UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson remains at the top of the heap halfway through 2013. The talented lightweight will defend his championship for the fourth time later this year against TJ Grant.Henderson has shown a good array of skills in rece…
UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson remains at the top of the heap halfway through 2013. The talented lightweight will defend his championship for the fourth time later this year against TJ Grant.
Henderson has shown a good array of skills in recent years, but has also shown vulnerability. The champion has had several close calls in his recent fights.
The lightweight division has many quality fighters jockeying for position to be the next contender. Of that group only a few have a legitimate shot at dethroning the champion. The lightweights in the current top 10 are not created equal.
Which lightweights have a decent shot at taking the gold? These are the contenders and pretenders of the UFC’s ranked lightweights.
UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson came under fire yesterday after he made comments comparing gay marriage to pedophilia, incest and polygamy, via Vigilante MMA. Today, “The Punk” has deleted all Facebook and Twitter posts on the comment and i…
UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson came under fire yesterday after he made comments comparing gay marriage to pedophilia, incest and polygamy, via Vigilante MMA.
Today, “The Punk” has deleted all Facebook and Twitter posts on the comment and issued a press release apologizing, via Bloody Elbow, as well as stating that members of the media took his words out of context.
“Yesterday top UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson used social media to poll fans with what turned out to be a controversial and thought provoking topic.
The subject of gay rights, including gay marriage, is sensitive for many people and Mr. Thomson fully supports equality for all human beings.
The statements made by Mr. Thomson were intended to provoke thought on some of the bigger issues that come up when people start to fight not only for equality but for more off-the-wall rights often frowned upon by society.
‘I am not against gay rights or gay marriage in anyway,’ stated Thomson. ‘My comments were completely taken out of context by some members of the media and I have since removed them out of respect for anyone who may have been offended. It was not my intention to offend or hurt anyone.’
With organizations fighting for legalized polygamy and the North American Man/Boy Love Association (http://NAMBLA.ORG) fighting for rights of their own, the line between equality and controversy becomes very thin. Mr. Thomson was merely giving extreme examples of very real movements in our country but he in no way meant to isolate the gay community in a negative manner.”
For those who missed it, here’s one of the messages Thomson posted on social media Wednesday:
“I’m only asking a question. My next question is, should siblings be allowed to marry siblings? My point is, where do you draw the line? I personally don’t care who you marry but I also am smart enough to know that it opens a gateway to men/women trying to marry young kids, siblings marrying each other and people having multiple husbands an wives. You have to think all of these things are okay otherwise your stopping them from being happy as well which is hypocrisy. Equality doesn’t stop with gay marriage, it just starts with it.”
After notching a 10-3 record in Strikeforce, where he captured the lightweight title in June 2008, Thomson made his UFC return against recent title challenger Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 7 in April.
Despite being a massive underdog, Thomson frustrated Diaz by keeping him at range before blasting him with a headkick in the second round and finishing him off with punches on the ground.
The American Kickboxing Academy mainstay currently has the No. 5 spot in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings after being the first man to score a (technical) knockout over Diaz.
Coincidentally, the UFC issued a 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine to Diaz last month for tweeting a homophobic slur, via MMA Fighting, though Thomson never used any derogatory words in his dialogue with fans.
Therefore, it seems unlikely that he will suffer any sanctions from his employer.
Was Thomson’s apology sincere or is he only backtracking on his recent comments about gay marriage since he received a ton of backlash from MMA media and fans?
JohnHeinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.
(Have I mentioned how the weddings themselves are yet? Because they. are. FAAAAAAAAAAABULOUSSSSS!!.)
Before we even get started, we’d like to give a big congratulations to the MMA community in general. According to the counter that hangs in the back of the office, it has been 20 business days since once of us said something both mind-blowingly ignorant and completely unprovoked via a social networking device! Twenty whole days…
(Have I mentioned how the weddings themselves are yet? Because they. are. FAAAAAAAAAAABULOUSSSSS!!.)
Before we even get started, we’d like to give a big congratulations to the MMA community in general. According to the counter that hangs in the back of the office, it has been 20 business days since once of us said something both mind-blowingly ignorant and completely unprovoked via a social networking device! Twenty whole days…
Thomson continued presenting his airtight argument on his Facebook page:
Look, I personally don’t give a shit who you marry but my question to you is, why is it okay for gays to marry and your gonna turn around and tell the guy he can’t marry the lil girl next door or the teacher she cant marry the lil boy in her class? Siblings, animals, etc. Why can’t they be happy like gay people an heterosexual people? … I’m not against gay marriage, I’m also not for it. I don’t care! I do care what it may lead to In the future once you change the definition of marriage for gay marriage. You can’t say that it doesn’t open the door way for other topics like I mentioned. I know it sounds crazy but people will bring these types of issues to the table once the definition is changed.
Right, Josh, because two consenting adults choosing to marry one another is exactly the same as an adult snatching up a minor, who isn’t legally old enough to make any life decisions of that importance, or an animal, which has no voice in the matter because it lacks the ability to effectively communicate a stance with us human beings. Your logic is flawless.
[UPDATE]
Well, well, well…it appears that Thomson is going with an even older standby for his apology than the one he used for his original argument, the classic “It was taken out of context” assertion (Via BJPenn.com):
“I am not against gay rights or gay marriage in anyway,” stated Thomson. “My comments were completely taken out of context by some members of the media and I have since removed them out of respect for anyone who may have been offended. It was not my intention to offend or hurt anyone.”
The testosterone-soaked world of MMA is not exactly at the vanguard when it comes to accepting alternative lifestyles. At least, if a few outspoken fighters are any indication.The latest to chime in is Josh Thomson, the former Strikeforce lightweight c…
The testosterone-soaked world of MMA is not exactly at the vanguard when it comes to accepting alternative lifestyles. At least, if a few outspoken fighters are any indication.
The latest to chime in is Josh Thomson, the former Strikeforce lightweight champion and recent addition to the UFC roster. On Wednesday, Thomson (20-5-1, 3-1 UFC) used his Twitter account to share his opinions on gay marriage, comparing the practice—apparently unfavorably—with polygamy.
Should you be allowed to marry whoever you want? Before you answer that, should u be allowed to have more than 1 wife?
Should siblings be allowed to marry siblings? My point is, where do you draw the line? I personally don’t care who you marry but I also am smart enough to know that it opens a gateway to men/women trying to marry young kids, siblings marrying eachother and people having multiple husbands an wives…Equality doesn’t stop with gay marriage, it just starts with it. Blacks an whites getting married is nothing like this. So your okay with R. Kelly trying To marry lil girls? People trying to marry their brother or sister? Animals? Etc? Those people want the same exact thing, to be happy. Are you gonna tell them no?
The Thomson tweets come not long after popular lightweight Nathan Diaz—who, interestingly, Thomson knocked out with a head kick in April in his return to the UFC Octagon—was suspended indefinitely by the UFC after he tweeted a gay slur. Diaz’s manager defended the fighter, saying Diaz didn’t use the term in an anti-gay context.
Earlier this spring, UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione was suspended for two weeks after his rant on The MMA Hour broadcast about transgendered fighter Fallon Fox.
Thomson, 34, returned to the UFC April 20 after a six-year stint with Strikeforce, which folded earlier this year. His knockout of Diaz at UFC on Fox 7 earned him Knockout of the Night honors and status as a lightweight to watch in the stacked division.
On the heels of the Mitrione incident, the UFC released a fighter code of conduct, which states that “discipline may be imposed” if it is determined that a fighter engaged in “derogatory or offensive conduct…about a person’s ethnic background, heritage, color, race, national origin, age, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.”
Josh Thomson has received some negative feedback from fans after posting questions on Twitter and Facebook regarding gay marriage. The Strikeforce and UFC veteran used his respective accounts to ask for feedback on where pro-marriage individuals draw t…
Josh Thomson has received some negative feedback from fans after posting questions on Twitter and Facebook regarding gay marriage. The Strikeforce and UFC veteran used his respective accounts to ask for feedback on where pro-marriage individuals draw the line. The tweets are still the topic of discussion in forum boards, despite the fighter going quiet about the subject since the initial interaction with fans.
On June 10, Thomson started by posting on his Twitter account:
“Should you be allowed to marry whoever you want? Before you answer that, should u be allowed to have more than 1 wife?”
The message was relayed on the fighter’s Facebook account automatically. Thomson received some opinions but no direct backlash for posing this particular question. However, in his follow-up comments on his Facebook, Thomson jumped into a kind of implied Reductio ad absurdum.
“I’m not talking about just gay marriage. I’m talking about where does it stop? Where do you draw the line? People wanna marry animals, children, siblings, multiple husband/wives, etc?”
While the initial question is fair, the likening of homosexual adults of the same gender to children and animals garnered some negative feedback. Thomson was not without his backers, however.
Former UFC veteran and champion Pat Miletichresponded on Thomson’s Facebook:
Josh is spot on. It may seem extreme to use some of his examples of ‘where does it end’ but I guarantee someone will want to marry their 1st cousin or even sibling. At what point does lack of civil liberty put this nation at risk? It’s already happened and will only get worse.
Miletich did not elaborate on how marriage alteration can create risk for a country.
Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, the initial question is fair. It is not impolite or improper for one to pose a question about social morality and practice. Thomson’s error appears to be in stretching his concern thin and utilizing poor logical formulation in the process.
The UFC has in the past handed out fines for anti-gay commentary; however, Thomson’s situation is not equal to past statements, like those made by Nate Diazfollowing his fight with Thomson. It will be interesting to note if the UFC does find any reason to reprimand the fighter.
To his credit, Thomson only posed a question. One can infer his stance, but he did not speak against homosexuals throughout the course of the debate. Still, the UFC is a private company, and some form of professional backlash could be seen in the coming days.
Donald Cerrone has never lost two fights in a row. In a 26-fight professional career, that’s a solid accomplishment, especially when you look at the frequency and the quality of opponent Cerrone has faced during his time with the WEC and UFC.&n…
Donald Cerrone has never lost two fights in a row. In a 26-fight professional career, that’s a solid accomplishment, especially when you look at the frequency and the quality of opponent Cerrone has faced during his time with the WEC and UFC.
When Cerrone entered the Octagon at UFC 160, he was not only facing K.J. Noons, but the prospect of two straight defeats after falling to Anthony Pettis in his last outing.
After assaulting Noons for 15 minutes, Cerrone had his hand raised in victory. Cerrone dominated the fight from start to finish and left a significant amount of Noons’ blood splattered across the mat, adding to the gore fest that the fight card had become.
The victory served notice to the lightweight division. The fighter known to the world as “Cowboy” was not going to let the defeat at the hands of Pettis keep him down for long. Cerrone shook off that defeat, put it in the past and came back with a statement win over Noons.
No, it didn’t earn him another “Fight Night” bonus to add to his growing collection, but that wasn’t due to lack of effort. After all, according to FightMetric, Cerrone’s 78 significant strikes landed during the bout were the most landed on an action-packed fight card.
So where does the win leave Cerrone? A glance at the UFC Rankings puts him at No. 6 in the lightweight division behind Gilbert Melendez, Anthony Pettis, T.J. Grant, Josh Thomson and Gray Maynard.
We know that Grant has earned the next shot at lightweight champion Benson Henderson, so that bout is out of the question for Cerrone. Pettis is going to face Jose Aldo at UFC 163 in a featherweight title bout, so that rematch is a no-go.
Melendez and Maynard are both coming off losses, so those fights, while possible, don’t make a lot of sense. That leaves Josh Thomson, the fighter who knocked out Nate Diaz in April.
When the topic of Thomson was brought up at the UFC 160 post-fight press conference, Cerrone did not hesitate to say, “Absolutely, why not. I’ll fight anybody. Give me when and where, and I’m game for whoever, but that definitely makes sense. It would be a fun fight.”
The fight makes sense for both fighters as well as for the UFC. Two veteran fighters with a combined 29 stoppage victories between them facing off for a chance to fight for UFC gold, that’s a fight that fans will want to see and one that Cerrone is already looking forward to. Cerrone is correct; that would be a fun fight.
Donald Cerrone has never lost two fights in a row. In a 26-fight professional career, that’s a solid accomplishment, especially when you look at the frequency and the quality of opponent Cerrone has faced during his time with the WEC and UFC.