Tag: TUF 14 Finale

Lulz of the Day: Mayhem Miller Calls C.B. Dollaway a “Fart-Face,” Promises to “Send Him Packing” at UFC 146


(A class act since the day he was born, Dolloway always takes time out of his day to pose for photos with his adoring fans.) 

When I first came across this tidbit of hilarity that Jason Miller told UFC.com during a recent interview, I considering starting this article with some hackneyed statement like “You gotta love Jason Miller,” or “Leave it to Mayhem to-insert stupid sentence here.” But then I paused for a moment, and decided to rewatch his match with Michael Bisping at the TUF 14 Finale. When it was airing live, I happened to be in staying in Boston at a friend’s house, and missed the fight due to an intensely heated game of beer pong that followed an Animals as Leaders concert we had just attended.

After the game had finished, I quickly shuffled into the living room, wide eyed and silently praying to be greeted by the image of Bisping’s unconscious, purple face. But I was too late. The broadcast had ended. I turned to another buddy of mine, and like a coma patient (or a victim of an H-bomb) being awoken for the first time, I found myself asking, “What happened?” He looked up at me, bitter disappointment in his eyes, and said, “I’m not really sure, but it was really sad. Like watching a rabbit die in slow motion.”

The point is, after talking up such a storm and subsequently getting his ass taken to the cleaners by “The Count,” Miller has more than likely earned the ire of at least a few dozen of you. Kind of like that poor Danga bastard. And once again, it’s do or die time for Mayhem, and here he is, falling back on his old habits. I’m not trying to sound negative, because I think the guy is a pretty entertaining fellow. I just wonder if he’s going to regret saying things like this again:

I just look at who he’s fought in the past, and I look at — you know — I look at who he’s fought in the past, and how I match up with them, and I know that… this should be an easy night for me. On top of that, I trained my ass off. I’m not gonna make this a personal thing with the guy, but at the same time, I’m not gonna pretend to respect him.

There’s a stark contrast between me and him. You can see that I’m mentally tough, and I’m a bit of a masochist, so I’ll take the abuse, and go through it. When the going gets tough, this guy quits, and I’m gonna make him quit. I’m going to knock his fart-face off, and I’m going to send him packing. There’s no way around it.

Ah fuck it, I’m back on the bandwagon.


(A class act since the day he was born, Dolloway always takes time out of his day to pose for photos with his adoring fans.) 

When I first came across this tidbit of hilarity that Jason Miller told UFC.com during a recent interview, I considering starting this article with some hackneyed statement like “You gotta love Jason Miller,” or “Leave it to Mayhem to-insert stupid sentence here.” But then I paused for a moment, and decided to rewatch his match with Michael Bisping at the TUF 14 Finale. When it was airing live, I happened to be in staying in Boston at a friend’s house, and missed the fight due to an intensely heated game of beer pong that followed an Animals as Leaders concert we had just attended.

After the game had finished, I quickly shuffled into the living room, wide eyed and silently praying to be greeted by the image of Bisping’s unconscious, purple face. But I was too late. The broadcast had ended. I turned to another buddy of mine, and like a coma patient (or a victim of an H-bomb) being awoken for the first time, I found myself asking, “What happened?” He looked up at me, bitter disappointment in his eyes, and said, “I’m not really sure, but it was really sad. Like watching a rabbit die in slow motion.”

The point is, after talking up such a storm and subsequently getting his ass taken to the cleaners by “The Count,” Miller has more than likely earned the ire of at least a few dozen of you. Kind of like that poor Danga bastard. And once again, it’s do or die time for Mayhem, and here he is, falling back on his old habits. I’m not trying to sound negative, because I think the guy is a pretty entertaining fellow. I just wonder if he’s going to regret saying things like this again:

I just look at who he’s fought in the past, and I look at — you know — I look at who he’s fought in the past, and how I match up with them, and I know that… this should be an easy night for me. On top of that, I trained my ass off. I’m not gonna make this a personal thing with the guy, but at the same time, I’m not gonna pretend to respect him.

There’s a stark contrast between me and him. You can see that I’m mentally tough, and I’m a bit of a masochist, so I’ll take the abuse, and go through it. When the going gets tough, this guy quits, and I’m gonna make him quit. I’m going to knock his fart-face off, and I’m going to send him packing. There’s no way around it.

Ah fuck it, I’m back on the bandwagon. This statement is awesome for two reasons, the first being that it may be the first time since elementary school that I’ve heard the term “fart-face” used by anybody. The other reason it tickles my funny bone is because, more or less, Miller talks like he’s going to knock C.B. Dollaway out. Considering how horrendous his striking looked against Bisping, and I do mean horrendous, making a statement like that is the best bit of trolling I’ve seen since….well, yesterday. It’s like claiming you will pull off a Kickflip Mctwist in Tony Hawk Pro Skater after biffing a 50-50 grind down a common handrail.

If Dollaway’s previous fights have taught us anything, it’s that he’s got a pretty decent offensive ground game (ask Joe Doerksen or Jesse Taylor) but seems to be lacking defensively (ask Amir Sadollah. Also, Amir Sadollah.). So by, “knock his fart-face off,” I imagine Miller means something more like, “grapple with him until I get ahold of his douchey neck,” but I could be wrong. In either case, you gotta imagine we’re looking a loser-leaves-town matchup, which always adds interest to an otherwise mediocre fight. Miller was lucky to even get a second chance after his aforementioned crash-and burn against Bisping, and has stated himself that he will retire if he loses to Dollaway, who has dropped his past two fights to Mark Munoz and Jared Hamman, and is probable to get the boot with a loss as well.

But I’ll give Miller this, the man owns up to his words, even when they threaten to choke him. When asked about his loss to Bisping, Miller was incredibly genuine and frank when assessing his performance.

Nobody cares about your excuses. The point is get in there and do it right, you know? I threw that fight away, and it was my fault. I’m not going to cry about it — I’m going to look forward, and win the fight on the 26th.

Everybody likes to kick a guy when he’s down, but I don’t give a damn. If I’m man enough to stand in front of my mom and the rest of the world and get my ass kicked, I think I’m strong enough to take some criticism from a guy who never laced on some gloves.

I told (Dana) if I put on a show like that again, I’m quitting. That was ridiculous. That wasn’t me out there; that wasn’t me. I threw that fight away, and so it’s up to me to go ahead and really make a statement on the 26th. The best thing that ever happened to me is me getting beat up by Michael Bisping because I’ve approached my entire career in a completely different light.

Let’s hope so, because Miller seems like a decent enough person in my eyes, and I’d hate to see his UFC hopes and dreams dashed before he can even get a win under his belt. I also just don’t want to see him fall back on Bully Beatdown again if he gets ousted, because that show is fucking garbage.

So what do you think, Potato Nation? Will we be seeing the last of Mayhem in the UFC come May 26th, or will Launchpad McQuack pilot his final mission?

–J. Jones

The Forward Roll: The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Edition

Filed under: UFCNot long after Michael Bisping was pulled off of Jason “Mayhem” Miller, signifying a TKO victory in the TUF 14 Finale main event, UFC president Dana White voiced his displeasure, calling it “the most one-sided fight I might have ever se…

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Not long after Michael Bisping was pulled off of Jason “Mayhem” Miller, signifying a TKO victory in the TUF 14 Finale main event, UFC president Dana White voiced his displeasure, calling it “the most one-sided fight I might have ever seen in the UFC.”

Given that Miller won the first round on the scorecards of many observers, that seems a bit harsh. This year alone, there have been plenty of other main events, let alone less significant matches, that were far more one-sided than Miller-Bisping. Less than one month ago, Junior dos Santos beat Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds. In the fall, Jake Ellenberger KO’d Jake Shields in just 53 seconds. In March, Jon Jones beat Mauricio “Shogun” Rua from the opening horn until the third-round finish. Yet Bisping-Miller is the fight he singled out.

That can’t be seen as a good sign for Miller, who gave the UFC an entertaining season of TUF, but now awaits word of his future.

To date, no TUF coach has been cut from the UFC after losing in his first match after the show ended, although there are two asterisks worth noting. After TUF 9, Dan Henderson beat opposing coach Bisping, then left the promotion when the sides couldn’t reach a deal to extend his expiring contract. And in his first fight after TUF 11, Chuck Liddell was knocked out by Rich Franklin and later retired.

In my opinion, Miller deserves another opportunity. While his offense can be unorthodox, he is still a competitive fighter and brings entertainment value with his presence. The UFC insists they want game fighters who come to put on a show. Even though he lost, Miller did that. He didn’t go quietly or surrender. He took a beating and fought on until the referee put common sense ahead of courage. Cutting Miller would send a conflicting message from what fighters have always been told.

On to the future matchups…

Michael Bisping
Another strong performance from the Brit, who remains perpetually underrated and underappreciated despite few holes in his game. After his win, White alluded to the possibility of Bisping being added on to the UFC on FOX event. That would be a fast turnaround, but Bisping always seems to answer the UFC’s call. The question is who would be worth his while.

Right about now, a Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort fight would make good sense, but Belfort is locked into an evening with Anthony Johnson, and the UFC generally doesn’t like to shuffle fighters around after they’re already in the midst of preparing for something specific. So what’s left? Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen have a date, Anderson Silva is on the shelf, and Brian Stann is coming off a loss. Barring anything unexpected, that leaves one choice.
Prediction: He faces Demian Maia

Jason Miller
It would be a mistake to cut Miller. He’s one of the few non-champions able to generate interest from mainstream media due to his TV stint as a host on “Bully Beatdown,” and this recent loss aside, he’s a credible fighter.

For his return, I’d give him a name the fans know, and one who is also teetering on the brink of unemployment.
Prediction: He fights CB Dollaway

Diego Brandao
Brandao received an extraordinary amount of praise for his promise and success throughout season 14, and he also showed poise under pressure in the finale, overcoming a rough start in the early moments of the first round of his featherweight final with Dennis Bermudez before rebounding with a highlight-reel armbar submission.

For all the raves that have come his way, Brandao has much to work on. His striking can be too wild, he can be lured into wars, and he doesn’t have great takedown defense. At just 24 years old, he has time to work on those shortcomings, and shouldn’t be brought along too quickly.
Prediction: Brandao faces a promotional newcomer in the spring

Dennis Bermudez
Bermudez looked excellent for nearly the entire first round until making a mistake on the ground and leaving himself open to the arm bar. Unfortunately, that seems to be a running theme for Bermudez, who has lost each of his last three pro bouts by first-round submission.

He’ll likely get another shot in the octagon but it’s going to be sink or swim for him next time around.
Prediction: Bermudez faces either Marcus Brimage or Steve Siler

Tony Ferguson
The standout fighter on season 13 of TUF, Ferguson moved his record to 3-0 in the octagon with a solid decision win over veteran Yves Edwards. Such a victory shouldn’t be discounted. To defeat someone with a reservoir of experience on which to draw on is a feat worthy of our attention, particularly given the way Ferguson accomplished it in a workmanlike fashion.

His combination of striking and wrestling ability will make Ferguson a tough out as his confidence grows and he continues on up the ladder.
Prediction: Danny Castillo is coming off a strong win of his own. He sounds about right for Ferguson.

John Dodson
The littlest guy in the house might have been its baddest dude, as he KO’d three of his four opponents in the bantamweight bracket on the way to taking the TUF crown among 135ers.

Dodson has flashed big power as well as the ability to dump opponents on their backs when necessary. Combine those attributes with his athleticism and speed, and you’ve got yourself a pretty intriguing fighter. Sure, he should probably be fighting at flyweight, but that long-rumored division doesn’t seem much closer to happening now than it did 12 months ago, so he’s going to have to roll with the bigger guys until then.
Prediction: He faces Ken Stone

TJ Dillashaw
Dillashaw reminded me of Dollaway a bit, a hyped wrestler who fell short in the TUF finals to a smaller man, but regardless of the disappointing performance, he has some undeniable talent which leads me to believe he’ll rebound and make himself a force in the division somewhere down the line.

Though his roots are in wrestling, he does show a good striking game with the exception of keeping his hands so low. At his experience level, a loss isn’t the worst thing in the world, as it will allow Dillashaw a chance to progress at a more deliberate pace.
Prediction: He faces Alex Soto

 

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TUF 14 Finale Salaries: Michael Bisping Makes Way, Way More Than Everybody Else


(Success: Getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do something you’d gladly do for free. Photo via UFC.com)

It wasn’t enough that Michael Bisping scored a mouth-shutting TKO victory over Jason Miller at the TUF 14 Finale, in which he out-struck Mayhem 150-38. Bisping also had the pleasure of earning nearly ten times as much cash as his rival. MMA Junkie released the salary list from Saturday’s TUF 14 Finale, which shows that the Count’s paycheck ate up 49% of the card’s $868,000 payroll (including disclosed bonuses). The numbers are below. According to our sources, Marcus Brimage already spent his sixteen grand on revolting sex acts.

Michael Bisping: $425,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus)
def. Jason “Mayhem” Miller: $45,000

Diego Brandao: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Dennis Bermudez: $8,000


(Success: Getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do something you’d gladly do for free. Photo via UFC.com)

It wasn’t enough that Michael Bisping scored a mouth-shutting TKO victory over Jason Miller at the TUF 14 Finale, in which he out-struck Mayhem 150-38. Bisping also had the pleasure of earning nearly ten times as much cash as his rival. MMA Junkie released the salary list from Saturday’s TUF 14 Finale, which shows that the Count’s paycheck ate up 49% of the card’s $868,000 payroll (including disclosed bonuses). The numbers are below. According to our sources, Marcus Brimage already spent his sixteen grand on revolting sex acts.

Michael Bisping: $425,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus)
def. Jason “Mayhem” Miller: $45,000

Diego Brandao: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Dennis Bermudez: $8,000

John Dodson: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. T.J. Dillashaw: $8,000

Tony Ferguson: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Yves Edwards: $16,000

Johnny Bedford: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Louis Gaudinot: $8,000

Marcus Brimage: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Stephen Bass: $8,000

John Albert: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Dustin Pague: $8,000

Roland Delorme: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Josh Ferguson: $8,000

Steven Siler: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Josh Clopton: $8,000

Bryan Caraway: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Dustin Neace: $8,000

TUF 14 Finale Fighter Salaries: Michael Bisping Banks $425,000

Filed under: UFC, NewsMichael Bisping was by far the highest earner at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, earning a $425,000 purse in his win over Jason “Mayhem” Miller on Saturday in Las Vegas.

According to the salaries the UFC reported to the Nevada at…

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Michael Bisping was by far the highest earner at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, earning a $425,000 purse in his win over Jason “Mayhem” Miller on Saturday in Las Vegas.

According to the salaries the UFC reported to the Nevada athletic commission, Bisping made $275,000 to show and another $150,000 as a win bonus. In Miller’s return to the UFC, he made $45,000 and would have made another $45,000 had he secured his first Octagon win.

Check out the rest of the salaries below.

Spike TV Bouts

Michael Bisping: $275,000 + $150,000 bonus = $425,000 def. Jason “Mayhem” Miller: $45,000
Diego Brandao: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Dennis Bermudez: $8,000
John Dodson $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. T.J. Dillashaw : $8,000
Tony Ferguson: $15,000 + $15,000 bonus = $30,000 def. Yves Edwards: $16,000
Johnny Bedford $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Louis Gaudinot : $8,000

Preliminary Bouts
Marcus Brimage: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Stephen Bass : $8,000
John Albert: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Dustin Pague: $8,000
Roland Delorme: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Josh Ferguson: $8,000
Steven Siler: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Josh Clopton: $6,000
Bryan Caraway: $8,000 + $8,000 bonus = $16,000 def. Dustin Neace: $8,000

Post-Fight Bonuses ($40,000 each)
KO of the Night: John Dodson
Submission of the Night: Diego Brandao
Fight of the Night: Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez

 

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Falling Action: Best and Worst of TUF 14 Finale

Filed under: UFCThe TUF 14 Finale once again made use of the claustrophobically ‘intimate’ setting in the Pearl at the Palms on Saturday night. It’s the kind of arena that lets you hear everything from the smack of the gloves to the belligerent shouts …

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Diego BrandaoThe TUF 14 Finale once again made use of the claustrophobically ‘intimate’ setting in the Pearl at the Palms on Saturday night. It’s the kind of arena that lets you hear everything from the smack of the gloves to the belligerent shouts of individual audience members, which is both good and bad, sometimes all at once.

For me personally, one benefit of the limited space at cageside was that I ended up sitting directly behind the Octagon girls. What did I learn from the experience? Mainly that Chandella and Arianny have zero problem eating candy and junk food all night. Seriously, we’re talking Skittles, Reese’s peanut butter cups, even Oreos.

And honestly? I was impressed. A lot of people might assume that women who wear a bikini to work must be starving themselves, but they definitely aren’t. Maybe it’s not a dietary strategy that all of us could pursue and still look good on TV, but it’s obviously working for them. Score one for Skittles.

On to Saturday night’s biggest winners, losers, and everything in between…

Biggest Winner: Diego Brandao
We could argue all day about whether a TUF title really means anything (though let’s not do that; I have errands to run), but a great fight is a great fight no matter what’s at stake. From his entrance music to his recklessly aggressive style, Brandao really is like a 145-pound Wanderlei Silva, only without the weird post-facelift look. He and Bermudez combined for one of the best finale fights in recent memory, packing three rounds of action into just a little under one round of actual fighting. Brandao’s style obviously opens him up to danger, as we saw, but it’s also incredibly exciting to watch. That man gets in the cage with the goal of writing his name in blood — yours or his, he doesn’t seem to care. For fans who love to complain that the smaller fighters lack finishing power, he’s the perfect addition to the UFC roster. He’s a brutal little wrecking ball who can end fights on his feet or on his back. Better yet, he will force even the most strategically-minded opponents into a car wreck inside the cage. The featherweight class could use that infusion of violence right now, and Brandao may be just the man to deliver it.

Biggest Loser: Jason “Mayhem” Miller
As much as I love his antics inside the cage and out, that was bad. Not even just a little bad, either. It was very, very bad, and at the exact worst time for him, career-wise. Who knows why he gassed out quickly. Bisping would like to think it was his doing, but that sounds a little bit like when Chael Sonnen tried to take credit for Paulo Filho’s bizarre behavior in their WEC rematch. Whatever was wrong with “Mayhem” was most likely internal, not external. Maybe the pressure got to him more than he expected it to. Maybe it was all that time outside the cage. Maybe it was some combination. Regardless of the reason, by the second round he had nothing left to threaten Bisping with, and all he could do then was take his beating like a man. Which he did, by the way. He ran on fumes for as long as he could, and then he got out and pushed. The end result was a beating that stretched on like the excruciating last act of a Terrence Malick movie. Hopefully the UFC and the fans won’t judge him too harshly on the basis of that one fight, since he can definitely do better. He just has to do it soon.

Mr. Split Personality: Michael Bisping
Just when you think he’s going full heel, he has a great performance and even acts like a gentleman afterward, shaking Miller’s hand and bowing to the same fans he cursed a day before. Then you go back and watch the fight again and wonder, hey, didn’t he just try to totally illegally headkick a downed “Mayhem” Miller? What’s up with that? Then he blames a miscalculated weight cut for his weigh-in outburst (somewhat understandable), but also says it was kind of Joe Rogan’s fault (not at all understandable). Bisping is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma and baked inside a Yorkshire pudding. What gets lost in all the public image concerns, however, is that he’s obviously a hell of a fighter, whether his haters want to admit it or not. Even if you don’t think much of his wins, look at his losses. A questionable decision against former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, a knockout at the hands of Dan Henderson (that one doesn’t look so bad in light of recent events, does it?), and an at least arguable decision against Wanderlei Silva. You could say he lacks knockout power, and the Miller fight lends credence to that, but you can’t say that he doesn’t have skills.

Most Fun Per Pound: John Dodson
This pint-sized warrior has an infectious enthusiasm for everything, plus he can obviously fight a little bit. The stoppage might have been a tad early, but the fact remains that Dodson is essentially a flyweight who just won the bantamweight TUF tournament, so give the man his respect. His post-fight floor/cage routine makes me wonder if he didn’t miss his calling as a gymnast (or a ninja), but I’m excited to see how far he can go in the UFC. Once the organization finally gets the 125-pound division up and running, that is.

Worst Judging That Probably Didn’t Matter: Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson
I scored it 29-28 for Edwards, but the third round was so close that I wouldn’t even bother to argue if you told me you had it 29-28 for Ferguson. What I cannot accept, however, is a 30-27 score for Ferguson, which is how two of the three judges saw it. That’s the sort of thing that should make every fighter scared of going to a decision — even Ferguson. If the judges can look at a round that saw Ferguson get headkicked from one end of the cage to the other and score it in his favor, they simply can’t be trusted. It didn’t result in an outright robbery this time, but it’s still a disturbing sign that MMA judging has serious problems that no one seems to be even trying to fix.

Nasty As He Wanna Be: Marcus Brimage
After winning a clear-cut decision over Stephen Bass he took to the microphone and said he’d like to thank his sponsors, “when I get some.” Then he did a post-fight sitdown with our own Ariel Helwani that was hilariously inappropriate, necessitating the use of the old-timey test pattern to protect him from himself. Seriously, for those of you wondering what he said, don’t. You’re better off this way. If I could somehow un-know it, I would. Let’s just say that the next time a fighter asks if he can “get graphic” in a conversation about his sexual preferences, Helwani will almost certainly tell him no. The mental images that Brimage painted are the kind that disturb the sleep. That said, he’s just so damn likable. He’s still a little raw in the cage, but he’s got real potential. If he can sharpen his skills and get some experience (without getting himself banned from giving post-fight interviews) he could be a legitimate future prospect.

Most in Need of a New Way to Spend His Saturday Nights: Steve Mazzagatti
I initially thought Dana White went a little too far in calling him the worst ref in the history of fighting (whoever was working those Christians vs. lions bouts in the Coliseum was pretty bad), but now I’m starting to come around to that assessment. It’s not even the magnitude of the mistakes so much as the amazing consistency of them. He let the Johnny Bedford-Louis Gaudinot bout go on long after Gaudinot had quit fighting back, and he had absolutely nothing to say about the various illegal and/or attempted illegal blows in the Bisping-Miller fight. It’s to the point now that, when he’s announced as the ref for a given fight and the crowd boos, that’s how you know you’re dealing with an educated crowd. Mazzagatti needs to up his game or else find something else to do, because one of these days he’s going to get somebody seriously hurt.

Least Charitable Assessment of a Main Event: Dana White
Calling the Bisping-Miller fight “the most one-sided fight” he’s seen in the UFC is just ridiculous. Even if White isn’t much of a Miller fan (and he isn’t), we’ve seen far less competitive matches over the years. Anderson Silva-Chris Leben comes to mind. Sean Gannon-Brandon Lee Hinkle is one the UFC might rather forget entirely, but it’s up there as well. Hell, even the Bedford-Gaudinot fight earlier in the night was more lopsided, only in part because of the tremendous size difference. Yes, Miller got tired early and was never really in the fight after that, but we’ve seen way worse. Trying to bury a guy who could turn out to be a legitimate draw for your company is a move that I can’t quite fathom. Lighten up, Dana. And give “Mayhem” a second chance.

 

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