Tag: Breaking News

Retired Pro Wrestler Superstar Billy Graham Commends Chael Sonnen’s Promo Skills

Three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen and his magnificent microphone skills have blurred the lines between pro wrestling and mixed martial arts, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by one of his idols from the 70’s. 
Former World Wide…

Three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen and his magnificent microphone skills have blurred the lines between pro wrestling and mixed martial arts, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by one of his idols from the 70’s. 

Former World Wide Wrestling Federation (eventually World Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham posted a YouTube video on Facebook Friday morning, comparing Sonnen‘s UFC on FOX 2 post-fight speech with a classic Graham promo. 

“This is a clip of a young UFC fighter who uses my promos. Some of you folks may have seen it before but today was the first time for me. He does pretty good. Billy”

Here is the clip he posted, making it clear as day that “The American Gangster” was a fan of Graham’s work during his heyday inside the ring. 

Graham, like Sonnen, was known for his colorful interviews and larger-than-life personality. 

Sonnen has recently toned down the pro wrestling schtick leading up this fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, calling his upcoming opponent a legend of the sport on several occasions, as noted by MMA Mania.

That fight appeared to be in jeopardy, despite UFC Fight Night 26 taking place at the TD Garden in Boston next Saturday, since Sonnen remained unlicensed as of yesterday afternoon. 

However, the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission, in a special meeting, voted unanimously to approve the newest member of the Reign Training Center’s fighter license, per MMA Junkie.  

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Sonnen listed Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, CM Punk, The Junkyard Dog, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and popular 80’s tag team Demolition as some of his favorite pro wrestlers. 

So fight fans, how long before Graham accompanies Sonnen to the Octagon as part of an epic entrance right before a fight?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.

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Online Streaming of UFC Events Could Soon Be a Felony

A new motion by the Obama administration could soon lead to felony charges for anyone streaming UFC content online.
That’s right bros and brodettes, your butts could be handed a hefty fine and hauled to the slammer for online piracy.
In 2011, the…

A new motion by the Obama administration could soon lead to felony charges for anyone streaming UFC content online.

That’s right bros and brodettes, your butts could be handed a hefty fine and hauled to the slammer for online piracy.

In 2011, the Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced to the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Lamar S. Smith. The bill was proposed as a way for law enforcement to cast a wider net in combating online trafficking of copyrighted property and counterfeit goods.  

Despite the bill’s unpopularity, UFC President Dana White and Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta offered their full support and backed the proposal in hopes of stopping numerous fans from streaming free UFC content.

Serious issues with the proposal generated public outrage, and by the time 2012 rolled around the bill was already dead in the water.

White admitted himself in an interview with MMAWeekly.com that the full scope of the bill was far from perfect, and the UFC’s primary focus was the piracy aspects of the proposal.

Things could soon be looking up on White’s end. According to a report from The Washington Post, the piracy portion of SOPA may soon be resurrected into acceptance, and it would upgrade the punishment of those caught streaming copyrighted content from a misdemeanor to a felony:

“You probably remember the online outrage over the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) copyright enforcement proposal. Last week, the Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force released a report on digital copyright policy that endorsed one piece of the controversial proposal: making the streaming of copyrighted works a felony.

As it stands now, streaming a copyrighted work over the Internet is considered a violation of the public performance right. The violation is only punishable as a misdemeanor, rather than the felony charges that accompany the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material.

…The Commerce Department report recommends “[a]dopting the same range of penalties for criminal streaming of copyrighted works to the public as now exists for criminal reproduction and distribution,” adding that “[s]ince the most recent updates to the criminal copyright provisions, streaming (both audio and video) has become a significant if not dominant means for consumers to enjoy content online.”

White has always taken an aggressive stance toward online piracy.

During an explosive interview with MMAWeekly a little more than a year ago, he warned anyone seeking free UFC content via online streaming that he was coming after them.

“You got these guys out there saying that they think it’s OK to steal our sh*t on the Internet. F**k you. It’s not OK, and yes, I’m coming after you, and yes, we will f**king sue you,” said White.

So what’s it going to be? Shell out 50 bucks for every UFC pay-per-view or run the risk of Uncle Dana knocking on your door?  

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UFC 163 Drug Test Results: All 24 Fighters Tested in Brazil, All Return Negative

The drug test results from last weekend’s UFC 163: Aldo vs. The Korean Zombie card have been returned from Brazil with every fighter on the card undergoing testing.
According to a release from CABMMA, the Brazilian Athletic Commission, all 24 fighters …

The drug test results from last weekend’s UFC 163: Aldo vs. The Korean Zombie card have been returned from Brazil with every fighter on the card undergoing testing.

According to a release from CABMMA, the Brazilian Athletic Commission, all 24 fighters on the card were tested, and all came back with negative results.

“The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) informs that all the fighters who participated in UFC 163 held in Rio de Janeiro on August 3, 2013, were submitted to tests of anti-doping control,” the commission stated in a press release on Friday. “The results of these tests did not reveal any illicit drug use, and/or to improve performance, stimulants or substances used to mask the use of the same by any of the athletes who participated in UFC 163.”

The Brazilian Athletic Commission is still fairly new by governing body standards, but it is starting to churn out results and testing in an orderly fashion after only a few major UFC shows in the area.

UFC 163 was the latest card to take place in Brazil, and with several more shows occurring there this year, the commission will definitely be busy.

The show was headlined by UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who made another successful title defense by defeating “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the main event.

The co-main event featured a bout between former 205-pound champion Lyoto Machida and Top 10 light heavyweight, Phil Davis.

The next card in Brazil will take place on September 4, when Glover Teixeira takes on Ryan Bader in the main event. CABMMA will be the governing athletic commission for that card as well.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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Gegard Mousasi Challenges Belfort at Multiple Weights, Tells Him to ‘Do His Job’

Gegard Mousasi used to be such a mild-mannered and quiet young man. 
Back when hardcore mixed martial arts fans first began to take real notice of Mousasi, he was quietly fighting in PRIDE, sparring with Fedor Emelianenko and fighting much larger …

Gegard Mousasi used to be such a mild-mannered and quiet young man. 

Back when hardcore mixed martial arts fans first began to take real notice of Mousasi, he was quietly fighting in PRIDE, sparring with Fedor Emelianenko and fighting much larger men in DREAM’s ill-fated and yet awesome Super Hulk tournament.

Through it all, Mousasi never said much of anything. Seemingly modeled after Emelianenko‘s subdued take on The Gentlemen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and yes, I am aware this is not a reference everyone will understand; those who do will appreciate it even more), he spoke softly (or not at all) and carried a big stick.

Those were the old days; these are the new. Mousasi may still carry the same big stick he used to, but he’s no longer speaking softly. 

Ever since his UFC debut against llir Latifi, Mousasi has been vocal about telling the world exactly who he wants to fight. He’s considering a move to middleweight (and has been for quite some time), and so he wants to fight Vitor Belfort. Makes sense, right? Belfort is one of the top contenders in the division, and yet he’s not getting a title shot until Chris Weidman makes good on his promise to grant Anderson Silva a rematch. 

Belfort even refuses to fight at middleweight unless it’s for the championship. Not a top contender. Not a fight the fans want to see. Only a championship match is good enough for Belfort to make the cut to 185 pounds.

And so Mousasi figures he’ll just challenge him at whatever weight Belfort wants. Here’s what he told MMAjunkie.com: 

I will make this easy on Vitor. If he is going to continue to make conditions on who he will fight, I will face Vitor at a catchweight or at light heavyweight. At the end of the day, I want to fight the best guys for the title. I don’t turn down fights.

Mousasi is, of course, referencing the fact that Belfort does turn down fights. He turned down a fight with Tim Kennedy, in fact. I suppose Mousasi is hoping to rile Belfort up a bit, to take a few potshots at him and piss him off just enough so that he’ll accept the fight.

Here’s the problem with that scenario, though, and it’s one I’m not sure Mousasi is considering: Let’s all remember what happened to the last two guys who had the temerity to talk trash about Belfort before they stepped in the cage with him. Yeah. Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold did the same thing, and things didn’t end up too well for them.

Perhaps Mousasi will ultimately get what he wants. But in doing so, he might get something he doesn’t really want: a brutal knockout loss. 

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UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Jon Jones Talks Moving Up to Heavyweight Division

Since making his debut as a mixed martial artist in 2008, Jon Jones has managed to accomplish more than most young fighters dare to dream.
Jones has assembled a resume that includes a record of 18-1, winning the UFC light heavyweight title, becoming th…

Since making his debut as a mixed martial artist in 2008, Jon Jones has managed to accomplish more than most young fighters dare to dream.

Jones has assembled a resume that includes a record of 18-1, winning the UFC light heavyweight title, becoming the youngest UFC champion ever, defending that title a UFC division-tying record five times, setting the UFC light heavyweight for most consecutive wins with nine, racking up five Fight Night bonus awards and earning a spot atop the pound-for-pound rankings.

All of this from a 26-year-old man who originally jumped into the sport to earn some money when he found out that he and his girlfriend, now wife, had a child on the way.

Jones has been sitting atop the UFC’s light heavyweight division since leaving Mauricio Rua in a heap on the canvas at UFC 128, TKO’d at the 2:37 mark of the third stanza.

That win, as well as his five subsequent victories, has left Jones hearing grumbles about how his length and reach give him an unfair advantage in the 205-pound division. This talk is, of course, garbage. Jones has always made weight for his fights. The claims that he is really a heavyweight masquerading as a light heavyweight are the ludicrous ramblings of those who dislike that Jones is such a dominant force at 205.

Still, Jones hears the calls that he should fight at heavyweight. He recently addressed that talk during the UFC World Tour. Rick J Lee was on hand to get Jones’ thoughts on the subject.

Jones’ move to heavyweight is going to happen, but by the sounds of things, not any time soon.

Jones is currently scheduled to defend his UFC light heavyweight crown against top contender Alexander Gustafsson on September 21. That fight will be the main event of UFC 165.

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Vitor Belfort: TRT Makes Things Equal

Vitor Belfort has become the unwitting figurehead for the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in MMA—a controversial practice which some argue is legalised cheating.
Having faced incessant questions of his use of TRT since the revelatio…

Vitor Belfort has become the unwitting figurehead for the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in MMA—a controversial practice which some argue is legalised cheating.

Having faced incessant questions of his use of TRT since the revelations first surfaced last year, he’s defended the medical exemption given to fighters with low testosterone once again, arguing that it only makes things “fair”.

He told Sherdog (H/T Bloody Elbow):

The TRT, the shot just gets you level in the system. So, the bottom line is my level is always lower than a regular guy. I never go [over] the limit, the level. So, what I’m trying to do, I’m just trying to be fair in my career against my opponent. The TRT is just something my body cannot produce. I’m doing the treatment with doctors, with bloodwork, so everything’s pretty black and white. But, all of guys are out there doing a lot of stuff but they don’t get caught because they don’t have blood.

TRT first caught media attention when Chael Sonnen blamed it for failing his post-fight drug test following the loss to Anderson Silva in a middleweight championship fight back in 2010.

Since then, several fighters have come out as having obtained therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for the use of TRT, including MMA veteran Dan Henderson.

What makes Belfort’s use of TRT even more controversial, however, is that he previously failed a drug test in 2006 while fighting for PRIDE. Past use of banned steroids is one reason for low testosterone and the head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Keith Keizer, has gone on record as saying that that history would likely prevent Belfort from being given a TUE in the state.

Controversially, Belfort hasn’t fought in Nevada since 2011, when he was beaten by Silva in a middleweight title contest—more than a year before his use of TRT came to light. Since then he has fought mainly in Brazil where he’s been repeatedly granted a TUE.

This situation has led some to accuse the UFC of deliberately shielding Belfort from regulators—something UFC president Dana White has vehemently denied.

Whatever the case, the 36-year-old veteran of the sport has certainly seen a resurgence in his career. He’s won all four of his fights at middleweight since his loss to Silva, spectacularly so, and now stands at No.3 in the UFC’s 185-pound rankings.

He recently turned down a fight against Tim Kennedy in the hopes of another title shot. However that shot is unlikely to materialise any time soon—and Belfort’s next opponent is far from certain.

 

Khurram Aziz is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. Check out his website at Everbuying.com and follow him on Twitter

 

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