Issue 109
December 2013
Morsels of Fighters Only musings on everything MMA
3 Rounds of Action
FO scores MMA's hottest topics
1 UFC president Dana White has said he regards interim UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao as the fully-fledged king of the UFC’s 135lb division “for all intents and purposes.”
The official champion, Dominick Cruz, last defended his belt in 2011, with an ACL injury and the subsequent cadaver graft being rejected by his body keeping him out of the cage since. Barao won the interim 135lb title in 2012, successfully defending it twice.
White told the media in Rio during a recent press tour: “If you look at Renan Barao and what he has done, he’s beaten everybody that Dominick Cruz would be fighting if Dominick Cruz was healthy and was the champion… For all intents and purposes Renan Barao is the real champion.”
FO SCORE: It’s unlikely incumbent belt-holder Dominick Cruz even feels like 135lb champion at the moment – Barao actually has as many interim title defenses as Cruz has UFC fights. It’ll all make an intriguing return for Cruz.
2 TEAMMATE JON FITCH SAYS VELASQUEZ WOULD BEAT TRAINING PARTNER CORMIER
American Kickboxing Academy product Jon Fitch has said he would pick UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez to beat AKA training pal Daniel Cormier in a fight.
Fitch, who is currently helping develop a gym in New York State, made his choice based on weight when asked who would win by FO Award-winner Ariel Helwani.
Noting light heavyweight-bound wrestler-boxer Cormier “has never been a true heavyweight” Fitch told The MMA Hour: “You’ve got two guys who are equally skilled, with equal work ethics, equal punching power, equal everything, you’re going to put your money on the guys who weighs more.”
FO SCORE: Despite how this looks, Fitch was more than diplomatic in his answer so it’s unlikely to cause any rift at AKA.
3 TOP 10 MIDDLEWEIGHT OKAMI CUT BY UFC, SIGNS TO WSOF
Japanese middleweight Yushin Okami was dropped by the UFC in September. The former number-one contender was ranked sixth in the promotion’s 185lb division at the time of his release. The seven-year UFC veteran was signed to kickboxer Ray Sefo’s World Series of Fighting soon after.
FO SCORE: The termination of Okami’s contract came as a surprise to many, especially as he won two bouts prior to his most recent loss, a first-round TKO to ‘Jacare’ Souza. However, having been soundly beaten in his only attempt at the title, and unable to put together a sizeable win-streak since, opportunities for him in the UFC had become limited.
ON THE RADAR
Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...
Clay Collard, 11-4 (1 NC)
‘Cassius’ Clay Collard is that rare breed of fighter who’s skilled, tough and not afraid to dazzle on the microphone. The lightweight displayed all three in his pair of punch-ups with UFC veteran Justin Buchholz – losing the first meeting with a guillotine choke after serving some serious punishment standing, then battling on the microphone before the rematch in September, which was awarded to Collard, along with the Showdown lightweight title, by split decision. The Pit Elevated product’s heavy hands being apt at providing fireworks (73% of wins by TKO) could mean those same mitts will grasp a UFC contract in the future.
Leandro Higo, 13-2
Athletic Brazilian 135lb’er Higo has been poised to make his big-promotion break for some time. Trained via Team Nogueira and the Pitbull brothers (of Bellator fame) he has the resources and experience in his corner to support him successfully putting his deadly striking and grappling to the test at MMA’s top level.
Kevin Croom, 11-4
Not only has nearly-six-foot featherweight Kevin Croom put together a six-fight win streak in less than 12 months, he’s only called upon the judges twice to help. An exciting, assertive fighter out of the Jackson’s camp, he displayed his heart in fighting through tight submissions against Yaotzin Meza in ‘12. His losses to current UFC fighter Metza and WSOF stand-out Justin Gaethje may actually be a sign of his potential.
STAR SIGHTING: LAURENCE FISHBURNE
Who? Actor, best known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix
Where? UFC 165, Toronto, Canada
The veteran actor had prime seats for one of the best fights of the year, Jon Jones’ grueling decision title defense against Alex Gustafsson in September. Judging by his memorable dojo sparring scene in The Matrix with Keanu Reeves, the star knows a good scrap when he sees one.
QUOTES
“I can’t tell you how many fights I’ve put on in the last 13 years and sat and watched, and it will f**k me up for two days if we put on a bad event… It personally bothers me.”
You’d be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about MMA than UFC president Dana White
“Who would want that thing laying on their face? Seriously? That long, nasty, ratty looking thing in your mouth, rubbing on your face. It’s ridiculous.”
Minds out of the gutter, people. Dana White is talking about Roy Nelson’s scruffy-looking beard
“I’d rather get a real job, do some (jiu-jitsu), get my black belt and compete in some tournaments. And maybe I will fight in a year or two. But right now I’m so fed up with the people that run this sport, I don’t want anything to do with it.”
Former UFC welterweight Matt Riddle recently retired from pro competition – for three weeks
“They spit on my brother. They threatened to kill my wife at the time. It was pretty hardcore afterwards. I had to have four cops escort me to the back of the building, and then out.”
Ex UFC heavyweight Seth Petruzelli recalls the aggression of the crowd that watched him knock out cult street fighter Kimbo Slice in 2008
“The stupid flying knee against Emelianenko, when I jumped for the f**king flying knee... Pretty much often, I think about that stupid move.”
What could have been if former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski had finished Fedor Emelianenko when he had the chance?
REWIND-FAST FORWARD
Legend reborn: linking two combatants – one older, one younger
Battle brothers (literally) with equally explosive fighting styles
Anthony Pettis
Majority of fights end with a stoppage win: 74%
Prior to signing with Zuffa/ WEC in 2009 was: Gladiators Fighting Series lightweight champion
SERGIO PETTIS
Majority of fights end with a stoppage win:
?Prior to signing with Zuffa/UFC in 2013 was: NAFC bantamweight champion
