Quote of the Day: "Cro Cop Was Punking All of Us"

Cro Cop is a nobody? Who the hell are you? You are right MCC punked UFC. HA HA HA. Now go get Dana a donut or he will fire you.

by Scott Whitt on Jun 14, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Enjoy this bad thing that happened to the UFC. Seriously, dance in the streets. The opportunities for reveling in Zuffa’s failures will soon be at an end, and I want you guys to live it up until that happens. Enjoy the Affliction card. Laugh about Cro Cop lying his way onto a card. But get ready, because within a year or two, crossing Dana like this is going to be straight up suicide instead of just a classless dick move.

by subo on Jun 14, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Crocop, him kicking you in your injured leg wasn’t sportsman like at all…

If people want to hate Mirko now, I say let them, because it dosen’t look like Mirko is gonna tell us the other side of the story.

by kyfm621 on Jun 14, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its hard to feel too sorry for Dana, I mean its not as if he hasnt screwed people over before. And who is to say he wouldnt have reneged on the supposed 3 fight verbal contract himself had Cro Cop lost?

Also, lets not forget that CroCop being on the card was mutually beneficial, even for one fight.

All that being said, its still a shitty thing to do.

by -Sam on Jun 14, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, I don’t think it’s big loss for the UFC. I don’t know how people push bullshit about proving yourself and honor then go back on your word. However, we have to remember that Cro Cop is a politician, also. He probably would’ve beaten Al Turk without the eyepoke, but I can’t see him beating anyone near the top of the UFC HW division.

by Cannon Jacques on Jun 14, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Rec'd

Is there anyone, on this planet, that really wants to see Fedor/Cro Cop again?

by subo on Jun 14, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cro cop was plodding in like an injured walrus

which i know is what he always does, and it’s ok for a powerful and quick counter striker…. but cro cop wasn’t quick.
al turk was so slow, so telegraphed, leaving himself so wide open, and for the most part cro cop just stood there.

as far as the eye poke, i don’t think it wouldav changed the result of the fight, but i don’t think al turk should get a loss. change it to a no contest.

as far as leaving UFC, i can’t be mad at him. business is business. he wouldn’t have been able to make a legit title run so i dont care about him leaving from that angle either.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 14, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who frankly cares if Ariel is shocked or not, i listened to his piece on Cofield’s blog and thought it was just ridiculous speculative opinion.

Nobody knows if he punked all of us or not, that’s just speculation and his comment about not being able to win without cheating sounds even more ridculous.

What’s clear is that from the fact that Mirko has a cage in his basement, the big UFC symbol on his basement walls, all his posts on MMA-ID and his continuous comments throughout the past few years in the media is that there is a very clear pattern. That pattern isn’t consistent with him lying to his fans or him lying to Dana.

What’s more plausable, that he lies to himself to his fans and to the UFC or there are some issues that we don’t know about that led to this decision. Perhaps he was led into believing he could leave Dream and fight for the UFC, but then Dream changed their mind and with the rush of being put on 99 he couldn’t let everyone down.

Who knows, or maybe he did punk everyone. The point is nobody knows what his reasons are and so you draw any conclusions. Which means ridiculous comments like Ariels just can’t be taken seriously because they are just his opion that aren’t derived from anything but confusion. This is why the MMA media blows stories out of proportion time and time again because they are too concerned with churning out news and self obsessed opinion pieces rather than writing decent articles with balanced facts.

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

You’re a level headed guy. However, since CroCop doesn’t give us anything to go on, we have to form opinions on the facts at hand. Why speculate on motives that CC doesn’t give us? Based on the evidence readily available, CC is two-faced liar. Until facts come out to dispute that, that’s the reputation he has earned.

by cyph on Jun 14, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a dangerous way to look at things.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 14, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We are all posters on the internet we can only go on what we see and hear and if we are wrong well it won’t be the first time.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can’t draw a conclusion if you don’t have all the evidence, you can make a guess that’s all well and good, but you should state that it’s nothing more than a guess. This is the situation we have here, we don’t have all the evidence and so we can’t say anything for certain. This is why i am against making this story anything more than it is at the moment. We should leave it aside and wait and see what happens and when we can say anything for definate then a story can be written.

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Through the whole thing you have been trying to be the voice of patience and reason, you do realize you are on the internet right?

Mad props for trying, for me the biggest loss from this is all the time that got taken away from me making fun of Tim Sylvia’s fight.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“As Dana explained, we talked just on the phone, we didn’t meet,” Cro Cop said. “But this is definitely not my last fight in the UFC. You have my word for it.”

http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/ufc-99-dana-white-did-unprecedented-verbal-deal-with-mirko-cro/

So he didn’t know he was going to sign with Dream beforehand? I guess they called him in the shower after the Al-Turk fight and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Hell in his post fight interview Cro Cop was talking about how he was going to talk to Dana White about the UFC fighters he wanted to face in the future yet right after that he was telling them he had signed with Dream, what are we supposed to think hearing that? What assumptions are we supposed to make? Cro Cop went on and on and on about how he was going to have more fights in the UFC and make a run for the belt but he had to already know he was signing with Dream, he didn’t even wait a day after the fight to tell White he was leaving.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

.... if it's not in writing...

sure cro cop gave his word, but you have to take everything a fighter says with a grain of salt when they’re trying to hype up a fight and get paid. he did what he thought was best for him and i can’t be mad.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 14, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hyping a fight is one thing negotiating in bad faith is another. Obviously there could be some confusion between the two sides here as to what is going on but if a guys says “you have my word for it” and he knows he is lying then it is a issue. Both sides said numerous times it was going to be a multi-fight deal in public, if it’s not happening then something is up.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to think that something happened inbetween. We have all said something that we fully intended on doing and then the circumstances change and you dont do it. For example I was planning on going to a Cavs game, told everyone I was going for sure, then saw LeBron was not going to be playing that day and decided not to go. ( just an ex.) but we have all done it b4. So I can only think that after the fight something went wrong, either he got offered more money from DREAM or less money from Dana. Im betting that he didnt get as much money as he thought which is why I believe they were still negotiating a contract b4 the fight. Eventhough he id declining I get the impression Mirko still thinks hes a top HW and with that pride I could see him wanting a title shot in his next fight, or way more money then Dana was offering. I think he really meant it when he said he wanted to stay in the UFC but something had to go down.

by xbuckeyex05 on Jun 15, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll rec to that.

by Chris Nelson on Jun 14, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is harsh...

I don’t get the venom here – yes, I think it seems like a dick move, but given his decreasing relevance, I don’t see a reason to get worked up over it.

I like that Al-Turk is appealing the loss – it’ll probably go down the same way as Johnson/Burns, but that was completely unfair – Miragliotta should have noticed something was wrong when he covered his eyes and turned away. That was his fault, not CC’s, so why blame him?

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Jun 14, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This, word for word but

will a little profanity, cause that’s how I roll. Cro Cop pulled a cash grab and left. People are upset about his “honor” not so much he screwed Dana.

by Riney on Jun 14, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since there was no commission to oversee the event, I assume it’s up to the UFC to overturn the ruling. It’s a real possibility.

by cyph on Jun 14, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

????

Ariel Helwani, who the f**k are you, you sound like some jilted lover of Cro Cops or something, what did he not spit on your back. up until this point, I’ve never even heard of this Ariel guy, it sounds like this guy is just trying to get his 15 minutes.

by proflex on Jun 14, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was famous for his good interviews on the old mmarated.com site. That Arlovski interview with ‘How taste my pee-pee’ was his. He’s done some good interviews but his opinion pieces are making him less relevant if anythiing.

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He already got his 15 mins.

I also think he overreacted, but do you actually think BE would put just “some guy trying to get his 15 mins” in a quote of the day post?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 14, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not at all but i think BE should have some editing standards.

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In what way?

I’m not sure I follow. This was posted as a “quote of the day” being that we thought it was an interesting quote. It also represents how a popular MMA media figure feels about this situation (which is shared by many).

It’s not a failure of editorial standards just because you don’t like it.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’ll agree with you that’s it’s interesting, but not for a particularly good reason. It’s interesting because it shows a a popular figure who is speaking as a kind of authority and expert giving an opinion that is very raw and honest. However it also shows that he’s willing to form a strong opinion off the bat, saying that “he’s a nobody. Screw him.” that “he’s punking all of us” and “I hope he goes on a three fight losing streak … he’s a disgrace”. Firstly there’s no evidence that he’s punking anybody – it’s too early to tell and furthermore that’s a pretty strong accusation for an expert to take.

Ariel is in a position to influence people and inform them, so is BE. But what is the correct approach to take? Is it on the one hand to give a further outlet to this kind of journalism or to pedal it further.

For me it adds fuel to the fire of a real non story at the moment, non story because it’s too early to say anything concrete. This is why it shoud be edited it out. But do i think it shouldn’t be discussed? I think this comment should be discussed, but not in a way that BE is doing it. I think a fanpost would be good, or maybe some for of discussion on a forum, but certainly not news that is the basis that people form opinion and become informed by.

Also don’t dismiss my comment as irrelevant because you think i don’t like it, I have a serious point to make about Ariel and BE. It makes you become guilty of the same crime you are accusing me of, because perhaps you don’t like my criticism?

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not a valid criticism...

that’s the point. This is a blog and we run a quote of the day section. We didn’t editorialize the situation. We said “here is a quote” and left it at that. The point of the quote of the day posts are to be interesting and generate discussion. Which this did

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly, you gave a quote from an informed authority and left it at that, without supplying anything more. No discussion about it’s validity, no debate about if it was informed – nothing. So it may as well be a piece Ariel wrote on BE to inform others on his expert stance and give his views. BE role is to inform and not add fuel to the fire of a confused situation, this is incidently why the MMA media is criticised for creating big deals out of nothing.

If it was a quote then followed by some discussion that would be better, or if it was a quote followed by a debate even better. I think discussing Iole’s column would be an even better topic incidently as he is a larger even more uniformed authority but never mind.

But as this post stands i think it is confusing a confused situation that is a real non topic and should be edited. Just running a quote of the day section is not a good way to inform – in my view, a quote of the day then discussion that’s a better way.

by Donk696 on Jun 14, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BE didn't do anything wrong.

They didn’t glorify the quote they just left it up for discussion. As it turns out most of us can think for ourselves and agree that Ariel Helwani sounds like a teenage boy with zits who has just been stood up for the prom.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 14, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh, we’re grown up for the most of us, we can take a quote (an opinion for the matter) for what it is.

by spectaa on Jun 14, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Ariel’s work, but I think he’s way wrong here. However, I’m not sure how this looks bad with regards to our “editorial standards.”

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 14, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is just another example of how poor the majority of MMA journalists are, although to be fair, isn’t this Ariel chap a glorified PR anyway?

I also have no idea why sites feel the need to report some inconsequential dudes opinion.

by IainLiddle on Jun 14, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ariel is one of the best in the biz

He breaks more MMA news than just about anyone in the biz.
He’s pissed because he was lied to and bullshitted.
In 15 years in the PR biz, I’ve learned you don’t do that to a reporter.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 14, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’d be pissed, too

by subo on Jun 14, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wtf is Ariel Helwani’s problem? Like every thing Dana White has done has been on the up and up. If it really is like described, do I agree with Cro-Cop? No. But does that make it the biggest tragedy ever and we should all pity Dana White for how he was treated? Come on people..

by stearnum on Jun 14, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I feel bad for Al-Turk

Hopefully he gets one more fight against someone who isn’t going to easily maul him.

Food goes in here

by Pandanus on Jun 14, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gina?

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Jun 14, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok lets just assume Halwani was a big fan of Cro Cop, now lets assume he was estatic that Cro Cop was returning to make another run at the UFC title.

Cro Cop wins, and then basically says, “I lied to you fans, I’m going back to beating up Mizuno again”.

He was most likely just shitted to the hilt and then he had to go on radio. I have no problem seeing and hearing raw emotion.

by SamCupitt on Jun 14, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep.. I think you're right.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 14, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap you’re right. Ariel responds on the UG:

Sheesh. Who knew Cro Cop was such a sensitive subject?

A couple of points, and I’ll get the hell out of here:

I apologize if I offended anyone. Upon further review, I shouldn’t have said that I hope he loses. That was wrong.

However, I was a little taken aback by this sudden turn of events, especially after we spent an hour earlier this week listening to him talk about how his run in the UFC was the one black spot in his career and how his ultimate goal is to win the UFC title.

f you listened to the show, I was actually echoing what another host said earlier, but then when onto say that maybe there is more to this story and gave several potential points to back that up. I guess you missed that part. No biggie.

I also guess I held Cro Cop to a higher standard and after hearing him talk about his respect for the UFC and its fans and his strong desire to win the title, I didn’t expect something like this to happen. That’s all.

If you heard our podcast on MMA FanHouse you would know that I was as geeked up as anyone to see Cro Cop back in the UFC because I thought the best fights were waiting for him there. I don’t see as many exciting matchups for him in DREAM. Maybe I’m wrong, though. What the hell do I know?

Cool? Now can we move on?

by Nick Thomas on Jun 14, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Yes we should move on from the ariel talk..

The real issue here is crocop. Not a reporter losing his cool.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 14, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair post by Ariel. The only issue I had with his quotes was him hoping that Mirko never wins a fight again. I know he’s normally better than that so his apology is good with me.

by rabrown on Jun 14, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 14, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no problem saying I hope he loses

I too was geeked, and now I am not. Fuck Cro Cop.

by subo on Jun 14, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty liberal with what I think a reporter/journalist should and shouldn’t say, and I think this is a little over the line. Talk about how upset you are, talk about how you aren’t a fan, talk about how you feel betrayed. But to wish ill-fortune on an athlete that you cover? That’s a little too unprofessional for me.

Ariel realized he made a mistake and owned up to it. Kudos to him for that.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 14, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

i think the ufc is at its best when the fighters in their prime go at it. or an up and comer begins to make a name for himself. the old man trying to make a comeback just doesn’t work as well (randy excluded) i don’t think cro crop would have won. I think the eye poke was intentiontal. a vetern move by an old fighter. good riddence.

by Corey N on Jun 14, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 14, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Ariel serious? I can understand why Dana is feeling betrayed because Cro Cop gave him his word and went back on it, but that’s the sort of shit that regularly happens in the fight game. I love Dana, but, intentionally or not, he does the same thing to other fighters and fans as well.

As someone who became a big Cro Cop nuthugger only a couple of months after I started following the sport in 2007, I’m disappointed with this news because I believed in him when he repeatedly stated he doesn’t care about the money and wanted one more run at the top to prove the critics wrong. Going to fight in DREAM suggests there’s little chance he cares about achieving that goal. If taking the deal with DREAM means he fights Fedor and Overeem I won’t be too upset, but if he ends up going back to Japan to fight pro wrestlers and fat slugs then I won’t care for Mirko’s fights anymore.

by rabrown on Jun 14, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only UFC fan boys can be upset at cro cop… Besides did anyone expect him to get anywhere?

by JoLy on Jun 14, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That kind of after the facts comment always makes me laugh. Yesterday it could have been a great insight though ;).

by spectaa on Jun 14, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And only UFC haters can justify his actions.

by subo on Jun 14, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not true

by JoLy on Jun 16, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guys...

when he is doing a guest spot on someone else’s show he isn’t “reporting.” He is on to give his opinion. Just because you disagree with it please don’t pretend that his opinion was given in some news piece. It was a guest spot…nothing more.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Pot meets kettle

Kicked me few times in operated knee. It’s not very sport like…"

Yes, more sportsmanlike to poke somebody in the eye, go in for the kill, then bail on a handshake deal.

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on Jun 14, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also...

it’s routine to attack people’s injured areas. Every time a guy has ever had a knee taped up or something is it not always talked about how it becomes a “target” for the opponent? Look, I’m trying to make my money and build up my career. If your knee can’t handle some kicks, that’s on you…not me

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard not long ago that the gentleman agreement was to not focus on injuries (made before the fight). Not sure if this was legit though.

by spectaa on Jun 14, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah...

I hadn’t heard that. If so…then he can join Sylvia as guys who break those types of agreements

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by the way...

they’ll be hanging out in the loser’s lounge ;)

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 14, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Al-Turk has no one to appeal to aside from maybe the UFC itself.

by PORkSOdA on Jun 14, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the big issue here is

The big issue here is Miragliotta.
It was obvious that there was something amiss causing al Turk to turtle up like that. We all know how people react to a punch, and that’t not it. Al Turk was injured by a foul, unable to defend himself, and Miragliotta did nothing.

Don’t referees have training to prepare them for the unexpected? Don’t they have conferences to discuss incidents that might have been handled better so they can all learn from past mistakes? What continuing training do refs get? Is there disciplinary action if refs fail to perform according to a standard?

To me it appears that refs have no oversight and are not held to a high standard. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

by fuzzy wuzzy on Jun 14, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Watching it live, it looked to me that Cro Cop punched him in the eye with his left. Upon reviewing the replay, you could see the poke, then Cro Cop throws the left hand at nearly the same time as Al-Turk covers up his eye. Yes, Miragliotta clearly saw something f’d Al-Turk’s face up, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable that he didn’t see the foul in question considering the action.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 14, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea not to defend Miragliotta but you can’t all a foul you didn’t actually see happen.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could you imagine if he stopped a fight after a legit punch just based on a fighter holding his eye? Hard to judge after the fact.

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Jun 14, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they started that then every fighter who was being pushed hard in a fight would just grab their nuts and fall over. Even though it sounds like silly pro wrestling logic you really can’t ask the ref to make calls on fouls they didn’t see happen.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might have missed something but

go back and watch the replay he clearly poked him in the eye, but it looked like ( i watched it 3 times) he pokes Al-Turk in his right eye w/ his pinkie… but the whole time he was holding his left eye? Please watch and tell me im seeing stuff…

by xbuckeyex05 on Jun 15, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smoogy responds on the UG:

Ariel’s defense is pretty laughable – who cares what proclaimations Mirko made about winning a UFC title? If he was only on a one-fight deal, he can exercise his rights as a free agent, simple as that. There was no “betrayal” of Dana or the fans, its just being framed that way because apparently the rules only apply to people who don’t abide by every wish coming from the UFC.

This situation where Zuffa’s online PPV provider (Yahoo) and broadcast partners (Versus) are the ones hiring the “journalists” to cover the sport continues to be embarrassingly transparent. These people enjoy superior access to Dana White and the UFC… and they use that access to act as suck-ups and liasons for Zuffa talking points.

by Nick Thomas on Jun 14, 2009 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Would expect nothing less from Smoogy.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love the UFC and to a lesser extent the WEC and I don’t think hes wrong here. This is the same situation that occurs in a lot of sports. Journalists trade integrity for access.

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Jun 14, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I agree but he’s really painting with a wide brush here and I don’t think I am ready to put Ariel Helwani in the same basket with Kevin Iole just because he took a job with Versus. Smoogy’s opinion is just as clouded(if not more) by his personal biases of the industry as any of the reporters he is calling out. If Helwani had given a personal opinion he agreed with then Smoogy would laud him as a stand up guy but since he doesn’t agree with the guys opinion then he must be a UFC tool.

by who me on Jun 14, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs