Fans might be a bit divided over UFC 178’s infamous ‘stoolgate,’ but not Chael Sonnen or Michael Bisping.
The event’s ‘Fight of the Night’ between middleweights Tim Kennedy and Yoel Romero was marred with controversy after Romero was slow to rise off his stool to begin the third round.
Kennedy argued that Romero should have been disqualified for failing to answer the bell, but ultimately the fight continued 28 seconds later. Romero would go on to score a vicious TKO win just 38 seconds into the third round.
Understandably upset over the situation, Kennedy called it ‘beyond unprofessional and ‘truly tragic.’ Kennedy even confronted Romero and his team backstage at the event.
Discussing the issue with Bisping, a recent Kennedy opponent, Sonnen left no doubt of where he stood on the controversy.
“Tim Kennedy is one cranky and bitter son of a b***h,” Sonnen said this week on his own podcast. “Have you seen some of the stuff he’s saying lately? He’s threatening to never come back to the sport because he’s so upset about ‘stoolgate.’ This guys is one of these guys that, for me, he gets a pass. I’m an American, he’s an American hero. He served the country well. He did some things. He’s a hero. That’s where it ends. But the guy says some stuff that if he wasn’t a hero… Somebody needs to tell him to shut up. Tim, you gotta stop, man. You’re so bitter.”
Bisping, none too surprisingly agreed with Sonnen, expanding on the point saying that Kennedy has no grounds to complain about Romero’s extra time on the stool because he was ultimately stopped in the fight.
“They allowed the fight to continue, he got knocked out,” Bisping added. “What can you say? Take it like man and say, ‘Congratulations.’
“I completely agree with that,” said Sonnen. “The outcome of the fight is the outcome of the fight. You just walk away.”
“You can’t change history,” said Bisping. “You can’t change what happened. You got knocked out, you got finished. It’s not like he went to a decision and maybe [Romero] should have had a point removed. [Kennedy] got finished decisively. There you go. It’s the end of the matter.”
Sonnen argued that Kennedy ignored the role of the referee’s discretion, comparing it to how much or how little a prosecutor may choose to levy charges in a courtroom.
“Tim was so worked up about it,” Sonnen continued. “I’m going, ‘Tim, anything that you want to do and all of this anger, man, we’re for that before the fight. But when the fight’s done, when the pay-per-views are sold and when the cage is being torn down, shut up. Give the other guy his 15 minutes whether he earned it or was gifted it. Give him his 15 minutes and walk away.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Something I don’t believe in anymore.’ Cung Le asks the UFC for his release and says he’d like to fight for Scott Coker.
‘Nate didn’t accept the fight.’ Edson Barboza’s manager says Nate Diaz turned down a fight with his client in July.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses the UFC and Reebok uniform deal, previews UFC 181, answers your questions and more in this week’s live chat.
‘I need to fight.’ Cris Cyborg says she can’t take more time off working her way down to bantamweight and will fight back at 145 pounds in early 2015.
Silver screen. Conor McGregor’s manager says his client is gaining interest from Hollywood and might even mull some movie deals after his fight with Dennis Siver Jan. 18.
MEDIA STEW
UFC embedded episode 2.
Inside the Octagon.
Highlights of Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Torres from TUF 20. Not sure what happened to Rose Namajunas vs. Joanne Calderwood.
Georges St-Pierre and Firas Zahibi debate Tiger vs. Lion.
Inside MMA’s top view submission from 2014.
Anderson Silva’s bizarre Brazilian Budweiser commercial.
Long watches.
‘Press Row’ with Jordan Breen and Nate Wilcox.
TWEETS
Must be fight week.
Hey @JohnyHendricks how about letting the future owner of that belt take a picture with it??
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 3, 2014
Oh my.
@scottcoker I want a fight with @rampage4real. The Hammer is coming back and want to come to @bellator
— Matt Hamill (@Hammerufc) December 4, 2014
A few more reactions.
For this ufc & Reebok deal, if it’s for us and not the ufc, why didn’t we have any say in it? How we felt? Any information? Pay scale? #smh
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) December 3, 2014
If some of us fighters were included, who? What was feedback? How individualized will it be? so much confusion Like wasn’t well thought out
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) December 3, 2014
Uniform is going to force “sponsors” to actually start doing real endorsements with fighters.Not just table scraps on a per fight deal.
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) December 4, 2014
Is Reebok going to make suits? Or can @Jon_Anik and I wear Soprano inspired jump suits to call some fights? Would be legit
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) December 3, 2014
Looking forward to being the next Terry Tate https://t.co/cVjokgTYsH for @Reebok! #baldbrothas
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) December 3, 2014
Nice.
Thanks @DiegoSanchezUFC I appreciate it
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) December 3, 2014
Should be interesting.
@HectorLombard workin on it
— Dana White (@danawhite) December 4, 2014
No green ranger?
LMFAO!! @UFC‘s #reebokrangers #whatdoyoufightfor @reebokclassic http://t.co/4fFa6napEO
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) December 3, 2014
Creepy.
#GreatTimesAreComingBack #BeSpider @Budweiser_BR pic.twitter.com/KtCqs9MI0g
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) December 3, 2014
Too Wong Foo.
Oh, you know…. Just me and the ladies #RichFranklin, #MattHume hanging out in #Manila before… http://t.co/S0rzwOfkrd
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) December 3, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 3 2014)
Mirsad Bektic vs. Alan Omer at UFC on FOX 14
cancelled Charmaine Tweet vs. Faith Van Duin at Invicta FC 10
Angela Hill vs. Emily Kagan at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Alex Chambers vs. Aisling Daly at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Angela Magana vs. Tecia Torres at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Joanne Calderwood vs. Seo Hee Ham at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Heather Clark vs. Bec Rawlings at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Lisa Ellis vs. Felice Herrig at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Jorge Masvidal out, Norman Parke vs. Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via theFightWhisperer.
The WTF factor: UFC 181 and Anthony “Showtime” Pettis
If and when I compile the collective wisdom & foolishness I have accumulated during my time betting fights, the one axiom that will probably carry more weight than all the others will likely be:
Bet on rematches, and bet the previous winner to win again.
The headliner this weekend fits this advice like a glove, yet there is a good chance I will not take Johny Hendricks(-220) over Robbie Lawler. This is because:
a.) Hendricks has been rehabbing an injury for much of this year, while Lawler has been active.
b.) While Hendricks used his world-class wrestling enough to get the decision, he spent almost enough time trading blows with Lawler to give the fight away.
c.) Lawler has become one of my favorite fighters, partly because I enjoy his fighting style, and partly because he bears an uncanny resemblance to my daughter, or did before her hair grew out. If this link works, you can see for yourself.*
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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