Your MMA News, My Views 7.27.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 07.27.2007
All of the news of the week, including a special commentary on the wellness situation in MMA. This is a positive message to Dana White and the MMA industry I promise.
INTRODUCTION~!
Welcome once again to another edition of Your MMA News, My Views! It has been a relatively calm week in the MMA world, although there is still the bit stink over the steroid issue. After writing about it extensively for well over 4-weeks in the wrestling section, and on and off over the last 3-4-years, I wanted to get away from it this week in this column. But with certain people spouting off and bashing people jus to get their name out there and such, I figured we would talk about things a little more. If you just want news, scroll past, if not, enjoy. No funnies this week, I am going "super serial" as my band kids would say.
Wellness in MMA~!:
The hot topic as of late has been the steroid suspensions of Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca. It isn't so much that these two men are getting the attention as the issue of steroids in sports is the real hot topic, and that is what people want to discuss. When Sherk and Franca failed their tests, right away "a writer not to be named," because I don't give free hits away, went on the attack and accused Dana White and Zuffa for not doing enough in regards to steroid and drug testing. While I believe the best of intentions were there, I also feel that it was written with personal spite and misinformation. Plus, I didn't see outrage when Baroni failed his test, of course "the writer not to be named" wouldn't want to lose his Showtime gig. But I am not here to bash writers, Dana White or anyone, just to offer my sentiments on the situation. If someone listens that is great, if it falls on deaf ears, well, I did my job.
First of all, Dana White and Zuffa as a whole are trying to make UFC, and MMA by proxy as global as possible. Dana White and Zuffa are not only trying to get regulation in every US State, but are trying to get uniformed regulation across the boards. They have done their best to alter the rules to make sure the sport gets away from the "human cockfighting" stigma that pundits like Jay Marriotti have placed on them.
Secondly, the UFC runs well over 90% of their events in states with strict regulations and athletic commissions. It isn't the UFC's fault that Texas doesn't have an active and strict athletic commission ala California. Texas has the "Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation," which is just there to set schedules, take blood pressures and take fees. Also it was stated that UFC has ran overseas and that there was no testing. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, UFC did drug testing in Belfast on their own. While I have not been emailed an itemized listing of the results, the fact is that they did and some people should maybe apologize for saying they wouldn't ever do that.
Thirdly, and this ties in with point #2, the UFC is not running from anyone. As I said they run 90% of their shows in states with full regulation. They also abide by the suspensions of the athletic commissions and don't try to get around them. You don't see the UFC running on Indian Reservations and bringing in people suspended by that state's athletic commission. They are playing by the rules. Again, they aren't running from the testing, and maybe an apology should be issued.
So then what is the UFC's Responsibility, what should they do? This is a very debatable question. On one hand the UFC (Zuffa) are the kings of the MMA world. Now it is very different, but in a way he is the Vince McMahon of his world. There are other groups out there, but they are the kings. One could argue as the kings of the MMA universe that UFC should set the stage and make a drug policy for their fighters. Drug testing in between fights and such as a way to make sure that there is no way the guys are using at all, because you can take the steroids and get off early enough to pass the state commission's testing. If they would do this, there would be a much better chance of cleaning up the sport as a whole.
But then again, this is a regulated sport. And in a regulated sport, there are the athletic commissions. Now if UFC could get the uniformed regulation across the boards that they have wanted and every state then the responsibility is on the commissions. The commissions could require quarterly drug testing for all licensed fighters. That would be a great idea, have a set outside testing firm and such and have the companies pay a portion of their ticket sales for this service/testing.
And then we move to the talk of booking an overseas show. If the UFC or any other US based company wants to run an outside show, they can. But they should be responsible for their own testing and upon returning to the US they should have to present the "unified association" all of the paperwork for both positive and negative testing. If someone fails, they are punished, no argument. If the company doesn't provide accurate paperwork on these tests, done by an outside firm of course, then they are eligible for punishment. Starting at a $1-million dollar fine as well as a 10% fee off of their next card's ticket sales. Obviously this would escalate.
Kurt Otto stated this week that IFL will be instituting a zero tolerance drug policy by 2008. While I have a hard time believing this, because it is a rather grandiose statement for a company as small as the IFL, they seem to want to be aggressive with this and present "clean fighters." I cannot blame them, with all of the backlash on wrestlers, Barry Bonds and so forth, the fans get upset, they get restless and then they don't want to spend money on the product. But the UFC is the standard bearer. When people see "MMA" the casual fan relates it to UFC. As the standard bearer there is an expectation, albeit at times an unfair expectation that they need to set the trend, and I am not totally against that if it is for the best of the sport.
And what about punishment? I was thinking about this. If you truly want to end the use of steroids in MMA, you have to scare people and have severe punishment. I was trying to think of a "three strikes" themed punishment method, and then I saw the idea of 411's Ryan Mancuso. He actually has come up with an excellent plan, so all credit for this punishment scale goes to him:
1st Offense:
1-year suspension
150% fine of purse, no bonuses
2nd Offense:
5-year suspension
200% fine of purse, no bonuses All fight camps must disassociate themselves with fighter during suspension or the entire camp gets a 1-year ban
3rd Offense:
Lifetime Ban
300% fine of purse, no bonuses All fight camps must disassociate themselves from banned fighter or the entire camp gets a 5 year ban.
This is the kind of shit that you need, no nonsense and severe punishment for positive testing. In the end, people watch fighting to see whom the better man is, not who knows the best body chemistry through the use of pharmaceutical enhancement. I don't care if you are jacked like Phil Baroni, if you can't fight, I don't care. Hell, Butterbean is a big fat slob but I get great enjoyment out of seeing him try and fight and actually using kimura's on people. I want to see the battle the artistry of the disciplines and the best man winning, naturally. It shouldn't be too much to ask, but in a time of excess, more is not enough, you have to have it all. Bigger is better, and until there are some real stringent restrictions there will continue to be a problem. I don't care if it across the board regulation or UFC being the drug Nazi's, someone should do what they can to stop the madness.
ZUFFA (UFC/WEC/PRIDE) stories, scuttlebutt and rumors:
Your News: Multichannel News is reporting that UFC and SPIKE TV are on the verge of signing a multiple-year, multi-million dollar renewal of the UFC distribution deal. According to Multichannel News, the deal would cost Spike upwards of $100 million. The deal would allow SPIKE to retain the Ultimate Fighter Series as well as add more live UFC events than the previous agreement, which expired last year.
My Views: Wow, this is a huge deal. SIKE took the chance on UFC right before the big boom, which they are partly responsible for, and have been good to the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter, Fight Nights and airing shows from the UK on delay. Now it seems as if SPIKE will further jump into the mix with this blockbuster $100 million deal. UFC seems to have found a reliable and permanent home with SPIKE and it is a relationship that will undoubtedly make both companies a lot of money.
Your News: UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca have filed appeals with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) following their positive steroid tests after his lightweight title bout at UFC 73.
When speaking to the CSAC Executive Director Armando Garcia Sherk said he had never even heard of the steroid Nandrolone, the steroid for which he had been found to test positive.
Garcia said that Sherk has the option to do his own independent testing but the CSAC will not give Sherk another test.
According to Garcia, Franca's appeal looks to be in an effort to try and shorten his one-year suspension.
Current UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk released a statement to the press today in lieu of his positive test for an anabolic steroid (Nandrolone). It is his first public statement addressing the controversy surrounding the drug test, Sherk had the following to say:
"At the present time I cannot explain the positive drug test in Sacramento California. I know I have never used any steroids or any other banned substances, I am investigating possible causes of my positive test with my attorney. I have never cheated, all of my success has come from hard work and dedication to my sport."
My Views: I find it very hard to believe that he has never heard of the drug. I am not saying he did it, because I will wait for the hearing results, but come on, he's heard of it. If found guilty, all of his natural training mantra will be nothing but bullshit and will have a negative effect on the company.
I discussed Franca's statement last week. He is obviously hoping for a lighter sentence by admitting to what he did. While I commend him for not trying to pass the buck, you did the crime, now do the time dude. You should have thought about food on your kids table when you were sticking a needle in your ass.
Your News: Kalib Starnes has confirmed he will be fighting Alan Belcher at UFC 77. Starnes is coming off a decision victory over Chris Leben at UFC 71. Belcher will be going into the bout after beating Sean Salmon by submission on that same card at 205lbs and will be dropping down to compete at 185 for his bout against Starnes.
My Views: Should be a good fight. I am digging the UFC match making this year big time. We have had upsets and damn fine fights. Belcher dropping down is probably a good move, and he could find more success there honestly.
Your News: The UFC has just sent out a press release finalizing UFC 74's main card. The televised portion of the card now looks as follows:
Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Roger Huerta vs. Alberto Crane
Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Kendall Grove vs. Patrick Cote
My Views: Damn fine card here. GSP and Koscheck should be either very entertaining or very boring, but it is that reason I am interested. I want to see Couture shock the world again and continue to carry on as the lord and savior of UFC Heavyweight. Huerta is always a fun fighter, Stevenson and Pellegrino could steal the show and I expect Grove and Cote to be very competitive, with Grove winning I feel. I am excited for the show.
Your News: Wolfslair Gym's Dave Jackson, coach of Michael Bisping, scotched rumors that "the Count" would be moving down to the middleweight division. In response to the question, Dave exclusively told 411mania: "Mike is 6'2" and walks round a lot heavier than 205lbs. He cuts to 205 for his fights. There is no plan to drop down to 185 in the foreseeable future." Dave also revealed that Michael will depart for California on Monday to train with current UFC Light Heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, as both men seek to prepare for the biggest fights of their career to date at UFC 75 on September 8th in London.
My Views: I think that Michael Bisping should stay at 205. It is a natural weight for him, and I think with a few more fights he could be the next big challenger. I find it interesting that he is training with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, because depending on how things go, they could be facing off sooner than later.
MMA LINKZ~!
Tons of great stuff to read this week from the 411 MMA crew!
Your News: Ian "The Machine" Freeman announced on the Stephen Quadros Show that he will be coaching an IFL team for the 2008 season. The Englishman will be holding camps throughout the year to put together his team. There has been no definitive date set for Freeman's team to compete as yet.
My Views: Ian "The Machine" Freeman (41 yrs old) is a 15-7-1 MMA fighter, who has had success in Cage Rage and UFC; in UFC his record was 3-2-1. IFL, despite monetary issues seems to be pressing forward with this planned English team. The no definite date seems to indicate that even they aren't sure if this will actually get off the ground, but are looking to expand and probably for a money mark. I am all for more MMA and I actually think the team concept is a good idea, but it is their business management that has bit them in the ass and cost them so much money.
Your News: Adam DiSabato has been forced to pull out of his semifinal bout with Bart Palaszewski due to an undisclosed injury. DiSabato was replacing Chris Horodecki who had to pull out due to a broken hand.
DiSabato's replacement is Harris Sarmiento who is coming off a win against Henry Martinez at an X-1 Extreme Fighting card back in March. Sarmiento also spent some time in STRIKEFORCE where he lost two fights to Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez.
My Views: The IFL is seeing no luck on the injury front. Last week we reported that Chris Horodecki and Jay Hieron had to pull out from the event, and now DiSabato. His replacement, Harris Sarmiento, is a 20-15 fighter who has done KOTC, Strikeforce, WEC and WFA. He has a lot of experience, and possibly the best guy they could fins on such short notice.
Your News: Sean O'Haire will be facing Mark Kerr.
My Views: Sean O'Haire could be in for a long night against the Smashing Machine considering he recently had his face smashed not to long ago. It will be interesting to see how Kerr fairs though, as he is 2-6 since 2000. The once highly touted fighter has definitely fallen on hard times, and I am curious to see if he can recapture some of his former glory.
Your News: In a conference call with the media, EliteXC President Gary Shaw confirmed Gracie Jiujitsu ace Nick Diaz, on the heels of a six-month suspension, is scheduled to fight on the company's September 15th card. Diaz was last seen submitting Takanori Gomi in February 2007 (PRIDE 33), a victory he later had erased as the result of testing positive for marijuana. The EliteXC card on September 15th is also slated to feature a champion vs. champion bout in the Middleweight division courtesy of Murilo "Ninja" Rua (EliteXC) vs. Robbie Lawler (ICON).
My Views: Diaz returning makes me want to watch, because the Diaz bothers are wacky. Also the title vs. title bout should be a very good one, and is more indication of XC's rumored buyouts and possible leap to a true #2 company in the US.
Tonight's MMA~!
ShowXC debuts tonight, and if all plans go well I will have a report of the event. Here is the card:
Main Card Bouts:
-Edson Berto vs. K.J. Noons
-Jefferson "Tanque" Silva vs. Aaron Rosa
-Jeremiah Metcalf vs. Aaron Wetherspoon
-Muhsin Corbbrey vs. Lee Gibson
Swing Bout
-Scott Jorgenson vs. Chris David
Preliminary Bouts:
-Shayna Baszler vs. Jan Finney
-Brian Cobb vs. John Reedy
-Anthony Ruiz vs. Jason Geris
-Eric Beondo vs. Josh Neal
-Drew Montgomery vs. Anthony Rubalcava
For more interesting information on wrestling and MMA, check out Bryan Alvarez and Figure Four Weekly Online!
