brashleyholland

That would be both very possible and very hilarious. Fedor isn't, his management are the hold up. Even with Fedor as 'damaged goods' after his loss, they are squeezing everyone involved for every last penny and every last ounce of leverage; they always have (even before they were managing Fedor) and they always will. That's just the kind of people they are. There is a very complicated and shady dance going on at the moment between Fedor's management (M-1 Global), Showtime and Strikeforce. Nothing is 'on record' at the moment, but it's all very sly and very shady and it'll more than likely come out some way into the year.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Shape" data-cite="The Shape" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Thing is thinking about it's less of an actual tournament and more just a way to structure what they'd be doing anyway. Werdum getting the title shot, Fedor presumably next, then whoever is after that will have earnt it with a couple of fights won. So the tournament in and of itself seems kind of irrelevant, but its a means to an end I guess.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Exactly. So given that, and as a promoter who is already seen as 'second rate' by the vast, vast majority of the MMA fanbase, why set yourself up for a fall by calling it a tournament? </p><p> </p><p> If Strikeforce had announced Fedor vs Silva with Arlovski vs Kharitonov on the undercard for February, then followed it up by announcing a Reem/Werdum title bout with Barnett vs Rogers underneath in March, people would have probably been falling all over themselves to praise Coker and Co. Then they could pick the most desirable match-ups from the four winners with no time scale pressure, ditto for the 'final'.</p>

Looks that way unfortunately. Even though Sonnen will be essentially walking out of the courtroom scott-free, he'll still be a convicted felon - not exactly the image the UFC wants for the high-end of it's roster, even if it is a white-collar crime. To me, it looks like the UFC's way of saying "go and get your s**t together, then give us a call", rather than cutting him or giving him a fight; both of which would be bad moves for various reasons.

I think the bracket says a lot here, and Strikeforce would have done much better to have had an 'open bracket', at least until the semi's were set. The main thing the bracket says to me is that they had no hope whatsoever of getting a Fedor/Overeem final with the men on opposite ends of the bracket. IMO they would have done themselves a service by leaving the high-risk guys like Fedor, Barnett and Overeem out of the tourney, replacing them with young guns like Lavar Johnson, Daniel Cormier and Shane Del Rosario. If they were really so hell-bent on getting a Reem/Fedor fight done, work to get it done in the summer with the winner facing the GP winner in early 2012. Why anyone would put any eggs in the Josh Barnett for a tournament in the US, I'll never know.

<p>Sooooo.....</p><p> </p><p> Fedor vs Silva and Kharitonov vs Arlovski on Feb 12th. </p><p> </p><p> Then Alistair Overeem vs Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs Brett Rogers sometime in March. </p><p> </p><p> Wow, where to begin. Firstly, if all the fights in this tourney go off as planned, I'll eat my hat. And all of your hats. </p><p> </p><p> Secondly, one would assume that they have assurances on Barnett's ability to compete (wherever they're planning on having him fight) while he still lacks a licence in Cali. However with this being Strikeforce, I wouldn't bet on it. Do they have assurances from Overeem that he won't run off to K-1 midway through the year? What if he takes a kickboxing fight and gets hurt? What will they do when Fedor's crew decide they want to renegotiate again halfway through the year? </p><p> </p><p> I hate to be a sceptic, but Coker and Co have given me far to many reasons to be that way over the past few years.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Shape" data-cite="The Shape" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>So has Jones been in a similar situation before? I thought he was squeeky clean, lol.<p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Lol, nothing like the same situation, he's just a snitch <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> It stemmed from an interview he did with Sherdog a while back...</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><em>"I've always been a person who tries to do the right thing in life, for the most part. I'm no angel, but I was always the kid who snitched on the kids who had pot. I don't want to offend the pot smokers out there, but I was kind of just a snitch. I was just down for people doing the right thing. My parents kind of raised me to be a good guy. I've always been down for the good side, I guess."</em></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> ...needless to say, the pot-addled online MMA community weren't best pleased <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>He's not going to get 20 years... the legal system is notoriously jless stringent when it comes to handing these sentences.<strong> At most, he's probably getting 5 years if does this stupid.</strong></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Again, he's not getting jail time. </p><p> </p><p> 2 years probation, $10,000 fine and giving up his realtor licence. That's the Government's own recommendation after he agreed to snitch, sorry, co-operate as a witness against other parties involved.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="RingofHonorGuard" data-cite="RingofHonorGuard" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Chael Sonnen's apparently in a heap of trouble now... and it's not just steroids that are biting him his time. He's apparently facing up to 20 years in prison for money laundering unless he cooperates with authorities and gives up some helpful information on the others involved.<p> </p><p> Tough year for the ® so far... and it just started. <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It seems like hardly anywhere picked it up yesterday, but almost as soon as this story broke, Yahoo Sports squashed the whole "20 years in prison" thing. More places have it up today, but it's still lost in all the "OMG HE'S GOING TO JAIL 4EVA!!!!" </p><p> </p><p> Looks like he's pulled a Jon Jones and snitched...2 years probation and a slap on the wrist to the tune of $10,000. Sorted. </p><p> </p><p> Also looks like he'll be facing Akiyama at UFC 128, which all but seals the deal on me hopping the pond for that card.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>UPDATE: Nope, Meltzer WASN"T lying, apparently. It's on MMAJunkie too, now. <a href="http://mmajunkie.com/news/21939/ufc-boss-has-change-of-heart-frankie-edgar-vs-gray-maynard-iii-up-next.mma" rel="external nofollow">http://mmajunkie.com/news/21939/ufc-boss-has-change-of-heart-frankie-edgar-vs-gray-maynard-iii-up-next.mma</a></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He was...well, he probably wasn't *lying*, but he was pulling it out of his ass at the time. According to that report, after they announced the Pettis fight people got in Dana's ear and they made the call to *change* the planned main event. </p><p> </p><p> What happens is this - as the fights go on, the press dept communicate with Dana, Joe and Lorenzo via their phones about press conference stuff and any fight announcements. Obviously, they plan fights for a year or so ahead and have many plans based on different outcomes of the fights. (They have virtual whiteboards with 'trees' plotting 4-5 fights ahead). They can then make statements about subsequent fights/challengers at the pressers. The plan for this fight was the winner vs Pettis. As the evening progresses, they communicate everything that will be said at the presser, then run through the company line at a mini-meeting beforehand. </p><p> </p><p> Melzter, posting that as early as he did, got his sh-one-t from a misplaced source or took a lucky guess. Whatever is said at the presser is the final company line, discussed and confirmed. If something happens after the presser - it's just a lucky guess. </p><p> </p><p> I could tell some great stories about the (totally not employed to 'leak' stories to the press!!!1!') sources in the UFC.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I do think Maynard deserves a rematch, and an immediate one at that, but it is what is. However, I know that's not going to happen. I do think he deserves the winner of Edgar/Pettis. That's the least they can do for him. I'm just glad that Dana didn't PUBLICLY attempt to announce what happens after winner of Edgar vs. Maynard/Pettis, because Edgar/Maynard just threw another wrinkle in there. They are doing the Edgar/Pettis now, but Maynard has proven he deserves a second chance.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Wonder if they'll do Maynard vs Hendo? From what I hear they are dying for a well-spoken, non-****y, good English-speaking black champ ASAP...Hendo fits the bill...not that I think he beats Maynard. I guess they'll wait for Jon Jones.</p>

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Daffanka" data-cite="Daffanka" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I didn't think it was enough for a 10-7 round (it has to be something like Vovchanchyn - Inoue) but I wouldn't begrudge people if they think it was - Maynard landed so much, so hard.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> That was a siiiiiiick fight (Vov vs Enson). I've met Vovchanchyn a couple of times (been invited to his restaurant in Ukraine but yet to go) and I talk to Enson almost weekly - he's one of the few human beings that fully terrifies me. I've seen a picture of a man's hand who he had just burned his family tattoo off the palm of using a lighter. He then uploaded it to his facebook. </p><p> </p><p> As a 'Where are they now?', he's currently running the security at Yakuza parties, functions and fights attended by notable Yakuza. Keep in mind that he isn't pure-blood Japanese - that should tell you how tough/respected Enson is in Japan. Yakuza hire him to watch their back, because they know other Yakuza are scared of him. Insane. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Also Meltzer's site is reporting that Edgar will, indeed, be rematching Maynard. Probably at the Toronto show. That's shaping up to be a real nice card.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I hate Meltzer. He has good contacts inside the PPV companies (and thus in that side of the UFC) but he does not know the fight game. He's a bandwagoner, pure and simple. There's no way they do an immediate rematch of that fight - regardless of the outcome, they principles just aren't big enough and Pettis is coming off one of the most played highlight reels in mainstream MMA coverage history. What do Edgar and Maynard have to top that? </p><p> </p><p> While I've been typing this Dana has confirmed no rematch - so Meltzer was simply throwing some poop and hoping it stuck - I know how the post fights work and there is no way he got a confirmation with White or Silva before the presser. Sorry Dave, MMA isn't wrestling, as much as you'd like it to be.</p>

While the topic is hot - 10-7 should be almost impossible in MMA, where knockdown's aren't scored directly, IMO. When you consider that in order to get a 10-8, a fighter has to 'dominate' (the official wording), 10-7 should be nothing less than a near-death experience, or incompetent refereeing.

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="jbergey_2005" data-cite="jbergey_2005" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Maynard was robbed.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This is one of my pet hates with MMA fans. </p><p> </p><p> Nobody was robbed in that fight, nor would anybody have been robbed had the decision gone to Edgar or Maynard. It was a CLOSE FIGHT. They happen. </p><p> </p><p> A robbery is when someone clearly, absolutely and unequivocally runs a fight and doesn't get the decision. That did not happen tonight. </p><p> </p><p> Just because the guy you thought won lost, doesn't make it a robbery. </p><p> </p><p> For the record, I had it...</p><p> </p><p> Maynard-Edgar</p><p> </p><p> 10-8</p><p> 9-10</p><p> 9-10</p><p> 9-10</p><p> 9-10</p><p> </p><p> ...although I'll admit I wasn't in a silent room scoring it with a pencil and pad, that's what I gave it. No problem with the draw, or if they gave Edgar the 3rd and 5th.</p>

Lol, never mind, Sapp has 'done a Sapp' and tried to renegotiate his contract on fight day. FEG have apparently told him where to shove it. Good times.

You might not get to see it. It's not being aired on TBS in Japan at least, anyway. I'm guessing the bout will take place during the 'intermission' part of the Japanese broadcast, so I suppose it could make the live HDNet broadcast depending on whether or not it's them or TBS that control the feed. I can't understand why anyone would want to watch this to be honest, it's going to be a total mess/joke/train wreck. If I wanted to watch two fat guys slap each other for 15 mins I'd renew my membership to the local fetish club.

Completely agree. I was early on the bandwagon of MMA writers who were waiting for Brock to quit while the going was good, or as soon as he didn't get his own way. The fact is, he is a proven quitter - for whatever reason. He could have been an Olympian (he was practically guaranteed a spot on the US squad, as I understand it) but instead he bailed to make a quick buck in the WWF. When he realised the 'buck' in pro-wrestling is anything but quick (and especially not painless) he wanted out. Then he tried football, sorry, Gridiron ( ) and hopped off that train as soon as he didn't get picked for the starting squad of an NFL team at the first time of asking, despite having no football background to speak of. Then he goes to Japan, decides he doesn't like that. Fair enough. Finally he gets...favourably matched up en route to a UFC title (and I don't mean to diminish what he achieved - nobody has faced the same level of competition in their first 7 fights) and all of a sudden things go wrong again. Cain Velasquez teaches him the difference between someone who can fight good, and a good fighter. All of a sudden, whoops, he's thinking of calling it a day in favour of a bigger payday for less work. Now by all accounts this rumour is either A) hot air or B) a ploy to wrangle more money out of his promoter. I tend to fall on this side of the fence rather than him genuinely wanting out. But will he stick around after the second loss? The third? I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm probably gonna catch a little flack for this one but...(and this is coming from a committed member of the Shamrock Brothers Fan Club)...I don't think Ken could have beaten Rizzo on his best day Also, anyone who hasn't should read this from MMA Weekly on the Nemesis MMA debacle from the weekend. http://mmaweekly.com/the-road-to-nowhere-fighters-detail-disastrous-nemesis-fighting-show-in-the-dominican-republic? A horrible story that only serves to highlight A)The fact that MMA is a dirty business, B) That Athletic Commissions, for all their faults, are essential and C)The naivety/desperation that is forced on fighters when a decent paycheque is on the table.

Lol, that's a fair point. I think Ken's happy fighting in fairgrounds and nightclubs outside of AC control these days so he can take his vitamins and say his prayers to his heart's content :-p There were a few things with Brazil...the economy, the safety factor etc...it seems to be losing it's bad rep and with the 2014 World Cup preparations under way, the various governments are becoming more hospitable to ventures like the UFC coming to town. I'm with you though, it's weird that one of the spiritual homes of MMA has gone so long without a UFC. Here's to many more!

I don't think Ken will ever work for the UFC again in any aspect, considering how they parted company last time The Sakuraba situation is not so black and white though. Firstly, there's a very real possibility that Dream wont exist next summer. Secondly, even if they do, they certainly don't have the kind of clout to stop someone like Sakuraba taking a one-off fight in the UFC. Meh, it's only my stupid pipe dream though. Sakuraba has about as much chance of passing a UFC medical as I do of beating Butterbean in a hotdog eating contest.

The tweet happened literally minutes after Daley KO'd Smith a couple of weeks back. My guess was that this was nothing more than wild speculation. God knows I've heard enough of it; with everyone and his wife hovering around town on a fight week, lots of stuff gets said. Just looking at it logically, I can't think of a single benefit from SF's point of view with regards to running a show in the UK. Daley isn't a proven draw at the gate. Would Strikeforce be able to convince Showtime to foot the bill for a tape delayed show? Who knows though, they've done stupider stuff! :-p

<p>So Royce Gracie is thinking about fighting on UFC Rio next summer. </p><p> </p><p> So who does he fight? </p><p> </p><p> Personally, I have no interest in seeing Gracie fight anyone who isn't a similar age/in a similar position career-wise. Trouble is, I can't think who that would be these days. </p><p> </p><p> Here's a pipe dream - Gracie vs Sakuraba 3? One in Japan, one on neutral ground, one in Brazil - seems fair <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

They won't be doing another casting call before filming - and if they do, then all credit to them! :-p I really, really don't want to see Faber/Torres coaching middleweights/welterweights. Nothing to do with the aesthetics, just for the fact that they would be missing an opportunity to really showcase 135/145 talent. Plus, with the peanuts that most 135/145 guys make elsewhere, they could seriously stack a TUF season and use it as a showcase tournament rather than the usual reality show garbage. The issue with Sonnen just not being in the corner is that they'd have to explain that on the show. It's a lot more complicated than people often realise - for example, Sonnen wouldn't be allowed in the vicinity of a fighter who is having their hands wrapped. It's a lot of little things, but remember that Sonnen wasn't absolved of anything when he had his suspension cut. He's a drugs cheat, for all intents and purposes, and the UFC wants to explain that on camera about as much as Sonnen want's to talk about it. Plus you know that either Wand or Bisping would rub it in his face 24/7 during filming :-p Which is ironic, considering

It's nothing to do with him being licensed to coach or be on the show - there is no such licence. The problem that arose was that he wouldn't be able to stand in the corner of any of his fighters without what's called a 'Second's Licence'. Explaining that away would be a PR nightmare, and not something Spike or the UFC wanted to spend time addressing, apparently. Sonnen and Wand was the preferred option though, I know that for a fact. Bisping vs Sonnen was a close second as well.

Stevenson is a guy who beefed his record up in the early days of modern MMA - there were enough guys around for a decent fighter to beat, but not so many decent fighters to beat them. I've never really rated the guy that much to be honest - and he's constantly proved me right. Here's a guy who lost his first fight after winning TUF, back in the days where TUF winners were being wrapped in cotton wool and fed guys like Elvis Sinosic and, well, Josh Neer. He's a talented grappler who just cant put it together against top guys, and I don't think he'll ever be anything more than that. But that's ok, not everyone can be.

Ultimate Brazil 2 is going down next summer in Rio. Time for me to invest in some sun cream and an obnoxious flowery shirt. The card is supposedly going to be stacked with Brazilians...My money is on the winner of Silva/Belfort vs Okami, plus Wand, Big Nog, Little Nog and Aldo. Possibly even Shogun if he's fit - but I'd assume that he'd be needed for a big Vegas date against Rampage. They'll do a great gate with a bunch of names that aren't exactly relevant, plus you get a middleweight and featherweight title match for PPV. Everyone is a winner.