The MMA Wrap UP

NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION TO BEGIN RANDOM STEROID AND DRUG TESTING FOR ALL FIGHTERS

Cagepotato.com reports that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will begin random steroid and drug testing for all licensed fighters as well as fighters applying for licenses.

All fighters may now be randomly selected for testing. However, if there is some indication that a fighter is taking a non-approved substance, they will also be tested.

A Fighter may also be selected if he or she has previously tested positive for using a non-approved substance.

Fighters who fail or refuse to take the drug test in the specified time-frame, will not be allowed to compete, may face disciplinary action, and could even loose their license.

This is a great step forward for fairness and legitimacy among MMA competitors. It’s one thing if someone is juicing so that they can slam a baseball out of the park or blow out the competition in a 200 meter race; But when the person facing you in the ring has the unfair (and unhealthy) advantage of steroids or growth hormones on their side, the results can be dangerous.

Many fighters don’t want to deal with the long term consequences of steroid and illegal supplement use, however they feel obligated to use these substances because they know that their competition will. This leads to a vicious and potentially deadly cycle of drug use.

However, with this new ruling, fighters will no longer be able to take illegal supplements during training and then quit 30 days before the competition’s drug test to pass it out of their system. Now they can be tested at anytime and receive serious consequences if they are found to be violating the regulations.

It’s about time that the Athletic Commission to a hard look at it’s drug testing policies.

Nice job guys.



UFC 81 TAKES PLACE THIS WEEKEND

UFC 81: Breaking Point is set to take place this Saturday, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

According to UFC.com, the following fighters are set to enter the octagon;

Main Card

-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Tim Sylvia
-Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
-Nathan Marquardt vs. Jeremy Horn
-Alan Belcher vs. Ricardo Almeida
-Tyson Griffin vs. Gleison Tibau

Preliminary Bouts (might not be televised):

-Terry Martin vs. Marvin Eastman
-Keita Nakamura vs. Rob Emerson
-Chris Lytle vs. Kyle Bradley
-David Heath vs. Tim Boetsch

As usual, up to the minute results and fight coverage can be found at MMAMania.com

I got my butt handed to me predicting the wins for UFC 80, so rather than face further humiliation, let me give you the MMA Girls Prediction. Probably more acturate, and definitely prettier than mine.







NEW CEO NAMES 'El GUAPO' AS V.P.

The IFL’s new CEO, Jay Larkin, has big changes planned for the league this year. A former Showtime executive, he has worked hard to improve the format of the IFL events.

The first change was the switch from the strict team vs. team competition to having different MMA camps face one another with a new emphasis on individual champions. No longer are the ‘teams’ associated with cities like so many other professional sports. Instead, fighters will be pooled from the various training camps from which they train.

Probably the most refreshing move is placing a MMA legend; (both as a fighter and as a coach) the former undefeated champion, Bas Rutten in the position of Vice President of Fighter Operations.

This move is sheer genius - putting someone as popular as El Guapo
in a public relations position that is obviously an imitation of Dana White’s UFC Presidency. The only difference is that Dana is intensely despised by most MMA fans, while Bas is greatly admired and loved. (Let’s just hope that the IFL continues to treat it’s fighters fairly so that Rutten’s image isn’t tarnished.)

Unfortunately, Larkin also stated that the IFL will not be holding every event in a different cities as it had in the past. Most events will be held at places like Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Izod Center in New Jersey. (For purely selfish reasons, I hope they continue to return to the Sears Centre in Chicago; about 20 minutes from my house.)



MATT DANZIG FILMS VIDEO FOR PETA

Okay, I know a lot of MMA fans could probably care less, but I really admire TUF Champ, Matt Danzig's standing up for what he believes in.

He’s shot a promo video for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization. You don’t find many vegans in the Combat Sport world, so when they do make it, I try to give them all the props they deserve.






CAGEPOTATO.COM LISTS THE 12 WORST TATOOS IN MMA

CagePotato.com, which is quickly becoming my favorite MMA website, has a ridiculous post on the 12 worst tattoos in Combat Sport. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Spoiler Alert!!!

The 4 Worst Tattoos Are:

4. Brock Lesnar
3. Gray Maynard
2. Melvin Costa
1. Melvin Costa

No, that’s not a typo. Costa’s tatoos are so bad - and so offensive - that he actually got First AND Second Prize.



FRANK MIR GIVES LIKE THE BEST SELF-DEFENSE ADVICE EVER!

In an interview with MMA Country, Frank Mir discusses his irritation at being Brock Lesnar’s debut fight in the UFC. He also talks about his training, his admiration for Randy Couture, and his life goals after MMA.

But at the end of his interview he gives some of the best self-defense advice I’ve ever heard…



That's right! If someone's giving you a hard time in a bar, don't tell them you know karate, don't tell them you'll kick their face in, don't tell them your a black belt... just say, "Hey Buddy, I'm a lawyer."

They'll walk away faster than you can say the words... "Civil Lawsuit."


Anyway, with those words of wisdom, we'll leave you for another week.

Check back again soon, when we return to give you the 'Best of the Web' concerning MMA

Respectfully,

Rick