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While the UFC has an actual event coming up tomorrow in Japan, the most-talked about UFC-related feud has been between Urijah Faber and Duane Ludwig. On Monday's episode of The MMA Hour, Faber ripped into the former Team Alpha Male striking coach, detailing accusations of racism, sexism, bullying, and multiple instances of inappropriate behavior at the gym.
The claims have caused quite the stir throughout the week, with Ludwig responding by calling Faber "punchy" and (among other things) denied that he made black fighters uncomfortable with racial remarks. One fighter who is a longtime friend of Ludwig's has gone to social media in support of "Bang". Former WEC and UFC lightweight Anthony Njokuani published this statement on Facebook:
"It's crazy to hear that [Duane Ludwig] has been labeled a racist and a bully. I've know Duane for about 20 years now and I've never witnessed him act out in any of those way. This man's a very caring and respectable human being. I could never see him act like that towards anybody. The first time I met Duane was in California at my first pro muaythai. Him and [Bas Rutten] came out to root us on. I didn't even know Duane Personally at that time and he went out his way to give me some pointers when we were in the locker room getting ready. I thought it was cool as hell because it was K-1 fighter Duane Ludwig one of the guys I idolized giving me a pep talk and in doing so I ended up knocking out my guy 30 seconds in the first round with a right high kick to the head. So Duane Ludwig I could never see that kind of person in him."
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The 35-year-old Njokuani (16-11, 1 NC) has lost 4 straight, including back-to-back losses in Legacy Fighting Championships. He's perhaps best known for his WEC win over Chris Horodecki, who was kicked in the head while bizarrely turning his back as he moved away from Njokuani.
We'll see how many more prominent fighters speak up either in favor of or against Ludwig in the days and weeks following Faber's interview.
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