The farther removed we get from Alistair Overeem’s failed drug test, the more bizarre this UFC 146 situation seems to become. You see, at first it was easy. Back when Frank Mir was the inevitable replacement, this looked like a one-step process. But then Dana White put the kibosh on that, and now we’re left to thumb through a top-15 list of heavyweight contenders, meticulously weighing the pros and cons of each man, and somehow the idea of gifting Mark Hunt a title shot is starting to look plausible.
Regardless of how you feel about the affable Samoan, right now two things are clear. 1.) The #RallyForMarkHunt isn’t going away, and 2.) no matter whether you agree or disagree with the movement, it’s only going to get bigger.
Even if the book has yet to be closed on Overeem, if I was a betting man, I’d lay a hefty sum down that he won’t be in Las Vegas on May 26, 2012. And even though the UFC is known for catering to the match-making whims of fans, this one would be the most far-fetched example, by far.
But seriously guys, what if Mark Hunt winds up fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship?
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Weekend MMA results. Catch up on the latest MMA weekend with fight results for TUF Live, TUF Brazil, Bellator 64 and Super Fight League 2, plus video of Todd Duffee vs. Neil Grove and Bellator 64’s main card.
Alistair Overeem receives hearing date, applies for Nevada license. No decision regarding the status of UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem will be made until an April 24th hearing with the NSAC. In the interim, Overeem reportedly filed for his license to fight in Nevada at UFC 146, which is scheduled for May 26, 2012.
Joe Rogan supports rally for Mark Hunt. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan hitched his ride to the Mark Hunt bandwagon, stating that the popular former K-1 champ presents “the most exciting match-up” against Junior dos Santos in a post on the Underground.
Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez ‘will happen,’ says Dana White. According to an early Saturday morning tweet from UFC President Dana White, UFC 146’s co-main event between Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez “will happen.”
Fedor Emelianenko returns in June. Former PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko is set to return to the ring against an undetermined opponent on June 21 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, according to M-1 officials.
MEDIA STEW
When you’re the youngest world champion in UFC history, what better way to celebrate Easter weekend than by busting out the NERF guns with your NFL brother?
Not too long ago we brought you the Anderson Silva-esque debut of British fighter Michael Page. Naturally, after seeing something that ridiculous, it’s hard for us to resist checking out his follow-up effort from Saturday’s UCMMA 27 show. (Quality isn’t the greatest, but watching the screen in the background helps. Fight starts at 6:40 mark.)
This may simultaneously be the most adorable and most impressive thing we’ve ever seen. Ten bucks says this girl could run knowledge circles around half the people watching pay-per-views at Hooters. (HT: Middle Easy)
If you missed the early stages of Bellator 64, definitely do yourself a favor and check out one of the most underrated bits of violence from this past weekend.
IF YOU SAY SO
The rape video was funny,but I did it because I hope that happens 2 any low life that has 2 rape a woman,I’ll get on car jackers next
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) April 7, 2012
BE AFRAID
hahahha man the crazied HUNT ARMY OF DOOM grows
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) April 6, 2012
AND WE SHALL NAME HIM LUKE
Just became a dad to a healthy baby boy! #fb twitter.com/ryanbader/stat…
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) April 7, 2012
THE MAN
For sure..RT @Jitterbug2Djent: @danhendo Would you take the JDS fight if offered?
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) April 6, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, April 6, 2012 – Sunday, April 8, 2012):
– UFC 149: Mitch Clarke (9-1) vs. Anton Kuivanen (16-5)
– The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale: Jonathan Brookins (13-4) vs. Charles Oliveira (15-2)
– The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale: Max Holloway (4-1) vs. Pat Schilling (5-1)
– The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale: John Albert (7-2) vs. Byron Bloodworth (6-2)
– UFC on FX 3: Sean Pierson (11-6) vs. Jake Hecht (11-6)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day is a fascinating international piece from MMAMania’s James Goyder: Super Fight League: How Did the Indian Promotion Manage to Lose 300,000 Viewers?
The most worrying statistic was in the bottom right hand corner of the screen where the viewer count told a story which casts doubt on not just the future of the SFL, but the state of the entire sport of MMA in India. Over 300,000 people watched the first show, an extraordinary figure and, given that this is roughly double what the UFC gets for its free undercards, it is safe to assume that the vast majority of these viewers were in India.
SFL 2 got just 3,000 viewers on YouTube, which represents an almost unbelievable 99% decrease from the first show, and neither event was shown live on TV in India so it’s not possible that figures could have been affected by a simultaneous broadcast elsewhere.
It is a staggering statistic and one which I really struggled to understand, particularly given that the second card was to my mind much stronger. I enlisted the help of Andrew Lu, a magazine editor and long term MMA fan from Delhi, to try and help me get to the bottom of it.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in Monday’s post.