Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community.
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This week’s MMAterial Facts:
Courtesy of FightNerd.com
– The Ultimate Fighter History in Review: Stats, Facts and Figures (MMA Fighting)
“As a superstar production unit, the show has had mixed results. It began with a splash in 2005, launching the careers of Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck and others, but in time, competition for talent from other organizations made it more difficult to land prime talent. That’s led to criticism from some who believe it no longer serves a real purpose as a feeder.
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That debate is worth an exploration, though it’s ultimately moot as the franchise will continue in a newly revamped style on its new cable home on FX in 2012. But for now, let’s take a look at the first 13 seasons of TUF in stats, facts and figures (season 14 is excluded because its competitors have yet to officially fight in the octagon).”
– Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? (Fight Opinion)
““I read all the blog sites and everybody’s all caught up, is it a performance enhancer? It’s a banned substance, it’s not a performance-enhancing substance list, it’s a banned substance list. And this is a place where sports in general and MMA in specific are trying to look out for the well being of the fighters because getting on this type of medication, as anybody will tell you, is very, very, very hard to get off. I don’t call these types of medications, the opiates, the narcotics, the Dilaudids, performance enhancers. I call them performance enablers.”
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He’s exactly right. Semi-retired wrestler Lance Storm talks about how dangerous taking painkillers can be because when you are injured and feeling the pain, you’re body is telling you to stop and you’re popping a pill to basically continue on without feeling the natural pain you’re supposed to. The end result is more physical damage to your body, including your organs should you take one too many pills.”
– Interview with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson (MMA Mania)
“When I fought Aaron Riley, he shook my hand in the back, you might have saw it but we were in the back, his jaw was broken and he shook my hand and he looked at me and I finally got it. It was a passing of the torch, you know? It was like, “Okay, you beat me, now do something with it,” and that’s what I want to do.”
– Pic: BJ Penn Was Mobbed For Autographs In The Philippines Today (MMA Convert)
“For quite awhile the UFC had targeted the Philippines for their first international TUF season until they found out first hand just how hot the Brazil market was. And it’s not hard to see why considering the massive turnouts for public appearances by Chuck Liddell, Brandon Vera, Georges St. Pierre and now BJ Penn.”
– Ryan Jimmo Interview: Sequel to the worst movie ever made and his move to the UFC (MiddleEasy)
“Did it take you longer than you expected to get to the UFC? Yes…and no. I think I would be able to hold my own and compete there a while ago even if that’s an untested theory. My manager and I had a plan. We didn’t want to go in too school. We wanted to make sure my skills were in place, my wrestling was in place. Now my wrestling is fantastic, I’m out wrestling wrestlers. I wanted to make sure my stand up was correct and my confidence was good enough. I wanted to make sure my life was in the right place and financially I was OK. We wanted to take all of these steps and make sure all of our ducks are in a row so we don’t go up there like some guys that have no wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, that are so happy to be in the UFC, but make a quick exit. That’s not what I envision for myself. I’m a complete fighter and I’m going to make my mark there.”
– Video: Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s Fight Journal Part 2 (FightLine)
“MMAFighting’s E. Casey Leydon spent some time with Mayhem as he gears up to face Bisping this weekend, producing a Fight Journal video to get an inside look at Mayhem’s life leading up to the fight.
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We posted the first part of the video earlier this week, you can check out both parts below.”
– CagePotato Tribute: The Failure to Intimidate (Cage Potato)
“Hoping to gain the mental edge, Tito channeled his inner high school bully and made a lunge toward Liddell. While such tactics work wonders on members of the glee club, the mere suggestion of physical contact hardy registers a blink from dudes who get punched in the face on the regular. The Iceman was sick of Tito’s tough guy routine and primed to dole out the beating he’d dodged for so many years. He’d leave Ortiz crumpled in the fetal position in just over one round the following evening. Undaunted by his failure to intimidate, Ortiz continued to employ the same psyche-out strategy throughout his career with mixed results. Mental giant Ken Shamrock took the bait with hilarious results, while Ryan Bader could barely muster up a grin in response.”
– Grappling with Issues – 12/2/11 (Five Ounces of Pain)
“Would you have cut Chris Leben after his latest run-in with drug/alcohol abuse?
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Conlan: … The reality is the UFC has some culpability in the situation because they’ve created an environment where things that would result in most folks being fired don’t have long-term repercussions. They need to be cognizant of the perception it creates, the responsibility they have as his employer, and understand the company/sport could suffer a major blow to their reputation if Leben slips up again to the point someone’s life is dramatically affected whether his own, a friend/family member, or even an innocent victim.”
– 2011 World MMA Award Winners (5thRound)
“Fighters Only’s 2011 World MMA Awards took place Wednesday night at The Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The who’s who of the mixed martial arts world, except yours truly, attended the fancy black-tie ceremony.”
– TUF 14: Bisping vs. Miller Weigh-In Video and Results (LowKick)
“The event is co -headlined by the TUF 14 Featherweight Finale bout between Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao, while T.J. Dillashaw takes on John Dodson in the TUF 14 Bantamweight Finale bout. The main card will be completed with Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards, and Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot.”
– Bellator FC 59 Results & Exclusive Photo Gallery (TheFightNerd)
“Bellator Fighting Championships returned to Atlantic City, N.J. to end its historic fifth season LIVE on MTV2 and in HD on EPIX from Caesars Atlantic City. While two tournament finals were scheduled for Bellator 59, only one Tournament Championship was decided as Eduardo Dantas collected an impressive win over Alexis Vila in the Bantamweight Finals. The Heavyweight Finals was declared a no contest, as Thiago Santos delivered what was ruled an accidental illegal blow to the groin of Eric Prindle, which eventually halted the fight and was declared a no contest.”
– Bisping vs. Miller, TUF 14 Finale: Who Has the Most To Lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“Bisping is one of the UFC’s most marketable fighters thanks to his international appeal. He is also one of the company’s most hated fighters because of his antics both in and out of the Octagon.
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Many fighters in MMA talk trash. But Bisping has gone beyond that, being disrespectful to fans and fighters alike.
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It’s easy for Bisping to talk trash. But if he really wants to shut up his doubters, he will have to get wins over big-name opponents.
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If he loses against Miller, it will show that he may never be a top contender. “
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