Dana White made a surprise cameo during a segment of the NFL on Fox pregame show, and it appears to have struck a nerve with many fans of the UFC.The appearance occurred during Rob Riggle’s (he’s a comedian, in case you are like me and didn’t…
Dana White made a surprise cameo during a segment of the NFL on Fox pregame show, and it appears to have struck a nerve with many fans of the UFC.
The appearance occurred during Rob Riggle‘s (he’s a comedian, in case you are like me and didn’t know) three-minute feature in which he makes a few NFL picks of the week. The comedy short wasn’t particularly funny, and that was before the part where Dana showed up.
The UFC president appeared as a homeless person who gave some inside information to Riggle‘s character. The breaking news that White had for Riggle was, “Cam Newton is pregnant.” How this made it out of the production meeting as something that would be hilarious is something I don’t understand.
Here’s the spot in case you missed it:
A photo of Dana dressed up as the homeless man was even promoted by the official UFC Facebook page, but it was eventually removed after garnering a negative reaction.
The fallout of the negative response incited Dana to turn to Twitter and respond to a handful of the people who took offense to him “mocking” somebody down on their luck. The most common term Dana used to describe these people was, well, take a look:
I’ll have to side with Dana on this one. For people to get on Dana and assume he is making fun of people who live on the streets is completely off the mark. The context of the comedy was the fact that an “NFL Insider” was getting his tips from a guy who lives in front of his bank.
What was supposed to be a good-natured joke in which we saw Dana White come out of his element turned out to be a PR nightmare for the UFC.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
While we all settle in with the new generation of UFC stars, I can’t help but to think about how successful some of my favorite fighters would be if they fought in their prime today. More specifically, how good would Chuck Liddell be in today’s UFC if …
While we all settle in with the new generation of UFC stars, I can’t help but to think about how successful some of my favorite fighters would be if they fought in their prime today. More specifically, how good would Chuck Liddell be in today’s UFC if he was a 30-year-old?
These types of hypotheticals and what-ifs are what fuel debates for most major sports. Would Babe Ruth be able to hit off of Justin Verlander, and who would win the most MVPs if Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant entered the league at the same time?
Generally, there aren’t any right answers, just a lot of banter going back and forth without any concrete evidence (and how could there be?) on how a particular athlete would do if they had access to a working time machine.
Liddell‘s decline began with a glancing punch from Rampage Jackson in 2007. At that point, Liddell was already 37 years old. When “The Iceman” lost to Rashad Evans he was 38, and finally, he ended he career with another KO loss to Rich Franklin in 2010 at the age of 40.
I will always think that Liddell made a last-ditch effort to prove he could adapt to the changing environment of the UFC in his last fight. He looked great when he got Franklin in the clinch and even took him to the ground. Liddell wasn’t relying on his overhand right, but rather tried to incorporate a well-rounded attack. Of course, that all came crashing down pretty quickly.
One can’t figure out when the prime of an athlete is based solely on age, but a good range of those “prime years” in MMA would be between the ages of 28 and 33. That’s not a scientific answer based upon research, but really just a feel for things in all the years of watching fights.
Before the age of 28, many fighters are still trying to find themselves, and by 33, we’ve usually seen the best we are going to see from them. Of course, there are always exceptions, and I’m sure we can all think of some examples of where those prime years are completely different for a particular fighter.
Although I was and will always continue to be a huge fan of Liddell, I just can’t see how he would be successful in 2012, even if he was in his prime. The fighters in the Octagon today are more technically advanced than they were when Liddell owned the Octagon.
More often than not, Liddell would circle around with his opponent until his patience paid off and he was able to counter their move. His hand speed and power earned him 13 knockouts and 21 wins in his professional career.
Early in his career, Liddell displayed his expert kickboxing skills (he holds a professional kickboxing record of 20-2) but looked like he completely abandoned the craft as the years went on. For fans that tuned into Liddell‘s career after 2006, they missed out on somebody who used to mix up the kicks and punches quite well.
Liddell was always good a defending the takedown. His sprawl in reaction to a takedown attempt will always be one of my lasting images of him, in addition to his powerful overhand right.
The eventual reason for Liddell‘s retirement was the failure of his chin. He was never the same after the loss to Rampage, and the knockouts became more and more devastating to watch. I can still hear the crack of Rashad‘s fist on Liddell‘s chin from 2008.
I’ve heard from other Liddell fans that they think he’d be able to win the belt if he were fighting in his prime today. I can’t see it. I just can’t see how Liddell would overcome the length and skill of Jon Jones to beat him. Perhaps I’m not giving Liddell enough credit. Perhaps I’m trying too hard not to be bias toward my favorite fighter of all time. But I just don’t see how he’d be successful if his prime years were to be taking place now.
It’s not about pointing out what Liddell wasn’t good at, but more of a testament to how the sport of MMA has evolved over the last decade. It’s hard to be successful by just being a good striker or a good wrestler; you have to be a true mixed martial artist.
Then again, perhaps we will get a feel for how Liddell would do against today’s competition. Glover Teixeira is 33 years old and is also coached by John Hackelman. He has a better ground game than Liddell had, but he also relies heavily upon powerful punches.
I’m just happy Liddell fought during the years that he did.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
There is not one MMA fan that frequents Bleacher Report that does not know Ronda Rousey has become the first female mixed martial artist to sign with the UFC. If I just broke the news to you, then you should also know Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, A…
There is not one MMA fan that frequents Bleacher Report that does not know Ronda Rousey has become the first female mixed martial artist to sign with the UFC. If I just broke the news to you, then you should also know Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, Anderson Silva is on a bit of a winning streak and ChaelSonnen will soon be fighting Jon Jones.
Women’s MMA has surged in 2012 with the help of Rousey, but also because of the success of the first three Invicta FC events, and other displays of good WMMA fights from promotions such as Bellator. Unfortunately, for WMMA, most fans only know about Rousey.
Think about this, there has been great debate this year with regard to the sustainability of the UFC flyweight division. Some fans believe the talent pool isn’t deep enough with the 125-pounders to have a division that will put on quality fights on a consistent basis.
As it stands now there are about 15 flyweights on the UFC roster and most fans recognize the names of Demetrious Johnson (title holder), Joseph Benavidez, John Dodson and Ian McCall. It’s not the casual fan that will be able to recite stats from these fighters, but rather fans who are continuously reading about the sport.
What about the women’s bantamweight division? The only two fighters signed to this division are Rousey and Miesha Tate. Of course, this is just in the beginning stages of development with more fighters expected to be announced soon, but how much of the success of the division rests on the shoulders of Rousey?
One year ago today you did not know who Ronda Rousey was, and if you did, there was no way you knew she’d be the biggest MMA story of 2012. No matter where you fall with your support of WMMA, it must be agreed upon that Rousey was the most consistently talked about figure in MMA from March through the rest of the year.
So what if she loses in her UFC debut? Will she lose all the momentum she has gained for herself? We see it happen all the time. Somebody rides a wave of success and finally reaches the big time—only to fail and go back into obscurity.
Granted, should Rousey lose in her debut (opponent still to be determined), the MMA community won’t forget her, but much of her lore will certainly fade away.
There doesn’t appear to be a “Plan B” for the women’s division in the UFC if Rousey doesn’t succeed. Dana White and many in the media have talked up how dominant she is to the point where it has become nauseating for some people. What happens when fans get sick of a fighter? They want to see him/her lose.
So where are fans on this? Do they want to see Rousey lose and watch the UFC conduct damage control on their newest money grab? Is there a chance that whoever beats Rousey could become as popular and marketable as Ronda? And how much of a step back will WMMA take if the “Rousey Experiment” does not succeed?
I want to see WMMA succeed, and I think it’d be a lot more interesting and beneficial for the sport to see Rousey get knocked out or submitted in her first UFC fight. The spotlight needs to be shed on as many fighters within the newly formed women’s bantamweight division as possible. Otherwise, it’s just going to be Ronda Rousey and “everyone else.”
The women need more than one face to lead their division to the mainstream.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
The next edition of the flailing show, The Ultimate Fighter, will soon be marketed to us in a way the UFC has never marketed before. While UFC President Dana White can continue to push the company language that TUF is going to continue to grow and do w…
The next edition of the flailing show, The Ultimate Fighter, will soon be marketed to us in a way the UFC has never marketed before.
While UFC President Dana White can continue to push the company language that TUF is going to continue to grow and do well, he must know that this next show featuring Jon Jones and ChaelSonnen will be a very key symbol as to whether or not the show can regain some of its shine that has dulled out over the past few years.
Sonnen and Jones are going to be able to sell this show to the fans on their own better than any UFC marketing director could. The candid comments that come from each of them is what will bring in the initial surge in viewers, compared to what the ratings have been for the last several editions.
There is going to be the crowd who tunes in for Sonnen‘s over-the top-theatrics.
There will, however, be a lot of fans who are curious to see if they can be drawn back into Team Jones.
Jones, the surging superstar and icon of the UFC, saw his reputation take a nosedive in 2012 for reasons that don’t need to be re-hashed for the umpteenth time. TUF will allow him to become reconnected with his fans who may have left his corner over the last 12 months.
They will see a man who is an excellent coach, and one who displays a ton of respect for those in and around the Octagon.
Whether or not that’s who he really is, I don’t know—only he can answer that—but I’m certain that’s the way ZUFFA will make sure the show is edited.
Jones needs to come out of TUF with a restored reputation. Not only are fans just now getting over the whole UFC 151 debacle, but there needs to be a sense of stability within the UFC, which has taken a hit with all the injuries and out-of-the-Octagon issues we’ve seen in 2012.
There’s no doubt in my mind that come time for the April fight between Sonnen and Jones, the amount of fans Jones earned from the show will be evident. I expect both fighters to show a tireless work ethic and a real interest in the success of the guys on their team.
Unfortunately, for Sonnen, I believe there will be an agenda to edit the show in a way that makes Sonnen look like the villain.
We’ve all seen the effects of video editing. Anybody can be made to look like the bad guy in any situation with a few hours of video magic.
Sonnen is going to lose his fight to Jones and go on to do very well in the broadcast booth. Jones is the future of the UFC, and the company needs to do everything possible to make sure he’s cast in a positive light from this point forward.
Call it a conspiracy theory, call it a lie, but that’s just how I see this next season of TUF playing out.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
“Winning” Remember when Charlie Sheen unleashed a fury of ill-advised tweets, comedy tours, videos, and interviews when he was fired from Two and a Half Men? He immediately grabbed national headlines and saw his popularity rise to even greate…
“Winning”
Remember when Charlie Sheen unleashed a fury of ill-advised tweets, comedy tours, videos, and interviews when he was fired from Two and a Half Men? He immediately grabbed national headlines and saw his popularity rise to even greater heights than before he was fired.
Unfortunately for Sheen, he didn’t know when to stop. What people thought was intriguing and funny turned out to be obnoxious and tired. His act went on for too long and everyone became burnt out.
The same thing happened to swing dancing in the 90’s, wallet chains, “Mambo Number Five”, Panic at the Disco, and it appears we are thankfully reaching the end of the life span of “Gangnam Style”— which will undoubtedly reach its demise once we see people dress up as PSY for Halloween.
I’d hate to see ChaelSonnen go down the same path with MMA fans, but an entire season of seeing him continually take cheap shots at Jon Jones may do more harm than good for the calculated speaker.
Sonnen and Jones will serve as opposing coaches on the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter. According to the Los Angeles Times, the show will begin taping this week and the two will fight each other in April.
Jones saw his reputation take a nose dive this year and fans have been quick to paint him as a villain. I believe the upcoming TUF show starring him and Sonnen will do more good for Jones than it will for Sonnen.
I’m a fan of Sonnen. I enjoy his charisma, intellect, and the competitive fights he puts on as long as he doesn’t try a spinning back-fist. He brings an element to MMA that helps balance out the seriousness of the sport. Sonnen is a character, and I mean that as a compliment. He’s more than a fighter, he’s somebody people look forward to hearing speak and he does a wonderful job as a commentator.
But does he know when enough is enough?
I anticipate Jones to take a passive approach to Sonnen on the show. Jones is going to be portrayed as a good coach who cares about his team, whereas Sonnen will be projected as the antagonist who will bring his comedic values to the table but end up seeing his intentions turned against him.
Call me crazy, I’ve been called a lot worse, but I expect that the majority of hardcore fans will be looking forward to seeing Jones punish Sonnen in the Octagon for the verbal beating he is going to endure during the course of the show.
This may be the way the UFC puts Jones back in good graces with the fans. It will be interesting to see how the show is edited, as we’ve all seen how much that can influence the emotions of an audience.
It would be one thing if Sonnen was riding a winning streak heading into the taping of the show and his fight with Jones. He’s not, and that makes his trash-talking towards Jones come across as desperate.
Sonnen‘s words provide a high entertainment value, but as Charlie Sheen showed us, he has to be careful not to overstay his welcome.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
Glover Teixeira has been rapidly building himself a UFC fanbase. His performance at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will do nothing but speed up the Teixeira hype train even more. Teixeira (19-2) dismantled Fabio Maldonado (18-6) via TKO on…
Glover Teixeira has been rapidly building himself a UFC fanbase. His performance at UFC 153 in Rio deJaneiro, Brazil will do nothing but speed up the Teixeira hype train even more.
Teixeira (19-2) dismantled Fabio Maldonado (18-6) via TKO once the doctor stepped in after the end of the second round and said enough was enough.
The win gives the Brazilian his 17th consecutive victory with a fight against a big-name opponent (most presume Rampage Jackson, although nothing is confirmed) looming on the horizon.
Teixeira came out very strong against Maldonado and controlled the Octagon from the opening minute of the fight. While his punches were impressive, most fans will remember the destruction he bestowed upon Maldonado with face-shredding elbows.
While the fight was one-sided, there was a brief moment near the end of the first round when Teixeira got a little too comfortable and dropped his hands while standing right in front of Maldonado.
A desperate Maldonado threw a quick but powerful left hook that landed flush on the chin of Teixeira. Teixeira was stunned and ended up finishing the round on the ground while under the control of Maldonado.
This scare was just that, a scare, and Teixeira came out in the second round to end the fight convincingly.
Teixeira referred to Maldonado as “not human” in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. That may be the best way to sum up how Maldonado continued to get up time and time again. There are some very strong chins in the UFC, but the one displayed by Maldonado may be on par with the best I’ve ever seen.
In Maldonado’s 23 previous fights before his battle with Teixeira, he had never had a loss come via TKO.
For Maldonado, the loss puts him on a three-fight losing streak, and he is now 1-3 overall in the UFC. I still expect to see him come back early next year and headline the prelim portion of a pay-per-view card (ie, FuelTV or FX). His punching power, competitiveness, heart and chin are reasons why fans will like to see him fight again.
For Teixeira, as mentioned he is going to get a big name next. It was somewhat alarming to see him hang his hands low like many of John Hackleman’s fighters have done in the past, but he has a devastating ground game to complement his stand-up striking. The future is bright.
Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.
Dana White made a surprise cameo during a segment of the NFL on Fox pregame show, and it appears to have struck a nerve with many fans of the UFC.