(Looks like Andy Serkis just found himself out of a job for the Lord of the Rings reboot. Props: r/MMA)
If you’ve been watching the excellent UFC 184 Embedded series thus far, chances are that you’ve been thoroughly entertained by the-GOOD GOD WHAT IS THAT THING BEFORE ME.
Captured by r/MMA user lrkr486, the Gollum-esque looking creature pictured above is apparently Expendables star Mickey Rourke, who we can assure you definitely isn’t, as one commenter suggested, “on the heels of a three week crack binge.” It’s more like an eight to ten week binge for sure.
Rourke told the cameras in episode 2 of Embedded that he met Ellenberger while training for a fight in Russia (which, LOL) around the same time Jake was training for a fight of his own, and the two have become buddies in the time since. That being the case, perhaps now’s the time for Ellenberger to gather Rourke’s other closest friends around and hold an intervention for whatever the Hell is happening to
After the Jump: The first 3 episodes of UFC Embedded, via the UFC’s Youtube channel.
(Looks like Andy Serkis just found himself out of a job for the Lord of the Rings reboot. Props: r/MMA)
If you’ve been watching the excellent UFC 184 Embedded series thus far, chances are that you’ve been thoroughly entertained by the-GOOD GOD WHAT IS THAT THING BEFORE ME.
Captured by r/MMA user lrkr486, the Gollum-esque looking creature pictured above is apparently Expendables star Mickey Rourke, who we can assure you definitely isn’t, as one commenter suggested, “on the heels of a three week crack binge.” It’s more like an eight to ten week binge for sure.
Rourke told the cameras in episode 2 of Embedded that he met Ellenberger while training for a fight in Russia (which, LOL) around the same time Jake was training for a fight of his own, and the two have become buddies in the time since. That being the case, perhaps now’s the time for Ellenberger to gather Rourke’s other closest friends around and hold an intervention for whatever the Hell is happening to
After the Jump: The first 3 episodes of UFC Embedded, via the UFC’s Youtube channel.
My God, there aren’t enough Cat Zingano stretching videos in the world to erase the image of Rourke that has been permanently seared into of my brain. I know Rourke had to drop a bit of weight for his aforementioned boxing match, but he looks like Christian Bale in The Machinist right now. There can only be three possible explanations:
1) Rourke is preparing for a career-defining role in a Holocaust movie.
2) The aforementioned crack binge
3)
The redditor who posted this subscribes to a different theory — that Rourke is slowly turning into our aunt — but even that seems like a stretch to me. My aunt is in *much* better shape than Rourke, and she spends the majority of her days swatting punk ass middle schoolers over her shoulder while driving a school bus.
Once considered top of their class at welterweight, former UFC contenders Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck have since faded into obscurity.
Ellenberger and Koscheck will go to war at UFC 184 looking to regain some resemblance of respectability….
Once considered top of their class at welterweight, former UFC contenders Jake Ellenberger and Josh Koscheck have since faded into obscurity.
Ellenberger and Koscheck will go to war at UFC 184 looking to regain some resemblance of respectability. Neither fighter rides into their meeting inside the Staples Center on February 28 with any kind of momentum.
Both carry the burden of shouldering three-fight losing streaks into their upcoming Octagon foray. “Kos” has been on an extended vacation away from the cage and hasn’t fought in over 15 months. He was last seen at UFC 167 being dismantled in the first round by TyronWoodley.
Meanwhile, “The Juggernaut” last competed at UFC 180, succumbing to a first-round rear-naked choke from Kelvin Gastelum. Ellenberger and Koscheck have both been finished in back-to-back contests.
The pair have seen much better days and losing certainly takes both a physical and mental toll. Such losing can force a fighter who’s competing at the apex of his sport to reassess their long-term goals.
I’m stoked about the matchup, and I’m excited for the fight. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments in my camp, and that is what this sport is really all about. You have to evolve and make adjustments, and I’ve really had to dissect a lot of things about myself. I had to take a good look inside because it’s not specifically the battle with your opponent but the battle within yourself.
Motivation can be a beautiful thing. It can either help or hinder you and it’s something that Finley touched on.
“Whereas a fighter typically measured success in wins and losses, the process of progress is what ultimately provides fuel to his motivational fires,” Finley wrote.
As The Juggernaut continues to climb out the hole he is currently in, he has used the last three months and change to reflect on his mixed martial arts career from a personal standpoint.
“It’s all about evolving both mentally and physically. I’m focused, and I’m in the best psychological state I’ve been in quite some time,” Ellenberger said.
Most recently as this past weekend, the MMA world bore witness to what a lengthy layoff can do for a fighter’s mental state. Similarly to Ellenberger, former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir was battling back from a disastrous losing streak to take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in Brazil.
Mir hadn’t won a fight in over three years. The 35-year-old also failed to allow his body to fully recuperate and neglected to tend to the wear and tear each passing fight inflicted upon his 260-pound frame.
Mir since defeated Silva with strikes in the first round at UFC Fight Night 61 this past weekend. Mir told Finley prior to his fight with Silva:
The one thing we kind of ingrain as fighters is we become delusional. Surely mental toughness is a big part of our sport, and it’s a great thing to have in life, but that is not really what makes great men great. Intelligently navigating through obstacles and giving yourself the best opportunities to perform at a high level is what matters.
It wasn’t long ago that the former Top 10 welterweight Ellenberger was held in high regard. In March 2013, the Reign MMA stud put Nate Marquardt to sleep three minutes into their UFC 158 bout.
The win gave Ellenberger his second straight victory. It also brought his UFC record to 8-2.
Then, he went on to face a pair of insurmountable welterweights, Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler, both of whom are currently the No. 1 contender and champion, respectively.
When he’s at his best, Ellenberger is rocking foes senseless and taking them down at will. The former NCAA Division II wrestler from the University of Nebraska-Omaha averages close to three takedowns per contest, according to FightMetric, and has 18 career knockouts to his credit.
Kos is also a proud member of the power-punching stable of wrestlers at 170 pounds.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 veteran was a former standout Division I wrestler from the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He has used his mat prowess to stifle strikers like Paul Daley in the past.
However, as of late, he’s preferred to stand and bang with his adversaries. Though he’s had a tough time getting a finish, Koscheck‘s patented overhand right has found the mark on several occasions, including tilts with Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg.
Back in his heyday, the 37-year-old was keen at finishing foes. Kos vaulted himself into title contention off the strength of his one-punch power.
The Dethrone Base Camp fighter went 4-1 over an 18-month stretch between December 2008 and May 2010, finishing the likes of Anthony Johnson and Trigg. Koscheck, though, couldn’t help but resort to using questionable tactics to secure victory on multiple occasions.
In regards to his UFC 106 win over “Rumble,” Koscheck may or may not have faked an apparent eye injury, which was caused by an illegal Johnson knee. He used the time in which he was checked out by a cageside doctor to recover and finish Johnson via a second-round rear-naked choke.
And in his unanimous-decision win over Paul Daley at UFC 113, Kos was put in a similar situation and was given the benefit of the doubt by referee Dan Miragliotta.
Koscheck would later coach opposite longtime 170-pound champion Georges St-Pierre on TUF 12. He lost to the Canadian in a one-sided drubbing at UFC 124.
Although UFC President Dana White said that a post-UFC 167 text he received from the California-based fighter “sounded like retirement,” Koschecktold ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto in March “I have two more fights on my contract, and I plan on fighting those out and seeing if I want to continue.”
“I’ve been training my whole life, I’ve never had a break. I feel like I need to get away and take some time off and enjoy life.”
He’ll come back and grace the Octagon once again for the 24th time in his career when he takes on a younger clone of himself in The Juggernaut this weekend.
As long as both men are in shape and healthy, we could be in store for a rock em’, sock em’ welterweight war. Each have had their bouts with injury but appear to be in tip-top shape mentally and physically.
Ellenberger will have youth on his side. Unlike Koscheck, Ellenberger isn’t battling father time. The Nebraskan turns 30 years old exactly one month from Saturday.
There’s plenty of time for him to make another title run. Koscheck‘s run as a member of the 170-pound elite is far gone.
That’s not to say Kos won’t be as explosive as he has ever been come Saturday night, but the deck is stacked against him. “Koscheck admits he underestimated the speed of his last performance,” said Okamoto.
“Woodley was very, very fast, and he closed the distance on me well,” Koscheck said.
Ellenberger is no stranger to underwhelming performances either. He was one half of a UFC on Fox 8 snoozefest with MacDonald.
The Ellenberger-Koscheck pairing is important to both fighters for drastically different reasons. One fighter is attempting to climb the 170-pound ladder again, while the other is simply trying to preserve his legacy.
Koscheck‘s legacy is already cemented. He’s challenged for a title and was one of the first modern-day heel characters to call the UFC home.
One of the TUF originals, Koscheck will move into a four-way tie for third place on the All-Time list for most UFC bouts on Saturday with 24.
It’s going to take a staunch effort from Kos to topple The Juggernaut on fight night.
Ellenberger will hold a speed advantage. He’s also made far more use of his hands than Koscheck in his 13-fight UFC career.
Should Koscheck look to shoot for a takedown, Ellenberger will have an answer there too. He’s only surrendered two takedowns, per FightMetric, in his entire Octagon career.
Leading up to their meeting in Los Angeles, The Juggernaut remains a slight favorite, per Fox Sports, over his welterweight counterpart.
It’s kind of hard to see Koscheck winning but then again, people also doubted Mir’s chances against Silva. However, his chin appears to be dissipating right before our very eyes.
He’s lost two straight bouts via knockout.
Kos is in the same boat as “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell was towards the end of his Hall of Fame career. Will UFC 184 be his swan song?
The UFC’s welterweight division is a talent-rich collective where the battle to claim elite-level status never slows. Once a position in the divisional upper-tier at 170 is solidified, a fighter moves within striking distance of a potential championshi…
The UFC’s welterweight division is a talent-rich collective where the battle to claim elite-level status never slows. Once a position in the divisional upper-tier at 170 is solidified, a fighter moves within striking distance of a potential championship opportunity. Yet, with a shark tank of talent in the welterweight depths, fortunes can change in an instant, and a fighter can go from contention to fighting for relevancy in quick fashion.
Jake Ellenberger is no stranger to the ever-changing tides that come with competing in what is arguably the deepest division under the UFC banner.
Over the past five years “The Juggernaut” has been slinging leather under the bright lights of the biggest stage in mixed martial arts. Throughout this stretch, the 29-year-old Nebraskan has squared off with a collection of the world’s best at 170 pounds, and carved out his place in the elite tier of the welterweight division in the process. Ellenberger found success in six of his first seven showings inside the Octagon, with his only setback coming via split decision in a hard-fought scrap with former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit in the Omaha native’s official debut.
A six-fight winning streak would serve to add his name to a list of potential title contenders, and the heavy-handed Team Reign representative seemed to be within striking distance of a title shot when he stepped in against Martin Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale in June of 2012. Unfortunately for Ellenberger, the Danish striker would rebound from a drubbing in the opening frame to earn the victory via stoppage in the second round.
While his setback against “The Hitman” would serve to stunt his momentum, wins in his next two showings would once again spark talk of a potential title shot in his future. That said, the Southern California transplant would be turned back by Rory MacDonald in his next bout, then go on to suffer two more losses as he came out on the business end of things in fights with Robbie Lawler and Kelvin Gastelum respectively.
Nevertheless, despite being in the midst of the roughest patch in his career, Ellenberger‘s drive and determination to succeed have never waned. Being raised in the Midwest instilled the former Marine’s blue-collar work ethic and his belief that continuous mental and physical investment will yield the desired results.
He will get the opportunity to get things back on track when he faces former title challenger Josh Koscheck at UFC 184 on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles, in a bout where both men are in jeopardy of being pushed out of the upper echelon of the welterweight ranks. And while he was admittedly curious when the bout against “Kos” was offered up, Ellenberger is fully confident he’ll emerge victorious at UFC 184.
“I was surprised when I got the call to fight [Josh] Koscheck,” Ellenberger told Bleacher Report. “I didn’t know he was still fighting. I thought he had put in his resigning papers, but I guess that’s not the case.
“I’m stoked about the matchup and I’m excited for the fight. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments in my camp, and that is what this sport is really all about. You have to evolve and make adjustments and I’ve really had to dissect a lot of things about myself. I had to take a good look inside because it’s not specifically the battle with your opponent but the battle within yourself.”
In addition to his bout with the Fresno-based veteran being an opportunity for Ellenberger to get things back on track in his fighting career, UFC 184 will also bring him to the next step in his personal evolution. Where a fighter’s success is typically measured in wins and losses, the process of progress is what ultimately provides fuel to his motivational fires.
Instead of focusing all of his time and energy into expanding his athletic skill set, Ellenberger also works on the psychological side of things as well.
“I’m always looking to push myself and grow as an athlete,” Ellenberger said. “I’m always looking to move forward and up because those are the only directions to travel. It’s all about evolving both mentally and physically. This fight comes at a perfect time for me. I’m in great shape physically. I’m focused and I’m in the best psychological state I’ve been in quite some time. There are a few things I can contribute that to, but everything inside and outside of the cage is rolling.”
While Ellenberger is eager to break out of his rough patch and take a big step forward, the organizational banner he competes under recently set about some changes of their own. On Tuesday afternoon, the UFC held a press conference where CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC President Dana White and Lawrence Epstein outlined some major changes to the promotion’s drug testing policies, especially in regard to performance-enhancing drugs.
The UFC has vowed to ramp up their efforts to test fighters both in and out of competition and the new policy overhauls will go into effect on July 1. Ellenberger was excited to hear that changes, but said PED usage is a complex issue that will be difficult to police on a global scale.
“The UFC taking this new stance is a great move, but [PEDs] are definitely one of those things that are hard to control,” Ellenberger said. “And not just in our sport, but competitions in general. People in America don’t realize that in other cultures using those drugs is viewed as acceptable. I have friends from all over the world and some of them were raised with that being part of the athletic culture and you get to hear different perspectives on the matter.
“I think it’s a good thing there is going to more testing and stricter penalties, but at the end of the day, it is always going to be hard to control. And there are always going to be guys who are trying to cut corners. This new policy is definitely a good thing for the sport though.
“There are a lot of phonies in my division… a lot of them,” he added. “Guys are getting hit for PEDs, which is not surprising. The rankings in the division are very subjective and it’s all opportunity for me right now. There are a lot of open doors and that’s how I see it.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
(I really have no caption for this, but would just like to say that Richard Kiel is a legend. Via Kos’ instagram.)
While admittedly not much of a Josh Koscheck fan over the years (my uncle is a male nurse, bro), even I scratched my head when it was announced that he would return from a 15-month layoff to face Neil Magny at UFC 184. Being that one of them is riding a three fight skid and the other just tied the record for most consecutive wins in a year, it seemed unusual and a bit cruel that Koscheck was essentially being used as a stepping stone in what could very well be the final performance of his storied UFC career*.
Thankfully, it appears the UFC has come to its senses and decided to place Kos against a similarly struggling (and therefore more appropriate) opponent: Jake Ellenberger. Having also dropped his past three, Ellenberger is practically Koscheck’s doppelganger in the welterweight division — an aging wrestler with heavy hands who has seemingly been surpassed by the “new breed” of martial artists in recent years — albeit a much nicer one to be around.
Koscheck is on the heels of back-to-back KO losses (to Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley, respectfully), whereas Ellenberger’s most recent loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 180 was his first to come by submission since 2007. Methinks we’re going to be in for a good old fashioned slugfest here, or possibly three rounds of methodically paced wall-n-stall. Either or.
Predictions, please.
Check out the UFC 184 lineup after the jump.
(I really have no caption for this, but would just like to say that Richard Kiel is a legend. Via Kos’ instagram.)
While admittedly not much of a Josh Koscheck fan over the years (my uncle is a male nurse, bro), even I scratched my head when it was announced that he would return from a 15-month layoff to face Neil Magny at UFC 184. Being that one of them is riding a three fight skid and the other just tied the record for most consecutive wins in a year, it seemed unusual and a bit cruel that Koscheck was essentially being used as a stepping stone in what could very well be the final performance of his storied UFC career*.
Thankfully, it appears the UFC has come to its senses and decided to place Kos against a similarly struggling (and therefore more appropriate) opponent: Jake Ellenberger. Having also dropped his past three, Ellenberger is practically Koscheck’s doppelganger in the welterweight division — an aging wrestler with heavy hands who has seemingly been surpassed by the “new breed” of martial artists in recent years — albeit a much nicer one to be around.
Koscheck is on the heels of back-to-back KO losses (to Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley, respectfully), whereas Ellenberger’s most recent loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 180 was his first to come by submission since 2007. Methinks we’re going to be in for a good old fashioned slugfest here, or possibly three rounds of methodically paced wall-n-stall. Either or.
Predictions, please.
Check out the UFC 184 lineup after the jump.
UFC 184
-Chris Weidman (12-0) vs. No. 3 Vitor Belfort (24-10)
-Ronda Rousey (10-0) vs. No. 1 Cat Zingano (9-0)
-Antonio Silva (18-6, 1 NC) vs. No. 13 Frank Mir (16-9)
(Josh Koscheck deep in thought. / Photo via Getty)
Josh Koscheck will look to avoid being a stepping-stone for the rising Neil Magny when both welterweights collide at UFC 184, according to MMA Junkie.
The Fresno-based fighter, who began a stint as an analyst on FOX Sports 1 and gave our children nightmares on the first day of the job, will be returning from a year of inactivity and mumblings of retirement based on remarks made by Dana White after the former welterweight title challenger was knocked out by Tyron Woodley at UFC 167. It was his second back-to-back knockout loss, falling at the hands of Robbie Lawler before that at UFC 157 back in February 2013. “Kos” is in dire need of a win if he wants to resume fighting, riding a three-fight losing streak. If he topples his opponent in Los Angeles, Calif., it would be his first victory in two years.
(Josh Koscheck deep in thought. / Photo via Getty)
Josh Koscheck will look to avoid being a stepping-stone for the rising Neil Magny when both welterweights collide at UFC 184, according to MMA Junkie.
The Fresno-based fighter, who began a stint as an analyst on FOX Sports 1 and gave our children nightmares on the first day of the job, will be returning from a year of inactivity and mumblings of retirement based on remarks made by Dana White after the former welterweight title challenger was knocked out by Tyron Woodley at UFC 167. It was his second back-to-back knockout loss, falling at the hands of Robbie Lawler before that at UFC 157 back in February 2013. “Kos” is in dire need of a win if he wants to resume fighting, riding a three-fight losing streak. If he topples his opponent in Los Angeles, Calif., it would be his first victory in two years.
Undefeated in 2014 by racking up five straight victories, Magny’s stock can rise if he’s successful against “Kos,” as he currently holds the record for the most wins by any fighter in the UFC this year when he defeated William Macario at UFC 179 last month. Tying Roger Huerta for the most nods in a calendar year, not to mention holding the longest active winning streak out of all his 170-pound compatriots, Magny hopes to show observers his impressive run wasn’t for nothing. Winning is everything, yet this is Magny’s chance to prove he’s better than just the average mid-card talent. Koscheck would be his most prized victory, if that makes sense, after getting the better of a handful of guys without Wikipedia pages (including three out of five decision victories).
Call it odd matchmaking, but it makes sense if we look at it in terms of the fight game. Koscheck may or may not have it anymore, seeing how he’s faltered as of late, and him and his past nemesis Diego Sanchez are the only bucks left from the inaugural TUF season 1 (arguably the only season you ever needed to watch). That’s a lot of wear and tear, especially for someone that never sported gold.
His foe certainly is turning some heads, however, Magny isn’t a name that’s going to be thrown around at your next UFC viewing party. A win in definitive fashion could change that.
Plus, it doesn’t take a boxing historian to figure out this is a crossroads fight for Koscheck, and the most important bout for Magny to date in his career. It’s either out with the old, in with the new, or “I’ll punch out of work when I tell you I’m punching out of work.”
UFC 184 takes place Feb. 28, 2015, from LA’s famed Staples Center, featuring two title bouts including Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort for the middleweight strap, alongside Ronda Rousey defending her women’s bantamweight belt against Cat Zingano.
They say pimping ain’t easy, and that’s probably true for promoting too. (There’s a whole host of other uncomfortable comparisons to be made between the two professions as well.) Pimping is probably a lot harder when you constantly denigrate your talent. “Yeah, Mary? She makes a weird squealing noise when you bang her. But hey, it’s your money.” Yet, that’s exactly what UFC president Dana White does. Here are the top ten instances of Dana White burying his own fighters.
Kenny Florian and Nate Marquardt are two very different people. Where Florian is a suave, dark-haired Massachusetts lifer, Marquardt is a ginger mountain man who made sure to list himself first and foremost as a Christian on his Twitter bio. They have one thing in common though: Dana White called them both chokers.
Nate Marquardt lost a close fight to Yushin Okami at UFC 122. Okami was 9-2 in the UFC heading into the fight, and would go on to fight Anderson Silva for the title in his next appearance. That didn’t stop Dana White from calling Marquardt a choker and blasting the Greg Jackson-led corner (more on him in a bit!) for telling Marquardt he was leading on points.
As for Florian, White said he didn’t want to “take anything away from Gray Maynard” and wasn’t “bad-mouthing” or “trying to disrespect” Florian after UFC 118. But that’s exactly what he did when he said Florian “chokes in big fights” before reducing his performance to standing and staring at Maynard. Florian’s five UFC losses came to Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn, Maynard, and Jose Aldo — all champions or title challengers. Maybe, just maybe, the overachieving Florian just wasn’t on their level?
They say pimping ain’t easy, and that’s probably true for promoting too. (There’s a whole host of other uncomfortable comparisons to be made between the two professions as well.) Pimping is probably a lot harder when you constantly denigrate your talent. “Yeah, Mary? She makes a weird squealing noise when you bang her. But hey, it’s your money.” Yet, that’s exactly what UFC president Dana White does. Here are the top ten instances of Dana White burying his own fighters.
Kenny Florian and Nate Marquardt are two very different people. Where Florian is a suave, dark-haired Massachusetts lifer, Marquardt is a ginger mountain man who made sure to list himself first and foremost as a Christian on his Twitter bio. They have one thing in common though: Dana White called them both chokers.
Nate Marquardt lost a close fight to Yushin Okami at UFC 122. Okami was 9-2 in the UFC heading into the fight, and would go on to fight Anderson Silva for the title in his next appearance. That didn’t stop Dana White from calling Marquardt a choker and blasting the Greg Jackson-led corner (more on him in a bit!) for telling Marquardt he was leading on points.
As for Florian, White said he didn’t want to “take anything away from Gray Maynard” and wasn’t “bad-mouthing” or “trying to disrespect” Florian after UFC 118. But that’s exactly what he did when he said Florian “chokes in big fights” before reducing his performance to standing and staring at Maynard. Florian’s five UFC losses came to Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn, Maynard, and Jose Aldo — all champions or title challengers. Maybe, just maybe, the overachieving Florian just wasn’t on their level?
Jose Aldo is undefeated in 14 fights under the Zuffa banner. He’s lost a single fight in his career, submitting to a rear-naked choke in his eighth pro bout less than two years after his debut. He’s been very good for a very long time. Yet, Dana White couldn’t help himself after Aldo took a wide decision over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169:
“The thing about Jose Aldo that drives me crazy is the kid has all the talent in the world. He’s explosive, fast. He can do anything but he just lays back and doesn’t let anything go.
“When you talk about being the pound-for-pound best in the world, you can’t go five rounds with guys that it looks like you can defeat them in the second round. That’s what Aldo has a habit of doing.”
Jose Aldo fights Chad Mendes in two weeks at UFC 179. This is what happened the last time Aldo met Mendes.
Josh Koscheck, for all intents and purposes, is a UFC lifer. After two fights outside the UFC, Koscheck joined the inaugural Ultimate Fighter cast and made his real deal UFC debut in April 2005. He’s fought every single one of his next 23 pro fights in the UFC, amassing a 15-8 record inside the Octagon against the top fighters at 170 pounds.
On the UFC 169 undercard, Alistair Overeem met former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Overeem outstruck Mir 139 to 5 en route to a unanimous decision. (A decision that saw zero 10-8 rounds handed out because we can’t have nice things in MMA.) Dana White gave Overeem a thumbs down and called it a “crappy performance.” Whatever you say, Commodus.
Unhappy with the terms of his contract, Nate Diaz held out most of 2014. I mean, hey, it worked out famously for his brother, who wound up with a three-fight extension and a fight against Anderson Silva. Nate quietly ended his holdout a few weeks ago, and what did he receive? No new contract, and Dana White labeling him as someone who “doesn’t move the needle.” So, the UFC matched him up with some schlub and put him on the Fight Pass prelims, right? Oh, no no, my friend. Nate Diaz, prohibitor of needle moving, gets a top-five opponent in Rafael dos Anjos in a featured bout on Big Fox.
Let’s be honest: Jon Fitch doesn’t have the best reputation among fans. Between 2005 and 2010, the only thing more secure than Fitch’s spot near the top of the welterweight rankings was the inevitable fan backlash about his “boring” style every time he fought. But, you know, it’s probably in a promoter’s best interest not to feed that perception. Yet, here’s Dana White ahead of UFC 141 in 2011:
“You hear the same thing from everybody about Jon Fitch: ‘If I want to get to sleep and I can’t get to sleep at night, I’ll put in a Jon Fitch fight.’ … [F]ind one person that will tell you they love a Jon Fitch fight, it’s the most exciting thing they’ve ever seen and they just get so excited for it.”
And we were surprised this guy cut Fitch after he went 1-2 in his next three fights.
Continue to the next page for Dana’s four greatest fighter burials!
Once considered top of their class at welterweight, former UFC contenders Jake 
