Is Seminole covered by Florida’s fight commission? Does Florida test?

His letter was smug and inflamatory.

We have seen many MMA online writers (Zach included) write some excellent articles about drugs and MMA, yet only Gross took the opportunity to use it for petty reasons.

At any rate, he doesn’t seem to be a fighter with a burning desire. Maybe he needs to toil in the minors for a few fights to see if he has it.

How exactly does it make it clear that he doesn’t think he can beat the best or that he is scared? Nevermind “VERY” clear? Not every fighter out there views signing for UFC pronto as the ultimate(pun) way to prove himself. And you seem to ignore the fact that he is fighting non-exclusively for EXC and can make money elsewhere on top of his guaranteed contract. If Jake Shields just keeps on winning and reaches the end of his career peak without having fought in the premier promotion despite offers being on the table – THEN you can perhaps make an accusation that he was scared. To do so now, when he has just this year taken another step up the ladder and signed with the biggest promotion he’s worked for yet, well that seems premature to say the least.

“The sports fans in America and the corporate sponsors are what pay these fighters in the end. The sports fans have been more then satisfied with how long the NFL’s and MLB’s suspensions last. Once again, to the fan, the fact that they know that they are a cheater is far more important.”

- MMA in the US didn’t break through because of drug testing. In fact, the implementing and development of testing has had zero proven impact on interest for the sport. Likewise, there was no crisis in football/soccer before they started testing, and in cycling the athletes themselves protested the testing not many years ago, making many a fan join their pattern of thinking. Heck, PRIDE drew full houses and made huge money in Japan with ZERO steroid testing, and their fans didn’t mind – so then it was okay? To let what the average fan(atic) is “satisfied” with and what sponsors are willing to go along with dictate the level of testing and punishment that should be done is nothing short of a scary thought.

“And the fact that we live in America… The land of second chances…. 2 years is without question out of the question.”

That’s a pretty bold prediction to make, but feel free to do so. Also, two years is certainly not a career killer in any sport – not least MMA with its limited schedule and relatively long career peaks – but only time and increased testing will tell if it actually becomes a necessity. The point I was making is that one year is certainly not too much at this stage, nor is it anywhere near the forefront of relevant anti-drug policies. MMA is of course not just an American thang either.

Versus just showed the 4th WEC Wrekage Show. It had Eddie Wineland vs. Chase Beebe. Wineland’s ear literally got smashed. It was gross and awesome at the same time. They are reshowing it before the live card on Sunday.

IN IT FOR THE MONEY – He is making $12k/$12k per fight in EliteXC. That was documented for his June fight. If he went into the UFC, he would at least be making $10k/$10k, and perhaps fight a little less in the year. One submission of the night would make up for that difference. However, if he thinks he is the best, then he will continue to move up the ladder and eventually be worth $100,000+ for each fight. Plus, Bodog isn’t putting anybody on their cards who makes more then $10,000 a fight, so that is not an option for him.

IN IT FOR THE COMPETITION – All of the top guys at 170 lbs are in the UFC. There is Hughes, GSP, Fitch, Sanchez, Parisyan, and more. He isn’t going to get that quality of fighter in EliteXC.

It makes it very clear that he doesn’t think he can beat the best, and wants to cash in on the outside. Anybody who knew they were the best would be sounding like Jon Fitch in interviews were he doesn’t care if a belt is on the line, he just wants to fight the best guys and prove to himself that he can compete at that level.

Makes you wonder if he doesn’t think he can beat the Hughes’s, the GSP’s, and Fitch’s…. Perhaps he knows his stock would faulter quickly if the UFC matched him up against the elite of the sport.”

I seriously doubt he’d get anywhere near the same money there as he does figting non-exclusively for EXC. Perhaps after two-three years of climbing the ladder, but certainly not on his first deal. 170lb’ers are smart to earn their good money and stay away from UFC atm. Paul Daley is another one.

1. The act of getting caught is more important then any type of suspension. Kind of like shaming men by posting their pictures, who try to pick up prostitutes. The fact that they have been outed… there is nothing worse that can happen to their career.

2. The sports fans in America and the corporate sponsors are what pay these fighters in the end. The sports fans have been more then satisfied with how long the NFL’s and MLB’s suspensions last. Once again, to the fan, the fact that they know that they are a cheater is far more important.

3. Two years is obnoxiously long. In fact, it is too long. Look at a guy like Jason Giambi. While he was never suspended, he was out for a while due to some of the side effects of steroid use. When he came back, he apologized, and acted as a humble man who made a mistake. The fans treated him like a king upon his return. If baseball would have suspended him for 2 years after he admitted to the feds that he roided, then a lot of that process would have been haulted and by the time he came back, it would have been too late for redemption. And the fact that we live in America… The land of second chances…. 2 years is without question out of the question.

Again, why act like these doofus american sports leagues has set any sort of standard to follow? One year for testing positive for performance enhancing is very low – heck two years doesn’t deter people from going that route in certain other sports. Second offence should of course be life ban regardless. However, more important than increasing the punishment is of course to increase testing and introduce out of competition tests.