Punch Drunk Hangover 05.05.08: Without Struggle There is No Progress

Posted by Bren Oliver on 05.05.2008

Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on the DREAM machine, Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson, Aoki's entrance music, a Dallas-free Affliction event, the photogenic Gina Carano, Liddell talking tough about his hammy, and the somewhat outrageous, misplaced criticism of Kimbo Slice by an ESPN columnist. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring Nick Diaz with wobbly legs, are all just a click away!



Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever in-between time it is that your eyes have found their way to the Punch Drunk Hangover! As is the norm, my goal is to help you escape from the doldroms of an average Monday, giving you a good grab in the nether-regions to wake you up and make your day that much more exciting! Have no fear...the technique is Bas Rutten approved!!!





I'm here with another one-stop shop for catching up on Mixed Martial Arts news, hoping as always to deliver consumers a delectable mixture of insight and humor. Unfortunately, my lead piece this week is something of a more sour than sweet nature, meaning this week's steaming cup of PDH is being served cream-and-sugar free. In fact, it's downright bitter.

ESPN is considered by many to be the pinnacle of sports media. While the network receives critcism from some on their proclivity to show extra affection for teams located in the New England area, it's generally considered the leading outlet for sports journalism. According to the media giant, up to 88 Million people watch SportsCenter every single month. And, at least on the surface, it appears as though their increasing coverage of Mixed Martial Arts has been favorable to the combat sport. They're clearly still learning, as was evident in a recent piece praising the universally slammed "YAMMA Pit Fighting" event, but for the most part they've treated MMA with respect. SportsCenter has "The Ultimate Highlight", UFC weigh-ins have been shown, Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice have been featured on "E:60", and the afore-mentioned Slice and Chuck Liddell have both been "ESPN: The Magazine" coverboys. That's why I was surprised to come across the following piece, a segment of which I've quoted and will respond to...


ESPN columnist LZ Granderson on Kimbo Slice...

"I don't know if he's necessarily stupid, because I've never met the man, but he certainly seems to be misguided. Why else would Slice disregard all sense of honor, pride and history to project an image that can best be described as a cross between Lil' Wayne and Kunta Kinte -- a runaway slave with a mouth full of gold teeth playing up every single stereotype of an African-American male in exchange for short-lived adoration from a soulless media with ADD. ... I find what Slice is consciously doing downright disgusting."


Strong words to say the least. The rest of Granderson's column goes on to indict the way black culture is portrayed in the media, and in particular the actions of certain individuals, citing examples like Flavor Flav, the cast of "I Love New York", NBA player Josh Howard, and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He calls back to the days of slavery and the injustices perpetrated on black people then and today. And, to be certain, he faults all races equally and is perhaps more critical of his own than any other. My personal feeling is that Granderson's work causes more harm to the cause for racial equality than anything Kimbo Slice has ever done.

Perhaps looking at the world through rose-colored glasses isn't always a bad thing. The fact is, we as human beings are far too focused on physical differences instead of individual actions. The problem is that instead of looking at someone for the whole of what they've done, Granderson is looking at a snapshot and thumbing his nose at what he sees, not knows. For starters, if Granderson's desire is genuinely to promote the need for black males to portray themselves in a positive manner (and to in return be treated with respect by the media), it might help to refer to Slice by his God-given name, Kevin Ferguson, instead of his streetfight based nickname. He might also want to mention Slice has never been arrested and went to the University of Miami on an academic scholarship. Or, what about the consistent praise Kimbo has received from his trainers and peers regarding his work ethic, treatment of those around him, and general attitude when it comes to life? No, instead of focusing on the man behind the gold teeth and bushy beard, Granderson has wrongfully perpetuated the very stereotype he expresses such vehemence towards by glossing over the attributes Slice possesses that we all could benefit from in our daily existences.

I am not one to condone fighting outside the confines of a ring. The rush I feel when watching an incredible Mixed Martial Arts bout is completely different than that I feel when a scrap breaks out on the street or at a club. One is a feeling of elation coursing through my veins while the other tends to be an acidic twinge in my stomach. I've seen a few of Kimbo's YouTube masterpieces and, frankly, hematomas aren't my thing. Still, I also recognize the vast difference in Slice's "amateur" fights compared to a your standard neighborhood/school/club throwdown. There are no weapons or group attacks on individuals. There are established rules - the person can give up at any point and both men go into each match knowing exactly what to expect. If Granderson can't see the difference between an actual street fight and what Kimbo was involved in, then perhaps he isn't wearing glasses, rose-colored or otherwise; he's wearing blinders. He is so focused on a singular cause that he's pulled Slice in simply because he makes for an easy, albeit misplaced, target.

And hey, let's not forget that Kimbo is more than merely a brawler - he has submission skills too!





That's my three cents on the matter. If you'd like to send an email to LZ Granderson (as listed in the article), you can reach him at "[e-mail]", but please only do so after reading the entire column so nothing is taken out of context and you understand his full take on the matter.

And now on to my spin on a handful of other subjects gracing the headlines this past week. I'd love to hear your tthoughts so feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.


The following medley of items were reported between April 28th, 2008 and May 4th, 2008:


Jason "Mayhem" Miller has announced that he will be facing Katsuyori Shibata at the upcoming DREAM 3 show on May 11th in Japan. Miller last fought in December for HDNet Fights and won via unanimous decision over Tim Kennedy.


Like many people, I finally had an opportunity to view both of the DREAM promotion's previous shows courtesy of HDNet Fights' airing of the two events over the weekend. I found the fights to be generally entertaining and it was wonderful to see legendary guys like Tamura, Sakuraba, and Minowa in action (as well as some of the younger talent like Joachim Hansen, Eddie Alvarez, JZ Calvancante, Shinya Aoki, "Jacare" Souza, and Gegard Mousasi and guys in their prime such as Tatsuya Kawajiri, Denis Kang, Joachim Hansen and Mitsuhiro Ishida). My only genuine complaint is in regards to HDNet's decision to use bland hip-hop, or rock, instrumentals for fighters' entrances as opposed to the selections the men originally came out to. I need more "Baka Survivor" in my life, damnit!

Also, it should be said that Denis Kang was handling Mousasi before he brainfarted his way into the Triangle Choke ending the American Top Team fighter's night. Kang may have lost three of his last four bouts, but as was the case against Yoshishiro Akiyama, he was performing well before making a mistake costing him the victory. Additionally, regarding a bit of DREAM 2 controversy, I find little fault in the referee's decision to allow Aoki to continue after the rainbow-tighted one took some vicious heels and fists to the face. I think most of the complaints have been overexagerated, and while I would agree Shinya was seeing shurikens for a second or two, he was able to stand back up in JZ's grasp and work Calvancante over for basically fourteen out of the fight's fifteen minutes.

Moving forward to DREAM 3, which to my relief (and mild dread) is being shown live at 2:30 AM next weekend, I am happy to see Jason Miller appease his Eastern "Mayhem Monkeys" with an appearance on the card even if it is in a "freak show" capacity. Shibata is a 220+ Heavyweight with a losing record and three-fight streak in the wrong direction. One of his two wins is over the illustrious "Ice Man". No, not Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell or even Marvel Comics' Bobby Drake. I'm referring to literally a guy who fought under the name "Ice Man". Back to the DREAM 3 card, I'm also happy to see Melvin Manhoef and Nick Diaz will be in action at the event, as both are guaranteed to turn in an entertaining performance.

As far as the Lightweight Semi-Finals, I'm particularly interested in both Eddie Alvarez vs. Joachim Hansen and Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Caol Uno. Uno and Ishida have each meant a lot to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Uno having fought professionally for more than ten years and Ishida being an icon in Japan. Eddie Alvarez isn't quite as seasoned as Joachim Hansen, but both are extremely talented and will be considered amongst two of the world's best Lightweights for years to come. Beating a skilled veteran like Hansen would definitely be a career defining moment for Alvarez so it will be interesting to see if the 24-year old fighter can rise up and defeat his toughest opponent to date.


MMAWeekly is reporting that Kenny Florian will be facing Roger Huerta at the upcoming UFC 87 show that will be held on August 9th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The winner is expected to get a title shot at the UFC Lightweight title.


From one organization's Lightweights to another, eh? I have no major problem with Huerta vs. Florian determining who is next in line for either BJ Penn or Sean Sherk. While I feel Huerta has been protected to a certain extent, mainly thanks to a streak of five wins against five opponents debuting in the UFC, his performance against Clay Guida at the Ultimate Fighter Season VI Finale was extremely impressive and defeating former Lightweight Championship Contender Ken Florian would solidify his spot at the front of the line. I understand Huerta is lacking when it comes to notching wins over well-known competition, but I have to take into account the fact "El Matador" is a very marketable individual. He's got an incredible backstory, he's Hispanic, he runs a charity, and I'm pretty sure you'll find more than a few people out there who would label him as "hot". Hell, I'm straight as an arrow and I could even get lost in his coffee-brown eyes, rippling biceps, and dimpled cheeks. Er...this just took an awkward turn...

As far as Florian, even with a win over Huerta I'm not so sure he deserves another opportunity at the UFC Lightweight Championship. For you "Ken Flo" fanatics out there, let me clarify my point by saying Florian is only 9-3 as a professional fighter and he's failed both major tests he's taken inside the Octagon (Sherk/Sanchez). His four wins since losing a hard-fought decision to Sean Sherk have come against the clearly overmatched Joe Lauzon and Alvin Robinson, the washed-up Dokonjonosuke Mishima, and an injured Din Thomas. Beating Huerta would be his most significant win to date, but I'm not necessarily sure even that would create enough interest in a fight against Penn or Sherk to say Florian is a worthwhile "#1 Contender". Again, the UFC is a business primarily reliant on marketing to draw the kind of attendance/viewership necessary to turn a good-sized profit.


MMAJunkie is reporting that Rich Franklin was offered a fight against Dan Henderson at UFC 85. Franklin turned the fight down due to the fact that he just went through a hard training camp in preparation for his fight with Travis Lutter at UFC 83. It's now being reported that a Franklin/Henderson fight is expected to be announced later this year.


Smart of Franklin to think with his big head instead of his little one. "Hendo" would/will be one of the toughest opponents of Franklin's career, and a fighter of his caliber merits a proper training camp as opposed to rushed preparation on the heels of a previous bout. I also envision travelling to the UK to compete is less appealing than avoiding the long travel by fighting in a more-familiar environment. After all, isn't a battle between former Olympic Wrestler Henderson and Cincinatti's Franklin much better suited for a card in the Midwest? I'm excited to hear a fight between two of the world's best Middleweights is in the works for some point during the second half of 2008. It's a logical match-up when you take into account Rich's need for top competition not named Anderson Silva and Henderson's need to work his way back into a second appearance against the UFC's Middleweight Champion. "Ace" only has a handful of fights left in him and defeating Henderson would certainly cement his legacy in Mixed Martial Arts. Dan, on the other hand, was performing well against Anderson Silva before getting caught and choked out in the second round. While Franklin's plastic surgeon would probably disagree with me, I find a second fight between the two much more appealing than a third dismantling of Franklin's face.

On a related note, I'd also like to see Rich eventually step into the Octagon against Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva, assuming of course "Wandy" drops down to 185-pounds as has been rumored for some time now. I believe those two fights, similar to a match against Henderson, would deliver fireworks and have appeal to both mainstream and hardcore fans.


Joe Doerksen has confirmed with Sportsnet.ca that he has been officially released by the UFC. He also mentioned that the UFC has left the door open for a possible return however. Doerksen last fought at UFC 83 where he lost to Jason MacDonald.


Doerksen is a very capable fighter, but he went 0-2 in the Octagon and has struggled throughout his career when placed against top talent. There is truly no place for him in the UFC, as he has shown little potential or personality, but as a veteran he merits a larger paycheck than someone newer to MMA who offers the same diminutive upside. Doerksen will definitely catch on somewhere, whether it be EliteXC, the IFL, or a smorgasbord of smaller promotions across the United States, and probably be quite successful against the greenhorns he's supplied with.


Sherdog is reporting that Gesias "JZ" Calvancante will not be replacing the injured Shinya Aoki in the 2nd round of the upcoming DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix on May 11th. Calvancante could not come to terms with DREAM and has since left Japan. Calvancante lost to Aoki at Tuesday's DREAM 2 show by decision. Aoki was forced to pull out of the tournament due to a facial injury and DREAM's rules state that JZ would then take Aoki's place.


I can't blame "JZ" for wanting to fly back home and nurse his wounds before stepping back inside the ring. I also tend to believe his decision is partially related to pride, as I don't think many fighters would want to move on in a tournament in which they'd already lost. On top of that, it was a lot to expect either Aoki or Calvancante to fight three times in two months. Part of me is actually glad neither man will go on, as both are two of MMA's brightest young stars and I would hate to see either experience burnout or a career-threatening injury. The human body needs time to heal and a fighter needs to be 100% emotionally prepared to compete, neither of which I think is possible when a Mixed Martial Artist laces up the five-ouncers three times over eight weeks.


Ultimate Fighter season six contestant Matt Arroyo has announced on his personal website that he will be competing at the upcoming Ultimate Fighter 7 finale currently scheduled for June 21st on Spike TV. Arroyo was forced out of the Ultimate Fighter competition due to a rib injury, however he returned at the season six finale in December and earned a first round submission victory over John Kolosci. An opponent has yet to be named for Arroyo.


Matt Arroyo was one of the better fighters on TUF VI and I expect him to do fairly well in the UFC so long as he isn't fed to the wolves. He seemed to be well-rounded, showing a fair level of ability at wrestling, jiujitsu, and striking. I don't know that he's excellent in any one area but he appears to have a solid core to build around. As far as opponents at the Ultimate Fighter VII Finale, the name I'm throwing out there is Tom Speer (who finished second on TUF VI and was recently crushed by Anthony "Rumble" Johnson at Fight Night XIII). I think he and Arroyo have comperable skills and the pairing makes sense given their association with the "Serra vs. Hughes" season of TUF.


Ultimate Fighter season seven contestant Matthew Riddle has confirmed that the UFC has cut most of the fighters on the current season of the Ultimate Fighter, which could explain why guys from past seasons are filling up the season finale card for season seven.


I counted the word "season" five times in that single sentence. I believe we may have unknowingly set a Guiness record here in the 411Mania MMA Zone! I wonder if Riddle, or "Chipper" according to "Rampage" Jackson, is referring to the sixteen contestants in the house or the thirty-two who showed up on the first day of taping? Regardless, being only a handful of episodes into the season, I haven't seen enough of the fighters to say for sure how deserving they are of a UFC contract. That being said, as I've been stating since he was announced as particpating on the show, I am still fairly certain CB Dollway will exit the season with a Zuffa paycheck for years to come and maybe even the title of "TUF VII Champion".


Jonathan Goulet has agreed to meet undefeated British fighter Paul Kelly at the upcoming UFC 85 show on June 7th at the O2 Arena in London, England. Kelly was rumored to be fighting Ultimate Fighter season six contestant Troy Mandaloniz, but now Goulet will be stepping in. Goulet last fought at UFC 83 where he earned a victory over Kuniyoshi Hironaka. Kelly is 7-0 in MMA, with six victories coming via stoppage.


I respect Goulet taking another fight eight weeks after UFC 83, especially after a tough bout against Hironaka and the prospect of an opponent like Paul Kelly. I expect their match to deliver a lot of action, a little blood, and very possibly a knockout finish. Kelly's win over Paul Taylor at UFC 80 showed a ton of heart and raw talent on the undefeated Brit's part. I expect the same type of fast-paced performance from him at UFC 85 against Goulet, especially with his friend, hero, and fellow "Wolf's Lair" fighter Michael Bisping preparing for action on the same card (vs. Chris Leben).


The UFC has confirmed that Roan Carneiro will be facing Ryo Chonan at the upcoming UFC 85 show that will be held in London, England at the O2 Arena on June 7th. Carneiro last fought at UFC 79 where he earned a TKO victory over Tony DeSouza. Chonan last fought at UFC 78 where he lost via decision to Karo Parisyan. Chonan is one of only four MMA fighters to have defeated current UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva.


Rumor has it Joe Silva's cell phone was low on battery power when he booked the fight between Ryo Chonan and Roan Carneiro. I'm happy to see the UFC hasn't completely forgotten about Chonan since he's been out of action for almost six months. I believe Carneiro holds a slight edge over "Pirahna" when it comes to jiujitsu, but other than his submission artistry he's inferior to Chonan in ever facet of MMA. I think Roan will have a difficult time tapping Ryo out, a man who has only been finished three times in twenty-two fights. I see their bout ending in a TKO win for Chonan, though I won't blink twice if scorecards are involved and the Japanese "Chris Leben", at least when it comes to hairstyles, takes home a decision victory.

Also, I love how Chonan will forever get love for beating Anderson Silva! I'm surprised the news blurb didn't discuss the method, since, like Frank Mir breaking Tim Sylvia's arm, it's always brought up whenever either Silva or Chonan are discussed. Heck, I never get tired of seeing the slick submission, so here goes...





Palace Fighting Championship have announced that they have signed UFC veteran Jake O'Brien to a two-fight deal. O'Brien was released from his UFC contract last month following his first career loss to Andrei Arlovski at UFC 82.


Hopefully Jake O'Brien can rack up a few wins in the PFC and make his way back into the Octagon. The way the UFC treated the young 10-1 Heavyweight left a bad taste in my mouth. I understand Dana White is looking for "exciting" fighters, but eight of O'Brien's career wins have come via TKO and one of his two decisions in the UFC came against MMA veteran Heath Herring. How a 3-1 record in the UFC earns you a pink-slip is something I'll never understand, especially when the organization's Heavyweight Division needs an infusion of talent...


Chris Leben was arrested in Oregon on Wednesday for a parole violation stemming from a previous DUI charge. The Clackamas County Sheriff's office told MMA Junkie that Leben is expected to go in front of a judge today at 3 P.M. ICON Sport's President T. Jay Thompson has confirmed that Leben turned himself into authorities on a previous DUI charge to assure he could get a working visa for his upcoming fight against Michael Bisping at UFC 85 in London, England.


As funny as this sounds, Chris Leben is the kind of criminal I can respect. I don't believe anyone would argue driving under the influence is a good thing, but I admire his character in the sense he turned himself in to start the process of righting his wrong. I also appreciate that he took into consideration his obligation to the UFC and his fans by doing things in a way hopefully keeping him eligible to fight Michael Bisping at UFC 85. Leben had an extremely difficult upbringing and it sounds like he may be turning things around for the better. I wish him well on his journey, as the hardest battles in life are not always those fought inside an eight-sided cage.


EliteXC's Vice President Jared Shaw has confirmed that Drew Fickett has pulled out of his June 14th fight against Jake Shields for the EliteXC Welterweight title due to a knee injury. Shields had mentioned a few days ago that he might be interested in pushing the title fight back to July so it could featured on a "EliteXC on CBS" special.


I am hopeful Fickett is able to fight again by July 26th, the scheduled date of the second EliteXC/CBS event, as I think a bout between he and Shields is as good as EliteXC can offer when it comes to their Welterweight Division. It's a shame things have been pushed back for the second time, but as long as they eventually square off then all will be right in the world. Jake Shields and Drew Fickett are underrated when it comes to Welterweight rankings, though I feel comfortable saying the Gracie-trained Shields is certainly the more talented of the two. He has a polished arsenal and excellent cardio, both of which you might expect given training partners like the Diaz brothers and Gilbert Melendez. You don't beat Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami on the same night without being talented, not to mention rising to the occasion and standing tall against fighters like "Mach" Sakurai and Akira Kikuchi. Shields even has a submission grappling win over Jon Fitch, the UFC's top Welterweight contender. In fact, I'm going to go on record right now and say Jake Shields is the the world's baddest ass vegetarian. Quote me on it!


EliteXC's Gina Carano is scheduled to be featured on ESPN's "E:60" on Tuesday, May 13th. The segment will feature Carano's preparations for her upcoming fight against Kaitlin Young at EliteXC's debut card on CBS on May 31st.


I have nothing to add really other than to say the more Gina Carano in my life, the better. She is as beautiful as she is talented, which is to say she ranks highly in both departments, and she also seems like a kind, down-to-Earth person as well. This also seems like a good excuse to up the "Gina" factor in my column so without further adieu...











Now for the cherry on top of this sundae...I'll understand if you need to take a "break" before continuing on with the column...





Adrenaline president & CEO Monte Cox has confirmed that Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell will both be fighting at the upcoming Adrenaline 2 card in September in Moline, Illinois. However, he didn't name an opponent for either fighter.


How...exciting?!? It's no secret the future of Monte Cox's "Adrenaline" promotion relies heavily on the participation of his clientele, Sylvia and Rothwell, and, in my opinion, it seems like a desperate move on Cox's part. If all it took was a Rolodex to create a successful MMA company then Ken Pavia would be giving Dana White and EliteXC a run for their money. The fact is, it takes promotion and a great deal of start-up money, and neither Sylvia or Rothwell are particularly big draws in the mainstream. Sylvia is certainly more popular than Rothwell, as he's headlined numerous UFC shows, but even amongst MMA fans he's viewed as somewhat of a pariah.


During a recent interview with ESPN The Magazine, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell confirmed that he still wanted to fight Rashad Evans at UFC 85 in June despite a torn hamstring.


Whether Liddell seriously wanted to compete with a torn hamstring or is just posturing for the fans, I am glad he was not allowed to step into the Octagon on June 7th. I believe it would have been dangerous, especially at his age, and ultimately unnecessary given his status in both the UFC and mainstream culture. I also have no interest in the potential of a pre-fight injury being used an excuse when it comes to a fighter's performance. Drink a few beers, keep your mohawk tight, and heal up Chucky boy...you'll be back before the end of the year and ready to throw some looping overhand shots at Rashad Evans, "Shogun" Rua, or whoever they decide put in front of you.


FiveOuncesOfPain.com is reporting that due to a failed deal with HDNet, the new Affliction promotion has lost the American Airlines Center as a venue for it's debut show on July 19th. The deal was rumored to have allowed HDNet to air the preliminary card for the debut show live on it's network, with the pay-per-view portion airing a week later. However no deal was reached and Randy Couture appeared on "Rear Naked Radio" in Dallas, Texas and confirmed that the event may be moved to The Pond in Anaheim, California.


Yes, my friends and family have removed all sharp objects from my apartment and I am currently undergoing constant supervision. "Affliction" indeed! Your company teased me with the prospect of Fedor Emelianenko fighting Tim Sylvia three hours away from my place of residence only to pull the rug out from under my feet...under the feet of so many MMA fans in Texas. That being said, assuming the actual event does take place, I'll still be forking out some of my hard earned cash to check it out on PPV. Sylvia vs. Emelianenko is just too good to miss!


Jibber-Jabber:

The following soundbytes were delivered over the past week...

Rich Franklin's agent, Monte Cox, to MMAWeekly on the possibility of "Ace" moving up to Light Heavyweight...

"Rich has to make a decision, we've certainly considered going to 205 and seeing how he does up there. He's fought almost everybody in the 185-pound division. There are some guys that he could fight, but if he beats them it knocks them out of title contention. And nobody is looking to see Rich and Anderson Silva III right now, including me.

It's one of those deals where he's such a big star, which helps. He's loved everywhere he goes, a big ovation in Canada and all that. But he's not helping the 185-pound division right now by beating everybody up in it. We've talked about going to 205 and how would he match up with some of those guys, with a Forrest Griffin or a Keith Jardine. I think there're some really good fights. There's a whole bunch of 205's that I think would be interesting. In the end, we do what the UFC wants. If they want us to try 205, we're up for it. If they want to keep us at 185, then we'll do that too."


Interesting for Cox to say that, as Franklin was quoted a few weeks ago as saying (in relation to going up to 205), "I really don't see it happening, I've been at 185 for several years. I think that over the past couple years, I've really changed my body composition. It used to kill me to make weight, but now it's much easier than it was three years ago, and I think it's because my body's changed a lot. I just don't think I'm big enough to compete effectively as a light heavyweight anymore. It's not something I'm really considering."

I wish Monte Cox would keep his mouth closed and focus on the best interests of his clients. He seems like a leech who has attached himself to Franklin, Sylvia, Rothwell, and others in hopes of feeding off a bit of their fame, maybe turning a few bucks in the process. I guarantee what the UFC wants is Rich Franklin to be happy regardless of the weight class he competes at. Apparently Cox feels differently; apparently he is concerned about the status of the UFC's Middleweight Division and the well-being of the Zuffa matchmakers. He seems to be too busy promoting himself and his attempts at running a MMA company to do his job and promote his roster of talent. After all, without the fighters, Cox would be nothing where Mixed Martial Arts is concerned while they would all still be winning bouts and taking home paychecks. I'm sure Ken Pavia wouldn't mind relieving Cox of a few of his guys and showing them how a professional sports agent acts.


--------------


That's about all she wrote for this week's Hangover. Till next time Punch Drunk buckaroos, here's your "Monday Morning MMA Moment of Zen" - Nick Diaz getting TKO'd in less than a minute against Jeremy Jackson, who he beatdown twice in later fights, at "Ultimate Athlete IV: King of the Mountain" in September 2002. This is Diaz's fifth professional bout...and third opponent of the night based on his involvement in the event's featured tournament.


Yes, the referee is wearing a ski-cap...

Ah, I can't help it...here's a little "Baka Survivor" to gargle with before you get back to work, school, or slacking off!


Prepare to have your mind blown, ULFLUS-style!

Send questions/comments to:

[e-mail]