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Josh Koscheck Ready to Prove He’s Still a Top Welterweight at UFC 157

Hard work and determination made Josh Koscheck one of the elite 170-pound fighters on the planet, and he has every intention of reclaiming that status Saturday, Feb. 23 at UFC 157.When “Kos” steps back into the Octagon to face Robbie Lawler in Anaheim …

Hard work and determination made Josh Koscheck one of the elite 170-pound fighters on the planet, and he has every intention of reclaiming that status Saturday, Feb. 23 at UFC 157.

When “Kos” steps back into the Octagon to face Robbie Lawler in Anaheim Calif., it will be the beginning of a new chapter for the former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler—one he is very much looking forward to getting underway.

After a hectic 2012 that saw the former No. 1 contender drop a razor-thin decision to Johny Hendricks and suffer a back injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the year, the 35-year-old is ready to return to his winning ways. In the process of doing so, Koscheck also intends to send a reminder to the MMA world that he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.

“I have to come out and prove I’m still here and I’m still a fighter,” Koscheck told Bleacher Report. “I definitely have to come out and make a statement against Robbie Lawler, that’s for sure. That’s what I plan on doing. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a fight where I can look back and say I had a real fight and that I came out and performed at my best. I need to step up and do that.”

“It seems like I’ve always done well under the pressure of coming off a loss and after my last fight with Hendricks, I have a lot to prove. I feel like, and a lot of people still feel like Hendricks didn’t beat me, but there were three judges who felt he did. That’s just the way it works. I have a lot to prove and I have to come out and perform.”

Another big factor in the changes Koscheck made in 2012 was his relocation from his longtime home at AKA in San Jose to starting up his new gym, the Dethrone Base Camp in Fresno.

The process of transferring training facilities came with an adjustment period, but now, the season one TUF alum believes he has everything in place to make the next great run of his career.

“I feel good and I’ve put together a nice little training camp,” Koscheck said. “I actually had some time to focus on getting some good guys in to train with me. Before my last fight we kind of just put together something really quick and did some training. But for this fight I’ve had plenty of time to get training partners, coaches, get a schedule going and to put good people around me to better myself. I have a good structure and atmosphere to do all my training. It’s been good.”

While Koscheck is looking to get back to handling business inside the Octagon, Lawler is making a return of his own. It has been over eight years since the veteran slugger competed on the sport’s biggest stage, and where Lawler was once one of the UFC’s top welterweight fighters, his career outside the Octagon has experienced varying degrees of success.

Coming into the bout with Koscheck, the former Elite XC champion has hit a rough patch, dropping three of his last four outings. That being said, Koscheck realizes his opponent has a lot on the line and a proven track record of put-away power.

“I think it’s a good fight for him,” Koscheck said. “[Lawler] gets to come in and fight against a guy who has been in the UFC his entire career. He has something to prove and is trying to get his career back on track. He comes in with a lot of power and a lot of knockouts.

“I can tell you this: Hopefully Robbie Lawler worked on his cardio and hes’ ready to go because I’m going to push the pace and be in his face for 15 minutes if I have to. My plan is to break him and I’m coming ready for 15 minutes.”

After nearly a decade in the sport and 21 fights inside the Octagon, Koscheck has learned how to take the rigors of being a dedicated mixed martial artist in stride. Where other fighters have fallen victim to the trappings of success or become overwhelmed by physical demand of the fight business, Koscheck has remained above the fray.

The Pennsylvania native attributes his ability to stay on the grind to his blue-collar roots and recognizing the need to separate fighting and life outside the cage.

“I’m sure it is for some guys,” Koscheck responded when asked about the difficulties balancing life and career in the fight business. “It’s definitely hard because you put so much into this game, or at least I do…I know that. I put so much into it and it can take over your life. It can over things in your life outside fighting.

“I’ve been doing it for a long enough time where I can step away from it for a couple of weeks to do some vacationing. It is still on my mind and I’m still thinking about it, but I can separate it enough where I can relax and have a life outside of the cage.”

“I love to fly and have a couple of hobbies like that. Getting up there and flying is definitely a big part of getting away and it is one of the things that’s important for a guy who trains as hard as I do to have something like that. My days off are training sessions for my mind. I’m trying let my body and mind recover and step away from the every day monotony of training. Flying is definitely one of those things.”

Coming into UFC 157, Koscheck finds himself at an interesting point in his career. The former No. 1 contender to the welterweight crown has plenty of success behind him and the potential for great things on the horizon, but with the 170-pound weight class becoming increasingly competitive, now is the time for the four-time All-American to re-introduce himself to the heated divisional picture.

That being said, whatever steps Koscheck takes in the future will be approached with the same mentality he’s always carried.

Koscheck believes hard work will get the job done and isn’t concerned with how much you like or dislike him. It is all fine by Koscheck because love him or hate him, the only thing that changes for the perennial contender is the opponent standing across the cage.

Ultimately, it falls on his shoulders to accomplish the task at hand. Whether people get behind him or rally for the opposition simply doesn’t matter.

“I’ve always been the type where either you like me or you don’t,” Koscheck said. “That is the attitude I’ve always had and I’m not going to change just because people don’t like me or change if they do. I am who I am and I’ve done what I’ve done in the sport because of the person I am and the work ethic I’ve put into it. I’m not going to change for anybody. I’m going to continue being me and you either like it or you don’t. That’s how it is; plain and simple.”

Duane Finley is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Old School Throw Down: Swanson vs. Poirier Edition

I started this series at the beginning of the year based on the idea of taking things back to a place where most people readily identify learning about fighting or how to throw hands themselves: high school.Granted, there are some who are from tougher …

Granted, there are some who are from tougher parts of the world that were introduced to the ruckus at a much earlier age, but in a broad stroke effort to include everyone, I went with high school as a common ground.

When we watch fights—including high-caliber athletes doing their job inside of a cage—it draws a connection to what we know in our individual lives. Debates over who beats whom and which fighter would come out on top are hypothetical questions we’ve dealt with since our educational days. Maybe it’s an Alpha-male thing. Maybe it’s not.

The first segment revolved around two people who genuinely seemed to dislike each other, and the tension built until finally they settled their differences with fisticuffs. In the case of Anthony Pettis versus Donald Cerrone, it was a brutal liver kick which sealed the deal in Chicago at UFC on Fox 6, and the chatter as to who was the badder man was ultimately determined, with Pettis coming away the decisive winner.

This installment deals with a different type of scrap.

To my knowledge there is no personal contempt building between Cub Swanson and Dustin Poirier. Other than the fact they are going to throw down this weekend in London, both appear to have a healthy respect for one another, at least in the realm of public media.

That being said, the idea of two of the UFC’s top featherweights getting down to business draws back to a different time. One where you sat around with your friends and wondered what would happen if the toughest guy from your school locked up with the kid from across town who has built a reputation for settling fools.

Again, maybe I’m alone in these thoughts, but I don’t think that is the case. I believe what attracts us to great fights is watching two participants with reputation and potential, figuring out who is the better man in a flurry of punches, elbows, and knees. Both Swanson and Poirier have a proven track record of getting right to it when the cage door closes and their dust-up this weekend in London has the potential to be one of the year’s best.

Swanson Transforms into Killer Cub

Being the longest tenured featherweight on the WEC/UFC roster has allowed us to watch the evolution of Cub Swanson. It is a journey that has come with highs and lows, as the Palm Springs native has battled to deliver on the potential and expectation set before him.

Over the past five years, the 29-year-old has struggled to gain steady traction in the featherweight ranks but his run in 2012 changed that picture dynamically. With knockout victories over George Roop, Ross Pearson, and Charles Oliveira, the Jackson’s/Winkeljohn’s-trained fighter made a serious statement to the rest of the featherweight division.

It is cliche to say things are finally firing on all cylinders for Swanson but that doesn’t make it any less true. The proud Southern Californian is operating at a new level of confidence inside the Octagon and this makes him extremely dangerous to the opposition. Swanson has always possessed power and accuracy in his stand up game, but with an elevated confidence and a love for the scrap, he is opening up his skill set and showcasing his talent on a different level.

For a kid who constantly found himself in trouble as a youth, fighting is second nature to Swanson. In a past interview with Bleacher Report, Swanson described the difficulties of coming from home schooling and trying to fit into the hectic realm of the public system. The result was a kid who was determined to prove he was tougher than the meanest kid in your crew. While hardships are a difficult thing to celebrate, the process has made Swanson a fighter through and through.

From the Bayou to the Big Stage, Poirier Ready to Shine

Dustin Poirier knows what it is like to carry the weight of potential into the cage. Since his days on the regional MMA scene in Louisiana (captured on the Fightville documentary) to his battles on the sport’s biggest stage, “The Diamond” has shown the type of heart and skill that has him on the cusp of being one of the next big things in MMA.

There have been setbacks along the way, but every time Poirier is forced back, he pushes forward with tremendous determination. The 24-year-old lost to Danny Castillo in his WEC debut back in 2010 then went on to claim victory in his next five outings, two of which came under the UFC banner.

Poirier‘s success put him on the doorstep of a potential title shot but after suffering a submission defeat to Chan Sung Jung at UFC on Fuel TV 3, the possibility of being shuffled back into the deck came front and center.

Determined not to let that happen, Poirier bounced back and earned an impressive first-round submission victory over former TUF winner Jonathan Brookins in December. The victory re-energized Poirier‘s run, and when Dennis Siver pulled out of his scheduled bout with Swanson due to injury, the American Top Team fighter saw the perfect opportunity and stepped up.

While Swanson may be heralded for his knockout power, Poirier has a diverse skill set of his own. The Louisiana-native has displayed a slick submission game in past outings and blended with his striking skills, is one of the most well-rounded fighters currently competing at 145 pounds.

There is also no lack of heart where Poirier is concerned. He possesses a natural toughness that is difficult to find in most competitors and that very attribute will certainly be tested against Swanson.

Title Shot: Someone Has to Go

The idea of watching Swanson and Poirier battle it out in London is exciting enough by itself, but when you include the heated race to stay in title contention in the 145-pound ranks, the matchup becomes much more intense.

With Anthony Pettis dropping down to face Jose Aldo in August, the avenues leading to a title shot are narrowing. Contenders Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas are both slated to return to action in the coming months, which makes this bout all the more important. The winner will stay in the conversation of title contention and the loser will find himself on the outside looking in for the time being.

The stakes are high going into Saturday’s showdown at Wembley Arena. When you have two fighters with tremendous killer instincts and a hunger for UFC gold locking up, the result should be nothing short of explosive.

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Eddie Wineland Focused on Climb to Top of UFC Bantamweight Division in 2013

The UFC bantamweight division is going through an awkward phase these days. With champion Dominick Cruz’s injury keeping him on the sidelines until late 2013, the title will remain in the interim stage for the time being.Currently holding that belt is …

Currently holding that belt is Brazilian wrecking machine Renan Barao, who will square off with talented young star Michael McDonald this weekend at UFC on Fuel TV 7.

One fighter who will be watching how everything plays out is Eddie Wineland.

The former WEC bantamweight champion is experiencing a career resurgence and is riding the momentum of back-to-back impressive performances.

The Chesterton, Ind. native scored a knockout victory over the always gritty Scott Jorgensen at UFC on FX 3, then furthered his case for contention by lighting up Brad Pickett at UFC 155. In both showings Wineland‘s striking made the difference as he turned away two of the division’s best in stunning fashion.

The question now becomes what’s next for Wineland?

With Barao and McDonald set to do battle this weekend in London and perennial contender Urijah Faber back in action at UFC 157, Wineland‘s next opponent will most likely appear in the aftermath of the high-profile bantamweight matchups.

Nevertheless, Wineland believes he belongs in the title conversation, but whether or not the opportunity will come in the near future is not his decision to make.

“I think I’m in the Top 5 for sure,” Wineland told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “I even think I stand in the top three in the division. But I have to fight one of those guys in the top three to get there first. With where I’m at now, my mindset, and my body the way it is, I think I’m doing nothing but getting stronger and better. I think that is dangerous for anybody in my division.

“Ultimately it’s up to the UFC as to what I’m going to do next. I want to fight a top three guy, but at the same time I want to stay busy. I don’t think they are going to swing a turnaround time with any one of those three guys that fast. But then again—you never know. [Jose[ Aldo is fighting again pretty quick here so they may swing it around but you don’t know. Ultimately I just want to fight. I’m happy when I’m fighting and it’s what I love to do. Just keep me busy and you are going to see me happy.

“I figured with a win like Pickett it would get me a shot at one of the top three guys or even the next in line. I don’t think it is going to play out that way but I could always be wrong.”

Not only were his victories of Jorgensen and Pickett solid showings, they also allowed Wineland to bounce back after a rough start under the UFC banner.

In his Octagon debut, Wineland lost a unanimous decision to Faber and suffered the same fate in his next bout against Joseph Benavidez. Following his loss to Benavidez in Milwaukee, Wineland realized he needed to rediscover his aggression and reconnected with the way he used to handle business inside the cage.

The 28-year-old has always possessed put away power, but his recent displays prove the adjustments made are paying off.

“I went back to my old mentality of not letting anyone beat me anywhere,” Wineland said. “The mindset that I’m going to win every battle and I’m going to come out on top every time. That, coupled with strength and conditioning, has made a difference.

“My hips are about four-times as strong as they were a few years ago because of the program that we use. Anybody who is a boxer or fighter knows power comes from the hips. It doesn’t come from the arms. It doesn’t matter how big your arms are chest are—those things don’t mean you can punch harder. It’s all in your hips and mine have always been strong. I have wrestler hips. They’ve continuously gotten stronger and that has made my punching power become stronger as well.

“I think those two fights [Faber & Benavidez] are fights I should have won,” Wineland added. “But being that I lost them, I don’t see that as a bad thing. It opened my eyes that I needed to put my nose to the grindstone, grind it out, and make it an ugly fight. I needed to be in my opponent’s face like I used to be and obviously it worked because I just took two Top 10 guys and knocked one of them out and beat the other decisively.”

As the lighter weight classes in the UFC continue to develop, the more likely it becomes that more fighters will drop down to test their skills. The trend is has become a popular move in the featherweight division, as former champions and contenders have decided to enter the lighter waters.

The most high-profile of the bunch has been former 155-pound champion Frankie Edgar, who recently lost his bid at a featherweight title to Jose Aldo at UFC 156. During the pre-fight buildup to his showdown with Aldo, “The Answer’s” camp made a point to mention Edgar may also drop down to the bantamweight division in the future.

Wineland welcomes any fighter who decides to come down in weight. That being said, he also believes there are a few things people fail to realize about the process.

“I’ll fight anybody,” Wineland said. “A name is a name and it is what it is. If they want to come down and fight in our division I’m not going to get super-excited because a guy has a big name. At the same time, a big name does put my face out there, get me some exposure, and media time. That being said, a lot of guys don’t realize how different it is.

“Right now I’m 156 pounds. I could potentially be a 145-pounder but I cut down to 135. I think a lot of people take that for granted and don’t realize how big I really am. When I’m in camp I’m 152-pounds and I think I’m one of, if not the biggest, 135-pounders out there.

“If on fight night I’m 151 pounds and the guy I’m fighting only weighs 145-pounds, people think five pounds isn’t much of a difference but it is. At 205-pounds, five pounds doesn’t matter all that much. It is like saying a guy fighting at 205-pounds is fighting a guy that weights 230. In my weight class, five pounds makes a difference and it weighs on you. For the lighter guy trying to support the weight of the bigger guy makes it tough.”

While the tide is high for Wineland at the moment, just how long his career will last is something of an uncertainty. 10 years of trading leather in the cage and long training camps in the gym have left their marks on his body.

Nevertheless, Wineland feels he is still improving with each and every step, and wants to make the most of every opportunity that arises before the doors close for good on his career.

“I absolutely think the best is yet to come,” Wineland said. “I’m only getting better and stronger as I go. That being said, I don’t know how many more years I have left. My body does hurt and I’ve been doing this for 10 years now. I’m 28 years old now and I started fighting at age 18. I kind of started fighting back in the wild west days of MMA.

“In some of my first fights it was legal to knee and kick to the head of a grounded opponent. It was kind of a free-for-all. I plan to fight as long as my body will allow me to and I hope that I can get another 10 years. That would be awesome but that is not very realistic. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

“My goal is to get a title shot in 2013. But I don’t know how likely that is because of Dominick being out. I’ve heard possibly the beginning of October as to when he comes back but it’s still unclear. I guess the only way a title shot is possible is if I get the interim belt and when Dominick comes back later in the year I get a shot at him.”

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Strange Times in the Realm of UFC Title Shots

The road to a UFC title shot has become a complex path to navigate these days. The trend of worthy contenders being pushed aside in favor of more marketable matchups doesn’t appear to be fading any time soon, and it has created a scenario where several of the sport’s biggest names are enjoying the fruits of their labor, while other fighters on the grind are left shaking their heads.

Whether or not you agree with big-draw fighters dropping down or going up in weight and being granted immediate title shots doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme.

A big part of the fight business is the entertainment factor, and the more sellable fight will win the majority of the time. It has simply become the way things are.

UFC President Dana White can tell the media that fighter A was the only one who would take the bout or how a champion demanded a certain opponent rather than taking on the fighter who many believed was deservedly next in the line.

Fans can get upset, the media can criticize, but the basic truth of the matter is that White and Co. have a business to run.

Thus far, they’ve done a passable job of giving us a reason for why these fights are being put together, but if they were to come out and bypass the rhetoric and bluntly say this is the way things are because it’s the way we want it to be, then the sport would roll on all the same.

The Blurred Lines Between Earned & Given

It’s easy to argue that Johny Hendricks and Ricardo Lamas have earned the right to compete for UFC titles. Both men defeated a collection of top-level competitors in their respective weight classes, and in the process, they appeared to have put themselves on the doorstep of a title shot. Both were ultimately bypassed in favor of more marketable championship fights, leaving fans to question the justice of the matter.

The dangerous aspect of making these types of high-profile matchups is what it could cause for the future contenders involved. Immediately after defeating Martin Kampmann at UFC 154 with a punishing first-round knockout, “Bigg Rigg” stated publicly he would be sitting out until the opportunity to fight Georges St-Pierre presented itself.

The win over “The Hitman” was Hendricks’ fifth consecutive victory, and a title shot appeared to be the next logical step.

In light of the announcement of St-Pierre vs. Diaz, Hendricks was upset but ultimately chose to take a fight in the interim against Jake Ellenberger. Should Ellenberger pull off the upset against Hendricks, the former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler’s long-awaited title shot will go up in smoke.

Hendricks wants to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt he is the top contender, and his next fight at UFC 158 will be crucial in making that a reality.

On the flip side of this discussion is what it really means to have earned a title shot in the UFC. While there have certainly been cases where a fighter has battled his way up the ranks with the end result being a shot at UFC gold, there have been others where things have gone in a different direction.

When you look at the likes of Chael Sonnen, Nick Diaz, Frankie Edgar and Anthony Pettis being given title shots upon circumstance, it makes sense when you examine the word “earn” in a different light.

With the exception of Pettis on this list, the three other fighters are/were coming off losses when getting their respective opportunities. While that has rubbed some in the MMA community the wrong way, there is no doubting the fact that these fighters have worked to acquire their fanbases.

Whether it is professional wrestling-style promotional pushes, bird-flipping, bad-boy face smashing or showing the caliber of heart that makes every performance worth watching, Sonnen, Diaz and Edgar are fighters people can’t wait to see compete.

Closing Thoughts

Personally, I am of the opinion that title shots should never be given off a loss, especially when there are plenty of able-bodied contenders at the ready. In the words of Jon Jones, I believe it “devalues the title” when opportunities are not granted to the next person in line. But then again, I’m only a writer covering this beautiful sport, and whether I agree or not, trudging forward is the only option.

On the other hand, these fighters getting title shots have passionate fanbases which automatically creates a buzz when they are in highly visible situations. It also helps to push easily sold story lines when selling the bouts as well.

Former lightweight champion versus unstoppable pound-for-pound great. Mercurial trash talker versus the future of mixed martial arts. Stockton bad boy finally gets his chance to put his money where his mouth is against one of MMA’s most dominant champions. I could go on, but I’m pretty sure you know where I was going with this.

At the end of the day, business is truly what matters in combat sports. The “big fight” will always trump what appears to be the “right fight.” And like it or not, it is the way things are.

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The Rising Tide: Alexis Davis Is Fighting Her Way to the Top of Women’s MMA

The spotlight is locked on women’s MMA more so than any other time in history. With Invicta FC putting on successful all-female events and Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche set to make UFC history in Anaheim, the moment has come for the top women fighters…

The buzz is steadily rising in the wake of UFC 157 as “The Ronda Rousey Show” prepares to take center stage. It will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in the chapters of WMMA. If the showing is a successful one, the doors of the Octagon will open for a collection of the world’s top female fighters to compete.

That being said, there is plenty that could go wrong in the equation, and Alexis Davis isn’t caught up in the possibilities of what may or may not happen in the future.

The 28-year-old Canadian is firmly focused on her personal rise and is determined to climb to the top of the mountain. “Ally-Gator” has found victory in five of her last six showings with her most recent win coming over Shayna Baszler at Invicta 4 back in January. It was a rematch three years in the making, and Davis evened the score via rear-naked choke in the third round, leaving Baszler sleeping on the canvas in the process.

“I think I made a huge statement in that [Shayna] Baszler fight,” Davis told Bleacher Report. “It may not have been big media wise because a lot of MMA media doesn’t really cover WMMA all that much and might know know who Shayna is. But she is one of the toughest female fighters and one of the truly legit female fighters in the sport.

“She is very well-rounded and has a great submission game much like myself. For me, beating Shayna was taking the next big step and she was one of the toughest fights I’ve had. A victory over a fighter I consider to be one of the toughest women out there is a great feeling.

In the ranks of WMMA, Davis’s stock has never been higher. The Team Cesar Gracie-fighter has steadily built a reputation for her gritty style and willingness to trade leather at every turn. On the strength of her runs in Strikeforce and Invicta, Davis is now in a position to be considered one of the world’s best.

She’s looking to fight her way to the top, and whatever promotion that journey carries out in doesn’t really matter to her. The only thing Davis wants is to fight the best the world has to offer.

“I would love to fight for the UFC,” Davis said. “I’m completely happy fighting for Invicta but I know UFC is the next huge platform depending on how everything works out with this fight at UFC 157. For me it all comes down to how I perform in my fights. When this news was going on about women coming to the UFC I chose to focus my attention on my fight with Baszler. Whether or not my next fight in the UFC isn’t something I can focus on. I have ample opponents in front of me and that is where my focus needs to be.

“No matter where or who I’m fighting, it is always going to be a good fight. I don’t think to this day I’ve ever had a boring fight. This is what I do for a living. This is what I love to do. I’m coming out there to win and it doesn’t matter who it is I’m facing. It doesn’t matter if I fight for the UFC or Invicta next, I’m going to be a better fighter than the last time you saw me.”

For Davis and many other women competing in mixed martial arts, times have never been better. With all major promotions beginning to showcase the top female talent on their rosters, the landscape of WMMA has shifted entirely.

Where options were once limited, the sudden growth of WMMA has attracted scores of new talent to the biggest stages and allowed female fighters to progress in the proper fashion. This was a luxury Davis wasn’t afforded, and she’s excited for the next generation of female fighters to make their mark.

“I think we are under the spotlight more than ever,” Davis said. “Especially with how much attention a lot of these promotions are giving women. With the UFC fight coming up soon and Invicta doing so well, it is an exciting time for women in the sport. Even promotions like Bellator are putting women on center stage and it’s great exposure.

“You get a lot more young females interested in the sport and realizing it is not just people getting in a cage like barbarians. People thought that way before but there are legit skills behind these ladies. There are women who bring Olympic-style wrestling or world class Judo now. There are great jiu-jitsu practitioners competing and there are a lot of skills to back up these ladies. Even with the guys, no one is just coming in there looking for blood. This is a sport and people are starting to see that.

“It’s crazy and I almost wish I could have started my career at the point the sport is right now,” Davis added. “I turned pro right away in my first fight against Sarah Kaufman, but now you have the ability and grow with your record. We have shows like Invicta where people who are just coming off amateur fights can face similar competition all the way up to women who have been competing for seven or eight years like myself. That provides a wide range and promotions like Invicta are really helping in that sense. Now other promotions are seeing that too and women aren’t easily looked past anymore. We’ve come to the point in time where a high percentage of fight cards are going to have women bouts.”

Since the days of Gina Carano, the topic of women flaunting their sex appeal has been a hot button issue in WMMA. It has become a debate of style versus substance, and while fighters like “Conviction” and Rousey have validated their salesmanship by performances inside the cage, others have fallen short in their efforts.

This divide has created a dialogue in the mixed martial arts community, and with the sport being entertainment based, it is unlikely the stigma will fade anytime soon. Davis takes zero issues with her fellow competitors boosting their profiles and believes everything will ultimately be determined when the cage door closes.

“You are going to come across different types of people in this world,” Davis said. “The more publicity fights and the fighters in them get, you are going to come across people who are going to sell their image in different ways. When it comes down to it, what is going to keep the fans is what happens in the cage.

“I hate to say it but I don’t think it will ever go away. I think the bigger this gets the more you are going to have that element. I’m all for people who want to show themselves in a certain light, just be able to back it up and have a little bit of class. Maybe try being a bit more Playboy than Hustler.”

While the road ahead holds uncertainty for Davis opponent-wise, the future is undoubtedly bright. In the aftermath of UFC 157, the sport’s biggest promotion will decide how much it is willing to grow the bantamweight division. If things go smoothly, Davis will find her name added to that roster.

That being said, should things go in a different direction, one fighter who has been on Davis’ radar for some time is former Strikeforce champion Cris Cyborg.

The Brazilian wrecking machine has been out of action since testing positive for a banned substance following her bout against Hiroko Yamanaka in December of 2011. The failed drug test spawned a rash of negative publicity for Cyborg, and her talks with the UFC have been rocky at best. Should both women find the door to the Octagon closed for the time being, Davis would like to mix it up with one of the most feared female fighters on the planet.

“I totally respect Cris,” Davis said. “I think she is a great fighter and I hope she does well. I’m not sure what is going on right now and if she can drop down to 135 pounds to make the UFC or not, but that is definitely a fight I’d be interested in. She has gone through the negative publicity with the whole steroids thing but I think she is still a great fighter. I think there are a lot of people who have probably looked past her because they think she was only successful because she was all juiced up or whatever. I’ve seen her jiu-jitsu and her Muay Thai and she is a legit top fighter.”

Over the next few weeks the next step of Davis’s journey will materialize, and she will be ready when it does. The Ontario native has set her sights on making 2013 a year to remember and is determined to keep the process of progress in constant motion.

“I want to go to Brazil,” Davis said regarding her plans for the year ahead. “I can’t really say when but it is definitely on my list. I am going to get a title this year and I want to successfully defend that title before the year is done. I don’t think you are a legit champion until you can at least defend your title. I’m also going to win a couple jiu-jitsu titles in there too—some Worlds and Pan Ams. It is going to be a full year but I have to keep myself busy.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Danny Castillo Determined to Bounce Back Against Sass at UFC on Fuel TV 7

In the ultra-competitive world of mixed martial arts, if a fighter is no longer progressing they will quickly find themselves pushed aside.The evolution of their skill set is a must, and perhaps even more important than natural talent is a fighter’s ab…

In the ultra-competitive world of mixed martial arts, if a fighter is no longer progressing they will quickly find themselves pushed aside.

The evolution of their skill set is a must, and perhaps even more important than natural talent is a fighter’s ability to adapt to the changing tides and continuously hone their craft in the face of adversity. It is a non-stop process and one that all fighters must face. But in some cases, a setback can propel an athlete to greater heights.

This is the exact path Danny Castillo is looking to travel.

Over his five-year career, the Team Alpha Male fighter has put together several successful runs in both the UFC and now-defunct WEC lightweight divisions. That being said, each time the 33-year-old has built solid momentum, a misstep has forced him backwards.

Coming into his most recent outing against Michael Johnson at UFC on FX 5, Castillo was riding a three-fight win streak. But after a dominant first round where “Last Call” put the former TUF alum on the deck, “The Menace” bounced back to earn a knockout victory in the second frame.

Some fighters fold in the face of adversity, but Castillo uses the experience to motivate him to push harder towards achieving his goals. The Sacramento-native knows the importance of honest critique, hard work, and dedication—all factors which will ultimately make him the fighter he aspires to become.

“There are a lot of things that have happened to me in the past year,” Castillo told Bleacher Report.”I’ve changed my life completely. I’ve always been completely focused on my career but last year I made a bunch of changes to improve my life. I took alcohol completely out of my life and that was something I really enjoyed. I’m more disciplined as a fighter, my diet is different, and now I’m never out of shape.

“Unfortunately things didn’t go my way in the last fight. But that is the reason people love MMA because anything can happen. I take the good from every bad situation. The good from that situation is that I was dominating him the entire first round. I just got caught with a punch in the second and it doesn’t change the fact I beat the crap out of him for a full five minutes.

“I feel every fight you see me in I improve in some aspect or another,” Castillo added. “My striking is a work in progress and I’m continuing to get better in all aspects of the fight game. I got my brown belt last year and everything is coming along. I was able to work with Richard Perez for that last fight. He did a wonderful job and is an awesome coach. I learned a lot from him. With the addition of Duane Ludwig as the head coach of Team Alpha Male, things are looking brighter and brighter for my future.”

When Castillo attempts to rebound back into the win column, it will come against Paul Sass at UFC on Fuel TV 7 in London England. The British fighter is a slick submission artist who has earned victories in three out of four showings under the UFC banner, all coming by way of finish on the canvas.

During his time inside the Octagon the 24-year-old Team Kaobon-trained fighter has shown an impressive display of heel hooks and leg locks. While those finishes have been highlight worthy, the young Englishman is best known for his signature submission called the “Sassangle” which is a combination of a traditional triangle choke and armbar.

Castillo comes from a wrestling background and is no stranger to facing jiu-jitsu-based fighters. That being said, he also understands how unique Sass’ ground skills are and is prepared for anything the Liverpool native throws his way.

“Obviously if you have seen Sass fight you know his submission game is really strong,” Castillo said. “He comes out using his stand up to get the fight to the ground. I’m expecting him to come forward, throw some crazy shots, and looking to pull guard to work his game. That is basically what I’ve seen in every single fight he’s had in the UFC. That is what I’m counting on.

“If for some reason he feels confident in his stand up and wants to stand and trade with me—that is awesome too. I try to be a well-rounded fighter and I think I’ve prepared for every aspect of this fight. Submission defense is something I’ve definitely focused on but it’s not as much submission defense as it is submission awareness. If you are aware of the triangle before it gets thrown up then you don’t have to fight a triangle off.

“Basically my mentality for the entire training camp was to see those things coming. He’s really tall and lanky and if I can see that submission coming before it is ever thrown up, then I will be in a good position to stop his submission game. At the same time, I don’t necessarily want to go to his strengths but if we go there I’ll be comfortable. I’d like to keep this fight on the feet but we’ll see how it goes. It is a fight and anything can happen.”

The bout with Sass not only comes at crucial juncture of Castillo’s career, but at a time when the lightweight division is set to become more competitive than ever before. Over the past three years the UFC’s 155-pound weight class has become one of the deepest in the organization, and with a collection of talent coming over from Strikeforce, the battle to gain divisional positioning will intensify.

Having made the transition from the WEC, the scenario is one Castillo is very familiar with. He knows the challenges on the road ahead will only become more difficult. But with his work ethic and passion to improve, Castillo is eager to showcase his latest progressions.

“I have a new confidence coming into this fight,” Castillo said. “I’m really anxious to get out there and show the improvements I have made. I feel I show progression in every fight. Whether I win or lose; you still see improvement. I don’t have an offseason and I’m always working to get better. I want my fans to know I’m working hard for them and that is the reason they support me. They know I’m a hard-worker and I’m looking to crack that top 10 this year.

“The lightweight division is a shark tank and I believe it is the most talented division in the UFC. It’s the deepest division and with the guys coming over from Strikeforce, things are only going to become more competitive. Every fight for me is the biggest fight of my life. I’m not getting any younger. If I’m on a four-fight win streak or have lost back-to-back fights—they are all important to me. At the end of the day if I don’t win I only get one check. I love fighting and competing but I love paying my bills too. Two checks are really important.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com