Fact or Fiction 12.16.2011
After a week of taking finals, I’m back to write another edition of Fact or Fiction! UFC 140 was one of the best UFC cards of the year, even after the action packed UFC 139 card. But this weekend left a lot of questions remaining for fans, so lets take a look at them with Bree Davis, who is a Gracie Barra blue belt and manages their Twitter, and J. ‘Yayo’ Hernandez who owns a stylish blue belt and has been banned by Twitter (but was successfully reinstated):
1. Tito Ortiz was tko’d with some brutal body shots on Saturday night, and has said that he wants at least one more fight, and that he wants it to be against Forrest Griffin. Dana, however, has expressed some doubt in Tito having another fight. Will Tito get his last fight, and will it be against Forrest?
BD: Fiction
Tito Ortiz sells fights. There really is not much question about that. But, he hasn’t been a relevant fighter in a very long time. I don’t see the purpose of a third fight with Forrest. It doesn’t have the feel of an unresolved rivalry & seems more like just another chance for fans to see Tito used as a punching bag.
JH: Fact
It seems Tito realizes that his time is coming to an end as a fighter in UFC, and wants to go out on a sentimental note. I think Dana will and should give Tito his swan song and then make him a UFC ambassador as soon as the fight ends before the Huntington Beach Bad Boy can change his mind.
AP: Fact
Bree is correct in saying that Tito is still a PPV draw, and I think he still has at least one fight in him. As long as he feels he is up for it, Dana should give him his last fight. Forrest has also expressed interest in the fight, so all that’s left is for the UFC to put it together!
BD: 0, JH: 1
2. After the event on Saturday night, Josh Gross and Kevin Lole both tweeted about some uncertainty that Overeem will remain on the UFC 141 card. Apparently Overeem is on the agenda of the NSAC, and that he may be having trouble getting licensed. Will the Reem fight Brock as planned on December 30th?
BD: Fiction
I really wanted to put “Fact” for this one. Like most of the MMA world, I’m looking forward to seeing “The Reem” in the UFC & this has the makings of an explosive match-up with Brock Lesnar. But with the NSAC issues & rumors that Mir has been asked to stand-by as a replacement, it seems unlikely. Overeem’s camp has been oddly quiet about this NSAC hearing & that feels like a potential deal-breaker to me.
JH: Fact
Until the NSAC puts horse meat on its banned substances list, Overeem should be ok.
AP: Fact
This week’s hearing showed that Overeem will be licensed with clean tests. I do not believe Overeem has ever taken PEDs, and I believe this fight will go as planned. Mir’s camp has stated that they have not been approached about the fight, they just told the UFC that Mir would be ready if anything were to happen.
BD: 0, JH: 1
3. Most know about Miguel being cut from the UFC roster due to an inappropriate tweet made earlier last week. Was Dana’s decision justified?
BD: Fiction
Dana White has made no secret of his encouragement of the fighters’ use of Twitter. Zuffa even offers bonuses for funny & creative tweets. While Miguel’s tweet was neither funny, nor appropriate, it was inevitable. Turning a bunch of fighters loose on a social networking site & encouraging them to express themselves can only lead to someone eventually saying something unacceptable. Firing Torres for it looks like a knee-jerk reaction. Certainly he should’ve been disciplined, perhaps fined, but firing him seems excessive.
JH: Fact
Just like Bree said that it was bound to happen that a fighter was going to step over the line, it was also bound to happen that Dana was going to have to make an example out of someone. With the new FOX deal, and mainstream America knocking on the sports door, Dana had to be able to hold someone up to opponents to show that the UFC disciplines those that deserve it. Was it uneven based on comments made earlier that week by Rashad Evans, or even by Dana himself about those he dislikes, no. Was it justified knowing that he wasn’t going to screw the pooch for a fighter that had already fallen down the card due to past performance, yes.
AP: Fiction
After being released for the tweet, Miguel stated that the quote was from an episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadephia that he was watching. However, on December 9, Glenn Howerton of the show tweeted that the quote was not from their show. Anders Holmvik then took responsibility for the quote being from his show, Workaholics. So it was confirmed that Miguel was just repeating a joke he heard on a tv show. Anders tweeted his support for Miguel on the 9th as well: “@MiguelTorresMMA yo if all this talk is true, that shit is weeeeak. #Workaholics n our fans got ur back. Let us know if we can do anything.” It was unfair of Dana to release Miguel after that, especially after Forrest and Rashad both already made inappropriate comments.
BD: 1, JH: 2
Yayo wins this week, but hopefully Bree will join us again and take another stab at it! Check back next Thursday for a post-Strikeforce Fact or Fiction.
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