UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz

[GeneChing]

What? No post-fight comments here?

Ok, I'll start. It's all about the RNC. Honestly, that and how to fall were the only things I remember from my childhood training in Judo.

Congrats to both Tate and Diaz. I've always liked Tate. She fought the fight Ronda should have fought - deep distance until she could close that gap. I saw Diaz fight in 2011 in STRIKEFORCE-Diaz-vs-Cyborg. He's local, a vegan and a medical marijuana advocate. 'Twas a good show for UFC, at least what I saw of it (which was just these two fights).

[GeneChing]

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up...

UFC 196 medical suspensions: Nate Diaz suspended until 4/20
By Shaun Al-Shatti  @shaunalshatti on Mar 7, 2016, 5:05p 18



Either someone at the Nevada Athletic Commission has a sense of humor, or coincidence is king, because Nate Diaz received a medical suspension that is almost too good to be true in the aftermath of his UFC 196 victory over Conor McGregor.

After submitting McGregor with a spectacular second-round rear-naked choke, Diaz has been sidelined until April 20 due to a laceration over his right eye.

For those unaware, April 20 has become somewhat of a cult holiday in cannabis culture, and Diaz, along with older brother Nick Diaz, has never been shy about admitting his proclivity to partake in the increasingly legal recreational drug.

UFC 196 took place March 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The main card aired live on pay-per-view.

Humor aside, only five fighters from the event were issued potentially lengthy medical sentences. Ilir Latifi (toe), Siyar Bahadurzada (jaw), Brandon Thatch (left foot), Nordine Taleb (left knee), and Marcelo Guimaraes (left knee) all will require doctor's clearance on various injuries sustained during their fights, or be held out of competition until Sept. 5.

The complete list of UFC 196 medical suspensions can be found below.

Ilir Latifi: Requires x-ray on left second toe, if positive then requires clearance by doctor or no contest until 09/05
Siyar Bahadurzada: Requires doctor's clearance on jaw or no contest until 09/05; minimum suspension no contest until 03/27, no contact until 03/20
Brandon Thatch: Requires x-ray on left foot, if positive then requires clearance by doctor or no contest until 09/05; minimum suspension no contest until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
Nordine Taleb: Requires x-ray or MRI on left knee, also requires doctor's clearance or no contest until 09/25
Marcelo Guimaraes: Requires x-ray or MRI on left knee, also requires doctor's clearance or no contest until 09/25; minimum suspension no contest until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
Nate Diaz: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05 due to laceration over right eye
Erick Silva: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
Chas Skelly: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
Julian Erosa: Suspended until 04/20, no contact until 04/05
Valentina Shevchenko: Suspended until 04/05, no contact until 03/27 due to left eye laceration
Justin Salas: Suspended until 04/05, no contact until 03/27 due to laceration under right eye

[GeneChing]

Nate Diaz's former agency files lawsuit over contract dispute
1:11 PM PT
Brett Okamoto
ESPN Staff Writer

Dallas-based sports agency The Ballengee Group has filed a civil lawsuit against UFC star Nate Diaz, claiming he failed to pay the agency for its services related to several of his fights, including a lucrative two-fight rivalry with Conor McGregor.

The Ballengee Group filed the suit in district court in Texas this week. According to the complaint, which ESPN obtained a copy of, the plaintiffs seek more than $1 million.

The lawsuit alleges that Diaz, 32, assigned The Ballengee Group as his agent of record in 2014. The agency claims it negotiated on behalf of Diaz a total of four fights, including both contests against McGregor last year.

Attorney Jason Friedman, who is representing The Ballengee Group, told ESPN that Diaz cut ties with the agency around July 2016, one month before the second McGregor fight. Diaz's disclosed pay for that event, UFC 202, was $2 million.

"The Diaz-McGregor fight was one of the highest-grossing fights of all time, and The Ballengee Group negotiated that deal for Nate," Friedman said. "He left them at the altar. The Ballengee Group brought him to the show, and he left them at the altar.

"The Ballengee Group made several attempts to work this out and they were completely rebuffed by Diaz and his camp."

When reached by ESPN, Diaz's publicist Zach Rosenfield said, "We have no comment at this time."

The Ballengee Group came to represent Diaz through his older brother, Nick, who is also a UFC star and former Strikeforce welterweight champion.

According to the lawsuit, the Diaz brothers encouraged a third UFC fighter, female bantamweight Leslie Smith, to sign with The Ballengee Group in 2015. The agency claims Smith also chose to terminate her deal in 2016, and that both she and Diaz have said they will not pay for prior services.

In addition to Diaz, the lawsuit lists Smith and California-based attorney Sam A. Awad as defendants. The suit accuses the three parties of engaging in a "scheme to systematically and unlawfully breach their agreements."

Diaz (19-11) hasn't fought since his second fight against McGregor at UFC 202 in August. Diaz defeated McGregor at UFC 196 in March before losing the rematch via majority decision. In addition to MMA, The Ballengee Group represents MLB players, NBA officials and PGA and LPGA athletes.

I saw Diaz on this standee at California Roots Festival - a reggae festival I worked right after KFTC25 AF.

[GeneChing]

DOES DONALD TRUMP LIKE FIGHTING? THE PRESIDENT WON'T BE ATTENDING MCGREGOR VS MAYWEATHER, BUT HE WANTS TO
BY TOM RODDY ON 7/13/17 AT 8:29 AM

Donald Trump showed throughout the 2016 U.S. presidential election that he will not shirk a political fight, but he's also been known to be a fan of a good combat sports scrap.

In 2007, Trump infamously starred at Wrestlemania 23 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, where he shaved the hair of WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

Trump was represented in the ring by then-ECW champion Bobby Lashley, who beat McMahon’s fighter Umaga, allowing Trump to keep his famous locks.

But wrestling doesn’t appear to be the only sport Trump is fond of. UFC champion Conor McGregor is due to climb into the boxing ring to face the undefeated Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on August 26, and Trump will be watching.


Bobby Lashley and Donald Trump
Bobby Lashley, left, and Donald Trump at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, April 1, 2007.
BILL PUGLIANO/GETTY

According to UFC President Dana White, Trump will tune in when the two fighters clash but would rather be ringside.

“[Trump] is 100 percent interested in attending the event,” White said, as quoted by The Independent. “But they called me yesterday and I don't think they're going to come, but he'll be watching.

“He feels like he'll ruin events, he'll ruin the event if he shows up. Secret Service is going to have to go through the place, shut down streets and create crazy traffic.”

Earlier this month, Trump sparked controversy by tweeting a video of him “attacking” McMahon in his 2007 appearance on the WWE, with a CNN logo as McMahon’s head.

Ana Navarro, a Republican critic of Trump, spoke on the incident on ABC’s morning show as a panellist, saying it was “an incitement to violence. He is going to get somebody killed in the media.”

But Thomas Bossert, the Homeland Security Adviser, insisted in the same show that nobody would “perceive that as a threat.”

I kinda hope he does attend.