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Reports are out that Derek Downey has been cut from the UFC after losing his debut fight to Nick Catone at UFN 17.

I hadn't paid any attention to Downey before the bout and wasn't impressed with his performance. From what I saw he probably isn't UFC caliber. As you can see from the picture on the right, he caught some shots that gave him an enormous and ugly hematoma on his head during the fight.

But I'd like to take a minute to reflect on what it means for a young fighter to make it to the UFC as a late substitute for TUF winner Amir Sadollah at the end of January and have that dream ripped out from under him by mid-February.

First let's meet Derek "The Gentleman" Downey. From his MySpace page:

I am 27, and a proud father of of 4 kids. Kali and Lexi are my daughters, and I just had twin boys, Dominc and Zaxen in Aug of '07. I am also the proud husband of a gorgeous wife, she keeps me together and pushes me to become a better person. They are my life and I love them more than anything.

Then we learn from this MMA Junkie feature that Downey sacrificed a lot to get to the UFC:

With his family in full support of his efforts, Downey walked away from a comfortable salary for his chance at glory.

"I gave up a decent job selling refinances, home loans, mortgage stuff," Downey said. "My boss, when he knew I was going to start doing this, he said, 'You've worked hard for me. You can come in three or four hours -- whatever it takes, don't worry about it. Just train hard.

"It's a commission job when you do mortgages, so obviously financially you go from making a really good, comfortable living to making what a fighter would make. That's a big difference when you've got a wife and four kids. That's a big sacrifice for everyone."

And just last week it looked like those sacrifices were paying off. He got some very cool write-ups in the local papers talking to his very proud family:

His father is long-time Utah Valley administrator and coach Steve Downey, now the athletic director at Salem Hills High School. He said he's proud of Derek for making a goal and reaching it.

"Derek's greatest strength is his willingness to conditioning," Steve Downey said. "If you're not in shape, this sport reveals it pretty quickly."

But the elder Downey is still adjusting to having a son in the UFC.

"When he was 11 or 12 years old, I didn't envision him being a cage fighter," Steve Downey said. "It's not like watching him pitch little league."

And after providing a concise and positive description of what MMA is and where it came from, he told his the paper at his college alma mater (where he graduated with a philosophy degree) how he got his nickname "The Gentleman":

"I'm not one that gets in your face. I'm not a trash talker. Fighting doesn't define who I am - it's just my job. Sometimes they would announce me and say that 'This guy is a real gentleman outside of the ring.' That's probably where it came from. I guess I've seen worse, so I'm OK with it."

Then his fight gets cut from the TV broadcast and he goes out into the Octagon, gets whipped, not horribly, but badly enough that he got a giant freakish elephant man hematoma on his head and gets cut immediately afterward.

Talk about a bring down. Reminds me of the time a kid a few years older than me was featured in the local paper because he was expected to be taken in the NFL draft. The newspaper guys hung around all day. The call never came. He ended up walking on with the Chargers for a few weeks in pre-season but didn't make the team.

But at the end of the day, he was still a local hero. So's Derek Downey.

Here's to you Derek Downey. You made it to the big show. You tested yourself against the best. That's more than most of us will ever be able to say.

And to all you MMA fans who are quick to disrespect even champions of the sport, remember, just making it to the Octagon one time requires courage, persistence, talent and skill. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Photo by Tracy Lee.

The UFC brass recognized Josh Neer vs Mac Danzig as the "Fight of the Night" at UFN 17, and rightfully so, it was a hell of a fight. So much so that I'm going to attempt to do a judo chop on the fight as a whole rather than focusing on a single technique.

I'll start at the end. Josh Neer won this fight on the ground. On the feet, at range and in the clinch, Mac Danzig was outpointing him if not inflicting more damage. But on the ground, it wasn't even close.

In the gif on the right, we see Neer getting the fight ending triangle choke. The novelty of this move comes from the way Josh uses his left hand to control Danzig's right wrist, and then when he pulls his left leg up, he uses his thigh to pin that same hand. Now Danzig is screwed -- Neer has the triangle choke, both hands free and Danzig right arm is pinned to his body by Neer's left leg. By the time Danzig frees his arm, the choke is already finishing him.

More in the full entry.

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One aspect of the growth of MMA I'm trying to follow more closely is when and how the sport gets coverage in small, local or regional press outlets be they print, radio or television. Florida media, and the national Tribune Media company, have traditionally been more favorable towards MMA and last night's UFC Fight Night was further evidence of that. Both the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune ran complete and what I would describe as unintentionally favorable. That is, the paper didn't feel the need to editorialize about what MMA is or isn't and they merely described the event as it was. Both articles not only described the event, but they covered the action of the event on a fight by fight basis including some undercard action.

From the St. Petersburg Times:

Meanwhile, White, the UFC president, was so pleased with the turnout that he announced the UFC will return.

"We'll definitely be returning to Tampa early next year, and it'll be a pay-per-view," White said. "We wanted to come here and test the market. With all the other (events) going on and we draw this kind of crowd? This area is going to be a big market for us."

This was the fifth time UFC held a card in Florida and the first since June 2007. Three were in Hollywood and one in Miami.

"We just keep our heads down and keep charging forward and making this thing bigger and better," White said. "We haven't even scratched the surface on how big this thing is going to be in the U.S., let alone the rest of the world."

Now, notice the similarity in the Tampa Tribune piece:

"We're very happy with the turnout," White said, sitting ringside. "We brought a Fight Night here first to test out the waters, to see how a pay-per-view would do and we're very happy with the turnout, especially with all the other stuff going on here."

As much of Tampa recovered from Gasparilla celebrations, UFC Fight Night, which aired live on Spike TV, drew 7,596 mixed martial arts fans to the University of South Florida Sun Dome Saturday night.

More on Gasparilla here.

White and the UFC are not only able to accomplish their goal of testing the market as the suggest they were doing, but they are now able to more effectively use local media for honest coverage as well as tease local fans about larger shows that are set to hit their market in the likely not too distant future. Most importantly, getting local media on board with UFC operations without editorializing standards events will help in their efforts of educating interested parties and the MMA-uninitiated. None of this is new or began with this event, but its noteworthy that as large media shrinks and cuts budgets of press offices across the country there is both the growth of MMA coverage as well as maturation.

Veach got some local albeit sparse hometown coverage as well.

As always we here at BloodyElbow have your back with the best Live Results and Commentary around for tonight's UFC: Ultimate Fight Night 17 card.  Starting with the broadcast starting on Spike TV I'll be here to provide live round by round action and insight.

As with every other live thread I do ask that you adhere to the golden rule:  NO UNDERCARD SPOILERS!  That means no insight into any action that happened earlier and absolutely no results.  Unless the broadcast ends or an undercard fight is shown on TV it is off limits.  I am also adding a special one thread only rule:  NO GREASING TALK!  I'm not going to have this card get overshaddowed by the greasing thing and I'm not going to lose control of the comments to yet another Vaseline debate.

So make BloodyElbow your home tonight and share your thoughts on the show in the comments.

And on a side note...huge props to Baudelaire for the live thread image tonight.  Awesome work my friend.

The broadcast is about to start...it's time for some fights ya'll!

Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Up first we're gonna have a hell of an explosive scrap.  Round 1 - Johnson is immediately pushing forward.  Right hook glances for Luigi.  High kick misses for Johnson.  Luigi with a leg kick now.  It's a bit of a slow fight and you can hear some scattered boos from the crowd.  High kick is blocked by Fioravanti now.  Two punches land in succession for Luigi now. Johnson is landing some crushing low kicks now...it's always something new in his game every time out.  Every time Fioravanti engages he eats a kick right to the lead leg.  Luigi shoots and Johnson stuffs it well.  Knee to the body from Luigi lands directly to the cup, hard.  They restart and touch gloves.  Left hand lands to Johnson's face but he lands one in return.  Right hand hurts Luigi badly and he drops for a second.  Johnson follows up and drops him again.  This time AJ pounces and pounds him out, forcing a stop in the action.  Anthony Johnson wins by TKO (strikes), Round 1.

Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer - Truly an interesting fight here and one that could go either way.  Round 1 - High kick lands for Danzig but he eats a shot that drops him.  Neer pounces and lands some hard shots but Danzig fires a solid uppercut.  Now Danzig has recovered and is landing a couple punches of his own.  Neer is showboating a bit more than is appropriate considering he just failed to finish a guy he hurt.  Wow, Danzig lands some big shots and is moving well and Neer is hurt now and is swelling up around the eyes.  Neer throwing elbows but Danzig slips.  Three punch combination from Danzig now.Right hand lands for Mac now and Neer is cut.  Body/head combo from Mac now and he looks to have settled down since the start of the fight.  Neer is landing a little himself now.  Big overhand right for Mac puts Neer on his back and Danzig jumps into his guard.  Neer is looking for a triangle now and gets up.  Neer combination but Danzig covers up and gets out.  Neer showboating again (psst...you're losing the round bro). Very good first round comes to a close and my card has it 10-9 Danzig.  Round 2 -  Jab lands for Danzig.  Mac shoots and ends up pulling guard.  Neer is throwing huge elbows now.  Neer passes to side after landing a LOT of elbows. Neer takes Mac's back but slips off and now it's Danzig on top.  Triangle is locked in by Neer and Danzig is forced to tap out.  Josh Neer wins by submission (triangle choke), round 2.

Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic - I'm a little iffy here.  I always worry when people get so high on a prospect that he is bound to crash and burn.  I still say he crushes Stojnic here though.  Round 1 - Jab by Denis lands and then a low kick from Cain. Stojnic is going to make this fight count as he is throwing bombs.  Twice now Cain has had double underhooks and while he threw some knees to the legs he didn't get the fight to the ground. Left lands for Cain.  Another takedown attempt is stuffed.  Thai clinch and some big knees land for Velasquez and Denis gets away.  Flurry of punches hurts Stojnic but he is hanging in there.  Big body shots from the clinch by Cain now.  Stojnic throws a big overhand right that misses.  Cain is dominating this fight big time here.  Right hand staggers Denis.  Cain is pouring on the punishment and Stojnic throws a hail mary right that misses.  Velasquez is grabbing a thai clinch and throwing leg kicks from it and Denis has no answer but "throw big right hand"  That's a 10-8 round for Velasquez.  Round 2 - Cain with more leg kicks and a nice roundhouse to the body now.  Spinning backfist by Denis now misses.  Takedown by Velasquez and he is in side control now.  This is just unnecessary punishment now.  Cain is young but Stojnic has no business in there with him.  Not much to call here but a lot of punches to the face of Stojnic as they're on the ground.  The fight is stopped and there is no reason for it to go on.  The crowd boos but there was no reason to continue the fight.  How many more unanswered punches did everyone want to see?  enough to put the guy in the hospital? Cain Velasquez wins by TKO (strikes), round 2.

Matt Veach vs. Matt Grice - Undercard action! Round 1  - Veach with a nice leg kick and he is firing punches here.  Grice gets taken down.  Grice is able to get back to his feet here.  Veach is firing punches again and falls into an anaconda choke but gets out.  That seems to have made Veach realize he needs to chill a little.  Big right lands for Veach. Grice with a huge uppercut and Veach is down. Grice is crushing him on the ground now. Veach tries to stand and Grice takes him back down.  Full mount now for Grice but he gets sucked back into half.  Guillotine attempt and now Veach is on top.  Back to standing and Veach looks a bit tired.  Left hook from Grice now.  Uppercut, left hook both land for Grice.  Oh wow!  They're exchangeing and Veach lands a big shot that drops Grice.  The ref stops it quickly and I think it's a terrible stoppage.  If that was a stoppage than Grice should have won two minutes ago.  Matt Veach wins by TKO, round 1.

Jeremy Stephens vs. Joe Lauzon - It's main event time!  Round 1 - Stephens with tthe big left misses.  Lauzon pulls guard and Stephens gras the shorts to prevent a submission attempt.  Joe was looking for a sweep but coulnd't get it and they're standing against the fence.  Lauzon drops for a leglock and doesn't get it but gets a takedown into side control.  Now into the full guard.  Stephens tries to crawl up using the fence but Joe pulls him back down.  Big elbows from Lauzon and he now is in half guard.  Now full mount and Joe grabs an armbar but Stephens gets out.  Stephens is firing down now and this is a good round so far.  Slam by Jeremy and Joe tries for a guillotine but Stephens is out as the round expires.  Very close round but I'd go 10-9 Lauzon (no complaint if it were scored the other way.  Round 2 - Low kick from Stephens and now he fires a flurry of big shots.  Left lands for Joe and he gets a fireman's carry to put Stephens on his back.  Lauzon passes to side now.  The crowd is upset with the ground work here.  North South now and then over to the other side.  Elbows now from Joe and he gets full mount.  Big elbows now and Stephens gives up his back.  Hooks sunk in for Lauzon but Stephens turns on top and is in Lauzon's guard.  Stephens puts him into the cageand is landing some elbows.  Lauzon has a cut on his forehead. Lauzon is cut on his forehead.  Lauzon reverses and is back on top in side control.  Mount again and back to side control. Full mount again and an armbar from Joe and Stephens has to tap.  Joe Lauzon wins by submission (armbar), round 2.

Note: Several Bloody Elbow staff members have decided to hedge their bets by submitting their predictions after the event.

Main Card Bouts:

Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens



Kid Nate: I think Stephens is very game and hits very hard. Lauzon should have both a wrestling and submissions edge. I'll be rooting for Jeremy, but I'm picking Lauzon by submission.

Brent Brookhouse:  Lauzon fights smart, he is more technical and he is the better fighter overall.  Stephens hits hard and is gutsy.  I know my rep is being a guy who picks the big strikers but not this fight.  Joe Lauzon by submission, round 2.

Michael Rome:  I am going to go ahead and pick the upset.  I feel like Lauzon comes on strong, and he's more skilled than Jeremy, but he wilts late and I think Jeremy can push him.  Stephens via TKO, round 3.

Cannon Jacques:  While Stephens is quite capable of pulling off the win, Lauzon is an intelligent fighter with more skills in his possession.  Lauzon will likely take this to the ground where Stephens is less likely to inflict damage.  Lauzon by submission, round 2.

Nick Thomas: Lauzon with the take down and wins by TKO.

Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic



Kid Nate: I'm not expecting much from Stojnic. I hope they give him a gimme in a European UFC to make up for feeding him to Velasquez. Of course there is the proverbial puncher's chance, but I don't think Stojnic is the guy to KO Velasquez. Cain Velasquez by TKO in 1.

Brent Brookhouse:  Barring the proverbial "lucky punch" Stojnic is going to get smashed big time here.  Velasquez is young but he is pretty much the worst possible kind of opponent for a guy like Stojnic.  Cain Velasquez by TKO, round 1.

Michael Rome:  This is a fight put on only because they couldn't find a legit heavyweight willing to fight Cain.  Velasquez by TKO, round 1.

Cannon Jacques:  Velasquez has a ton of potential.  Stojnic could certainly make a name for himself with an upset, but I don't see it happening.  Velasquez via TKO, round 1. 

Nick Thomas: Velasquez by whatever he wants.

Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti



Kid Nate: If Johnson comes in in shape, he should beat Fioravanti. Luigi might have the more technical striking but Johnson has reach and power and his wrestling should keep it standing. I don't see anything that Fioravanti has to offer beyond some boxing technique. Johnson by KO.

Brent Brookhouse:  I like Fioravanti.  He has good boxing skills and has a good chin.  But Johnson is just on another level as far as explosiveness and athleticism.  It's going to take some work but Johnson will put Fioravanti away here.  Anthony Johnson by TKO, round 2.

Michael Rome:  Johnson is fantastic at times and lethargic at others.  He isn't just inconsistent fight to fight, he's inconsistent within rounds.  That being said, I don't think Fiorvanti is any kind of threat, and I think Johnson takes it.  Johnson via TKO.

Cannon Jacques:  Fioravanti is tough enough to make this fight interesting.  However, I believe that Johnson's athleticism and size will end up ruling the day.  Johnson by TKO, round 3.

Nick Thomas: Upset #1... Fioravanti by split decision.

Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer



Kid Nate: I'm looking forward to this one in a big way. Danzig is well rounded but Neer is tough as nails. Neer has better wrestling and seems to have the power edge. Danzig might be the more polished on his feet and definitely has the better jiu jitsu -- although Neer is no slouch. If not for the DWI I'd pick Neer, but that has to have impacted his training. Danzig by decision.

Brent Brookhouse:  It'd be a lie if I said that I wasn't a bit overly emotional about this fight.  It may sound harsh but I want to see Neer dominated and put out of the UFC for good.  I also think that Josh Neer is a guy who fights just good enough to lose while Danzig hopefully learned from his last fight and as such is going to be ready for this fight.  I'm looking for Neer to come out strong in the first round and then collapse in the second and give up the submission.  Mac Danzig by submission, round 2.

Michael Rome:  Both guys are real tough, this is a pretty even fight.  I'm not thrilled by Danzig's performances so far, but I think he has enough to take this.  Danzig via decision.

Cannon Jacques:  This fight looks pretty close on paper.  I'm really not overly impressed with either guy, but they both have solid games.  Neer took Nate Diaz to a decision, so I don't see Danzig pulling off a submission.  I really think Neer will hang around in a grinding bout.  Neer by decsion.

Nick Thomas: Danzig by spilt decision.

Undercard picks in the full entry.

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From Steve Cofield:

Mac Danzig told us today during an interview to preview Ultimate Fight Night 17, that he's heard that greasing is more widespread than you'd think saying that guys will do it hours before a fight, letting the Vaseline seep into the skin and sweating it out when the fight starts. Even more intriguing was a recent conversation with an MMA fighter who said there are certain baths (mineral oil) that a fighter can take. Once the fight starts and the fighters begin to perspire, it's almost as if he's sweating baby oil. The same fighter said that GSP isn't the only Jackson's Submission Fighting team member who's been labeled a "greaser". An opposing camp made those claims saying, "we do it, so we'd know if they were doing it."

This sort of cheating is much more serious than what GSP's corner was caught red-handed doing and its one reason I think that Shinya Aoki pants should be legal in MMA.

My interest is in what makes the sport more fun to watch. Grappling is a key part of the mixed martial arts. If widespread cheating is giving grapplers an unfair disadvantage, I think spandex pants are an excellent solution.

And thanks for the link Steve. "Kid Nate, the blogger who saved MMA" has a real nice ring to it.

HT Fightinker.