As I stated earlier, I put Deadspin.com writer Rick Chandler in touch with Lloyd Irvin after he took me up on my offer. Chandler doesn't issue an outright apology to this site or Irvin, but realizes he probably could've handled the whole matter far more wisely:
On Wednesday I posted about Lloyd Irvin, the Maryland Mixed Martial Arts instructor who said that he thwarted a home invasion robbery by disarming one of the intruders with a martial arts defensive move. If this were true, I wondered, why had it not been picked up by any news source other than the MMA site Bloody Elbow? Probably not a wise question on my part, seeing that Irvin could possibly break me like a Hummel figurine.
But more importantly, on the chance that it could be true, my snarky attitude in the post was quite probably inappropriate. At any rate, I got my phone number to Irvin — who is in England coaching Brandon Vera in a UFC lightheavyweight nontitle bout with Keith Jardine on Saturday — and he called me Wednesday afternoon. Hilarity did not ensue.
Read the rest of the post where Irvin gives his side of the story.
Critics will still say we are forced to take Irvin's word about the events that happened in his home. Ultimately, that's true, but that doesn't trouble me in the least. In the years I've known him, he's never lied to me and I am perfectly aware of his capabilities. I also imagine once this weekend passes Brandon Vera will be more than willing to share his version of events. And when he does, I'll make sure to post them here.
This is partly why I spend as little amount of time as possible on MMA message boards. To think there are people who believe Irvin would concoct a story like this to sell a few more membership deals is beyond the pale. And I, for one, want nothing to do with them.
UPDATE: I just received an email from Irvin to me and Chandler. Some of the details in Chandler's new piece are apparently incorrect. Stay tuned.