I do like Versus and their overall product, but it is simply not acceptable for they and the WEC to air a fight where a fighter suffers this kind of horrible injury without acknowledging this fact and then subsequently following up with a medical update. This sport has consequences and they shouldn't be disguised for purposes of sanitized entertainment. Maggie Hendricks chimes in:

Here is the huge problem with that. This fight was on the undercard, so by the time it was broadcast, the production team knew that Galvao was taken to the hospital. It's understandable that Versus and the WEC would not want to show video of a man possibly seizing. Not only would that turn off viewers, the fighter himself probably would not want images of his reaction broadcast around the world. But it is not okay for Versus to completely ignore Galvao's injury. It could have been as simple as Todd Harris or Jens Pulver mentioning after the Galvao/Page fight aired that Galvao was taken to the hospital after his fight, and viewers should check out the WEC Web site to find out about Galvao's condition. 

Fighting isn't a pretty sport. The referees are there to lessen the damage, and in that regard, Ramos failed Galvao. The cable networks and their production teams are there to show the sport, and in that regard, Versus failed you.

UPDATE By Kid Nate: Fortunately Galvao is alright after being examined at the hospital and released.

I am less critical of Referee Rafael Ramos than Hendricks is: Ramos was a little out of position and stopped the fight as soon as he had a good angle on the action. Possibly he could have done better, but I'm not in a good position to judge on that.

I couldn't agree more with Maggie's point on Versus failing the fighters and fans by not giving us an update on Galvao's condition. In 2009 there are too many ways for people to get information for a cable network and a fight promoter to conspire to sweep the ugly reality under the rug.

MMA is about people fighting. Grown men, highly trained athletes are locked in a cage trying to hurt each other. That's the reality of the sport. The beauty comes from the bravery, skill, heart, determination that the athletes display while attacking and defending. Nevertheless, sometimes a fighter is going to get hurt. When that happens the promoters and broadcasters have an obligation to report accurately on the events transpiring in the cage.

As this case shows, the truth will out remarkably quickly in the 21st Century. There's no percentage in trying to sweep reality under the rug.

For making his debut against seasoned and well-rounded veteran Bart Palaszewski on five days notice, it's difficult to not be impressed with Ricardo Lamas. With only five professional fights on his resume prior to last night, Lamas still lacks experience as well as a complete enough stand-up game that allows him the ability to do more than to use exchanges on the feet as a stop-gap for inevitable takedowns. But Lamas also has quite a few positives: pinpoint accuracy as well as considerable power in his GNP, solid takedowns, a usable gas tank, defensive adaptability, improvisation and confidence. There's still a very open question about how he'll respond to fighters who nullify Lamas' stifling wrestling, but if given time it's reasonable to expect Lamas to add more well-roundedness to his game.

Trying to gauge a fighter's ability to perform on the big stage when they are making the leap from regional shows can often be dicey, but Lamas appears primed for a run in the WEC provided he's granted graduated matchmaking. His talent is considerable and I know I speak on behalf of a significant portion of the MMA community when I say I look forward to discovering precisely what he's capable of doing.

As with every major show we'll be here to bring you live results and commentary on WEC 39 Brown vs. Garcia. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Versus broadcast at 9pm ET so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.

As always we have our one rule: NO SPOILERS! In the interest of not ruining anything from the undercard that may make the broadcast we ask that you do not discuss the results of the undercard in the comments until either the broadcast ends or the fight makes the air.

So again, join me for the show and share your thoughts as the event unfolds.

It's 9:00 Eastern and the show is getting started.  First fight up shortly.

Big props to Baudelaire for the image.

Rob McCullough vs Marcus Hicks - Is up first and I'm really thinking Hicks is going to pull off the W here.  Round 1 - Feeling out with pawing jabs to start the fight, no one really engaging yet.  The crowd is turning as they've yet to engage over a minute 15 into the round.  Overhand left by Hicks and he follows to a clinch.  Knees in the clinch from McCullough as he has Hicks up against the cage.  The ref separates them and they're back to the center of the cage.  Left from Hicks lands.  More boos from the crowd as they don't engage and as I type that an overhand left from Hicks lands again.  Low kick from Rob now.  Hicks clinches up with him again but is unable to get the takedown.  Again they're restarted.  Body shot by Hicks under the punch from Rob.  Body kick by McCullough there.  It wasn't a crowd pleaser but I give the round to Hicks 10-9.  Round 2 - Low kick from Robv and Hicks drops him with a huge punch they go to the ground and Hicks grabs one of his patented guillotines and he is squeezing as Rob is fighting but McCullough gets out and is going wild throwing punches but he isn't really landing and Hicks just stands up.  Low blow from Rob now and the action is halted briefly.  Body kick from McCullough now.  Rob is landing some more punches now but with 2 minutes left I've still got Hicks winning the round since he dropped McCullough with a punch.  Hicks is fading and Rob lands a nice combination.  Hicks is gassed here.  Body shot by Marcus.  Overhand left by Hicks lands.  A flurry of punches lands and Hicks with a right hand to answer.  Another overhand left lands.  10-9 Hicks in a VERY close round on my card on the strength of the knockdown/sub attempt.  Round 3 - Over a minute of pawing jabs before Hicks lands a glancing left straight (he's a lefty).  More of the same as we're down to half a round left in the fight.  Low kick from Rob.  Overhand left lands flush for Hicks.  The ref threatens a "no contest" if they don't engage which is garbage as there is 90 seconds left.  Hicks tries for a takedown but can't get it.  Overhand left for Marcus again. Tight left hook for Hicks now.  McCullough isn't doing enough in this round for me, not that Hicks is doing a lot but he's landign the flush shots every now and then with the left hand.  10-9 Hicks again and the BloodyElbow scorecard is 30-27 Hicks.  Official Scorecards: 29-29, 30-27, 29-28 Rob McCullough.  Rob McCullough wins by Majority Decision.

Chris Mickle vs Jose Aldo - Round 1 - Aldo looking a little wild and Mickle is throwing really wide punches.  Big leg kick from Aldo now.  Another very solid leg kick and then a fist to the face.  Knee to the chest by Aldo and he unloads a flurry of punches as Mickle just covers up along the fence and the ref is forced to step in.  It was well over 10 unanswered punches so a solid stoppage.  Jose Aldo wins by TKO (Strikes), round 1.

Damacio Page vs Marcos Galvao - Round 1 - Right hand from Galvao and Page answers and now Page is unloading...absolutely UNLOADING.  Galvao is down and it is a couple HUGE shots from Page and it's all over...damn that was some brutal action.  Damacio Page wins by KO, round 1.

Ricardo Lamas vs Bart Palaszewski - Round 1 - Lamas looks like he is looking to slowly get into the fight as Bart is ready to go right away.  Solid early leg kicks from Bart.  Lamas catches one of Barts legs on a low kick and takes him down.  Bart brings his legs up high looking for an arm but doesn't get anything.  Legs high again and Lamas avoids a near triangle and is now standing over Bart and landing a few solid punches.  Lamas jumps and Bart kicks him to the side and they're back to standing.  Lamas looking for a single leg again.  Bart concedes the takedown finally and tries to lock up an arm.  Now Lamas stands up and throws a big flurry of punches.  Bart slands up and has a mouse under his eye but he flurries with three punches to the body and one to the head.  10-9 round for Lamas.  Round 2 - A few punches exchanged and Lamas clinches up.  Bart with underhooks and Lamas tries for a hiptoss but it doesn't amount to anything.  Bart tries to separate and throw punches but Ricardo is smothering him with the cage hump.  Lamas has his back standing and manages to throw a kick to the face from behind.  Lamas is trying to use the fence to tkae the back but couldn't get it.  Bart with an armlock but can't finish and now Lamas is on top unloading punches again but Bart is blocking most of them.  Legs high and Bart looks like he briefly had the armbar but Ricardo gets out.  Three upkick combo from Bart and he stands up eating some big punches on the way. The round ends and it's been pretty much all Lamas but Palaszewski is showing great heart.  10-9 Lamas.  Round 3 - Bart is looking to throw combos early.  Leg kick from Bart now.  Low blow from Lamas there on accident.  High kick blocked from Bart.  Three punch combo now and Bart looks determined to make SOMETHING happen here.  A few more shots from Bart but Lamas with the takedown.  It's just smothering from the top now from Ricardo.  10-9 for Lamas again and my card reads 30-27.  Official scorecards - 30-27 Ricardo Lamas across the board.  Ricardo Lamas wins by unanimous decision.

Mike Brown vs Leonard Garcia for the WEC Featherweight Championship - Round 1 -Garcia looks his usual slighly manic self and Brown with a HUGE overhand right which drops Garcia.  Brown is on top smashing him and now has Garcia's back.  Garcia is bleeding badly and is fighting off the choke.  Back to Garcia's guard and Brown is pouring it on with elbows.  Pass to full mount now and the arm triangle is sunk, Garcia taps out and Brown just dominated every second of that fight.  Mike Brown wins by submission (head and arm triangle), round 1.

All fighters made weight. Click here for the video:

Mike Brown (144.25) vs Leonard Garcia (145)
Ricardo Lamas (154.5) vs Bart Palaszewski (155.5)
Chris Mickle (145) vs Jose Aldo (145.5)
Rob McCullough (156) vs Marcus Hicks (155.5)

Phil Cardella (155.5) vs Danny Castillo (156)
Damacio Page (136) vs Marcos Galvao (136)
Alex Serdyukov (171) vs Johny Hendricks (171)
Rafael Rebello (135.25) vs Kenji Osawa (135.25)
Greg McIntyre (155) vs Alex Karalexis (156)
John Franchi (145) vs Mike Budnik (145.25)
Mike Pierce (170) vs Justin Haskins (170.25)

More photos at Combatlifestyle.com.

Dave Meltzer gets the skinny from featherweight WEC #1 contender Leonard Garcia on his arrest and exoneration in 2008. But he also got this little gem about the long strange road that led Garcia into MMA. As a child of the Texas Panhandle I can't tell you how familiar this story sounds:

Garcia’s involvement in MMA is a strange story. After high school in Plainview, Tex., he was planning on going to Texas Tech to play football as a walk-on. But after his high school graduation, he wound up at the Taco Cabana, and a guy walked by, put his hand in Garcia’s nachos and started eating them. He asked the guy to stop, so the guy did it again, and they got into a fight.

“I knocked him out, but then he asked me to come outside and do it again,” Garcia said. “I didn’t know he had a knife. He stabbed me eight times, and punctured one of my lungs. We ended up at the same hospital and I found out he had either PCP or LSD in his blood stream. I couldn’t recover in time to play ball.”

Instead, in 1998, he wound up at an early version of an MMA show in his hometown as a spectator. When there was an opening in the card, they asked if anyone in the crowd wanted to fight, and he ended up as a participant, and won his first fight. He then started training and fighting regularly.

Leonard Garcia has wilder stories than anyone this side of Lee Murray except unlike Lee, he's innocent!

Steve Cofield has a pretty priceless interview with WEC lightweight Marcus Hicks discussing his days as a security guard for Wal Mart.

Some nuggets:

Hicks caught one lucky fella stealing an air compressor. When he confronted the thief in the parking lot, he punched Hicks and ran off. "The Ironhead Heyward" of security guards ran down the slimeball and as he put it, "took his back and put an RNC (rear-naked choke) on him."

That wasn't the only case of someone getting violent with Hicks. His toughest scrap at Walmart came against a 300-pounder, even better it was a woman:

"Once she stepped outside, I tried to talk to her and then I called for backup. She started beating up my partner. Boy, she was killing (my partner). I'm not gonna punch a lady, my mama taught me better. So I put her in an RNC."

Hicks will be facing former WEC lightweight champ Rob McCullough on Sunday at WEC 39.

Main Card Bouts:
Mike Brown 20-4-0 -165 Vs. Leonard Garcia 16-3-0 +135


Bart Palaszewski 30-11-0 Vs. Ricardo Lamas 5-0-0


Jose Aldo 13-1-0 -700 Vs. Chris Mickle 31-11-2 +500


Rob McCullough 16-5-0 -160 Vs. Marcus Hicks 8-1-0 +130

Continue reading this post »

McCullough fights Marcus Hicks this weekend in Corpus Christi at WEC 39 but still has an eye on a rematch against Varner.