Fighters Only

Issue 086

March 2012

BROCK LESNAR RETIRES FROM MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has made a shock retirement from mixed martial arts. The one-time WWE star announced his decision following a first-round TKO loss to Strikeforce import Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. Lesnar told the Las Vegas crowd: “I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease. I’m going to officially say, tonight was the last time you’ll see me in the Octagon.” The Minnesota-based behemoth, notched a 5-3 MMA career, picking up wins over Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin. After debuting at K-1 Dynamite!! USA, Lesnar moved to the UFC where he routinely drew massive attendance and viewing figures, helping the Las Vegas brand expand further into the mainstream. Lesnar added: “Brock Lesnar is officially retired.” At the time of going to press, speculation was rife over whether Lesnar might return to professional wrestling as part of the WWE, the platform on which he made his name. UFC president Dana White told reporters at the post-fight press conference that Lesnar retires under contract to the UFC, although White was unsure whether that allowed his former heavyweight champ to move back into professional wrestling.

CRUZ AND FABER TO COACH ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15, BELFORT AND WANDERLEI HEAD TUF BRAZIL

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and rival Urijah Faber will be opposing coaches on the forthcoming 15th series of The Ultimate Fighter. The show will feature lightweights and welterweights competing under the new 12-week, live-fight format starting in March. The end-of-season coaches’ fight will see a rubber match between the competitive pair. Middleweights Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva have also been confirmed as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. The first ever localized version of the show will feature only Brazilian fighters and, though a Western broadcast is planned, it will be produced primarily for a Brazilian audience using the old six-week pre-recorded TUF set-up. The series begins in March.

CRIS ‘CYBORG’ STRIPPED OF SF 145LB BELT DUE TO POSITIVE STEROID TEST

Strikeforce women’s featherweight Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos has been stripped of her 145lb championship due to a failed drugs test. A urine sample taken on December 16th, the day before her successful title defense against Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal, showed stanozolol in her system, an anabolic steroid. Santos has been fined $2,500 and suspended from competition for one year by the California State Athletic Commission, who carried out the testing. In a statement, Santos apologized, saying she does not condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs and that a dietary supplement is to blame. She said: “[I] do not need drugs to win in the cage, and I have proven this time and time again! My only mistake is not verifying the diet aid with my doctor beforehand, and understanding that it was not approved for use in the ring.”

UFC president Dana White estimates that 10 UFC main events were scrapped due to injury last year

UFC 141

Headlined by Brock Lesnar’s battle against Alistair Overeem, UFC 141 earned $3.1m in ticket sales, placing it third amongst the UFC’s other 2011 Las Vegas cards for gate revenue. UFC 126: Silva vs Belfort pulled in $3.6m, and UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz took $3.9m.

WHAT'S HOT?

UFC JAPAN

We’re more than a little hyped for the UFC’s return to the sport’s other spiritual home

STRIKEFORCE ALIVE

We’ll always take more opportunities to watch some of the world’s best fighters

VOICE OF JOE MARTINEZ

The former WEC ring announcer’s vocal chords sound like honey… or something

WHAT'S NOT?

LESNAR’S RETIREMENT

And where are we supposed to get the best aggressive post-fight outbursts now, hmm?

TUF BRAZIL SUB TITLES

We want comedic.voice-overs for Wanderlei and Vitor’s squabbles instead