Cain Velasquez, scheduled to take on Junior dos Santos at UFC 152 this September | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

It is no secret that the UFC has come under a harsh spell of injury-plagued events as of late. From fights on undercard to main events, it seems like not a week goes by without fighters dropping off somewhere. Now this isn’t new. And MMA as a sport is a more volatile enterprise than most when it comes to injury. Just the nature of the game, some might say.

UFC president Dana White has gone on record recently on the matter, eluding that cross-training between top fighters and camps may have something to do it.

“I’m numb to it now,” Dana says about injury concerns regarding events. “Last year when the stuff started happening it was devastating. Now, I’ve chalked it up to this is part of the business, part of the deal. I think what’s happening too and me and Joe Silva were talking about this tonight, you have so many talented guys out there now all in the same camp, going at it like they’re fighting for the title, these guys need to tone it down in training a bit and stop hurting each other.”

No matter what the reason for these event-altering circumstances, the main point is that nobody really intends to get injured, and nobody really wishes injury on anyone. Like Dana said, it’s just the nature of the beast in this, one of the most grueling of sports to train.

Be that as it may, one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity and there are plenty of fighters that are eager for the opportunity to ‘answer the call’ for the UFC and step in for the organization when it really counts.

We’re talking about fighters like young Rory MacDonald, one of the fastest rising young stars in the UFC since Jon Jones and his training partner Georges St. Pierre. With a record of 13-1 and his only loss coming against interim divisional champion Carlos Condit, this Canadian will presumably be taking on former champ BJ Penn for a fast-track to the title contention. Much of this wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for injuries shifting the landscape at the top of the welterweight class.

Team Takedown’s Johny Hendricks | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Speaking of welterweights, another one eager to step up and make his own case for a title opportunity is Texas’ own Johny Hendricks. He began his own climb to the top in March 2011 with a fast knockout of fellow Texan TJ Waldburger (won KOTN honors). That fight would never have happened if his planned fight with Paulo Thiago earlier that month didn’t fall through due to injury. Fast track a year and two AKA victories later over Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch and he now stands on the cusp of title contention.

Outside of title pictures, fighters on the undercard get their opportunities through injury situations as well.

Jamie Varner, a former WEC lightweight champion, was let go from his Zuffa contract after four fights with no victories to end his stint in the now-defunct organization. He subsequently went on a 3-1 streak in regional competition but earned his opportunity back when Evan Dunham was injured prior to his planned fight against undefeated Edson Barboza. Varner would then beat the Brazilian by first-round TKO to win his back into relevance this past May.

Likewise, it’s important to note that other fighters such as Texans Andrew Craig and Daniel Pineda got their initial call-ups to the octagon on short notice when other fighters dropped due to getting hurt. In short, being ready and waiting when that call comes is not without its merits.

Looking ahead, look for additional fighters step in to capture opportunity when the injury bugs strikes yet again (and it will… it always does).

Imagine Brock Lesnar, recently retired from MMA but currently going through some time of contract squabble with the WWE. He may have been done with MMA after his December loss to Alistair Overeem but there have been rumblings about him wanting to return. Most of that is conjecture at this point but given injuries to heavyweights Cain Velasquez and others, a turn by “The Next Big Thing” and his consistent 1 million PPV buy potential may be plausible, if not entirely unlikely.

As mentioned in the beginning of this piece, injuries have become an unfortunate reality in this sport. These things happen. For some, it means time on the shelf. But for others, it’s a golden opportunity to step up to the plate and show the world who they are.

Photo: Esther Lin / Strikeforce

June 22, 2012 – In what amounts to the last fight in a long and storied career, Fedor Emelianenko stepped into the cage opposite Pedro Rizzo in St Petersburg, Russia at an M-1 event past weekend, knocking him out in typical fashion to nab his third win a row, and apparently his last with the Russian great announcing his retirement during his post-match address.

And so it goes. After years and years of being called the most indestructible man in MMA and a subsequent bad string of losses on US soil, “The Last Emperor’s” career came to an end with a three fight win streak.

Looking back at his career, it is clear that Fedor was clearly at his best while fighting in Japan for the Pride Fighting Championship organization. He made his name there as a calm and composed killer – steamrolling is opponents or scoring amazing comebacks when necessary. From April 2001 to June 2010, Emelianenko Fedor went undefeated in 28 straight fights – an unheard of feat at the top of the sport.

Yet for all his accomplishments and the praise others shower upon him, there are those who question whether he should be considered one of the best ever. Make no mistake about it, Fedor in his prime was legendary but who did he really fight that could challenge his record?

There are people that have claimed that Fedor’s record was padded while in Japan and with M1-Global. Most of the people listed on Fedor’s record would make the non hardcore fans scratch their head. Not to take anything away from the fighters who faced Fedor, but this was the early stages of MMA when people were fighting out of weight classes that they did not belong in. Some would even say Fedor owns the most protected record in MMA, which would make him the most overrated fighter of all time.

Now, there are fighters that Fedor did face that were great, key word being were. Guys like Mark Coleman, Jeff Monson, and Pedro Rizzo; not really fighters who are or were tearing up the heavyweight division at the time. There were plenty of fighters that Fedor could have fought during the heavyweight’s darkest times in the early to mid 2000’s; fighters like Randy Couture, Frank Mir, or Josh Barnett. Unfortunately those fights did not happen, and when Emelianenko did face fighters that were in their prime (read: Mirko CroCop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira) he mostly fought them to a decision.

It was when Fedor fought for the Strikeforce promotion that many saw holes in Fedor’s game and realized that the MMA God they saw in Emelianenko was really just a man. Brett Rogers gave him problems in his first match going into a standup battle. Fabricio Werdum was able to submit Fedor in just 1:09 in the first round. Both Dan Henderson and Antonio Silva were able to beat down Emelianenko with strikes. Fedor was exposed as mortal in those fights… but it does not mean he was not a good fighter.

Many will say that never fighting for the UFC also tarnishes his legacy. Those ‘should have been’ matchups with guys like Couture or even Lesnar that never happened leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. Some of those bouts could have been among the highest-grossing PPV’s of all time and cemented Fedor as the “All-time greatest” had he come out victorious. Now, much like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather’s case in boxing, we’ll simply never know what would have transpired if Fedor faced his contemporaries in his prime.

In the end one thing that won’t be questioned is Fedor’s good nature and respect for fighting. If there is one thing fighters should take from Emelianenko it is his personality, the quiet warrior – nobody it better. Now as for his legacy as one of the greats, his career now ends with as many questions as answers.

How will you remember Fedor Emelianenko?

BJ Penn | photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images AsiaPac

June 8, 2012 – As you may or may not have heard, Hawaiian “Prodigy” B.J. Penn has recently once again proclaimed his emergence from quasi-retirement by accepting the challenge of Canadian upstart Rory MacDonald – a fighter who everyone from Joe Rogan to Georges St. Piere himself has already proclaimed “the next GSP.”

Penn originally proclaimed he was done following the beating he took against Nick Diaz at UFC 137 this past September. “I’m done,” he said. “I don’t want to go home looking this.”

Time is the greatest healer though and slowly but surely, B.J. started expressing hints of yet another comeback. He turned down a fight with top-ranked Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce presumably because he felt moving to that org would be a step down but the MacDonald one seems to have aroused his curiosity for a number of reasons.

For one, MacDonald is ‘the next big thing,’ according to both his performances and public perception. At just 22 years of age, he’s already compiled a 13-1 record with his only loss being to #1 welterweight contender Carlos Condit in a ‘fight of the night’ efort in June 2010.  Since then he’s posted 3 wins in a row, including one over the ever-improving Nate Diaz. Beating him would show the world that Penn is not out of the loop yet when it comes to being a top fighter to be reckoned with.

Rory MacDonald | photo: CP/Darryl Dyck)

Likewise, Rory also represents a familiar challenge because he trains at the same Tristar gym in Montreal that is home to another Penn nemesis in the aforementioned Georges St. Pierre. “There’s no bad blood but I want another crack at them. I want another crack at the team,” BJ recently mentioned in an interview with MMA Uncensored Live.

He did not mention it but if he was to beat MacDonald, this could open the way for him and GSP once again. Whether that fight is something the public would demand is another story altogether but as a fighter, surely BJ would want a chance to get those losses back – grease gate and all.

Ultimately though, this fight is just about B.J. Penn wanting to take on the toughest of challenges as his main impetus for fighting.

Despite the criticisms he’s endured throughout his career about not living up to his potential, one can’t deny that he’s never turned down a challenge. The guy has fought the best of the best throughout – even going as far as to fight Lyoto Machida at light-heavyweight.

Rory MacDonald is just another one of those tough challenges for him like Machida, St, Pierre, Frankie Edgar, and the rest were. Maybe he’s even one that could get him really motivated to perform at his best – even if it’s for that proverbial “one last time.”

“I’m just coming back and doing this fight and I am pretty sure this is the last fight on my contract,” Penn said recently on Just Scrap Radio. “I will have to go back and check, but I think this is the last fight on my contract. I would like to finish out my contract. I am going to go to the belly of the beast. I just want to go over there and take care of this. I am going to go to the belly of the beast and see a fire-breathing dragon and take out my sword.”

Though currently unconfirmed, Penn vs. MacDonald is speculating to take place at UFC 152 on September 22, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario.

The belly of the beast indeed.

Macaco after winning the 155 lbs. championship over Clay Hantz

HOUSTON, TX, May 14, 2012 – Last Friday night brought about the latest edition of the Legacy Fighting Championship to the local scene. The event was highlighted by a big time win for Houston’s Jorge “Macaco” Patino and also included some other big-time wins for other local Houstonian fighters like Chad Robichaux, Ray Blodget, and several others but there were some surprising as well.

For example, not too many people expected hot prospects Angel Huerta and Cody Williams to lose. Those two have been built up for some time to be future stars for LFC and rightfully so as both are exciting fighters but the night was not theirs last week and it surprised many.

Likewise, the Artenas Young vs. Bubba Bush affair at middleweight did not go as planned. Many in the area predicted the winner of that bout to be perhaps the next local breakout star in a division devoid of any clearly identifiable top draw after the UFC departure of Team Tooke’s Andrew Craig. Unfortunately we got more questions than answers from a bout that ended in an unfortunate no-contest turned disqualification – a result that no doubt leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of both men.

Full results can be found here but the bottom line is that the event no doubt changed the perceived future course for many of its participants and perhaps the promotion itself in relation to some of these local stars.

In the wake ofLFC 11 results, we seek to come up with a few potential matchups that make sense for the fighters involved along with the local fans in the Houston area.

With matchmaking already in full swing long before this event even took place, it’s doubtful that we’ll see these in the future but we sure would like to.

Ten matchups that make sense after Legacy Fighting Championship 11

Cody Williams (3-2) vs. Angel Huerta (6-1)

Cody Williams will no doubt be looking to come back with a vengeance following this loss to Ryan Benoit.

Both these guys went into LFC 11 highly-touted and perhaps primed for a run at the 135 lbs. title afterwards should they have won but unfortunately, both came up on the losing end against some very tough opponents. To his credit, Williams already has his next fight lined up at IXFA 8 at Delta Downs in Louisiana this coming July 7th against Aaron Phillips (3-0) but a bout with Huerta shortly thereafter presents an enticing possibility should he want to try and climb up the LFC bantamweight ranks.

As for Huerta, we’re unsure what he has scheduled ahead of him after suffering the first loss of his career. By all accounts, he was winning his fight against Nelson Salas handedly before his cardio blamed him. At 31 years of age, Angel isn’t a dinosaur but he’s also not the youngest prospect out there so he’ll surely be looking to rebound quickly a little later this summer as well.

A bout between these two would surely be an exciting prospect for fans while positioning the winner on to bigger and better things in the near future.

Alternate Possibility – Either of these two vs. another fighter coming off a loss in Steven “Ocho” Peterson.

Artenas Young (8-4) vs. Bubba Bush (4-2)

Bubba Bush disappointed at the outcome of his first fight with Artenas Young.

Their first bout last Friday left a bitter taste in everybody’s mouth after the murky finish that saw a no-contest turned into a disqualification win for “The Machine Gun.” This bout was supposed to decide who ruled the middleweight roost in Legacy FC on the local level but instead left the division in disarray with no clear contender established despite Young’s “win.”

Is Artenas truly the best 185’er in LFC when it comes to fighters at the local level (discounting national signings)? Or was Bubba on his way to a workman-like victory before those few ill-placed shots to the back of Chico’s head?

We’ll never know the answer to either of these questions unless Mick Maynard and crew can get these two back into the cage again.

Alternate Possibility – Either of these two vs. Larry “Tae-Kwon” Crowe or Bubba McDaniel.

Lester Batres (1-1) vs. Ricardo Talavera (2-3)

Lester Bartes passed a tough test vs. Justin Murray

Lester Batres scored a very impressive decision victory over Justin Murray at LFC 11. We say “very impressive” because beating the well-rounded grinder is no small task. He seems to have overcome the perceived mental blocks that may have plagued him earlier on in his (amateur) MMA career in this one and could be a prospect to watch in the future.

What better way to test his future viability than to pit him against another extremely tough opponent in Ricardo “The Hitman” Talavera?

Ricardo is a fan favorite with an exciting style yet he’s also a fighter that’s suffered his own spell of losses with three in a row after starting his pro career with two straight wins. A fight against somebody like Batres would not only be a tough test but one that could be telling for his own future prospects in the welterweight division.

Alternate Possibility – Lester Batres vs. Jonathan Harris.

Larry Crowe (5-2) vs. Noel Ligon (4-0)

Larry Crowe didn't get to fight but will be looking to get back in there soon.

Speaking of Larry “Tae-Kwon” Crowe, it was a shame not being able to see him fight last Friday after weigh-ins where he showed up in shape, in good spirits, ad no doubt ready to go. The fighter has no doubt improved on his overall fitness after making the move to 4OZ Fight Club and it would have been very interesting to see where he was at come fight night.

Unfortunately nobody got to see that happen after his planned opponent Sam Mohammed literally no-showed the fight on the day of after making weight and everything.

Looking ahead to his next one, it would be nice to see Larry do battle against another game opponent in Noel Ligon – another well-rounded prospect who’d present a tough test technically for Crowe. Trained by Tim Moussel, not only is Noel well-skilled and deserving of a push but he’s also the type of fighter that could be relied upon when it counts. In short, he always shows up when his number is called – exactly the type of fighter Crowe needs to be matched up with at this point.

Alternate Possibility – Larry Crowe vs. Bubba Bush.

Nelson Salas (4-0) vs. Ryan Benoit (4-1)

Nelson Salas savors victory against "The Chosen One" Angel Huerta.

As we already mentioned, both these Dallas Fort-Worth based fighters scored some impressive victories over their highly-touted counterparts with Salas scoring the TKO over Angel Huerta and Benoit also finishing his opponent Cody Williams in the first-round via submission in their fight.

With those performances in mind, both these guys look like future contenders at bantamweight if given the opportunity and perhaps another win or two.

Especially consider the August LFC event planned in concert with the Europa Super Show and Fitness Expo, a clash between these two to decide who gets to be a legit title contender in the near future could be just what the doctor ordered.

Alternate Possibility – Either of these two vs. Steven Peterson or Salas vs. Chris Jones.

Ray Blodget (6-1) vs. Justin Reiswerg (4-2)

Former 155 lbs. champ Ray Blodget is back in the win column.

Former LFC lightweight champ Ray Blodget made his comeback fight a successful one with a clean decision victory over Cris “Chop” Rucker on the LFC 11 undercard. Having lost only to UFC fighter and former LFC champ Daniel Pineda in his career to date, Ray’s win here positions him well to make another run at the top.

Meanwhile, another fighter who’s impressed in the past and could make a run back up to title contention in short order is Justin Reiswerg. He was last seen at LFC 10 losing by submission to UFC vet Pat Audinwood in the third round of their fight after an ankle issue derailed him in the early going only to see him gut it out almost to the very end.

A potential fight between Blodget and Reiswerg seems unlikely at this point and we’re doubtful it would ever happen given that they’re quasi-teammates at 4OZ Fight Club but it’s an interesting one plenty of people would like to see and worthy of mention.

Alternate Possibility – Either of these two vs. Adam Schindler.

Evan Cutts (4-0) vs. Alex Morono (4-1)

Evan Cutts cemented his status as one of the best young prospects in Texas.

Gracie Barra’s young stud Alex Morono was forced to sit on the sidelines for this one after an injury suffered in training derailed him from his planned fight versus Lee King. What he saw instead was Evan Cutts picking up the fourth win of professional career vs. the Paradigm fighter – a win that could conceivable have been his.

Both these 21 year olds are amongst the top prospects in each of their respective cities with Morono holding it down for Houston while Cutts does the same for his neck of the woods up in Dallas Fort-Worth. All hype aside, they’re also both extremely well-rounded mixed martial artists that are adept at fighting anywhere a fight goes – whether it’s standing, wrestling, or on the ground with submissions, they’ve both got the total package.

This is another one that fans of cities would no doubt love to see and actually presents one of the rare matchups that could really rally the friendly Houston vs. DFW rivalry. It would also have the makings of a definite ‘Fight of the Night’ candidate.

In short, we’d love to see it.

Alternate Possibility – Either of these two vs. Mike Bronzoulis.

Chad Robichaux (12-2) vs. Jimmy Flick (4-0)

Chad Robichaux scored the biggest win ever in his career. What will he do for an encore?

What is there to say about Chad Robichaux other than “Bravo!” after last Friday night? Nothing. The former head of Gracie Barra Woodlands came back to Houston after his brief-retirement facing a tough test on former UFC fighter Joseph Sandoval and he passed it with flying colors – scoring the biggest win of his career and doing so while hardly taking a punch at all. He did exactly what he said he was going to do and attacked aggressively from the opponent bell, taking his opponent down, and summarily choking him out.

It doesn’t get any better than that for a comeback win and his stay in Legacy FC may be short-lived if his appeal to land in the UFC flyweight division are heard by the higher powers he’s appealed to.

If he does stay however… and this is unlikely given what he’s looking for… a fight with another top Texas flyweight by the name of Jimmy “The Brick” Flick would be more than welcome. These two were originally supposed to fight a few cards back before an injury sidelined Robo but we know for certain his would-be opponent would welcome a shot with the Mighty Oaks leader if given the opportunity.

Alternate Possibility – Chad Robichaux vs. Will Campuzano (winner moves on to the UFC; a very likely possibility if this matchup were to actually be put together)

Gerald Harris (21-4) vs. Todd Moore (13-5)

Gerald Harris looked impressive in his first welterweight bout.

Gerald “Hurricane” Harris made his welterweight debut a successful one after out-pointing Mike “The Greek” Bronzoulis in their LFC 1 fight this past Friday. With that win, the Oklahoman now moves to 4-0 in his past four fights.

Should he stay in the division and continue to be a regular in Legacy FC (his last two fights have been in the org), an exciting clash with somebody like Jorge “Macaco” Patino could be in the cards somewhere down the road. That’s not to say it should happen now though with only one win in the division.

So that leaves the question – who does he face next?

That’s not an easy question to answer without bringing in some other national names but one person that does present an intriguing possibility is Strikeforce veteran Todd “The Maniac” Moore.

Like Harris, Todd also has a very impressive wrestling acumen and wouldn’t be a stranger to this type of “big fight” having taken on the likes of Shinya Aoki, Shane Roller, and John Alessio earlier in his career. The dearth of regular events for the Strikeforce promotion would also likely allow for this fight to happen.

Alternate Possibility – Gerald Harris vs. another Strikeforce vet in Brian Melancon (who recently retired but may not be able to stay away if presented with a test as tough as Harris.)

Jorge “Macaco” Patino (22-13-1) vs. Jeff Rexroad

Jorge Patino joins Daniel Pineda as a 2x division Legacy champion.

When it comes to the life of a two-division champion, we assume life is never quiet or easy and we don’t think it’s going to be any different for Gold Team’s fearless leader, Jorge “Macaco” Patino.

Fresh off his dominating win over Clay Hantz that marked his fourth straight, Patino will probably take a day or two off then jump right back into it training with Evangelista Cyborg, AJ Hoffman, and crew at his Gold Team gym in Sugarland. The good news for him is that he can afford to eat a burger or three as his next fight should be coming in the welterweight division where he’ll likely defend that title against #1 contender Jeff “The Executioner” Rexroad.

Coming off his own run of four straight wins, Jeff is thought by many to be the most deserving local contender that hasn’t fought for a belt yet for Legacy. He’ll likely get that chance later this summer when he faces the toughest test of his career against the Brazilian, Macaco.

Alternate Possibility – None. This fight needs to happen and likely will in July or August of this year.

So there you have it folks. What do you think of these possibilities? Do any of them make sense to you? Are there any other fights you’d like to see in the aftermath of Legacy FC 11?

Sound off here in the comments section or on our TXMMA Facebook Page and let us know what you’d do if you were in Mick Maynard’s shoes as far as these guys who competed on the last card.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

April 23, 2012 – Every once in awhile in MMA, there comes a time when a feud between two bitter rivals outshines everything else leading up to fight night. These are the types of matchups that bring casual and hardcore fans together – mega fights, so to speak. This past Saturday night, two former training partners stepped into the octagon for the main event at UFC 145 with all eyes on them with Jon Jones taking on Rashad Evans for the UFC light heavyweight title.

Leading up to the fight, practically all the marketing focused on the fact that the two had trained together at Greg Jackson’s gym during a time when Evans was riding high at the top of the sport, champion himself while Jones was still coming up as a talent yet relatively inexperienced newcomer. As time went on, life would get in the way and things would change between the two. Long story short, Jones would get his opportunity to become champion and make the most of it while Evans would leave the Jackson camp with eyes on restoring his own momentum while training with the Blackzillians down in South Florida.

As for Jones and Evans in particular, people can try and pinpoint where their “friendship” ended but the fact of the matter is that they’ve become more nemesis to one another than actual friends or mere competitors – blasting each other as “cocky” or “out of control” when it came to their own individuals egos – both of which have them as great fighters usually do. Whatever the case may be, both these guys wanted badly to be the superior fighter when they finally stepped into the cage.

For me, I thought this dynamic was very reminiscent of a rivalry that happened 40 years ago between one-time good friends turned enemies, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

According to an article on ChicagoNow.com, Ali and Frazier weren’t always the rivals which they’ve been defined as. “Joe Frazier was a friend to Muhammad Ali, giving him much needed money privately, and possibly more importantly, a much needed voice of support publicly” during Ali’s refusal against going to war in Vietnam after he was drafted in 1967. “This was of course not a completely selfless act on Frazier’s part; many considered Ali the “true champion”, and Joe wanted the opportunity to cement the legitimacy of his crown” but no matter what his motives, he helped Ali in a time of need prior to one of the greatest rivalries the sport of boxing had even seen.

Jon Jones and Rashad Evans aren’t there yet as far as having the same kind of rivalry but they’ve got all the makings of a rivalry in the making – a good story, a championship at stake, and people that want to give their feud attention – both celebrities and casual fans alike. Of course it’s not as grand as the Ali/Frazier story just yet but could be down the road if Rashad can climb back up the mountain and dethrone his would-be nemesis.

Speaking of the fight, in the end, Rashad “Suga” Evans came up short In this one. The young champion in Jones proved his dominance yet again in this one.

Yet rather than offering a contrite admission of defeat or a typical congratulations to his former friend, Evans only expressed disappointment in his own performance and said that he would be back to face the champion once again.

It doesn’t sound like this feud is ending anything soon.

What do you guys think? Can Evans prove to be Jon Jones’ version of Joe Frazier or is “Bones” simply the greatest in this day and age? Sound off with your thoughts.

Alistair Overeem | Photo: UFC / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

April 4, 2012 – As just about everyone plugged into the internet has heard over the last few hours, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has issued a release stating that the UFC’s #1 contender Alistair Overeem tested positive for an increased T/E ratio, which is an indicator of possible steroid use following a surprise round of PED/drug testing after the initial UFC 14 press conference just last month.

Here’s the official release from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer:

The following athletes were tested on March 27:  Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva.  All test results were negative, except Mr. Overeem tested positive for an increased T/E ratio (> 10).  Mr. Overeem will need to appear before the Commission if he seeks licensure.

So what does this all mean?

Well the first and most obvious thing is that the headlining championship bout between current champ Junior dos Santos and the ‘Reem is in grave jeopardy.

“”I am beyond pissed about this. I’m so (expletive) mad right now I can’t even begin…”

That’s all UFC President Dana White has to say so far after hearing the news literally while on a conference call with Canadian media, including The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.

“The worst part is that he sat in front of us and lied to us. How (expletive) stupid do you have to be? Seriously dumb. Anybody who’s using (performance-enhancing drugs) right now is an absolute (expletive) moron…”

“It’s beyond – what’s the word I’m looking for – it’s beyond belief. It’s beyond comprehension. You’re an absolute moron, a brain-dead absolute (expletive) dummy. It goes beyond a guy have any common sense whatsoever.”

Referring to the fight, all Dana said he currently does not have a Plan B.

So with all this happening, what should “Plan B” actually be? It would be easier to fill the slot opposite dos Santos if UFC 146 wasn’t already a heavyweight supercard anyways. That was to be the main draw with entire PPV card featuring an all-heavyweight heavyweight lineup that was to showcase the division. Does that remain the plan? Will Junior still defend the title? Or will they scrap the main event altogether?

They could shuffle the card that currently has Cain Velasquez taking on Frank Mir, Roy Nelson taking on Antonio Silva, and several other heavyweights on the mid-card level facing each other to move their own stocks up but does that make sense or only create more chaos?

For his part, we hear Frank Mir is already lobbying to get the call but let’s say they stay the course. Who else is left to tango with the Adele-loving affable Brazilian?

Here’s a few options to consider:

Fabricio Werdum | Photo by Esther Lin via MMA Fighting

Pull Frank Mir from his planned fight and give him his title shot - He’s won 3 in a row and has impressed throughout, knocking out CroCop, thoroughly bloodying and beating Roy Nelson, and breaking Big Nog’s arm in the armbar heard around the world. If there’s a de facto #1 contender currently in the UFC right now given Alistair’s probable ousting, it would either be Frank or his planned opponent Cain. And the popular fellow former champ from Mexico just lost to Junior so he’s not likely to be brought back in so quickly.

Give the shot to Fabricio Werdum – He’s coming off a win over Roy Nelson in a Fight of the Night effort at UFC 143 and hasn’t lost to anyone not named Alistair Overeem (now a perceived juicer) since 2008, when he coincidentally lost to none other than…. Junior dos Santos. With all this happening, is it about time he get his rematch? If nothing else, the storylines would be there this one – especially considering how overpowered he was in his last loss to a possible cheater.

Bring Josh Barnett over from Strikeforce – Granted, this would be a reach given that “The Babyfaced Assassin” still has unfinished business with Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce HWT Grand Prix, not to mention the UFC may have to convince the Showtime brass to let him go but desperate times call for desperate measures. Has he “played nice” enough for Dana to consider this?

Make the improbable call to Russia for Emelianenko Fedor – A few days ago, Dana White was quoted as saying that he wasn’t considering bringing the former #1 fighter in the world to the UFC. “Not even a little bit,” he said. Does Alistair’s failed test change that? Certainly Fedor doesn’t have the name value he once did after losing to Hendo, Pezao, and Werdum but he does have 2 wins in a row and a name that would get people talking. Might this be the right move to make?

Last but not least….

Call Dan Henderson – Yes, we know, we know… this is nearly insane. But hey, Hendo did say he wanted his next fight to be for a title and he’s never been shy about fighting up and down weight classes in the past. Heck he did beat Fedor at heavyweight (weighing in at a whoping 207 lbs.) and subsequently beat Maurício Shogun Rua after that in 2011′s Fight of the Year. With 4 straight wins under his belt, should the UFC let him step in if he’s willing? Crazier things have happened.

All in all, this story is insane. Overeem’s positive test harbors on the point of unbelievable. But be that as it may, the pertinent thing is to focus on the issue at hand.

What’s next.

What do you think? Chime in with your opinions and let us know what the UFC should do to fix UFC 146 if the NSAC indeed rules Overeem ineligible.

SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 23, 2012 – The art of sportsmanship prior to competition has been shown many times in the sports world. Whether it is a handshake, hug, or the occasional slap on the ass, it’s been customary in different sports to perform this customary gesture as a nod to good will, fair play, and sportsmanship prior to getting on with the competition. Sometimes, these moments of civility even happen in the middle of a game. Defensive players in the NFL viciously tackle their opponents then turn around and help right back up. This is nothing new at all, and it’s more than fair. There will always be a place for sportsmanship on the field of play, no matter what sport it is.

But as it relates to combat sports in particular, has it become a little bit too much?

Take the case of boxer Victor Ortiz. In his last fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, Victor was unceremoniously knocked out after he apologized for the fourth time following an illegal headbutt. After the fight, people were more outraged at Floyd than they were at Ortiz for knocking him out as they were hugging. It was such a bizarre situation that it left viewers bewildered, calling the bout a fix, if not simply left to complain about the bizarre actions of both fighters in the ring, namely Oriz – who was more interested in connecting with his opponent on an emotional level rather than a physical one. Did he take the easy money? One may never know but it’s definitely left to debate whether his apologetic actions in the middle of a prize fight may have just been a little inappropriate.

Now more recently, it comes out that a female fighter in MMA named Shiela Gaff has broken the unspoken rule of hitting her opponent immediately following the customary glove touch at the beginning of the fight. Now this isn’t anything new. There have been plenty of amateur and pro fights where this has happened. Sure it may seem like a chicken shit thing to do, but it is legal. As the old saying goes, “protect yourself at all times.”

I’m starting to think there’s really not a place for the glove touch after the fight has started.

The bell starts the round, not the touch of gloves. As a fighter, one has the chance to offer a handshake prior to the beginning of the fight, whether it be when you enter the cage or during weigh-ins or any time prior to the point where you’re supposed to be knocking each others’ head off.  Then when a fight is all said and done, by all means show all the sportsmanship you want. It’s usually better afterward anyways. That’s when most fans want to see two guys display some level of camaraderie and civility after they’ve just gotten done trying to knock each others’ block off.

My point is that MMA (and maybe a few other combat sports) appears to be the only sport where athletes show these gestures (glove touches, etc.) after competition has already started. You don’t really see the same thing in other sports in times where play is in session. Players don’t hug it out before every down on the football field and Michael Jordan never went around giving opposing players daps while he was trying to kill them on the basketball court. And Rocky Marciano certainly did not shake Joe Louis hands before smashing his face in the middle of the round. Maybe we should get back to that then shake hands after the fight. If nothing else, it would certainly prevent a little controversy like the one with these two women earlier this week.

What do you guys think about the glove touch? Any comments from our readers? Feel free to share your thoughts.

Photo: UFC.com / Zuffa LLC

SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 21, 2012 – How quickly kings can rise and fall within a few short years in the sport of MMA…. All while blaming everyone else but themselves. Such is the cage with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. After his loss to Ryan Bader and specifically in the last week or so, the once uber-popular fan favorite and Pride FC star has been increasingly complaining about the UFC and how they and those not-so-diehard Rampage fans have abandoned him and are showing him less respect than he deserves.

Have fans lost their taste for Rampage Jackson as a fighter? Or has lost the luster that once made fans love him so much?

Looking at popular opinion and the buzz around the web, it seems that many fans of the sport do not have the same affinity for Jackson nowadays as they did in his heyday when he was slamming all comers in Pride. Perhaps this has to do with his recent performances as much as anything else said on Twitter and otherwise, like in the case with his subpar performance against Rashad Evans. Considering his record in his last four fights (Rampage beat Lyoto Machida in a squeeker and got past a fading Matt Hamill while being outclassed by Bader and Jon Jones), Rampage may still be competitive in the ultra-crowded light heavyweight division but it stands clear that he’s still the same fighter as he always was, wanting to stand and punch (exciting) but refusing to evolve as a fighter in a time where you have to win fights by an means necessary, exciting or not. Rampage’s PRIDE days are legendary and when he first came to the UFC he had that aurora of devastation, just like Mike Tyson in his prime. But lately his aurora has diminished and he is started to look more like Mike Tyson 2005. And it does not look like he is really willing to do anything to change his training or style of fighting.

Considering all that history and all his past contributions to the sport, does Rampage get the respect he deserves or is not getting his just due, giving him fair reason to complain?

As outsiders, we’re not privy to everything that goes on behind closed doors business-wise but it seems like he’s getting most of it. Rampage asked to fight in Japan and he got ultimately got granted that request. He was also ultimately able to take time off to film the A-Team and come back no matter how upset the UFC brass was at that deal. And we can’t discount that whole bizarre incident in Malibu where he really lived up his nickname and went on a Rampage. They accepted him back with open arms after that too. Is the UFC really being that unfair to him?

One of Jackson’s main griped is how the UFC intimated that his fight against Bader was his “worst performance ever.” Guess what, they are right and they were right to say it because they are his bosses and should be able to speak frankly when evaluating employee performance. This sport isn’t about feelings nearly as much as it is about the brutal honesty of how one athlete does against another in competition. Yes we all know he had an injury and battle through adversity to try and make weight and go through with the fight, but he along with countless others before him have openly admitted that injuries are a part of this sport and doesn’t validate performances one way or another. Call it an occupational hazard.

​In the end with all due respect to everything he has accomplished, the UFC does not need him anymore. His rivalry and subsequent fight with Rashad Evans drew high numbers but that may also have been the peak of his stardom in this sport. What has he done since then but draw the kind of attention that isn’t really all that endearing to either his bosses or the fans? Does he really want to go somewhere else and if so, where will he go and will they cater to his sensitive ego? Will he get the appreciation he thinks he deserves elsewhere? Either way, he may have the proverbial target on his back due to his recent comments lashing out.

​Perhaps Zuffa should grant him his wish let him go to make room for more stars that are up and coming in the light-heavy weight division; Young, hungry guys like Alexander Gustafsson, James Te Huna, Aaron Rosa; fighters with a chip on their shoulders for an entirely different reason – of wanting to get to where Rampage has already been way up that mountain. In the end the UFC will somehow make it without Rampage. They did it before without some of his contemporaries in guys when guys like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Chuck Liddell left the game. They’ll make it without him too.

U.S. Senator John McCain

SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 5, 2012 – Mixed Martial Arts has been at the forefront of many controversies throughout its short history, whether it be John McCain labeling the sport as “human cockfighting” in the distant past or fighters being reprimanded in recent times for being too explicit on social media. In other sports, most leagues do whatever they can to shy away from controversy. They have put in limits on what athletes can and cannot say in the media, Twitter, or even Facebook. But Zuffa and the UFC have always welcomed this level of engagement – taking both the bad along with the good. They’re of the principle that despite controversy or “bad publicity,” a bright light can shine in if they tackle issues head on rather than shy away from them.

Nowhere is this more evident that two news stories that have surfaced as of late – of the ex-gay porn star landing a shot on first season of The Ultimate Fighter LIVE on FX and of the fighter with racist tattoos that because the center of some controversy following this past weekend’s Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event.

First up is Dakota Cochrane – who used to go by the name Danny on the gay pornographic website seancody.com. When he told his girlfriend about his exploits she asked him to stop which he complied with happily as he was only doing this work due to hard economic times. Since then, he’s turned his life around and is now happily engaged with the same fiancée he told about his work in the first place. They currently have two children.

As for the latter Brandon Saling, it was recently discussed post-Strikeforce this past weekend that this undercard fighter may have or had ties to racism. Taking on Roger Bowling on the Showtime Extreme undercard, Brandon Saling was part of one of the more exciting fights on the night. Unfortunately for him (and Strikeforce), his fight was not as talked about as his tattoo, the one that reads “88,” a possible Hitler reference. H is the eighth letter of the alphabet so 88 would mean HH or Heil Hitler. Saling also has two lighting bolts in the shape of an S which means Schutzstaffel, the German police (SS) during the Nazi reign. And to top it off, across his stomach reads “WHITE STEEL,” another likely racist inference.

Dakota Chochrane | Photo: Dakota Cochrane Fan Page (FB)

As a credit to the first, Dakota Cochrane has never tried to hide his past. That should be applauded and for the most part, whose business but his are his past choices anyways? He’s not breaking any rules set forth by governing bodies, has passed all pre-fight medicals, and has a record meriting his appearance on the show. (11-2, has beaten former WEC-champ Jamie Varner, and has finished most of his opponents).

In a time where politicians and celebrities run from their past as quickly as the wind can take them, Cochrane has been open and honest about his. Chandella Powell hid about her soft core porn career from the UFC and look where that led her to… When that surfaced, rumors immediately swirled about her potential firing. Not sure if she’s gone or not but the point is – these days everything you do or have done can now be found on the internet, good or bad. When you are honest about your past, you mitigate a lot of the damage.

On the other hand, Brandon Saling is a different story all together. There isn’t a clear answer of his current viewpoints or whether he is a racist. His past viewpoints seem clear as day based on the markings he’s chosen to display on his person but what does it all mean in regards to his fighting career? I hate to say it but maybe he too should be allowed to fight as long as he’s passed all the requirements of the commissions. He can think like an idiot all he wants but that should not hinder his career. As long as he does not bring it in the cage or get caught in illicit (illegal) behavior outside of it, then I guess with this being America and all, it should be fine. I mean Jacob Volkmann says things that could be taken just as bad. As far as the “WHITE STEEL” tat… eh that is not really a big deal; if Cain Velasquez can have “BROWN PRIDE” on his chest then this can be taken as equal in context.

But now, let’s talk about some of the potential backlash that can come from both of these situations. Both Cochrane and Saling might now have proverbial “targets on their back” as some see may hear about their pasts and feel very differently about it than we do; fueled by emotion and rage rather than simple logic as defined by the black and white rules that govern the sport.

Take for instance Saling’s background… it might not go to well with minority fighters or sponsors that put money into fighters or events. It also feeds in to the old school thinking that fighters are nothing but skinheads and/or violent people.

Brandon Saling | Photo: Ohio Sex Offender Registry

With Cochrane it is different; while he did nothing really wrong or illegal a lot of men see being gay as a sign of weakness; being less than of a man, so to speak. Then there is the argument of a man rolling around with a gay man; which really ticks me off it’s a dumb thing to say. Here is a fact about gay people in America; it is estimated that 1 in 10 people are gay so there is a possibility that they have already rolled with a gay person. And Cochrane has gone of record as saying he’s not even gay anyways, not that it would matter if he was. In any case, Cochrane still has to fight his way into the house and if his record has anything to say about it, he has a great shot of both performing well on the show while also changing America’s (and MMA’s) perceptions about what defines what a fighter is or isn’t capable of – regardless of his background.

Back to Saling… well the news doesn’t look good for him. After some digging by the media after the racist uproar due to tattoos, it was discovered that he is a convicted sex offender that’s been guilty of inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor. Now that’s a different story altogether and one that may keep him out of MMA in the long term.

Bottom line, there will always be controversies in sports, including MMA; It’s how the leagues handle them is what makes this all very interesting. I do like to watch the other sports crumble and get scared when one thing does not go there way, but I really love when MMA proves critics wrong when they tackle difficult issues head on.

This is truly a fighter’s profession at all levels.

You can follow Raul Rangel on twitter @rrangel81 and you can also listen to his weekly podcast Undefeated Radio on iTunes.

LIKE TXMMA on Facebook for more in-depth news and coverage of the MMA & grappling scene along with fan contests to win great prizes courtesy of TXMMA.com and much more. Also feel free to check us out on Twitter and Google+ for even more in the world combat sports!

Lorenzo Fertitta | photo: Michael Cohen - Getty Images

SAN ANTONIO, TX, January 17, 2012 – Another UFC event has come and gone, there were KO’s, submissions, and controversial endings; but this UFC had a more interesting story coming in to the event than any UFC in history. Sure there have been plenty of PPV’s that had interesting news on a particular fight happening, but it is rare that UFC had a major story happening behind the scenes. UFC 142 might go down as one of the best PPV’s of all time due to the surrounding stories, great fights, and an interesting atmosphere that is Rio de Janeiro.

The event was hit by a story on Thursday afternoon from ESPN called, “UFC fighters say low pay simply brutal” by John Barr and Josh Gross; and a report from the television show Outside the Lines. The story covers how fighters for the UFC are paid low wages, have no union representation, and how they have no marketing rights.

Right away I was very weary of this story; I know several fighters that are beginning fighters for the UFC, who could now afford to quit their day jobs and focus solely on training and fighting. According to the report some of the low card guys can make barely $6,000 a fight, $3,000 to show $3,000 to win, with an increase each time. Now the people I know have wives, kids, bills, etc… like we all do there is no way they could afford to live and focus making this kind of money per fight.

The story did mention that the figures they were using were from what is released by the state’s athletic commission; what they did fail to mention was the types of bonus’ the fighters were given that the UFC does not have to disclose, with the exception of Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night, and KO of the Night. Also, a fighter can charge whatever they want to a sponsor on their shorts, shirts, hats, and banners. What was also not mentioned was the pay boxers that are on the low card get, want to talk about a shame I have seen some events were a boxer was paid as little as $800 for a major show.

Gross and Barr talked about how in order for a sponsor to sponsor fighters they have pay Zuffa a certain amount. This is not an uncommon practice in sports as they try not to let any brands that sponsor an event interfere with brands that sponsor the sport. But, a fighter can still get a sponsorship from a brand; Tim Kennedy is sponsored by Ranger UP. George St. Pierre is the Canadian endorsement of Gatorade, and Urijah Faber is featured on K-Swiss commercials. All of those brands do not pay for the fighters to wear any gear, shirts, or hats at the events. Plus, this rule also keeps out the riff raff of advertisements, there is something not right about a fighter having a sponsor called “Condom Depot” across their ass.

The article went into how UFC fighters have no union or representation. Now, I am neither pro-union nor anti-union, I am for a fair deal. If some fighters’ that are now currently employed by Zuffa (Owner’s of the UFC and Strikeforce), who have a problem and think a union is a way to go then they need to stand up and say something. Fighters who have had a disagreement with the company have always let it be known of their grievances and still fought for the UFC, Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture.

In the article Josh Gross failed to state how advanced UFC has come above other sports leagues. They implemented their fighters insurance to take are of fighters and their families. How many strikes and lockouts have we seen in pro sports where athletes were trying to get a deal like the one the UFC fighters received?

I wonder how much money Gross and Barr think fighters should be getting? Sure I would like to see all these guys become instant millionaires, but that kind of revenue is impossible. We sometimes forget that this sport is still at its early stages of development, I’d say we are at the toddler learning how to walk stage.

One day the sport of UFC brand may be amongst the top leagues, but we are not there yet. The difference between this sport and all the others is that in NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB is that they have seasons; there is no season in the UFC you either fight or you don’t.

Full Unedited Interview with Lorenzo Fertitta for ESPN ‘Outside the Lines’ Report

You can follow Raul Rangel on twitter @rrangel81 and you can also listen to his weekly podcast Undefeated Radio on iTunes.

LIKE TXMMA on Facebook for more in-depth news and coverage of the MMA & grappling scene along with fan contests to win great prizes courtesy of TXMMA.com and much more. Also feel free to check us out on Twitter and Google+ for even more in the world combat sports!