It’s Sunday and the only thing you guys can think about is Dennis Hallman’s wardrobe malfunction at UFC 133. Come on, you’re acting like you’ve never seen someone’s family jewels fall out of a pair of blue manties while inside a cage. It happens all the time out here in West Hollywood and no one seems to make a fuss over it. Then again, manties are a common street occurrence out here. Now it’s time for the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill, a collection of rumors extracted from the internet (and other sources) all placed here, for your convenience.
Update: Let’s be clear, no one copied anyone. Hammer Hamill and I just have the same source.
- If you wanted to see a rubber match with Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir, it looks like you’re going to get it. Brock Lesnar’s return to UFC will be marked with a third fight against Frank Mir. Finally, Frank can get rid of all those ‘demons’ that have been haunting him.
- As you probably suspected, Dana White is angry at Dennis Hallman for wearing those blue skimpies at UFC 133. More importantly, he’s pretty mad at the person inside ZUFFA that authorized Dennis Hallman to wear them.
- It’s rumored that after Strikeforce Fedor vs. Henderson, ZUFFA offered Fedor Emelianeko a two-fight contract without M-1 Global co-promotion at $500,000. The offer was turned down by Fedor’s management.
- Fedor does have a contract with Showtime, but it only relates to Fedor fighting exclusively for Showtime Sports — not necessarily a fight contract.
- ZUFFA representatives met up with Dan Henderson at some point last week (just before Hendo went to Lake Havasu to party) in order to sign him back into UFC for a substantial amount of money.
- I’ve been told that Golden Glory is currently in talks with Bellator in order to form some partnership. That would make Golden Glory, DREAM and BAMMA all partners with Bellator.
- More of a theory than a rumor, but a reason for most of Golden Glory’s roster being cut from ZUFFA is solely due to Golden Glory bringing their MMA/kickboxing promotion to the US and other markets ZUFFA is targeting. Much like Affliction creating their own promotion in 2009 and being axed from being a UFC sponsor only to return to the organization a year later when they ceased their MMA promotion, look for Golden Glory fighters to return to ZUFFA once they cease assembling fights that may threaten ZUFFA’s market share.
- M-1 Global is trying to extend their Showtime contract by up to five years.
- ZUFFA doesn’t plan to necessarily ‘kill’ Strikeforce. Lorenzo Fertitta is in the process of ‘restructuring’ the company and fighters like Rich Franklin may be brought to Strikeforce in order to reestablish its image. The purpose for Strikeforce may shift to a ‘feeder’ organization, in which fighters that would normally get cut from UFC’s roster will be moved to Strikeforce. This will prevent a lot of ZUFFA’s competition from picking up former UFC fighters and using their ‘star power’ to build their organization.
- I was told that a few execs at ZUFFA didn’t appreciate a statement made by the CEO of HDNet, Andrew Simon, regarding the entire Alistair Overeem/Marloes Coenen situation.
