MMASucka

Seemingly overnight twitter has grown rapidly and enormously – Beginning as a small-time social media tool to combat the issues with social media juggernauts Facebook and Myspace it has grown into arguably the most useful tool at your fingertips.

With over 350 million users online it gives a mainstream star the opportunity to converse with their fans while giving them the chance to keep up with their lives and voice their opinion on the hot points of discussion inside their Twittersphere.

Unfortunately, with the good also comes the bad – When a star with millions of users following them is frustrated or has had a few too many drinks and should be sleeping it off decides to log into twitter, that’s when things take a turn for the worse.

Muhammed Lawal, more prominently referred to as “King Mo” went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) due to a positive test for a banned substance after his one-sided beat down on Lorenz Larkin.

As most expected to happen, the American Kickboxing Academy standout was fined $39,000 and slapped with a nine month suspension from competition.

But the real action began after he left the room, within minutes he was typing away on his smart phone sending a tweet out to his 16,571 followers calling NSAC commissioner Pat Ludvall a “racist bitch”.

Issues arose during the conference when Ludvall asked Lawal if he “speaks or writes English” despite being seven minutes into the meeting where the college graduate had been speaking.

Whether or not her comments were race related or not are unknown, in fairness the question was likely to establish on the record that he had a full understanding of what was going on during the proceedings but I can understand Lawal getting upset from this statement.

His now-deleted tweet in return got him released from his deal with Zuffa, LLC the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce.

But Lawal is not the first person to ruffle a few feathers from their statements made in 140 characters or less, Bryan Caraway threatened to beat up a woman, both Miguel Torres and Forrest Griffin have sent out tweets making light of women being raped and Tito Ortiz even showed the world his junk.

Even at the top of the food chain UFC President Dana White is hardly a saint on social media, blasting fans who disagree with his comments or calling female MMA journalist Loretta Hunt a “dumb bitch”.

With all of this commotion it’s clear that a strict code of conduct needs to be put in place to stop idiocy plaguing social media – At this stage there is no cement rules on what combatants can or cannot say on social media sites.

UFC hold the annual Fighter Summit each year which holds classes encouraging their fighters to responsibly use twitter but is that enough? Without a consistent set of guidelines it’s worth nothing.

Both the NBA and NFL have done their part to stop inappropriate uses of social media with a few simple rules and consequences that don’t allow their players to tweet during games or within certain times before and after.

Now more than ever the UFC is encouraging their fighters to be on twitter with financial benefits for doing so, all that we need now are some ground rules.

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Follow @justinfauxmma on Twitter and keep up with the latest news by following @MMASucka on Twitter and on Facebook

The consensus top-contender for the UFC middleweight title, Chael Sonnen has denied that the bout is official in the past stating that his Brazilian counterpart wouldn’t accept the fight.

All that talk has been put to rest with the news out of the Calgary UFC press conference that their rematch is set in stone, likely for UFC 147.

“Think about this, the Chael Sonnen/Anderson Silva fight, I’m probably going to put my foot in my mouth again, and probably not supposed to be talking about this either, but I always do it so, this thing’s going to be in a soccer stadium in Rio,” White said.

“This thing’s going to have over 80,000 people are going to be at this event down there.”

The venue that White is likely talking about is the Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange, better known by its nickname Engenhao and is the arena that plays host to all the biggest and most important soccer matches.

The number of 80,000 people packing the arena has been thrown around, whether or not they can fit that many into the building without being cussed in Portuguese because half the building cannot see is a whole different kettle of fish.

In fairness, the UFC have never tried to just pack a building to the rafters if it would compromise the experience for the viewer so I don’t expect that to happen.

The building is set to host 60,000 people for the upcoming Olympic games and would probably be a more accurate estimation and if it went ahead would be the largest attendance in UFC history yet still 30,000 short of the record set by Pride Fighting Championships in 2002.

Sonnen vs. Silva is a fight that will draw the people in to the growing Brazilian market for certain, with Silva’s rise in popularity since the UFC’s first venture there last year coupled with his promotional work with Burger King he is a huge celebrity.

Also expected for that event is the coaches battle for the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil with home-grown heroes Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort squaring off coupled with both TUF champions being crowned from the series.

Keep it locked to MMASucka.com for more as one of the biggest events in the promotions history develops.

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Follow @justinfauxmma on Twitter and keep up with the latest news by following @MMASucka on Twitter and on Facebook

As always the UFC will put on their official pre-fight press conference. Today (Feb.29) the pre-fight press conference for UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann goes down at The Star Sydney Hotels & Casino in Sydney, Australia. UFC president Dana White along with main card fighters Thiago Alves, Martin Kampmann, Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urishitani will be in attendance.

The stream is expected to begin at 4pm PT/7pm ET.

Courtesy of UFC.com

Watch on your smart phone by clicking HERE.

Today, rumors became facts as the NSAC confirmed that Nick Diaz did test positive for marijuana at UFC 143. This is the second time that Diaz has tested positive for weed in Nevada. The last time was Feb. 24, 2007, when Diaz defeated Takanori Gomi at a PRIDE Fighting Championship event held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

There was another instance when Nick Diaz refused to do a CSAC drug test prior to a Strikeforce title match with Jay Heiron in California back in 2009. The match was scrapped and Cesar Gracie was left to explain Nick’s actions. That seems to be the common theme through out Nick Diaz’s career.

It’s a well-known fact that Nick Diaz is big proponent of marijuana use. I’m sure there are many people who enjoy a nice joint or hit from the bong. It also helps with keeping one calm or deal with social anxiety from what I hear. However, marijuana is illegal in most states and provinces. It is also a banned substance when it comes to MMA. Sure there are many people who are asking how marijuana is considered a performance enhancing drug (PED)?  It might enhance watching TV or Sex but how does it help one in a fight?

What people need to realize is that marijuana is banned because, although you may not think it’s an enhancer, it’s banned because it can put a fighter’s life in jeopardy. It’s the same reason why you can’t operate heavy machinery or drive a vehicle under the influence.  MMA is a dangerous sport, so anything that could slow down reflexes or cause any sort of distortion puts a fighter’s life in jeopardy.

Now,  let’s be honest, weed has different effects on people. Sure you can get the munchies and feel the urge to clean your house, but there are enhancing qualities in marijuana that could help any athlete. It can make you numb to pain, it can help you focus, and it can help calm anxiety and nerves. So, please don’t argue about how it’s not an enhancer because that is a general statement that has no real validity to it.

Society has a lot of grey areas and even though I agree that marijuana should be legal just like alcohol, I do agree that it should be a banned substance within sports. If you are a professional athlete you are responsible for what you put in your body. I don’t know how many times this has been preached over the last two decades. Whether Diaz smoked before or after his fight is pointless. The fact of the matter is he keeps breaking the rules. The question I have is where are the “NO” people in Diaz’s life?

I point my finger at Cesar Gracie who time and time again comes to the defense of Nick Diaz instead of being a better trainer, role model and manager. Diaz is one talented SOB who is one of my personal favorites in the sport. I like his candor, I like his skills and I love the fact that he is who he is. However, there has to be a line in the sand between personality and professionalism; something that the Cesar Gracie Fight Academy and Nick Diaz haven’t figured out yet.  When does the bad boy routine wear thin?

Whether it is in cage brawls, no showing press conferences or smoking banned substances, somebody needs to take responsibility. The first person is Nick Diaz himself but for some reason we have seen this movie far too many times to think he is capable of taking charge of his career. Cesar Gracie continues spewing out spin and defending Nick at every turn which is no way to be a manager and confident. When does professional accountability come into play?

Now we have another instance where an incredible athlete puts his career in jeopardy and backs the UFC into a corner. It will be interesting to see how the UFC deals with the fallout. Too many people will look at this and argue that it’s just weed… who cares? The Nevada State Athletic Commission and other commissions care. In order to fight, you have to abide by the rules. In order to make money, you have to abide by the rules. In order to be successful, you have to abide by the rules. No matter how high Nick Diaz gets, he is not above the rules.

A banned substance is a banned substance and Zuffa and the UFC need to start cracking heads and making bold statements. Cyborg Santos was caught cheating by using a PED and she was stripped of her title and because of that the entire Strikeforce women’s 145lb division is now in jeopardy. Nate Marquardt was cut from the UFC for failed medicals for high levels of testosterone when he engaged in hormone replacement therapy.  The list goes on…

Lately the UFC has been tough on fighter’s breaking the rules but in the past they have also been very inconsistent. Although Dana White says things are done on a case by case basis, you have to believe that this puts the UFC in a precarious position. They had plans on a money making rematch between welterweight interim champion, Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Now all of that has gone up in smoke.

Diaz will most likely get suspended for a year, but in my humble opinion the UFC should throw the book at Nick too. This is not the first time at the rodeo for Diaz and company executives. Before Diaz landed in the UFC for the second time, he was tearing it up in Strikeforce. Dana White went on record by stating that the UFC would love to have him back, as long as he played “the game.” So far Nick Diaz has failed at more than just a drug test.

• Related Posts: Is marijuana really a performance-enhancing drug? by Justin Faux

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-Corner Man-

Trevor Dueck – @tdueckmania

After rumors persisted about Chicago native and WWE superstar CM Punk walking down to the Octagon with Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2 this Saturday night, it made me wonder if the UFC and WWE can work together and crossover. When talking to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, Chael Sonnen made an interesting point about why he wanted “The Voice of the Voiceless” to walk out to the cage with him.

One… we’re friends, two… I really like him, three… it’s his hometown, four… he’s a big UFC fan and five… there is major crossover.  A number of years ago I think we all thought we had to compete with each other. That boxing, MMA and wrestling thought that we were going to have to have our own fans but what we have learned with time is that it’s not true. People are crossover fans and just all around fans, especially when you’re talking about CM Punk here in Chicago. That guy is royalty around here and I think it would have been fun for both of us.

Chael touched on an interesting point that I have been saying for years. How is professional wrestling, which is sports entertainment, in direct competition with the UFC? They don’t compete directly with PPVs nor do they compete directly on cable television. Show me how the UFC or the WWE have suffered in pay-per-view revenue because of one another?

It also seems that Dana White has a great deal of respect and admiration towards Vince McMahon. You can see how some of the marketing over the last couple of years has emulated professional wrestling in some respects. Yes MMA is a legitimate sport, and professional wrestling is professional athletes acting. I know… I get it. Please keep the hate mail to yourself and hear me out.

I know some of you are pulling your hair out once again because I just compared the UFC to the WWE, but I hate to burst your bubble, there are  a lot of fighters who have also grasped onto the idea that marketing oneself through cutting a good promo and hyping a fight is a great way to get noticed and make money. Sure nobody is ripping their shirts off and telling you to say your prayers and eat your vitamins, but adding a little spice and bringing out some personality is sure a hell of a lot better than thanking your trainers, God, and telling the fans that you will fight whoever the UFC lines up. Zzzzz…boring.

Chael Sonnen seems to understand this “technique” the most. Sure, it’s not for everyone. The sport still needs guys like GSP and Junior Dos Santos; all round good guys who do their talking in the cage. The sport is full of honorable classy guys and gals who feel they don’t need to talk a bit of trash, but you have to love Nick Diaz, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Josh Koscheck, Ronda Rousey and Josh Barnett for stepping out of that mold and giving the UFC and Strikeforce some personality. Imagine if all fighters were like NHL hockey players? I don’t think the sport would survive. It’s the fight game and with fights there needs to be hype. This has been the way since the beginning of time. Hell, it worked wonders when the Romans promoted their Gladiators. Not much has changed.

Getting back to the point or the question of why the UFC can’t cross promote with the WWE? It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Remember when Ken Shamrock made his run in the WWF back in the 90’s? He came into professional wrestling  in his prime and was marketed as the “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” a moniker ABC News gave him while he was fighting in the controversial UFC.  He was a UFC fighter getting into the WWF ring to feud with the likes of Vader, Brett “The Hitman” Hart and Shawn Michaels to name a few.

The WWF at the time had no problems having a former UFC fighter in their stable. To them it brought more legitimacy to their brand of sports entertainment.  Since then we have seen boxers like Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas and Floyd Mayweather cross promote within the WWE realm. Why would it be so crazy to see a UFC fighter do the same? Or vice versa?

Before Brock Lesnar retired there were rumors of him doing a special appearance at a Wrestlemania event to promote his upcoming UFC bout. Now how close that was to coming to actual fruition is not known. Those were merely just rumors and nobody really knows if that was accurate.

However, now that Lesnar is retired, do you not think that if he returned to the WWE that the storyline would be a former UFC heavyweight champ makes his return to the WWE ring? First off,  it’s not a matter of “if” it’s a matter of “when” Brock Lesnar returns to the WWE. They wouldn’t all of a sudden put him into their video game if they didn’t think he would make a return. The WWE is going to take their time in building his return to professional wrestling much like they have done with The Rock and his upcoming Wrestlemania bout with John Cena. Think about it, Lesnar hasn’t been in a WWE video game since “Here Comes The Pain” in 2003. Why did they all of a sudden include him now? When Lesnar does make his much anticipated debut how many UFC fans do you think will be tuning in? Don’t lie…you’ll watch.

Professional Wrestling, the UFC and boxing have proved that they can co-exist because in some ways they have very different target markets. Guess what? Some of their audience do crossover to each other. It is true Boxing has an older demographic, WWE has a younger demographic and the UFC seems to have an audience somewhere in the middle. Since the UFC has become more mainstream, those audiences are starting to blur into each other, which is great for all three sport entities. Why can’t someone enjoy boxing, MMA and wrestling? From what I’m seeing there are quite a few people who do.

Chael Sonnen is now playing down CM Punk’s appearance at UFC on FOX 2, claiming Vince McMahon kyboshed the idea. Who knows how accurate that is? WWE’s Royal Rumble is the next day and a little advertising at a UFC event to try and get a few more PPV buys doesn’t hurt. I wonder if this is Chael playing the media to make CM Punk’s appearance even more surprising when it does happen. We shall see. Nothing surprises me anymore.

Last year, there were meetings between Dana White and Vince McMahon. DW has never really divulged what those meetings were about. I do know at the time the WWE needed permission to use Brock Lesnar in their 2012 WWE video game and also allow Brock to promote it. Maybe there was an agreement in place to work together when it was convenient to help promote pay-per-views. With economic times being tough in the States, finding another marketing channel to advertise on once in a while is not always a bad thing.

Why would it be so crazy to see CM Punk walk down with Sonnen? It’s really not that big of a deal. We have seen WWE stars at live UFC events in the past. If Mike Goldberg were to mention that CM Punk is walking out with Chael Sonnen, and elude to the fact that he is involved in the WWE’s Royal Rumble on Sunday afternoon, would that be a bad thing? We have seen boxing and the WWE do crossovers. This symbiotic relationship has led to Batista walking out with Manny Pacquiao and HHH accompanying Mayweather to the ring.

On occasion, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a UFC fighter do an appearance at a WWE event, or seeing a WWE guy walk out with a UFC fighter. Or maybe we see a UFC star like Nick Diaz try his hand at professional boxing or a high profile professional boxer enter the Octagon…oh wait we saw that already…never mind. You get what I mean.

MMA fans quiver when someone compares their sport to professional wrestling. What people forget is that if it wasn’t for professional wrestling, there would be no UFC. Here is something you may not have known. The UFC would have never had season one of the Ultimate Fighter on Spike had it not been for Vince McMahon giving Spike permission to air the show after Monday Night Raw. The rest is history. That is a fact.

That said, the UFC and WWE can work together on occasion and it can be mutually beneficial. I’m not sure what the big deal is. I haven’t been a huge WWE fan since “The Attitude Era” ended but I can understand the buzz that is created when the two organizations do a little crossover. It’s all in good fun. It’s true that Professional wrestling and MMA are apples and oranges but let’s not forget that they do come from the same fruit bowl.

-Corner Man-

Follow Trevor Dueck on Twitter @tdueckmania

“We were going to hold that division and just do fights with Cyborg whenever there was a new contender. She’s getting stripped of the belt. This pretty much kills the division,”
-Dana White on ESPN1100 Las Vegas, January 6, 2012

Looks like MMASucka.com writer Justin Faux called this outcome in his article HERE, almost exactly.  Cyborg is getting stripped of her title, and without a super star to hold the already thin 145lbs women’s division, the division may be dissolved.

Looking at the positive outcome of only one women’s division, it will bolster the 135lbs roster with the 145′s who can make the weight.  Current top 145lbs prospect Ronda Rousey has already been rumored to be fighting for the 135lbs title, and the likes of Juila Budd, Germaine de Randamie, and others will bring some interesting match ups for the top 135ers.

RELATED ARTICLES:
Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos Tests Positive for Steroids, Suspended by CSAC
Cyborg Santos: Does Her Positive Test Mark The End of Her Division?

It was three weeks ago when the MMA world was in shock that Dana White had let Miguel Torres go following a rape comment on twitter.

Ariel Helwani gave the word today via his twitter account.

Dana says Torres is back. Torres has donated money to local rape centers, visited them. Dana says Torres was very remorseful.

No word as to when the former WEC bantamweight champion will return to the octagon.

Did you expect the UFC to bring Torres back? Were they right to let him go in the first place? Will he be in any main card fights?

The UFC will be holding their pre-fight press conference for this Friday’s (Dec.30) UFC 141 event today (Dec.28). You can watch the press conference live on MMASucka.com beginning at approximately 1pm PT/4pm ET.

Today’s press conference takes place at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino’s main lobby in Las Vegas and will be open to the general public. Expected to be in attendance are  UFC president Dana White and UFC 141 fighters Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem, Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone.