(If only the discs in Brown’s back could’ve been “immortal” too. / Photo via Getty)
We don’t want to freak you out, but curses are real. Our last five posts about UFC on FOX 9 have all been injury related. Our sixth post about the event is worst of all: Matt Brown is out of his fight with Carlos Condit due to a back injury.
The best fight left on the card after a series of injuries ravaged it is gone now. If you’re not keeping score, here’s a rundown of how injury-plagued this fight card has been:
(If only the discs in Brown’s back could’ve been “immortal” too. / Photo via Getty)
We don’t want to freak you out, but curses are real. Our last five posts about UFC on FOX 9 have all been injury related. Our sixth post about the event is worst of all: Matt Brown is out of his fight with Carlos Condit due to a back injury.
The best fight left on the card after a series of injuries ravaged it is gone now. If you’re not keeping score, here’s a rundown of how injury-plagued this fight card has been:
Either way, UFC on FOX 9 is a shadow of its former self. There are still some decent to above-average fights on it, but it’s no longer a must-see, free-card-of-the-year. Bummer.
UPDATE: December 7, 12:53 p.m. PT Brown tweeted the specific nature of the injury: he has three herniated discs in his lower back. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting reported that Condit has, in fact, been pulled from the fight. The UFC is looking to move h…
UPDATE: December 7, 12:53 p.m. PT Brown tweeted the specific nature of the injury: he has three herniated discs in his lower back. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting reported that Condit has, in fact, been pulled from the fight. The UFC is looking to move him to UFC 170, but no opponent has been named. […]
In the very brief history of The World Series of Fighting, Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle has been booked on two separate occasions yet has never come to fruition. It probably never will.
The pair was first scheduled to collide in the main event of WSOF 5last September, until “Rumble” was forced to pull out from the bout with an injury and replaced by Andrei Arlovski (who eventually defeated Kyle via unanimous decision). The pair was then rescheduled to throw down in the main event of WSOF 7 on December 7th. A press release sent out earlier this morning, however, informs us that the fight has once again been scrapped. Did I mention that it will likely never happen ever?
“I’m as disappointed as anyone that we’re forced to cancel this fight, but Mike just could not compete with his broken toe, and we simply could not find a suitable opponent for Anthony on such short notice,” World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said.
“That said, we are fortunate that we still have a fantastic championship matchup between Georgi Karakhanyan and Lance Palmer that will now serve as our main event, and I think fans are still going to enjoy an incredible fight card.”
In the very brief history of The World Series of Fighting, Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle has been booked on two separate occasions yet has never come to fruition. It probably never will.
The pair was first scheduled to collide in the main event of WSOF 5last September, until “Rumble” was forced to pull out from the bout with an injury and replaced by Andrei Arlovski (who eventually defeated Kyle via unanimous decision). The pair was then rescheduled to throw down in the main event of WSOF 7 on December 7th. A press release sent out earlier this morning, however, informs us that the fight has once again been scrapped. Did I mention that it will likely never happen ever?
“I’m as disappointed as anyone that we’re forced to cancel this fight, but Mike just could not compete with his broken toe, and we simply could not find a suitable opponent for Anthony on such short notice,” World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said.
“That said, we are fortunate that we still have a fantastic championship matchup between Georgi Karakhanyan and Lance Palmer that will now serve as our main event, and I think fans are still going to enjoy an incredible fight card.”
As Sefo mentioned, the injury pictured above has shuffled the featherweight title bout between Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan and Lance “The Party” Palmer to the main event slot. But rather than inform you of Karakhanyan’s current 8-fight win streak or Palmer’s unblemished 7-0 record (do you see what I did there?), I’d rather we use this opportunity to brainstorm a better nickname for poor Lance Palmer. I’ll get us started:
Thing aren’t looking good for Anthony Pettis. While the news regarding the knee injury that forced him out of his scheduled title showdown with Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox 9 broke last week, it appears the injury could be worse than originally diagnosed. Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight that the rising star’s torn […]
Thing aren’t looking good for Anthony Pettis. While the news regarding the knee injury that forced him out of his scheduled title showdown with Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox 9 broke last week, it appears the injury could be worse than originally diagnosed. Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight that the rising star’s torn […]
First, we informed you that newly-crowned lightweight champion Anthony Pettis was forced out of the evening’s main event with a(nother) knee injury. Then, we broke the sad news that everyone’s favorite homeless-bashing creepster, Ian McCall, was pulled from the card due to a hand injury. And now, MMAJunkie passes along word that both TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum *and* former WEC champ Jamie Varner have been bitten by the injury bug as well, leaving Court McGee and Pat Healy, respectively, without opponents for the event.
As of this write-up, neither fighter’s camp has disclosed an official injury or a timetable for Gastelum or Varner’s return. Our theory: Gastelum and Varner, besties for lyfe, snuck off to London to see the Catching Fire premiere and attend a scrapbooking workshop. Unicorn stickers will abound.
First, we informed you that newly-crowned lightweight champion Anthony Pettis was forced out of the evening’s main event with a(nother) knee injury. Then, we broke the sad news that everyone’s favorite homeless-bashing creepster, Ian McCall, was pulled from the card due to a hand injury. And now, MMAJunkie passes along word that both TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum *and* former WEC champ Jamie Varner have been bitten by the injury bug as well, leaving Court McGee and Pat Healy, respectively, without opponents for the event.
As of this write-up, neither fighter’s camp has disclosed an official injury or a timetable for Gastelum or Varner’s return. Our theory: Gastelum and Varner, besties for lyfe, snuck off to London to see the Catching Fire premiere and attend a scrapbooking workshop. Unicorn stickers will abound.
Gastelum updates us on the extent of his injury via Twitter. Still no word on Varner.
[UP-UPDATE]
Following in line with Gastelum, Varner just broke the news that he tore his rotator cuff training via Twitter, but has “already started rehab” and will undergo another MRI in six weeks. Stepping in for Varner against Healy will be Bobby Green, who is fresh off a TKO (low, low kicks) over James Krause at Fight for the Troops 3. Just as intriguing a fight as the original, in my opinion, if not more intriguing.
The finish came just 40 seconds into the first round, ending a three fight UFC win streak for Jason and making for his first loss since 2009. While the knockout loss would have probably earned Jason a two-ish month suspension, the injury he suffered in the locker room after the fight will likely keep him sidelined for quite a while longer.
MMAFighting is reporting that apparently Jason didn’t take his loss to Stephens with the grace and poise we have come to expect from Brazilians. No, he instead chose to punch himself in the face (twice) and elbow a wall backstage, slicing himself to pieces in the process and requiring 22 stitches to fix by the time all was said and done. Said Jason through the lens of hindsight:
I hurt my elbow, but I’m okay. I was crying, angry with my loss, and I landed my elbow on the door. It’s hurt, but didn’t break any bones. I was just devastated at that moment.
I’ve trained for a long time for this fight. I was undefeated for four years. Unfortunately, this is an individual sport and I have to deal with it.
I needed 15 stitches in my elbow and seven over my eye. I punched my head twice after the fight, I was so angry. But that’s nothing compared to my loss. I’m devastated.
The finish came just 40 seconds into the first round, ending a three fight UFC win streak for Jason and making for his first loss since 2009. While the knockout loss would have probably earned Jason a two-ish month suspension, the injury he suffered in the locker room after the fight will likely keep him sidelined for quite a while longer.
MMAFighting is reporting that apparently Jason didn’t take his loss to Stephens with the grace and poise we have come to expect from Brazilians. No, he instead chose to punch himself in the face (twice) and elbow a wall backstage, slicing himself to pieces in the process and requiring 22 stitches to fix by the time all was said and done. Said Jason through the lens of hindsight:
I hurt my elbow, but I’m okay. I was crying, angry with my loss, and I landed my elbow on the door. It’s hurt, but didn’t break any bones. I was just devastated at that moment.
I’ve trained for a long time for this fight. I was undefeated for four years. Unfortunately, this is an individual sport and I have to deal with it.
I needed 15 stitches in my elbow and seven over my eye. I punched my head twice after the fight, I was so angry. But that’s nothing compared to my loss. I’m devastated.
If Jackass has taught me anything, it’s that stupidity + bodily harm = fans, so expect Jason to tweet a photo of the damage any minute now. While we can sympathize with Jason’s frustration following such a tough loss, there’s also a reason they make Japanese moe body pillows. For sex. But they also work for rage-punching.
In any case, here’s what Dana White had to say about the incident, because apparently we MMA Media types need The Baldfather’s opinion on every last MMA-related issue, no matter how trivial. His opinions are the lifeblood the makes us whole. All Hail Zorp.
Listen, this stuff happens. Especially young guys. A big loss like that. A devastating loss like that, you do stupid stuff sometimes. I don’t think he expected to slice his arm open and get hurt, but it happens.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m just glad daddy Dana was around to inform us that “stuff” “happens.” I’ll sleep better tonight.
