The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

UFC’s stormy week ends well

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Dann Stupp, MMA insider 1:10 AM Monday, July 4, 2011

Six days before this past weekend’s hugely entertaining UFC 132 card, the world’s top MMA promotion was in crisis mode.

On the eve of a June 26 “UFC on Versus 4” event in Pittsburgh, would-be headliner Nate Marquardt failed to receive medical clearance after his questionable testosterone-replacement therapy produced elevated levels.

Marquardt’s case is a complicated one, but it ultimately led to the former title-challenger’s termination. UFC president Dana White was criticized for the announcement (which came via a short video message on Twitter), the lack of transparency (though Pennsylvania health-privacy laws limited the details he could share) and inconsistency (Chael Sonnen also tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and wasn’t cut).

White, of course, saw the event lose its headliner (though a Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry was promoted to the top spot and delivered). But criticism grew when White refused to soften his stance against Marquardt.

“I’m done with Nate,” he said last Wednesday. “Nate is a really nice, sweet, humble guy. But the facts are the facts.”

The bad blood easily could have carried over to UFC 132, which aired July 2 on pay-per-view from Las Vegas. Instead, a solid night of entertainment put the complaints on the backburner.

UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz solidified his top-dog status with a strategic win over Urijah Faber, Chris Leben likely sent fellow striker Wanderlei Silva into retirement with a quick knockout, and MMA legend Tito Ortiz shocked the sport by submitting Ryan Bader for his first win in five years.

“We were on a bad streak ... but we’ve been on a good streak lately with some great fights,” White said.

Victory at a cost: At the recent UFC on Versus 4 event, Xenia native Matt Brown (12-10) ended a three-fight losing streak and salvaged his UFC career with a decision victory over John Howard (14-7).

But the victory win have come at a price — literally. Brown, who desperately needed the win, felt a flood of emotions in his Versus-televised post-fight interview, and when praising his opponent, that’s when it happened.

“He’s a [expletive] warrior,” said Brown, who quickly realized his mistake. “Oh man, please don’t take my money.”

White, who drops more than his fair share of f-bombs, issued the riot act before the event. Unlike PPV events, the UFC’s cable shows can’t allow cursing.

White suggested a small fine may have been levied. But for Brown, it’s probably a small price to pay for a little job security.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to www.MMAjunkie.com.

Share this article