Gross Photo of the Day: Nick Catone Apparently Replaced His Knee With a Grapefruit Prior to UFC 169 Win


(Photo via Catone’s twitter.)

Testosterone replacement therapy may be one of the primary go-tos among fighters looking to gain an edge over their competition these days, but there’s another equally insidious, ever-expanding method of chicanery being utilized by cheaters far and wide that makes TRT look like a dinosaur technology. I’m talking of course, about MMA fighters smuggling food beneath their skin.

Yes, much like boxers have been caught with metal-plated gloves, more and more MMA fighters are being busted for Culinary Subepidermal Contraband, or hoarding food items beneath the skin, to apparently gain an advantage in the cage. Following his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC on FOX 10, Gabriel Gonzaga was caught with a stack of oatmeal cookies stuffed into his hand, and just earlier today, middleweight Nick Catone posted the above photo to his Twitter account.

As you can clearly see, Catone, who has struggled with injuries for the majority of his career, replaced his left knee with a grapefruit (or possibly a cantaloupe) at some point prior to his split decision win over Tom Watson at UFC 169 last weekend and is now gloating about it with the above photo, sarcastically adding “Happy to get my hand raised tonight. Unfortunately I’m stuck in a terrible hospital in Newark with a torn ACL.”

Right, Mr. Catone. Tell me more about this “torn ACL” you speak of. A middle finger to the sport of MMA if I’ve ever seen one before.

CagePotato currently has its crack team of top scientists investigating what the possible benefits of CSC are, exactly, and we will update you once they finish pouring liquids from beakers into other beakers. In the mean time, watch your back, Catone. We’re onto you. (*gives Jack Byrnes “watching you” gesture*)

J. Jones


(Photo via Catone’s twitter.)

Testosterone replacement therapy may be one of the primary go-tos among fighters looking to gain an edge over their competition these days, but there’s another equally insidious, ever-expanding method of chicanery being utilized by cheaters far and wide that makes TRT look like a dinosaur technology. I’m talking of course, about MMA fighters smuggling food beneath their skin.

Yes, much like boxers have been caught with metal-plated gloves, more and more MMA fighters are being busted for Culinary Subepidermal Contraband, or hoarding food items beneath the skin, to apparently gain an advantage in the cage. Following his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC on FOX 10, Gabriel Gonzaga was caught with a stack of oatmeal cookies stuffed into his hand, and just earlier today, middleweight Nick Catone posted the above photo to his Twitter account.

As you can clearly see, Catone, who has struggled with injuries for the majority of his career, replaced his left knee with a grapefruit (or possibly a cantaloupe) at some point prior to his split decision win over Tom Watson at UFC 169 last weekend and is now gloating about it with the above photo, sarcastically adding “Happy to get my hand raised tonight. Unfortunately I’m stuck in a terrible hospital in Newark with a torn ACL.”

Right, Mr. Catone. Tell me more about this “torn ACL” you speak of. A middle finger to the sport of MMA if I’ve ever seen one before.

CagePotato currently has its crack team of top scientists investigating what the possible benefits of CSC are, exactly, and we will update you once they finish pouring liquids from beakers into other beakers. In the mean time, watch your back, Catone. We’re onto you. (*gives Jack Byrnes “watching you” gesture*)

J. Jones

UFC 159: Nick Catone vs. James Head Scratched After Catone Hospitalized

A welterweight scrap between Nick Catone and James Head was scrapped from UFC 159 this evening after Catone was hospitalized for dehydration, UFC.com reported this morning:Following a trip to the hospital for dehydration, Nick Catone has been scra…

A welterweight scrap between Nick Catone and James Head was scrapped from UFC 159 this evening after Catone was hospitalized for dehydration, UFC.com reported this morning:

Following a trip to the hospital for dehydration, Nick Catone has been scratched from his UFC 159 bout with James Head, scheduled for tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event will proceed as scheduled with 11 bouts.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt was the only competitor to miss weight at the UFC 159 weigh-ins on Friday, weighing 173 pounds and therefore would have forfeited 20 percent of his fight purse to Head if the bout went on as expected. 

Catone, a New Jersey native, turned heads a little over two years ago when he defeated current middleweight contender Costa Philippou at UFC 128 in March 2011.

The bout was contested at a 195-pound catchweight and also took place at the Prudential Center in Newark. 

“The Jersey Devil” has only competed twice since then, getting finished by both Chris Camozzi and TJ Waldburger. 

His bout at The Ultimate Fighter Season 16 Finale in December was his first bout in 13 professional fights contested at 170 pounds. 

A loss to Head tonight would have all but guaranteed Catone a pink slip from the higher-ups of the UFC. 

Through a message on TwitLonger, Head said he wishes Catone a quick recovery and is ready to fight anytime in the near future. 

Hey guys, I’m sorry to inform you that the @ufc let me know I’m not fighting tonight because @NickCatone is hospitalized. He is a tough guy and I wish him a speedy recovery. I trained really hard for this fight and am disappointed that I won’t get to compete but I will be ready to fight soon when the #ufc calls.

Head also competed at the TUF 16 Finale, suffering a TKO loss to resurgent welterweight competitor Mike Pyle. Head entered UFC 159 with a 2-2 record in his past four fights. 

As of early Saturday afternoon, no official announcement had been made on whether or not Head would receive his show or win bonus from the UFC given the unfortunate turn of events.

 

John Heinis 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.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Last Second UFC 159 Fight Cancellation: Nick Catone Hospitalized, Fight Against James Head Axed


Photo courtesy of Sherdog.com.

We’re just hours away from UFC 159, yet an update has just been made to the card. After missing weight and subsequently forfeiting 20% of his purse, welterweight Nick Catone has been hospitalized for dehydration brought on by his weight cut. As a result, the scheduled fight between Nick Catone and James Head has been canceled.

The announcement was made by the UFC through a press release issued earlier this morning.

Due to the last second nature of the fight cancellation, James Head will not be offered a replacement opponent. He will, however, receive his show money for the event.

Catone vs. Head was set to take place during the Facebook preliminary card. That portion of the card will now only feature the featherweight scraps of Steven Siler vs. Kurt Holobaugh and Leonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzie.

@SethFalvo


Photo courtesy of Sherdog.com.

We’re just hours away from UFC 159, yet an update has just been made to the card. After missing weight and subsequently forfeiting 20% of his purse, welterweight Nick Catone has been hospitalized for dehydration brought on by his weight cut. As a result, the scheduled fight between Nick Catone and James Head has been canceled.

The announcement was made by the UFC through a press release issued earlier this morning.

Due to the last second nature of the fight cancellation, James Head will not be offered a replacement opponent. He will, however, receive his show money for the event.

Catone vs. Head was set to take place during the Facebook preliminary card. That portion of the card will now only feature the featherweight scraps of Steven Siler vs. Kurt Holobaugh and Leonard Garcia vs. Cody McKenzie.

@SethFalvo

Nick Catone Out of UFC 136 Fight Against Aaron Simpson

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsThe injury bug has hit Nick Catone once again.

“The Jersey Devil” has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 136 fight against Aaron Simpson due to an undisclosed injury, sources close to the fighter confir…

Filed under: , ,

The injury bug has hit Nick Catone once again.

“The Jersey Devil” has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 136 fight against Aaron Simpson due to an undisclosed injury, sources close to the fighter confirmed with MMAFighting.com.

The 30-year-old, who has only fought once since January 2010 due to several different injuries, including a serious back injury, most recently defeated Costantinos Philippou at UFC 128 in March. No word on the severity of his most recent ailment or who will replace him against Simpson.

Catone (9-2) is 3-2 in the UFC. He also holds wins over Jesse Forbes and Derek Downey.

Simpson (9-2) has won his last two fights in a row against Brad Tavares and Mario Miranda.

UFC 136, headlined by Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, airs live on pay-per-view from the Toyota Center in Houston on Oct. 8.

Update: Catone tweeted he tore his achilles tendon Tuesday night.

 

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UFC 128 Undercard Live Blog: Benavidez vs. Loveland, Assuncao vs. Koch, More

Filed under: UFCNEWARK, NJ — This is the UFC 128 live blog for the three non-televised preliminary bouts on tonight’s UFC 128 event from the Prudential Center.

The dark matches will feature Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland, Nick Catone vs. Constanti…

Filed under:

NEWARK, NJ — This is the UFC 128 live blog for the three non-televised preliminary bouts on tonight’s UFC 128 event from the Prudential Center.

The dark matches will feature Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland, Nick Catone vs. Constantinos Philippou and Raphael Assuncao vs. Erik Koch.

The opening bout should begin around 7 p.m. ET.

The live blog is below.