(Don’t worry, Julian, at least this moment was not forever immortalized by the power of the internet. That would be *super* embarrassing.)
If BG’s recaps are any indication, this season’s The Ultimate Fighter appears to be void of most of the fabricated, frat boy drama that has plagued countless seasons before it, opting rather for a more straightforward, yet stylistic focus on the fights themselves. And while TUF has undoubtedly matured after some 17 seasons, that isn’t to say that the show has completely rid itself of the kind of unsightly characters reality television oft shines a light on. This season’s Julian Lane is none other than Robert “Bubba” McDaniel, a relentless a-hole who thus far has both bashed teammate Gilbert Smith for being mentally weak the day before he was scheduled to fight and unsuccessfully attempted to troll Kevin Casey into a fight using tactics usually saved for elementary school playgrounds (or the comments section of BloodyElbow).
So while a few of us were discussing McDaniel’s douchiness in the comments section of our latest recap, we (we being ReX) got to thinking: Who was the least likable fighter in TUF History?
After the jump lies a poll with the most obvious offenders (Browning, Lane, Koscheck the participant, Koscheck the coach, etc.) for you to choose from, along with an “Other” option in case you feeling like calling out some of the lesser-known but equally offensive jackwagons to enter the TUF household. I cannot stress enough that I have never entered the TUF household. I’ll announce the results at some point tomorrow, because I do what I want, when I want. OK, you can include me as an option for that statement alone.
RESULTS
With 33.9% of the vote, TUF 8 alum and terrorizer of Taiwanese townspeople Junie Browning shall henceforth be known as the most reprehensible scoundrel in the long line of reprehensible scoundrels to have paraded through the halls of TUF manor.
In a distant second place, none other than TUF 16′s Julian Lane with 25% of the votes, which just edged out the combination of coach/participant Josh Koscheck (24.9%).
In the “Other” category, TUF 1‘s Bobby Southworth collected 14 of 95 votes, somewhat ironically edging out “fatherless bastard” (his words, not mine) Chris Leben, who took in 10 votes. And to the scholar who wrote-in TUF 7′s Luke Zachrich for the sake of obscurity, congratulations. Game recognizes game.
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Michael Bisping Issues Statement on Vitor Belfort’s TRT Usage, Actually Doesn’t Sound Like an Asshole
(Remember the good old days? Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.com)
No, there is absolutely nothing sarcastic about the title of this article. Michael Bisping, who has the ability to sound like a total asshole even while saying things that many fans agree with, has respectfully released a statement on a hot-button issue. He has managed to disagree with other side without playing the role of a cocky British stereotype. I’m being dead serious.
On Friday, Bisping took to his website to release an official statement about Vitor Belfort’s testosterone replacement therapy usage for their fight at UFC on FX 7. As you may remember, following the event there was much speculation that Belfort may have failed his drug test due to information being leaked that one of the fighters from the card pissed hot. Even though the news regarding the actual fighter who failed his drug test turned out to be rather anti-climactic (read: not Belfort), many people feel that TRT has no place in MMA, including Michael Bisping.
Here’s his official statement, in all of it’s non-dickish glory:
(Remember the good old days? Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting.com)
No, there is absolutely nothing sarcastic about the title of this article. Michael Bisping, who has the ability to sound like a total asshole even while saying things that many fans agree with, has respectfully released a statement on a hot-button issue. He has managed to disagree with other side without playing the role of a cocky British stereotype. I’m being dead serious.
On Friday, Bisping took to his website to release an official statement about Vitor Belfort’s testosterone replacement therapy usage for their fight at UFC on FX 7. As you may remember, following the event there was much speculation that Belfort may have failed his drug test due to information being leaked that one of the fighters from the card pissed hot. Even though the news regarding the actual fighter who failed his drug test turned out to be rather anti-climactic (read: not Belfort), many people feel that TRT has no place in MMA, including Michael Bisping.
Here’s his official statement, in all of it’s non-dickish glory:
As some of you may know, I’ve just got back to Orange County from filming a movie in England. There have been dozens and dozens of interview requests and tweets about the recent news.
I’m back in England next week for the UFC on FUEL show, and right now all I really want to do is see my family, especially my daughter, who turned just turned 10 (happy birthday, Elle!). So, I wanted to do a short statement here and then move on to my fight with Alan Belcher, April 27th at UFC 159.
Here’s what I’ve got to say:
As I said right after the fight, I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it. It sucks. I don’t like it, but that was the result. I lost. Bottom line.
Over the past couple years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear. I don’t feel that I need to go into depth about it again right now. All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally. A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don’t understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone.
All that being said, I am not here to make excuses or cry over spilled milk. I fight in the best organization in the world, The UFC, and am very excited to work and earn a title fight, the right way. That process starts by whooping Alan Belcher’s ass at UFC 159 on Saturday, April 27th, live on PPV.
Thanks everyone for their support – can’t wait to spend some time with British UFC fans in London next week and I will be back, better than ever.
Regardless of your stance on testosterone replacement therapy in MMA, it’s hard to be offended by anything he wrote. It’s also hard to justify allowing a person who has failed a drug test – especially when said person fails a drug test for an anabolic steroid – to use TRT.
But let’s not continue to beat the TRT debate into the ground. Rather, let’s focus on the fact that we just read six paragraphs of non-asshole Michael Bisping quotes. Clearly this is a trend that won’t last too long, right?
Michael Bisping Reacts to Vitor Belfort Being Allowed TRT Exemption
It was announced earlier this week that former UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort received “a therapy use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)” before his UFC on FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping. Before the fight, Belfort d…
It was announced earlier this week that former UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort received “a therapy use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)” before his UFC on FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping.
Before the fight, Belfort didn’t want to address his possible use of the controversial medical procedure, but following the event, it was revealed that he was approved for the usage.
Any fighter on TRT must have his testosterone levels tested. Those levels must stay within an acceptable range for the fighter to be able to compete while using that treatment.
Belfort‘s opponent, Michael Bisping, who lost the fight in the second round after a nasty head kick was delivered, now finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Bisping has been a strong opponent speaking out against the use of TRT and has now faced and been defeated by three opponents who all took the controversial treatment: Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort.
On Friday, Bisping released a statement via his personal website, Bisping.TV, that explained his reaction to the news that Belfort was using TRT for their fight in Brazil.
While he offered no excuses in terms of his losing the fight, Bisping was disappointed that Belfort was allowed to use the treatment after previously testing positive for banned substances.
As some of you may know, I’ve just got back to Orange County from filming a movie in England. There have been dozens and dozens of interview requests and tweets about the recent news. I’m back in England next week for the UFC on FUEL show, and right now all I really want to do is see my family, especially my daughter, who turned just turned 10 (happy birthday, Elle!). So, I wanted to do a short statement here and then move on to my fight with Alan Belcher, April 27th at UFC 159.
Here’s what I’ve got to say. As I said right after the fight, I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it. It sucks. I don’t like it, but that was the result. I lost. Bottom line.
Bisping did, however, speak to the point that Belfort was allowed to use TRT even after testing positive for 4-Hydroxytestosterone following his fight with Dan Henderson in Pride in 2006. At the time, Belfort had been suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the infraction.
Over the past couple years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear. I don’t feel that I need to go into depth about it again right now. All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally. A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don’t understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone.
Regardless of his feelings on the use of TRT or Belfort‘s approval for the treatment, Bisping is moving on now and leaving this situation behind him. He’s next scheduled to face Alan Belcher in the co-main event at UFC 159 in New Jersey and isn’t focused on Vitor Belfort any longer.
All that being said, I am not here to make excuses or cry over spilled milk. I fight in the best organization in the world, the UFC, and am very excited to work and earn a title fight, the right way. That process starts by whooping Alan Belcher‘s ass at UFC 159 on Saturday, April 27th, live on PPV.
Bisping will take part in a question-and-answer session with fans Friday as part of the UFC on Fuel TV 9 weigh-ins from England. Outside of that, he’s leaving the Vitor Belfort subject dead and buried as he turns his focus toward Alan Belcher and a climb back into middleweight contention.
Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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Put the Rumors to Rest: Vitor Belfort is Officially a Testosterone-Deprived Old Man
(Hey, you can’t blame Vitor for following in the footsteps of his lord and savior.)
File this one under “News that absolutely no one should be surprised about.”
We knew something had to be up from the moment Vitor Belfort gave his incoherent, rambling, Animal Farm-esque response when questioned about whether or not he had hopped on the TRT bandwagon currently sweeping through MMA. Either Belfort just really, really feared being ostracized from his future bridge group at the UFC retirement home — the Ultimate Fusspot CareCenter — or he was simply feeding the interviewer whatever thoughts he could string together whilst trying to find the nearest exit. And now that the drug test results for UFC on FX 7 have come back, the UFC would like you to know that Belfort was definitely doing the latter.
Earlier today, UFC officials confirmed that Belfort did in fact receive a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy in the weeks leading up to his main event bout against Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7. But fret not, for his post-fight test “did not indicate the presence of any prohibited substance for increasing performance improvement.” Thank de Jesus for that.
(Hey, you can’t blame Vitor for following in the footsteps of his lord and savior.)
File this one under “News that absolutely no one should be surprised about.”
We knew something had to be up from the moment Vitor Belfort gave his incoherent, rambling, Animal Farm-esque response when questioned about whether or not he had hopped on the TRT bandwagon currently sweeping through MMA. Either Belfort just really, really feared being ostracized from his future bridge group at the UFC retirement home — the Ultimate Fusspot CareCenter — or he was simply feeding the interviewer whatever thoughts he could string together whilst trying to find the nearest exit. And now that the drug test results for UFC on FX 7 have come back, the UFC would like you to know that Belfort was definitely doing the latter.
Earlier today, UFC officials confirmed that Belfort did in fact receive a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy in the weeks leading up to his main event bout against Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7. But fret not, for his post-fight test “did not indicate the presence of any prohibited substance for increasing performance improvement.” Thank de Jesus for that.
Belfort, who tested positive for 4-Hydroxytestosterone in the aftermath of his unanimous decision loss to Dan Henderson at PRIDE 32, was fingered as suspect #1 when it was first announced that someone had pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7. And while that dishonor that later went to Thiago Tavares, you can expect a snide response from “The Count” to hit the web at any moment in light of this news. Honestly, we wouldn’t blame the guy. Bisping’s last three losses have now come to fighters who all but publicly endorse the stuff, and for once we could see where he’s coming from should he decide to respond. I know, I threw up when I typed that too.
Look, we’ve covered pretty much every angle of the TRT debate around here and we don’t mean to retread old ground, but Keith Kizer truly hit the nail on the head when he said TRT was being likened to “the new Viagra” by MMA fighters and athletes everywhere. And while fighters like Forrest Grffin, Frank Mir, and countless others have been quick to declare their sudden need for the treatment, we haven’t exactly jumped on board yet, if only because the information regarding the rules and regulations of TRT usage in MMA is scant at best.
We hate to sound old fashioned, but it’s these kind of exploited loopholes that make us yearn for the days when a beer-bellied Chuck Liddell would knock out any fool on the block without once complaining that his old man balls needed a boost to get him in fighting mode. Anyone else share this nostalgia?
And the Fighter Who Failed His Drug Test at ‘UFC on FX 7? Is…[UPDATED]
(Don’t worry, it’s the guy on the bottom. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)
Relax, Potato Nation, we can all rest assured knowing that Vitor Belfort did in fact beat the colon cannonballs out of Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7 without needing a banned substance to do so (Author’s note: Not that we would judge him if he did. Because when you judge someone, it sounds like you are a God. And we live in a freedom country, where you are either a Republican or a Democrat. Who is right?). And while that’s all well and good, one of the tests from the event did come back positive, as Dana White had mentioned earlier this week.
According to Brazilian news outlet Tatame, the fighter who pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7 was…Thiago Tavares:
After many rumors, the results of doping tests UFC Sao Paulo left [Note: Fucking Google translate, I tell you]. According to TATAME, the name of the athlete caught is Thiago Tavares. Our sources, however, need not know the substance used for light weight. His suspension will be nine months.
Yep, the guy we last saw eating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s elbows like they were acarajes is the one who got popped for what we can only assume is some kind of steroid. It kind of makes sense when you realize that Tavares regularly drops 20 pounds in between fights to fulfill his double life as salsa artist Marc Anthony.
(Don’t worry, it’s the guy on the bottom. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)
Relax, Potato Nation, we can all rest assured knowing that Vitor Belfort did in fact beat the colon cannonballs out of Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7 without needing a banned substance to do so (Author’s note: Not that we would judge him if he did. Because when you judge someone, it sounds like you are a God. And we live in a freedom country, where you are either a Republican or a Democrat. Who is right?). And while that’s all well and good, one of the tests from the event did come back positive, as Dana White had mentioned earlier this week.
According to Brazilian news outlet Tatame, the fighter who pissed dirty at UFC on FX 7 was…Thiago Tavares:
After many rumors, the results of doping tests UFC Sao Paulo left [Note: Fucking Google translate, I tell you]. According to TATAME, the name of the athlete caught is Thiago Tavares. Our sources, however, need not know the substance used for light weight. His suspension will be nine months.
Yep, the guy we last saw eating Khabib Nurmagomedov’s elbows like they were acarajes is the one who got popped for what we can only assume is some kind of steroid. It kind of makes sense when you realize that Tavares regularly drops 20 pounds in between fights to fulfill his double life as salsa artist Marc Anthony. Thankfully, his karmatic punishment was delivered in the swiftest fashion possible via 27 unanswered shots to the dome. Big Dan DOES NOT allow that kind of insolence in his octagon.
The five year UFC veteran has yet to comment on his positive test, but feel free to start speculating what his excuse will be in the comments section. Personally, I’m going to go with the old “tainted supplements” defense, which seems to be the popular rebuttal amongst Brazilians. It’s all the acai berries if you ask me. Those damn stanozolol drostanalone-filled acai berries.
[UPDATE]
According to MMAJunkie, the mystery substance Tavares tested positive for was drostanalone, the weight-cutting steroid of choice for such MMA fighters as King Mo Lawal and Hermes Franca. Chalk up another entry in the CagePotato Steroid Bust Timeline.
Pillow Hands: The 10 Weakest Punchers in MMA
If there is any curse in the world of combative sport, it’s that of being a fighter who cannot deliver force with any kind of note, especially via punches. Much like trying to carry water with a hole in the bottom of the bucket, scoring punches t…
If there is any curse in the world of combative sport, it’s that of being a fighter who cannot deliver force with any kind of note, especially via punches.
Much like trying to carry water with a hole in the bottom of the bucket, scoring punches that do little to no damage—no matter how cleanly they land—is a hard obstacle to overcome; such fighters can still score points, but once their opponent realizes they have nothing to fear from those fists, the fight can turn quickly.
After all, these men and women are in the hurt business, where it is far better to give than receive; if you have nothing to give, then you are going to receive, usually until your cup runneth over.
But there is also an unfounded stigma around such fighters; the notion is if a fighter has “pillow hands” or is “feather fisted,” they can never acquire the power to do serious damage if God hasn’t seen fit to give it to them at birth.
While some fighters can indeed train to confound said notion, it still takes a great deal in order to compete with the Fedor Emelianenkos, Benson Hendersons and Johnny Hendrickses of the game—men who can deliver devastating force so casually it almost seems unfair.
No one enters the fight game and achieves anything considerable without being of the mind that they are good enough and have the necessary desire to take such considerations as “fair” and “unfair” and render them moot.
Fighters have always been a breed apart from the rest of us, which is why we watch them ply their trade; as fans, ours are vicarious joys.