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411 Fact or Fiction MMA: Does Rousey/Cyborg in Dallas Make Sense?
Welcome back to another edition of 411 Fact or Fiction MMA, and I’m your host, Wyatt Beougher! Last week, two Fact or Fiction legends came out of retirement to challenge one another, as Todd Bergman and Steve Cook debated Ronda Rousey’s marketability, the weird state of the UFC light heavyweight division, and more, and when the dust settled, it was my predecessor, Todd Bergman, who scored the 29-21 victory. Great effort from both guys, and hopefully I can continue to convince former competitors to come out of retirement from time to time. This week should also be a great contest, as Lorenzo Vasquez III, who is still the newest member of the 411 MMA roster, takes on Scott Kuczkowski, another 411 legend. They’ll be discussing a potential Rousey/Cyborg fight at Cowboys’ Stadium, a potential comeback for Rich Franklin, and more, so let’s get to the action!
TALE OF THE TAPE
RED CORNER
“Corpse Grinder” Lorenzo Vasquez III
Contributor, 411 MMA Zone
1-0-1
VS
BLUE CORNER
Scott “Kuch” Kuczkowski
Contributor, 411 MMA Zone
0-2-0
1.) If Tito Ortiz actually knows what he is talking about, and the UFC offered Cris Justino a bantamweight title fight against Ronda Rousey at the AT&T Stadium show that is being planned for later this year, it represents an uncharacteristically short-sighted move by the company for a women who has yet to show that she can make 135 pounds.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION The UFC is always looking out for itself first. It’s about taking the sport to new heights and making as much cash as possible. This is the fight business and fighters’ careers are short. Something hot today is not so much sizzling a few months ahead. They know a fight between Rousey and Justino is big business and the longer it takes to come together the greater the chance it never materializes and the less business it’ll do if either were to lose along the way. The window is shrinking and the UFC knows it has to act fast. The UFC may act like they care about Cyborg making 135 but that is only because Rousey wants her at 135. In the whole scheme of things, the UFC could care less about what weight class they fight as long as it happens and what better place for it to happen than at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas? Considering the manner in which the UFC does business, it simply isn’t out of the realm of possibility or uncharacteristic for them to try and put this fight together knowing Justino is yet to make 135 pounds.
Scott Kuczkowski: FACT First off, it would be amazing to even assume that Tito Ortiz would know what he was talking about in regard to the UFC. That guy has been on the anti-UFC hype train since before he even left the promotion, so I have little faith in him being correct (or truthful) about anything. Second, if this was true, why wouldn’t the UFC confirm this? This would be the biggest Women’s MMA fight of all time and something they would be able to hype the shit out of. If this was true, wouldn’t it have made sense for Dana White to confirm it? The fact that he flatly denied it kind of tells me it’s BS. And third, I don’t see the UFC offering this fight to Cyborg without her first making 135. Her accepting the fight and missing weight puts the entire card in jeopardy. The truth is that Cyborg needs this fight more than Ronda does, but I think Cyborg has realized she probably won’t stand a chance against Rousey at Bantamweight. Cyborg has juiced her way to 145 and she has trouble even making that weight. I bet she knows she can make 135 if she gets off the juice but she probably also knows that her strength and endurance take a major hit when she does. Because of that, she’s been trying to leverage for a 140 pound catchweight bout that Rousey simply doesn’t have to agree to. I don’t see the UFC endorsing a catchweight bout unless Rousey asks for it and I don’t see them offering Cyborg a fight at a weight she hasn’t shown she can make. I think this was just Tito talking out his ass and trying to get people excited about a fight that won’t ever happen.
2.) With eye pokes and yet another instance of failing to release a submission hold in a timely fashion the latest of multiple instances of erratic and/or downright malicious behavior on his record, Rousimar Palhares will not fight with a major promotion again in his career.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT Palhares is done in the big leagues. He was given opportunity after opportunity to correct himself and he failed to do so. He is a proven liability and there likely won’t be top notch fighters lining up to fight this man knowing he tries to hurt you beyond necessary. He is a black eye for any major promotion and considering his repeat offenses, that is all that needs to be said. I am sure he will find a home in some minor promotion looking to up its profile by signing someone with a somewhat name, even though that name is covered in a veil of negativity; but, that will end horribly as well. This guy is mental and shouldn’t be fighting.
Scott Kuczkowski: FACT At least I hope not. And I guess it also depends upon your definition of “major promotion.” I doubt WSOF will let him fight again and I don’t see the UFC or Bellator signing him. Legacy Fighting Alliance is always an option. Given that Resurrection Fight Alliance is the feeder league to the UFC and run by Ed Soares, I doubt Palhares would be welcomed there either. I guess he could go to OneFC, but that’s dependent upon them wanting to risk the health of their fighters when they fight against him.
I don’t know if Palhares is as dirty as people claim he is or if he’s simply too mentally unstable to be a fighter. The guy always comes across nice in interviews but he’s a total head-case when he’s in the cage. I don’t know what’s wrong with him and I frankly don’t care at this point; he’s dangerous and can’t be trusted in the cage. If he never fights again, I’m good with that.
3.) Even with a dominant performance culminating in a submission win over another top ten light heavyweight, Glover Teixeira still finds himself at least one more win (and possibly two) away from earning another light heavyweight title shot, barring injuries to other potential challengers.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT I’m going with fact because if Daniel Cormier defends his title against Alexander Gustafsson, I think the winner of Ryan Bader vs. Rashad Evans is next for the champion. And, if Gustafsson defeats Cormier, I can see Anthony Johnson getting a crack before Teixeira considering the past between those two. Teixeira proved he still has some gas left in the tank to make another run at the title. But, he wasn’t stunningly impressive. I think he still has to beat another contender in the top five before he gets a second chance to capture gold. Of course, the division is in shambles right now and anything is possible; and, Cormier denounced Teixeira as a threat and that could make for a nice build up. But I think Evans would steal that spotlight if he beats Bader and Bader has an established story with Cormier as well.
Scott Kuczkowski: FACT I thought Glover looked real good against a very dangerous OSP, but he didn’t show me anything that made me think he’d beat Daniel Cormier or even do better than his first fight against Jon Jones if/when the champ returns. Part of me also thinks that OSP was ranked much higher than his actual ability. I really like Glover and I followed him since before he came to the UFC, but he just hasn’t seemed very comfortable against guys that have better grappling and clinch work than him since his arrival. I think he’d do well in a fight against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and would have an exciting fight against Alexander Gustafsson, but I don’t see him getting another title shot without beating one of those guys first.
SWITCH!
4.) With a myriad of other duties arising from his position as a vice president of OneFC, it makes little sense for Rich Franklin to attempt to fulfill the final fight on his UFC contract.
Scott Kuczkowski: FACT Rich Franklin was probably one of my favorite fighters when I first got into MMA. He was an exciting fighter that could win by knockout or submission and was also well-spoken during interviews. All that said, he’s gone 3-4 since 2009 and simply looks like the game has passed him by. All this makes me wonder why he wants to finish out his contract when the UFC would probably be happy to just release him and let him pursue other interests. There’s really no reason for him to do this and I believe his other duties don’t/won’t allow him the time to hit the gym and properly prepare anyway. This makes me think that he’d return at less than his best and would probably lose; that’s not something he needs when he has other options.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION I was on the fence about this one. I hate seeing past-their-prime fighters getting visciously dismantled because they don’t belong at the highest level any more. Chuck Liddell and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira come to mind. Franklin is definitely in that category. However, I think Franklin has a little more juice left than Liddell did when he retired and than Nogueira has now. He isn’t a spring chicken and he won’t be too competitive against those at the top, but I think a fight with someone on their way out, like Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, wouldn’t be so bad of an idea. Franklin is fresh after a long hiatus and a one-off fight with the likes of what I mentioned would allow him the chance to go out on a high note and it wouldn’t be as dangerous as stepping in the cage with a rising prospect or some gracing the highest level.
5.) After suffering a third loss in her last four fights, the UFC would be wise to leverage their relationship with InvictaFC to allow Sara McMann the opportunity to step back from the spotlight and rebuild herself in Invicta’s bantamweight division.
Scott Kuczkowski: FICTION McMann’s losses have come at the hands of Rousey, Tate, and Nunes, so it’s not like she was losing to a bunch of scrubs. Those are also the only three losses in her career. The real issue is that McMann has relied too heavily on her wrestling and grappling and hasn’t worked on her stand-up game. Sending her back to Invicta would simply allow her to fight lower-tiered fighters and continue to dominate them with her wrestling. This would actually be counterintuitive towards a solution. McMann instead needs to stay in the UFC where the competition is tougher and work with a striking coach or camp that can teach her to get her head off of center when she punches and work on her hand speed. While women’s MMA is still somewhat in its infancy, it has progressed to the point that a single dominant area of expertise isn’t enough to keep a fighter at the top of the division.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION No, I don’t think so. In the current form of the women’s UFC bantamweight division, McMann is a high level athlete and contender. Her problem, however, is that her striking is nowhere near to the level of her wrestling and athletic skill set. What McMann needs is to find a striking coach that can take her to the next level. She probably needs to change to a camp where she is surrounded by both high level grapplers and strikers. Then, she needs to climb down the ladder and start picking off contenders one by one using her developing skills until she climbs back up to the top. That is what McMann needs—evolution. However, at 34, time is running out, so she better figure things out quickly.
6.) UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitsky revealing that not only would the UFC assist any fighter looking for help with substance abuse problems, but that it could result in drastically lowered suspensions for fighters who test positive for recreational drugs makes it inexcusable for fighters struggling with addiction to not get the help that they need.
Scott Kuczkowski: FICTION Logically, this makes sense. Most people reading this will also think this makes sense. The issue is that we’re talking about world-class athletes and fighters, many of whom are incredibly self-confident and won’t/can’t admit when they have a problem, much less ask for help with that problem. People with substance abuse issues, whether it is recreational or performance enhancing drugs, justify their own actions in their minds and don’t believe there is an issue to address. Many of them feel they could easily quit if they wanted or needed to, but choose to continue doing it. This may be a coping method to help them with the mental stress of being a fighter, or it may be simple denial, but most addicts don’t think they really have a problem. Many of them don’t even think they have a problem after they get caught and their livelihood is jeopardized. There will be a bunch of fighters who get caught and will accept treatment only because it may reduce their suspension; I’d bet the majority of those will go back to using at their first opportunity. Don’t get me wrong; this is a nice gesture for the UFC, but I don’t see it having a dramatic impact.
Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT The major component is the, “but that it could result in drastically lowered suspensions for fighters who test positive for recreational drugs…” It is an incentive for those who need the extra motivation to straighten themselves up. However, if the company is offering help for those with substance abuse problems, then yes, it is inexcusable, in and of itself, for fighters struggling with addiction to not get help. Throwing in that incentive expands the idea that there is no reason for a fighter to not seek help. If taking such help is going to help a fighter get back to making a living sooner rather than later, then that is even better.
So who won? Did Lorenzo remain unbeaten or did Kuch finally get into the win column? You’ve got until midnight eastern on Saturday to vote, so make sure you make your voice heard!
And that’s it for today, but we’ll be back next week with another contest! As always, if there’s anything you’d like to see featured in a future edition, leave your statement in the comments and I’ll add it in. Let me know what you thought in the comments or on Twitter. And please, be sure to vote!
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