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TJ De Santis Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
This week in “Press Row,” Jordan Breen and the Sherdog Radio Network's TJ De Santis discuss Invicta FC 15, preparing to call an MMA event the night before a major UFC title fight, the difficulty of calling Cristiane Justino's fights in the booth and what's in “Cyborg's” future.
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Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 21 Episode 12: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians: The Showdown
5:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Flashback
Aldo vs. Mendes 2
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Fighter's Cut
Conor McGregor - The Notorious Conor McGregor offers a first hand perspective inside the octagon, as he revisits his meteoric rise to MMA stardom.
10:30 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Countdown
UFC 189: Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Ultimate Insider
Training Day: Holm vs. Reneau
2:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 21 Episode 11: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians: Pushing the Limits - The Blackzilians assess their situation, regroup, and prepare for the next battle, while American Top Team choose a strong but unlikely fighter in hopes of bringing home the win.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 21 Episode 12: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians: The Showdown
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 189: Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor
9:00 p.m. ET CBS Sports Network: Boxing
Premier Boxing Champions - Rances Barthelemy (22-0, 13 KOs) takes on Antonio DeMarco (31-4-1, 23 KOs) in the 10-round main event. From MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Notorious
The six-part series follows McGregor and his meteoric rise, using exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with the most exciting sports star of the moment as he gets even closer to becoming UFC world champion.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
UFC: McGregor vs. Siver - Gleison Tibau vs. Norman Parke; Ron Stallings vs. Uriah Hall; Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone; Dennis Siver vs. Conor McGregor. From Boston.
10:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: AXS TV Fights: Best of Lion Fight
Highlights of Mauy Thai fighting; stars in clude Tiffany Van Soest, Jason Andrade and Cris Cyborg.
11:00 p.m. ET CBS Sports Network: Boxing
Dennis Hogan vs. Kenny Abril - Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) takes on Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event. From Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
12:00 a.m. ET AXS TV: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 388 - Ron Kruck, Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten discuss UFC 189 from Las Vegas; plus a look at Bas Rutten's career before he's inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Countdown
UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor - Preview for UFC 189 featuring Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor for the featherweight title. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 20 Episode 5: Team Melendez vs. Team Pettis: Coming to Get You - An injury forces a fighter out of the competition and opens the door for another; Team Melendez fighters question Heather Clark's knee injury; the rivalry between Felice Herrig and Heather Clark comes to a head.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Diaz vs. Condit - UFC 143 Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit; UFC 142 Rousimar Palhares and and Mike Massenzio; Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon at UFC 144.
1:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Countdown
UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes II - Jose Aldo welcomes Team Alpha Male rival Chad Mendes back to the country, his mind is intent on victory as Mendes' is on redemption. Glover Teixeira will look to rebound from his recent title shot with a bout against Phil Davis.
2:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 - Before two of the UFC's top fighters battle for the featherweight title in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Knockouts
Heavyweights - The greatest finishers from the heavyweight division including Cain Velasquez, Minotauro Nogueira, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and more.
6:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Countdown
UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes II - Jose Aldo welcomes Team Alpha Male rival Chad Mendes back to the country, his mind is intent on victory as Mendes' is on redemption. Glover Teixeira will look to rebound from his recent title shot with a bout against Phil Davis.
7:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
8:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: The Voice Versus
George Foreman - Michael Schiavello chats with George Foreman about his biggest fights, late career resurgence, and his grill.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 361 - Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten discuss UFC 179; Ron Kruck previews Bellator 131; guests Scott Kent, Damacio Page and Spencer Lazara.
8:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 - Before two of the UFC's top fighters battle for the featherweight title in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator 130 MMA Live
Bellator 130 - Light Heavyweight Champ Emanuel Newton vs. Linton Vassell, from Mulvane, Kansas.
9:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Knockouts
Heavyweights - The greatest finishers from the heavyweight division including Cain Velasquez, Minotauro Nogueira, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and more.
10:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: AXS TV Fights - Best of Lion Fight
Highlights of Mauy Thai fighting; stars in clude Tiffany Van Soest, Jason Andrade and Cristiana Justino.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes - The UFC returns to Brazil as Jose Aldo defends his Featherweight title against undefeated Chad Mendes. Plus a battle of strikers as Vitor Belfort battles Anthony Johnson.
11:15 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Top 20 Knockouts: Glory Kickboxing
Counting down the world's top 20 greatest kickboxing knockouts.
12:00 a.m. ET AXS TV: The Voice Versus
George Foreman - Michael Schiavello chats with George Foreman about his biggest fights, late career resurgence, and his grill. Read more -
Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
3:00 a.m. ET AxsTV: AXS TV Fights
Lion Fight 14 Cristiane Justino fights Jorina Baars for the women's welterweight title; Gregory Choplin meets Marco Pique; live from Las Vegas.
3:30 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Behind-the-scenes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
6:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Shogun vs. Vera
Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera; Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader; Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner; DaMarques Johnson vs. Mike Swick. From Los Angeles. (Card subject to change)
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller - Nate Diaz fights Jim Miller; Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills; Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira; Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman.
9:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 140: Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones faces former champ Lyoto Machida; the Nogueira brothers, Frank Mir and Tito Ortiz.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC From All Angles
Host Karyn Bryant sits down with UFC star Frankie Edgar to discuss his career.
12:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC From All Angles
The remarkable rise of Chris Weidman.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Prefight Show
UFC Fight Night: Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens Prefight from San Antonio.
7:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Ultimate Submissions
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Preliminary Fights
Prelims Colton Smith vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira; Johnny Bedford vs. Cody Gibson; Marcelo Guimaraes vs. Andy Enz; Ray Borg vs. Shane Howell. From San Antonio.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Fight Night
UFC: Swanson vs. Stephens – Prelims Colton Smith vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira; Johnny Bedford vs. Cody Gibson; Marcelo Guimaraes vs. Andy Enz; Ray Borg vs. Shane Howell. From San Antonio.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Fight Night
UFC: Swanson vs. Stephens - Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens; Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nico Musoke; Cezar Ferreira vs. Andrew Craig; Ricardo Lamas vs. Hacran Dias; Clint Hester vs. Antonio Braga Neto; Joe Ellenberger vs. James Moontasri. From San Antonio.
10:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC on Sportsnet Swanson vs. Stephens
UFC: Swanson vs. Stephens - Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens; Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nico Musoke; Cezar Ferreira vs. Andrew Craig; Ricardo Lamas vs. Hacran Dias; Clint Hester vs. Antonio Braga Neto; Joe Ellenberger vs. James Moontasri. From San Antonio. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
Condit vs. Kampmann II Bubba McDaniel vs. Brad Tavares; Takeya Mizugaki vs. Erik Perez; Court McGee vs. Robert Whittaker; Kelvin Gastelum vs. Brian Melancon; Donald Cerrone vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann. From Indianapolis.
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 140: Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones faces former champ Lyoto Machida; the Nogueira brothers, Frank Mir and Tito Ortiz.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Flashback
Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate Enhanced coverage of classic bout between female fighters.
3:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC From All Angles
Inside and outside the ring with Cain Velasquez.
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC From All Angles
Host Karyn Bryant sits down with UFC star Frankie Edgar to discuss his career.
4:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC From All Angles
The remarkable rise of Chris Weidman.
5:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Presents
Mana: B.J. Penn's fascinating journey.
6:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell, Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens, and Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC: Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens From San Antonio.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Reloaded
UFC 164: Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis From Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
11:00 p.m. ET AxsTV: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 344 Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are live in Los Angeles with Tiffany Van Soest and Nick Newell.
12:00 a.m. ET AxsTV: AXS TV Fights
Lion Fight 14 Cristiane Justino fights Jorina Baars for the women's welterweight title; Gregory Choplin meets Marco Pique; live from Las Vegas.
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC: Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens From San Antonio. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
6:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Johnson vs. Moraga
Jessica Andrade vs. Liz Carmouche; Bobby Voelker vs. Robbie Lawler; Jake Ellenberger vs. Rory MacDonald; John Moraga vs. Demetrious Johnson. From Seattle.
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
UFC: Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson 2 – Prelims From Natal, Brazil.
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia
Season 1 Episode 11: Undefeated Fighters battle for a spot in the final.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
6:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
8:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: The Voice Versus
Tito Ortiz discusses being kicked off the reality show and his relationship with Jenna Jameson.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 334 Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten interview Eddie Bravo; Ron Kruck talks to Rousimar Palhares.
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
Bellator MMA Live 1005
10:00 p.m. ET AXS TV: Lion Fight 14
Cristiane Justino fights Jorina Baars for the women's welterweight title; Gregory Choplin meets Marco Pique; live from Las Vegas. Read more -
Top 5 Forum Threads of the Week
By: Jeff Sherwood
Can Cristiane Justino make the 135-pound threshold? | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Cristiane Justino still has Ronda Rousey on her mind.
“Cyborg” released a statement to AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” on Feb. 21, revealing her intention to drop to 135 pounds and challenge the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight queen to close out 2014.
“I’m currently training to fight at 145 [pounds] on March 28 and in early May,” Justino’s statement read. “My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135. I plan to challenge and win the Invicta [bantamweight] championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your [bantamweight] belt in December.
“Now I know critics will say, ‘I thought you said you would die if you made 135.’ All I’m promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen,” she added. “If I do, I will still listen to my doctor’s advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasn’t luck. You can even have me tested every week [leading] up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass.”
The reigning Invicta Fighting Championships 145-pound titleholder, Justino is currently slated to compete for the Lion Fight Promotions under muay Thai rules next month. Cyborg began her career 10-1, winning the Strikeforce featherweight title in 2009 and defending the belt twice before seeing a 16-second knockout of Hiroko Yamanaka changed to a no-contest due to a positive steroid test. Justino served a one-year suspension and returned to action as a member of the Invicta roster in 2013, demolishing Fiona Muxlow before winning the Invicta featherweight title in a rematch with Marloes Coenen.
Rousey is slated to defend her bantamweight title against Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170. “Rowdy” has never been beaten as a mixed martial artist, submitting all eight of her victims via armbar.
Items of interest on the Sherdog.net forums this week:
THE ‘CYBORG’ PLAN
NO HARD FEELINGS
PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEM
BOSS RESPONDS
GAUGING INTEREST
Reader comments are active following the jump. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
4:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 3: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Stick and Move
5:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Countdown
UFC 165: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson From Toronto.
8:30 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Inside Eddie Wineland's camp; Weidman vs. Silva through the eyes of Jon Jones; Southern California fight camps Alliance and Reigh square off; The Takedown with Phil Davis.
9:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives, featuring Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone, Bart Palaszewski vs. Tyson Griffin, and Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz.
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 145: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
2:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson; Antonio Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub; Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 165: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
4:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Weigh-ins
UFC 165 Weigh-ins Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
5:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Countdown
UFC 165: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson From Toronto.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Countdown
UFC 165: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson From Toronto.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
UFC 165: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 20 Ben Saunders vs. Douglas Lima; from Phoenix.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 309 UFC 165 preview with an interview with Jon Jones; Cristiane Justino; Eddie Wineland's life.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
10:00 p.m. ET AXS: Lion Fight 11
Cristiane Justino vs. Martina Jindrova; Nampon vs. Cosmo Alexandre. From Las Vegas.
11:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 20 Ben Saunders vs. Douglas Lima; from Phoenix.
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 145: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
11:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet West: UFC Weigh-ins
UFC 165 Weigh-ins Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson Read more -
Rousey vs. ‘Cyborg’ Just a Matter of Time
By: Yael Grauer
With two world championships on the line, Invicta 5 carried a lot of hype.
Michelle Waterson defied the odds, surviving some vicious ground-and-pound, successfully defending a Jessica Pene armbar in the third round and returning with one of her own in the fourth, snatching the atomweight title from the top-ranked fighter in the division -- defeating a grappling whiz at her own game.
Also of note was a back-and-forth war between Sarah Kaufman and Leslie Smith, Rose Namajunas’ record-breaking 12-second flying armbar on the undercard, and a knockout of the night by Miriam Nakamoto, who defeated Jessamyn Duke in just 2:20. There was Bec Hyatt’s grudge match versus Jasminka Cive, ending with an armbar win by the Australian. And Zoila Gurgel’s rather unceremonious Invicta debut after a difficult relationship with Bellator. But by far what attracted the most attention on April 5 was the return of Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
The Brazilian powerhouse racked up an astounding 10 consecutive wins before her bout with Hiroko Yamanaka (which would’ve been number 11) was overturned by the CSAC due to testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. Speculation of PEDs had begun to surface long before, even prior to Cyborg defeating media darling Gina Carano for the women’s featherweight title on Aug. 15, 2009.
After a year-long suspension and $2,500 fine (and with Invicta Fighting Championships instituting PED testing), all eyes were on Cyborg to see how she’d fare following a 16-month layoff. And when Cyborg’s first scheduled opponent, Ediane Gomes, pulled out of the fight with an injury, Fiona Muxlow came in as a late replacement.
The fight wasn’t even close. After dropping the Australian with a right cross, Cyborg landed heavy punches, ending the mauling with a series of hooks and knees until referee “Big” John McCarthy had seen enough.
Who’s next for Cyborg? This victory paves the way for a rematch with Marloes Coenen, which will take place at Invicta 6.
If Cyborg can get by the very skilled Coenen, perhaps Ediane Gomes or Julia Budd will get the next shot. These potential opponents notwithstanding, it’s hard not to view a very dominant Cyborg -- who not only scores victory after victory but also utterly demolishes her opponents -- as a step above the rest of the women in the division.
And yet the most marketable bout to date -- the one that seems destined not to take place -- would put a rest to her ongoing rivalry with UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.
Rousey -- who began calling out Cyborg as an amateur before dropping down to bantamweight and taking the world of women’s MMA by storm -- insists the fight take place at 135, and with Cyborg’s suspension came the dissolution of Zuffa’s 145-lb. division.
The judo Olympic silver medalist has her hands full with the upcoming season of TUF, followed by a match against the winner of Meisha Tate vs. Cat Zingano. Many of her victims are vying for a rematch, and both Sara McMann and Alexis Davis also are lining up for a shot.
With Invicta Fighting Championships promising 4 fight cards a year,that may not be enough time to build up potential contenders for the belt (or any that stand a chance against Justino). And if Cyborg does indeed continue her streak in Invicta, and Rousey continues to dominate in the UFC, an unholy mess could be brewing. Although agreeing on which weight the bout will be contested seems to be a point of contention, perhaps it’s only a matter of time.
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Robert Sargent Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by MMARising.com founder Robert Sargent.
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Breen and Sargent sit down to discuss a smorgasbord of women's MMA topics. The two go deep on Invicta FC 5, the promotional debut of Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, whether or not the Brazilian will end up in the UFC and Jessica Penne's strangehold on the 105-pound division. The April 13 UFC clash between Cat Zingano and Miesha Tate also gets due attention, with Breen and Sargent debating the intriguing style matchup and who will be next for UFC postergirl Ronda Rousey.
The duo also spitball on the 18th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” what antisocial behavior could arise from the season's co-ed set-up, Tito Ortiz as an MMA manager and much more.
Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.”
