sonnen on Saturday night. Part of the reason it was no surprise is that finishing fights is what Jones does. He won four of his last five fights by stoppage. He improves with every fight. Against Sonnen, he used Sonnen's strength of wrestling to control him on the way to the TKO.
Can anyone beat this guy? Here are a few contenders.
Alexander Gustafsson: He's one of the few elite, light heavyweight fighters who hasn't faced Jones. Like Jones, he uses his height and length to keep opponents at bay. He's ready for a fight now because he was pulled from a bout with Gegard Mousasi earlier this month because of a cut. Gustafsson is also who Jones wants to face.
[Related: Jon Jones makes quick work of Chael Sonnen]
"A lot of people think I've been successful because I appear to be larger than my opponents, and with Alexander, that would be no more," Jones said at the post-UFC 159 news conference. "That's who I would like to fight next."
Gustafsson is in:
Daniel Cormier: The Strikeforce grand prix heavyweight champ had a successful UFC debut against Frank Mir. As a two-time Olympic wrestler with knockout power, he has the skills to stop Jones. UFC president Dana White said Cormier would get an immediate title shot if he were to drop down. The weight drop is the biggest question. Cormier wrestled at 211 lbs., and suffered from kidney failure the last time he tried to get to that weight. It won't be an easy cut for him.
Anderson Silva: White said he received a call from the middleweight champ right after the Jones bout, asking for a superfight with either Jones or Georges St-Pierre. White wouldn't confirm who Silva was asking for, but why would he ask for a bout with GSP right after watching Jones fight? It's the superfight MMA fans want, but Silva has Chris Weidman in July first.
[Photos: Jon Jones pummels Chael Sonnen, suffers gruesome injury]
Time off: This is likely Jones' next contender. During Saturday night's fight, he broke his toe in an ugly fashion. Even with Gustafsson, Silva and Cormier waiting for a fight, Jones needs to heal.
Related UFC video on Yahoo! Sports
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What do you want Jones to do next? Speak up on Facebook or on Twitter.
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Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:11:17 PDT
 Minutes after losing by TKO to UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen indicated his fighting days may be over.
"I'm not going to be one of the guys to hang around. If there's not a road to the title, then this sport isn't for me. I believe that was probably my last opportunity," Sonnen said to UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
He didn't specifically say "I'm retiring," but he did talk about the end of the road. This seems like more than the emotional ramblings of a fighter after a bad loss. B.J. Penn threatened retirement several times before it stuck. Nick Diaz has retired and unretired plenty of times.
Retirement wouldn't be out of the question. He's 36 years old and has fought in 40 fights after a long career as an amateur and collegiate wrestler.
If he does decide to retire, don't expect him to play shuffleboard and take up gardening. He already works as a commentator for Fox's broadcasts. During the last season of "The Ultimate Fighter," he proved to be a capable coach. Retirement would not mean Sonnen was done with MMA.
Sonnen talked his way into a title shot with Jones just months after he dropped a title shot to Anderson Silva at middleweight. Deserved or not, Sonnen has had several chances to win the UFC belt, and he hasn't won any of them. Not many fighters get more chances than he has. If the belt is the only thing that's important, why not retire?
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Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:40:24 PDT
 At UFC 159 on Saturday night, Phil Davis showed off the best striking of his career. The NCAA Division-I champion wrestler clearly dominated Vinny Magalhaes in all three rounds on the way to a unanimous decision win. However, one of the judges thought Magalhaes won one round, and the score was 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.
It was a surprising score. It didn't take anything away from Davis' win, but it was odd enough that Magalhaes spoke up about it.
Davis and Magalhaes talked trash to each other for months before their bout. Magalhaes left the bad blood in the cage, and was able to give himself an honest assessment moments after the loss.
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Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:03:49 PDT
 Jim Miller is 5-foot-8, fights at 155 lbs., and has a bushy red beard. Pat Healy is 5-foot-9, fights at 155 lbs., and sported a trimmed red beard at UFC 159. Can you blame UFC announcer Bruce Buffer for mixing them up?
Healy, who returned to the UFC after spending much of his career in Strikeforce, put Miller to sleep with a rear naked choke in the third round of their thrilling bout. As the two stood on either side of referee Herb Dean to have the fight result announced, Buffer announced the winner by submission was Jim Mill-Pat Healy!
Healy smiled and corrected Buffer, who rarely makes such errors. It was a lighthearted moment that Healy laughed about after a thrilling bout.
Miller started out landing leg kicks and used ground and pound to beat up Healy in the first round. Near the end of the round, Healy was saved by the bell as Miller's ground and pound was close to ending the bout before the horn sounded.
[Also: Two bizarre endings mar UFC 159 prelims]
It was in the third that Healy turned the bout around. Healy weakened Miller with striking, then took him down and took his back. He sunk in the rear naked choke, and Miller's arms went limp. The fight was stopped at 4:02 in the third because Miller was out.
Miller wanted to use the bout to convince UFC president Dana White that he was ready for a title shot. Instead, it was Healy who stood out. In his post-fight interview with UFC commentator, he warned other UFC lightweights to watch out because he was "putting them on blast."
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:08:15 PDT
 The UFC debut of two Strikeforce light heavyweights was spoiled by a odd ending. Ovince St-Preux beat Gian Villante in a majority technical decision after the fight was stopped because of a poke to the eye.
After a back-and-forth, but not entirely thrilling bout, St-Preux threw a punch and accidentally poked Villante in the eye. Villante stepped back and crouched down, indicating to referee Kevin Mulhall that there was a problem with the eye. Mulhall asked Villante if he could see, and Villante said no, he couldn't see.
At that point, Mulhall waved his arms and the fight was stopped. Villante protested, but the fight was over. Because the round had started, it had to be judged. The scores were 30-28, 29-28 and 29-29 in St-Preux's favor.
“I couldn’t see. He did poke me in the eye so I don’t know," Villante said after the fight. "He said the fight was over and I didn’t expect that because I was just reacting to his question. I got poked and my eye was closed up so I thought he would stop it but he didn’t, he just kind of looked at me. I don’t understand how you score thirty seconds of a round and that’s how I lost? We were just getting going and I got poked in the eye. I don’t know what to say.”
Mulhall's stoppage adhered to the eyepoke rule, if not literally, then in spirit. When a fighter says he can't see, the fight is stopped. However, Mulhall could have used better communication and followed procedures. It would have been better if he explained to Villante that he didn't have time to recover and that the fight would be stopped if he said he couldn't see.
UFC 159's weird streak continued in the very next bout. Rustam Khabilov and Yancy Medeiros' fight was stopped halfway through the first round. Medeiros defended a Khabilov takedown attempt, but hit his hand awkwardly. His thumb ended up pointing a way thumbs are not supposed to point and the bout was stopped at 2:32 of the first round.
Two weird endings marred the preliminary card, but the UFC rarely lets a weird ending go. Quite often, these fights get a rematch, so don't be shocked if you see these fights happen again on a card this summer.
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Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:03:23 PDT
UFC 159 hype, suspensions ending and a state still not jumping aboard on the MMA train – it was another full week of MMA. See who made the hot or not list.
Hot – Chael Sonnen: We won't know if he's a winner in the cage until late Saturday night as he takes on Jon Jones for the championship belt at UFC 159. However, this man is already a winner in the financial arena. According to the Los Angeles Times, he took home $8 million for his bout with Anderson Silva. Main event fighters quite often get a percentage of pay-per-view buys, which explains both why he made so much at UFC 148 and why he's working so hard to sell his fight with Jones.
Not – Nate Diaz: He lost by a TKO to Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox on Saturday night, which was enough to land him on the not list. Diaz took an extra step to make it here by saying that Thomson, who knocked him out, was running from him the entire fight.
"He didn't come in there and put no [expletive] whopping on me. You know what I'm saying? He didn't come in there and make anything happen. I have never fought somebody before who had ever wanted out of a fight so bad. I expected a fight. I expected him to grab me and try to hold on to me or throw some kicks and move and throw some punches and move but that [expletive] was straight running and I had to chase him down."
Again, it was Thomson who finished Diaz.
Hot -- Matt Mitrione: His suspension for using hate-filled language against lasted just a few weeks, and he has a fight scheduled for this summer.
Not -- MMA in New York: Even though UFC 159 is in nearby Newark, N.J., MMA is still not sanctioned in New York. The UFC has poured quite a lot of money into lobbying for the sport but it's done nothing. At this point, even UFC president Dana White is "over" MMA in New York.
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Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:41:17 PDT
 The UFC 159 picks are in. Check out how Kevin Iole and I picked the fights, and who Cagereaders said will win. Thanks to everyone who weighed in on Cagewriter's Facebook page. Want to join in on the fun? Like Cagewriter on Facebook.
Kevin Iole -- Jon Jones TKO2 Chael Sonnen: I've been on a terrible run with my picks in 2013, so my choice might be the thing that helps produce one of the UFC's greatest upsets. But looking closely at the bout, I see no way Sonnen can win it. I expect Jones to get a takedown at some point, cut Sonnen open with an elbow and finish it that way. Maggie Hendricks -- Jon Jones TKO3 Chael Sonnen: When you cut through the smack talk and look at their actual skills in the cage, Sonnen is moving up in weight to meet a fighter who is younger, faster and more skilled. [Also: The secret of Jon Jones' success] Cagereaders -- 68 percent of Cagereaders said Jones would win:
I believe that Jones has more of an arsenal and can keep sonnen guessing as to what is coming next. - Fred Mull
Sonnen never deserves this title shot. Jones by KO in 2nd by GNP elbows, or Sonnen simply quits before getting knocked out when he realizes he has no business in the octagon with Jones. - Chris Dryden *** Kevin Iole -- Michael Bisping TKO3 Alan Belcher: Both men are inconsistent and both badly need a solid win. I think Bisping gets it by staying on his feet and going back to his kick boxing background. Maggie Hendricks -- Alan Belcher W3 Michael Bisping: This is a tight fight, but Belcher will take it by bringing the fight to the ground. Cagereaders -- 50.8 percent of Cagereaders said Bisping will take this bout:
Belcher is more well rounded than Bisping -- Trampas Lee Fleming ***  Kevin Iole -- Roy Nelson SUB2 Cheick Kongo: Roy has the power to knock Cheick out. I think he'll hurt him with one of those big windmill right hands he fires and then finish him with a choke.
Maggie Hendricks -- Roy Nelson W3 Cheick Kongo: Nelson has an iron chin, and will be able to withstand Kongo's power. Cagereaders -- 81 percent of Cagereaders say Nelson will take this fight:
Nelson has a heavy hand and stronger chin than Kongo. -- Pinkie Aman Suarez *** Kevin Iole -- Phil Davis W3 Vinny Maghalaes: Davis will have to be careful on the ground with Maghalaes, but I believe he's the better overall fighter and that he'll score a convincing decision victory. Maggie Hendricks -- Phil Davis W3 Vinny Magalhaes: It may not be thrilling, but it will be a wrestling-filled win for Mr. Wonderful. Cagereaders -- 84 percent of Cagereaders said Davis will take this bout:
Potential submission of the night. Phil is too quick and talented, will submit the submission expert -- Marvin Ishmael *** Kevin Iole -- Jim Miller W3 Pat Healy: This has the potential to steal the show. It's an excellent bout and I see Miller with a very slight edge. Maggie Hendricks -- Jim Miller SUB2 Pat Healy: It's been three years since Healy was submitted, but Miller has the skill to do it. Cagereaders -- 92 percent of you said Miller will win:
Miller had a war against Joe last time out and will come out strong as usual -- Mike Terry Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:16:20 PDT
 UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione was suspended on April 8 for his transphobic comments about trans fighter Fallon Fox. At the time, the UFC said they were "appalled" by his comments and said his words were "wholly unacceptable."
Yet now, on April 25, Mitrione is off suspension and has a fight scheduled. Mitrione will fight fellow "The Ultimate Fighter" castmember Brendan Schaub on the July 27 UFC on Fox 8 show.
122 days passed between Mitrione's last two fights. By the time he gets in the cage with Brendan Schaub at UFC on Fox 8, 112 days will have passed since his knockout of Philip de Fries. How is that a suspension?
Here we have the problem with MMA and suspensions. This isn't like football or basketball, where every athlete has the same amount of events, and a suspension of five games means the same thing for everyone. In MMA, some fighters fight once a year. Some fight four times a year. For a suspension to mean anything, it has to be for several months, and a fighter's ability to get in the cage must be affected.
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Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:06:57 PDT
 UFC 159 is just over 48 hours from now. What questions will be answered by Saturday's fights?
Does Chael Sonnen have any real chance at beating UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones? Sonnen's moving up to 205 lbs. after spending his entire UFC career at middleweight. He is 2-3 in his last five fights, with both losses coming to Anderson Silva. Two of those wins were decisions, including a close one with Michael Bisping. Though Sonnen talks a good game, he just isn't on the same level as Jones. Every fighter has a puncher's chance in the cage. Will Sonnen find that one punch to get it done?
Will any punches be thrown in Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes' bout? When a Division I NCAA champion wrestler and a world champion jiu-jitsu player face off, will their ground game be neutralized? Watching their match will be like a chess match unfold.
Can Jim Miller change UFC president Dana White's mind about the next lightweight title shot? After Benson Henderson defended the UFC lightweight championship belt, White said the next title shot will go to the winner of Gray Maynard's May bout with T.J. Grant. Miller said this week that he wants to perform so well against Pat Healy that White will be forced to reconsider.
"It all comes down to timing and performances," he said. "I'm looking to make a statement on Saturday night. I'm hoping Dana forgets all the things he just said about the Maynard-Grant fight. It's happened before. Nothing's guaranteed about a No. 1 contender spot. I might (have to do some talking). But I plan on making some noise with my fists and my elbows and my knees."
Will Miller be able to get that title shot he's always wanted?
Can Sheila Gaff's finishing ability neutralize Sara McMann's wrestling? McMann is one of the most well-credentialed wrestlers to ever enter the octagon. She was an Olympic silver medalist in 2004, plus has three medals from world championships. Gaff's last three fights have ended in a first-round knockout, so will she be able to come up with another big finish against McMann's elite wrestling?
Don't forget to make your picks for UFC 159 on Cagewriter's Facebook page.
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Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:49:54 PDT
 While on Laurence Holmes podcast on the Score on Monday night, he asked me how it was being a woman covering such a male-dominant sport as mixed martial arts. I answered that while there were some problems and I did come up against some jerks from time to time, MMA was fantastic to me. I pointed out that the few jerks were rarely fighters.
So imagine my surprise when I heard from women's groups that I've long respected that the sport I cover is full of negative attitudes against women. As New York debates legislation sanctioning MMA, women's groups have protested because of the "violent nature of MMA."
"Due to the violent nature of mixed martial arts and the surprisingly high incidence of unchallenged sexism and misogyny displayed by certain fighters, commentators and other public figures associated with this sport, the prospect of legalization in New York state raises legitimate concerns about the increased exposure of our children to this new and potentially very negative influence," stated a bill introduced Friday by state Sen. Liz Krueger, who represents much of Manhattan's east side.
Have MMA figures said and done terribly misogynistic things? Absolutely. But so have NFL players. So have NHL players. Both football and hockey also feature violent collisions and catastrophic injuries. Where are the protests to evict the Buffalo Bills or New York Rangers from the state?
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who has been lobbying for MMA's sanctioning in New York for years, thinks that these women's groups are being used as a pawn by the Culinary Union.
“It’s actually kind of sad,” Fertitta said. “These women’s organizations and women’s groups stand for great things … yet they are being used as a pawn by the Culinary Union.”
The union has a beef with Fertitta and his brother Frank because they own the largest non-union casinos in Las Vegas. The union has contacted women's groups to bring their attention MMA's rise and possible sanctioning in New York. But what would make more sense for the union to focus on is that fighters don't have a collective bargaining agreement and aren't unionized.
Krueger and others have pointed to links between MMA and violence when no such link has been found. There is also no discussion of how MMA has empowered women as fighters, officials, media and fans, or how women have learned self defense techniques at MMA gyms across the country. Invicta FC, a promotion run by a woman that features women's bouts, must have escaped their view.
There are real problems facing women. Sexual violence, domestic abuse, unequal pay, unequal treatment in the workplace, sexual harassment, and many other serious issues face women every day. Let's focus on how we should solve those real issues, and not a sport that has no proven link to any of these problems.
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Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:45:57 PDT
Usually, it's retired UFC fighter Kenny Florian who draws comparisons to Derek Zoolander. But when I was looking for a picture of UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen next week, I noticed that he cannot take a normal picture. Almost all UFC fighters have some sort of picture on file that doesn't involve posing or hamming it up for the cameras. Not so much for Sonnen. Check it out:
  Is he mean-mugging 50 Cent?
  And of course:
 It's good to know that Sonnen can fall back into the world of modeling if this fighting thing doesn't work out for him.
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UFC 160 is Saturday in Las Vegas, and we want to know how you think it will go down. Give us your picks and we'll run some of them here on Cagewriter. Here's how to do it. Check out the 
Pat Healy made a memorable cross-over from Strikeforce at UFC 159. He submitted Jim Miller and won two bonuses to steal the show at the April event. Unfortunately, he also tested positive for marijuana after the fight. His fight result has been changed to no-contest, and he will have to give up the bonuses that totaled $130,000.
