ESPN Mixed Martial Arts

What does it say when Jon Fitch -- one of the winningest welterweights ever to roll off the assembly line -- gets cut by the UFC? Primarily that the UFC doesn’t necessarily view winning “by any means” as an avenue for sustained success.

Not in 2013, anyway. Not with television deals and an influx of Strikeforce talent and so many cards bursting at the seams with so many bouts.

Success is multifaceted and involved and actually very simple. The idea is this: Entertain us. Success is powerful fists and hospital visits and charisma and whatever it is Cub Swanson does -- all supported with a few wins.

Fitch doesn’t do pageantry, and he doesn’t do brawls. He shows up disheveled and ready to roll. In fact, he became his own verb in his seven years with the UFC. To be “fitched” was a real and particularly unenviable thing for those who signed on to fight him. It was a form of nihilistic wrestling into ground-and-pound. Fitch “fitched” such commodities as Thiago Alves, Ben Saunders and Mike Pierce. He rained ice picks on Paulo Thiago's steel chin, before getting classically “out-fitched” by Demian Maia.

He has always been about endurance, and that’s the problem. Fitch is the dictator with the snarl, the original “grinder.” Chris Wilson, who knew the score heading into his UFC 82 bout with Fitch, once said to me with a certain kind of sly reverence: “What’s he going to do? Summon the wind?” No. Fitch summons something more physical. At his vintage best, he dishes up 15 minutes of utterly hopeless futility.

And that futility, unfortunately, extends to the spectator -- which is why today he’s holding a pink slip with a UFC record of 14-3-1. It’s not that he’s breaking the bank to get $65,000 in show money, or that he had that whole flare-up back in the day with the UFC over video game rights (though these could be factors). It’s that he dominates people in forgettable fashion. He shuts down judo players, slick jiu-jitsu artists, dynamic strikers and kickboxers with industrial cold. Now he’s gone (as you and I know) because of it, and we’re left theorizing if he and Ben Askren are destined to nullify each other for five rounds in Bellator.



Fitch, along with such veterans as Vladimir Matyushenko, Mike Russow, Josh Grispi, Che Mills, Paul Sass and others were cut from the UFC in a roster dump. Jacob Volkmann was on that list, too, despite winning six of his last eight bouts as a lightweight. His problem? He bears a Fitch-like resemblance to you know who.

Other than Fitch, these cuts aren’t so much unexpected as they are declaratory. The message is get busy thrilling, or get busy Bellatoring. Be something that everybody wants to watch, or be someplace else. If you’re not captivating, then you’re a problem elite. You are Jon Fitch, the perennial contender who of late has ironically A) begun to lose while B) fighting more excitingly.

That’s why, all things considered, the timing is a bit strange. Fitch goes 1-2 in his past three fights, and it becomes a good opportunity for the UFC to part ways. But look at those three fights. There was the knockout he received at the hands of Johny Hendricks (which was memorable, particularly as Fitch tried to single-leg referee Steve Mazaggatti as he came to). Then there was the Erick Silva barnburner in Brazil, where he appeared rejuvenated and determined to put on a show. That won "fight of the night" honors. And finally the Maia bout, which was a letdown. He was outclassed by a Velcro version of his former self. But before that he was 13-1-1, which screams out for the Hall of Fame.

Did he deserve to be cut? No. The spirit of mixed martial arts is (presumably) to present a gamut of styles in the cage, to see whose is best. Fitch has been solid for a long time. In fact, he’s been dominant. His style trumps most others. But he’s so good at one-sided full-length fights that we have him dialed in as aggravatingly predictable.

Obviously, the UFC is frustrated with him as well, to the point his name has now taken on a new meaning. “Fitch” in adjective form has become just another word for expendable.

On the list of things I have trouble accepting is the notion that Ronda Rousey somehow needs protection from other humans.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the first female titleholder in the UFC hasn't been immune from this kind of talk throughout her short career.

Hey, haters gonna hate. But this is more than that.

Fighters, members of the media, even insiders at Zuffa ... they've felt compelled to suggest Rousey is currently being handled -- that is, positioned as advantageously as possible without the specter of a real threat.

That Liz Carmouche, her challenger on Saturday, is the safest fight the UFC could have made for Rousey.

That real opponents, like Cris "Cyborg" Santos, are being kept away for fear of running a potential box office star into the ground.

That UFC president Dana White is such a fan he's willing to manipulate Rousey's career in the cage with the goal of keeping her "safe." (Yet, when has any UFC champion received such treatment?)

Even if there's truth to any of that, is there no worse place to hide than the Octagon? Fighters who aren't good enough will get exposed. That's how it's been. That's always how it will be.

This is part of the reason it's comical to envision a girl with a chainsaw for a mother and a competitive background straight out of Sparta requiring, let alone accepting, a professional life jacket.

If Carmouche isn't up to snuff -- a judgment I'm not willing to make, though Rousey is deservedly a significant favorite -- others will be. The UFC is introducing a new division on Saturday, not just a new champion. It takes time to cultivate serious threats, the type Rousey has always pursued. They'll come and if Rousey is as good as she appears to be, she'll eagerly meet those challenges.

The more Rousey's story has gotten play leading up to her Feb. 23 title defense against Carmouche at UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif., the clearer it is that she has all the makings of a special breed.

Among the most frequent questions I hear when talking mixed martial arts is: "Why do these people feel compelled to step in a cage and fight?"

There's no such thing as standard definition of a fighter. MMA is a melting pot. Athletes come from troubled backgrounds. Many found the sport because it offered a new level of competitiveness. Many need to make rent, and waiting tables sounds like hell compared to an elbow to the eye socket.

Rousey walked a path marked with tribulation and triumph. Were it not for those highs and lows, she never would have been positioned like she is today.

Losing her father to suicide made Rousey angry. (Fuel.) Losing a father to suicide meant a new life for a struggling family. (Matchsticks.) Losing a father to suicide meant her mom, the grizzly, needed to snap her child out of a funk. (Boom.) At no point was sheltering part of the equation.

Prior to beating Miesha Tate for the Strikeforce 135-pound title last year, Rousey outlined in the Telegraph how lame it was for anyone to label her protected.

When she was 11, doing judo, she broke a big toe. It was her first "serious" injury. Rousey's mother, Dr. Ann Maria Rousey DeMars, a judo world champion, didn't care about her daughter's tears. Rousey was told to run laps around the mat, and she did. The lesson was: "Sometimes you have to fight when you're injured. You need to know you're capable of that."

When Rousey was 15, three broken bones in her foot didn't stop mom from sending her daughter upstate without a coach to a judo tournament hosted by one of her fiercest rivals at the time.

The lesson there, Rousey wrote, "You need to know you can win anyway."

By the time she was 16, having endured smashed noses, cauliflowered ears and black eyes aplenty, Rousey tore an ACL in practice. Mom made her finish training that night and made her return to the gym in the morning. As it turned out the ACL was shredded. So as she recovered from surgery, Rousey found other ways to train, other ways to improve.

Rousey wrote about having her arm snapped at a German judo competition. She mentioned that she wouldn't stop. Refused to stop. She won. She wrote about tearing the meniscus in her knee a week before a major competition, only to soldier on and win bronze. On and on and on.

Three days before her first pro fight, Rousey was bitten by a pit bull and needed nine stitches in her foot. Her response was to ask the doctor if she risked permanent injury by competing. He said no, so she went ahead and won in 25 seconds.

This is the last woman who needs protecting.

To say otherwise is to ignore Rousey's experience on this planet so far.

TORRANCE, Calif. -- By now, just about everyone knows Ronda Rousey has won each of her professional bouts in the first round, with the same move. Many expect her to make it seven armbars in a row against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 on Saturday.

As impressive as that streak is, does it perhaps hide the possibility the armbar is the only aspect of mixed martial arts Rousey is good at? Not likely.

Rousey (6-0) refused to directly answer whether she’s knocked out a sparring partner in the gym, but revealed that her reason for not answering was she didn’t want to boast. In other words, it’s happened.

The former Olympic judoka did say that during her first year with striking coach Edmond Tarverdyan, she didn’t throw punches. The entire time was spent on footwork.

“My first year of striking he didn’t show me how to throw hands at all,” Rousey said. “We did entirely footwork. I’m not neglecting my grappling, but I want to get very good at striking.”

Carmouche (8-2), for one, believes Rousey has more tricks than armbars up her sleeve. She does, however, think we’ll see the first doubt in Rousey’s eyes when the fight doesn’t end in the first round.

“I think as an MMA fighter, she has to have more than that,” Carmouche said. “I think that’s her strong play each and every time, but I know the champion she is, she has more in her toolbox.”

Machida has no problem with TRT, still eyes 185

Lyoto Machida has no issue that his opponent this weekend, Dan Henderson, is a longtime user of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

The issue of TRT has been a hot topic in the sport in recent years. It sparked up once again last weekend, when UFC president Dana White warned that the promotion would soon start vigorously testing any fighter receiving the treatment.

Machida (18-3) trusts the UFC’s judgment in the matter, and said he doesn’t mind fighting any opponent who receives a therapeutic-use exemption for TRT.

“No, no, no. It’s OK for me, no problem,” Machida said.

“Everybody has their own reason for doing testosterone. I don’t know. I’m not a doctor; I’m a fighter. If the UFC says it’s OK, then it’s good.”

Machida also confirmed that while he believes the winner of Saturday’s fight should receive the next title shot at 205 pounds, he’s still interested in a future drop to 185. His goal in dropping would be only to challenge himself and not fight for the belt, which is held by his teammate Anderson Silva.

“If I have a chance, I want to fight at 185 [pounds],” Machida said. “No title shot. The champion is my friend.”

Henderson not focused on title shot heading into co-main event

Dan Henderson says he was optimistic at first the UFC would still grant him a title shot after a knee injury forced him out of a title fight against Jon Jones in September.

We all know how that worked out.

As he prepares to meet Lyoto Machida at the UFC 157 co-main event, Henderson says he isn’t concerned with where he ranks in the division. The inaugural UFC rankings released this month placed him No. 2, behind only champion Jon Jones, but Henderson doesn’t believe that means much.

“Obviously, [the rankings] don’t mean anything,” Henderson said. “It’s never meant much to me, whether I’m on the top or bottom. It doesn’t change the way I fight.

“I don’t think [the UFC] is going to go off those [rankings] to match things up. I don’t think they ever will.”

Henderson (29-8) went on to say he doesn’t have to win a UFC belt to retire. Clearly, he expects to -- his goal is to not lose another fight before he retires -- but he doesn’t consider it a milestone must-have. He’s fought for UFC gold twice in his career, coming up short in fights with Quinton Jackson and Anderson Silva.

“I don’t feel like I have to do anything,” Henderson said. “Obviously, it’s one of my goals and I’d love to accomplish that and not lose again until I retire. I’m out there working hard hoping to accomplish my goal, but I don’t need it to retire.”

Faber admits circumstances at UFC 149 were difficult

Urijah Faber makes no excuses when it comes to his last performance, a unanimous-decision loss to Renan Barao in July for the UFC bantamweight interim title. Admittedly, though, unforeseen events stole a bit of air from his sails.

Faber (26-6) had been scheduled for a rivalry fight with Dominick Cruz at UFC 148, which turned out to be the promotion’s most successful event in 2012.

Instead, Cruz went down with an ACL injury and Faber was pulled from the card to headline UFC 149 in Calgary, one of the worst-performing cards of 2012.

“I did have the excitement drawn out of that fight for a bunch of reasons,” said Faber, who meets Ivan Menjivar on Saturday.

“Monetarily, I spent three months promoting one date against a certain opponent on a huge card, and it’s hard not to focus on that stuff when you’ve worked 10 years in the sport to get those big paydays.

“Also, the change of opponent. No one really knows who Barao is. Now so, more, but I think he had 3,000 followers on Twitter at that point. The biggest name on the undercard was Cheick Kongo. It took a lot of the steam out of the engine.”

Faber, 33, says he’s nowhere near the end of his career yet and, although UFC 149 was a letdown, he takes full responsibility for the loss to Barao.

“I always go out and fight 100 percent,” Faber said. “I could be in my backyard by myself or in front of millions of people. It doesn’t matter. I always have to throw out my best fight.”

PALOS VERDES, Calif. -- When Lyoto Machida steps into the Octagon Saturday against Dan Henderson, this is what he'll tell himself for the 22nd time as a professional mixed martial artist.

"Agora é a hora."

Now is the hour.

In more ways than one, it's an apt phrase for the former UFC light heavyweight champion as he heads into the co-main event of UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif. At the age of 34, the quick Brazilian stands at the precipice. A win over Henderson, 42, should slot Machida into another UFC title shot. A loss would mean he’s lost four of six fights. This sets up with high stakes.

His hope is that it "will happen naturally. I was supposed to be fighting Jon Jones when Dan Henderson couldn't do it. Then Vitor Belfort, who had nothing to do with anything, stepped up and fought. Now Chael Sonnen [gets a title shot]. If I would be thinking about it, it would be a waste of time.

"My philosophy is to sort things out as they come."

This brought Machida, who was sitting inside his living room in front of a large sliding glass door that opens to a backyard exploding with palm trees, back to the fight in front of him.

"I'm not looking past Dan Henderson," he said.

For reasons far beyond philosophical that better be true. The reality is a loss, a legit possibility against the iconic Henderson, would mean that after winning his first 16 contests, Machida and his 18-4 record doesn't sound so hot.

Machida remembers being 18, watching Henderson, and realizing then that fighting was more than a career to the man -- it was in his blood. He said he felt the same. Since 1997, Henderson proved himself against anyone willing to try their luck. No shortage of Brazilians are on that list. Jorge Guimaraes, the jack-of-all-trades Brazilian media personality and manager at Blackhouse, gave me a lift to Machida's new home near enough to the Pacific Ocean that the air was crisp. He remembered being at Henderson's first fight, when the sport was anything goes on all fronts. Henderson won, the promoter freaked and demanded that action restart with a new referee. The entire time, Guimaraes said, the Olympic wrestler stayed loose in his corner, and happily offered to do it again. They did not. Sixteen years later, the former two-division Pride champion still resides on pound-for-pound lists, and is currently enjoying one of the most impressive stretches of his career.

After offering a laundry list of superlatives, Machida didn't bother to mention Henderson’s use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy. Machida said it isn't worthwhile to speak of such things. And it doesn’t change the fact that Henderson is “a guy that accepts exchanges. He doesn't mind standing up and banging. He's a well-rounded fighter that comes forward. We pretty much have the same style. Wherever the fight is is good for both of us."

Machida appeared trim and fit while relaxing at home the Monday before the fight. He's taken it easy since last Thursday, a hard sparring day at the Blackhouse facility a half-hour away in Gardena, giving him plenty of time to re-enact the closing scene to "Rocky III" with his young son, Taiyo. The youth plays Rocky, and knows enough to stand southpaw like his dad, Apollo. Ding. Ding. The only thing missing was the pair dissolving into a Leroy Neiman painting.

"'Rocky III' or 'Rocky IV,' all day long," said Fabyola Machida, shaking her head at her husband and child. Taiyo even named the Machida family French bulldog puppy "Rocky," though the brindle typically responds to "Hockey."

"It's a different moment in my life," Machida said. "I've always wanted peace of mind. And training in a place that has all the infrastructure. Over here you can focus a lot better than in Brazil. Things work a lot better here."

There are more palm trees too, chuckled Guimaraes. Branches almost reach the inside of the upstairs master bedroom, which has been a point of controversy between the mostly zen karateka and his wife.

"Lyoto wants blackout curtains," said Fabyola. "I said no, have to see the sun everyday."

"Sometimes, even with my wife, we don't agree on everything," he said. "But I don't want to waste a night of sleep over a little discussion."

It took 10 years before Machida agreed to move to Los Angeles, like Fabyola had wished. Machida wasn't prepared to leave his influential father and brothers and Belem, Brazil, the city of the mango trees. But after being choked unconscious by Jon Jones in Dec. 2011, a change seemed appropriate. In May, he and his wife bought the two story house with all the palm trees. Machida said he knew it was the right place the moment he walked through the door. Then last August, Machida looked great against Ryan Bader at the Staples Center.

Machida doesn’t recall why he uttered “agora é a hora” to himself the first time he fought. He's not sure why he continues to say it. But he does. “The Dragon” noted that he doesn’t think in terms of “now or never.” He refuses to dwell on the negative instead of what’s in front of him. But if this fight feels like a pivotal contest, that’s because it is.

"I'm living every moment as it comes," Machida said. "I enjoyed being the champion but it's gone. It's like this conversation. It will be gone in 20 minutes. It's behind, but could happen again."

It’s not the situation Carlos Condit expected to find himself in next month at UFC 158, but he isn’t complaining. Rather, he’s embracing it.

Condit was slated to fight Rory MacDonald in the March 16 co-main event. But MacDonald, who called out Condit on several occasions in hopes of landing a rematch, suffered an injury which forced him to withdraw. UFC officials quickly scrambled to find a replacement for MacDonald. They didn’t have to look far -- consensus top-welterweight contender Johny Hendricks was penciled in to face Jake Ellenberger on the March 16 card in Montreal.

Out goes MacDonald, in comes Hendricks and Condit goes from a good situation to a better one. What a godsend for the former UFC interim 170-pound champion.

“Fighting Johny Hendricks is the perfect opportunity for Carlos to earn another shot at the UFC welterweight title,” Condit’s manager, Malki Kawa, said Monday in a statement. “Hendricks is the perfect replacement for Rory, keeping a No. 1-contender bout intact.

“It’s going to be an exciting fight.”

In his first fight since coming out on the short end of a unanimous decision to lineal welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre during a title unification showdown at UFC 154 on Nov. 17, 2012, Condit is in position to land a title shot sooner than even he could have imagined.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. In a way, it’s poetic justice: Condit gave St-Pierre a scare, giving him all he could handle. A head kick in the third round had St-Pierre on unsteady legs.

Both fighters had been out of the cage for an extended period, but who knows how that fight would have played out under normal circumstances? It was a very competitive fight, arguably the toughest of St-Pierre’s career.

At the completion of five rounds, however, there was no suspense -- St-Pierre was awarded the decision, and rightfully so. But Condit was able to hold his head high; he’d proven that he belonged in the same cage with one of the best mixed martial artists in history.

Condit spoke to ESPN.com a few weeks after that loss and expressed optimism about his future. He learned from the experience and realized there were several mistakes made during the bout. But he vows to be a much improved fighter the next time around.

“I almost had the fight in the bag,” Condit told ESPN.com in December. “With some adjustments and a few tweaks in my game, I’m going to be able to capitalize on those moments that I had in the last fight.

“I’m fired up. I’m looking to come back with a vengeance.”

Well, next time has arrived.

When Condit spoke in December of "being fired up," he had MacDonald in mind. Condit was eager to face the fast-rising 23-year-old one more time in hopes of silencing him for good. Condit won their first encounter back in June 2010 at UFC 115 by third-round TKO.

But MacDonald has been calling for a rematch since, claiming he was too green the first time around. He raised his campaign rhetoric during the build-up to UFC 154 in Montreal. MacDonald currently resides in Montreal, where he trains with St-Pierre.

Following Condit’s loss to St-Pierre and MacDonald’s dominating win Dec. 8 over BJ Penn, UFC decision-makers quickly worked on putting the rematch together. It came as no surprise that both fighters accepted the UFC’s bout offer.

Condit never turns down a fight, and now that take-on-anyone-anywhere attitude has paid off immensely. As a result of MacDonald’s strenuous training habits, he injured himself in camp.

MacDonald now has to wait a little longer for his coveted rematch, while Condit will compete in a fight that (by all accounts) is a title eliminator.

Condit is a very happy man today. But Condit’s increased enthusiasm is spurred solely by his participating in a possible eliminator; he gets to take on another fighter with a penchant for calling him out.

Condit might have to make a few strategic adjustments for Hendricks, but his motivation needle is jumping all over the place right now. The former interim champion has his swagger back.

“I have been training for Rory MacDonald, but there is plenty of time left to switch my focus to Hendricks,” Condit said Monday. “He’s called me out in the past, and now is his chance to try to back that talk up.

“I’ll be ready for him.”

Johny Hendricks admits it. The man behind that warm, bearded glow we’ve come to know and love has grown somewhat paranoid.

Listen to him talk about the welterweight title fight between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz on March 16, and you’ll know.

The dialogue starts with their upcoming fight at UFC 158 -- but by the time Hendricks is finished, St-Pierre and Diaz have completed one of the most epic trilogies in UFC history, spanning nearly two years.

“Let’s say Nick Diaz beats GSP [and] there’s a rematch,” Hendricks told ESPN.com. “Diaz holds the belt for six months, so then you’d be at 10 months from my last fight. Then you’re looking at, what if GSP wins but barely beats him? You know the UFC will want to do a third one. Then the winner needs five months to prepare for me, so that’s maybe 20 months.”

You can’t blame Hendricks (14-1), who now fights Carlos Condit at UFC 158 following an injury to Rory MacDonald, for thinking this way. This is the guy who Diaz (26-8) leapfrogged for the title shot, despite losing his last fight.

Count Hendricks among those who were interested in the inaugural UFC rankings, which the promotion released this month. He wasn’t shocked when he saw his name trailing only St-Pierre at 170 pounds.

“[St-Pierre] said he doesn’t think I’m the No. 1 contender,” Hendricks said. “We saw in the UFC rankings that the whole world does.

“

(St-Pierre) said he doesn't think I'm the No. 1 contender. We saw in the UFC rankings that the whole world does.

” -- Johny Hendricks, on his place among the best at welterweight -- at least, in the eyes of the voting media

“It is what it is. I won’t be shocked ever again. The thing is, I know I’m going to have to fight these guys sooner or later. That’s the only reason I’m OK with getting all these fights. Whenever I do get the belt, I’ll already have a win over these guys.”

Hendricks was dealt an interesting hand this week, when news broke MacDonald had been forced out of his fight against Condit.

Condit (28-6) is a bigger name than Hendricks’ originally scheduled opponent, Jake Ellenberger (28-6). Big-name opponents usually represent the quicker path to a title shot.

Hendricks, however, is already widely considered the No. 2-ranked welterweight in the world. So is there much of a difference between a win over Condit and a win over Ellenberger? He believes, “Yes.”

“He was the interim title holder, he just fought GSP,” Hendricks said of his new opponent. “If you go out there and do good against him, they can’t hold anything from you. At that moment, there’s nothing they can take from you.

“If I beat Jake Ellenberger but don’t do it impressively, do I get that title shot? With this fight, as long as I win, that right there is another solidifying moment for me.”

Hendricks wouldn’t go so far as to say Condit is a more difficult fight. For Ellenberger, he had been training for a lot of hooks and takedowns. With Condit, he says he’s done a “180,” preparing for a taller guy with knees, kicks and a ground game.

If you’re wondering whether he hesitated taking the fight, the answer is no. He received a phone call asking to comment on the new matchup before he was even aware MacDonald had pulled out.

At this stage, Hendricks is unafraid of any fight at 170 pounds. There may be that sense of paranoia in his mind, but he also knows no one can deny him forever if he accepts tough fights and comes out on top.

“After this fight, I get my hand raised -- the good Lord willing -- and there’s nothing Georges can do to keep me from fighting him,” Hendricks said. “The only thing he can do is move to 185.”

Dan Henderson has put the boot into Anderson Silva ahead of his own Brazilian test against Lyoto Machida this weekend, insisting Silva picks and chooses his fights. More »

Michael Bisping has revealed to ESPN.co.uk that he may require surgery to correct a nerve problem that is causing atrophy, a condition that sees the wasting away of muscle tissue. More »

Liz Carmouche is not a can. She is a human being with motivation and drive and a world of dreams that can be realized one weekend late in February. But what happens if she realizes her dreams and beats Ronda Rousey at UFC 157?

What, in this game of four-ounce gloves and four-leaf clovers, happens then?

The vanguards of women's MMA are being stacked up against each other in the old Washington Generals/Harlem Globetrotters dynamic. No, it's not fixed or choreographed, but it's a foregone conclusion that Rousey wins this historical first women's title fight on February 23. Isn't it? It has to be.

There would be no women's MMA in the UFC if Rousey didn't catch Dana White's eye. Her mere arm-barring presence made up for all the red flags that kept it out so long -- namely, the "lack of divisional depth" that White talked about.

Of course, that was all BR (Before Ronda). Now, the depth of one transcendent fighter is enough to fill out a division. It's the wide world of Rousey, and then everybody else. White has made no secret that Rousey is the reason.

That's why it isn't that Carmouche is a can -- it's that they're all aluminum product. Miesha Tate (whom she's already beat), Sara McMann (who is in the on-deck circle) and even Cris "Cyborg" Santos, who is jettisoning herself from the UFC (and can't/won't make 135 pound besides). All of them. This is Rousey's domain. It was her patent. The future of women's MMA is Rousey's burden in the present tense. The pressure is only to win. And preferably to collect a couple more arms along the way, like she's done a million times before (or six, to be exact).

Make no mistake, this is boom or bust.

And if she doesn't win? Well, Seth Petruzelli becomes the second greatest party pooper of all time.

Should Carmouche get her arm raised in Anaheim, this whole thing becomes a Jenga proposition. Rousey, who White admires for being "so nasty, so mean" -- who has broken into larger and more varied media realms than Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell combined -- would then slip into more pedestrian ranks. The iconoclast who is potentially inspiring thousands of young girls to give MMA a chance would get hung up in "potentially". I've written in here before that Rousey is the Royce Gracie of WMMA. She's the example of broader possibility.

I still believe that.

But how fast a loss leads the chorus to chants of "you've been exposed", even for those with Olympic medals in judo. How fast those six victories would seem incomplete if upended by a single loss. How shaky the idea of women's MMA in the UFC becomes overnight. How fast the eggs would topple out of that single basket.

And if this is all experimentation, you'd have to wonder how long the experiment goes on -- even with the signings of Tate, Cat Zingano and others to fill in the inaugural bantamweight division.

Carmouche's Marine background is cool. It lends to her no-nonsense pluck. That she's the UFC's first openly gay fighter is admirable and perfect for narrative. She's nice, genuine, sincere -- there's not a bad thing you can say about her. But "Girl-Rilla" Carmouche as champion? What on John Moraga's green earth would the UFC do then? The most marketable fight for Carmouche at that point would be a rerun of Rousey (because surely the first fight would have been an aberration). Beyond that, it's just a bunch of jacks scattered on the linoleum. Or Jills, as it were.

In any case, it's an awful lot riding on a single fight -- this is a crossroads bout right out of the gate.

Yet it's not Carmouche's place to contemplate the aftermath. It's her job to win, even if that means dealing an indirect blow to the thing that she's fighting for. That's a unique mission. It's at least her job to go down swinging, as that's the scenario we've grown most comfortable imagining. Carmouche volunteered herself for this piece of historic martyrdom. We like that. We expect her to go down valiantly.

But man, can you imagine if things don't go to expectation?

Here's some stuff to consider about Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos heading to Invicta FC instead of meeting Ronda Rousey in the UFC that makes it OK right now to shrug your shoulders.

Did Santos, her management, Rousey, Invicta FC or Zuffa come out looking great? Did any of them blow it? The answer is a big, fat meh. Winners. Losers. The line's a blur with this one. Despite a lot of not getting what was wanted most, in certain ways everyone came out ahead.

The only thing we know for sure is this episode has added texture and dimension to a fight that will happen if everyone is as good and smart as they think they are.

How they win ...

Zuffa: The UFC holds rights to Rousey, so they're way ahead of the game. They stuck to their guns on keeping one weight division, which is the smart move as new fans are indoctrinated into the ways of women's mixed martial arts. Again, they've refused to let a fighter dictate terms and get away with it. The absence of Cyborg shouldn't hurt too much because 135 features several appealing contenders.

Santos: After a year away from the cage because of steroids, Cyborg has a fight again. She'll compete for a promotion that quickly earned a reputation as the home for women's MMA. She'll face a legitimate challenger at 145 in Ediane Gomes. She won't have to kill herself to make 135 pounds, which she could if she had to, but only at a cost. Another year of destroying women would lather up fans for a fight against Rousey, boosting her leverage heading into another round of contract talks with Zuffa.

Rousey: If it comes together, Rousey-Cyborg has the makings of the biggest money fight in female combat sports history. This chapter does nothing but add to that. It's all part of the story and, hey, now it has gotten personal. Right? Rousey is a clear winner if she holds up her end of the bargain and gets that payday.

Primetime 360: Tito Ortiz and two attorneys are trying their hand at the management business. The Cyborg episode landed them press. If their female star remains clean and beats up the competition, the "flexibility" they said they opted for could pay off a year from now.

Invicta FC: The female-focused promotion landed Cyborg to a three-bout contract. Duh. So long as Invicta didn't do something foolish with the money or terms (and there's no reason to suspect they did), it's a no-brainer. Press interest will hit a new high for Invicta this April.

How they lose ...

Zuffa: Dana White said he didn't understand why UFC's offer to pay Santos to fight in Invicta was turned down when she ended up with the same promotion for less money. Santos said she didn't want to sign the eight-fight contract Zuffa offered. And so Zuffa loses if Cyborg puts herself in the best possible position. That's not so terrible. Zuffa still stands to make big money on this deal whenever it happens. Zuffa, too, loses if it continues to play up the narrative that Cyborg is running from Rousey.

Santos: She drops one of her next three fights in Invicta. That would be bad.

Rousey: Rousey has her mountaintop to defend. So long as she's the top female bantamweight in MMA, there's not much downside to seeing Cyborg compete outside of the Octagon. Fights will arise, money will be made, her fame will continue to grow. There is the chance, however, that if she's unable to fight Cyborg, Rousey can't take the title of the sport's best female fighter. And that's worth something.

Primetime 360: Cyborg loses. Zuffa decides it doesn't like how Ortiz and his team do business.

Invicta FC: Pay-per-view numbers are lower than expected. Cyborg falls on her face in the cage or screws up another steroid test. All the usual pitfalls.

Where it stands ...

Zuffa: Business as usual. They're invested in Rousey. If she should falter, though, it will be interesting to see what that does to UFC's interest in Cyborg.

Santos: She'll have to do what she has done and keep hurting women in the cage. Cyborg is lined up for big things if it plays out this way. She's taking a potentially riskier route to her goal, but the benefits could be greater.

Rousey: Let's check back on the 23rd.

Primetime 360: Ortiz's group also has wrestler Bubba Jenkins under contract, with a promise to focus on brand building and contractual protections. It was refreshing to hear a management group openly discuss the inner workings of contract negotiations. Hopefully that continues.

Invicta FC: As of right now, they're not a "feeder organization," per Dana White. The Cyborg signing isn't quite Fedor Emelianenko to Strikeforce, but it's a major moment for the young promotion.

LONDON -- After a night of few finishes, but a number of exciting and entertaining bouts, UFC on Fuel TV 7 ended with a solid submission win from the interim bantamweight champ Renan Barao against Michael McDonald.

Though the Brazilian didn't at first appear as sharp or explosive as he had in his previous UFC fights, perhaps in part to McDonald's speed and skills, Barao turned up the heat when he saw the chance, defending his belt like a true champion and sinking in a bonus-winning arm-triangle choke in the fourth round.

"I'm a BJJ black belt. I know I have a good ground game and I knew he was feeling the pain," Barao said, explaining why he refused to give up on the choke even though his opponent seemed to be fine.

"I learned the difference between where I am now and where I want to be," McDonald said. "Today, Barao was the better martial artist," said McDonald.

While McDonald clearly proved he belongs at the top of the division, troubling the interim champ a few times with his power, it was Barao who really made a statement at Wembley Arena.

Showing a versatile skill set and an ability to evolve his strategy as the fight progressed, Barao's win streak extended to an impressive 20 victories. His submission over McDonald acted as both a proclamation to the rest of the division as well as a sharp reminder for the still injured Dominick Cruz.

"Dominick is terrified right now," UFC president Dana White said. "All you guys have been reporting that I said he's going to have to retire and that is not what I said so I've been having to explain to him what's going on. We're hoping that Dominick will be ready for the summer so he can face Barao. That's the plan."

Barao is a tough fight for anyone, especially as he continues to add to his already impressive set of skills, but it's an even tougher fight for Cruz returning from such a long layoff. There's no doubt it'll be a fantastic clash of styles, but against a fighter as determined as Barao has been to maintain his championship gold, Cruz's return to the Octagon will be a big ask.

Swanson happy just to entertain the fans

Cub Swanson once again showed an aggression and passion for his work against Dustin Poirier as he fought his way to a well-earned unanimous decision. Sporting a pair of shades to the post-fight press conference, Swanson revealed that it's all about the fights at this point in his career.

"After my injury I realized all this could go away and be over just like that," Swanson said. "I'm not messing around anymore. Every fight I fight like it's my last.”

While many are thinking Swanson's gritty victory over Poirier likely places him near the top of the title shot pile, the Team Jackson fighter wasn't fazed by the prospect.

"I am just happy to entertain the crowd," Swanson said. "I don't care where I am in terms of the title right now. I just want to go in and give the best performances I can and be the best fighter I can be."

It's an admirable principle for Swanson, but in terms of Joe Silva's matchmaking and the fans' desire to see Jose Aldo constantly tested, Swanson's hard work and aggressive instincts definitely have him on the radar as a potential challenger.

A tough night for the Brits

It was not the best night for the British fans and their native fighters. Well, all except one.

While the hugely popular Paul Sass and Terry Etim struggled to mount much offense in their respective bouts -- both losing by unanimous decision for their second straight defeat -- Tom Watson stood up and stamped his mark on the middleweight division.

Displaying a fantastic strategy against Stanislav Nedkov, Watson took control early on in the fight. Though he was nearly stopped at the end of the first round, his reply brought the crowd to their feet. He shrugged off Nedkov's ground and pound and came out in the second with a renewed vigour, employing a brutal clinch game to take the victory deep in the second round.

"People who fight him are scared of him," Watson said. "I wanted to push the pace and show him that I'm not scared.”

After a display that earned him two bonuses, Watson then set about calling out TRT users in his post-fight interview, explaining that he felt too many fighters were using it unfairly.

"You can't put TRT on your chin or in your heart," Watson said. "I've got a big heart and I'm happy to fight any one these guys."

While Watson's opinions chimed with White's thoughts on TRT, it was the British middleweight's rugged and tough performance that earned him the plaudits from the fans and the UFC itself. Watson laid out a marker for the rest of the up-and-coming 185ers.

Bonuses, Bits and Bobs

The UFC once again broke records in the UK, taking an impressive $1.3 million on the gate and seeing 10,349 die-hard fans pack Wembley Arena.

Watson took home honors for both fight and knockout of the night, earning him $100,000 in bonuses. Barao took home $50,000 for submission of the night.

Though there were only two finishes on the entire card, White said that "if the fans are happy, I'm happy. And the fans seemed happy tonight."

As usual, White fielded plenty of questions about more events, including both Brazil and the British Isles.

"Brazil is the hottest market right now, Lorenzo [Fertitta] will be spending a lot of time down there working on setting up the infrastructure," White said, before answering similar enquiries about the UK. "I keep telling you, Garry Cook is the man. He is buttoning up the TV deal here and we're looking at setting up a three-year plan for venues all over the country."

Clearly the UFC expansion is not slowing down anytime soon.

There will be no cooperation from Liz Carmouche on Feb. 23 at UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif.

She will not walk into the cage, extend her arm and allow bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey to lock onto it. The six previous pro fighters who faced the arm-bar submission expert played that game -- Carmouche won’t.

Carmouche has something a little different up her sleeve: She intends to put up a fight.

Carmouche would be wise to keep the fight standing, which would make it difficult for Rousey to grab an arm. But she isn’t afraid to fight Rousey, even if they go to the ground. If this fight had taken place in 2010 or 2011, Rousey would have won in a cakewalk. Carmouche was a very green fighter back then, physically and mentally. Not so in 2013.

“I’ve changed significantly as a fighter,” Carmouche told ESPN.com. “With each fight, I have adapted and grown and evolved into a better fighter and person. I’m constantly evolving, and you can see that as each fight progresses.

“I don’t just focus on one form and one art. I make sure that I’m giving all my energy to everything equally. As a result, each part grows: my jiu-jitsu’s grown, my judo’s grown, my wrestling, my boxing, my Muay Thai, you name it; everything’s improved.

“I’m going into this fight to become champion. If not, I wouldn’t be going into it.”

“

Everybody does have a lot of confidence in Ronda and they're holding her up to high esteem because of that. I also think people doubt me. But every single time that people doubt me I step up to the plate and show them that they are wrong, and I'm going to do the same in this fight with Ronda.

” -- Liz Carmouche, on facing Ronda Rousey

For those who haven’t followed Carmouche closely the past couple of years, it is easy to dismiss her. She fought then-Strikeforce bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen on March 5, 2011, for the title and came up short -- and Rousey is regarded as a much better fighter today than Coenen was two years ago.

But you’d have an inaccurate understanding of what took place that evening at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, if you simply looked at the bout result and concluded Carmouche couldn’t hang with the best 135-pound fighter at that time.

The fact is that Carmouche more than held her own against Coenen. She was beating the champion for much of the fight before making a defensive error and got submitted at 1:29 of the fourth round.

That loss changed Carmouche’s perspective on being a professional fighter.

“I learned from that experience,” Carmouche said. “When I faced Coenen it was on very short notice, and up to that point, I doubted if I really belonged in Strikeforce, if I deserved to be ranked among the top women like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman.

“During that fight, while I did lose it, I dominated for four rounds up until I made a mistake that cost me. That fight gave me the confidence I needed to keep going -- and I’m going to use that confidence in this fight as well.”

The mistake Carmouche made against Coenen was getting caught in a triangle choke. She has not made that mistake again.

And while she’d come up short in her next outing -- a unanimous decision loss to Kaufman in June 2011 -- Carmouche was no longer questioning her abilities or standing as a fighter.

She immediately returned to the gym and worked on fine-tuning her skill set. No stone was left unturned -- every aspect of her game received full attention; many alterations have been made.

Whether standing or on the ground, Carmouche is now a force to be reckoned with.

Carmouche (8-2) has won two fights in a row -- one by TKO, the other by submission. She likes the type of fighter she’s developed into and won’t be lacking confidence on Feb. 23, despite being given little chance of leaving the cage victorious.

There will be many people rooting for Carmouche -- some folks just don’t like all the hype Rousey is receiving. Few, however, expect her to pull off the monumental upset.

But Carmouche wouldn’t have it any other way. She has been counted out before a fight so often that she fully embraces the underdog role. She relishes the thought of proving the doubters wrong.

“Everybody does have a lot of confidence in Ronda, and they’re holding her up to high esteem because of that,” Carmouche said. “I also think people doubt me.

“But every single time that people doubt me, I step up to the plate and show them that they are wrong, and I’m going to do the same in this fight with Ronda.”

Rousey (6-0) has been such a dominant fighter in her brief professional career, it’s appropriate that she’s listed as a heavy favorite. But Carmouche should not be fully counted out, either.

She has improved too much in all areas as a fighter to be taken lightly. Carmouche plans to make life in the cage uneasy for Rousey, and that’s all fight fans can reasonably ask for.

Interim bantamweight title contender Michael McDonald offered a fascinating insight into his mindset on Wednesday, telling ESPN he has no idea what he is going to do when he enters the Octagon. More »

LONDON -- Renan Barao might have twice as many wins as his opponent Michael McDonald (and a win streak of 19 fights), but the battle for the bantamweight title has all the makings of an epic. While McDonald mesmerized the media with his talk of mental fortitude, faith in God and technical dedication, the interim champ was a little more grounded in his approach.

“I train hard. Each fight is the most important fight and I am here to do my best,” Barao said during the final news conference to promote Saturday’s UFC on Fuel 7 card at Wembley Arena. “I don’t feel that I have an advantage having been in a five-round fight before; I’m just focused on doing my job and defending my title.

And though McDonald dismissed the relevance of competing for the interim title -- Dominick Cruz, who is still recovering from knee surgery, possesses the bantamweight title -- Barao was determined to defend his belt.

“He [McDonald] has his own [thoughts of the significance of their bout]," Barao said. “He can think what he likes. I’m happy to be the champion and I am glad to be here and to do my job.”

Training out of Nova Uniao Team alongside Jose Aldo, many have made connections between the two fighters as well as their undefeated runs in the UFC. However, Barao is keen to stress that he is part of an evolving and growing gym of fighters and that he is a champion in his own right.

“Aldo is not the only guy I work with,” Barao said. “The whole team and all my coaches have helped me prepare for McDonald. We have a strong style at Nova Uniao. We are all trying to develop our own way of fighting, to stay relaxed in the cage and do our best.”

Both McDonald and Barao have stated the necessity to remain calm and in control once inside the Octagon, and with both packing big power, great submission skills and an equal number of UFC wins, the fight for the title promises to be action-packed.

McDonald: ‘It’s mind over matter’

Speaking like a man far more mature than his 22 years suggest, McDonald discussed the importance of studying his opponent and considering his strategy.

“I don’t care about the belt. This is like any other fight for me,” McDonald said. “I’ve been here [in the cage] 16 times before and I have to treat this fight like any other. I’ve been looking at Barao’s skill set and working out what I would do against him and the strategies I can employ. I’m not thinking about the belt or what it would mean to be the youngest UFC champ. If I do look at it, the time [to do so] is after.”

McDonald’s relaxed demeanor during the news conference echoed his thoughts on the fight and his overall approach to MMA.

“Barao is a great fighter. He is probably a better athlete than a martial artist. We have different weapons. My weapons are strong. I have my mind and the understanding of my body.

“Fighting is simple. It’s about not getting hit and hitting your opponent hard. My strength is built from the arduous repetitions and the dedication I have given to the details, the efficiency of fighting. It is those small details that will help me. On Saturday the battle will be between his athleticism and my technicality.”

Swanson, Poirier happy to be where they are

With the recent introduction of official UFC rankings, many fighters can now see where they stand within their respective divisions -- at least, in the eyes of the voting media. For Cub Swanson, ranked No. 6 at featherweight, and Dustin Poirier, who is No. 7, it remains a question, more important, of earning the wins and waiting for the chance to fight for the title.

“I think the rankings are pretty accurate,” Poirier said. “I was higher before my loss to the Korean Zombie [Chan Sung Jung], but seventh is reasonable. Obviously that’ll change after the weekend.”

Though Swanson has a previous loss to Jose Aldo, his current win streak could put him in contention soon.

“I got a clean slate when I joined the UFC,” Swanson said. “I’m fighting smarter and tougher now.

“I am just really enjoying fighting right now. My goal is to be the best I can be. I want to end my career knowing that I was the best martial artist I could be. I fight for the UFC and that is a dream for most athletes.”

Diabate considers retirement?

Light heavyweight veteran Cyril Diabate was considering retiring from combat sports until his recent win streak.

“I’ve been fighting for 22 years; I won’t lie, I had been thinking about retirement and motivation was definitely becoming a factor,” Diabate said. “It’s been a battle, but right now it’s not an issue."

With back-to-back victories, his last an impressive submission win over Chad Griggs, Diabate will face a very different challenge when he takes on hometown favorite Jimi Manuwa on Saturday.

“I’m used to this,” Diabate said. “I’m expecting to get booed when I walk to the Octagon. There’s a long rivalry between France and England but I am looking for the win. Jimi is powerful but I am technical. I know that whatever happens, it will be exciting.”

Riddle will refuse to fight if Goddard is officiating

Aside from all the questions about Brit bashing, being spat on in Manchester and whether he needs extra security in the United Kingdom, Matt Riddle voiced his serious concerns about referee Marc Goddard.

Goddard, a former fighter himself and one of the most respected refs in Britain, came under heavy fire from the welterweight during the news conference.

“I don’t feel safe having him [Goddard] in the cage with me. I don’t think he is educated enough to be refereeing in the UFC,” Riddle said.

Not safe? Uneducated?

“I’ve seen him ref tons of fights and guys will be working and he’ll just stand them up from side-control or mid-ground-and-pound,” Riddle explained. “It’s MMA, you know? I mean, I like stand-ups if there’s no action. It changes the game and that’s great.

“Goddard just seems to play to the crowd. He stood me up against Osipczak after a few seconds but when the tables were turned and Osipczak was on top he just let it go. He seems to be biased toward the UK fighters and he allows the crowd to sway his judgement and, to me, that seems like he’s looking for an ego boost -- and it is dangerous. Standing a guy up after he’s scored a takedown and he is a dominant position is just wrong. It might be the fighter’s last effort and the ref knows -- he is looking right at you.“

Riddle stated that he would actually refuse to fight if Goddard was appointed to ref his bout against Che Mills.

“It is my legal right as a fighter to do that. The guy is either uneducated as a ref or he is disrespecting the rules of the sport.”

Dana holds court in London

UFC president Dana White was greeted with a plethora of questions upon taking to the podium -- not least the state of the bantamweight title and Dominick Cruz’s injuries.

“Cruz has had the worst luck,” White said. “He is set to come back and all I can say is that I hope he comes back soon. Another injury would mean that he’s been out for nearly three years. If he got another serious injury you’d have to think that he should retire.

“When we have the interim titles, we all want that guy to face the champ. In MMA you have to beat the guy who beat the guy to be the champ. I’d hate to have to strip Dominick of the title. I’d hate to say that and right now we’re just hoping for him to come back and face whoever has the interim title.”

On another championship belt-related note -- text messages don’t get you title fights.

“Listen, text messages don’t get you fights,” White said after numerous questions were fielded by Cub Swanson and Dustin Poirier. Both men had been asked about how much they were doing to make themselves heard in the title mix, but for White it still comes down to wins.

“Anthony Pettis put in a big performance against [Donald] 'Cowboy' Cerrone and that earned him the shot.”

With the UFC hosting an event in the UK so early in the year, and with a title bout heading up the card, thoughts were already turning to the implications that this might have for White’s plans in Britain.

“This card is stacked,” the UFC president said. “We could have had all the guys fighting up here for the news conference today. There are so many great fights on the card and so many of them are all close to earning a shot at the belt.

“We never gave up on the UK. Believe me, we’re going to get it done.”

LAS VEGAS -- A new face will appear in Frank Mir’s corner when he takes on Daniel Cormier at a UFC on Fox event in April -- Greg Jackson.

Mir, 33, plans to join Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M., for an eight-week camp beginning later this month. It’s the first time the Las Vegas native will train for a fight outside his hometown.

Following a second-round TKO loss to Junior dos Santos for the UFC title in May, Mir says he felt a need to modify his standard routine.

“I’ve always felt I have great trainers so there was no reason to leave, but my wife and I were talking about how I needed to change things up,” Mir told ESPN.com. “One of the things was maybe I should get out of town and get more focused.

“I’ve always been impressed with Greg Jackson’s game planning. I figured, before I retire, I want to be a part of that and see what makes this guy so successful.”

“

I've always been impressed with Greg Jackson's game planning. I figured, before I retire, I want to be a part of that and see what makes this guy so successful.

” -- Frank Mir, on moving to Albuquerque to train with Jackson

During the eight weeks, Mir (16-6) plans to fly home every weekend to see his family. He says the longest he’s ever gone without seeing his three children is four days. An eight-week absence was out of the question.

Five days out of the week, though, his career will receive his full attention. That hasn’t been the case, really, since he started a family. Recently, the two-time UFC heavyweight champion skipped a workout to sign his daughter up for softball. That kind of thing won’t happen in Albuquerque.

“I ended up working out in the garage with dumbbells,” Mir said. “I still got something in, but was it the same quality as if I went to the gym? No.”

Mir’s longtime head trainer Jimmy Gifford will join Jackson in the corner. Gifford says he is excited to see Mir willing to make changes this late in his career.

“Too many coaches want to make it about them. It’s about the fighter,” Gifford said. “Anything that makes my guy better, I’m fine with. This guy has been at the top of his game for years. For him to still search out ways to get better is great.”

Having Cormier as an opponent has appeared to motivate Mir. A former Olympic wrestler, Cormier (11-0) carries lots of momentum into his UFC debut.

After scoring a second-round TKO victory in his final Strikeforce appearance, Cormier publicly called for an April bout against Mir. Gifford texted his fighter that night to see if he was watching, and Mir responded, “I’ll sign his cast after the fight.”

“Level of competition is important,” Mir said. “He’s done most of his damage in Strikeforce. Not to downplay Strikeforce, but it’s not the UFC.

“I think it’s going to be another one of those things where people are destined to be disappointed. After our fight, he’s already said he’s going to 205 pounds. That doesn’t sound like a confident guy who wants to stay at heavyweight.”