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[Eggo]

The LHW division matchups for the forseeable future SHOULD look like this:

Rampage vs UFC notable: Would have been Jardine if not for Alexander, Griffin if not for Jardine, Bonnar if not for steroids. Rampage destroyed the legend yet again, and needs a mid-profile challenger (a la Chuck vs Babalu) to tide him over before his next big-time showdown. My nominee then becomes....Michael Bisping! Undefeated, on a streak, ready to graduate to the next level. In all honesty, he should have one big-time warm-up fight before a title shot (a la Rashad vs Tito), but its really Dana/Silva's fault that hasn't happened already. Bisping has good visibility among the UFC fanbase/TUF crowd, and is a relatively exciting fighter. If he won, he'd at least be a charismatic champion (and a great draw for UK audiences), and if he lost, he'd still be in the mix as far as contenders go.

Liddell vs Houston Alexander: Lets be clear here. Chuck doesn't need or deserve to be coddled, and Chuck doesn't want to be coddled. Alexander either becomes a bonafide star/contender with a win over the Iceman, or Chuck returns to show a dangerous fighter how dangerous he's always been. Think about it; if Chuck loses to Jardine, he's pretty washed up having been beaten by a guy who just got made into a human mop a couple months ago. But if he losses to Alexander, well then maybe he just got caught by the latest up and coming phenom...nothing to be ashamed of.

Shogun vs Tito: Every UFC fan knows what Tito is made of...for better or for worse. What better measuring stick for the talent of the latest dangerous Pride import than one of the UFC's most familiar faces? This way we can finally see if Tito is done-done as a legitimate force in the LHW division. Good exposure for Shogun, good test for Tito. Win-win for both fighters.

Lyoto vs Griffin: Last chance for Griffin! If Lyoto finishes him, he gets a contender match followed by a title shot. If Griffin wins, he buys himself another fight in the UFC. Again, more exposure for Lyoto against a UFC notable, and a redemption shot for Griffin against an undefeated fighter with a number of quality wins.

Babalu vs Evans: The Ortiz draw was a sidestep for Evans, leaving him in limbo between "Great TUF fighter" and "legitimate UFC LHW contender". Babalu is a seasoned veteran on the level of a Tito, and a guy who desperately needs to get back on the winning track against quality opponents. So Evans isn't relegated to fighting mid-level guys again, but he's not immediately made a contender after a mediocre performance. Win-win again..



Henderson should go down to middleweight, fight a contender (hell he should have fought Ace for the number one contender spot), then go on to fight Silva for the title in the fight the entire world wants to see. I know he's perfectly capable of banging with the big boys (in fact I dare say that Dan is more comfortable fighting bigger, slower targets in the LHW division), but I just don't think having him there, vs Rampage in his first fight no less, is anything anyone is really clamoring to see. Either he gets beat and people (people being your average UFC fan who knows nothing about MMA outside of the Octagon) wonder what the hell the big deal was about him, or Rampage loses and everyone considers him a gimmicky champion who got lucky against Golden Boy Chuck. Its a matchup of great fighters, but its not a "great matchup", if you know what I mean.

I don't think Tito would want to step in the cage with Shogun. Tito has everything to lose and little to gain. Would it be a great victory if he won? Sure, but I think most MMA fans in the U.S. don't know who Shogun is yet. I'd love to see the match-up, but I don't know if it makes sense for Tito, unless it's the pre-cursor to a title match.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Plus after Shogun beats Forrest why put him in there with someone Forrest has already beaten. Its a step backwards.

 

[3kuSaS]

MMAweekly.com - both Sherk and Hermes test positive for roids. WTF is happening with this sport? The only good to come out of this is Sherk being stripped of the title.

 

[NME]

MMAweekly.com - both Sherk and Hermes test positive for roids. WTF is happening with this sport? The only good to come out of this is Sherk being stripped of the title.

For the lazy:

Sean Sherk, the reigning UFC World Lightweight Champion, who last competed on July 7, 2007 in Sacramento, has tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite. He has been fined $2,500. His suspension period runs from the conclusion of his bout on July 7, 2007 through the remainder of his licensing year which is June 26, 2008. Furthermore, he has been assessed an additional 10 days in order to fulfill the terms of his suspension (365 total days). The additional days will be added at the beginning of his next licensing year when he reapplies.

Normal levels of Nandrolone range from 2 ng/mL (average person) to 6 ng/mL (athlete engaged in rigorous activity). Mr. Sherk's reported level certified by the Director of Science and Technology from the laboratory that conducted the tests was 12 ng/mL. Both the "A" sample and "B" sample were tested and confirmed as positive.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4359&zoneid=2

**Franca tested positive to Drostanolone. He has been fined $2500 and suspended through his licensing year which is July 5, 2008.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4358&zoneid=2

Though, Franca explains why he did it in the link for his story.

 

[DD-11]

For the lazy:



Though, Franca explains why he did it in the link for his story.

What a moron (sherk, possibly franca). There goes his career and any credibility he ever had. I wonder who BJ is going to walk through to get the title?

 

[dem]

Why the **** are these guys still doing steriods??
They dont realize theyre being TESTED???

jesus ****

Sherk can kiss his title goodbye.

 

[NME]

I wonder who BJ is going to walk through to get the title?

The winner of Stevenson v. Pellegrino, if (and this may be a big if now) he stays at 155lbs.

 

[dem]

rumour is that Gomi went to K1 right?

If so thats a shame..
Coulda had a Gomi vs Penn rematch or something for the title.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Sean Sherk you wont be missed.

Too bad Dana hates tournaments because this will be the perfect situation.

An 8 man tourny featuring.......

BJ Penn
Din Thomas
Frankie Edgar
Kenny Florian
Joe Stevenson
Tyson Griffin
Roger Huerta
Kurt Pellegrino

 

[DD-11]

Sean Sherk you wont be missed.

Too bad Dana hates tournaments because this will be the perfect situation.

An 8 man tourny featuring.......

BJ Penn
Din Thomas
Frankie Edgar
Kenny Florian
Joe Stevenson
Tyson Griffin
Roger Huerta
Kurt Pellegrino

Why? Most of those guys can't hold BJ's jock strap.

 

[dem]

Dana is going to be PISSSSED :lol

They were pushing Sherk hard.. and he comes out and does this..

I cant wait to hear what he has to say

 

[Big-E]

Sherk just ruined his entire career. I doubt hes going to be able to win his belt back.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Why? Most of those guys can't hold BJ's jock strap.

Well then BJ can prove it. Because he really aint done shit in a while. Beating Jens doesnt mean much. Most of these guys would whip Jens ass.

BJ would easily be my favorite to win the tournament. But I sure as hell wouldnt give a guy who is 1-2 in the last 2 years a free ride to the title when a tournament could be so much damned fun. Sadly it will never happen.

 

[3kuSaS]

Sherk just ruined his entire career. I doubt hes going to be able to win his belt back.

Sylvia won his belt back after getting busted forjuicing - although the UFC was not really in the public eye like it is now. Perhaps Dana won't give Sherk another shot. With the sport starting to grow like it is, having a roided-up champ aint exactly good for its image.

 

[Rolio]

I support KenFlo. And the saying of the name "KENFLO!"

 

[Brian Fellows]

Sylvia won his belt back after getting busted forjuicing - although the UFC was not really in the public eye like it is now. Perhaps Dana won't give Sherk another shot. With the sport starting to grow like it is, having a roided-up champ aint exactly good for its image.

Sylvia was in the weak HW division though and had probably fought more regularly than Sherk. Sherk just spent like 9 or 10 months on the shelf now he's gonna miss another year in the fastest growing division in the UFC. It will be alot tougher for him than it was for Big Tim.

 

[Asbel]

Wow. I hope Sherk has a good explanation with all the supplements he pops.

 

[Boogie]

MMAweekly.com - both Sherk and Hermes test positive for roids. WTF is happening with this sport? The only good to come out of this is Sherk being stripped of the title.

Sean Sherk on steroids? Never would have guessed.

 

[Asbel]

Sherk is appealing.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Sean-Sherk-Plans-To-Challenge-Drug-Test-Result.html

“I'm fairly convinced that there's absolutely been a total mistake here,” said Greg Nelson, Sherk’s trainer. “I have absolutely no recollection of anything of that nature. I know his training and how dedicated he is to eating and doing everything as pure and clean as possible.”

Nelson, who said Sherk takes 22 over-the-counter supplements a day, admitted he had not yet spoken to the UFC lightweight champion about the positive test.

http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=4344

 

[DD-11]

Sean Sherk on steroids? Never would have guessed.

They must have cut rachelle leah and sherk shooting up from the All Access show.

 

[Eggo]

Sean Sherk on steroids? Never would have guessed.

LAWLZ. Hopefully, Dana enacts some strict punishment/rules for this. Bad publicity for a budding sport.

 

[Hollywood_mIRC]

To be clear - what is Sherk banned from? The UFC alone - does that mean he can participate in other organizations, even UFC-affiliated ones like PRIDE (if they ever run another event)? I know Gracie tested positive and apparently got his license revoked in California.

 

[Hollywood_mIRC]

Reading this, its actually kinda sad and makes me empathize a little with Franca - although I don't get the connection of how he says he is living paycheck to paycheck - and how taking steroids helping him in any way - he still lost, and as it turned out - if he just fought without the roids and Sherk tested positive, he would have been in line for antoher title shot most likely.

This statement was provided to MMAWeekly on behalf of Hermes Franca to address his positive test for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone, as reported by the California State Athletic Commission after Franca's bout with Sean Sherk at UFC 73:


"In the next few days, the results from the California Commission will be released. The tests will show that I had a "banned substance" in my system.

I would like to apologize to my fans, the UFC, my students and family. I offer only an explanation and not an excuse. I made a decision during a difficult time in my training for the fight that I regret.

About 8 weeks out from the fight, I badly injured my ankle during a training session. For the following week I had rested it, rehabbed it and tried to work around the injury. It was obvious that I could not train as required.

I contacted the UFC and explained my injury and how I could not possibly train to the level I thought I would need in order to be properly prepared for my fight. I asked the UFC if we could push the fight out to the following UFC with the chance that it could happen. They explained that they could not do that and that the card had been set and it isnt as easy as just moving around a fight. I totally understood their position. They asked me to keep them informed should I not be able to fight.

I had not fought for 5 months. Fighting is literally how I put food on my wife and childs table and how I pay my bills. As a fighter though, even at this level, I live a simple life and I literally live from fight to fight. Not getting a paycheck for another few months and losing my chance to fight Sean for the title was overpowering. Fighting is the life I chose and I love it.

As a lightweight fighter, our purses are comparatively
small. The public sees the payouts. As lightweights, we do not pull down the money anything near the bigger guys. Its just the way it is. I think Sean fought and defended his title for less than $30,000. Its no ones fault, its just the market. I love the sport, I love the people in the
sport.

At this point I was desperate and needed anything I could to get my injury as close to healing as possible and be able to recover from the daily training regimen I was going through. I made the shortsighted choice to hopefully accelerate the healing process and allow me to keep training. Under the pressure of literally not being able to pay next months bills I made a choice. I had to fight and did whatever I could to do so.

I hope my fans, students, the UFC and the public accept my
sincere apology. Whatever punishment is dictated by the California Athletic Commission I will understand. I would like to get through this very difficult time and the times ahead and get back to fighting. All the best to my fans and much thanks to my family and friends that continue to support me during these times.

Hermes Franca "


**Franca tested positive to Drostanolone. He has been fined $2500 and suspended through his licensing year which is July 5, 2008.

 

[DD-11]

Reading this, its actually kinda sad and makes me empathize a little with Franca - although I don't get the connection of how he says he is living paycheck to paycheck - and how taking steroids helping him in any way - he still lost, and as it turned out - if he just fought without the roids and Sherk tested positive, he would have been in line for antoher title shot most likely.

I don't buy any of that crap. All these fighters have excuse after excuse. He cheated and lost. Sherk cheated and win and then lost. They're both losers. When a guy like Kenny Florian can compete without a single physical gift, it pisses me off even more that these jackasses are juicing to compete. It also helps because outside of Silvia, Sherk is the most boring fighter in the UFC.

 

[SyNapSe]

I don't buy any of that crap. All these fighters have excuse after excuse. He cheated and lost.

He specifically said he wasn't making any excuses. It's just an explanation of what happened. He was just trying to make it to his fight, and it's not that hard to believe. It's not like Franca is ripped like Sherk. He took the shortcut and now he knows he's going to pay for it.

It is too bad that the rate of pay these guys receive still isn't enough to really keep them afloat.

 

[Bishman]

Sigh wtf is happening.

Since Sherk appealed I have faith he didn't do roids. How stupid would you have to be to do roids and your are in the main event.

 

[MaX_PL]

I def. wont miss Sherk. Steroids are BS.

 

[Hitman]

So all this time Sherk and the "athleticism" he used to win his fights was a sham. I'm glad he's gone. I'm tired of seeing him power his way to victories by pinning opponents on the ground.

Also what's the story with Franca using them?

 

[Bishman]

TUF 6 is completed.

Just a FYI....well everyone TUF 6 is officially done taping. I was in the middle of class at Matt Serra's brazilian jiu jitsu academy where I am a student and in walks Matt Serra - said he got back from the taping last night and let us take the first peek at the new team jersey's for the season and promises this TUF to be one not to be forgotten - especially the first episode.

 

[Ned Flanders]

Plus after Shogun beats Forrest why put him in there with someone Forrest has already beaten. Its a step backwards.

The post wasn't about matchups after the current matchups occur (ie Shogun fights Griffin), it was about what the matchups should be today if I were matchmaker (ie Page doesn't fight Hendo, he fights Bisping etc).

Anyway...DAMN @ Sherk/Franca. You'd like to think that no one would be stupid enough to do something like that considering they knew they'd be tested.

I'm curious as to how much ambiguity there can be with regards to the testing. I remember hearing Floyd Landis on a radio show talking about his appeal after being stripped of his Tour de France victory, and it seemed like there was a lot of potential room for error when it came to steroid testing.

 

[FLUXCapacitor]

Sean Sherk, the reigning UFC World Lightweight Champion, who last competed on July 7, 2007 in Sacramento, has tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite. He has been fined $2,500. His suspension period runs from the conclusion of his bout on July 7, 2007 through the remainder of his licensing year which is June 26, 2008. Furthermore, he has been assessed an additional 10 days in order to fulfill the terms of his suspension (365 total days). The additional days will be added at the beginning of his next licensing year when he reapplies.

Normal levels of Nandrolone range from 2 ng/mL (average person) to 6 ng/mL (athlete engaged in rigorous activity). Mr. Sherk's reported level certified by the Director of Science and Technology from the laboratory that conducted the tests was 12 ng/mL. Both the "A" sample and "B" sample were tested and confirmed as positive.

Couldn't it be possible that Sherk just trained so hard that it naturally increased his Nandrolone level to such a high amount? If you watched UFC All Access which showed his training routine, you have to admit it is pretty crazy.

 

[DD-11]

Couldn't it be possible that Sherk just trained so hard that it naturally increased his Nandrolone level to such a high amount? If you watched UFC All Access which showed his training routine, you have to admit it is pretty crazy.

No, that's not possible. And the margin for error is so small, that an appeal isn't even needed. Unless they tested the wrong test tube, sherk is guilty.

 

[dskillzhtown]

LAWLZ. Hopefully, Dana enacts some strict punishment/rules for this. Bad publicity for a budding sport.

Dana should strip him. Right now, he has to come down hard on him because of the political atmosphere right now.

 

[Brian Fellows]

The post wasn't about matchups after the current matchups occur (ie Shogun fights Griffin), it was about what the matchups should be today if I were matchmaker (ie Page doesn't fight Hendo, he fights Bisping etc).

Well nevermind then. But really I was just looking for an excuse to say that Forrest got screwed anyway.

 

[Boogie]

To be clear - what is Sherk banned from? The UFC alone - does that mean he can participate in other organizations, even UFC-affiliated ones like PRIDE (if they ever run another event)? I know Gracie tested positive and apparently got his license revoked in California.

He's banned from MMA competition for a year. If you try to circumvent a SAC ban, you pretty much get banned for life from almost any state with an Athletic Commission.

Those two won't be fighting for a year.

 

[SyNapSe]

He's banned from MMA competition for a year. If you try to circumvent a SAC ban, you pretty much get banned for life from almost any state with an Athletic Commission.

Those two won't be fighting for a year.

Can they not go to other countries and fight?

 

[Boogie]

Can they not go to other countries and fight?

Yes, they could.

But they won't. Because if they circumvent a ban by fighting overseas, the State Athletic Commission will get all pissed, and probably ban them for life.

 

[Bishman]

[QUOTE="Pete Spratt's myspace]
This is my new training partner Rodrigo Perdeu Blackbelt under Saulo Ribiero. He's had one MMA fight in which he won by submission. He is training me in Gi and no gi and I am teaching him standup! Look out for him in the near future at 25 he has a bright future ahead of him. He has great credentials 5 time world champ, judo champ all kinds of stuff. Ask Saulo about him, hehe. We train at Powerteam Brazilian Juijitsu in San Antonio, TX. For me...... he will ensure that when I retire I will be on top of my game![/QUOTE]

4 years too late?

I am happy that he is finally learning some bjj. It is amazing that he lasted this long in MMA without any ground skills. Guess better late than never. He could be the Cro Cop, Anderson Silva of the WW division once he gets his bjj skills down.

 

[Asbel]

4 years too late?

That's what I'm thinking but hey, if Marcus Davis is subbing people in the UFC, why not Spratt.

 

[dem]

There are those of you who are going to believe that Sherk used steroids regardless of what he says or what happens with his appeals. This is not to you. I write this to those of you who will actually weigh the evidence and keep an open mind. I am a close teammate of Sherk and have never known him to use anything illegal. And after hearing his response to his positive drug test, I sincerely believe it to be a false positive.

Sherk trains harder than anyone I have ever met. He takes an ungodly amount of supplements and maintains a rigorous diet in order to train the way he does. The fact is, Sherk's level of nandralone was very low. Sherk tested at a 12. An athlete who uses nandralone should test between 40 and 80. So the only way Sherk could have used steroids and tested at 12 is if he was coming off of a cycle. In order to be coming off of a cycle, he would have had to of taken the steroids around the time he was having surgery on his shoulder � a time when he was not lifting or exercising whatsoever. Now you tell me what sense does it make that an athlete who lives a very strict lifestyle and has passed numerous drug tests in the past would go on a cycle at a time when he couldn't even exercise?

Moreover, increased exercise increases your nandralone levels naturally. And seeing how Sherk trains harder than anyone I have ever met, it makes sense that his levels would naturally be higher. On top of that, supplements can sometimes give false positives. Again, the fact that Sherk takes so many supplements is conducive to the idea that this is a false positive.

Sherk is appealing the drug test. I believe subsequent drug tests and testing of his supplements will prove that Sherk did not cheat. Sherk is someone who has dedicated his life to mma and has done it cleanly. I feel terrible for him that his reputation has been smeared through no wrong doing of his own. I ask that you consider all the facts and reserve judgment until that time.

Nick Thompson

There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out suggesting Sherk's test may be a false positive. Maybe he's just a SUPERFREAK.

 

[Boogie]

There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out suggesting Sherk's test may be a false positive. Maybe he's just a SUPERFREAK.

I'd like to believe that, and I certainly don't know the first thing about steroid testing, but Thompson being a teammate of Sherk's hinders his credibility as far as I'm concerned.

And hell, Thompson's always on the UG playing up his teammates and running damage control. He's the one-man Brock Lesnar hype machine.

 

[Bishman]

B.J Penn responds to Sean Sherk being on steroids.

B.J. also says: "Show some balls, fight B.J. Penn without steroids."

New Video Interview with B.J. Penn:

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_201205427.html

 

[dem]

I have seen on this site and others in the past few days many misconceptions of what is the cause of the false positive test result(assuming you believe it)

Just to give you guys some insight. It's not the supplements that are contaminated.

If anything it would be that Sherk was overloading his system with Amino Acids and or Proteins and in a sense "tricked" his body into thinking those were the correct levels in his body.

That being said, Nandrolone is produced by the human body naturally between a 2-6 ng/ml level. When he increased the amounts of the Amino Acids and or the Protein his body compensated for the increase by increasing his Nandrolone levels.

Furthermore, the people that are saying it is a badly timed cycle are completely off.

Nandrolone as a injectable steroid stays in you're system for 18-24 months. Sean Sherk's last fight before Hermes Franca was against Kenny Florian 9 months ago. If Sean Sherk was using an injectable form of Nandrolone his positive test results would have been much higher than 12 ng/ml. As the minimal half life of Nandrolone is 18 months. So if he was using Nandrolone as an injectable steroid he would have been using it at an ineffective level.

To think a high level athlete like Sean Sherk is incapable of finding the resources and knowledge to use steroids properly is just inane.

I hope this helps people understand a bit better whats going on.

As always if any of you have any questions or concerns about any type of drug or alcohol feel free to ask. All conversations will be kept confidential.

Sherk is just a superfreak!
BELIEVE

 

[Ned Flanders]

4 years too late?

I am happy that he is finally learning some bjj. It is amazing that he lasted this long in MMA without any ground skills. Guess better late than never. He could be the Cro Cop, Anderson Silva of the WW division once he gets his bjj skills down.

Powerteam is right up the street from me. I've met a couple of their guys and they encouraged me to come train after they found out that I do some MT. Apparently the place has become a Mecca of sorts for BJJ in Texas. I've actually met Pete's brother-in-law as well. You're right about him probably being too late with learning BJJ, but its not as much about his age, as it is about him having lost out on a lot of great opportunities along the way.

 

[Luckyman]

Dana should get Cung Le now.. is he free?

 

[EviLore]

Sean Sherk on steroids? Never would have guessed.

Yep, my thoughts exactly after seeing this pic back in the ufc 73 weigh-in...

surprise surprise!

 

[Boogie]

Dana should get Cung Le now.. is he free?

No, he's with Strikeforce, and isn't about to be put against a dangerous opponent any time soon.

 

[Sinatar]

Dana should get Cung Le now.. is he free?

Why? You anxious to see him get his ass kicked or something?

 

[karasu]

wow, really underestimating Cung Le here.

 

[Future Trunks]

Hey Boogie! I got promoted to Blue belt today!