It’s a good thing Shinya Aoki pursued an MMA career instead of one in cartoons. Digital Baka Survivor would become a liability with PG-rated television armbaring Yogi and Boo Boo every time a picnic basket turns up missing. Although, he would make an interesting addition to Boris & Natasha in the lifelong quest to thwart Rocky & Bullwinkle. While distracted by the gamma-rays the pants emit, Rocky would fly directly into a tree, breaking his sternum, leaving Bullwinkle to scout for another sidekick while Boris engages in what would now be considered freelance terrorism — and it’s all because of grappling pants. That might make for the best (or worst) cartoon in history depending on how long Rocky takes to recover. In the meantime, Joe Lauzon is not a fan of George Sotiropoulos’ mummifying his legs, effectively bending the rules restricting grappling pants.
“I don’t see how you can wear your regular fight shorts, compression shorts under that that go to your knee, then wear knee pads on both sides that go halfway down your leg, then ankle supports that go halfway up your leg and down to your toes,” Lauzon said. “I don’t know what the deal is with the commission, if he’ll be allowed to wear those or not, but we’re prepared for him either way.”
“I don’t know if it will make a huge difference, but at the same time, why give him that advantage? Maybe we’ll make a formal request to not let him wear them.”
UFC 123 is only weeks away and on Nov 20, we’ll see if the Michigan State Athletic Commission shares Joe Lauzon’s distaste for the Australian’s octagon fashion queues. Sotiropoulos has competed bare-legged and found himself equally successful in the past, but until using knee pads, anklets, and compression shorts are collectively banned through the unified rules, nothing (not even smack talk from the rest of his division) should stop him from taking every advantage possible. [Source]
