Ever since being forced into a semi-retirement due to a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, former welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy has been building up a ton of good will with fans while serving as the color commentator for several of the UFC’s overseas shows. His intelligent, insightful, and undeniably British mic skills have left many fans calling for Hardy to replace Jon Anik outright, which is sad because Anik is probably the nicest cliche-spitting android this side of Shotbot.
That was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.
Ross Pearson won that fight clearly, and Diego accepted the win like he does…he’s as crazy as he is. I’m a huge Diego fan, but for me, he is what’s wrong with mixed martial arts right now. He is the 20th century bullheaded martial artist that walks forward and fights with their face, and now we’ve got guys like … Conor McGregor, we’ve got Gunnar Nelson; they’ve all got this very Machida-esque style where they’re very mobile; they can switch stances, and they can hit with power from anywhere.
I think Diego represents the old school, where you just walk forward in a boxing stance and see who falls over first.
Ever since being forced into a semi-retirement due to a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, former welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy has been building up a ton of good will with fans while serving as the color commentator for several of the UFC’s overseas shows. His intelligent, insightful, and undeniably British mic skills have left many fans calling for Hardy to replace Jon Anik outright, which is sad because Anik is probably the nicest cliche-spitting android this side of Shotbot.
That was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.
Ross Pearson won that fight clearly, and Diego accepted the win like he does…he’s as crazy as he is. I’m a huge Diego fan, but for me, he is what’s wrong with mixed martial arts right now. He is the 20th century bullheaded martial artist that walks forward and fights with their face, and now we’ve got guys like … Conor McGregor, we’ve got Gunnar Nelson; they’ve all got this very Machida-esque style where they’re very mobile; they can switch stances, and they can hit with power from anywhere.
I think Diego represents the old school, where you just walk forward in a boxing stance and see who falls over first.
It’s a pretty apt breakdown of the fighter Sanchez has evolved (devolved?) into, as the TUF 1 winner’s last few fights have seen him abandon anything resembling an intelligent gameplan in favor of a strategy more fit for Julian Lane. Still, Sanchez has gone an even 2-2 in his last 4, and while a win over him wouldn’t exactly put Hardy in line for a title shot, it would be a nice name to add to his list of victims.
“I’d like to get in there and maybe push him toward retirement,” said Hardy “Get my comeback fight, give him his last fight, and see where we’re at.”
Hardy has additionally stated that he “has reason to believe” the UFC might be interested in booking him against Sanchez, but considering what happened when the promotion recently tried to book Stefan Struve another fight after a similar layoff due to heart issues, I’d say it’s a long shot.
So Nation, any of you interested in the prospect of Hardy vs. Sanchez?
Unfortunately for High, his moment of cloudy judgement had already seen him axed from the UFC before Dana White could even review the footage of the incident. And now, the hits just keep on coming for “The Kansas City Bandit”, who might want to consider changing his nickname to “H.R. Shoven Stuff” (I am so sorry). High was handed down a one year suspension from the New Mexico Athletic Commission for his err in judgment and fined 10% of his $19,000 purse, or $1,900. But that’s just a small price to pay for notoriety, amiright?
It’s a relatively unheard of suspension given the nature of High’s infraction. I can only think of a couple altercations between referees and fighters over the years that didn’t involve Gilbert Yvel — one was James Thompson/Dan Miragliotta at EliteXC: Primetime and the other was Phil Baroni/Larry Landless at UFC 45. While no punishment was given to Thompson for smushing Miragliotta’s face, Baroni actually punched Landless and received just a 4 month suspension for doing so. Diff’rent era, diff’rent rules, I guess.
Oh yes, as to the Sanchez/Pearson decision…
(Shove a ref, receive a pink slip. Single leg takedown a ref, receive GIF glory.)
Unfortunately for High, his moment of cloudy judgement had already seen him axed from the UFC before Dana White could even review the footage of the incident. And now, the hits just keep on coming for “The Kansas City Bandit”, who might want to consider changing his nickname to “H.R. Shoven Stuff” (I am so sorry). High was handed down a one year suspension from the New Mexico Athletic Commission for his err in judgment and fined 10% of his $19,000 purse, or $1,900. But that’s just a small price to pay for notoriety, amiright?
It’s a relatively unheard of suspension given the nature of High’s infraction. I can only think of a couple altercations between referees and fighters over the years that didn’t involve Gilbert Yvel — one was James Thompson/Dan Miragliotta at EliteXC: Primetime and the other was Phil Baroni/Larry Landless at UFC 45. While no punishment was given to Thompson for smushing Miragliotta’s face, Baroni actually punched Landless and received just a 4 month suspension for doing so. Diff’rent era, diff’rent rules, I guess.
In regards to the Sanchez/Person decision, it might shock you to learn that the NMAC decided to uphold Sanchez’s controversial win, stating quote, “You leave it in the f*cking hands of those incompetent f*cking judges, you f*cking deserve whatever comes of it. F*ck Bellator.”
I’m sorry, I must have mixed up Dana White’s statement with that of the NMAC. My b.
As we previously mentioned, Pearson was granted his win bonus by the UFC despite the loss and is expected to receive a step up in competition for his next fight as if he had won it anyways. In other words, we have now reached the era of MMA where we don’t even have to pretend that decisions matter in terms of matchmaking. Chael Sonnen’s unretirement status: Imminent.
Personally, I’m just wondering how Sanchez is dealing with the fact that his first win in his past three contests is being all but invalidated by everyone but the people who are supposed to be in charge of determining that sort of thing. It doesn’t exactly serve as a vote of confidence in the TUF 1 alum, but then again, perhaps if he focused more on coming at his bros and less on asking his bros to come at him, bro, he wouldn’t be at the center of so many controversial decisions (*cough* Kampmann *cough* Gomi *cough*)
In February of 2006, former UFC fighter Lee Murray orchestrated the now-infamous London Securitas heist and (temporarily) made off with nearly $90 million dollars. It was not only considered the biggest robbery in MMA History, but the largest cash robbery in the history of the UK.
Last weekend at Fight Night 42, Diego Sanchez accomplished a similar, albeit more modest feat, successfully robbing Ross Pearson of a hard-earned decision victory and the UFC of an event-high $140,000. And in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, no less. While the New Mexico Athletic Commission’s involvement in the brilliantly executed heist remains under investigation, Sanchez appears to be in the clear. For now, at least.
Ben Henderson, on the other hand, must have renegotiated his contract at gunpoint. See what we’re talking about after the jump…
(Lol I got dis in da bag. Photo via Getty.)
In February of 2006, former UFC fighter Lee Murray orchestrated the now-infamous London Securitas heist and (temporarily) made off with nearly $90 million dollars. It was not only considered the biggest robbery in MMA History, but the largest cash robbery in the history of the UK.
Last weekend at Fight Night 42, Diego Sanchez accomplished a similar, albeit more modest feat, successfully robbing Ross Pearson of a hard-earned decision victory and the UFC of an event-high $140,000. And in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, no less. While the New Mexico Athletic Commission’s involvement in the brilliantly executed heist remains under investigation, Sanchez appears to be in the clear. For now, at least.
Ben Henderson, on the other hand, must have renegotiated his contract at gunpoint…
Lance Benoist: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) Bobby Voelker: $12,000
Scott Jorgensen: $52,000 (includes $26,000 win bonus) Danny Martinez: $8,000
Jon Tuck: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) Jake Lindsey: $8,000
Patrick Cummins: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) Roger Narvaez: $8,000
Underpaid: Ben Henderson, a former champion who was making six figures just to show in his fights with Gil Melendez and Anthony Pettis, is now making just $45,000 to show. Diego Sanchez, who has dropped two out of his past three fights, never won a title, and hasn’t finished an opponent since 2008, is making $70,000 to show. You feel like taking this one, Kobe?
To end the the exercise in depression that are these salary recaps on a high note, however, you should know that Dana White did in fact give Ross Pearson his win bonus, a.k.a the Cecil People’s “Decision of the Night” award, so perhaps Diego’s robbery was a victimless crime. Ehhhverybody hap-peh!!
*Following Caraway’s win, the UFC displayed a graphic stating that Caraway had tied Urijah Faber for the most submission wins in bantamweight history. At Four. I’m just sayin’, when a number that small is the record to beat, maybe it’s not a stat worth mentioning.
(“Diego, chu need to stop worrying, meng. Drug tests? We don’t need no stinking drug tests. Viva Mexico!!” Photo via Sherdog.)
Update: Greg Jackson claims that Rustam Khabilov and Diego Sanchez were indeed drug tested for their fights.
You really have to feel for Ross Pearson right about now. For three straight rounds in the Fight Night 42 co-main event last weekend, the TUF 9 winner outstruck, outscored, and plain outworked fellow TUF winner Diego Sanchez, only to watch a clear cut decision victory inexplicably granted to his opponent. “The Real Deal” was not only robbed of his realness, the biggest win of his career, and the bonus money that typically follows, but has since appealed the decision in a move that stands absolutely zero chance of changing anything.
That the egregious decision happened to occur in Albuquerque, New Mexico — the home of both Sanchez and the infamous Jackson’s Gym at which he trains — only fueled the cries of corruption aimed at the New Mexico Athletic Commission following the verdict. And now, one of Pearson’s training partners, Dean Amasinger, has come forward with some equally sketchy information that kinda-sorta indicts the NMAC as the corrupt sonsabitches that we made them out to be (via MMAJunkie):
Ross was drug tested before the fight, which is perfectly normal. That’s absolutely fine, and all this stuff is supposed to be random. But when Ross came back from the drug test, he said to me, ‘I’ve seen the list; none of the Jackson guys are on the drug test list, or the New Mexican guys who are fighting on the card.’ And so I went and checked and that was the case.
With [Sanchez] being from New Mexico and specifically Albuquerque, there’s obvious connections there and obvious potential conflicts of interest. They don’t have a lot of experience with bigger shows, and I think that’s another factor that’s played into this happening.
Crooked commissions you say? THIS THING GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! (*puts on Serpico costume, brushes beard poetically*)
(“Diego, chu need to stop worrying, meng. Drug tests? We don’t need no stinking drug tests. Viva Mexico!!” Photo via Sherdog.)
Update: Greg Jackson claims that Rustam Khabilov and Diego Sanchez were indeed drug tested for their fights.
You really have to feel for Ross Pearson right about now. For three straight rounds in the Fight Night 42 co-main event last weekend, the TUF 9 winner outstruck, outscored, and plain outworked fellow TUF winner Diego Sanchez, only to watch a clear cut decision victory inexplicably granted to his opponent. “The Real Deal” was not only robbed of his realness, the biggest win of his career, and the bonus money that typically follows, but has since appealed the decision in a move that stands absolutely zero chance of changing anything.
That the egregious decision happened to occur in Albuquerque, New Mexico — the home of both Sanchez and the infamous Jackson’s Gym at which he trains — only fueled the cries of corruption aimed at the New Mexico Athletic Commission following the verdict. And now, one of Pearson’s training partners, Dean Amasinger, has come forward with some equally sketchy information that kinda-sorta indicts the NMAC as the corrupt sonsabitches that we made them out to be (via MMAJunkie):
Ross was drug tested before the fight, which is perfectly normal. That’s absolutely fine, and all this stuff is supposed to be random. But when Ross came back from the drug test, he said to me, ‘I’ve seen the list; none of the Jackson guys are on the drug test list, or the New Mexican guys who are fighting on the card.’ And so I went and checked and that was the case.
With [Sanchez] being from New Mexico and specifically Albuquerque, there’s obvious connections there and obvious potential conflicts of interest. They don’t have a lot of experience with bigger shows, and I think that’s another factor that’s played into this happening.
Crooked commissions you say? THIS THING GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! (*puts on Serpico costume, brushes beard poetically*)
Further confounding things is the fact that, less than two months ago, Dana White unveiled a new, more complete drug testing policy to media members. Where drug tests were handed out on an individual, random basis to several (but not all) fighters competing on a card in the past, White vowed to test every fighter on a card to help weed out recent criticism:
We’re testing the whole card now. The whole card is getting tested. Everyone is getting tested.
If you can make sure you take a hard enough stance and you can keep these young, talented kids off these drugs, their careers are going to last longer. Once all the kids realize there is a level playing field, you have these guys paranoid, ‘I know this guy is using, I know he is, I have to fight this guy and he’s on it, so maybe I should do it too’ once we can eliminate all that it’s going to make the sport a lot better for everybody, them and us.
UFC and NMAC officials have yet to respond to these rather bold allegations being thrown at them, but for now, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the drug tests of all of the Jackson-trained fighters were simply lost in the mail. Or that Pearson simply misread the list of fighters tested prior to Fight Night 42. Yeah, misread…
…I’m sorry. Our sport is either Cecil Peoples-incompetent one day or Don King-corrupt the next, and willful ignorance has become my only defense mechanism. We will have more on this story as it develops.
(“Wow, those feel *incredibly* real.” Photo via Getty)
Following his second round TKO loss to Rafael Dos Anjos at Fight Night 42 last Saturday, Jason High was understandably frustrated. The loss dropped his UFC record to below .500, came in his lightweight debut, and snapped the first two-fight win streak of his promotional career in the process. That it came via a stoppage that some (Michael Bisping included) viewed as premature, and at the judgement of a ref who has been shakyat best in recent months, only further demonstrates where his head might’ve been in the heat of the moment.
In any case, “The Kansas City Bandit” crossed the line when he proceeded to shove referee Kevin Mulhall in the moments after the fight had been waved off, and is now facing potential disciplinary action for doing so.
A GIF of the shove and the full story is after the jump.
(“Wow, those feel *incredibly* real.” Photo via Getty)
Following his second round TKO loss to Rafael Dos Anjos at Fight Night 42 last Saturday, Jason High was understandably frustrated. The loss dropped his UFC record to below .500, came in his lightweight debut, and snapped the first two-fight win streak of his promotional career in the process. That it came via a stoppage that some (Michael Bisping included) viewed as premature, and at the judgement of a ref who has been shakyat best in recent months, only further demonstrates where his head might’ve been in the heat of the moment.
In any case, “The Kansas City Bandit” crossed the line when he proceeded to shove referee Kevin Mulhall in the moments after the fight had been waved off, and is now facing potential disciplinary action for doing so.
High later apologized for his error of judgment on Twitter, but according UFC Senior Director of Public Relations Dave Sholler at the evening’s post-fight press conference, he isn’t out of the woods yet:
On behalf of the organization, completely unacceptable. You can’t put your hands on the official. In the heat of the moment, a lot of things can happen, but you can’t put your hands on an official.
We’ll regroup on Monday with the (UFC) executive team and we’ll figure out if there’s any other things that need to happen. But ultimately, from a decision-making standpoint, from fines and suspensions, that’s up to commissioner [Thomas] King.
A fun fact I learned while reading up on High’s altercation was that in 2010, Keith Jardine apparently received an indefinite suspension from the Texas Athletic Commission when he shoved a ref following his split decision loss to Trevor Prangley at Shark Fights 13. While I can’t imagine that High will face such a suspension, he could easily see himself ousted from the UFC for a breach of the UFC’s Fighter Conduct Policy. So…Daley vs. High, anyone?
Although he has yet to comment on the situation, I imagine Dana White’s reaction will be something along the lines of “Why couldn’t it have been Mazzagatti and why couldn’t it have been a sleeper hold?”
(Fact: No can defense Rustan Khabilov’s patented Crab Attack.)
While listening to the latest episode of the CME Podcast earlier today, I was somewhat surprised to learn that Patrick Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez will be the only bout on this weekend’s Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov card *not* featured on Fox Sports 1. Cummins, who was previously heralded as “a beast” and “no joke” prior to getting smashed by Daniel Cormier at UFC 170, has fallen from co-main event-worthy to Fight Passable in just one UFC appearance. (At least they were able to find him an opponent, I guess.)
Cummins’ placement on the card is a kick in the balls to say the least, but likely not the biggest dick move a former Starbucks barista has ever been subjected to in his life. Regardless, the recent crash of “Durkin” stock is one of several interesting facts about Fight Night 42 that you probably won’t find in one of MMAJunkie’s insipid “Pre-Fight Facts” articles. Oh yes, shots have been fired.
That being the case, we decided to basically lift their idea and make it our own, bringing you lesser-known, funnier, and borderline inaccurate facts about Fight Night 42 and its competitors. What? If it’s good enough for Burger King, it’s good enough for CagePotato. Now let’s get started.
Stat #1: Fight Night 42 Marks the UFC’s First Trip to New Mexico
In keeping with its “As Real as it Gets” moniker, the UFC has finally decided to put on a night of fights in a state where the police officers are often more crooked than the criminals. Fight Night 42 marks the first time Zuffa has graced the “Land of Enchantment” since WEC 32 was held in Rio Rancho back in 2008, and the first time the UFC has ever held an event in the state best known as the setting of Breaking Bad. There will be no survivors.
(Fact: No can defense Rustan Khabilov’s patented Crab Attack.)
While listening to the latest episode of the CME Podcast earlier today, I was somewhat surprised to learn that Patrick Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez will be the only bout on this weekend’s Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov card *not* featured on Fox Sports 1. Cummins, who was previously heralded as “a beast” and “no joke” prior to getting smashed by Daniel Cormier at UFC 170, has fallen from co-main event-worthy to Fight Passable in just one UFC appearance. (At least they were able to find him an opponent, I guess.)
Cummins’ placement on the card is a kick in the balls to say the least, but likely not the biggest dick move a former Starbucks barista has ever been subjected to in his life. Regardless, the recent crash of “Durkin” stock is one of several interesting facts about Fight Night 42 that you probably won’t find in one of MMAJunkie’s insipid “Pre-Fight Facts” articles. Oh yes, shots have been fired.
That being the case, we decided to basically lift their idea and make it our own, bringing you lesser-known, funnier, and borderline inaccurate facts about Fight Night 42 and its competitors. What? If it’s good enough for Burger King, it’s good enough for CagePotato. Now let’s get started.
Stat #1: Fight Night 42 Marks the UFC’s First Trip to New Mexico
In keeping with its “As Real as it Gets” moniker, the UFC has finally decided to put on a night of fights in a state where the police officers are often more crooked than the criminals. Fight Night 42 marks the first time Zuffa has graced the “Land of Enchantment” since WEC 32 was held in Rio Rancho back in 2008, and the first time the UFC has ever held an event in the state best known as the setting of Breaking Bad. There will be no survivors.
Seriously, New Mexico didn’t earn its reputation as a desolate wasteland of methed-out tweekers and power-hungry cops on a whim. Did you know that in 2013, a man was pulled over in a Walmart parking lot and forced to undergo a 14-hour cavity search that included 8 anal robings, two x-rays, multiple enemas, and a surgical colonoscopy? Or that no drugs were found in said man’s anus? Or that the man later won a settlement worth 1.6 million dollars? Or that, despite this backbreaking lawsuit, those cops still remain employed? There’s a fun stat for you: Each unwarranted anal probe is worth approximately 200 large in New Mexico.
Thankfully, Fight Night 42 is being held in Albuquerque, where local police only use homeless people as target practice. Thank science Michael Chiesa isn’t fighting on the card, or we could have a real disaster on our hands.
Stat #2: Ben Henderson Does Not Actually Finish Fights
According to Ben Henderson in the above promo for Fight Night 42, the former lightweight champion “doesn’t fight to win rounds” and “ends fights.” The funny thing is, that statement is absolutely crazyballs bananas.
It’s been some 4+ years since fight fans have seen Henderson score a victory inside the distance, and you’d have to go back to his pre-UFC days to find it — a first round submission via guillotine over Donald Cerrone in their rematch at WEC 48. Henderson’s most recent fight — a split decision victory over Josh Thomson — was a particularly fine example of the dichotomy that exists between how “Smooth” perceives himself as a fighter and how he actually fights. A great guy Bendo may be, but a finisher he is not.
Oddly enough, Henderson’s four year streak of decisions isn’t even the longest dry spell on the Fight Night 42 main card. No, that honor belongs to Diego Sanchez, of all people, who has not finished a fighter since TKOing Luigi Fioravanti six years ago. Let it be known that on this day, an indirect correlation between quail eggs and knockout power was discovered, right here on CagePotato.
Stat #3: Rustam Khabilov, Like, Really Enjoys Suplexing the Sh*t Out of People
We’ve touched on this before, but Rustam Khabilov’s *two* victories via suplex is a stat that bears repeating. While his suplex-induced KO of Vinc Pichel at the TUF 16 Finale was the one that made him (moderately) famous, Khabilov’s powerbombing of Akin Duran at M-1 Challenge 2009 was easily the more brutal of the two. It took just 28 seconds for “Tiger” to suplex Duran into retirement that night, and he hasn’t lost any sleep over it since.
Stat #5: This Could Be the Last Time We See Yves Edwards in the UFC
Despite holding the lightweight record for bouts in the UFC (19, including 10 victories), Yves Edwards will likely be fighting for his career come Saturday night. The “Thugjitsu Master” has scored just two victories in his past six contests, dropping decisions to Daron Cruickshank, Isaac Vallie-Flagg, and only being spared a loss after being KO’d by Yancy Medeiros thanks to a positive post-fight marijuana test on Yancy’s part (Yaaancy!).
Matched up against Piotr Hallman, the 64-fight veteran’s career is likely winding down. Whether in victory or defeat, Edwards is and always has been a gamer, and we’d love to see him go out on a big victory before calling it quits for good. Currently a +160 underdog to his relatively unknown opponent, we think he stands a great chance of walking away with an upset win at Fight Night 42. Preferably via some crazy flying shit like in the video above.
Stat #7: Bobby Voelker Has Yet to Win a Fight in the UFC (Photo via Getty.)
Typically, a three-fight skid is enough to earn anyone not named Leonard Garcia a seat in the UFC unemployment line, especially when those losses comes in a fighter’s first three performances. Bobby Voelker, however, possesses the unique ability to absorb just enough damage to not get knocked out (save the Lawler fight) while absorbing far too much to win, and has earned high praise from Dana White for doing so:
“He’s 0-3, and he’s not going anywhere,” said White following Voelker’s most recent loss to William Macario at UFC 168. “He took the Robbie Lawler fight on short notice, and tonight he was busted up and keeps moving forward, keeps trying to win.”
Should Voelker come up short against Lance Benoist this weekend and somehow remain employed, he will join such rare company asDan Hardy, Mark Hominick, Steve Cantwell, and Elvis Sinosic to lose four straight fights without receiving a pink slip. The little victories, Nation. The little victories.
Stat #8 — Nobody knows what the “dos Anjos” in Rafael dos Anjos means. (The title of this 2013 film is absolute gibberish.)
Although linguistic scholars have almost unanimously confirmed that “dos” = “of” in Portuguese, the meaning of “anjos” was lost centuries ago according to experts in the field, along with the meanings of San Diego, BM, and #yolo.
Hopefully, these facts will only enhance your Fight Night 42 viewing experience this weekend, but if they don’t, you’re probably not a *real* fight fan anyway.
