MMA Roundup- UFC Banned in Germany, Fedor, Dream 13, Huerta

This week’s MMA Roundup features news on the UFC being banned from German TV, as well as all kinds of other ridiculousness.  In other words, M-1 is still in the news.  Also, the Dream 13 card is finalized a whopping two days before the fights take place, and Roger Huerta signs a new contract…but not with the UFC.

No UFC on German TV?

In an absolutely ridiculous development, the “Bavarian state office for new media” (which is somehow abbreviated as “BLM”) has found the UFC to be unfitting for its constituents.  This all comes because apparently the punching of a downed opponent violates some paragraph of a lengthy set of rules that are included in the organization’s constitution.  Which part?  Article 111a.

So, not only are there at least 111 “articles” in this thing, but one of them specifically bans “taboos” such as punching a downed opponent.  Hilarious!

Sherdog.com (who provided all of the other information, as well) also points out that the decision is not final yet, and German television station DSF is obviously hoping to still carry UFC programming in the future.  The UFC on Versus event will be broadcasted with no problems.

What else is there to say?  What a silly, silly thing this is.  Even more so because this will not keep the UFC from having future live events in Germany…events which, apparently, Germans without a ticket won’t be able to watch on TV.

Fedor Won’t Face Yoshida, Should Fight in Strikeforce Before World Ends

In other BREAKING NEWS(!!!), Fedor Emelianenko may just fight in Strikeforce one day again after all.  The world’s consensus number one heavyweight, who has fought a whopping one time under his three fight contract since signing with the company over half a year ago, may find time to defend his status as the top heavyweight in the world this summer, according to his slimeball management group and supposed MMA promotion, M-1 Global.

Poor Scott Coker, in an obvious attempt to not blow the whole thing by angering the delusional group, has downplayed the re-negotiations, saying that parts of the contract needed “buttoning up”.  He says this despite the fact that this company already got way more than they should have, by being allowed to “co-promote” merely by having a fighter they manage appear in an event that was carried on network television, no less.  Now, after one fight out of three has occurred, it’s time to re-negotiate?  If nothing else, Dana White is breathing a sigh of relief for not choosing to deal with these people.

Meanwhile, rumors that Fedor would face Hidehiko Yoshida in Japan this April have been shot down.  Fedor fans, you won’t be seeing Fedor in action until this summer, and possibly August, when the next CBS show is planned.

Dream 13 Finalized; About to Freaking Happen

Now, I know that this doesn’t mean that the fighters weren’t aware of what was going on, but it is amazing to me that the last Dream 13 fight to be announced was made final today, two days before the event will take place.

Josh Barnett will meet Mighty Mo at the event, making his first appearance since his failed steroid test not only nullified a compelling bout against Fedor Emelianenko, but helped tank an entire promotion, as Affliction went under almost immediately thereafter.

Now, I know Dream is not Pride, but there are many similarities, including the fact that this promotion can’t seem to set matchups in a timely manner so that fighters can prepare and fans can anticipate them properly.  Should there be any reason that fans shouldn’t know that Josh Barnett is fighting until two days before the fight takes place?

Huerta Signs With Bellator

In a surprising move, Roger Huerta not only did not sign with the UFC, but also opted not to align himself with Strikeforce, choosing Bellator instead.  Bellator at this point is the little promotion that could, whose unfortunate Achilles heel is that many people can’t actually watch it on television.

Of course, Bellator has aggressively marketed itself and the fighters on the internet, and having the most ridiculous submission of last year take place in a Bellator event doesn’t hurt (Google “Toby Imada”, you won’t regret it).

Even more surprisingly, Huerta is participating in a lightweight tournament, facing 6-0 Chad Hinton in the first round.  Top fighters that Huerta could face along the way include Janne Tulirinta (12-3), Pat Curran (9-3), and the afore-mentioned Imada, who is quite dangerous, despite his 20-13 record.

Quick Shots

–Nate Marquardt revealed last week that he could have faced Michael Bisping at UFC 114.  Marquardt turned down the opportunity not because he was frightened at the prospect of being given a “boxing lesson” or being targeted by Bisping’s loyal but ridiculously biased fanbase, but because his wife is due to have their first child together two days before the fight.

Good move by Marquardt.  In a competitive division where Marquardt is looking to get a title shot as soon as possible, training while seriously distracted by the impending birth of a baby is a good way to put on a shabby performance.

–The denials keep coming from Tito Ortiz and company regarding his matchup with Chuck Liddell at UFC 115.  Not only did Ortiz tell SportsIllustrated.com’s Josh Gross that the fight is still on, but he also denied that he stopped coaching his team on “The Ultimate Fighter 11″ at any point due to an injury, answering with a simple “Nope”.

At this point, we have to believe him and just wonder if the rumor mill got it wrong this time.  In an industry where most reported news, especially on major websites like Sherdog.com, ends up being right, it seems weird for this apparently unfounded report to be inaccurate.  However, what else can you say when everyone involved is outright denying it?  I mean, would Ortiz, White and Liddell be willing to straight up lie to fans and the media just to maintain a little extra interest in the upcoming season of the UFC’s hit reality show?

Hmmm….

E-Mail Jon Hartley

Tags: Chuck Liddell, Dana White, DREAM, Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, M-1 Global, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt, Roger Huerta, Scott Coker, Strikeforce, Tito Ortiz, Toby Imada, UFC