Punch Drunk Hangover 08.04.08: El Matador is Tired of the Bull

Posted by Bren Oliver on 08.04.2008

Read ahead for Bren Oliver's thoughts on the latest news in the ongoing Quinton Jackson saga, a few positive drug tests, Gina Carano's next opponent, Kampann vs. Marquardt, the undoubtable greatness that will be "Kung Fu U", and Roger Huerta's harsh words for UFC management. Those things and more, plus this week's "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" featuring the brothers Emelianenko fighting each other, 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 case most Mondays, I'm here with another one-stop shop for catching up on Mixed Martial Arts news, hoping as always to help you escape from the doldroms of an average Monday by 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!!!





For a week devoid of any significant Mixed Martial Arts events, I'll be damned if the newswire wasn't still working overtime! My column will be WEC-free this week due to it starting at my Sunday deadline, though I expect the event to be quite enjoyable and I'm certain I'll be smiling as Carlos Condit's mother walks him down to the ring, the cage-door closes, and Carlos' expression turns to one of a stone-cold killer. I want to start this week off by discussing a couple of bits of news pertaining to Quinton Jackson's ongoing mental/emotional/legal ordeal. I've tried to avoid dissecting the event too much due to the over-abundance of commentary on the matter. I have no desire to beat dead horses or offer the same repetitive opinions as others on a situation we outsiders are still trying to grasp a full understanding of. The details of Jackson's demolition derby in Newport Beach have been few and far between, emerging slowly as they likely will continue to as the weeks and months roll by. Rest assured, lady and gentlemen of the readership, that this entire process is going to take quite a bit of time based on the legal repercussions of Jackson's actions, his celebrity as a Mixed Martial Artist, and the sensitive mental/emotional state he appears to have been in at the time of...excuse me while I vomit in the back of my throat for saying this...his "rampage".

Early last week, Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated stated Quinton Jackson has since fired his manager, trainer, friend, and spiritual advisor Juanito Ibarra. There is speculation Ibarra may have been cheating "Rampage" out of some money, though I'm waiting for Jackson to say something official before completely buying that angle. I personally think Jackson may have had a falling out with Ibarra over the way the Forrest Griffin fight played out. Words were likely exchanged and their relationship was severed. It's not the first time something like that has happened in life and it certainly won't be the last. "Rampage" also has since been released and is attending daily outpatient therapy. I'm glad to hear the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is seeking help and appears to be treating it seriously. I saw pictures last week on Combat Lifestyle of Jackson spending time with his children which told me two things - 1.) He is surrounded by loved ones in his time of need, and 2.) He's mentally stable enough to be around children without the State of California intervening for their safety. The final part of Gross' article mentioned the UFC is internally discussing "Rampage" face Wanderlei Silva at UFC 91 in November. It caught me offguard that the UFC is already looking at future opponents for Jackson when there are so many other important factors in the equation. What about his legal status? What about his individual well-being? I know the UFC is a business, but a responsible company should be concerned about the welfare of their most-valued employees, and it disappoints me to see them possibly put the bottom line over Jackson's health. Why book "Rampage" in his return bout against a guy who has twice rendered him unconcious? I don't get it at all. Additionally, similar to my view on the UFC's alleged discussion of Jackson's immediate fight-future, I also think it's time for we fans to stop worrying about "Rampage" the Mixed Martial Artist and start showing concern for Quinton Jackson the man. There are more important things to focus on than when he might slip on the chain and howl again.

Segway to this weekend, when the situation went from bad to tragic, as news broke that one of Jackson's "hit and run" victims, Holly Griggs, miscarried the fetus she was four-months pregnant with. The loss of life puts real perspective on things for me. What does the sport of MMA mean in comparison to a family losing their child? How can I look at Quinton Jackson the same way knowing his unintentional, though avoidable, actions destroyed a life - destroyed multiple lives? And, for every question I have, I'm certain Quinton Jackson has times-ten. He is a father. He is a Christian. To look into his childrens' eyes and know his behavior deprived two parents from sharing in that same joy must be heartbreaking; must have him searching the depths of his soul for answers. I pray he finds them, as I pray Holly Griggs and her fiance find solace that isn't financially motivated. I know PDH is typically a proverbial cinnamon roll for breakfast on Monday mornings - sweet, light, and a bit flakey - but I trust you're all with me when I say some things in life are bigger than Mixed Martial Arts...

...Gina Carano's grooming habits for example! The kid is back, baby! Time for your regularly scheduled Hangover!

There's my three cents on those particular matters - now time to give my spin on a handful of other subjects gracing the headlines this past week. I'd love to hear your thoughts on things 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 July 28th, 2008 and August 3rd, 2008:


Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Tito Ortiz will be facing Renato "Babalu" Sobral at Affliction's second show on October 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio could not confirm the bout but did say that all the details for Affliction's second show would be released during an August 6th press conference in Las Vegas. Ortiz developed a pretty good relationship with Affliction partner Donald Trump during Ortiz's time on the "The Apprentice" and even sat with Trump during "Affliction: Banned" a few weeks back.


Sobral has expressed an interest in fighting Ortiz for quite some time and hinted at the possibility of such on an Affliction card at the post-event press conference for "Banned". The move makes sense from a business standpoint. Tito is as recognizable a figure as you'll find in MMA based on his success in the UFC and the controversy that always seems to swirl around him like Pig-Pen's dustcloud in a Charlie Brown cartoon. His polarizing personality has created a contingent of fans who, whether they love or hate him, buy tickets to see him fight and make their opinion known. However, to face facts, Tito Ortiz is currently a slightly above-average Mixed Martial Artist who hasn't finished anyone other than Ken Shamrock in roughly seven years. The ground-and-pound style he once used to feast on opponents' faces with vicious elbows and powerful punches has been stymied by injuries, age, and the rapid evolution of the sport. He's now a one-trick pony in a field of five-tool stallions.

While Ortiz vs. Sobral is the best Light Heavyweight bout Affliction can currently put together in terms of drawing viewers, with Rogerio Nogueira acting as a suitable alternate to either 205-pound fighter, I am not certain "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" is ultimately worth the $500,000 he'll likely be paid when Affliction is already looking at ways to reduce payroll to sustain their organization. Ortiz is good for a total of 2-3 fights, if that, and is no longer the draw he was five years ago. He is certain an icon of industry, but one who appears to be on the downside of his fight career and has a number of options outside of MMA to draw his focus away from the sport. Beyond his clothing line (Punishment Athletics), Ortiz is paired up with a very successful businesswoman in Jenna Jameson and has already shown an interest in the entertainment industry. Would an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" be so far fetched for Tito? I certainly don't think so.

An investment in the shadow-shoveler seems short-term at best and one without much return value. In my opinion, Affliction needs to set their sights on young, available talent and a handful of elite superstars in their prime. Tito Ortiz fits neither of those descriptions.


James Irvin tested positive for Methadone and Oxymorphone for his July 19th fight against Anderson Silva. Both are banned substances for fighters in Nevada so he is likely to be fined and suspended pending a hearing.


When Methadone showed up in the report on James Irvin's positive drug test, I assume many of you instantly associated the substance with its use by heroin addicts, as I know I most certainly did. I also imagine a few of you chuckled in poor taste at the thought a smackdown from Anderson Silva could drive a man to "smack". In actuality, Methadone (like Oxymorphone) can be used as a painkiller. It's used to treat chronic pain based on its availability, cheap cost, and lengthy duration of the drug's effect. "The Sandman" tore his ACL and MCL a little more than a year ago, plus pulled out of a scheduled fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 85 due to a foot injury. I'm guessing Irvin aggravated one of the two, or hurt something else, early in the training proces, then decided to try and cheat the system instead of withdraw from the biggest opportunity of his career. I can understand that mindset and I'm sure it was a difficult decision on Irvin's part. Still, like all athletes, Mixed Martial Artists need to think beyond their next opponent and consider how their actions may affect their standing as professionals. The fine and suspension Irvin will suffer may pale in comparison to the way he is now labeled as a fighter who used illegal drugs with the intention of gaining an advantage over his competition. Anderson Silva certainly wasn't popping pills when abusing his body to train for the night of July 19th.


Justin Levens, who was scheduled to compete at the Roy Englebrecht Promotions event sponsored by Affliction on July 19, 2008, has tested positive for Oxymorphone. He has been fined $1,000 and is suspended retroactively from July 19, 2008 through January 15, 2009. The nanogram cutoff for Oxymorphone is 120 ng/mL. Levens test level was finalized at nearly 10X that amount (10,141 ng/mL).


Congratulations Mr. Levens! You just went from a guy on a five-fight losing streak to someone who has dropped five bouts in a row and got caught using illegal drugs! This actually reminds me a bit of Ice Cube's character in "Friday" who gets fired on his day off from work. In fact, Nick Diaz could play Chris Tucker's "Smokey" in this analogy and Bob Sapp would make a fine "Debo", but I'm more interested in focusing my attention solely on Justin Levens' fine/suspension stemming from an event he didn't even compete at. To be clear, I see no reason why he shouldn't have been penalized for the drug test's results, and I wholeheartedly agree with the CSAC's policy to hold him accountable for the positive hit. Levens didn't fight because of a production flub at the show, meaning he submitted his sample under the belief he would be squaring off against Ray Lizama. It isn't as if Levens gobbled down some Oxymorphone after "Affliction: Banned", then was drug-tested and failed it with flying colors. He used, he got caught, and he's now going to suffer from his own stupidity.


During an interview with the Brazilian website Tatame, UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum announced that he has signed a new five-fight contract with the organization. Werdum also announced that he would be fighting at UFC 90 on October 25, most likely against UFC newcomer Junior "Cigano" dos Santos (6-1). In his new contract it states that if he's victorious in his next fight, he will receive a title shot at the UFC Heavyweight title.


I'm glad Werdum got the title-bout in his contract considering Dana White stated he was next in line for a shot after beating Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 80. Since then, as nearly everyone reading this knows, Frank Mir was chosen to act as a coach on TUF 8 opposite current UFC Heavyweight Champion "Minotauro" Nogueira, and thusly slid past Werdum in the UFC's internal rankings to receive an opportunity at Nogueira's gold. Amazing what a shaky win over a 1-0 fighter can do, isn't it? On the bright side, at least Werdum appears to be facing a relative newcomer in the form of dos Santos, though it appears "Cigano" is a capable competitor as he's finished his opponents in all six career victories.


Stereo Vision Entertainment, Inc., a film production company focused exclusively on developing high quality, low cost, polarized 3D feature films, announced today that the undefeated Mixed Martial Arts phenomenon, Kimbo Slice, will be co-starring with Hulk Hogan in Stereo Vision's hilarious kids' comedy "Kung Fu U" in 3D.


Fans of "The Dark Knight" better enjoy the film's popularity while it lasts, as "Kung Fu U" clearly has the potential to break every box office record known to mankind and quite possibly see a dual performance from Slice and Hogan rivaling that of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. It is described...and this is a quote...as being "...a heart-warming romp where the rather weathered warriors come to the rescue for the kids, and in turn, the kids rescue the warriors' seemingly lost souls from what had been their eternal apathy." I mean, c'mon, Stereo Vision Entertainment is helmed by the creator of "Baywatch", and they specialize in "high quality, low cost" - how could it not be a cinematic masterpiece?!?

As I know you are all anticipating this instant-classic as much as I am, and because we live in a world of spoiler alerts, I present to you a leaked copy of the first page of a script for "Kung Fu U" written by none other than film auteur Michael Bay...

***411Mania has been forced to remove this portion of the Punch Drunk Hangover due to threats of litigation and the high risk of it being extremely lame***


During an interview with Tatame.com, Vitor Belfort confirmed that he would be facing Matt Lindland in a title fight at Affliction 2 on October 11. Both fighters recently fought at Affliction "Banned" on July 19. Belfort earned a KO victory over Terry Martin, while Lindland won via decision over Fabio Negao.


This is really the only competitive Middleweight bout Affliction can put together in time for their second event, as a number of the world's top 185-pound fighters outside of the UFC are currently scheduled to compete at DREAM 6, a show taking place a few weeks prior to Affliction's mid-October date. I expect Lindland vs. Belfort to be a very entertaining fight with "The Law" attempting to take things to the ground and "The Phenom" doing his best to inflict damage on Lindland while the two are standing. My first instinct is to say Belfort will win based on Lindland's suspect-chin and each man's performance at "Affliction: Banned". I think Vitor's strength advantage, and wrestling ability, will be good enough to keep Lindland from taking him down with any consistency and allow Belfort to dictate the pace of the fight. He's a very powerful 185-pound fighter who seems mentally stronger as a result of some closure regarding his sister's kidnapping/murder, as well as who finds himself embedded in one of the most successful training facilities in MMA (Xtreme Couture). Lindland is very good, but fairly one-dimensional, and he has a number of other things going on, such as his political and promotional aspirations, potentially acting as distractions from dedicating himself fully to MMA. I think the deck is stacked in Belfort's favor where this fight is concerned and I predict big things for him over the next few years of his career.


In the latest issue of Fight Magazine, UFC lightweight Roger Huerta blasted the UFC and mentioned that he doesn't care if he fights for the UFC or somewhere else. Huerta and the UFC have been having issues for months now due to the money amount on a new contract. He has one fight remaining on his current contract after his UFC 87 fight against Kenny Florian.


As Mixed Martial Arts coverage continues to expand I think more and more fighters will need to learn when to reel in their emotions when speaking to the press. I admire Huerta's honesty, but blasting your employer in a magazine is not an intelligent way to approach the situation - especially when your employer is the lone blue whale in the MMA pond. Huerta's two points of contention in the interview seemed to relate to a $50 per diem he received while doing promotional work for the UFC and Keith Jardine's per-fight salary of $10,000/$10,000 (which is tied into a contract Jardine signed after appearing on the Ultimate Fighter Season 2 around three years ago). I see both sides of the argument in regards to each of the situations.

First, regarding Huerta's alleged $50/day allowance, which he stated has lead to him refusing to do additional promotional work for the company, I have to believe the UFC also paid for his lodging and transportation while doing publicity. From that standpoint there's nothing unreasonable about giving him fifty bucks a day to eat three square meals. However, the UFC is also a multi-million dollar organization and the lead MMA promotion in the world, so it doesn't seem unfair for its employees to expect treatment reflecting the company's financial bliss.

Secondly, Keith Jardine certainly deserves more money than his contract reflects based on wins over Chuck Liddell and current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin, but I understand it's quite possible Jardine is being rewarded additional money on top of his contracted salary. The UFC has awarded PPV percentages and bonus checks before. There's no reason the same can't be true in the case of Keith Jardine. And, while Huerta and Jardine may train together in New Mexico, do they discuss their personal finances with each other? My gut tells me "no". Money is generally something you talk about with very close friends, advisors, and your family. I simply can't see "The Dean of Mean" bitching about his take-home to Roger Huerta, and assuming Jardine is relatively content with what he's being paid, then it's really none of Huerta's business anyways.


MMAWeekly.com has confirmed that Martin Kampmann will face Nathan Marquardt at UFC 89 in Birmingham, England in October. We reported yesterday that the fight was rumored to happen at UFC 88 in September, however it's looking like the fight has been pushed back and will happen on the Spike TV broadcast of UFC 89. Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben is currently scheduled to headline UFC 89.


This should be a very exciting fight and the result will help sort out the UFC's current logjam at Middleweight. The fact Patrick Cote is getting a shot against Anderson Silva after a handful of decent (though not overly impressive) wins tells me that the UFC is desperate for 185-pound contenders. There are a number of above average Middleweights, including UFC 89 participants Bisping, Leben, Kampmann, and Marquardt, but none in the group has truly established himself as a threat to Silva's championship. I would like to see the winner of Marquardt/Kampmann fight the winner of Leben/Bisping sometime in early 2009, perhaps as a co-headliner a clash between Yushin Okami and Anderson Silva. No, I'm not giving Patrick Cote a canoli's chance on Ricco Rodriguez's plate to beat "The Spider" at UFC 90. It's a nice thought, and it's about time we had another St. Pierre vs. Serra shocker, but I happen to think Silva is better than Cote at every facet of the game.

Back to Marquardt vs. Kampmann, I expect the opening round to be primarily a kickboxing fight, as both men possess backgrounds in the sport and can claim ownership to being excellent in the clinch. I like Kampmann's submission-grappling a bit better than Marquardt, so I'll be looking for him to set up takedowns with his striking and do his best to take away the skills Nate excels at. If "The Hitman" can't get Marquardt down, and the two of them stand for the bulk of the fight, I like the Jackson-trained Marquardt's power to seal the deal sometime in the third. The bottom line is it's an excellent match-up that's almost too close to call. The only guarantee is entertainment.


MMAJunkie.com is reporting that Gina Carano (6-0) will be facing Kelly Kobald-Gavin (16-2-1) at EliteXC's next CBS special scheduled for October 4. It had been rumored that Carano would face Cristiane Cyborg at the event. However, that won't be the case. Kobald-Gavin last competed for BodogFIGHTs in August of 2006 where she suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Julie Kedzie.


If ever there were ever any doubts as to EliteXC's willingness to cater to their five-star fighters, as opposed to put together the best bouts, let them be silenced with the above announcement. EliteXC and CBS need their October 4th show to draw major ratings with Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice being on the card. They clearly do not want to risk one of their two prize possessions getting damaged. To put her up against a woman who hasn't fought in more than two years is ridiculous when it comes to competitive matchmaking, but quite intelligent when it comes to turning stars into superstars. The moment Carano or Slice falls in defeat, as was nearly the case in Kimbo's contest against James Thompson, a bit of their mystique will be lost, so it's important for EliteXC to weigh the risk vs. the reward when lining up deserving opponents for either fighter.


Advertising for the next Affliction show on 10/11 no longer mentions Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski and now instead mentions "Andrei Arlovski vs. TBD".


I'm here with breaking news! There's hope yet! A "source close to the situation" has informed me Fedor Emelianenko is in the process of legally changing his name to "The Big Dasvidanya" a.k.a. "TBD".

But seriously, I don't think fans should be phased by the change in advertising, as I believe its just a precaution in case Emelianenko is not medically cleared in the next few weeks. He was listed as being suspended for up to a year due to an injury he sustained to his right hand in his bout against Tim Sylvia, but has been approved to compete so long as he receives a physicians clearance to do so. I think it's more than likely Fedor will be up for fighting Arlovski in October. If he is not available, which would be a shame, I look for Affliction to consider bringing in someone like Alistair Overeem or Sergei Kharitonov as opposed to going with a Heavyweight they already have inked to a deal. Fans have already seen Arlovski vs. Sylvia three times, Josh Barnett could possibly be doing something with World Victory Road (and has already stated he's not willing to take a paycut), and neither Paul Buentello or Pedro Rizzo are particularly "sexy" opponents for a top spot on a card. The only other option would be Aleks Emelianenko, assuming he can get his paperwork together in time and receive clearance to fight, but it would be devestating to the event if he had to pull out at the weigh-in again as was the case at "Affliction: Banned". I'm not sure Affliction can even risk the possibility given the importance of their second show turning a profit.


EliteXC's Joey Villasenor recently confirmed to MMAJunkie.com that he will be fighting on the September 20 EliteXC card. Villasenor also said that EliteXC is mentioning Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos & Murilo "Ninja" Rua as possible opponents.


I forget where it was, but recently I'd stated I felt EliteXC was no longer as buddy-buddy with Strikeforce as the two companies had been prior to "Saturday Night Fights" and "Strikeforce on NBC". Their has been a noticeable lack of Strikeforce fighters on the two "Saturday Night Fights" events, as in a grand total of zero, and the last offering from Scott Coker's group featuring two of their brightest young fighters (Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson) was on HDNet instead of Showtime. Hearing that EliteXC is putting together a card on September 20th - the same day as Strikeforce's forthcoming return to the Playboy Mansion - further adds to my assumption the companies are interested in going their separate ways regardless of their mutual association with ProElite. As far as Villasenor's announcement, Rua or Santos would both be good opponents for "Smokin' Joe" based all three fighters' similar style that's heavy of stand-up and light on plodding matwork. If Villasenor wins, I suspect he'll be next in line for a shot at Robbie Lawler's Middleweight Championship. If he loses, he'll head to the back of the contendership line, which fortunately for him is quite short given EliteXC only having 2-3 legitimate opponents for Lawler under contract.


Graciefighter.com is reporting that EliteXC is very interested in putting a Nick Diaz/KJ Noons rematch on the October 4 EliteXC CBS show. Diaz is very interested in the fight, however it is unclear if KJ Noon's camp will accept the bout. If Noon's camp does not accept the fight it is very likely that Diaz could end up facing Hayato "Mach" Sakurai at the September DREAM event. In another interesting note, DREAM has yet to pay Diaz for his victory over Katsuya Inoue back in May.


If KJ Noons' camp rejects the title-defense against Nick Diaz, I would have no problem with EliteXC stripping Noons of his championship and going back to square one where the belt is concerned. I have no tolerance for any champion refusing a company's proposed opponent. I can understand a fighter who is attempting to work his way up the ladder wanting to pass against a competitor he/she is not physically ready for, but such hesitations should be thrown out the door once you strap on the gold and call yourself champ. I honestly don't see Noons turning down the chance to silence Diaz and any keyboard warriors who feel he is undeserving of his EliteXC Lightweight Championship. He's Hawaiin and grew up around boxing/kickboxing. The kid has a ton of heart and spirit. I can't see Noons backing down from any challenge.

In DREAM-related news, I'd love to see Diaz step into the ring against "Mach" Sakurai and I hope DREAM will hold off on the bout until New Year's Eve assuming the Gracie-trained Diaz gets his wish and competes on October 4th against KJ Noons. Then again, considering they apparently haven't paid him for a fight taking place nearly three months ago, I'm not sure why Nick would consider heading back to Japan to work for them anyways.


Jibber-Jabber:

The following soundbyte was delivered over the past week...


Roger Huerta expresses more frustration with the UFC to MMAMadness...

"They put these videos on the UFC where I said the fight (with Kenny Florian at UFC 87) was going to be a "cakewalk". They f*cking pissed me off because what I was saying is that, COMPARED TO MY LIFE, this fight is a cakewalk. It was in no way a disrespect to Kenny, it's just with all the sh*t I've been through as a kid, fighting Kenny is a cakewalk. Anyway…when it comes down to it, it really is just a fight…it's just a fight."


How a guy shagging Arianny Celeste can be so discontent with things in his life is something I will tragically never understand. Truly, I can understand why Huerta is upset about being misquoted, as I know there was quite a bit of negative chatter in the MMA community regarding Huerta's "cakewalk" comment. And, considering the extremely difficult upbringing Roger experienced, I'd say he's absolutely right in stating the fight against Florian isn't even a blip on the radar when it comes to adversity he's faced. I appreciate Huerta clarifying things in a public forum and I wouldn't be surprised if Kenny Florian's management got a call from "El Matador", if not Florian himself, to apologize for any misunderstanding resulting from the comment.


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That's about all she wrote for this week's Hangover. Till next time Punch Drunk buckaroos, here's your "Monday Morning Moment of Zen" - Aleksander Emelianenko vs. Fedor Emelianenko in a Sambo match!

Where have I seen that finishing move before?

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