What you see on television during a UFC broadcast is pretty cool, but what goes on backstage, away from the lights and the cameras, is so real and fascinating that it's practically another beast entirely. I've been credentialed for 17 UFCs, and though the last one I went to was UFC 55 (back in 2005), the access to the area behind the curtain - where the fighters are either mentally preparing themselves for combat or dealing with its after effects, and where the emotion is a thousand times more true and raw - was totally and completely money. I say all this because leading off today's news roundup is UFC president Dana White's latest video blog, which is the opening salvo in hyping UFC on FOX 4, but contains some sweet behind-the-scenes stuff on UFC 149.
- Go here for White's first UFC on FOX 4 video blog. Things to note include: UFC commentator Joe Rogan rapping with Ryan Jimmo and White coming by to congratulate Jimmo on his ultra-fast KO victory (and White blaming the referee for not being able to stop the fight faster, thereby preventing Jimmo from setting a new record); Matt Riddle giving opponent Chris Clements some post-fight kudos and looking like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo; a very bummed Brian Ebersole; and, former featherweight champ Urijah Faber, battered and bruised and in pain, but still a great sportsman and heaping praise on the man who just beat him, Renan Barao.
- Brazilian Demian Maia is looking good so far in his new weightclass, so the middleweight-turned-welterweight gets a step up in competition for UFC 153 (which will take place in Brazil in October). His opponent: Rick Story. If you'll recall, Maia defeated Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 148 when Kim gave up due to a rib injury incurred earlier in the bout; methinks Story ain't going out like that. Nope, not at all. Maia is in for a fight.
- According to Dana White, whoever looks the best in victory at UFC on FOX 4 on Saturday night gets the next shot at the light-heavyweight champ down the line. Well, you can count Joe Lauzon out. Said the lightweight fighter via Twitter:
So, @danawhite said whoever wins most impressively Saturday at #UFConFox gets a shot at @JonnyBones... I'm preemptively forfeiting my shot.
You know, we laugh, but if this were PRIDE in Japan, Lauzon could very well end up having to fight Jon Jones.
That's all for now.
Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke China Chow Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera
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