The best argument against TRT, which Vitor Belfort continues to be on as he enjoys a career resurgence that most recently saw him knock out Luke Rockhold? That most athletes would not need TRT, unless they have lower testosterone levels from steroid abuse earlier in their careers. There it is.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to definitively tell who did or didn’t use steroids earlier in their careers. Belfort has failed a urine test in his past, so we know he has used anabolic steroids (4-hydroxytestosterone, to be specific). What about the fighters who weren’t tested because they fought in Pride during the early parts of their careers, though? What about those who simply timed their cycling correctly so they wouldn’t fail the urine test? Let’s not forget that during those days, only fighters in title bouts were regularly drug tested by U.S. commissions, with the commission having the option of randomly testing others on the same card (which was rarely done).

Belfort’s excuse at the time was the popular ignorance/bad supplement excuse, which is now very tired, but at the time seemed plausible- “You can fail a drug test from a supplement bought at GNC?!?” I’m not here to play devil’s advocate though, as doing so in cynical times like these with athletes getting suspended left and right for PEDs only makes you look crazy. We don’t know the depth of Belfort’s steroid abuse other than the one failed test, but his need for testosterone replacement at 36 years old, along with the fact that he fought during times when the sport was not well-regulated, is enough to raise an eyebrow.

So, there’s your argument against TRT. If its only use is to allow people who abused steroids to erase the harm caused from such abuse and fight with the testosterone of a healthy 25-year old, that’s obviously no good. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, opponents of TRT aren’t sticking to that (very valid) point.

Reading Twitter, I see fans and writers alike talking about how “dangerous” it is to allow TRT use. In other words, it’s dangerous to allow Luke Rockhold or Michael Bisping to fight what, in terms of testosterone levels, is basically a younger version of Vitor Belfort. You can say two things about the “it’s dangerous” argument: the one making the argument either does not understand how testing works or simply is uninformed about TRT in general.

Fighters still have to test within normal levels in order to compete, whether they have a therapeutic use exemption or not. It’s not like Belfort can just cruise in there with 20 times the testosterone of a normal human being and crush Rockhold’s skull like a sparrow’s egg between his thighs. The controversy about Belfort fighting in Brazil doesn’t have to do with any kind of leniency in testing, but instead a leniency in how exemptions are granted (more on that later).

So, it’s dangerous to have Belfort fight Rockhold with “normal” testosterone levels for an adult male? Would it have been extremely dangerous, then, for Belfort to fight Rockhold without TRT, when he apparently would have had a notable deficit in testosterone levels compared to his younger opponent? No, that would be okay, right? In other words, it’s not really “danger” that we’re worried about here. So let’s toss that argument out.

In response to the question, “Why should an older fighter allow himself to be handicapped by lower testosterone levels than his younger opponents?” the overwhelming response by fans and media alike has been, “Well, maybe he should not be fighting, then.” Am I crazy to think it’s incredibly callous for those of us to who analyze the sport from behind TV screens and monitors to tell a professional athlete, “Sorry buddy, guess you should just retire”? As if it’s no big deal?

At this point, Vitor Belfort and those like him who are taking advantage of TRT are not technically doing anything wrong. They are competing within the regulations designed by the athletic commissions. Fighters are pissed off, of course. Why wouldn’t they be? If I fought a 36-year old Vitor Belfort, I’d want to fight a 36-year old Vitor Belfort, not some crazy turn-back-the-clock version. But even then, when asked to objectively appraise their opponent’s performances, they tend to downlplay the effects of TRT. Rockhold himself said “TRT had nothing to do with that kick” when asked about whether he blamed it for the loss.

Of course, that won’t stop the often hilariously-uninformed segments of the MMA fan base from making their assumptions and generalizations. You don’t have to look very hard to find someone who says that Chael Sonnen, for instance, was suspended for “using steroids” even though he actually was on TRT, which is completely different. If somebody can’t tell the difference between steroids and TRT, having a nuanced conversation with him or her about such a complicated issue likely isn’t going to happen. These are the same folks, mind you, that think the UFC hires their own judges and thus, fights are “fixed” when the judges render yet another awful decision.

Anyway, if Belfort can’t be really blamed for taking advantage of what is a legal, even if morally dubious, medical treatment, who can be blamed? Well, let’s start with the UFC. From what we’ve been told, U.S. commissions are unlikely to allow a therapeutic use exemption for fighters who have tested positive for steroid use in the past, since such steroid use is one plausible reason for lower testosterone levels later in life. As for Belfort, his last four fights have been held outside of the United States.

The UFC’s decision to let Belfort keep fighting outside of the U.S. with a TRT exemption that he likely wouldn’t be granted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission makes them complicit, and should make us all doubt the sincerity of Dana White, who has said that he wants TRT gone from the sport entirely. Wouldn’t a good first step be to have Belfort fight in Nevada, where Keith Kizer says he would be very unlikely to get a TRT exemption? A good follow-up would be to test fighters between fights to make sure they aren’t abusing TRT and simply letting their testosterone levels come down to normal at fight time, which is a common concern.

People don’t like TRT first and foremost because it doesn’t feel right. All of the other excuses really cover up one prevailing thought- it just seems wrong to allow someone to become a better fighter than they naturally would be with a simple trip to the doctor and an injection or two. It’s an understandable argument, it really is. And unlike some of the weaker arguments against TRT, it’s an honest one. However, there are better arguments against TRT to be found, and furthermore, the UFC could squash the whole problem in one fell swoop with regular testing throughout the year for all fighters (or at least those with TRT exemptions)- if it chooses to.

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Rafael Natal vs. Joao Zeferino

Zeferino makes his UFC debut as a well-regarded submission artist whose wins have more often than not come by way of submission, with 9 of his 13 victories coming from tapouts. However, he’ll face a talented opponent in the UFC veteran Natal, who earned his own Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes and knows his way around the mat.

Elsewhere, Natal owns most of the advantages. Zeferino offers fearless standup, but generally moves forward only to get opponents to the mat where he can work to his strengths. Natal, though inconsistent, is the better standup fighter and will show that here. Besides that, Natal is used to the big stage, and his amusing personality suggests that he is quite at home on it, while Zeferino may be overwhelmed by the moment.

Overall, there is too much working against Zeferino here, with Natal perfectly able to negate what is Zeferino’s main strength. Natal forces a standup battle, which he gets the best of, leading to a fourth UFC victory for “Sapo”.

Prediction: Natal by KO/TKO

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham

Not all that long ago, both of these guys were regarded as possible lightweight title contenders. Dos Anjos won three fights in a row before a freak jaw injury ended his bout against Clay Guida, and then rebounded to knock out George Sotiropoulos back when that really meant something. Dunham won four fights in a row to open his UFC career, culminating in a split decision win over Tyson Griffin, but lost his next fight (also by split decision) to Sean Sherk and was finished by Melvin Guillard during his next time out.

Now, Dunham has won three out of four, including his last bout against Gleison Tibau, while dos Anjos has won three in a row himself. Both fighters really need this to move towards title contention in a packed division. Dos Anjos would love to get the win via a ground-based attack, but that’ll be hard to do against a very capable wrestler like Dunham, who will likely be able to keep the bout standing for its entire duration.

On the feet, dos Anjos packs respectable power, but is likely going to be out-pointed by Dunham, who offers a higher output style of attack, along with really good punching combinations. The occasional kick will also help to keep dos Anjos off balance, and in the end, I see Dunham earning a well-fought unanimous decision.

Prediction: Dunham by decision

Chris Camozzi vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

I’ve been a believer in Jacare even when a lot of people stopped buying into the hype a bit. I often ranked him when other websites had ceased doing so, acknowledging that he is prone to underperforming at times, but is one of the more talented fighters at 185 pounds, nonetheless.

He gets the chance to prove it starting this weekend, as he makes his UFC debut against Camozzi, who steps in to replace the injured Costas Philippou. Nonetheless, Camozzi is 6-2 in the UFC and no pushover himself, and is likely viewing this fight as a great opportunity to play spoiler and thrust himself towards the top ten. Camozzi has won four in a row and really started to hit his stride, and will be dangerous if Jacare comes out flat.

Meanwhile, Jacare won seven out of his eight Strikeforce fights, only losing in his title defense against Luke Rockhold, who would go on to hold the strap until the organization closed its doors for good. Part of the reason Jacare is overlooked likely has to do with his lack of fights against true top ten level talent, although he has quality wins over Tim Kennedy, Robbie Lawler, and UFC veteran Ed Herman.

Jacare has shown most of his improvement in his striking game in recent fights, as he has become a capable, confident standup fighter. Still, he won’t want to dawdle in that realm with Camozzi, who is a better all-around striker with a good background in muay Thai kickboxing. However, Camozzi likely won’t be able to keep Jacare from closing and taking him down, so Camozzi’s chances to change the fight with a well-placed strike or combination will be fleeting, at best.

Once on the mat, Camozzi, as well as most other fighters in the division, will have very little in the way of answers to Jacare’s prodigious grappling, allowing the Brazilian to coax a tapout at some point in the bout.

Prediction: Souza by submission

Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold

Rockhold is a highly-regarded middleweight now, so it’s easy to forget that not that long ago, he was a big underdog against “Jacare” Souza for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. Jacare still represents Rockhold’s only top ten win, although he also has a one-sided victory over Tim Kennedy to his credit, which carries some weight.

Meanwhile, Belfort has been overachieving lately even in defeat, as he nearly submitted UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones with an armbar in their fight. Nonetheless, he is 4-2 in his latest run in the UFC, with his only two setbacks coming from Jones and Anderson Silva. After a career often defined by underachieving, Belfort really seems to have turned a corner.

Rockhold is widely seen as the more technical striker, capable of using smart footwork and athleticism, along with pretty good reach, to keep opponents at bay with leg kicks and straight punches. Meanwhile, Belfort is a more patient counter-striking type who will not drown his opponents in volume, but instead look to land powerful shots when he gets the chance.

However, Belfort has really evolved his standup lately, as his great use of head kicks against Michael Bisping showed. Furthermore, his cardio seems to have improved, which will be important against someone who is consistently in great shape, like Rockhold is. Although Rockhold might be the safer pick here, I like Belfort by way of landing big strikes that lead to a referee stoppage.

Prediction: Belfort by KO/TKO

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Pat Healy, ladies and gentlemen! Healy issued a statement to MMAJunkie.com today where he preemptively announced that he tested positive for marijuana following his UFC 159 win over Jim Miller, even though the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has not officially announced the results of their post-event testing yet.

“I made a very poor choice to socially use marijuana and now I must face the consequences of that choice,” Healy said in a contrite statement. Phil Claud, Healy’s trainer at the Portland, Oregon-based Sports Lab, said that “I’ve never had an athlete test positive on any level. I have to do a lot of soul searching on my side.” At the same time, Claud said, “I don’t believe the marijuana had any influence on the result of the bout.”

Well, no shit, right? The idea of marijuana being a performance-enhancing drug is so ridiculous that I can’t believe I’m actually thinking of typing a rebuttal against it, and it’s even more ridiculous that knowledgeable trainers like Claud and elite fighters like Healy have to act as if it’s not obvious that marijuana use, while illegal, has no impact on the result of an MMA fight.

Look, I don’t use marijuana, myself. I don’t really care if anyone else does, though, and while I’m not personally invested in the fight to legalize it in the United States or elsewhere because I don’t partake, I would like to see this silly crap come to an end. What I do care about as an MMA writer and fan is that good fighters continue to get suspended, have valid wins overturned, and lose thousands of dollars of justly-earned income to greedy athletic commissions who are all too happy to pretend that marijuana is somehow a performance-enhancing drug, all while collecting those fines.

Aside from the impact on MMA, it’s unfortunate that our jails and even prisons are being filled with people who are either using or selling an ultimately harmless natural substance that is actually less destructive than something like alcohol.

Look, I get it; if fighters don’t want to test positive and get fined/suspended, they need to play by the rules. That doesn’t change the fact that the rule is fucking stupid, though, does it?

Oh God yes: Paul Daley wants War Machine

Paul Daley celebrated his recent TKO win over Rodrigo Ribeiro at Dubai Fighting Championship 4 with a visit to MMAJunkie radio. In his interview, he stated that he’s hopeful to end up in Bellator before the end of 2013 after visa issues have complicated things lately. He even has an opponent in mind.

“I’d like to get in one of the ‘Summer Series’ cards and get the fight with War Machine…And then jump straight into the welterweight tournament,” Daley said. While Daley wouldn’t give details about the visa problems he’s having, he alluded to the issue being one from years ago, not something more recent, like a bar fight as some were speculating.

Regardless, with Daley’s (admittedly distant) history of crazy behavior and War Machine’s own love affair with the crazy, who wouldn’t want to see that fight? I say that, even though I have a sneaking suspicion that when you get that much crazy into a cage, the two simply negate each other and you’d end up with a decent fight that is otherwise uneventful and perfectly cordial.

Hunt having visa issues, UFC 160 fight in jeopardy?

Speaking of visa problems, Mark Hunt is apparently having his own troubles, which may cause problems with Hunt’s scheduled fight against Junior dos Santos at next weekend’s UFC 160.

During a media call for UFC 160, UFC Director of Communications Dave Sholler acknowledged the problem and said, “We are confident that the issue will be resolved, and we anticipate Mark competing in the co-main event of UFC 160.”

Even if that’s the case, you hope that Hunt will get it sorted out soon, as the trip from New Zealand will not be easy to overcome if he only has a few days to get used to being in Las Vegas before he faces an opponent like dos Santos. With this being his first (and at 39 years old, likely last) only real opportunity at a UFC title shot, he can’t afford to not be at his best.

Quick Shots

–Josh Barnett puzzlingly told The MMA Hour that he still very much wants to fight in the UFC, despite the fact that he has often seemed unconcerned with whether or not he ever steps foot in the Octagon.

It turns out that his sticking point with the organization is not money-related, but has to do with something else, something which Eddie Alvarez was offered (I’m guessing a guaranteed fight on Fox). Still, Barnett says in regards to his legacy as a fighter, “I don’t really feel I can create that legacy and finish on a high point unless I’m there [in the UFC].”

Hey, he’s preaching to the choir. I’d love to see him there as well, and he’d have a lot of intriguing, fresh matchups awaiting him. Frank Mir, even Roy Nelson? Yes and yes, please. Then, of course, you have possible upper-level fights against Junior dos Santos or Cain Velasquez, which would be fun, too. Let’s hope Barnett and the UFC make it happen sooner rather than later.

–The World Series of Fighting knows how you crown a champ with a field of fighters fans aren’t all that familiar with: you have a tournament! Hence, the WSoF middleweight tournament, which will crown a champion among fighters Jesse Taylor, Dave Branch, Danilo Villefort, and Elvis Mutapcic. One of the two semi-finals will be held at August’s WSoF 4, while the second semi-final will take place at WSoF 5 in September.

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Weidman has worked hard talking his way into a fight with the legendary Silva, who at first was openly reluctant to face someone who fans were not all that excited about. However, the strength of Weidman’s performances, including a dominant knockout win over fellow contender Mark Munoz, as well as the insistence of Weidman’s comments in the media, have forced “The Spider”‘s hand. Silva is one of the sport’s all-time greats, perhaps the best MMA fighter ever, and is always worth seeing in person.

The event also features Frankie Edgar taking on Charles Oliveira in a featherweight battle between a former lightweight champion and a rising star at 145 pounds. Another possible title eliminator at featherweight features one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, Chan Sung Jung, facing Ricardo Lamas. Jung has been nicknamed “The Korean Zombie” because of his non-stop, always-moving-forward style.

To complete the trio of great featherweight bouts, Dennis Siver will take on Cub Swanson in what could be a fight of the year candidate. Both fighters are aggressive, deadly strikers, with Siver on a great run since dropping to featherweight and Swanson devastating the opposition as well. Siver is likely the most powerful striker at 145 pounds, while Swanson is a great combination of technical acumen and aggression.

Other great fights include the UFC debuts of Strikeforce standouts Roger Gracie and Tim Kennedy, who will face off, and a preliminary showdown between Tim Boetsch and Mark Munoz. Other favorites on the card include Edson Barboza, Mike Pierce, and UFC veteran Chris Leben, who is still one of the best knockout artists in the sport.

The UFC will be making multiple trips to the MGM Grand Garden Arena this summer, as they will first make a stop at the beautiful venue at UFC 160 next weekend. Las Vegas has maintained its status as the unofficial home of the UFC, even as the organization has adopted a worldwide focus and held fights in multiple states and even a number of countries all around the globe. A wide assortment of tickets are still available for UFC 162.

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You have to give it to the guy, though. When something is making you (a lot) of money, you stick with it.

And thus, the whole thing plays out again, this time with Wanderlei Silva playing the role of the increasingly-angry guy who wants to tear Sonnen apart. Sonnen has used one of his favorite venues- the Twitter account he once claimed wasn’t his- to give “The Axe Murderer” a deal: accept a fight with Sonnen in 24 hours, and Sonnen will “donate 10% of my purse to help schools in your hometown of Curitiba…I mean, VEGAS.”

The fight makes sense for Sonnen, although maybe less so for Silva. Sonnen needs a win, and the fight would be a difficult style matchup for the chronically wrestling-impaired Silva. Meanwhile, Sonnen seems to want to stall while he weighs his options, having lost consecutive title fights against the dominant champions at 185 and 205 pounds, Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. A fight with Wanderlei would give Sonnen something to do while Silva fights Weidman and we find out whether a superfight, either with welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre or Jones, is on the horizon for “The Spider”.

I doubt Silva takes the bait here, but that doesn’t mean the fight won’t happen. Neither man is exactly in title contention, and the UFC would certainly love a fight between two of its aging marquee fighters, whether or not they’re still competing at the highest level.

UFC to charge for YouTube content

You may have heard that YouTube has decided that nothing should ever, ever be free, and thus, they will start charging for specific channels (at the content provider’s choice, of course) soon. Well, it comes as no real surprise that the UFC’s YouTube channel will be one of those channels, as the organization launches their “UFC Select” channel.

After a 14-day trial to get you good and hooked on the product (that’s Crack Slanging 101, son) you’ll be expected to pony up $5.99 per month for eight new fights each week, and by “new fights”, I mean “old fights”, of course. Other content will include one season of “The Ultimate Fighter” free each month (remember when they were all free?), episodes of “UFC Unleashed” and “Best of Pride”, and oh, who gives a crap, this sucks.

UFC considering new glove designs

Apparently the annoying, incessant whining of Joe Rogan has gotten to Dana White, who says that the UFC is considering new glove designs that will theoretically lessen the likelihood of eye pokes. On ESPN radio, White said, “We actually have started to work on a new glove that actually curves your hand. Like the glove is curved like a ‘u’, so you can still open your hand, but your fingers don’t point straight out.”

No, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about, either.

The gloves, which apparently somehow force your fingers not to extend straight out but allow you to open your hand (m’kay) are in the “early stages” of development, but White admits that the real problem is, well, people poking each other in the eyes. “Guys need to keep their damn hands closed,” he said, confirming that it is only male fighters and not females who enjoy poking one another in the eyeball.

Quick Shots

–Another MMA Roundup, another set of UFC releases. This time, the victims are featherweights Leonard Garcia and Bart Palaszewski, but don’t worry- Garcia agrees with the decision and Palaszewski has lost three in a row himself. With eight straight losses combined for the two of them, the two cuts go in the “Understandable” category.

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No matter how much of a chance pundits are giving Chris Weidman in his much-awaited title defense against Silva, tickets will be going fast as fans vie for a chance at seeing “The Spider” ply his trade in person.

UFC 162 is taking place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 6, 2013. The MGM Grand Garden Arena is a favorite locale of the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, with events taking place from the venue regularly, including UFC 160 on May 25. Silva last fought at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at UFC 148 last year when he faced Chael Sonnen in a rematch from their previous title bout.

Plenty of other great bouts line the main card, including a featherweight title eliminator between Chan Sung Jung and Ricardo Lamas, two of the top 145-lb. fighters on the planet. Jung, nicknamed “The Korean Zombie” for his relentless, non-stop attack, is a fan favorite and has been working toward title contention with three straight wins leading up to UFC 162′s showdown with Lamas.

That’s far from it for the featherweights, though, as a total of five of the world’s top ten 145-pounders are in action at UFC 162. Former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will make his second appearance at featherweight as he faces the tough Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira.

Meanwhile, Cub Swanson and Dennis Siver will face off in a featherweight division matchup that has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Swanson is one of the most aggressive fighters in any weight class, and Siver is a superb technical striker who has won both of his bouts since dropping to the featherweight division.

Two men who were recently in the middleweight title picture collide as Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch attempt to get back on track as they face off inside the cage. Munoz in particular was considered a future title challenger until Weidman surprisingly defeated him at UFC on Fuel 4.

Other standouts on the card include Strikeforce veterans Roger Gracie and Tim Kennedy, who will face one another, and Edson Barboza, who takes on John Makdessi. Longtime UFC veteran and fan favorite Chris Leben will also fight on the preliminary card, giving ticket purchasers yet another reason to look forward to the event.

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That’s why I’ve decided as a public service to give you a quick primer in how to read between the lines of what MMA fighters say and what they actually mean. Here are a few examples from the last couple of days of mixed martial arts news:

Chael Sonnen says: “Wanderlei called me out before, but the fight never made sense. Now it does. I’m not going anywhere until me and Wanderlei straighten this thing out once and for all. Wanderlei pulled a dirt bag move on me one time. He said something to me that I couldn’t hear and then put it on YouTube with subtitles because he knew I couldn’t understand it and called me out. If you’re a fighter, that doesn’t fly. You must respond to him, and I’m ready to respond to you, Wanderlei.”

Chael Sonnen means: “You know, I pride myself on taking on anyone and everyone. With that said, everybody’s got their limits, and ass whoopings are ass whoopings, whether they come from Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, or anyone else. Hey, I have to win at least sometimes to keep this hype train rolling, so I need somebody that doesn’t match up well with me at all. That person is Wanderlei Silva. Plus, he posted a video where he lectured me on talking bad about Brazil years ago, so I can kinda-sorta justify cherry-picking this bout.”

Sometimes, it gets even trickier, because an MMA fighter will use a manager, trainer, or agent to do his or her talking for them. Don’t be confused, dear reader! They might even funnel these comments through a media member to add yet another layer of fog to obscure your vision. It’s just another way to keep you from knowing what they’re really saying.

Roy Nelson (‘s manager) says (through Ariel Helwani): “I spoke to Nelson’s manager, Mike Kogan, and he told me he’s not interested in this fight. He doesn’t think it makes any sense for Nelson. He wants Roy to fight either Antonio Silva if he loses to Cain Velasquez, or Junior dos Santos or Mark Hunt.”

Roy Nelson means: “Look, Daniel Cormier is a nightmare for me stylistically. Honestly, I don’t think I can beat him, and yet the fans don’t know who the hell he is. If I’m going to get my ass whooped, I want it to be by someone like Junior dos Santos, who the fans actually give a rat’s ass about. Oh, and can I please, please fight Mark Hunt? I could submit that guy in about 30 seconds if I can drag his ass to the mat.”

Changing weight classes is a common ploy for fighters who have no fricking idea what else to do after a losing streak. It’s not surprising to hear a fighter who before was perfectly happy with his weight class suddenly claim that the new weight class has “always” made more sense when deciding to make a move that coincidentally comes after a few losses in a row. Enter Rousimar Palhares.

Rousimar Palhares says: “My desire to get down to 170 pounds is great, but do not want to make a hasty decision. I will only really come down if my body’s response is positive.”

Rousimar Palhares means: “Look, I don’t know what the hell’s going on. I know I was 7-2 at middleweight before my last couple of fights and I’m built like a brick shithouse, but I’ve gotten knocked out two fights in a row, and the UFC is cutting mofos like it’s going out of style. If I can buy myself an extra fight or two by cutting out the carbs and dehydrating myself, just point me to the sauna already. Will it help? Hell, I don’t know, but I honestly have no flipping idea what’s going on at this point.”

With Tito Ortiz, you don’t have to read between the lines all that much, as when he talked about Jon Jones tying his UFC record with five consecutive light heavyweight title defenses.

Tito Ortiz says: “If I’m under a person who holds the record, I think Jon Jones is the man [it should] be. He’s very classy. He’s respectful, soft spoken, and he’s a true champ. I really don’t see anybody to beat him. I don’t think anybody can really get close to him. His mindset is perfect. I think it’s how a champion should be. As long as no personal stuff happens to him, I don’t think he’ll have much problem with anybody, just because of his wrestling. Wrestling has always been a dominating force in UFC.”

Tito Ortiz means: “Are you freaking kidding me? I’m just glad anyone is still talking about me!”

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As always, these rankings are subjective. To read a rather extensive explanation of my methodology, check out the rankings manifesto.

FLYWEIGHT DIVISION (125 LBS.)

1. Demetrious Johnson
2. Joseph Benavidez
3. John Dodson
4. Ian McCall
5. Jussier Da Silva
6. Darrell Montague
7. Louis Gaudinot
8. John Lineker
9. John Moraga
10. Yasuhiro Urushitani

Although Benavidez was in action, knocking out Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on Fox 7, Uyenoyama was not ranked, and there’s nowhere for Benavidez to go until he fights Johnson again, anyway. That was the only fight involving these ten in April.

There are finally some bouts scheduled for the flyweights, though: Johnson and Moraga meet in a title bout at UFC on Fox 8. Meanwhile, Da Silva will fight in May on UFC on FX 8 against Chris Cariaso. John Lineker will fight on the same show, facing the debuting Azamat Gashimov. Urushitani was cut from the UFC after his losses against Benavidez and Lineker, but will face Rey Docyogen in One FC on May 31.

BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION (135 LBS.)

1. Dominick Cruz
2. Renan Barao
3. Urijah Faber
4. Eddie Wineland
5. Michael McDonald
6. Brad Pickett (7)
7. Scott Jorgensen (6)
8. Bibiano Fernandes
9. Raphael Assuncao
10. Eduardo Dantas

Faber and Pickett both won this month, although Faber can’t move past either of the top two, both of whom have beaten him recently, even with a win over Jorgensen. Pickett skips past Jorgensen with his win over Mike Easton and Jorgensen’s loss to Faber. Yes, Tyson Nam- who knocked out Dantas last summer- is not on the list, because Dantas has a much more impressive resume, despite the upset loss in August.

We’ll have to wait until mid-June to see Barao defend his interim strap against Wineland. In the meantime, we only have Bibiano Fernandes’ One FC 9 bout against Koetsu Okazaki to look forward to in the month of May.

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145 LBS.)

1. Jose Aldo
2. Pat Curran (3)
3. Chad Mendes (4)
4. Frankie Edgar (2)
5. Dennis Siver
6. Ricardo Lamas
7. Chan Sung Jung
8. Cub Swanson
9. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire
10. Dustin Poirier

Both Curran and Mendes move up a spot with convincing wins over Shahbulat Shamhalaev and Darren Elkins, respectively. I still feel Edgar is a top-notch fighter at either lightweight or featherweight, but he hasn’t proven as much as Curran or Mendes in the division, despite his good showing against Aldo, so the moves feel right to me.

The biggest fight in this division, between Aldo and lightweight standout Anthony Pettis, won’t take place until UFC 163 on August 3rd. Also this summer, Lamas and Jung will face off at UFC 162 in July, the same night when Swanson and Siver will fight in one of my most-anticipated bouts of the summer.

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (155 LBS.)

1. Benson Henderson
2. Anthony Pettis (3)
3. Gilbert Melendez (4)
4. Gray Maynard (2)
5. Michael Chandler (6)
6. Josh Thomson (NR)
7. Eddie Alvarez (8)
8. Nate Diaz (5)
9. Donald Cerrone
10. Pat Healy (NR)

Dropped out: Jim Miller (7), Joe Lauzon (10)

The only people who don’t move here are Cerrone and Henderson, who won another title defense, this time against Melendez. Melendez impressed me in defeat, though, and moves up to the #3 spot. I still think Pettis is better, although whether his future is in the lightweight or featherweight division I suppose rests upon his fight with Jose Aldo in August.

Thomson jumps into the top ten in a big way after a great victory over Diaz, who drops three spots. Alvarez benefits from Diaz and Miller dropping, the latter after being submitted by Healy, who debuts in the tenth spot. Lauzon drops out to accommodate him.

Maynard will face TJ Grant in May at UFC 160 to decide the next contender for Henderson’s belt, on the same night that Cerrone faces KJ Noons. In June, Chandler will face Dave Jansen in Bellator.

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170 LBS.)

1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Johny Hendricks
3. Carlos Condit
4. Nick Diaz
5. Rory MacDonald
6. Demian Maia
7. Jon Fitch
8. Nate Marquardt
9. Martin Kampmann
10. Jake Ellenberger

The welterweight division was the exception to all of the action this month. As such, there’s nothing happening here. It’s not going to change anytime soon, either, with nothing of note happening until June, when Fitch makes his World Series of Fighting debut against Josh Burkman. In July, Ellenberger and McDonald will face off at UFC on Fox 8. Then, Maia will face Josh Koscheck in August. There’s no date set yet for St. Pierre’s title clash with Hendricks.

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185 LBS.)

1. Anderson Silva
2. Chris Weidman
3. Vitor Belfort
4. Yushin Okami
5. Mark Munoz
6. Luke Rockhold
7. Michael Bisping
8. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
9. Brian Stann
10. Constantinos Philippou

Though Bisping defeated Alan Belcher by unanimous decision in a pretty one-sided fight, he doesn’t move past Rockhold, who I simply think is a better fighter. Rockhold will get a chance to prove my point when he faces Belfort in May. Also in May, Philippou will face Jacare at UFC on FX 8.

The big event for this division, though, is UFC 162. That’s when Silva defends his title against Weidman. Also, Munoz will face Tim Boetsch as he attempts to rebuild his momentum.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205 LBS.)

1. Jon Jones
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Rashad Evans
4. Dan Henderson
5. Alexander Gustafsson
6. Phil Davis (8)
7. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
8. Chael Sonnen (6)
9. Gegard Mousasi
10. Glover Teixeira

Davis moves up two spots and occupies Sonnen’s old spot after a win over Vinny Magalhaes. Magalhaes isn’t an elite opponent, but Davis showed much improved striking, particularly in the form of a quick, stinging, accurate jab, which helps bolster my confidence in him. Sonnen’s plans are not clear at this point, so he’ll stay ranked as a light heavyweight for now.

Teixeira will face James Te Huna at UFC 160 in late May, as Te Huna steps in for Teixeira’s original opponent, Ryan Bader. UFC 161 in June will feature four of these men in action, as Shogun takes on Lil’ Nog and Evans faces Henderson. There are rumblings that Gustafsson will meet Machida to determine a new number one contender in the division, but nothing has been set officially yet.

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (265 LBS.)

1. Cain Velasquez
2. Junior dos Santos
3. Fabricio Werdum
4. Daniel Cormier
5. Antonio Silva
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Josh Barnett
8. Frank Mir
9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
10. Roy Nelson

I thought long and hard about this month’s heavyweight rankings, and specifically, the places of Mir and Nelson. Mir lost, sure, but to the number four fighter on this list. He’s already beaten both the men ranked below him (and Nogueira, he’s beaten twice). Can I really drop him or move Nelson up on the strength of a win over a non-top ten opponent, as respected as Cheick Kongo may be?

Nope, I can’t. So things stay the same this month, although Mir’s grip on his spot is more tenuous than before. Sure, he’s only lost to dos Santos and Cormier in recent fights, but he hasn’t looked great, even in his victories. He’s looked slow at times. He’s supposed to be faster and more technical than his bigger, stronger opponents, but now only one of those is true.

UFC 160 on May 25 features a few of these guys. Dos Santos faces Mark Hunt for a title shot, while, Velasquez will defend his title against a fighter he already beat the crap out of in Bigfoot Silva. June will bring Werdum and Nogueira facing off. Overeem’s next fight hasn’t been announced, and Barnett is still apparently a free agent.

POUND-FOR-POUND (No Limit)

1. Anderson Silva
2. Jon Jones
3. Georges St. Pierre
4. Jose Aldo
5. Dominick Cruz
6. Demetrious Johnson
7. Frankie Edgar
8. Benson Henderson (9)
9. Cain Velasquez (8)
10. Lyoto Machida

Henderson moves up a spot after his successful, though close, fight with Melendez. Jones isn’t going to pass up Silva just by brutalizing a guy Silva has already beaten twice at middleweight, however.

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How else can you explain his recent rant on BJPenn.com Radio about his UFC on Fox 7 loss to Josh Thomson?

“I don’t really want to credit him too much for that fight, you know? I don’t think that he should get too much. I think it was more a negative on my part than a positive on his part. I think he might have just capitalized a little bit. I think, I know it’s because I fought and everything, but I think the stop was premature, but, I didn’t want to cause a scene at the time.”

Wait a minute- an early stoppage? But your corner threw in the towel, Nate. Oh, wait…Nate has that one covered, too, saying that his corner is filled with “real people” who care and don’t want to see him get hurt. Still…they threw in the towel. That basically means that your corner thought the stoppage was just, the referee thought the stoppage was just, pretty much only you didn’t think the stoppage was just.

But wait- there’s more! As always, if you don’t get sucked into a Stockton Slugfest, you don’t earn any respect from someone named Diaz:

“He didn’t come in there and put no ass-whooping on me. You know what I’m saying? He didn’t come in there and make anything happen. I have never fought somebody before who had ever wanted out of a fight so bad. I expected a fight. I expected him to grab me and try to hold on to me or throw some kicks and move and throw some punches and move but that motherfucker was straight running and I had to chase his down. I was chasing him the whole fight. I was the aggressor. I was restless, you know? How can you not be when a guy is running scared shitless for his life? I’m over aggressive trying to get a hold of him and that’s why I got hit, because I’m over aggressive. I’m trying to meet the criteria to win these rounds.”

Riiiiight. So now we have the early stoppage from the ref, the scoring criteria (a common scapegoat for Nate’s brother, Nick, after losses), and the fact that Thomson was scared to blame for Nate’s loss. That’s pretty good, but he’s going to have to step up his excuse game if he wants to get on Nick’s level.

UFC Cut Machine Churns Out 7 More

That’s right, seven more UFC fighters have found themselves holding pink slips, headlined by Philip De Fries, who was most recently seen getting knocked the eff out by Matt Mitrione in short order. According to the scale that I established earlier, all of these cuts fall in the “Understandable” category, though.

De Fries had lost three of his last four after the Mitrione setback, all of which were by KO/TKO. Meanwhile, Chris Spange was a Strikeforce carry-over who had split his previous two Strikeforce fights before losing his UFC debut, so he was 1-2 in his last three Zuffa fights. That’s fine. The other cuts- Kevin Casey, Collin Hart, Gilbert Smith, Adam Cella, and Jimmy Quinlan- were all 0-1 fighters who were cast members on The Ultimate Fighter 17, so that’s okay, too.

Quick Shots

–Rich Franklin plans to fight another time or two for sure before he retires for good. “I have at least one more fight, possibly two more fights on my contract. I always said I would definitely fulfill my contract so I at least have that much,” Franklin told The MMA Hour. Franklin hopes to fight before the end of 2013, though nothing is announced yet.

–The World Series of Fighting is expanding their roster further, this time snatching up UFC veteran Tyson Griffin. Griffin has been quiet since his departure from the UFC in October of 2011, fighting just once- a unanimous decision win over fellow UFC vet Efrain Escudero. He hopes to fight at World Series of Fighting 4, which will now take place in August, instead of July, as previously planned.

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