Going Out in Style

This past Sunday, Chris Lytle fought what is supposedly his last fight in the UFC and as a mixed martial artist.  This hit close to home.  Chris Lytle is from Indiana, as am I.  He is a fire fighter, potential politician, seemingly a good family man.  He fought the way that was excited, compelling, and efficient.  He loved to stand in the pocket and throw strikes.  His ground defense and submission game was top notch.  Chris "Lights Out" Lytle had the ability to knock you out on your feet and submit you on the ground.  Not many fighters can or could ever say they were competent in so many aspects.

For the sake of the story book ending I hope Chris Lytle stays retired and goes on to succeed in politics, with his family, and continues to serve the people of Indianapolis as a great fire fighter.  Thanks Chris, but stay retired.  There are too many stories of guys fighting past their prime and disgracing their legacies.  Let's examine a few names.

Ken Shamrock went from ICON to eyesore.  Once considered the world's most dangerous man, Ken Shamrock left during his peak to wrestle in the WWE.  Obviosuly he didn't make enough or earn enough credibility wrestling that he decided to return to the UFC.  At one time, Ken may have been the baddest man on the planet.  He drew with Royce Gracie, defeated Dan Severn, Kimo, Oleg, and Bas Rutten TWICE!  Ken was a pioneer, an American who had submission chops and looked like the Ultimate Warrior!  Ken is long past his prime, he has a reputation for taking money from promoters at smaller shows and not fighting or ever paying them back.  It is a disgrace to his legacy as an early MMA fighter who took on all challenges and seemed very passionate about success as an Mixed Martial Artist.  Ken has admitted to using steroids, working fights in Japan, and not always preparing for fights.  What little legacy Ken Shamrock has left has and will be tarnished by the fact that when he fights he loses and looks feeble in doing so.  Ken Shamrock could have stayed retired after the Ultimate Ultimate 96 with a record of 23-5-2.  He would be considered one of the Top 10 or Top 5 fighters of all time because of his record, his pioneering of the sport, competition faced, and his persona as once being the World's Most Dangerous Man.

Chuck Liddell fought well past his prime getting knocked out 4 out of his last 6 fights.  He was the Iceman and he was as feared a striker as we have seen in the UFC next to Anderson Silva.  Chuck Liddell loved to strike and keep the fights standing for as long as possible.  He had great take down defense and was famous for his sprawl and brawl style.  Chuck Liddell is considered one of the faces on the Mount Rushmore of the UFC with Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, and Dana White.  Chuck Liddell made his name on the undercard knocking out opponents with kicks, punches, and flurries to exciting finishes.  Chuck has a who's who of names on his record.  Chuck is also a fighter who fought bare knuckle in Brazil and once wore shoes in the Octogon.  Chuck Liddell is a man's man.  Their was a time, amongst men, when he was revered in the likeness of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, or your Father.  He was the man who couldn't be knocked out or refused to be knocked out.  Then, he started getting knocked out.  It was okay when Rampage knocked out Chuck.  It was tough when he lost to Keith Jardine.  We believed for a moment he was back when he beat Wanderlei Silva, but then were subjected to threw brutal KO's to the hands of Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and finally Rich Franklin.  We sat by idly thinking that Chuck was gonna be able to come back, but time caught up to him first.  When your chin goes in MMA so does your career.  Attention now paging Andrei Arlovski!  Chuck Liddell went out as he came in and it took us three straight KO's to say, "Enough I can't watch my dad take another beating!"

Chris Lytle be Bas Rutten and walk away on top.  Chris Lytle write your own happy ending because most MMA stories don't end in such a story book fashion.

UFC Conspiracies

There is a cover up in the UFC.  We all see it.  We all know it is there.  We know that there is so much more happening behind the scenes that we never viewed by our public prying eyes.  We want to know everything.  That's why we obsess and why we want to know everything that is UFC.  We come up with our own scenarios and match ups.  We scream at the Judging and how atrocious the results can be.  I have my conspiracies and this is the first edition them.

The first thing that bothers me and I wish could be addressed is how the UFC covers up for many athletes.  Recently Mayhem Miller was arrested for simple assault.  It took several weeks for this to hit the MMA presses and online media.  Mayhem Miller is the host of Bully Beatdown and Star of this upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter Reality Show.  It would behoove the UFC if this was brushed under the rug.  Mayhem Miller is a great talent.  Not only is he one of the best all around fighters at 185 lbs, but he is entertaining and integrates great interviews, humor, and style into his "Mayhem" persona.  MMA is filled with fighters who are lacking the "it" factor.  Mayhem has "it" and the UFC needs "it" on TV.

Diego Sanchez fails a drug test for Marijuana early in his career.  This was not brought to the public eye until well after the event.  Matt Hughes was choked out by Carlos Newton and Carlos Newton was knocked out at the same time.  Matt Hughes was awarded the title.  Then he went on to write UFC Welterweight History. The UFC is doing a nice job of covering up for their faces.  They even went as far as to allow Nate Marquardt to have issues in New Jersey and allow him to disgrace the even in Pittsburgh.  I know it is the Athletic commissions that makes the decisions in these drug and licensing eligibility cases, but the UFC seems more lenient on these athletes because they are popular and it is in their best interest.  As the company grows discipline and protocol must be set forth from the top tier to the bottom and all fighters should face the same punishment despite face value and status.

Performance Enhancing Drug use is estimated to be as high as 90% by active MMA fighters.  To me this is a very laughable subject.  If the athletic commissions are only going to test before and after the event then shame on them.  To me if you're not using then you are not trying.  If it is known that everyone is "cheating" then you should probably be cheating.  Is it cheating if you are off the drugs when it is time to compete?  I don't think so.  The problem is guys like Josh Barnett, Nick Diaz, Diego Sanchez, Royce Gracie, and Chris Leben have all failed drug tests for Marijuana or some illegal chemical in their drug test, all of these fighters have "face" value and are quality fighters so it doesn't look good.  The truth is that every fighter is trying to get that edge and are willing to do whatever it takes within the rules of the sport to win.

Judging in MMA has to be fixed, but the fact that it continues to be an issue is hilarious at this point.  This must be a conspiracy, because if this were a real sport it wouldn't seem like it is fixed sometimes.

UFC on FOX

This past week, the UFC signed a multi-year multi-million dollar deal.  This partnership will allow mma and more importantly the UFC to be exposed to millions of homes.  The UFC will hold 4 free events to be aired on FOX in primetime on a Saturday night.  To mma fans this is an exciting time.  New viewers, new opportunities, and new sponsors will now be available to the UFC.  To the Hardcore Fans, this is the beginning of the end of the days of the wild west of mma.  The UFC has gone mainstream and it will only get bigger.  You no longer will be the only person you know who recognizes: Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone, and Phil Davis.  I enjoyed those days and will miss them.  But I am excited to have others to talk to about MMA and UFC about in person as opposed to on message boards and twitter.  The good days have ended for the hardcore and good days beginning for the novice MMA fans.