Jon Jones' Positive Cocaine Test Makes Zuffa's Random Drug Testing Departure A Peculiar Choice

 
By: Rich Bergeron

Hearing Zuffa would be abandoning a planned random drug testing protocol for all fighters under contract with the company was strange enough without the recent news about Jon Jones testing positive for cocaine metabolites in early December of last year. After all, this was a smart, sensible and well-constructed testing program that's now being cut short, and snagging Jones should be a reason why it's more important to follow through with the program rather than ending it. Additionally, all the company brass seemed doggedly committed to carrying the program out, especially in light of statements made by Georges St. Pierre when he walked away from the promotion and the sport of MMA itself.

Instead of doing the right thing, though, the UFC will reportedly now provide funds to athletic commissions instead, expecting those agencies to accomplish all future testing of UFC fighters.

The initial message sent by announcing this monumental random testing program was crystal clear in terms of where the UFC wanted to go. No fighter would be able to escape the new testing regimen as it was first presented. Consider Lorenzo Fertitta's own bold comments on the issue (which he offered in the immediate wake of Cung Le's false-positive test):

"Actually it's becoming less of a problem. We've stepped up our game testing. For the athletes, there's nowhere else to hide. Now, we're testing all guys on a card. It used to be random testing for a few guys on the card. The next step is to random test all 500 athletes, several times a year. We're sending a message: if you're cheating, you'll get caught, suspended and fined. We want the sport to be clean."

Apparently, Fertitta was not really willing to put his money where his mouth was on the testing front. He also neglected to mention that if a top-level UFC athlete tested positive for traces of an illegal street drug, there would be more than one place to hide. For Jones, the first place would be a drug treatment program he voluntarily checked himself into. Next, Jones could count on his Zuffa bosses to let him hide behind the coat-tails of the organization itself. Dana White even offered his support, assuring UFC fans that the champion would fight this drug addiction just as efficiently as he fights his opponents in the cage.

Jones is the purest definition of a "company man" who is in some ways bigger than the promotion itself, but not quite untouchable enough to be immune from being told what to do and when to do it. Whenever a major sponsor comes along that wants to get involved with the UFC, the company usually calls on Jones to sign one of the first blockbuster deals with that sponsor. He's even been sponsored by the promotion itself. Of course, he can say no to the brass, but in most cases he has every reason to give in and be the face of the organization when they ask him to be. This very kind of favoritism and  unflinching, look-the-other-way support that their poster boy is getting right now is just what Jones expects in return for artfully toeing the company line. So, that's exactly what he's getting.   

So far there's been no talk of a suspension of Jones from the UFC, despite countless other cases of fighters who had much less significant incidents result in much harsher punishment. Still, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is not ruling out potential punishment for the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. The lack of consequences for Jones is not as important, however, as the message sent to all UFC fighters about cocaine use in general:

Ian McCall @Unclecreepymma 

Wait what? ... All I heard was that cocaines legal?

7:39 PM - 6 Jan 2015

If there really is no formal penalty for ingesting "nose candy," isn't publicizing that reality bound to lead to more fighters consuming the drug instead of other alternatives or traditional PEDS? So, now there has to be a great case for making some anti-cocaine legislation, new company policy, or some other prohibitive measure to adequately address and curtail cocaine use by fighters. Even then, Jon Jones will be exempt from whatever punishment might result from any adjustment of the status quo.

The reality is that White's explanations about getting out of the random testing business because of Cung Le's false positive test for HGH doesn't hold water when matched up with the actual circumstances involved with Cung Le's testing. First of all, Le's testing issues came from day-of-fight tests. The UFC did not order these tests as part of any traditional "random" or "out of competition" testing protocol. The Cung Le testing issue arose from a situation that confronts the UFC whenever they put on a show in a location where there is no commission that oversees mixed martial arts competition. All those cases call for the UFC itself to get the testing accomplished. So, to now say the commissions are going to do all the testing is disingenuous to say the least. No commission was involved with Cung Le's botched tests, and none will be involved in any testing if another fight card comes to Macau or any other no-commission locale.

In fact, it is a long-standing, official UFC policy to hire out local labs to test all fighters appearing on overseas cards. Former NSAC Chairman Mark Ratner, now a UFC executive, even went as far as announcing the promotion would refuse to pay out fight bonuses until all results from that testing came in.  

This is especially interesting since Jon Jones received a Fight of the Night bonus for his recent win over Daniel Cormier, even though UFC officials obviously knew beforehand about the cocaine test.

Another frightening aspect involved in this scenario is the fact that White promised future tests will be faulty if the UFC continues to handle them. “Our legal team completely screwed that thing up,” White said about Le's false positive. "We have no business doing drug testing. We f----d it up, and we will f--k it up again. That’s what the commission is there to do.” (Editor's Note: Wait a second, is the commission there to test, or to f--k up the test?)

All lawyers of fighters who were once (or might soon be) bagged in the UFC's overseas testing for banned substances, please take notice of this monumental admission from "The Baldfather." It may be your ticket to an easy payday for you and your client. 

It is very disappointing to see so many articles on the subject of the UFC abandoning their random testing plans without anyone bothering to point out that Cung Le's problems were not even the result of a random test. It just so happens that the announcement on the killing of the program came just before the year's first Pay-Per-View card for the UFC, which involved a fighter caught up in a real case of random testing. The decision to scrap random testing also came in the wake of multiple stories pointing out the UFC's revenue struggles in 2014, mainly due to fighters pulling out of huge bouts due to injuries. While the losses from cancelled or postponed fights might not be back-breaking for the world's most powerful MMA promotion, it's still concerning for everyone invested in the company. This is an organization run by people who now fully realize that calling off and/or rescheduling fights is bad for business, period.

If more top-level fighters were to be caught up in random testing snags, that could create more financial instability. Some of these tests could create even more damaging cancellations and more rescheduling, losing the UFC way more money than they would miss out on by looking the other way.

It's bad enough that the mainstream MMA media continues to maintain their UFC lapdog status by failing to point out the reality behind the Cung Le situation, but what's worse is they don't even call into question Dana White blaming everything on the UFC legal team. Really? Why does the legal team have anything to do with arranging drug testing? It makes more sense to have a guy like Ratner in charge of those kind of issues with the legal team just checking off on it. Even before Le joined a class action lawsuit against the UFC, stories surfaced to reveal that the UFC did not even bother to employ a lab that was approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for the testing of fighters appearing on the Macau card.      

The Jones debacle obviously proves beyond any reasonable doubt that random drug testing IS WORKING and should continue if the UFC really does want to promote a "clean" sport. Unfortunately, the mere fact that Jones was tested for a substance that is not banned out of competition is being called an "administrative oversight" by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. So, it's not so much the story that Jones messed up here. It's really the athletic commission's fault for going above and beyond the call of duty.

To borrow a phrase from ESPN Monday Night Football: "C'mon, Man!" If it's really about making the sport better and the well-being of the athletes involved in combat sports, "banned" and "illegal" should be considered to be one and the same in this situation. Instead, this is being viewed as a fluke, and UFC fighters are now finding out that a little coke is not only permitted out of competition, but it's also not even supposed to be something commissions can test you for.

This is pure, unadulterated irony, because now it's a thousand times more urgent for the UFC to implement their own independent, random testing program. It's only natural that the company should want to prevent their stars from using and abusing illegal drugs. Giving Jones a free pass only encourages recreational cocaine use, and calling the fact that he was even tested an oversight is as good as apologizing to a person who purposely victimized himself.

The Jones case also proves that Dana White is lying through his teeth about Cung Le's false positive being the true impetus behind the decision to dump random drug testing. "Uncle Dana" claims to be a phenomenal poker player, but he can't bluff his way out of this mess.

Giving a little extra money to the commissions to complete the testing the company should get done on their own is a cop out, plain and simple. It's also another case of CYA in action, and it only has to go down this way because the UFC President is getting sick of announcing changes to fight cards. It has absolutely nothing to do with Cung Le.

Leaving all testing to "the regulators" also means that only those fighters slated to appear on a particular card will be subject to testing. Even if every fighter to appear on every future card were to be tested, what happens between fights? Fighters commonly use PEDs as a method to recover more quickly from injuries. Even in cases where a fighter is using banned substances just to gain an unfair advantage in training, most of the time the user knows exactly when to taper off in time to avoid getting busted by a local commission. Some camps might even employ doctors or medical technicians to advise them on the best protocol to follow in order to avoid detection. Therefore, the best way to catch users is to test them when they least expect it, when there is no fight coming up.

The only sensible way to do this testing is exactly how Lorenzo Fertitta said it should and would be done: for all the fighters under contract with the promotion, multiple times per year. Any other approach just affirms that the UFC is not interested at all in providing a cleaner competitive environment. If getting there translates to the potential of more drastic alterations to future fight cards and more lost revenue, it's not happening. And it's all Cung Le's fault.   

Is Bellator Bound to Fail?

By: Rich Bergeron

The only organization in Mixed Martial Arts that still tries to really compete with The Ultimate Fighting Championship is Bellator MMA. Yet, their latest maneuverings seem wholly defensive, and all hopes of the giant Viacom conglomerate taking this league to lofty new heights now seem inevitably doomed.

Some of the second-fiddle organization's fans might blame the recently-deposed Bjorn Rebney, the Former CEO of Bellator. Rebney reportedly let his mouth write a few checks his backers couldn't cash, especially in light of recent reports from Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's camp. Rebney did his best to capitalize on the Viacom connection, promising fighters like Jackson and "King" Mo Lawal opportunities with TNA Wrestling when that promotion was also running on the same Spike TV network that broadcasts all Bellator shows. Today, TNA is relegated to the Destination America channel, which commands less than half the audience of Spike.

Though Jackson stood by Rebney and seemed obviously distraught when the man who recruited him left the promotion, Lawal famously accused his then-acting boss (on Spike TV's air) of "dick riding" his new rival. It would be easy to imagine what Dana White would do in Rebney's place if one of his fighters pulled such a stunt on a UFC show. Rebney did absolutely nothing to discipline Lawal for his blatant disrespect and salty language. That incident itself didn't inspire his Viacom bosses to tell Rebney to take a hike, but it likely hastened Rebney's departure from the promotion he founded. The whole debacle, which concluded with Former Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker taking Bellator's reigns, won the distinction of being dubbed Sherdog's 2014 Story of the Year.

Coker traditionally gets all the credit for the success of Strikeforce, despite the crumbling of the promotion after the UFC purchased the entire operation. While many Strikeforce fighters made the quick transition to the UFC in the wake of the fold up, Coker ended up getting lost in the shuffle. Still, Dana White's history with Coker is all positive, and he's obviously still appreciative of Coker's efforts with Strikeforce. Rebney often drew White's ire, to the point where "The Baldfather" typically referred to the rival CEO as "Bjork." Dana obviously doesn't harbor the same animosity when it comes to Coker.

Still, the UFC is by no means above taking every opportunity available to acquire Bellator's best and most-recognized fighters. Eddie Alvarez came over to the UFC recently after a long, arduous and unsuccessful court battle to obtain his services even earlier. Rampage Jackson's Bellator contract didn't stop him from jumping ship, but Coker's response to the announced defection indicated that Bellator may be willing to fight for their rights to Rampage in another court setting.

Bellator is no stranger itself to poaching former UFC fighters, but to my knowledge it's never been done by that promotion with any fighter who is still under UFC contract. Even in Rampage's situation, though, there's not a whole lot of back and forth banter between Coker and White over this or any other issue. It's all being approached in a much more professional manner than we're used to seeing "Uncle Dana" treat past competitors:

The UFC likely has no chance to buy out or completely kill Bellator, but the top dog MMA company doesn't have to. First of all, Bellator is not an actual threat to the UFC model. Their free fights don't typically compete with UFC offerings, and the Pay-Per-View model Bellator experimented with in 2014 failed miserably. Secondly, Bellator is doing a fantastic job of making itself look irrelevant and hopeless.

Consider Coker's recent boasting about trying to recruit WWE Wrestler and Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar to be the biggest fish in his little pond. On top of this, Coker went out on a limb and admitted he is also making a run at convincing Fedor Emelianenko to come out of retirement to fight for Bellator. It seems obvious to most experts in the combat sports media that Coker has absolutely zero chance to land either fighter, so flapping his jaws about these signings being somehow possible is clearly going to backfire when nothing happens on either front.

For his part, Fedor commented in an interview with MMA Junkie this past September that he is done fighting, and only God can change that:

“I already fought my share,” Emelianenko said. “God gave me a rich and eventful career. I gave God everything. I’m done fighting. Only God’s will (can bring me back).”

 As far as Lesnar goes, money talks. The UFC can offer Pay-Per-View revenue sharing, huge sponsorship opportunities (just maybe not with Bud Light), a familiar management structure, and a much higher purse per fight for their former champ. Though Viacom is a vast conglomerate with tremendous wealth and net worth, fight purses still remain much lower than the UFC for even the best fighters under contract. Even though they could make an exception for Lesnar, it's doubtful they could provide a more attractive offer than the UFC.

Even more important than the money factor is the level of competition. Brock Lesnar will not leave the WWE wrestling ring and resume his MMA career just to be a paper champion by beating a few tomato cans. If he does launch an MMA comeback, it's a no-brainer to conclude that his reasoning will have something to do with wanting to prove he can be the best in the world. The best heavyweights are in the UFC, period. The only intriguing match-up for Brock in Bellator is Bobby Lashley.

Brock was not at his peak physical health during his first UFC stint, and maybe he now realizes he has one final window to prove that was the only reason he ultimately could not compete with guys like Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem. Still, all this talk of coming back to the MMA fold could just be a publicity stunt perpetrated by Lesnar's camp to drive up the price of his contract renewal with WWE. After all, I have not seen any article quoting Lesnar himself on the subject of where he will land when his wrestling contract expires in March. Most of the conclusions spread across wrestling and combat sports media circles regarding Lesnar's UFC transition point to WWE officials speculating that is what he will do. Yet, recent reports indicate Dana White has yet to have any actual conversations with Lesnar to discuss the conditions of a comeback. That doesn't make much sense. If he's really ready to leave the staged world of pro-wrestling behind, you'd think he'd make a call to White to talk about it. I'm more inclined to think Lesnar is wary of acquiring any more permanent facial scars, and it's going to be an easy decision for him to stay with the promotion that made him famous in the first place. Either way, Lesnar will never sign with Bellator.

Bellator is also about to see one of their most prominent sponsors (Monster) sign on with the UFC. Typically, this means it will have to be an exclusive arrangement. This makes more sense than trying to continue the charade of pretending Xyience and their "Xenergy" drink was a stand-alone sponsor of the UFC (It was actually owned by the same Fertittas who own the UFC). Monster does conflict with NOS, which sponsors UFC programming on Fox and Fox Sports 1, but there doesn't appear to be any direct UFC relationship with the company.

The class-action fighter lawsuits filed in late December make specific mention of how the UFC operates with their sponsors, typically forcing those companies to cease doing business with other promotions if they want to associate with the UFC. Whether or not the UFC will be open to allowing Bellator and Monster to continue their relationship in this situation remains to be seen. The writing on the wall points to Bellator having to shop for a new energy drink sponsor, though.

The UFC had its share of Pay-Per-View struggles in 2014, but that is just one small segment of their business. There are plenty of revenue streams available to appease fighters currently under UFC contract. The organization is forcing a new Reebok uniform policy on fighters that is already leading to major complications with multiple smaller sponsors, but the UFC brass promises "virtually all" the Reebok money will go directly to the fighters. Unless the uniform situation or the class action lawsuits come back to bite them, the mini-revolution against the UFC that started with the Tito Ortiz and Rampage Jackson defections now appears to be fully extinguished. Any chance for Bellator to gain ground on the UFC now seems lost.

Bellator just seems to be squandering all the recent gains they made, and Scott Coker's misguided leadership isn't helping the situation. Conspiracy theorists who look at this situation might even say Coker could be purposely driving his new employer into the ground. Of course, it's highly doubtful he's actually a UFC plant, but Coker's actions would definitely make more sense if that were true.

I honestly cannot see a scenario where Bellator would completely fold, but consider how unlikely it seemed that Affliction would fall apart with backers like Oscar De La Hoya and Donald Trump. It is very disappointing and concerning to see no major benefits materialize from Bellator being backed by Viacom compared to when the promotion's fight cards were just featured on a Viacom network. Rebney obviously had some big plans to take full advantage of the partnership with such a strong conglomerate, but putting his dreams into practice didn't pan out.

Even though Rebney's tournament model wasn't going to work out in the long run, he had the right idea about exploring unique contract opportunities through leveraging Viacom's partnership. The UFC has a huge contract with the Fox network in addition to offering their own exclusive viewing platform (Fight Pass) and garnering millions from Pay-Per-View sales. Fighters who make names for themselves in that environment don't need a Viacom in the picture to get more payment opportunities. Think of all the coaches who were able to get extra recognition and pay from appearing on The Ultimate Fighter. Fox employs multiple fighters as analysts as well. Dominick Cruz landed his Fox job when he was sidelined with one of his multiple knee injuries. Dan Hardy last fought at the end of September, 2012, but he works for the UFC as a color commentator and post-fight interviewer whenever the promotion travels to the UK region.

Ronda Rousey is already becoming a popular movie star, even while she defends her UFC championship belt in dominant fashion. She's appearing in the 2015 Entourage movie, and she is coming fresh off a starring role in the latest Expendables film.Georges St. Pierre is on an extended break from UFC competition, but he's also appearing in a remake of Kickboxer during his time off. Even without a major motion picture company under the UFC's direct ownership, current and former UFC fighters still manage to pick up roles in movies. Viacom has no excuse for not being able to provide Bellator stars more opportunities to break into Hollywood since they actually do own their own studio.

One of the reasons Rampage went back to what he called "the devil you know" related to his frustrations with Viacom's failure to follow through on a planned reality show, TNA wrestling opportunities, and additional movie roles through Viacom's interests in that arena. Viacom's ownership of Paramount Pictures should have made it easy for them to provide Jackson the chance to appear on the silver screen again. Though it was his UFC popularity that helped him get his first major role in The A-Team movie, the UFC did not approach that situation with a cooperative attitude. It was one of Jackson's biggest beefs with his old bosses. At the time, it seemed that the promotion didn't want to see their fighters make the Hollywood transition for good once they realized it would be much easier and more lucrative than fighting for a living. This potential permanent defection obviously became much more of a threat when the UFC's efforts to lure Gina Carano back to fighting fell apart.

Whether Viacom's failure to appease Jackson had anything to do with fear of losing his fighting services is unknown, but even losing Jackson as a fighter would be better than losing him to the UFC after he made such a poignant and potent argument against his former bosses. On top of the loss, other fighters who would otherwise be willing to jump the UFC ship will no doubt be discouraged by Viacom's failure to retain Rampage. This creates an environment where Viacom continues to minimize their advantages over the competition, alienating their fighters in the process and inspiring them to look for greener pastures. Rather than grow and thrive under this huge corporation, Bellator is remaining stagnant and possibly even losing ground in the combat sports niche. Even their "Fight Master" reality show backfired on them when the winner Joe Riggs recently signed with the UFC again thanks to Bellator's help getting him back on the MMA map. 

The worst part of Bellator's current reality is they can't really blame the UFC's dominance of the marketplace for their troubles in the industry. Their own actions and failure to act in key situations is what brought them to where they are today, forever locked in a losing battle. Barring a miraculous 2015 turnaround, Bellator's star may continue to fall until Viacom sells the promotion or simply pulls the plug and lets Dana White add a new name to his tombstone.

To prevent the total loss of their hefty investment, Viacom must take a more capitalistic approach in the new year. Scott Coker has to stop trying to accomplish the impossible and focus on what he actually has the power to change and improve. Bellator's whole management team needs to convince Viacom to go all in and spend some money to make some money. Of all the excuses people come up with for not having any interest in MMA, the top one is typically that they just don't know enough about the fighters. This is precisely the area where Viacom is best-suited to make an impact, but so far they've shown they can't even corner their own market. Bellator also needs to stop throwing all their hard work in recruiting top talent out the window.

The only logical excuse their parent company has for failing to elevate the brand is that the company executives just don't have the passion it takes to build a truly dominant MMA promotion out of what they currently have. If that's not the source of the problem, only outright incompetence can explain the current state of Bellator's affairs. Either way, it will take some deep investments and much more hard work in the MMA trenches to at least maintain the appearance that Bellator is still a direct UFC competitor.

A quick fix to a slow-growing problem?

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Much has been made lately about UFC bringing back old faces and signing new ones, with former WWE wrestler CM Punk making the biggest splash. He announced live during UFC 181 earlier this month that he signed a contract with UFC.

The signing of Punk is on the heels of the UFC bringing back famed rebels-without-a-cause Nate and Nick Diaz, and was followed by the company bringing back Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who left under less-than-pleasant circumstances in 2013, to put it mildly.

Punk’s signing was met with derision by multiple fighters, while Nate Diaz’s return was marred with a missed open workout, missing weight, continued complaints about his pay and a three-round beating by Rafael Dos Anjos. His brother Nick seems to be faring slightly better, landing a main event fight with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in late January and staying out of trouble since his most recent arrest.

Not much is known yet about Jackson’s return to the UFC, as it is being contested in court by Bellator MMA and its parent company, Viacom. But the signing of a former pro wrestler with zero MMA experience, brothers who are accomplished fighters but also certifiable pains-in-the-asses and another accomplished fighter who has displayed numerous instances of questionable behavior outside the cage, suggests the UFC may be scrambling for something – anything – to increase fan interest.

Oh yeah, and the UFC is also being sued by former fighters over claims the company has created a monopoly in MMA and doesn’t fairly compensate its fighters. Are all of these occurrences related? It’s possible.

Pay-per-view buy-rates for the UFC are down, no question about it. UFC 177 – which was supposed to feature a rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao for the bantamweight title but changed at the last minute after Barao had to withdraw from the bout – received one the lowest buy-rates in recent memory.

What could the UFC do to bring in more fans besides signing pro wrestlers with no experience (though they don’t seem to be alone – Bellator is apparently courting former WWE wrestler Alberto Del Rio and has entered the Brock Lesnar sweepstakes) and bringing back controversial former stars who may have lost a step? The answer is simple, yet complicated.

The buy-rates for UFC PPVs are likely proportionate to the quality of the card being offered. Cards that seemed “stacked” with multiple fights featuring popular fighters (like UFC 181 earlier this month, that featured two title fights and fighters like Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Robbie Lawler) still fare pretty well.

But, due to what I believe is an increase in demand for programming from FOX and the presence of UFC Fight Pass, the company has to put on more and more live cards and stretch its roster thin in order to meet this demand. As a result, many live fight cards are headlined by fighters who would normally be on the undercard on PPVs and are supported by fights that wouldn’t even make it on to broadcast.

In layman’s terms, the UFC product as a whole feels very watered down, a sentiment shared by fans:

Haven't missed a UFC PPV since UFC 40 and UFC 149 was one of the worst ever! These weak watered down card HAVE to stop. #UFC 149
— Colin Hollett (@colinhollett) July 22, 2012

#ufc149 this Faber vs Barao fight blows the load UFC PPV's are getting watered down
— Manny (@MannyKicks) July 22, 2012

@danawhite Hey Danal, is the next @ufc ppv gonna be better than that last watered down POS event???
— Timebomb (@Timebomb_101) September 8, 2014

So while reducing the number of live cards is the simple answer, the trade-off for having your product on a platform like one of the big four networks is playing your role to help fill that network’s programming.

So maybe this is the new reality for UFC. Fight cards that feature only one “marquee” bout and several fights featuring unknown fighters. Bringing back fighters that may have lost a step but still bring name recognition. Signing professional wrestlers or other athletes that have no MMA experience, but can bring new viewers with them. While UFC has a future in 2015, it’s very much an unknown one.

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Are The Diaz Brothers a Train Wreck Waiting to Happen?

By: Rich Bergeron

The UFC's Diaz brothers continue to offer their bosses one figurative "Stockton Slap" after another. From their now infamous refusal to sit through interviews and press events to their obnoxious, narrowly-framed demands for more money and better opportunities, Nick and Nate Diaz present a serious problem for the UFC brass. They cannot be reigned in, and punishment is futile.

Although I am only a recent convert to MMA fandom, I've watched plenty of fights featuring these two talented brothers. I've caught a few of their interviews here and there as well. At times they gained and lost my respect, taking rebellion to a pointed extreme and exposing their crude nature in a way that only taints the image of the whole sport. Nick sets a bad example for his younger brother in this regard with his long list of offensive actions. He's no role model, but so many people still love this scrappy and mysterious madman. He drives drunk, he smokes weed, he skips press tours, he flips people off, he talks trash to his opponents in the cage, and he continues to refuse to get with the program.

At first, Nate Diaz was humble and willing to remain in the UFC's good graces after his successful stint on The Ultimate Fighter. As if watching his brother struggle with meeting media commitments and staying motivated to fight had a profound impact on Nate, his recent interactions with management have been much more abrasive.

He bit the hand that feeds him repeatedly over the course of the week leading up to his UFC on Fox appearance Saturday night, even coming into the weigh-in heavy. He slept in instead of participating in an open workout, walked out of a pre-fight interview before answering the first question, and criticized the UFC's new Reebok deal and their signing of CM Punk to a fight contract.

"I could to be fired tomorrow. I hope not. I want to work for the UFC forever," Nate said at a recent UFC media event. "But I also would like to be treated like, you know, we're not caged animals. I feel like we're professionals." He went on to explain that "kissing ass" isn't going to help any fighter out there who wants to benefit from new programs like the Reebok deal.

It all only adds more insult to the injury Diaz caused his employers when he raked them over the coals in the press over the past few months for not paying him and other fighters enough. Even Dana White admitted seeing Diaz win Saturday night would make matters more difficult. White told FOX Sports 1, "I don't know what to do with him if he wins. There's a laundry list of problems there."

Rafael Dos Anjos improved to 23-7 with a one-sided beating of the younger Diaz brother, but even the ass kicking didn't humble Diaz. He spent the last few seconds of the fight slapping and smack-talking Dos Anjos. Instead of just proclaiming himself the best in the division, Dos Anjos proved his mettle by dominating Diaz and respectfully called for a title shot. 

Nick Diaz is surprisingly much more reserved than his younger brother these days, but the two still have one thing in common: a problem with financial stability. Both have the skills to turn to the fight game for an income, but both seem equally reluctant to continue on the fight path. Consider Nate's comments in a recent ESPN piece:

"I don't think I'll ever get the work and damage I've done to myself back -- and if I keep going, it's just going to get worse. So, what the f--- am I doing it for?"  

Nate also admitted to fighting Saturday because he needed the money, which is also why his older brother Nick is coming out of retirement to be the first fight on Anderson Silva's comeback trail. Some of Nick's most memorable interviews include him wondering aloud why he even bothers to fight. They both seem inherently discontent with their respective choices to turn fighting into something they now have to rely on to get by.  Both also have obvious issues with anxiety and possibly some deeper behavior problems that may be genetic in nature. Certain people just don't have shut off switches.

Though both brothers have made statements and taken actions I could never agree with, they also bring up some very legitimate and crucial points when they get their jaws flapping in front of a microphone. At times like these, they show a different side to their personalities.

Remember when Nick Diaz retired Frank Shamrock? Rather than rub Frank's nose in the loss, Diaz barked at Frank to get up and finish his career on his feet, even giving him a hand and pulling him up from the ground. It was one of the classiest tributes I've ever seen one fighter make to another even though Diaz flipped Shamrock off at the weigh-ins rather than shake his hand that day. There are also countless times I can recall seeing Nate or Nick all banged up in a fight and somehow continuing to just walk through punches. This is why they both have such a huge fan base despite their outlandish behavior and lofty overconfidence.

So, while these brothers may in some ways be severely misunderstood, the reality is they both became the way they are as a result of their experiences under the UFC umbrella. As much as it might seem disrespectful and wrong for them to be so vocal, their popularity is in many ways bolstered by that bravado and willingness to step forward and stand up for the fighter perspective.

I wish they had cleaner language, a better relationship with the media, and more respect for their opponents. I think maybe then their message would be taken more seriously. Though sometimes I can't imagine why anyone would really look to the Diaz brothers as genuine role models, I am equally impressed with their ability to piss off Dana White while also forcing him to employ their services at the same time.

For their part, the Diaz brothers really can't be faulted for their gritty and grating attitudes if you consider how White became so famous in the first place. Like the kid in that old 80s anti-drug commercial caught by his dad with a stash of weed, the Diaz brothers can always claim, "I learned it from watching you, Dana!" 

As much as their careers are bound to end badly with very little fanfare, these brothers will always be cult classics. Like that line of cars that always stacks up when there's an accident on the side of the highway, the fans of the Diaz brothers continue to wait patiently for the next F-bomb to drop. As long as this dastardly duo continues to treat the fight game as an easy paycheck and expect to be treated like royalty everywhere they go, they will have a hard time creating a solid future for themselves when fighting is no longer an option.

For the UFC, The Worst Tyranny is Uniformity

"Variety is Life, Uniformity is Death"
                                      Pyotr Kropotkin

***UPDATED on December 9, 2014 ***

By: Rich Bergeron

      The UFC recently revealed a plan to revolutionize their sponsorship situation by partnering with a multi-billion-dollar Massachusetts-based apparel company called Reebok (looks like they need to update the text under Johny there). Early reports from the mainstream MMA media are giving this new development rave reviews. It's the greatest thing to ever happen to MMA if you believe these empty, UFC-bootlicking overtures. Perhaps they are not as well versed as I am on the reality behind the Zuffa facade.

     Looking past the immediate benefits the top-tier fighters will surely see under this plan, the early indications show more fighters may see a major negative impact before they ever get a chance to realize any positive dividends. As soon as I examined the context of this "deal," I couldn't help but ask one glaring question. What will happen with all the sponsors who will now be excluded from the inner circle?

     UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub reported recently that he lost a large group of sponsors already, even with the new policy not taking effect until next July. Schaub also indicated that Greg Jackson, a popular trainer with one of the most well known camps in the industry, lost all of his regular sponsors as well. The new rules will require all of a fighter's cornering staff to wear Reebok outfits as well.

      You can be damn sure Jacob "Stitch" Duran won't be wearing his usual Xyience outfits in the cage, either. The former UFC staple recently sold to a Texas outfit, which is deciding to move away from MMA sponsorship. The ever-present cut man and hand-wrapper was also a stockholder in Xyience who saw his shares wiped out when the Fertitta brothers drove the company into the ground in order to take it over for themselves after a contentious bankruptcy. Stitch still rocked the brand anyway. Until now.

      The Fertittas, through their Fertitta Enterprises holdings company, left several fighters expecting Xyience sponsorship money hanging when they could have easily been paid at the time. Few of those fighters ever donned the Xyience logo again once the Fertitta brothers were in a full ownership position. Matt Serra might be the only exception. The UFC's majority owners failed to pay about a million dollars in outstanding sponsorship fees while in control of Xyience to those fighters repping the brand. Yet, the brothers immediately provided the money for Xyience to pay the first installment of a blockbuster multi-million dollar organizational sponsorship to the UFC. In other words, the Fertittas showed their true colors, proving they'd put money into their own pockets before paying their fighters what they were entitled to. CLICK HERE for more on how the Fertittas used Xyience for immense personal benefit.

      That huge Xyience sponsorship deal would never be fully realized, because Xyience folded. Harley Davidson and Bud Light would take over their middle of the mat spot only after they outbid the Xyience contract that was never going to be possible anyway. This is Fertitta business acumen at its most crafty and devious level. 

      Remember folks, these are the same guys who put together this new uniform policy with Reebok, and likely with a little help and input from Massachusetts-native Dana White. So far, it looks like this arrangement might only make a flawed system worse. It simply pours all the money into the pockets of all the well-established fighters who don't need it nearly as much as the young, hungry prospects. It's hard to imagine how so many prospects and lesser knowns will fare under this protocol.

       It's easy to wonder if the future under this scenario could include a mass exodus of fighters who simply can't cope under the new conditions. Yet, these are not factors greedy folks like the Fertittas and White seem to grasp with any clarity or sense. They simply see another way to virtually guarantee exciting, bloody, and violent fights that get more fans interested in their organization. It's also another way to shackle each fighter to the organization, stripping away any semblance or spirit of independence a UFC charge will now be permitted to display.

      The message is clear: be exciting, dynamic, and entertaining if you want to make any real money in this league. If you're average or below-par, get used to being broke.

         Lorenzo Fertitta recently took the time to explain the new plan, which sounds suspiciously like the old plan. Compared to the existing fight pay and bonus system, it's right up the same alley. "At the end of the day, the more successful you are and the more demand there is for you, as an individual brand, the more you're going to sell," The UFC executive and Casino owner explained. "That's the way the system works. It's a capitalistic system here at the UFC."

     Another future development for the program includes designating so-called "legends" of the UFC who will earn their own "kits" to be sold to the general public, and those fighters along with active fighters will receive kickbacks from all sales. It sounds fabulous on the surface, especially for those who are deemed special enough to the organization to receive the most lucrative in-career and retirement benefits. Yet, surely there will be some of the most devoted and resilient journeymen and tough-as-nails guys who always stepped up when needed who will be left with no such benefits despite having fought just as hard or harder than the guys who do get the extra check every month.

     The absolute worst part of this six-year deal with Reebok is the restriction on existing and future fighter sponsors. Yes, fighters can still have outside sponsors other than Reebok and those with their own exclusive UFC deals. There's only one catch. It sounds like the only time they can display their unique sponsors is while they're hanging out on the couch at home or hobnobbing at local non-UFC events. All these sponsors fighters typically plaster all over their shorts and custom fight banners will be excluded from being displayed at any fight week events after this plan takes effect. This alienates a myriad of supporters, ranging from small-time local "mom and pop" outfits to major national brands.

       Is this wrinkle a necessary evil? Perhaps the champs and top ten fighters in every weight class might say yes, but what about the up and comers who depend on those sponsors to get by when the regular fighter pay is miserable? UFC President and Part Owner Dana White points to fighters struggling with sponsorship issues in the past as the catalyst for this deal being needed right now. He neglects to explain that the UFC's "gatekeeper" fees represented a huge obstacle to most eager sponsors who wanted to get involved with those fighters.The policy already makes sure the UFC is paid a hefty sum before the average fighter gets a penny from those sponsors who can afford the luxury of having their brand appear on a square inch of fight short space on a UFC broadcast.

     White insists that the new plan means every fighter gets a sponsor, no matter what. "...you're getting paid every time you get in," White said. "And it's more incentive to get bigger and better."

     Lorenzo Fertitta piggybacked on that sentiment by telling reporters that fighters under the new plan won't have to do all that aggravating legwork of finding sponsors anymore. Now they can concentrate solely on training.

    Yeah, Lorenzo, great point, if you're talking about those top-tier fighters making all the serious bank. But, what about the guys who go in there and don't get the chance to win the popularity contest because they can't seem to get off the preliminary cards? How much are they really making under this new plan, and is it really better for them than trying to generate their own sponsors to back them? If their "kits" don't sell, won't they just have to work harder outside the cage and away from UFC events to make ends meet?

      The biggest question of all, the one that so few MMA media outlets ask, is why doesn't the UFC just pay a better flat wage for prospects and newcomers to the organization? A minimum $10,000 per fighter for a three round bout, win or lose, would be a great place to start and would be within the organization's means without this added exclusive sponsor deal.

      The nearsighted and narrowly-framed parameters of this uniform plan fail to account for the blowback and the backlash that will surely result. Trainers who used to rely on sponsorship money may now have to charge their fighters more. Sponsors locked out now may go to competitors and never come back. Fighters weighing their prospects might be wary to enter an organization where only the top-tier fighters are guaranteed any hope of making a formidable wage. As a young fighter in the smaller circuits, sponsorships and your day job keep you alive as you pursue your dreams. How can you remain loyal to the same folks who got you to the UFC if the UFC tells you to leave all your supporters at the cage door? Who wants to fight for bosses who don't even really get the very sport they wield their iron fists over?  

      Lorenzo Fertitta also explained that "virtually" all, if not the entire amount of the deal's face value will end up in the pockets of the UFC's fighters. This may indeed be true in principle, but not quite so in practice, especially if you look at how the Fertittas operate. If something looks too good to be true with these corporate Goodfellas, it usually is. Even if every cent Reebok dishes out over the six years of this contract does end up going to certain fighters, the UFC most certainly benefits on a number of fronts. Those few sponsors who will be permitted to join the Reebok logo on fighter kits will no doubt be taxed separately in some way. Since all those other sponsors can no longer get in the UFC through the fighters, some of the more financially powerful companies will be scrambling to get ad space in the Octagon and through other UFC channels, creating fierce bidding wars for the spaces that are currently occupied by other major brands.

    Of course, the expiration of the new deal means re-negotiating another new deal that could eventually pay the UFC's executives and owners light years more than the fighters in the long run. Not to mention what happens if another apparel company wants to take over the role and outbid Reebok.

    Ultimately, this plan is about control and coercion. It might give a handful of the UFC's most dynamic fighters a great retirement income if they can become "legends," but it's also another way to keep those fighters loyal to and under the watchful eye of Big Brother Zuffa. They're flat out telling fighters they don't have to be independent anymore. It's time for them to depend on the UFC and Reebok now. "Just fight for us, don't be a businessman," Uncle Dana might as well be saying.

     Whatever benefits this program provides in the short term, the long-term issues seem troubling to say the least. Wanderlei Silva is concerned enough about the lower-tier fighters who may be impacted negatively by this deal that he recently offered to help them out in advertising their sponsors on his social networks, which exposes the fighters and their sponsors to millions of followers.

     The bottom line is this plan is still going to do little to alleviate the problems obscure, unknown fighters face just trying to get themselves on the map in the first place. Unfortunately, the UFC continues to portray the attitude of an unruly Goliath, towering over the MMA landscape with outrageously controlling contracts, the most talented block of fighters in the sport serving out those contracts, and now a totally exclusive outfitting deal that is purposely designed to be a popularity contest. 

If you agree or disagree, please explain yourself in the comment section.

UFC 178 Postmortem: Where do we go from here?

Photo Credit: Esther Lin (MMA Fighting) 

By: Chris Huntemann, Columnist

The feeling you experience after eating a deluxe, five-course meal – or even your Mom’s home cooking – is hard to describe. The easiest way to explain it is satisfaction. You don’t feel you can eat any better than you just did. That was the feeling after watching UFC 178 last night. You felt satisfied. It was described as the most stacked card in recent memory, and it didn’t disappoint. From the preliminary fights to the main event, each bout delivered on its promise, with even some good old-fashioned controversy thrown in for good measure.

So, what can we expect from some of the bigger names involved in last night’s action going forward?  

Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz (19-1) def. Takeya Mizugaki (20-8-2) via first-round TKO (Bantamweight – 135 lbs.) Layoff? What layoff? Dominick Cruz looked like he never spent time on the sideline in making very short work of an always dangerous Takeya Mizugaki. The quick first-round TKO guarantees Cruz a title shot against bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, and an opportunity for Cruz to regain the belt he never lost. UFC President Dana White said as much during the post-fight coverage. Of course, it wouldn’t be Dominick Cruz if his beef with Urijah Faber wasn’t resurrected also. The trash talk between the two sparked anew last night, and hopefully those two complete their trilogy sooner rather than later.  

Cat “Alpha” Zingano (9-0) def. Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes (9-4) via third-round TKO (Women’s Bantamweight – 135 lbs.) Speaking of bantamweight title shots, the no. 1 contender in the women’s bantamweight division is also set. Cat Zingano weathered an early assault from Amanda Nunes to achieve a third-round finish and a title shot early next year against champion Ronda Rousey. I thought Zingano made a mistake in the first round by staying on her back when she could have stood up, and Nunes made her pay with some vicious ground-and-pound and a near finish. But, Zingano emerged in the second and third rounds to take control and unleash some ground-and-pound of her own on Nunes to get the duke. Zingano also made her feelings clear to Dana White after the fight, shouting her desire for a title shot in his direction. I can’t say I blame her. I understand UFC’s flirtation with Gina Carano, though she seems perfectly content with her Hollywood career. I’ve said to anyone who would listen that I don’t think Rousey will ever lose. I don’t know if Zingano can make me change my mind, but I do think her skills can possibly make her the first one to take Rousey into the deep rounds when their title fight happens.  

Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero (8-1) def. Tim Kennedy (19-5) via third-round TKO (Middleweight – 185 lbs.) This is where we found our controversy last night. Tim Kennedy nearly finished Yoel Romero at the end of the second round, before Romero was saved by the bell. However, Romero took longer than the allotted minute between rounds to get off his stool. It’s been reported that he had an excess of Vaseline on himself that had to be wiped off. As a result, Romero received nearly a two-minute break and ended up finishing Kennedy in the third round. Kennedy confronted Romero backstage and according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission rulebook, if a fighter fails to answer the bell for a round, the referee should award a decision or TKO victory to his opponent. John McCarthy clearly failed in his duties to enforce this rule, and Kennedy has a legitimate gripe. It’s probably unlikely the result of the fight will be overturned, but hopefully Kennedy gets a rematch.  

“The Notorious” Conor McGregor (16-2) def. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (16-4) via first-round TKO (Featherweight – 145 lbs.) The ascension of Conor McGregor continues, and his bandwagon has a new member in yours truly. I was skeptical of him going into his fight, but his quick work of an extremely tough fighter in Poirier won me over. McGregor has made it known he will attend UFC 179 in Brazil next month to watch featherweight champion Jose Aldo fight Chad Mendes in person. McGregor believes he deserves a title shot, and it’s tough to argue against that. But, Cub Swanson is scheduled to fight Frankie Edgar later this year in a presumed no. 1 contender fight at featherweight. Swanson has won six fights in a row, and Edgar has been on an absolute roll since his loss to Aldo. Both guys also deserve a title shot, so I would personally like to see McGregor matched against the winner of that fight in a true no. 1 contender bout. That would really add some buzz to any future fight card.  

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (25-7) def. Eddie Alvarez (23-4) via unanimous decision (Lightweight – 155 lbs.) Eddie Alvarez’s UFC debut was a successful one in my opinion, despite his loss. The UFC stage did not appear too big for him and he gave Donald Cerrone all he could handle. But “Cowboy” showed why he is such a fan favorite, methodically picking apart Alvarez with an array of strikes, knees and kicks, staking his claim to a title shot. Cerrone has always been ambivalent toward title shots, preferring instead to fight just for the enjoyment and, well, money. You have to admire his honesty. A fight between Cerrone and the winner of the Anthony Pettis/Gilbert Melendez lightweight title fight later this year would definitely make “Cowboy” a rich man.  

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (17-2-1) def. Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso (17-6) by second-round submission (Flyweight Title – 125 lbs.) After Demetrious Johnson emerged victorious in the main event, UFC commentator Jon Anik floated the theory that Johnson had not yet cleaned out the 125-pound division. With all due respect to an underrated commentator and intelligent guy, I respectfully disagree. I believe Johnson has. John Dodson is presumed to be next in line for a title shot when he returns from his injury. While Dodson took Johnson the distance in their last bout, I’m not sure Dodson would fare any better the second time around. Johnson clearly improves with each fight. I consider him the third best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, behind light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. I would like to see Johnson give the bantamweight division another shot. I was there in person when he took then-bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz the distance in their title fight in 2011. Even with the increased weight that comes with competing in a new division, I think Johnson could compete with and beat some of the best bantamweights in the world right now.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

The Pac Man Cometh

Photo Credit: ONE FC

By: Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Usurped yesterday by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones and Daniel Cormier brawling at an event promoting their fight at UFC 178 was the news that Manny Pacquiao, long considered one of the best boxers in the world, purchased shares in ONE FC, a burgeoning mixed martial arts promotion in Asia.

It’s still unknown what role Pacquiao will have with ONE FC, if any, according to reports. But this definitely brings a spotlight to a MMA promotion not named UFC, Bellator or World Series of Fighting. While the latter two still lag far behind UFC in terms of media attention, Pacquiao lending his name to another promotion makes getting a seat at the MMA media coverage table that much more difficult.

An unspoken rivalry between MMA and boxing has definitely simmered over the years. Recently, boxing’s Floyd Mayweather made headlines when he referred to UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey as “he” when he responded to a claim by UFC President Dana White that Rousey would beat Mayweather in a street fight or MMA bout. “I don’t even know who he is” was Mayweather’s exact quote concerning Rousey.

Floyd later apologized and praised Rousey, so there is that. White is also a frequent critic of boxing and its personalities, including Mayweather and promoter Bob Arum. A quick Google search can confirm that.

However, White also considers Mike Tyson a friend, and boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. has openly campaigned for a match against Anderson Silva for years. So the two sports may be more similar than it seems on the surface. Just to stand on my soapbox for a minute, while I admittedly watch boxing rarely, if at all, to me it seems the sport suffers from an over-saturation of title belts, weight classes and loosely-kept-together federations, not to mention rampant corruption.

If the phrase “less is more” can ever be applied accurately, I think it can apply to boxing. I believe a consolidation of weight classes, title belts and federations into one entity would go a long way toward “the sport of kings” reclaiming the luster of its heyday.

Will White feel threatened by Pacquiao throwing his hat into the MMA ring? Unlikely. But when UFC’s chief “rivals,” Bellator and World Series of Fighting, are run by knowledgeable people but who lack a certain personality, having someone emerge to match White in terms of name recognition in MMA ownership is a welcome development.

If nothing else, I hope Pacquiao’s affiliation with ONE FC, whatever it is, turns out better than Oscar De La Hoya’s apparent association with the ill-fated Affliction.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Dana White Admits He Knows Nothing

@danawhite Finally the Baldfather admits the truth: http://t.co/i8cK4nDTo5
— Rich Bergeron (@xyiencesuckscom) June 3, 2014

Dana White had a bit of a Freudian slip a few weeks ago on The Ultimate Fighter. Click on the link above to hear him admit how he couldn't even effectively corner a fighter. Yet, he thinks it's OK to badmouth the efforts of countless fighters on his company's roster. Too bad the UFC President isn't someone who has actual fighting experience of some kind and not just boxercise instruction. If you have a Twitter account, please retweet this.

Fight Music Producer Mikey Rukus Lands Record Deal

Orlando, FL (September 13, 2013) - Three years ago Mikey Rukus, also known as 'The Fight Music Producer', began creating customized walkout songs and theme music for MMA fighters and fight companies around the globe. Last week Rukus officially inked record agreement with Debar Recordings, a division of Debar Holdings Ltd. based out of Orlando, Fl. The agreement includes stateside and international distribution of his debut album on digital platforms and manufactured CDs that will be sold in Best Buy stores and several other brick and mortar establishments across the US.   

 

Mikey Rukus had this to say about the newly inked deal, “This was something that totally came out of left field. I definitely wasn’t expecting anything like this, but I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with a company like Debar Recordings. They fully understand my vision and have the same ideas that I have in terms of extending the 'Rukus' brand within the mixed martial arts market.  The timing is right and they are 100% on board with supporting my journey.”

The album titled 'MMA Fight Music' is a mix of rock and hip hop hybrids and EDM and will feature some of The Fight Producer's most notable walkout songs. The customized tracks were created for marquee fighters such as UFC veterans Mark Hunt and Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher and Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson. The album will also feature several original tracks created by Rukus, including one inspired by UFC President Dana White and an exclusive track that will only be available on this album.

'MMA Fight Music' will be available on digital platforms such as iTunes, Pandora, Google Play, XBOX Store and other similar outlets beginning on Tuesday September 17, 2013.  Hard copy CDs will hit store shelves in approximately 6 weeks. The first batch of CD's released will include a FREE Mikey Rukus autographed t-shirt. Be a part of history, and download your copy of “MMA Fight Music” on 9/17 by the industry’s first ever 'Fight Music Producer', Mikey Rukus. 

Fighters and companies looking to acquire the services of Mikey Rukus can contact him at mikeyrukus@gmail.com.   For up to date information on Rukus and his music projects, fans can follow him on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/mikeyrukus and on Twitter at @MikeyRukus.

Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) to Partner with UFC and Mixed Martial Arts

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling has aligned with top organizations in mixed martial arts -- including UFC and its president, Dana White.

“I’ve met with a lot of top guys in wrestling. I met with them last Tuesday, and the UFC’s joining the fight to help save Olympic Wrestling,” UFC President, Dana White, told MMA Weekly on Tuesday.

With one sweeping statement of support, Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta have endeared themselves to wrestling fans across the globe and opened the door for a historic opportunity for the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement and the 2020 Vision campaign.

“We met with Dana and were very encouraged and touched by his genuine support for our sport and our effort to remain in the Olympics,” said CPOW Chairman Bill Scherr. “Many don’t know this but he has done a great deal behind the scenes for wrestling for years and we owe him our allegiance and gratitude.”

With mainstream media and television coverage, the UFC has exploded in popularity and expanded into over 130 international markets. Wrestling has long been a significant thread of the fabric of mixed martial arts and the UFC, with fighters like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Dan Henderson and Sara McMann achieving success in MMA after beginnings in wrestling.

“We are not sure of the exact form and scope ultimately of our relationship with the UFC”, relayed CPOW member and NCAA Champion wrestler Tommy Rowlands, who had developed a spirited relationship with Dana White over Twitter. “We know that we will accept whatever assistance is offered and will work with Dana and the UFC to develop a working partnership going forward.  For now, we are thrilled that he is involved and on our side.”

On February 12, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board made a recommendation that wrestling not be a core sport at the 2020 Olympic Games. A final decision on the program of the 2020 Olympics will be made by the entire IOC in September. A worldwide effort has been launched by FILA, the international wrestling federation, and all of the 177 nations which participate in wrestling, to retain wrestling as an Olympic sport.

Another CPOW member, John Bardis, has experience with both wrestling and the UFC. He was an accomplished wrestler and also a board member of USA Wrestling and team leader of the Greco-Roman Olympic team in Beijing in 2008.  He has mentored, sponsored and coached several UFC fighters. “This budding relationship between wrestling and the UFC holds tremendous promise to assist us not only with our efforts with the IOC to remain in the Olympics, but also to increase the popularity of wrestling in the United States and around the World.  We look upon them in many ways as a ‘big brother’ to our sport and we are thrilled with potential of the partnership that might develop between our groups.”

ABOUT CPOW

The Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) was developed by USA Wrestling, whose mission is to insure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. CPOW features many highly-respected leaders within the American wrestling, chaired by Bill Scherr of Glenview, Ill., a World champion and Olympic medalist in freestyle wrestling and a leader in the Olympic family.

The official website is http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com. You can find the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics. The official Twitter location is@wrestlingvision.