A “breakout” can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it’s not going to mean those things today. Today, right here, in an MMA context, it means taking the next step in your career. […]
A “breakout” can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it’s not going to mean those things today. Today, right here, in an MMA context, it means taking the next step in your career. […]
A “breakout” can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it’s not going to mean those things today.
Today, right here, in an …
A “breakout” can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it’s not going to mean those things today.
Today, right here, in an MMA context, it means taking the next step in your career. But what does that mean? Well, it differs.
In the following slideshow, we’re going to attempt something dangerous: We’re going to attempt to apply the term “breakout” to more than one situation. But though situations may vary, all 10 of the people here are poised for a breakout in their MMA careers, and that’s why they’re here.
Today, we’re looking at fighters who hail from Europe (Russia included this time). Are these all talented competitors? Yes. Check that box. Are they all at the same level in their careers? No.
Some are already in the UFC. Some are not. Some are deep prospects. Others are well-known to many fans. But they have this in common: They all appear ready to take a big leap forward on their respective professional trajectories.
For some, that could mean a call from the major leagues. For others, it could mean a fight for the major league title.
Does this all make sense? Great. Here goes. These are ranked based on who stands to make the biggest leap. Again, this is not a list of the best European fighters. It’s those who are most well-positioned for a breakout. All right. Let’s go.
The Hong Kong Functional Medical Testing Center (HKFMTC) resides in Hong Kong’s southern Yau Tsim Mong District, about an hour’s ferry ride from the Macau’s Cotai Arena where August’s UFC Fight Night 48 was held.
The company’s website offers to test your metabolic function, examine hair for heavy metals or nails for drugs of abuse, for example. It also offers a service called “autism medical testing.” The company opened its doors in February, according to an online records search, and recently put out a job posting for its marketing department.
Following the Aug. 23 event, a phlebotomist hired by the UFC took blood samples from headliners Cung Le and Michael Bisping immediately after their fight and shipped them to the HKFMTC, the promotion told MMAjunkie…It’s unclear how the HKFMTC tested the samples, and the UFC declined to answer any additional questions on the procedures used in connection with the event.On the drug testing firm’s website, there is no specific mention of testing for human growth hormone, though the company does offer a test of the endocrine system including “growth factor analysis.” It’s certain, though, that HKFMTC is not accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which sets guidelines used for HGH testing. The nearest WADA-accredited lab is in Beijing, a four-hour flight from Macau.
The Hong Kong Functional Medical Testing Center (HKFMTC) resides in Hong Kong’s southern Yau Tsim Mong District, about an hour’s ferry ride from the Macau’s Cotai Arena where August’s UFC Fight Night 48 was held.
The company’s website offers to test your metabolic function, examine hair for heavy metals or nails for drugs of abuse, for example. It also offers a service called “autism medical testing.” The company opened its doors in February, according to an online records search, and recently put out a job posting for its marketing department.
Following the Aug. 23 event, a phlebotomist hired by the UFC took blood samples from headliners Cung Le and Michael Bisping immediately after their fight and shipped them to the HKFMTC, the promotion told MMAjunkie…It’s unclear how the HKFMTC tested the samples, and the UFC declined to answer any additional questions on the procedures used in connection with the event.On the drug testing firm’s website, there is no specific mention of testing for human growth hormone, though the company does offer a test of the endocrine system including “growth factor analysis.” It’s certain, though, that HKFMTC is not accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which sets guidelines used for HGH testing. The nearest WADA-accredited lab is in Beijing, a four-hour flight from Macau.
The UFC repeatedly has voiced its support for the anti-doping measures taken by state athletic commissions. This past year, it began bankrolling out-of-competition testing. But in hiring the Hong Kong company to look for HGH, the promotion failed to adhere to the testing standards recognized by the commissions it intends to follow.
WADA’s protocols on HGH testing are intended for WADA-accredited labs, which are utilized by the Nevada, California, and the New Jersey athletic commissions, among others. In order to attain such accreditation, the labs must demonstrate their ability to perform the complex procedure involved in finding HGH and must follow strict procedures set by the regulatory body in the collection and testing of blood samples needed to find the drug. There are also defined steps for adverse findings and what happens when results are challenged.
Notably, the protocol advises that drug samples should be frozen in the case where an athlete wants a sample retested. It also advises that HGH testing be done out of competition to keep the element of surprise…
According to Le’s rep, Gary Ibarra, the UFC told him a retest of Le’s blood sample was impossible because it had been destroyed. Ibarra said the fighter’s next step is undetermined.
It seems obvious that the UFC used HKFMTC for the Macau card due to the lab’s closer proximity to the event, compared to the WADA-accredited lab in Beijing. In retrospect, that was a mistake — although it’s unlikely that the UFC will ever admit to that, or change its stance on Le’s suspension. And while Le’s pre-fight appearance set off alarm bells among fans, his suspension should be nullified if the testing procedures were substandard.
What if this was a criminal trial, and Cung Le was arrested based on some evidence that had been discovered…but when his defense asked to see that evidence, the prosecution told him, “Well, we destroyed the evidence, but trust us, the evidence said that you committed this crime and you should definitely go to jail”? That would never fly. Doper or not, Le should have the right to defend himself. And going forward, the UFC needs to make sure that it’s placing its drug testing in the most capable hands — not the most convenient.
Welcome to episode 107 of the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
If you can believe it, there’s no UFC this weekend. Or the next. Depending on your perspective, it’s either a bad thing or a good one. I’d submit there’s no such thing as being on the bad side. For starters, there’s Fight Pass or your DVR or YouTube to keep you busy. There’s also Bellator 128 and WSOF 14 this weekend.
Moreover, part of what’s enjoyable about a fight is the agony of waiting for it. It’s seeing it marked on a calendar, yet feeling like it can’t get here sooner. That struggle – while uncomfortable in the present – is what sweetens the experience once it arrives. All of that frustration converts to wonder and amazement. The UFC is training a new generation of…
Welcome to episode 107 of the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
If you can believe it, there’s no UFC this weekend. Or the next. Depending on your perspective, it’s either a bad thing or a good one. I’d submit there’s no such thing as being on the bad side. For starters, there’s Fight Pass or your DVR or YouTube to keep you busy. There’s also Bellator 128 and WSOF 14 this weekend.
Moreover, part of what’s enjoyable about a fight is the agony of waiting for it. It’s seeing it marked on a calendar, yet feeling like it can’t get here sooner. That struggle – while uncomfortable in the present – is what sweetens the experience once it arrives. All of that frustration converts to wonder and amazement. The UFC is training a new generation of…
Stories sell in individual sports. Without 20 other people to take a piece of the blame or share a piece of the glory in your athletic pursuit of choice, you need to have something about you that resonates. If you don’t, you’ll be forgotten in a blink. And that story should be something beyond acting […]
Stories sell in individual sports. Without 20 other people to take a piece of the blame or share a piece of the glory in your athletic pursuit of choice, you need to have something about you that resonates. If you don’t, you’ll be forgotten in a blink. And that story should be something beyond acting […]
Every time Eduardo Dantas has fought a title fight in Bellator, he has finished his opponent. And the Nova Uniao bantamweight wants to do the same to Joe Warren on Friday night’s Bellator 128.
Dantas, the current Bellator 135-pound champion, meets interim champion Warren in the main event of Friday’s card in Thackerville, Okla., and he sees “The Baddest Man on the Planet” as a great test for his skills.
“He’s a tough guy, a really good fighter,” Dantas told MMAFighting.com. “He’s not a fool on the ground or standing, and he has good takedowns. It’s a fight that I always wanted to test myself, test my cardio and my hands. It’s going to be an amazing fight. I’m really anxious for this.”
Forced out of a clash with Warren in May with a head injury, Dantas feels better than ever.
“I’m physically stronger and mentally better prepared for this fight. I promise you, this is going to be a great fight,” he said. “I was stressed with the weight cut for my last fights, but this time I’m happy because I know I’ll be fighting him. He talked too much, so beating him will taste better. This fight won’t last five rounds.”
Dantas’ beef with Warren started a while ago on Twitter, and he plans to end it with a finish.
“He tweeted to me saying that I fought a low-lever wrestler and that it would be different against him,” he said. “He called me a kid, said he would kick my ass. I replied to him saying he was wrong, that I would beat him up when we got inside the cage.
“He will change his mind when he feels how heavy my hands are. If he tries to take me down, I will submit him. If he stands, I will knock him out. He has nowhere to run, unless he actually runs around the cage. Let’s see if he’s ready to run away from me for five rounds.”
When Dantas found out that Warren had failed a couple drug tests for marijuana in the past, he thought about asking Bellator for an enhanced drug testing. He quickly changed his mind, though.
“I started reading about him and I found out he was caught in a drug test in 2007, and he was pissed off when I tweeted about it,” he said. “I told him I would only fight him if he agreed to undergo a pre-fight blood testing, but I knew he would never make it to the fight with that because he would get caught. No problem, with doping or not he will get punched the same way.”
Despite all the pre-fight animosity, Dantas won’t bring any of the heat to the cage.
“I’m not mad at him. He’s indifferent to me, actually. I kind of think he’s funny, but this pre-fight talk got me hungrier to fight,” he said. “I won’t feel anything when I get inside the cage. I do what I love in there.”
Warren, who won the interim title with a win over Rafael Silva after Dantas was forced to withdraw from Bellator 118, will try to win his second undisputed title in Bellator against the Brazilian. “Dudu,” who sees the interim title as a marketing attraction, sends his rival a final message:
“I think (the interim title) was good for the promotion so they could promote an American champion, promote a title fight, but it makes no difference to me. I’m the champion and I will remain champion. That interim title shouldn’t exist, but they gave him anyway. I don’t care. I will go there and show him I’m the real champion.
“He got that interim title for a few months, took some pictures with it, but it’s time to give it back.”
Every time Eduardo Dantas has fought a title fight in Bellator, he has finished his opponent. And the Nova Uniao bantamweight wants to do the same to Joe Warren on Friday night’s Bellator 128.
Dantas, the current Bellator 135-pound champion, meets interim champion Warren in the main event of Friday’s card in Thackerville, Okla., and he sees “The Baddest Man on the Planet” as a great test for his skills.
“He’s a tough guy, a really good fighter,” Dantas told MMAFighting.com. “He’s not a fool on the ground or standing, and he has good takedowns. It’s a fight that I always wanted to test myself, test my cardio and my hands. It’s going to be an amazing fight. I’m really anxious for this.”
Forced out of a clash with Warren in May with a head injury, Dantas feels better than ever.
“I’m physically stronger and mentally better prepared for this fight. I promise you, this is going to be a great fight,” he said. “I was stressed with the weight cut for my last fights, but this time I’m happy because I know I’ll be fighting him. He talked too much, so beating him will taste better. This fight won’t last five rounds.”
Dantas’ beef with Warren started a while ago on Twitter, and he plans to end it with a finish.
“He tweeted to me saying that I fought a low-lever wrestler and that it would be different against him,” he said. “He called me a kid, said he would kick my ass. I replied to him saying he was wrong, that I would beat him up when we got inside the cage.
“He will change his mind when he feels how heavy my hands are. If he tries to take me down, I will submit him. If he stands, I will knock him out. He has nowhere to run, unless he actually runs around the cage. Let’s see if he’s ready to run away from me for five rounds.”
When Dantas found out that Warren had failed a couple drug tests for marijuana in the past, he thought about asking Bellator for an enhanced drug testing. He quickly changed his mind, though.
“I started reading about him and I found out he was caught in a drug test in 2007, and he was pissed off when I tweeted about it,” he said. “I told him I would only fight him if he agreed to undergo a pre-fight blood testing, but I knew he would never make it to the fight with that because he would get caught. No problem, with doping or not he will get punched the same way.”
Despite all the pre-fight animosity, Dantas won’t bring any of the heat to the cage.
“I’m not mad at him. He’s indifferent to me, actually. I kind of think he’s funny, but this pre-fight talk got me hungrier to fight,” he said. “I won’t feel anything when I get inside the cage. I do what I love in there.”
Warren, who won the interim title with a win over Rafael Silva after Dantas was forced to withdraw from Bellator 118, will try to win his second undisputed title in Bellator against the Brazilian. “Dudu,” who sees the interim title as a marketing attraction, sends his rival a final message:
“I think (the interim title) was good for the promotion so they could promote an American champion, promote a title fight, but it makes no difference to me. I’m the champion and I will remain champion. That interim title shouldn’t exist, but they gave him anyway. I don’t care. I will go there and show him I’m the real champion.
“He got that interim title for a few months, took some pictures with it, but it’s time to give it back.”
