mma / Columns

411 Fact or Fiction MMA: Is Conor McGregor trying to Cover Up his UFC Loss?

June 1, 2016 | Posted by Lorenzo Vasquez

Welcome back to another edition of 411 Fact or Fiction MMA! I’m your host, Lorenzo Vasquez III, and it’s my pleasure to bring you the low down on the fact or fiction of the MMA landscape. First and foremost, thank you for your votes and comments last week. Robert Winfree and Alex Rella found common ground with regards to Bellator releasing Will Brooks, Venator FC taking a gamble on Jason Miller and Rousimar palhares, and the UFC needing to give in to Nate Diaz among other things; however, they held a diference of opinion when it came down to discussing Cris cyborg continuing to fight at a catchweight in the UFC, rather than the promotion making 145-pound division. Although, both men found common ground on 5 out of 6 subjects, Mr. Winfree seemed to have the favorable opinions as he was able to walk home with a 27 to 14 victory. Great effort by both men and congratulations to Robert Winfree.

This week, the one and only, Evan Zivin was to tie up with one of the best in the game, Jonathan Butterfield However, there was a last minute change of plans. Instead, I will step in for Jonathan and lock horns with the “White tiger” as we dive right into subjects ranging from the publicity stunt that is Mayweather vs. McGregor, Stipe Miocic breaking the heavyweight title curse, soccer kicks in MMA, and much more! This is shaping up to be a tremendous contest, so strap in and get ready for the ride, because it’s time for another round of, 411 Fact or Fiction MMA! Let’s get things rolling one more time…

TALE OF THE TAPE
RED CORNER
Evan “White Tiger” Zivin
Contributor, 411 MMA Zone
0-0-0

VS

BLUE CORNER
Lorenzo “Corpse Grinder” Vasquez III
Host/Contributor, 411 MMA Zone
0-1-0

Nate Diaz is correct when he says all the McGregor vs. Mayweather talk, on the Irishman’s part, is nothing more than a publicity stunt to hide the fact McGregor was soundly beaten by Diaz?

Evan Zivin: FICTION First off, let me welcome our new Fact or Fiction host. Hey, Lorenzo. Thank you for taking on this column. It’s a fun weekly feature to be a part of and I know all the 411Maniacs out there appreciate your efforts, as do I, although that’s mostly because I sure as hell didn’t want to take this thing over. Seriously, can you guys believe that Wyatt wanted me to take over hosting duties from him? What a disaster that would have been…

Also, before I start, I have a question that’s been bugging me since you began hosting: Why do all your statements have question marks at the end? Am I answering questions or responding to statements? Also, you need to do a better job editing and proofreading your statements. They look like a dog chewed up and spit out an ESL student’s homework. This is 411 MMA Fact or Fiction. STEP YOUR GAME UP, VASQUEZ!

Seriously, though, thank you.

All right. I’ve already lost for the week, but let’s answer the statements (respond to the questions?) anyway. I don’t think the talk is nothing but a publicity stunt. I mean, yeah, it’s a publicity stunt, but it’s more than that. It’s also a crapload of money and the potential for one of the biggest Payperviews ever. Conor knows just as well as Floyd how big of a cultural milestone this fight could be. Everyone would be talking about it (and already are). It would energize the fanbases of two sports and bring back some of the excitement fans got to experience in the early days of MMA, when the question was which martial art was the best. There’s a freak show aspect to it but, if freak show fights didn’t sell, than Bellator wouldn’t have signed Kimbo Slice. It’s one of the best boxers ever vs. one of the best MMA fighters in the world. It’s a stunt but it’s a stunt I will watch the hell out of.

As far as whether the fight is just being used to cover up Conor’s loss to Nate, I don’t believe that. You would think Conor would be talking about the matchup a lot more if that were true but most of the talk has come from Mayweather’s camp. Conor also knows that most people don’t really care that he lost. His popularity hasn’t dropped at all. People still want to see him fight. He’s not ignoring the loss, which is why he was so focused on his training for the rematch that it led to him getting pulled from the fight, so why would he try to make anyone else do the same? It’s a pointless endeavor. He just needs to focus on himself and what he needs to do to conquer his next challenge.

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION Evan, thank you for such the warm welcome. I agree, a disaster it would have been had you accepted Wyatt’s offer. Spared are we form you turning this weekly feature into another one of your whimsical and satirical pieces work we’ve all grown quite fond of.

Oh, by the way, I’ll be sure to tighten up on my editing and proofreading so we don’t sour that brain of yours from having to piece together my statements. To ensure I get this right, I’ll be sure to act as though English is my first language the next time your number is up.

Anyways, Evan, thank you for your participation, I greatly appreciate it and look forward to you future involvement with the column. And now, back on track…

Yes and No…for the most part, this is definitely nothing more than a huge publicity stunt driven by both men in an effort to generate attention, keep their names viable, and to sell, sell, sell. I don’t believe Mayweather vs. McGregor will ever take place at the present moment and both fighters know it. As I stated above, this talk of Mayweather vs. McGregor is really nothing more than for promotional value. And, it’s working for them both. Now, is the purpose of this to hide the fact McGregor was soundly beaten by Nate Diaz? Most likely not, however, it definitely makes that loss a distant memory in minds of the majority as they ponder a possible match up between McGregor and Mayweather. And, there’s no doubt McGregor will use that to his advantage because, the further away he gets from that loss, the better he can work his promotional dexterity.

With that, you can also say Conor McGregor is an artificial product created by the UFC, and would be nowhere near the status he finds himself at today, had the UFC never gotten behind his back.

Evan Zivin: FICTION I can’t agree with this because I don’t like the word “artificial” being used. Conor isn’t artificial. He’s real. Very real. His fighting ability is real. His promotional ability is real. There are aspects of his character that are a little fake, but that’s because it’s just that: a character, a persona he embodies to sell fights, and he does a damn good job with it.

That being said, it is true that Conor wouldn’t be where he is without the pedestal the UFC has placed him on. He’s charismatic enough and has enough business savvy that he could probably find success doing anything but the global platform the UFC has provided him as been critical in getting him where he is today, having the ability to make the entire world short circuit with one Tweet. It’s a relationship that has benefited both parties and one that I imagine they will continue to grow and cultivate. Or at least they will until Conor tries to flex his muscle and butts heads with the company again. Get back in line, McGregor.

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT I’m going with Fact! In no way, shape, or form is Conor McGregor artificial from the standpoint of existing as an actual living being. But, the product itself is, and McGregor has become a product—the whole showmanship and promotional work et cetera is what we buy whether it is because we want to see more and or it destroyed. Alone, the Irishman could have found great success, but not at the level he is at today. Without the UFC, Conor McGregor is very likely no millionaire and he is not front and center in the media. Simply, without the UFC and its worldwide platform, McGregor is nowhere near the product he’s become today.

Timofey Nastyukhin’s highlight reel knockout of Rob Lisita at ONE Championship 43 is evidence that soccer kicks have no place in MMA and are too dangerous in regards to head trauma?

Evan Zivin: FICTION Hang on. I haven’t seen the fight yet, so give me a sec to go track it down…

…SWEET BABY JESUS ON A BED OF SNOW PEAS WITH FISH AMANDINE!

Let me say this: Can head kicks be dangerous? Yes, but you know what else can be dangerous? Any strike to the back of the head, which is what that kick is. I thought soccer kicks were only allowed to the face.

I can’t say that soccer kicks have no place in the sport based on this particular fight because that should have been an illegal strike no matter what. Maybe One FC doesn’t care. I don’t know but I do know it’s hard to condemn specific strikes for causing head trauma in a sport where head trauma is also considered a key to victory. Soccer kicks are always going to be a bit controversial but it won’t cause too big a stir as long as they stay in Asia, where the fans don’t take the sport as seriously as we do. PRIDE NEVER DIE and etc.

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT But this is a tricky subject. We’re talking about a sport where head trauma is just part of the package. Fighters get hit in head with knees, elbow, punches, and high kicks whether or not soccer kicks are allowed and all that has the potential to cause tremendous head trauma. However, what can make a soccer kick more dangerous to a downed opponent, is when said opponent is stunned and left wide open to a kick coming full force with a huge amount of momentum. A fighter can easily generate tremendous power throwing a soccer kick and that is in no way good for a rocked opponent. Like I said, this is a tricky subject, you can say the exact same about a rocked opponent and knees, elbows, punches, and high kicks. However, at least in my opinion, when a fighter is down, whether stunned or not, he is more vulnerable to unnecessary damage coming from such a kick that could be incoming behind a massive amount force.

SWITCH!

After getting pulled from his bout with Cole Miller for disclosing the use of an IV during an out-of-competition drug test, BJ Penn’s excuse of not knowing that IV use was banned 365 days a year, is a poor excuse, and is further evidence the former two-division champion should halt his return?

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION BJ Penn, the guy who has never used an IV for hydration purposes, is truly full of it. On this premise, this one is fact. BJ Penn knew what he was doing and if his excuse was valid, I’m sure more fighters would have been popped for the same thing already. Nonetheless, we have to go fiction here because, despite his poor excuse, it really has no merit on whether or not Penn should fight again. Indeed, I believe his last couple fights would serve better to answer the question of whether or not BJ Penn should fight again. In my opinion, BJ Penn is better off riding into the sunset never to be seen in the cage again. Ultimately, that is for him and his team to decide.

Evan Zivin: FICTION It absolutely is a poor excuse. How can BJ claim to be taking this return seriously when he’s not even aware of the rule changes that have been enacted since he last fought? And it’s not like the IV ban flew under the radar and none of the fighters were informed about it. It was major news, news that his own website reported on just like everyone else. If you’re going to tell me that, when he decided to become an active fighter again, neither he nor any of his friends, family, coaches, training partners, or anyone else told him that using an IV in or out of competition is against USADA policy, then BJ Penn is still the colossal idiot we know and love.

Where I don’t agree with the question is that this incident should keep BJ from competing again, which I assume is what “halt his return” means. I don’t agree with that because it’s not my place to say whether BJ should fight again and I wouldn’t consider this setback as reason for him to not fight again. All this means is he needs to be smarter and pick up a damn phone if he’s unsure about all the rules and regulations since none of this USADA stuff was around the last time he fought. Be smart, BJ. If you feel like you still have something to contribute inside the cage, then who am I to say you shouldn’t try again? Just make sure you’re using your head correctly this time (and I don’t mean to just absorb punches).

Also, Lorenzo, try not to get too wordy with these statements. It’s a slippery slope. Eventually, you’ll be just as bad at this as Wyatt, and you don’t want that.

If proven as true, Zach Light’s assertion that Bellator MMA allowed falsified and forged medical reports from fighters, shows how low with little regard to fighter health and safety, Bellator officials will go to create a viable and bankable product?

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FACT But only if proven to be true. For all we know Mr. Light is nothing more than a disgruntle ex-employee. But if accusations are legit, the officials running Bellator MMA look like nothing more than your typical greedy corporate executives who care about nothing else other than the bottom-line. Judging by some of the bouts alone that Bellator has put on within the last year, you can say they really don’t give a damn in respect to fighter health and safety and it does not make this assertion seen so out of this world. Bellator MMA is now bordering a walk of shame.

Evan Zivin: FACT Well, if the allegations are accurate, then obviously. I’m pretty sure a fight promotion that actually cared about its athletes wouldn’t put said athletes in danger by letting them fight when they aren’t fit to compete (otherwise, why would they be using clearly fraudulent medical records?). It’s even more disturbing because Light says he was lied to about something being done, as, once he found out about the issue, he alerted other officials who either gave him a runaround or assured him it would be looked into, which it clearly wasn’t. I don’t know what kind of case Light has here, if he can prove these allegations in a court of law, but it doesn’t cast a good light on Bellator (pun intended). It does show that Bellator cares more about putting on events and generating ratings and revenue than anything else, but we already knew that. Remember, Kimbo.

With regard to the UFC heavyweight title “curse,” Stipe Miocic has the better chance of any current UFC heavyweight to break past two title fight defenses?

Lorenzo Vasquez III: FICTION Stipe Miocic presents a style similar to former champion, Cain Velasquez. Yet, he is not as intense or physical as Velasquez, and because of this, I can’t bet on him breaking the “heavyweight title curse.” The champion has a ton of potential and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it past two title defenses, but there are some extra heavy and skillful hitters in the division that make defending this particular title so difficult. The power and exhaustion in this division make everything possible, from winning to losing. Cain Velasquez was, and maybe still is, the only men I believe could break the curse. But, as you know, he is a man of a thousand injures; thus, the curse will live on.

Evan Zivin: FICTION I don’t feel confident he’ll defend the title twice. He has a title defense with Alistair Overeem coming up. That will be a tough fight but I think he can win it. After that, he’s gonna be in trouble, as he has the cream of the crop staring him down, most notably Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, who’s already beaten Stipe once. Plus, UFC may book the rematch with Fabricio Werdum, since they decided to book his return fight as the co-main event to the Miocic-Overeem fight. Maybe Stipe can get past Werdum again but I don’t know about Velasquez or JDS.

If there’s anyone on the current roster who can break the curse, I still think it’s Cain. For him to do it, though, he needs to get back to the belt, which may happen later this year or next year, and stay healthy enough to avoid any long layoffs. Also, stay out of Mexico City. I know that’s asking a lot but it seems a more likely scenario to me right now. Sorry, Stipe. At least you still managed to do something that LeBron hasn’t and bring a championship to Cleveland. Enjoy it. You may not be able to enjoy that forever.

Then again, Stephen Curry…

So who won? Did Evan put the Corpse Grinder to shame (as if he hadn’t before the contest was underway), or, did I swipe cake from underneath him? 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 as always, we’ll be back next week with another contest! Be sure to leave your comments below. And please, be sure to vote!

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