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Fox Sports: "Zach Arnold's Fight Opinion site is one of the best spots on the Web for thought-provoking MMA pieces."

Damage control: NOAH yakuza crisis (the state of Japan in 2012)

By Zach Arnold | March 23, 2012

Given how close we are to the fifth anniversary of PRIDE’s transactional death to Zuffa, this story seems all too fitting… and predictable.

When Cyzo first came out with information last January regarding a ‘black money’ scandal in NOAH involving a yakuza couple taking 50M yen from the widow of Mitsuharu Misawa, it created a ripple effect. NOAH, no longer on broadcast television (Nippon TV), basically saw their chances of getting back on network TV crushed.

According to Cyzo, the yakuza couple got involved in essentially being a glorified money mark of sorts for NOAH wrestlers to keep them around by gifting them. The classic term ‘sponsor’ in Japan often means a yakuza money mark in the fight game. What blew up in the face of Misawa’s wife is that she trusted the couple and didn’t know they were yakuza. Read our link from January to find out how deep the yakuza scamsters got their hooks into Misawa’s wife, now the owner of NOAH. She ended up going to civil court in Tokyo to seize the couple’s house.

As would soon be revealed, it was long-time veteran hand Haruka Eigen & Mitsuharu Misawa right-hand man Ryu Nakata (the famous ring announcer from All Japan) who had hooked up NOAH with the yakuza money people. Eigen essentially took over the role of Mitsuo Momota (Rikidozan’s son), who promptly left NOAH after Misawa’s death. Nakata became the GM of NOAH and the iron fist after winning a political battle with Kenta Kobashi over how to manage the company. It is Nakata who has taken a ‘hardline’ tact of releasing wrestlers.

What blew up the black money scandal for NOAH is that it was revealed that the yakuza couple in question were basically stealing money from senior citizens and financing their charades with the NOAH boys. In other words, a Bernie Madoff-type scandal.

Last week, publisher Takarajima released a new scandal book on NOAH. The angle of the book was from ‘an insider’s perspective’ on what happened. It turns out that the face of said book is Jun Izumida, former All Japan & NOAH wrestler. Izumida’s reputation is well-known — permanent mid-carder for life, coffee boy like Tamon Honda was for Misawa. Izumida made a lot of money during his wrestling career, way more than you would expect. So, for him to publicly be the guy to lay the hatchet down, that was quite a statement.

Around the same time as the release of the book, Kodansha publication Flash soon jumped on the black money scandal story. At that point, NOAH was in crisis mode.

Today, the company released a statement saying that both Haruka Eigen & Ryu Nakata would be demoted, at the very least, if not resign. Akira Taue claimed that NOAH would implement new anti-yakuza protocols and that management would undergo training soon on how to avoid yakuza connections.

Whether the resignations are real or not, Japan has always been about saving face and image first more than substance — especially in the fight game. Last year, Keiji Mutoh ‘resigned’ as President of All Japan after a major scandal involving a wrestler (Nobukazu Hirai) getting beat up & crippled backstage at a show in Hyogo. Despite said resignation, Mutoh is still the face of All Japan. No one’s batted an eye and nobody brings up Hirai’s name any more.

So, yakuza involvement in the Japanese fight game is nothing new but it’s still as corrosive as ever. Without yakuza money, it’s hard to see where money is going to come into play for promoters in the fight game. As one friend put it to me recently, they see the Japanese fight scene as having their own version of a ‘lost decade’ if not longer over what has happened.

DREAM is dormant and basically Real Entertainment is a booking agency at this point. Despite all the big talk & promises about a come back, Kazuyoshi Ishii is impotent as far as his power goes. He’s also aged very much in the last few years. New Japan is the only real player because of the fact that they are backed by Bushiroad, which isn’t afraid to throw around cash. However, it should be noted that Bushiroad acquired New Japan from Yukes when it was revealed that Bushiroad had made a significant loan to Yukes to keep things afloat.

All of this is bad news for the Japanese scene. The police are furiously moving into territory they haven’t gone after before with such aggression. Will they win the war? Can a fight scene exist in Japan without yakuza money or scamsters looking to glom on? History says no.

Topics: DREAM, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Keith Kizer: Rampage’s testosterone cheerleading has led to more TUE requests

By Zach Arnold | March 21, 2012

I wanted to give Josh Gross credit for the excellent radio show he recorded this week about the issue of testosterone in MMA. He interviewed a lot of people for the show, including George Dodd of the CSAC, Keith Kizer of the NSAC, and Dr. Margaret Goodman of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Marc Ratner, according to Josh, reportedly declined to be interviewed on the topic. That’s no surprise given what a hot potato issue the T deal is right now in MMA. And, right on cue, UFC announced Chael Sonnen (a poster boy for testosterone usage) against Anderson Silva this Summer in Rio at a soccer stadium… an event under UFC ‘regulation.’ So, just like Rampage Jackson was (allegedly) using testosterone at the UFC Japan show, Chael will be doing his testosterone dealio for the Brazil fight.

I’ve said before and I’ll say it again – the T issue is a loser for promoters but it’s an even bigger loser for the fighters. It stinks. People don’t need to go through the complex spin to know that testosterone is the base chemical of steroids. The three primary ways MMA fighters can damage their endocrine system:

  1. Previous anabolic steroid usage, resulting in low levels and using TRT is basically double-dipping.
  2. Severe/bad weight cutting.
  3. Concussions/head trauma, leading to a decrease in one’s production of testosterone.

If you have suffered so much head trauma that your body can’t produce testosterone any longer, you shouldn’t be given a Therapeutic Use Exemption for testosterone usage so that you can repeat the vicious cycle and suffer from more head trauma. You shouldn’t be licensed to fight if you’re at that physical stage as a fighter.

As for anabolic steroid users or those who made bad decisions regarding weight cutting, having guys like Ken Shamrock or Rampage or Sonnen as the face of testosterone usage isn’t going to help your cause.

Continue reading this article here…

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 67 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Video: The growing online political chorus to legalize MMA in New York

By Zach Arnold | March 20, 2012

1) It’s going to take a lot to budge Sheldon Silver on this issue.

2) Money talks & BS walks but even money doesn’t necessarily make the Fertittas & Dana White any more sympathetic to others.

3) The drug issue in MMA is big and it is an easy crutch for pols to whack MMA backers over the head with.

Topic resources: Stephen Koepfer | Eddie Goldman | Jim Genia

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Mike Kogan has had enough of Rampage’s complaining w/ UFC

By Zach Arnold | March 18, 2012

When we last joined you on the Rampage/UFC saga, Rampage was doing the media rounds on Thursday and managed to create more trouble. This time, he apparently name-dropped his sports doctor — which appears, based on photographs & postings on his own web site, to be Dr. William Kessler (chiropractor) who works with various MMA fighters.

Rampage’s comments have raised key issues regarding Testosterone usage in MMA and also the role of doctors & alleged relationships with the UFC. This is his own doing, for better or for worse, and Rampage clearly thinks he’s on the right end of this PR battle.

With that as the latest background, fighter agent Mike Kogan has had enough of Rampage’s act. Here’s what he posted on Twitter on Saturday night:

Mike raises an interesting angle to the current UFC/Rampage crapfest and that’s which fighters supposedly get their doctor bills paid for and which ones don’t. Given the current Zuffa ‘insurance policy’ plan and King Mo’s struggles with medical bills, you could see why Mike is frustrated for his client. How effective are the insurance policies for fighters in terms of what gets covered and by what criteria? There’s that debate. Then there’s the debate as to whether or not certain doctors are getting preferred status or not, plus the cash or insurance payment angle to this story.

Of course, it should be duly noted that there’s bad blood now between King Mo & Rampage. Mo also has an upcoming hearing in Nevada on the 27th regarding his failed drug test.

There’s a million questions that can be asked now given that Rampage claims Dr. Kessler supposedly led him to an age management doctor which resulted in a prescription for T, combined with the fact that Rampage fought at the UFC Japan show — an event that the UFC ‘regulated’ on their own. Who in Zuffa allowed Rampage to fight on T via a Therapeutic Use Exemption (if there was one in the first place)?

As far as where the heat will go in regards to the current UFC/Rampage PR battle, count on Rampage getting the majority of the heat from those inside the business. He’s an easier target and he’s not feared like Zuffa is. Zuffa’s the only game in town, so fighters & agents are grateful for whatever they can get. Rampage complaining about his current situation is rubbing people the wrong way, which is entirely the opposite of what he is trying to accomplish with his current PR campaign against the UFC.

For now, I’ll close with a quote from Chris Barton: What kills me about this thing is that there is apparently a horrible disease running rampant through the MMA community wrecking all of these poor fighters “natural testosterone levels”. When will we ever find the culprit!?

On a related side note, The New Scientist has an article out today about the future of drug testing. Hint: not blood or urine testing. Try ‘muscle biopsy.’

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Did Rampage name-drop his UFC-friendly doctor?

By Zach Arnold | March 16, 2012

When we last focused on the UFC/Rampage disastrous PR battle, we focused on Rampage’s latest Twitter game regarding why he won’t be fighting Mauricio Shogun any time soon. The stakes have been raised further.

The reliable Brent Brookhouse has an update about a 45-minute interview that Rampage Jackson did with Karyn Bryant (yes, they’re back together for another interview). Rampage did a PR blitz yesterday with a few MMA media types, supposedly.

Anyhow, click on Brent’s link to read quotes Rampage said about testosterone usage during the 45 min interview. Rampage is changing his tune about the T level numbers and this time he’s name dropping his doctors.

Rampage told Bas that his T level supposedly was 420 ng and that his ‘age management’ doctor put him on a program to get it to 600 ng, although Rampage wanted to do 800 ng but the doctor allegedly told him that he didn’t want him ‘to get into trouble.’

In Rampage’s comments to Karyn Bryant, he’s talking about Cheick Kongo ‘naturally’ being an example of someone with ‘1100 ng of T.’ So, Rampage says in his comments that he viewed using testosterone as a ‘level playing field’ issue.

The more he opens his mouth, the worse it gets.

During the interview, Rampage name-drops his sports doctor — “Dr. Kessler.” One quick online search pops up the following:

This is Dr. William Kessler, labeled as “The Orange County Fight Doctor” for No Limits MMA.

Here’s the information included for this video at Youtube:

1962 Barranca Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92606
949.251.8880
949.251.8822 fax

No Limits Sports Rehabilitation & Chiropractic specializes in: Sports Injuries, Massage Therapy, Neck / Back Pain, Knee / Shoulder Pain, Wrist / Hand / Elbow Pain, Headaches, Physical Therapy, Cold Laser Therapy, Decompression, Auto & Work Injuries, Exercise / Stretching Techniques, Disc Herniations, Post Surgical / Preventative Therapy, High School Physicals, Joint Stiffness, Muscle Spasms, Pinched Nerves, Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Referral Service for X-Rays, MRI with Discount Rate, Bracing, Treatment of Contusions, Sprains / Strains, Mouth Guards, Orthotics, Mechanical Traction Table

Notice the pictures of Dr. Kessler and Rampage?

Dr. Kessler doesn’t seem to be too camera shy. He even has a Facebook page. And what can you find on that FB page?

An article from last January penned under Dr. Kessler’s name about Rampage. Love those car pictures, don’t you? Look at the happy Rampage & Dr. Kessler.

So, back to Rampage’s new comments to Karyn Bryant for a second — he backs up earlier claims by saying that the UFC pays Dr. Kessler because Dr. Kessler supposedly bills them. Furthermore, he tried to explain how Dr. Kessler led him to a “Russian” doctor named “Dr. K” for ‘age management.’ Who is Dr. K?

Stay tuned.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

MMA Link Club: The fatigue from MMA politicking

By Zach Arnold | March 16, 2012

Here’s Bjorn Rebney putting over his tournament format (repeatedly) and emphasizing how Bellator is ‘real sport’ in terms of matchmaking. Listen to what he says about having to book ‘super fights.’

Here’s Bjorn after Pat Curran’s beatdown of Joe Warren.

Member sites of the MMA Link Club

This week’s MMA Link Club featured stories

5 Ounces of Pain: Anthony Pettis says he will not move down to Featherweight, will stay at Lightweight

So, is he going to be fighting Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce?

Cage Potato: Cesar Gracie says Melendez will fight Pettis or Penn next

Or is there a mystery fighter at play?

Middle Easy: Expect Takanori Gomi vs. Gilbert Melendez

Plus, click the link to find out about Urijah Faber & Miesha Tate w/ the Alpha Male drama.

MMA Fighting: UFC likely heading to Italy, Spain and France in near future

Fightline: Anderson Silva says he has 10 more years left as a fighter

You know who else has been saying that this week? Yeah, Rampage… who truly is “Mr. T’ in more ways than one.

MMA Mania (Brian Hemminger): Exclusive interview with reality TV star, MMA fighter, and pro-wrestler Jeremiah Riggs

I’m not the one to ever promise everybody a knockout or a submission in the first or second round but I promise you this. When the doors shut, you’re gonna see me go all out there 100 percent leave it all in the cage. I’ve got 15 minutes, three rounds, three five minute rounds to do what I need to do to finish the fight and get my hand raised whether it’s the first, second or third round. No one ever likes going to a decision but in my mind, I want to make him give up. I want to beat him in every round. If it takes me three rounds, if it takes 30 seconds, I want to make him hate life for these next 15 minutes. I’ve got 15 minutes on March 16 at Bellator 61. Me and Trey Houston, my prediction is to do what I need to do and make him hate life for 15 minutes in there with me.

5th Round: Shaquille O’Neal accepts Jose Canseco’s MMA challenge

Caged In (Bleacher Report): Nick Diaz continues to entertain MMA fans in the midst of controversy

Nick’s attorney is Ross Goodman. Grab the popcorn and watch Keith Kizer try to stare down a member of Las Vegas royalty.

Lowkick: Jose Aldo says if Frankie Edgar won’t go to Featherweight, he’ll go to Lightweight

And he’ll be even bigger physically if he fights Frankie at LW.

The Fight Nerd: Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat has finally happened, now go watch the video

MMA Convert: Lorenzo Fertitta feels like a women’s division can exist in MMA

Here’s hoping the Zuffa vision isn’t similar to how WWE views women’s pro-wrestling.

MMA Payout: UFC could go after viewers of illegal streaming web site

Going the RIAA route by suing individuals over piracy is going to work about as well as the strategy has for said RIAA has so far. (Answer: Terrible PR, lousy backlash.)

It does stress, though, just how much PPV is still the core of UFC’s business model.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Rampage suddenly says the magic of T isn’t helping his knees

By Zach Arnold | March 16, 2012

This is why you read our site and folks like Smoogy who could see what was coming a mile away.

To recap the festivities this week:

  1. Rampage Jackson is claiming that using testosterone is going to add 10 more years to his fighting career. He has been pushing testosterone as his miracle elixir for his damaged knees, claiming that modifying his T levels from 420 ng to 600 ng (he wanted to go to 800 ng) has now ‘re-healed’ his knees.
  2. Rampage continued to claim on Twitter that he wanted to fight Mauricio Shogun. This is a fight that he wanted to have on the UFC Japan card but instead got to face Ryan Bader.
  3. UFC & Dana White went on their ‘UFC Tonight’ program on Fuel TV and claimed that Rampage’s last UFC fight will be ‘in the Summer’ against Mauricio Shogun. As Smoogy noted, this was designed for the sheep MMA media to run with the headline unchallenged — and it worked beautifully. Even ESPN ran the headline on their news ticker. Of course, all it was in reality was UFC boxing Rampage into a corner by announcing that he would fight Shogun. So, basically, they announced the scenario that they wanted for Rampage in terms of when his last fight is going to be and who it’s going to be against.
  4. When this announcement happened, I predicted on the site that UFC would consider a way to book Rampage/Shogun in Brazil on the same card as Anderson Silva/Chael Sonnen and that they could play the testosterone card against him by not allowing him to fight on a UFC ‘regulated’ event while using testosterone.

Which leads us to what happened on Thursday. UFC knows that when it comes to their PR & business battle with Rampage that they are dealing with a mental midget. Compare how Rampage handles his business to, say, Nick Diaz’s camp. Yes, I just said compare Rampage to Nick Diaz. Nick looks like a genius compared to Rampage (and for good reason).

Without having PR reps or lawyers doing his bidding, Rampage is fighting the Zuffa machine by himself and is performing as disastrously as you would expect him to. On Tuesday, Rampage made these claims:

Now, let’s flashback to a rant he did on Monday:

So, Rampage wants you to feel sympathy that he missed weight. But we know why he missed weight. He was using testosterone, as he admitted, and suffered from water retention.

Having a full day to absorb UFC’s announcement on Fuel TV, Rampage attempted to put a stop to the talk about him fighting Shogun:

You mean to tell me all that testosterone boosting suddenly isn’t matching up with what the MRIs told him? Or…

The idiot can’t keep a story straight. He tried to claim that things were ‘made up’ during that Fighters Only interview, only to not refute any of the seven major points raised during said interview. He claims that his knees have been ‘re-healed’ thanks to testosterone usage and that he’ll fight for 10 more years… but then claims he got an MRI… and says that he needs surgery on both knees… only to come back half a day later to say that he wants to fight on his own terms.

Newsflash: UFC will simply ice you out on your contract and you won’t make any cash. You better hope that rapping career takes off really well. Don’t worry, your buddy Michelle Beadle on her 0.15 QH-rated SportsNation show put over your Japanese rap performance today — while Skip Bayless trashed your rapping as lame and said your rapping career will be going nowhere.

I did laugh that ESPN credited the video to “ShuHirata1968.” Yes, that Shu Hirata.

The face of T usage in MMA speaks up

Chael Sonnen did his usual troll job, this time attacking Josh Gross and Rampage on Spike TV’s MMA show last night. Of course, what he doesn’t say every time he’s defending his testosterone usage is that the doctor he brought to the California hearings was Dr. Mark Czarnecki, a general practitioner and not (to my knowledge) a board-certified endocrinologist.

Every time one of UFC’s top fighters brings up the T issue, it’s terrible publicity for them and for the sport. How can people inside the business think that the public will buy what they are selling on this topic with a straight face?

Oh yeah, Chael, here’s a reminder from Dr. David Black: ‘testosterone is the base chemical of steroids.’

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

How UFC can play the testosterone card against Rampage

By Zach Arnold | March 14, 2012

The public relations war that Rampage Jackson has played out against the UFC for more money & ‘respect’ has been an utter disaster. Rampage did the infamous Fighters Only interview and that media outlet will not release the audio/video evidence of said interview, thus resulting in Dana & Rampage throwing them under the bus by claiming that Rampage says the interview (Gary Alexander) made up what was said in the interview. Of course, in his attempt to refute what he said was allegedly made up in that Fighters Only interview, Rampage essentially backed up the seven major claims that were made (during his interview with Bas Rutten for Inside MMA).

UFC’s demeanor in their response to Rampage’s damaging tantrums has been very un-Zuffa-like in terms of being patient as opposed to being overly aggressive. Given Rampage’s outcry for wanting a release from the UFC, he went on Twitter and said that he wanted to fight Mauricio Shogun instead of a ‘wrestler who wants to dry hump him.’ Last night on Fuel TV, UFC countered Rampage’s PR attack by claiming that Rampage will have his last UFC fight ‘this Summer’ against Shogun. Hey, Rampage wanted to fight Shogun, so the fans will think, “the UFC’s giving Rampage what he wants.”

However, as the inimitable Smoogy points out, the UFC is playing Rampage like a fiddle:

Did Dana say that Rampage agreed to the fight? Like I said yesterday, if Rampage won’t accept a renewal, UFC will make sure he is the underdog in the last fight on his deal.

This is entirely about money. Rampage doesn’t want to leave UFC and UFC has rode every PPV draw they ever had until the wheels fell off. Rampage has an extravagant lifestyle to maintain and kids to support. He won’t be gracefully riding off into the sunset.

I am let down that so few understand what this Rampage stuff is about. Dana just delivered a public ultimatum, not an official bout. There is no date and Rampage hasn’t made terms for his release. His contract is up, so all Dana did was designate Shogun to send him off.

‘Dear Rampage, want to publicly negotiate with me? Now everyone expects you to man up and fight Shogun. Go fuck yourself.’ – Dana White

I would now make the argument that announced a fight Rampage hasn’t agreed to is poor form, but I don’t want to off as supporting him. Rampage is the epitome of high maintenance. In this instance he bungled a public appeal badly and now UFC has him in a corner.

By announcing the unsigned Rampage/Shogun fight without comment from Rampage, MMA blogs will be helping UFC put him in a corner. Not that Rampage has many options left to respond with. If he says he hasn’t agreed to the fight, the fans will bang on him, not the UFC. If you’re still scoffing about the subtext of public negotiation, where have you been? (Frankie) Edgar just did it. (Anthony) Pettis is doing it right now.

Rampage has three options here. 1) Roll the dice and fight Shogun on UFC’s terms. 2) Renew contract on UFC’s reduced terms. 3) Never fight again.

So, the current company line by UFC is that Rampage will face Shogun ‘this Summer.’ Given that there’s a major Brazilian show coming up this Summer with Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, it’s not a stretch to think that the UFC would have Rampage fight Shogun on home turf.

If the fight happens in Brazil, guess who’s the ‘regulator’ for the show when it comes to UFC in Brazil? The UFC. Marc Ratner and Dr. Jeff Davidson oversee matters. The drug testing. Fighter safety and guys who using TRT (testosterone). We know the UFC isn’t going to say ‘no’ to Sonnen using testosterone while fighting in Brazil.

But what if UFC decided to box Rampage into a corner by telling him he can’t use testosterone?

It’s a dirty question to ask because it would make the UFC look bad over the issue of testosterone usage by fighters. However, Rampage has already made the UFC look bad on that front by doing his public interviews with Fighters Only and Inside MMA. The New York Daily News ran a Victor Conte op-ed on the subject.

So, it’s not like the UFC can run away from the testosterone issue. The issue is not a winner for them. But you know who else the issue is not a winner for? The fighters who use it! Rampage is going around saying that he can fight for another 10 years because he’s using testosterone. That’s not the point of Testosterone Replacement Therapy usage. The point of TRT usage is to get back to normal levels for your age and level of activity at said age. Rampage is 33 years old. He may be an old 33 in terms of ‘fighting age’ but he’s still only 33.

So, if Rampage decides he wants to play hard ball with the UFC over fighting Shogun in an area where UFC is the ‘regulator’ of the show, all the UFC has to do is reject his request for testosterone usage and say, no, you can’t fight in Brazil while using it. Would it put UFC in a pickle due to the fact that Rampage fought at the UFC Japan show while claiming to be using testosterone? Sure. But I wouldn’t expect UFC to go public on any sort of rejection of Rampage’s testosterone usage. If they want to play hardball with Rampage behind the scenes, they have an easy way to flip the testosterone card on him.

And what if they played that card and he started complaining on Twitter about not fighting Shogun because he can’t use testosterone? It would absolutely backfire on him even further and completely erode any sort of public support in his currently negotiation war with Zuffa. Plus, if Rampage refused to fight Shogun, it would give the organization a way to ice him out on his current contract and keep him on the sidelines.

Lorenzo Fertitta yesterday told Kevin Iole that he still sees Rampage having some value as a draw. But let’s not kid ourselves — Rampage has no leverage here in his negotiations with the UFC. The only card I see that Rampage could play against the UFC in order to get money is the martyrdom card. What do I mean by that? Creating fear. The only sort of leverage Rampage could create, in my opinion, is if he decided to reveal everything he knew about medical & drug issues involving himself and potentially other fighters. In other words, a scorched Earth tactic.

“Pay me my hush money and I’ll shut up for good” about UFC doctors, testosterone usage, so on and so forth.

Given Rampage’s erratic behavior during his PR campaign on Twitter and during his two major interviews (Fighters Only and Inside MMA), he has proven to be volatile enough to where he may just say, ‘screw it, I’m not holding back.’

If he played the martyrdom card, it would definitely be a last-ditch tactic based on the calculation that everything else failed during negotiations. Is Rampage the kind of person who could proverbially shoot himself in the foot in this manner? He’s always been fast and loose when it comes to talking controversial subjects, but I didn’t imagine him going on a crusade for testosterone usage a month ago, did you? All bets are off now.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Fight Odds on Fight Opinion: Cruz opens up as -215 favorite over Faber

By Zach Arnold | March 14, 2012

The complete MMA Oddsbreakers 20 show featuring Nick Kalikas, Miguel Iturrate, Derrick Noble, and Nick Thompson.

Fight-1: UFC on FUEL TV 3: Poirier vs. Jung
May 15, 2012 – Fairfax, Virginia
Chan Sung Jung +285 Dustin Poirier -375

Fight-2: UFC on FUEL TV 3: May 15, 2012 – Fairfax, Virginia
Jeremy Stephens +200 Donald Cerrone -260

Fight-3: UFC 146: Live On PPV
May 26, 2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Evan Dunham +240 Edson Barboza -310

Bonus Fight: UFC 148: Cruz vs. Faber 3
Jul 07, 2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Urijah Faber +165 Dominick Cruz -215

For entertainment purposes only.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |

Testosterone capitulation: The UFC, Rampage, & Fighters Only

By Zach Arnold | March 13, 2012

“I think slavery is done.”

When it comes to illustrating absurdity amongst two UFC fighters who currently finds themselves in a pickle (for legal or PR reasons), you could not currently find a more contrasting example than that of one Nick Diaz & Rampage Jackson. Diaz, who got suspended after failing a Nevada drug test for marijuana, has kept his mouth shut on the matter and has let big boy hired guns do the talking. His attorney, Ross Goodman, is about as good as you can get in Las Vegas when it comes to going after a pol like Keith Kizer. Team Diaz channeling the spirit of Jonathan Tweedale is also a fascinating development.

In other words, Team Diaz is actually using their head & their brains to try to get out of their bad situation. The same cannot be said for Rampage Jackson, a man who continues to dig himself into a deeper hole over his interview a few weeks ago with Fighters Only magazine.

Last week, Dana White claimed at a New York City presser that Rampage talked to Lorenzo Fertitta and allegedly told Lorenzo that the interviewer in question (Gary Alexander) made things up regarding allegations about Rampage using testosterone and his doctor’s supposed relationship with the UFC.

Up until Monday, Rampage had not issued any sort of denial about the claims made in the Fighters Only magazine. On Monday night, Rampage made his first indication of a muddled non-denial denial about what was claimed in the Fighters Only magazine interview.

In order to give you a clear illustration of what was initially claimed in the Fighters Only interview, we’ve decided to break down the supposed claims here. Once we establish what those supposed claims were, then we will compare what Rampage allegedly said during the interview with his public statements made to Inside MMA last night.

These are the seven major claims that Gary Alexander wrote that Rampage Jackson had allegedly told him during their interview for Fighters Only Magazine (published February 29th).

Continue reading this article here…

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 38 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Nick Diaz’s attorney uses Jonathan Tweedale’s marijuana defense

By Zach Arnold | March 12, 2012

Last February, Vancouver Athletic Commissioner Jonathan Tweedale did something rather remarkable. The commissioner voiced an argument against a major athletic commissioner (Keith Kizer) over a drug test failure. For one AC to go after another AC publicly was unusual. What made things more unique is that the Commissioner came out in defense of Nick Diaz over his marijuana suspension in Nevada.

In a very detailed & lengthy response, the commissioner said: no disciplinary sanction warranted for Nick Diaz under a principled interpretation of NAC 467.850.

A lot of people read this article. Guess who’s channeling Jonathan’s line of thinking? Nick Diaz’s attorney in Nevada. Attorney Ross Goodman filed a response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Here’s the full text of that filing.

****************

Ross C. Goodman
Nevada Bar No. 7722
GOODMAN LAW GROUP, P.C.
[email protected]
520 S. Fourth St., 2nd Floor
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Telephone: (702) 383-5088
Facsimile: (702) 385-5088
Attorneys for Respondent Nick Diaz

Respondent NICK DIAZ, by and through its attorney of record, ROSS C. GOODMAN, ESQ., of the Goodman Law Group, P.C., and submits this Response and Memorandum of Points and Authorities for consideration before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (“NSAC”).

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES

I. INTRODUCTION

Nick Diaz (“Diaz”) is an authorized medical marijuana patient. As such, he did not test positive for marijuana (which is viewed as a prohibited substance if used without a medical marijuana license). Rather, Mr. Diaz tested for the presence of the inactive metabolite of marijuana known as THC-Carboxylic Acid (“Carboxytic Acid”). Under Nevada law and in Mr. Diaz’s home state of California, however, neither marijuana nor marijuana metabolite is considered a prohibited substance for users of medical marijuana.

In addition, the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) only prohibits marijuana “in-competition” but not “out-of-competition.” In preparation of the fight at issue, Mr. Diaz followed his general practice of stopping the use of medical marijuana eight (8) days before a fight. In WADA’s view, marijuana consumption “out-of-competition” and marijuana metabolites in general, such as the detection of Carboxylic Acid in Mr. Diaz’s post-fight urine test, do not violate the policy prohibiting substances that are considered performance enhancing or potentially dangerous.

As an authorized medical marijuana patient, Mr. Diaz’s consumption is legal in both Nevada and California. Notably, WADA’s limits on marijuana “in-competition”, and the exclusion of marijuana metabolite in general, have been adapted by the NSAC. Accordingly, the presence of a marijuana metabolite is not a prohibited substance under NAC 487.850 and should not, therefore, serve as a basis for any disciplinary action.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Marijuana Metabolite Is Not Defined As a Prohibited Substance For Legal Users of Medical Marijuana.

In 2001, Nevada legalized the use of medical marijuana. See NRS 453A.200. This exempted persons possessing valid registry identification cards from state prosecution for using medical marijuana. Id. In 2009, Nevada moved in line with other states with medical marijuana laws by excluding marijuana and marijuana metabolites as a “prohibited substance”:

484C.080. “Prohibited substance” defined

“Prohibited substance” means any of the following substances if the person who uses the substance has not been issued a valid prescription to use the substance and the substance is classified in schedule I or II pursuant to NRS 453.166 or 453.176 when it is used:

5. Marijuana or marijuana metabolite.

See NRS 484C.080 (emphasis added).

This plain language makes clear that marijuana and marijuana metabolites found in the body as a result of legal consumption are not considered prohibited substances. Here, Mr. Diaz’s physician approved the use of marijuana to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”).2 See Affidavit by Nick Diaz attached as Exhibit “A.” As a result, the presence of Carboxylic Acid (a non-prohibited substance) cannot serve as a basis for discipline.

B. The Legal Consumption of Marijuana Out-of-Competition Is Not Prohibited.

1. WADA Makes Two Important Limitations for Marijuana.

WADA is an independent agency monitoring drug use in sports and has promulgated an International Standard. See WADA’s Prohibited List attached as Exhibit `B.” The NSAC, as well as other regulatory bodies, have adopted the International Standard classifying prohibited substances in categories of “in-competition,” “out-of-competition” and “in particular sports.” Id; See NAC 467.850 (2)(f) (any drug identified by WADA on its Prohibited List is “adopted by reference”).

Such substances as anabolic steroids, growth hormones (GH) and diuretics are prohibited “at all times” compared to marijuana which is prohibited only “in-competition.” Id. In evaluating marijuana, WADA permits such use “out-of-competition” but prohibits such use “in-competition.” The category for Substances Prohibited In-competition includes:

S8. CANNABINOIDS

Natural (e.g. cannabis, hashish, marijuana) or synthetic delta 9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabimimetics [e.g. “Spice” (containing JWHOI8, JWI-I073), HU-210] are prohibited.

Notably, WADA’s International Standard does not prohibit marijuana metabolite in any category. In part, WADA recognizes the long detection period associated with marijuana metabolites may extend weeks and even months after consumption. See Affidavit of John Hiatt, Ph.D. and Curriculum Vitae attached as Exhibit “C.” In addition, marijuana metabolite is not a psychoactive substance and not classified by the Pharmacy Board as a Schedule I or II substance. By way of adopting WADA’s International Standard, the NSAC should similarly find that the presence of Carboxylic Acid is not a prohibited substance.

2. NSAC Adopts WADA ‘s Limitations.

The NSAC has adopted the two limitations promulgated by WADA: (1) marijuana is prohibited only “in-competition”; and (2) excluding marijuana metabolites as a prohibited substance. See NAC 467.850 (2)(f). The evaluation by WADA finds a substance prohibited only if it meets two of the three criteria:

  1. It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance;
  2. It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete;
  3. It violates the spirit of sport

See Exh. “A.”

Mr. Diaz’s general practice of discontinuing medical marijuana eight (8) days before a fight eliminated the possibility of any behavioral and psychological effects associated with the active ingredient of marijuana (THC) which typically lasts a few hours.

As it relates to the marijuana metabolite at issue, there is no medical or scientific evidence to support that Carboxylic Acid is performance enhancing or unsafe. As such, there is no policy advanced by prohibiting; marijuana metabolite resulting from legal consumption eight (8) day before the fight.

3. The Long Detection Window, Makes Marijuana Different from Other Prohibited Substances.

The active ingredient of marijuana (THC) upon ingestion is immediately circulated throughout the body where it is preferentially absorbed by fat tissues because of its chemical properties.5 See Exh. “C”. THC resulting from the regular use of medical marijuana is typically sequestered for long periods of time.

Id. In this post-fight urine test, the presence of Carboxylic Acid may have been elevated by two additional physiological factors not present in recent fights: (1) the increased physical exertion associated with five rounds compared to much shorter fights of 2011 e.g., Evangelista Santos (2 rounds), Paul Daley (1 round) and B.J. Penn (3 rounds); and (2) DIAZ’s uncharacteristic ten pound weight loss compared to an average weight loss of two pounds the day before weigh-ins. Id. The interplay of these physiological factors together with the long detection time for medical marijuana users further explains why WADA (and by adoption NSAC) does not consider metabolites as a prohibited substance.

III. CONCLUSION

In WADA’s view, as adopted by the NSAC, marijuana consumption `but-of-competition” and marijuana metabolites in general, are not considered performance enhancing or unsafe. The policy reasons making such limitations is even more persuasive when detection of marijuana metabolites results from the legal use of medical marijuana eight (8) before the fight. As such, Mr. Diaz did not test positive for a prohibited substance under NAC 487.850 and it is submitted should not be subject to any discipline.

Dated this 5th day of March, 2012.

*********************

AFFIDAVIT OF NICK DIAZ

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN

COMES NOW, NICK DIAZ, and being first duly sworn, swears and deposes as follows:

  1. I have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”).
  2. My physician, Robert E. Sullivan, M.D., (CA License G31309), approved the use of medical marijuana to treat ADHD.
  3. I am in full compliance with the registry laws for medical marijuana in California.
  4. As part of my general practice, I discontinue using medical marijuana eight (8) days before a fight,
  5. Consistent with this general practice, I discontinued use of medical marijuana eight (8) days before the fight which is the subject of this Complaint.
  6. The day before weigh-ins, I had to lose a substantial amount of weight (10 pounds).
  7. In addition, this five round fight required increased physical exertion compared to the three (3) shorter fights of 2011.

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN TO before me this 6th day of March 2012, NICK DIAZ.
LORI L. PENNEY, NOTARY PUBLIC in and for said County and State

**********************

AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN HIATT, Ph.D.

STATE OF NEVADA, COUNTY OF CLARK

COMES NOW, JOHN HIATT, Ph.D., and being first duly sworn, swears and deposes as follows:

  1. I received a Ph.D. from Yale University in the field of organic chemistry and have been qualified in state and military courts as an expert in organic chemistry to include the testing of bodily fluids for drugs and toxic substances (see attached CV).
  2. The legalization of marijuana by several states in recent years, including Nevada, presents a challenge for both athletes and regulators in sporting contests that include urine drug tests.
  3. The active compound in marijuana, Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is rather unique among pharmaceuticals in that it has quite limited solubility in aqueous solutions but is very soluble in oils and fats, including the fatty tissues of the human body.
  4. DIAZ did not test positive for marijuana (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)).
  5. Due to this unusual property (solubility in fatty tissues), the time interval between ingestion and elimination is prolonged and not easily predictable since it depends on multiple variables, including amount of drug ingested, frequency and duration of ingestion, body fat content and metabolic turnover of body fat stores.
  6. DIAZ experienced two physiologic factors which were losing a substantial amount of weight prior to the fight and the increased physical exertion associated with a five round fight compared to previous shorter fights that may have contributed to the elevated presence of inactive metabolites.
  7. The most common testing protocol for detecting illegal use of performance enhancing drugs by athletes is a pre and/or post-contest urine drug test. In the case of marijuana the compound detected by the testing procedure is Delta-9THC-Carboxylic Acid, which is the pharmacologically inactive metabolite of THC.
  8. Since the metabolite may be detectable in the urine for days or even weeks after cessation of use of THC it is not a reliable indicator of current or even recent use.
  9. Prior to legalization this was not an issue since detection of the metabolite was an automatic rule violation with no valid excuse. The advent of the World Anti-Doping Association (“WADA”) and the concept of “in-competition” and “out-of-competition” drug use has also complicated the issue of marijuana use since the metabolite is detectable in the urine for (in some cases) weeks after any pharmacologic effect of the parent drug has ceased.
  10. A post-fight urine test for THC metabolite is not a sufficient or proper means of determining whether an individuals’ prior use of THC is in any way affecting that individual at the time a urine sample is collected.
  11. If an individual has a valid medical prescription for marijuana in some form, then in view of all the uncertainties associated with interpreting the meaning of the presence of THC metabolite in urine, it is not reasonable to reach any conclusion with regard to a persons ability to compete in an athletic contest.
  12. The only logical way to make that determination would be to test a blood sample for the presence of THC. A positive blood test for THC would be an indication of pharmacologic effect at the time of sample collection.
  13. In my opinion to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, the presence of 25 ng/mL of inactive metabolite in DIAZ’s post-fight urine sample is consistent with DIAZ’s protocol of discontinuing medical marijuana use eight (8) days before a fight. Such a break in usage of marijuana would ensure that his normal usage would have no impact on DIAZ’s performance “in-competition” or create a safety risk.

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN TO before me, JOHN HIATT Ph. D.
NICCOLE MARIE PARKER, NOTARY PUBLIC in and for said County and State

************

John E. Hiatt, Ph.D.
8180 Placid Street
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 361-1171

Biographical Information

Education:

Employment:

Other Relevant Information:

Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

If Dan Diaz gets his way, Tapout will be on trial this September

By Zach Arnold | March 12, 2012

Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Central Justice Center

Case Number: 30-2011-00462171-CU-BT-CJC
DANIEL DIAZ VS. TAPOUT, LLC
BUSINESS TORT
Filing date: 03/29/2011

Text of plaintiff claim (filed with court) is below.

*********

MICHAEL W. VIVOLI (Bar No. 184366), JASON P. SACCUZZO (Bar No. 221837), VIVOLI SACCUZZO, LLP
2550 Fifth Avenue, Ninth Floor; San Diego, California 92103
(619) 744-9992 (Tel), (619) 744-9994 (Fax)

Attorney for Plaintiff, DANIEL DIAZ

vs.

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR:

Continue reading this article here…

Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

Rampage’s exquisite timing in making his ‘final stand’ against UFC

By Zach Arnold | March 9, 2012

Rampage Jackson decided that today, of all days, he would make a final stand on Twitter about the UFC. He wants out of his contract. So, he naturally decided the best day to wage his PR campaign on Twitter would be during Bellator airing on MTV2, Smackdown airing on SyFy, and UFC having live Ultimate Fighter qualifying fights on FX.

Rampage started his day by showing positive energy. That seems to be his trademark before he flips the switch 180 degrees.

An hour later…

So, Rampage says UFC has allegedly told him that he’s lost his appeal with the fans. For him, respect = money. Of course, he’s made quite a bit of coin since fighting in the UFC.

No one can figure out who ‘they’ is exactly. The judges? Or your bosses at UFC who bailed your ass out after you went all Monster Truck in So. Cal?

For someone who constantly portrays himself as a victim, he’s made a lot of money in the UFC — way more than he did in PRIDE. Plus, this is a guy who did The Ultimate Fighter with Rashad Evans and, when push came to shove, decided to not fight on home turf in Memphis so that he could do the A-Team movie instead.

Someone should tell Rampage that Bellator’s not on PPV, DREAM’s in hibernation (now a booking agency), and One FC’s the only one running shows in Asia.

It’s time for UFC to call his bluff. Release him. He doesn’t have any great career options open to make the same kind of money that he is right now in the UFC.

So… is there a reason why UFC won’t call his bluff? Hmm…

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

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