Decoding the UFC Middleweight Division

Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

I want to open this article in a little different fashion than usual. I want to thank screen name Latino Heat for sending a box full of what appeared to be her previously worn panties to The Weigh-In. While I did not personally get to enjoy them, our own Matt Ward and Luis Cortes are still huffing them at the time of this article is being crafted.

Let us now discuss and decode the UFC’s Middleweight Division. We all know that Rockhold lost to Romero at UFC 221. Before we go any further, I will not listen or read fan mail talking shit about Rockhold. Let us not forget that Rockhold was supposed to fight Robert Whittaker for his belt at UFC 221, but Whittaker had to drop out due to injury. However, once Whittaker was forced off the card due to injury, Rockhold decided he would not sit around and wait for his title shot. Instead, Rockhold decided to allow a very dangerous Yoel Romero to step in for Whittaker. It is this attitude that has propelled Rockhold to the top of the sport, so The Weigh-In will not entertain shit talk about someone who never shies away from a fight.

All that being said, the Rockhold loss has further muddied our UFC Middleweight waters. Romero was able to K.O. Rockhold in the third round. However, due to Romero missing weight, he was not eligible to win the interim middleweight belt. Following Romero’s victory, UFC’s Dana White came out stating that Romero will fight Whittaker for the title next.

That leaves us all to wonder what the hell will Luke Rockhold do? The middleweight division is a mess. Everyone will remember that Bisping took over a year to defend the title and then lost it to St-Pierre, only to have St-Pierre retire immediately after obtaining the middleweight belt.

If Romero and Whittaker are to square off for the belt, there is no shortage of opponents for Rockhold. Rockhold declined an earlier offer to fight Derek Brunson, as he felt Brunson is not on his level. This statement from Rockhold may be true, but perhaps he will decide to show everyone. Another viable option is a matchup against Kelvin Gastelum, who is coming off a big 2017. Gastelum defeated Bisping by knockout and is set to fight Ronaldo Souza at UFC 224. A win over Souza would arguably put Gastelum in middleweight title contention. It may be that Gastelum and Rockhold fight for a chance at a title shot.

Another option may be that Rockhold and Weidman have a rematch. This is a fight that Weidman has wanted since suffering a stoppage loss to Rockhold. While I think Weidman would need another win or two before challenging Rockhold, stranger things have happened in the UFC. I am not sure how many fans would get excited over a Rockhold vs. Weidman rematch. Give us a shout out at The Weigh-In and let us know who you think Rockhold should fight next!

People’s Red Head Out!

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Luke Rockhold: A True Champion

Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

Many know Luke Rockhold for taking the belt from Chris Weidman. However, Luke has been a champion his entire life. Although he resides in the middleweight division of the UFC, he spends his time training against heavyweight monsters. Rockhold trained for years out of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), which is home to Light Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier. It is also home to Cain Velsquez, Mike Swick, Gray Maynard, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and more. This gym is a murderers row of MMA talent, and it is where Rockhold punched his time card day in and day out.

If the roster of Rockhold’s training partners was not enough, he recently made a change. Rockhold now trains under the legend, Henri Hooft. While Rockhold won titles under Strikeforce and the UFC while training with AKA, the training was coming at a price. The AKA camp is a camp known for ferocious training sessions, and many fighters have suffered injuries preparing for big fights. It may be that this is the reason Luke made the change to Hooft. However, here at The Weigh-In, we think he made the change in order to hone in on his striking. Rockhold is not content with his championship arsenal of weapons. As a true champion, he keeps looking to evolve his game.

Hooft is known as one of the best striking coaches in the nation. It is here that Rockhold will improve on his boxing ability to further terrorize his opponents. Imagine a Rockhold who dominated Weidman with ground and pound being much improved on his feet. I will have nightmares and possibly night emissions over this thought.

Aside from Rockhold’s impressive training regimen, his record is impressive as well. Many know that Rockhold is a two-league champion. Rockhold has held titles in Strikeforce and the UFC. As the sport evolves, Rockhold always seems to find a place at the top of his division. His championship run has not been without its share of adversity.

After winning his UFC title, Rockhold suffered a humiliating upset loss to Michael Bisping. Rockhold has come around to state he lost the fight due to lack of focus. By lack of focus we can only assume he got distracted by some Hollywood strange. After winning the UFC Middleweight Title, rumors of Rockhold eating canned tuna off the bottom shelf began to fly out of the Rockhold camp. Rockhold was buried in so much strange that the cast of Deadliest Catch used him to bait crab. Please remember we do not fact check. It is worthy of note that Bisping replaced Weidman last minute, and Rockhold still decided to defend his title even though he was injured. We all know how it ended up. Bisping and Rockhold are not necessarily sending one another Christmas cards.

After suffering the loss, Rockhold was set to square off against Robert Whittaker for a chance to regain his middleweight title. Whittaker had to pull out of this fight due to a nasty staff infection. Did Rockhold decide to wait for Whittaker’s return? Did Rockhold decide to sit on the sidelines until he could have his title shot? Rockhold allowed Yoel Romero to step in for Whittaker last minute. Romero came in over weight, which meant he could not win a title. Despite all of this, Rockhold showed how game he was. Rockhold stepped into the Octagon against an unexpected and dangerous opponent. As always, Rockhold held his own. However, Romero ultimately knocked out Rockhold in the third round.

Many believe Rockhold should drop down in the middleweight rankings. This writer is forced to ask why? Why would a champion like Rockhold be punished for taking on all comers? Why would a fucking champion who chose to give the fans what they want be out of title contention? Why would a man whose fingers smell like cologne produced by Starkist be forced to watch as others compete for his belt? The short answer is, he should not be out of title contention. I understand that he may have to fight someone else before getting another title shot, but to be punished for being a fucking a gamer would be an injustice.

The last time there was an injustice of this level in the world was back in 1995. For those of you who pride yourselves as history buffs, I am sure you know what I am referring to. For those of your who are my true readers, I will spell it out for you. I am of course referring to Marcia Clark’s hairstyle, wink wink.  This is neither here nor there. The point is that when I think of what defines a champion, Rockhold has it.

A champion gives all comers a shot at their title. A champion fears no one. A champion takes one of the bridesmaids back to his hotel only to not be there by the time she awakes the following morning. A champion pukes after six shots and four beers, but still closes the bar down after a rally. A champion appears on the Maury Povich Show and is found to not be the father.

Champions conduct themselves as Luke Rockhold has. A champion rises every morning knowing that everyone in the world wants a piece of them. By now, I am sure you all understand where this is going. Rockhold is a fucking stud, and he will be back on top.

People’s Red Head Out!

Special Thanks To:

Maury Povich (holding baby daddy’s accountable)

Denzel for his portrayal of Roman J. Israel, Esquire

Tacos (they are just amazing)

Josh Duhamel for one of the best hair games in the business

Abortion (it gets a bad rap)

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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From Octagon to Cinema

Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway made his film debut in “Den of Thieves.” It goes to show what winning a UFC title and dominating a division can do for you. Holloway finds himself making his film debut with good company. The movie “Den of Thieves” stars Pablo Schreiber. For those of you living under a rock, Pablo was in “The Wire,” which is one of the greatest shows of all time.

On top of that, Pablo plays a crooked guard on “Orange is the New Black.” Pablo is Spanish for your dad. To all the readers out there, this guy is your dad. Do not Google that! This is a fact that predates Google. The film also stars Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr.

The film is a heist movie with a great plot twist. As someone who has viewed the film, it is worth the watch. Is it going to change your life? Probably not. However, I know that half of you are running around watching “The Bachelor,” or “Biggest Loser,” so you have time in your lives to watch a good movie. This movie is a great heist movie.

(Dustin Johnson circa 1996)

Although Holloway does not have a main role, he kills it in the little screen time he receives. Another pleasant surprise is that Michael “The Count” Bisping makes a cameo appearance as well. I will not spoil the movie, but Bisping also kills it on the big screen.

You may ask why I am writing this piece about two fighters with minor acting roles in a lesser-known film. The reason for this piece is to show how talented the fighters of mixed martial arts are. They are like any other athlete you praise, with the exception that they might have the toughest job in the world.

The UFC has allowed fighters to do so much beyond fighting. Just like all the major sports, we are starting to see the athletes of MMA crossover into acting, commentating, and other professions. Sometimes this sport is looked at and criticized for how gruesome it can be. When blood is spattered in the Octagon, it is easy to lose sight of the individual and what this sport, or match, actually means.

(Hollywood and Sport)

It was great to see Holloway and Bisping share the big screen. I hope the movie does well, and look forward to seeing them in future Hollywood endeavors. It is great to see two hall of fame fighters represent the UFC outside of the sport. We are proud of you boys. In fact, the last time I was prouder of two grown men was when the Ward Brothers finally gave up their shared race car bed. It should be noted that they gave up this sleeping arrangement in 2016, so please spare me the “race car beds are awesome” hate mail.

("Race Car Beds are Awesome")

Special Thanks To:

Max Holloway

(Max Holloway and Sage Northcutt)

Michael Bisping

Meat Sweats Podcast (those boys love bologna)

Race car beds for being awesome

Steve Ward for loving NASCAR

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: Bisping Suffers K.O. Loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai, China

Finally, The People’s Red Head has come back The Weigh-In!

Michael Bisping, known as the “The Count” is doing just that as of late. He suffered his second straight loss in Shanghai as Kelvin Gastelum put him to sleep with a vicious left hand. Many know Bisping took this fight on short notice after suffering a submission loss to Georges St-Pierre, which cost Bisping the middleweight title.

Anderson Silva was slated to face Gastelum, but was pulled from the card due to violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. It is rumored Silva took Viagra in order to keep an erection after plowing through Brazil’s working girls. While Bisping gets much respect for filling in on short notice, the fight ended early as Gastelum finished him in the first round.

Immediately following the bout, the UFC announced Bisping will face a 60-day medical suspension for safety protocol. This announcement came on the heels of the scrutiny the UFC received for allowing Bisping to participate in the bout only three weeks after being choked out by St-Pierre.

Following the suspension, Bisping is planning a retirement fight in front of his home crowd in England, at UFC London on March 17, 2018. While a knockout loss is not what “The Count” envisioned, his career has been one to be proud of. Additionally, he shocked the world by upsetting
Luke Rockhold to become the middleweight champion.

An opponent for his retirement fight is yet to be announced. However, I hope the UFC matchmakers get to work and give Bisping a competitive fight to go out on. He has had a storied career, and never avoided facing off against the upper echelon of the sport.

Special Thanks To
www.mmafighting.com for statistical information
The Ward Brothers’ Mom for Creating Great Men
Mr. Clean
Toronto
Tim Horton’s

-Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: UFC 217 Goes Down as Card of the Year

Finally, The People’s Red Head has come back to The Weigh-In!

UFC 217 sees more title changes than the last time the artist formerly known as Prince tried to become a lightning bolt symbol. This goes down as card of the year, and perhaps one of the greatest cards of all time.

St-Pierre v. Bisping

George St-Pierre not only loves poutine (French Canadian voice), he loves winning!

("Poutine is kind of gross." -Matt Ward)

Georges St-Pierre re-enters after years away from the sport and takes Michael Bisping’s belt in the 185 lb. division. St-Pierre looks to be carrying a lot more muscle and with it, more power. St-Pierre did not rip Bisping down to the ground and engage in a tickle fight like everyone thought he would.
Both fighters began the evening sitting behind their jab. St-Pierre did make a few attempts to take Bisping down, but they were without success. In fact, this writer was shocked when St-Pierre did land a successful take down and Bipsing was able to almost instantly pop back up. The other shocking aspect of this fight was St-Pierre looks better on his feet. Think of how scary this premise is.

St-Pierre was getting the better of the exchanges on the feet. However, I did feel he was winded by round two, which I attribute to his new muscle mass. That being said, he was able to knock Bisping down with a left hook, at which point, he took Bisping’s back and submitted Bipsing with a rear naked choke. I mean a legitimate rear naked choke, not the kind the Ward brothers administer on one another during drunken family reunions.

 (Ward Brothers Wrestling circa 2012 - "Tap out, Steeeeve!" -Matt Ward)

Bisping, a true warrior, did not tap, but instead went out due to the choke. When he came to, he spoke to Joe Rogan, and I thought for sure he was going to retire, but Bisping claimed he would be back. Come to find out, Bisping will fight Kelvin Gastelum on short notice. He opens this fight as an underdog, which he has been his entire career. St-Pierre has nothing but options after coming back off a four-year hiatus.

T.J. Dillashaw v. Cody Garbrandt

Dillashaw takes back his belt, but the drama continues. This fight may have been the best fight on the card. It had more drama leading up to it than the anticipation of Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy for my lady readers) leaving Gray’s Anatomy.

 ("McDreamy, why did you have to leave us so soon?" -Dustin Johnson)

Everyone knows the beef between Dillashaw and Team Alpha Male, so I will not dive into it any further. However, this fight lived up to the hype. The first round was amazing. Garbrandt caught a kick from Dillashaw and waved a finger as if to say, no sir. Near the end of round one, Garbrandt connected with a left hook that floored Dillashaw. However, as Garbrandt began hitting Dillashaw with ground strikes, the round ended. I for one believe that if the round had ten more seconds, Garbrandt would have retained his belt.

I believe the above just as I want to believe Bambi’s mother is still with us. In round two, Dillashaw seemed to get his legs back. He landed a head kick that grazed Garbrandt, but did noticeable damage. Following the head kick, he landed some punches that put Garbrandt on the mat where Dillashaw finished him with ground strikes, winning by K.O.

 (Bambi's Mom - 1938-1942)

At the end of the fight, the fighters showed respect for one another. However, here we are a few days removed, and already the shit talk continues. Dillashaw has tweeted Garbrandt does not deserve a re-match. This is coming from a guy who could have just as easily been defeated if round one had more time in it. Another rumor is that Faber announced he would un-retire to fight Dillashaw. This may be of interest to many fans.

Dillashaw is a beast, there is no denying his talent. However, he has not connected with fans and is known as a low draw fighter. Dillashaw does not have a lot of options, outside of fighting Demetrius Johnson (no relation to the author) in a super fight, or running back to a second fight with Garbrandt. Let us all not forget, Dominick Cruz will most likely be coming for what he feels is his very soon. It would appear Dillashaw cannot solve the Cruz puzzle. We will update fans as more information becomes available.

Rose Namajunas v. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Namajunas allows all children to sleep tight as she proves the bogeyman is nothing to fear. Namajunas shocked the world at UFC 217 when she ended reining champ Jedrzejczyk’s undefeated streak on Saturday night.

Namajunas clocked Jedrzejczyk with a punch that sent her to the canvas, where Namajunas finished her with ground strikes. The 25 year-old Namajunas shocked herself and the world, when she became the new women’s strawweight champion.

It was rumored that after the fight, Jedrzejczyk was seen with Liam Neeson boarding a train back to Poland. For those of you who do not watch movies, it is a shame, because this rumor is solid gold. Nevertheless, Jedrzejczyk has been a dominant champion and her next steps will be determined in the upcoming weeks. If anyone deserves a rematch, the former champion who has been so dominant surely deserves it, but the UFC has not been so quick to grant rematches. In the meantime, congratulations to Namajunas for a historic upset win.

Special Thanks To:
M.C. Hammer for being Too Legit to Quit
The Taco Bell dog
McDonalds for honey dicking us with the promise of Szechwan sauce
Vaseline and/or Lava soap

- Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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Dustin's Corner: UFC 217 Bisping vs. St-Pierre Preview

Do you hear me knocking? Well, let me in! Finally! The People’s Red Head has come back to the Weigh-In!

November 4, 2017 is a huge night for the world of MMA. Not only will it be the second time Madison Square Garden hosts a UFC event, but the entire lineup is full of title fights. In fact, it could be argued that this much talent has not been under the same roof since the last time Matt, Luis, and myself had a slumber party (welcome to the team, Luis!). This is to be debated in the weeks to follow.

UFC 217 promises to be a night of fire works. Here at the Weigh-In, we are going to breakdown the card. We are going to proceed by breaking down this card the same way I undress my ladies, we start at the top and go down.

Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre (GSP)
This is the fight fans have been waiting for. Since shocking the world and upsetting Luke Rockhold, Bisping has yet to defend the title. Who better to make his first defense against than Georges St-Pierre? For those readers living under a rock, St-Pierre retired as the former UFC Welterweight Champion back in 2013. Bisping has already spent press time trash talking GSP about fighting versus wrestling, which obviously benefits Bisping. This fight will come down to belief. Is GSP still the dominant force he was when he left the UFC, or is Bisping an example of how the sport has not passed GSP? Stay tuned as these questions will be answered at UFC 217.

Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw
We are now in the Cody Garbrandt era. He successfully defeated Dominick Cruz who T.J. could not overcome. However, T.J. believes he is the best bantamweight in the world, but Cody has proven to be more than most are prepared to handle. Which fighter will impose their will? This fight has all the makings of an instant classic. Everyone knows Dillashaw parted ways with Team Alpha Male and no love was lost. This fight has everything fight fans crave. It is packed with a backstory and loaded with drama. The fight reminds me of when Dillon dumped Brenda for Kelly. For those of you who did not watch "90210", shame on you. Either way, mark your calendars kids, this is one you are not going to want to miss.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk v. Rose Namajunas
The champion, Jedzrejczyk, defends her title against Namajunas at what we here at the Weigh-In are calling, the say my name three times fast battle. We all know Jedzrejczyk has dominated the division and seems to be getting better each time she steps into the octagon. Namajunas is a fan favorite with a solid ground game. Can she challenge the champ? I for one am terrified of both these ladies, so I will be watching from the comfort of my couch, with blanket and sippy cup in tow.

Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal
Wonderboy, fresh off two straight losses to the current champion, Woodley, is back in action against Masvidal. Masvidal is a well-rounded veteran and king of trash talk. Can he hand Wonderboy his third straight loss or will Wonderboy get back on track and make it back for a third attempt to challenge Woodley? This fight has serious consequences to the loser. Each man is coming off a loss and needs a win. It will be amazing to watch what desperation will do to these two competitors.

Johny Hendricks vs. Pablo Henrique Costa
The veteran Hendricks is coming off a loss to Tim Boetsch. Henrique Costa remains undefeated at a perfect 10–0. Hendricks will be his biggest test, but does he have what it takes to pad his resume and show the world he belongs at the top of the rankings? Will Hendricks foil his plans and reestablish his own dominance in the welterweight division?

Other Notable fights on the UFC 217 card

Aiemann Zahabi vs. Ricardo Lucas Ramos
This is a battle of two young undefeated competitors. Someone will no longer be perfect after UFC 217.

Alexey Oleinik vs. Curtis Blaydes
Two wily veterans duke it out on what is sure to be an exciting match.

Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Ion Cutelaba
Antigulov is 2–0 in the octagon. If he wants to remain perfect, he will have to get by Cutelaba.

Corey Anderson vs. Patrick Cummins
This is considered to be a superfight among some. Do not sleep on this fight. Both fighters have explosive power.

Mickey Gall vs. Randy Brown
Gall, who is coming off the win against Northcutt, attempts to add another victim to his run. Another fight not to sleep on. Gall is exciting and climbing his way into contention.

James Vick vs. Joseph Duffy
Two work horses that do not like to lose. This fight promises to be not only entertaining, but competitive. Fans are spoiled with this fight on the card. There could be firework potential here.

Overall UFC 217
As long as everyone remains healthy, UFC 217 is currently set to be the card of the year. I have not felt this much anticipation for something since losing my V-card on prom night. Madison Square Garden sets the stage for their second UFC event. Do not sleep on this event. There will be more action on display than witnessed in a Chuck Norris Total Gym commercial. UFC 217 may be the card of the year!

People Red Head Out!

Special Thanks
MMA.com for the card information
Dr. Steve Sheldon for being our spine expert
Crabfeast for entertainment, fuck the crabfeast

- Dustin Johnson, The People's Red Head

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