Chael Sonnen Suspended For Drug Use

Chael Sonnen could have been the UFC Middleweight Champion had he finished off Anderson Silva at UFC 117. He was so close... two minutes away from the UFC middleweight title but Silva spoiled it with a late triangle choke to force Sonnen to a tapout. All of the four and a half rounds of Sonnen domination ended with a quick submission move by the Brazilian champion.

Most fans believed that after walking the talk, Sonnen deserved another shot at the title. Dana White, who is not a huge fan of rematches, set a rematch between Sonnen and Silva in early 2011. This should have brought in more pay-per-view buys and more money to the table.

Unfortunately, Sonnen admitted to drug use during testing after his title match. He was found to have high levels of testosterone brought about by the intake of performance-enhancement drugs.

Sonnen has been suspended for at least one year and fined $2,500 by the CSAC. If we are to consider all other losses such as the opportunity to fight Silva next year and his loss of potential endorsement deals, Sonnen stands to lose probably more that can reach $1 million.

Too bad... Now either Vitor Belfort or Yushin Okami would have a shot at the title after their eliminator at UFC 122.

Bobby Lashley Loses At Strikeforce: Houston

Bobby Lashley lost a second round knockout to unheralded Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: Houston on Saturday. So what was the big deal?

Lashley, just like UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar, is a former WWE professional wrestler and both have legitimate amateur wrestling credentials as well. Lesnar is now the UFC champion and considered one of the best in the world. Lashley after five straight wins appeared dominating Griggs on Saturday but he got caught with an uppercut that cut and hurt him.

Griggs was obviously dominated by Lashley as he spent most of the fight on the mount. Lashley used his ground and pound but his punches did not seem to do a lot of damage. He did not have any submission moves either.

With a predictable offense, Griggs telegraphed takedowns by countering with uppercuts. Lashley was cut open in the first round, bleeding from under the corner of his left eye. By end of the second, Lashley was beat up and bleeding badly.

A single defeat may not necessarily end a career. Fedor Emelianenko lost to former UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum but it does not fully tarnish his 10-year undefeated run. We all know Fedor can come back from this loss.

How about Lashley? He lost a fight to a little-known fighter. His offense is predictable and he is clearly several notches below Brock Lesnar in terms of skills and potential. Yes, Lashley can become a better fighter as he evolves but being an elite fighter may not be where he is headed to.

For pro wrestling haters, he may be better off with freak shows or going back to WWE.

One lesson learned is that not all pro-wrestlers can make that successful transition to mixed martial arts.

Search Amazon.com for mixed martial arts

UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen

Tonight on UFC 117 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland CA, we finally get to see how trash talking Chael Sonnen walks the walk against UFC middleweight champion Anderson "the Spider" Silva. Weeks and days leading to the fight, Sonnen has talked more trash than Rampage Jackson and Rahsad Evans have combined. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be as interested in seeing Sonnen fight Silva.

For one, Silva has been far from exciting in his last few fights, even his boss Dana White was so embarrassed at his showing against Demian Maia in Dubai. Fans are also upset they feel they are not getting the entertainment they deserve. There is some truth in it as Silva has made some mockery of the game seeing that challengers are way below his skillset. On the other hand, Silva cannot engage with another fighter who is not willing to engage himself. How can a counter puncher like Silva counter punch when his opponents are just lying on their back waiting for Silva? Oh well, this could go on and on and we can still conclude that Silva bores us to death.

Now in comes Sonnen, an NCAA Division I wrestler with far less impressive MMA credentials. What he lacks in MMA skills and credentials, he compensates with his trash talk. In fact Sonnen has made things far more entertaining even before they step into the Octagon. No one would have cared about him and Silva before. Now people are curious with how Silva has taken all the trash talk and how Sonnen can back up all his blabber.

Depending on how it has affected Silva, I still see him winning in dominating fashion. I would prefer that he use his knees using his Muay Thai fighting style. He can choose to knock Sonnen out early or he can make it agonizingly painful like waht he did to Maia. What remains to be seen is if Sonnen can pull of an upset. He just might get lucky with a takedown or two and grind out a close decision. It is a long shot though. It's like throwing a basketball from backcourt for a three-point shot... in front of Kobe Bryant's outstretched arms.

Get to read more sports news from Omar Mercado at http://www.sportsnewcaster.com/.

Is Mayweather Ducking Pacquiao?

The first time they tried negotiating a fight between two of the world's best pound for pound boxers, they failed miserably as mudslinging came from both camps under the public microscope. Manny Pacquiao would not agree to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s terms of Olympic-style blood testing days leading to the fight.

This time around, Pacquiao is so willing to give in to blood testing terms, the money supposed to be split evenly. The deadline for the deal has passed and there was no word from Mayweahter. Days after the so-called deadline for a deal between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to square of in the boxing ring, "Money" says that he is "on vacation". Now we are stuck with a consolation fight between Pacquiao and dirty boxer Antonio Margarito.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight has the biggest prize money that "Money" can possibly earn in a fight and he would rather be "on vacation"??? Easily they could put up a $100 million pot in this superfight but it looks like "Money" doesn't seem interested in this indecent amount of potential earnings.

And yes... Mayweather doesn't care what the casual and hardcore boxing fans want to see. No wonder mixed martial arts has taken over the fight game. Before we could even get to see "Money" and "Pacman" fight, if ever it will happen, we would have seen Brock Lesnar fight Cain Velasquez in October and BJ Penn possibly become a UFC champion again by August. Hopefully we can get to see Chael Sonnen beat up Anderson Silva in a few days, although it could be a long night for Chael. There could be at least 25 mixed martial arts contests that are quite interesting before the year ends. This I tell you, these are far more interesting than seeing or hearing from a diva called Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Go ahead, Mr. Mayweather. Keep ducking Pacquiao and find out for yourself that you are way below the all-time greats like Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. The best fighters would always want to fight the best. This is where Dana White and what used to be a tiny promotional group called UFC is great at... matching up the best with the best.

Sooner or later, Mayweather might find the necessity to fight again for money but his skills may have diminished by then. Mayweather is not worth $45 or so on pay-per-view. Floyd Mayweather is one good reason why boxing is a dying sport.

Search Amazon.com for boxing equipment

Search Amazon.com for mixed martial arts

UFC Heavyweight Pat Barry A Class Act

Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight Pat Barry made it publicly known that he was a huge fan of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. At UFC 115, the gates of the octagon closed behind with that in our minds. In the first round, Barry knocked Cro Cop twice with the right hand. The effect was immediately visible as Cro Cop's face started to swell.

Rounds 2 and 3 went a different direction. Cro Cop came back strong and ended the fight in the third with a rear naked choke, causing Barry to tap out.

Critics were quick to pounce on Pat Barry, saying he was tentative after the first round. He stopped punching and kicking unlike in his previous fights wherein he displayed awesome power and technique in kickboxing. Others were saying he had too much respect for his longtime idol.

Dude, that was no way to become an elite fighter. Manny Pacquiao idolized Oscal dela Hoya but he never let it get in the way to beating Oscar to submission. In the same manner, Barry was not starstruck as he was perceived in that fight. Remember, he knocked Cro Cop twice in the opening round.

Truth be told... he actually broke his right hand and right foot. For a someone to keep fighting in pain like that, he deserves some respect. Right after the loss, he never made excuses about it so as not to take anything away from Cro Cop.

Pat Barry may have lost that fight with Cro Cop but he stands for what is good about mixed martial artists. He is a real class act, with respect for other fighters that I did not see in Anderson Silva when he faced off with Demian Maia. I hope someone beats the lights out of Silva sooner than later. Chael Shonnen has this tough task in UFC 117 about twelve days from now. I am rooting for Chael but the money is still on Silva. Let's talk about that next time.

As for you Mr. Barry... good job.
















Search Amazon.com for UFC