Welcome back fight fans. As you know, Rabbit Punch: Sports blog has been on a bit of a hiatus for the past few months as your old pal Kevin J and the rest of the Rabbit Punch staff took some time out to enjoy just being fans.
Kevin J made his way out to Las Vegas back in February for UFC 170, and had the chance to meet @MMAjunkieGeorge and @theGoze, the hosts of @MMAjunkieRadio, as well as some of the rad dudes who hang out outside their studio. If you’re ever in the fabulous Mandalay Bay Las Vegas complex, make your way over to their studio in the sportsbook and see who’s hanging around. Everyone involved in the show is a stand-up guy, and you can often meet professional fighters and other MMA personalities coming in for interviews. The MMAJunkies radio show can be streamed via the internet at http://mmajunkie.com/radio, heard via iTunes podcast, or downloaded on apps such as Podkicker or Stitcher Radio, and is one of our favorites here at the Rabbit Punch editorial office.
But while Kevin was out dicking around in Nevada, the world kept turning.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that it will not longer be giving out TUEs, MUEs, ECT for TRT, otherwise known as Testosterone Replacement Therapy.
11 current UFC fighters have reportedly been granted Therapeutic Use Exemptions up to this point, and with other state athletic commission set to line up behind the NSAC these fighters are facing a tough choice.
I can see both sides of the issue. On the on hand, fighters who are just too old or those who have blasted their T production with banned substances shouldn’t get an artificial boost unavailable to others. Those with a legitimate medical condition, however, will have to choose between their treatment and their careers.
Not everyone gets to be a professional fighter. It sux, but that’s the way it is. I think that things are probably a little more fair this way, even though some fighters are getting a raw deal.
One fight which has already been effected by this decision is Chris Weidman’s first scheduled non-Anderson title defense against perennial bad guy Vitor Belfort, stuck to the game since UFC 12. Belfort, who is a user of testosterone therapy, pulled out of the the fight after NSAC made it’s announcement. Because Jesus is watching you, bro, and He knows when you use TRT.
I was going to detail the horse trading and match making that has been going on since then, but by the time I finally get this post out it will probably have changed again, so I suggest you just wiki it. Also, I’m pretty sure that there’s at least 2 guys having knee surgery.
While 2014 may have started slow, we’ve had some fantastic fights recently, and some highlight reel knockouts.
Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler fought for Georges St. Pierre’s vacant Welterweight belt, and both agreed to settle the match through a “who can get hit in the face the hardest” contest. Hendricks won by judge’s decision, despite a broken jaw and a torn bicep.
I don’t have a joke for this one, I’m just in awe of the strength and durability of both of these fighters. It’s good to see heavy hitters on top of the 170lbs division.
The Shogun vs. Henderson fight was another one of my favorites from this year. I love watching two skilled fist-fighters stalk their targets, and in the end Hendo reminded us that so long as your opponent is still awake and on their feet, anything can happen.
I haven’t done this for a while, so I’m a little winded. That’s all for today, but I’ll be doing another post after UFC 172 this weekend. Nothing adventurous on the main card picks: Jones, Davis, Rockhold, Miller, Halloway.
Keep your hands up, defend yourself at all times, and keep an eye out for the next Rabbit Punch!
