The battleground has been already been set for this coming Saturday night. During its first ever live event, Affliction will go toe to toe with the UFC. It may be only one battle but, considering all the pre-fight activity, it may be a battle that turns into a larger war.

It is obvious that there is no love lost between the two organizations. UFC President Dana White has come out and publicly denounced the clothing company. In turn, Affliction president Tome Atencio has played a more passive-aggressive role and even went as far as to insinuate the two organizations could work together in the future. That simple statement may have just been enough to make White’s blood boil. (more…)

Earlier this week, UFC President made some scathing remarks regarding Affliction’s latest attempt to join the growing contingent of mma organizations. Prior to that, White banned UFC fighters from wearing any Affliction attire whatsoever. And now, Affliction President Tom Atencio claims he wants to work in conjunction with the UFC.

Atencio recently told TAGG Radio that he could see Affliction and UFC putting together some sort of unified title event. However, he also didn’t hesitate to state that White is obviously threatened by Affliction.

So where does Atencio really stand on this matter? Is he offering White and olive branch in an attempt to have the two organizations work together or is it just nothing more than idle chatter?

Whatever the case, it could lead to an interesting future in the sport of mixed martial arts. In addition to watching fights inside the cage, fans could be treated to a war of organizations as well. Mmajunkie.com has more on Atencio’s latest comments.

Dana White recently announced that the UFC has no plans to implement any new weight classes to the organization. This announcement comes in light of The Association of Boxing Commissions recent adaptations of an entire new range of weight classes. Regardless of that decision, White is opting to stick with what has been working, and that idea seems to be a very wise move on his behalf.

Currently, the talent level is extraordinarily high in each weight class throughout the UFC. Adding more divisions into the mix may have an adverse effect. It is extremely likely that adding more divisions could thin out the talent level in each class. That would lead to less compelling match-ups in a top heavy league with no bottom to weight it down. Major League Baseball is a perfect example.

The addition of entirely too many teams in Major League Baseball has made for a less talented conglomerate of pitchers spread throughout the league. Players who should not even be worthy enough to throw batting practice are now signing multi-million dollar checks. The bottom line is that it makes for a product with a lot more quantity, but a lot less quality.

Fighters like BJ Penn and Randy Couture need to constantly be put to the test against the best. Not only does it make for a more competitive fight, it forces each fighter to remain at the top of their game. There will always be other organizations that will showcase lesser talent, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Even Major League Baseball has an abundance of minor league affiliates. These smaller organizations in the world of mixed martial arts could prove to have the same purpose. After all, not every athlete can make the jump to the major leagues without some seasoning.

The UFC is far and away the major leagues of mixed martial arts. And to maintain it’s elite status, the organization has a responsibility to feature the best of the best. It has done that adequately and if something isn’t broken then why bother to try and fix it? So White and company should take a lesson from major league baseball and tread carefully over the waters of expansion. For it is quality and not quantity that sells.

UFC President Dana White is considering revamping the WEC. Recent reports have hinted that White may move the fighters in the 185 and 205 pound divisions from the WEC over to the UFC. The WEC would then be left with only four weight classes and will concentrate solely on the smaller fighters. Already without a heavyweight division, the WEC is a haven for smaller, quicker fighters. However, eliminating the middleweight and light heavyweight classes from the WEC might wind up imploding.

With so many new organizations sprouting up in the sport of mixed martial arts, it might be wise to keep a decent variety of fighters flowing through the WEC. Heavyweights are always a huge draw as audiences continued to be fascinated with the most gargantuan of opponents. That doesn’t mean that the WEC should go out and sign up a new gang of heavyweights nor does it mean that mma audiences do not appreciate its smaller combatants.

Yet, White should consider the fact that the WEC might have to compete with more organizations in the future. Keeping the WEC stocked with talent from the bantamweight to the light heavyweight divisions might just ensure that leagues like Strikeforce and EliteXC do not bypass the WEC and hone in on White’s baby, the UFC.

Another drawback of moving all those fighters over to the UFC would be an overflow of talent. If every 185 and 205 pounder were to migrate to the UFC, there wouldn’t be enough opportunities for all those fighters. That would lead fighters to begin an exodus to other organizations where they might be guaranteed more action. Losing out on that talent could hurt White in the long run as other organizations could begin to establish themselves.

White has already shown his competitive nature in scheduling UFC events directly opposite those of other organizations. His latest move came when he put together a free Spike TV event that will air opposite Affliction’s first ever pay-per-view event. Perhaps White should revisit that same mindset before he decides to flood the UFC with an excess amount of fighters.

The WEC is clearly the second most esteemed mma organization and White controls that as well. Why not capitalize on both organizations and continue to upgrade the class in the WEC just as he has done in the UFC? With more and more organizations rising up every month, it might be wise for White to fend off this new competition with the WEC before he has to resort to using the UFC to put down his opponents.

UFC president Dana White threw a counter punch after Affliction decided to launch its first ever pay-per-view event. Now, Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio claims that he finds the move flattering. Flattering? That might not be the first word to pop out of someone’s mouth after being a hit by a much stronger opponent.

Atencio also made the claim that the UFC would not have made such a move if it didn’t see Affliction as a legitimate threat. With the popularity of mma continuing to climb comes the advent of more organizations there are and the better it bodes for the sport. That also means the UFC will have be in for more of a fight in the future.

The UFC threw a similar punch to the EliteXC back on May 31 when it countered EliteXC’s first network television event with a Chuck Liddell special on Spike TV. Regardless of how many people did tune in to watch that Kimbo Slice debacle, the EliteXC probably wasn’t very flattered by White’s move. MMAjunkie chimes in with the entire Atencio interview.

Even though Jesse Taylor’s drunken antics got him booted off The Ultimate Fighter, he still just might get the chance to step into the octagon. Taylor kicked out a limousine window and then harassed women at a Las Vegas hotel while boasting “I’m a UFC Fighter.” Just a couple weeks later, Taylor’s words may very well come to fruition.

Rumors have surfaced across the world wide web about Taylor’s involvement in UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19th. Although those rumors are not yet confirmed, the possibility of the fight even taking place questions the scruples of UFC President Dana White.

White talked a good game when he sent Taylor home on The Ultimate Fighter television show. He preached how a person who behaves like that has no place in the UFC. And for a few moments, White appeared to be a man of principle. Now, with these new rumors swirling, those principles may have been choked right out of White.

There is no doubt, spectators would raise a brow of interest if Taylor does indeed step into the octagon on July 19th. He has proven that he has what it takes to compete with top notch fighters, but his drunken antics may have made him more famous than his fighting prowess.

So why wouldn’t White attempt to reap the benefits and sign Taylor up for UFC Fight Night 14? Some might raise a brow of skepticism if White reneges and allows Taylor to fight in the UFC. But the bottom line is that Taylor would draw interest and put a few more dollars in White’s pocket. Keeping that in mind, there’s a good chance that these Taylor rumors just might turn into reality.

UFC’s highly anticipated showdown between Forrest Griffin and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is now less than a week away. Next Saturday night, the two will finally take center stage and square off in the octagon. While Griffin is most recognized as the first Ultimate Fighter, Jackson carries with him the notoriety of the man who dismantled Chuck Liddell. Yet, this fight could be a defining moment for both men.

Jackson has since established himself as the man to beat in the light heavyweight division. A win would further cement the foundation he is building as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. Adversely, a loss may drop him down a notch and hinder his credibility. That doesn’t mean that Griffin is not a worthy opponent. But if Griffin can came out with a victory, he could find himself catapulted up to the same echelon as Jackson. Putting forth a game effort against Rampage just won’t be enough to elevate him to that same status.

A long time coming

Although the fight is still a few days away, the stage was set a long time ago. This past season, both Griffin and Jackson were coaches during the latest Ultimate Fighter saga. And that was by no coincidence. Throughout the season, the two seemed to get along. However, there always seemed to be an underlying tension in the air. In casting the two, UFC president Dana White carefully positioned them both as though they were chess pieces. Neither man made any bold moves during the Ultimate Fighter series, but rather waited until this week for the chance to say check mate.

In the past, both Griffin and Jackson also shared a similar opponent in Mauricio Rua. Rua was Griffin’s latest victim in a dramatic match that ended late in the third round this past September. Jackson is also no stranger to Rua as Rampage felt his wrath during a PRIDE match-up in 2005 in which Rua scored a first round knockout.

Needless to say, a lot of hype and history has led up to the Jackson-Griffin battle. More hype will follow in the week to come, and on Saturday both fighters will make history. There has been so much building up to this event, that anything less than the dramatic would be a bit of let down.

This year’s Ultimate Fighter finale will take place Saturday night in Las Vegas, although there will be a slight twist to the final bout. One of the fighters who earned the right to step into the octagon on Saturday night had that right pulled out from underneath of him. Finalist Jesse Taylor was issued his walking papers by UFC president Dana White after his recent meltdown in Sin City.

White dismissed Taylor after he was caught on video tape kicking out a window of a limousine and subsequently terrorizing women inside a Las Vegas hotel. Furthermore, he boasted to security that he was a UFC fighter, as if that simple fact would excuse his behavior. The move didn’t sit well with White.

A New Ultimate Fighter

As a result, Amir Sadollah will replace Taylor and Take on CB Dollaway for the right to be crowned the Ultimate Fighter during its seventh season. The move showed a lot of grit as well as the execution of class on White’s behalf. In the eyes of many, mma fighters are simply revered as nothing more than bruisers and thugs. And, in some circles, even mindless barbarians.

Taylor’s behavior only gave credence to those theories. Yet, White’s decision to nix Taylor has attempted to contradict those theories. Regardless of what transpires inside the octagon, White sent a clear cut message to the mass public as well as the rest of the fighters in the UFC. That message was simply that such behavior will not be tolerated.

In the world of professional sports, so many athletes tarnish their name and the name of their sport because of their behavior outside of the sport. In the recent past, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick fell victim to off the field problems and as a result, he now resides in an 8×11 cell.

But Taylor also wasn’t the only one to fall victim to the perils of Sin City. Las Vegas seduced the NFL’s “Pacman” Jones more than a year ago and prohibited him from pursuing an immediate future in football. While these may just be isolated incidents, each one grabs major headlines and sticks out in the forefront of most people’s minds. Despite most of the positives generated by these sports, these incidents batter them with a black eye.

Going, going, gone

Nowadays, the name of a home run king cannot be uttered with out the word steroid following that name. In a lesser publicized move, the EliteXC banned women’s fighter Carina Damm for one year after she tested positive for steroids. The move took place this past April and nullified a scheduled women’s bout on the past EliteXC television event. Without many women grabbing headlines in the sport, it was a bold move for the EliteXC to take such a drastic measure.

The WEC also got into the act and issued a six month medical suspension to Urijah Faber because of an injury to his hand that was sustained during his last bout with Jens Pulver. Now how many organizations would prohibit a player/fighter from participating because of a medical injury?

It was pretty much a known fact that former Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre was on a steady diet of Demerol throughout his NFL career. Nonetheless, no NFL representative ever stepped in and even questioned the status of his health, nonetheless how many pills he was popping at halftime.

Although some may look on the sport of mixed martial arts as one of brutality, it is doing an excellent job of showing it is anything but that. White’s most recent move to ban Taylor is just the latest to show that the UFC wants to be recognized as an organization equipped with a conscious.

A lasting theory?

Now, would White had move such a move if Rampage Jackson had kicked out the window of a limousine? That question doesn’t have to be answered even though White gave the impression that such behavior will not be tolerated. And he evidenced the fact, showing that Taylor is not above the law.

A great deal of athletes in this day and age adhere to a mindset that would repute White’s actions. Lucrative contracts, millions of adoring fans and astronomical endorsement deals lead a lot of athletes to believe as though they can behave however they choose. That way of thinking may suffice in other organizations, but White has made a stand claiming that it will not be part of the UFC.

As the sport of mixed martial arts continues to grow, White is likely to get more opportunities to test his theory. For it is only a matter of time before someone decides to let the fame, fortune and perhaps even the luster of Las Vegas get the better of them. It will be then when the world will get to see if White can duplicate the same sentiment he expressed in his decision to dismiss Taylor.

Dana White on Opie and Anthony

Interview Recap:
Tito is an idiot
Tito is shit
Tito is smoke and mirrors
Fedor’s managers are crazy Russians who only care about themselves
Fedor is shit and hasnt fought anyone
Affliction is f-ng stupid
Dana single handedly changed the fight business
UFC live is the greatest live sporting event ever made
Kimbo beat a guy 1 step away from being a corpse
Kimbo is a freak show
Uriah would kick the shit out of Kimbo
Dana drives a F-Car
Worldwide UFC will be bigger than the NFL

Well that was fun - thanks for vintage Dana.