It’s official. Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos is the strangest and least satisfying 84-second rivalry in the history of mixed martial arts.
If you’re Prindle right now, how exactly are you supposed to feel when you earn $100,000 for: 1.) getting your testicle soccer kicked so hard, you wind up in the hospital with an injury that takes three months to heal, 2.) training for four months to avenge your manhood, only to have the opportunity delayed another seven days because you get a touch of the flu and your rival is toeing the line of being illegally large, and then, 3.) large rival has another week to stop cultivating mass, yet he somehow comes in larger than ever before.
At that point, haven’t you kind of earned that paycheck? So congratulations Eric Prindle, on your Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament win. Onwards to Cole Konrad.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Eric Prindle wins $100K Bellator tournament, will challenge Cole Konrad. Thiago Santos missed weight by 11 pounds at Thursday night’s Bellator 62 weigh-ins, leading to the cancellation of his heavyweight match-up against Eric Prindle. As a result, Bellator officials declared Prindle the winner of the Season 5 heavyweight tournament, earning the former soldier $100,000 and a title shot against Cole Konrad.
The hurt business: a big night on small scene. Grudge Training Center’s lesser-known members fight for recognition and meager paychecks on a local Denver fight card in part three of Ben Fowlkes’ ongoing series that examines the hidden lives of pro MMA fighters.
UFC’s TUF: Brazil broadcast schedule, fight-in bouts. Opening round match-ups have been released for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, which is slated to debut this Sunday at 11:30 p.m. EST and can be seen by non-Brazilian audiences on a UFC-owned microsite.
Ronda Rousey to be featured in ESPN’s Body Issue. “Rowdy” Ronda will join the likes of Jon Jones and Gina Carano as the next MMA star to strip down for ESPN’s annual ‘Body Issue.’
Justin.tv wins partial dismissal of UFC lawsuit. Online live video streaming service Justin.tv won a partial dismissal of a lawsuit Zuffa, LLC brought against them for illegal broadcasts of UFC 121.
MEDIA STEW
Quick thought: Gerônimo Mondragon has to be the single coolest name since Lance Uppercut. Anyway, Mondragon and Rodrigo Mamute recently engaged in a brawl that is being referred to as the Brazilian version of Kongo vs. Barry, so you should definitely check it out. (HT: Middle Easy)
No one knows for sure if Brian Ebersole will bust out his patented cartwheel kick when he takes on T.J. Waldburger at UFC on FX 4, but if this clip proves anything, his mantra of “it takes balls” is indeed true.
Nothing’s better for slow times than jaw-dropping violence. So remind yourself of how insanely scary Jose Aldo is with this stomp and soccer kick filled highlight package. Trust us, it’s totally worth it. (HT: Reddit)
Check out one of the UFC’s brightest rising stars, Alexander Gustafsson, talking about each of his past fights in the Octagon and calling a loss to Thiago Silva next month “impossible.”
BOOK IT
Only halfway through rehab, but my goal now has a name, date and place: UFC 154, NOVEMBER 17, MONTREAL!!! bit.ly/GOPHDH
— Georges St-Pierre(@GeorgesStPierre) March 22, 2012
BACKTRACKING 101
I said on the podcast today about someone from FOX asking me to take my commentary down a notch, in all fairness it only happened once.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
Also, in all fairness it was the first time the UFC aired on FOX and everyone was completely stressed out and trying to make the best show
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
I’m pretty spoiled working for the UFC where they pretty much just let me go and do my thing. It’s the best job situation on earth for me.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 22, 2012):
– UFC on FX 3: Bernardo Magalhaes (11-2) vs. Henry Martinez (8-2)
– Bellator 62: Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1, 1 NC) cancelled, Prindle declared Season 5 tournament winner
– Bellator 63: Brian Foster (18-5) out, Jordan Smith (17-2) in against David Rickels (8-0)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
For a second day in a row, today’s Fanpost of the Day goes to Bloody Elbow’s Dangalvan: Creating The UFC All-Star Weekend
There are dollar bills just waiting to be collected from Dana White and Co. from an All-Star Weekend. The biggest problem is that you can’t have a UFC All-Star Spar or and All-Star PPV card. It’s just not feasible, but there are plenty of other things to do to make an awesome All-Star Weekend. Still doubtful? Here’s what my UFC All-Star Weekend would look like.
…
Thursday, May 24th (UFC on Fuel)
16 Man Openweight No-Gi Grappling Tournament
I would love this. Watching MMA’s finest going at it on the mat. In an effort to make it exciting, it would be a one ten minute match with judges scoring it. To eliminate dullness, fighters can be penalized for stalling. It would be open to anybody in the UFC to compete.
In order to make it appealing to the fighters, if they won the opening round then they’d get $5,000, second round $10,000, third round $25,000, and finals $50,000. The opening and second round would take place on Fuel TV on Thursday. The Final Four would compete the next day.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in Monday’s post.