The MMA Ten keeps you updated on the latest news from the world of the UFC and beyond!
This week: Super Sage plays “Gooder Cop,” Bisping rips GSPs belly, Mark Hunt’s awkward action figure, Ragin’ Al goes off on Dana White and more!
Sage Northcutt in “Good Cop, Gooder Cop”
Let’s kick it off with a solid comedic effort from Super Sage Northcutt!
Northcutt takes flak for being “corny,” but he’s a good sport. However, he was also supposed to be the UFC’s next big thing but he’s lost two of his last three fights. Super Sage needs a win the next time he steps in the cage.
Ragin’ Al Goes Off on UFC and Dana White
Ragin’ Al Iaquinta made his return to the UFC for the first time in over two years last weekend and he quickly reasserted himself by knocking out Diego Sanchez in the first round. But the loss of love for his boss and the company remain strong. After the post-fight bonuses were announced, Iaquinta took to Twitter to express his displeasure.
He also joined The MMA Hour to talk about what he felt were disrespectful words from UFC boss Dana White.
“Dana White has done a lot for this sport, but he hasn’t had one injury in this sport. For him to say, ‘The best part of (UFC 208) was the flight home,’ you were on a private jet, bro. Shut the f–k up. You’re on a private jet. Most people, that would be the highlight of their life, forget the night. (Jim Miller) got his f—ing leg kicked in. He owes an apology to all those motherf—-rs. That’s bulls–t. Shut your f—ing mouth.”
Get in GSP’s Belly!
Georges St-Pierre showed off his new physique as a middleweight and his stomach has apparently expanded along with the size of his muscles. He says he is the biggest he’s ever been in his life and video confirms that.
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping saw the video and had some thoughts about it on the Believe You Me podcast.
“He looks like he’s been impregnated by an alien. He’s in his typical GSP little spandex tighty shorts, but they’re black, not white. He’s got his shin pads and his MMA gloves on and a gigantic belly sticking out! His belly is sticking out and he looks a little weird so I think he’s trying to have fun or trying to lead me up the garden path. I think he’s pushing his belly out.”
Bisping also said he no longer believes the two will fight in July.
Ronda Rousey’s Blindspot Promo
Ronda Rousey may not be collecting arms in the cage of late, but life outside MMA has been good for her lately. She got engaged to UFC heavyweight Travis Browne recently, and her special guest spot on NBC’s Blindspot will air on May 3. Ronda tweeted out a promo of the show.
Mark Hunt’s Awkward (And Naked) Action Figure
The Japanese have take action figures to a whole different level. A level that is completely unnecessary and quite disturbing. Check out this Mark Hunt action figure. Does the UFC heavyweight like it?
Your DC/Jon Jones Update of the Week
The soap opera that is UFC light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones was back with some new scenes this week. DC was on UFC Tonight and said he will dictate the terms of their next fight, not Jones.
“I stand on take the fight with me, Jon Jones. There’s no tune up fights in the UFC. If you’re a guy that has dominated the division as he has, why not come back and try to get your title? Come meet your boy, D.C., come get this money. Let’s get money together and give the people in Anaheim a show. No tune up for Jon Jones. He gets to come and get beat by me this time. We’re fighting right now or he doesn’t get to fight me. It’s my rules, I’m the champ now.”
Cormier also opined on Jones’ last performance against Ovince St. Preux, one that wasn’t typical of the former champ. “The person that we saw against Ovince Saint-Preux is the new USADA regulated Jon Jones. He’s always going to look like that. Yes, I will beat him up on July 29.”
CM Punk joins MTV’s The Challenge
Remember Pros vs. Joes? Of course you do. So does MTV, and they are doing something similar with one of their shows. The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros will be a six-week event that pits 10 contestants up against 10 pros.
One of the pros is CM Punk, the former pro wrestler, and possibly current UFC fighter. Victor Cruz is the host of the show, and other pros include Lindsey Jacobellis, Lolo Jones, Shawne Merriman, and Candace Wiggins. All the pros are playing for charity, and Punk is playing for PAWS Chicago, a local animal shelter.
Punk has said frequently that he wants to compete in the UFC again, but he is still without a scheduled fight.
Fan Asks to Be Punched. UFC Fighter Obliges
Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza obliged a fan who asked to be punched.
Dude took it fairly well, but I bet he was sore the next day when the booze wore off.
Twitter to Air UFC Fights?
The NFL has taken its ball and left Twitter for Amazon, leaving the social media network open to new video ventures. One intriguing idea is to air UFC fights. “We have a really big audience when there’s a pay-per-view UFC match,” Noto said. “Should we provide that content to the audience on Twitter that’s not watching it, but might like to after seeing tweets about it? That’s something we’d consider,” Twitter COO and CFO Anthony Noto told BuzzFeed News.
It’s definitely an interesting idea, and there are many rumors as to what the UFC will do once their Fox broadcast deal expires. The UFC could opt to go the way of the WWE Network, they could start their own cable network, a la the major sports, or they could even end up on Netflix or Amazon.
Chael Sonnen Needs New Writers
Chael Sonnen will fight Wanderlei Silva in Bellator, or at least they are scheduled to fight. We’ll see if it ever goes down.
In the meantime, Sonnen took to Twitter this week to post his reasons for wanting to fight the legendary Brazilian fighter. I think he might need some new writers. I won’t show you all 10, but here are a few of the bombs.
3) He doesn't wait full half-hour after eating to go swimming
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) April 26, 2017
Hopefully, Sonnen performs better in the cage than he did on Twitter this week.