ESPN Mixed Martial Arts

TORONTO -- The craze from a blockbuster boxing event between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez last weekend in Las Vegas has followed the UFC north.

UFC president Dana White and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who defends his title against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday, were asked repeatedly about Mayweather at a media function on Thursday.

Specifically, questions zeroed in on Mayweather’s much-talked about $41.5 million guarantee for the fight and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer’s comments regarding the pay-per-view breaking buy records set in 2007.

White, who attended the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, said he was flattered the company he’s helped run since 2001 would draw comparisons to boxing, a sport with a much longer history.

“I’m honored we’re always looked at like, ‘Why aren’t you paying people $41 million,’” White said. “’Why aren’t you doing 2.7 million [PPV] buys?’

“What people have to realize, we just started making money in 2007. Do people understand that? This sport is still so young. We’re not even sanctioned in New York, we’ve just been on Fox [Network] for a couple years and we’re talking about doing a $41 million payday. It’s crazy.”

Jones, 26, one of the most marketable stars in the UFC, announced on Thursday he’d signed a sponsorship deal with Gatorade that would feature the brand on his fight shorts this weekend.

On Mayweather’s $41.5 million payday, which, White correctly pointed out, could ultimately become closer to $100 million when final PPV revenue comes in, Jones said he’s happy with his current pay scale but sees room for improvement.

“I’m not even close to that, but I’m grateful,” said Jones, after refusing to reveal his exact compensation for the bout. “It’s nowhere near Floyd Mayweather, but I don’t judge my happiness over somebody else’s.

“I’m really happy with what I get paid. It’s really not on the scale of other professional athletes, but there are a lot of athletes that don’t get paid as much as [UFC fighters]. I know Dana White knows that some of the fighters could be upgraded, especially his top-level guys, but maybe we’ll move in that direction.”

The largest buy-rate ever for a UFC event was reported at 1.6 million, for the landmark UFC 100 card that took place in July 2009. When asked if he thought a UFC event could one day score a buy rate near 2.7 million, White said he hopes so.

“Thirteen years ago, people were asking me, ‘Will there ever be a day UFC will get back on PPV?’” White said. “‘Will there ever be a day UFC is on free TV? Will there ever be a day you’ll be doing things in different countries?’ Here we are now so, yes, I like to believe we will.”

White chickened out on Mayweather wager

Ever since it was announced Mayweather was fighting Alvarez on Sept. 14, White was adamant it would result in yet another decision victory for Mayweather.

He mentioned on several occasions his prediction Mayweather would, “Box Canelo’s ears off.”

White says fans pressed him to put his money where his mouth was during a recent online chat, but admitted that ultimately, he had no action on the undefeated boxer.

“I watched all the bull---- leading up to it and I chickened out, so I didn’t bet anything,” White said. “[UFC co-owner] Lorenzo [Fertitta] did really well, though.”

Renan Barao, Eddie Wineland interim title fight will be the last

Whether UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is healthy or not come 2014, the promotion is finished with its “interim” tag at 135 pounds.

Cruz (19-1) hasn’t fought since October 2011 due to several knee operations. The UFC has been unwilling to strip him of the belt, despite the success of interim champion Renan Barao (30-1), who seeks his second defense of the title against Eddie Wineland on Saturday.

White said he’s hoping Cruz could be ready to compete sometime near January. If he’s unable to go, the promotion will make Saturday’s winner the official title-holder.

“If he can’t fight by the beginning of the year, we’ve got to the pull the trigger,” White said.

“It’s been two years. A lot of people think we’re crazy for holding up the title this long, but it’s a tough thing to do to take a title away from somebody. It’s hard to do.”

White has no concern BJ Penn will make 145 pounds

Not too many were surprised when it was announced earlier this week a comeback was in store for former lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn.

The surprise came when it was announced whom he would be fighting and at what weight.

Penn has agreed to coach on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series opposite familiar opponent Frankie Edgar. The two will then square off for a third time -- Edgar won the previous two -- at 145 pounds.

Penn (16-9-2) has fallen to 1-4-1 in his past six fights, four of which took place at 170 pounds. A cut now, after nearly a year off from the cage, down to featherweight has left some scratching heads.

“No,” White said, when asked if he had any worries Penn would miss weight. “He said he wants to do it. He says he’ll do it. It’s up to him now.”

White was then asked if the fight would be a situation where a loss could likely mean the end of Penn’s career in the UFC, to which he responded, “Yeah.”

In 2004, Eddie Wineland basically paid money to have his jaw broken.

A 10-year career in mixed martial arts is going to come with its share of highs and lows. Wineland, 29, hopes to enjoy his best moment in the cage this weekend, when he meets UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao at UFC 165 in Toronto.

If you want to talk about lows, though -- Wineland’s occurred during the winter of 2004, after he suffered a broken jaw in a loss to Brandon Carlson during a regional show promoted in Wisconsin.

Wineland remembers the hospital bills for his injury far surpassed his fight purse for that bout. In his mind, there was really no positive way to skew it. He was sipping meals through a straw -- and had paid money from his own pocket to do it.

"I quit in 2004 after I broke my jaw," Wineland told ESPN.com. "It wasn’t worth it to me anymore. I was fighting for $600. I had $15,000 in medical bills. The ends didn’t really meet there.

"I traveled four hours and ended up spending money to get my jaw broke."

“

I traveled four hours and ended up spending money to get my jaw broke.

” -- Eddie Wineland

The "quit" Wineland refers to didn’t last long. After attending several local shows in his home state of Indiana, the itch for combat returned in full force. By August 2005, Wineland was back in the cage in a submission win that evened his win-loss record.

It makes for a good story -- an athlete willing to stick with the brutality of the fight game, purely for the love of it. As Wineland points out, he never even considered fighting for a UFC title when he started. One didn’t exist in his weight class.

The strange part is, it feels like the good story is being relatively ignored.

Wineland (20-8-1) earned a shot at the interim belt with wins over ranked opponents Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett, but he's about as long as long shots come when it comes to his next fight.

Oddsmakers opened Barao (30-1) as a 7-1 favorite. That almost makes Wineland seem like a hurdle (a short one) for Barao to hop over, en route to a unifying title fight against Dominick Cruz, who is recovering from knee surgery, early next year.

The line on the fight, and the fact so much focus has surrounded Barao’s tag as an "interim" title, has not dampened Wineland's spirits. He believes Barao is the division's best, which makes his belt more significant than the one Cruz holds.

"He does everything well," Wineland said. "You don’t get to the be the No. 1 guy if you’re just OK at things.

"I think Renan is the No. 1 guy in the division. He's defended the belt and he's the one fighting. If I win, I get a belt. That makes me a champion, too. It if it's interim, it's interim. It still makes me a champion."

For his part, Barao says he's not ignoring Wineland and promises to look as good as he has in two interim title fight wins against Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald.

Ranked the No. 9 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by ESPN.com, Barao admits he hasn't made a formal request to the UFC to strip Cruz, who hasn't fought since October 2011, of his title but it appears his patience is slightly running out.

That said, the Brazilian believes he's reaping all the benefits of an undisputed UFC champion. If he compares his status to teammate and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, the perks are the same.

"The [UFC] treats me like the champion, they treat me very well," Barao said. "I travel first class [like Aldo]. It's pretty much the same thing.

"I don’t actually mind it. I guess everyone wants to know about the [interim title], but I'm very cool about the whole thing. I just think it's important the UFC makes a decision soon and settles this. I've considered myself the champion from the first time the belt went into my hands so yeah, I feel like [Cruz] needs to take this belt from me."

An anniversary Dominick Cruz wouldn't wish to celebrate is fast approaching.

Oct. 1 will mark two years since the UFC bantamweight champion was healthy enough to defend his belt in the Octagon. That's 24 months of prime real estate for a world-class fighter, meaning rather than competing against the likes of Renan Barao, he has been forced to recuperate through two ACL surgeries.

Cruz has dealt well with various disappointments over these many months. A blown-out knee in May 2012 cost him a trilogy bout against his heated rival Urijah Faber. At the end of last year, he required a second surgery after his body rejected an anterior cruciate ligament pulled from a cadaver.

Less than three weeks after Cruz turns 28 on Sept. 3, Barao will attempt his second defense of the UFC interim bantamweight title against Eddie Wineland in Toronto. By then "The Dominator" is hoping to have progressed to the point that he won't need to nurse his knee and, instead, can spar hard as he's wont to do.

Cruz's life right now is a series of eight-week training camps, said his longtime trainer Eric Del Fierro. There isn't a timetable for a full recovery because Del Fierro is concerned if Cruz has a firm date planted in his head the 135-pounder will "start pushing too hard." Instead, the trainer has established specific goals that are met incrementally.

"He's a special kind of athlete," Del Fierro said, "so I have to control his mind sometimes."

Cruz told ESPN.com Thursday that he had just been cleared by doctors to drill grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu sequences. A far cry from full-on sparring, though that may not be so far away if everything falls into place as he and his team hope.

"If it were up to him he'd be going 100 percent," the trainer said. "We're just following doctors' orders."

In an interview with MMAFighting.com this week, Barao claimed Cruz told him February 2014 had been targeted for a unification fight. Cruz, however, said Barao "misunderstood due to the language barrier," and it's merely a goal at the moment.

"Right now I'm doing no weight-bearing training -- that's why I'm just getting cleared to grapple now because grappling would be considered weight-bearing exercises," Cruz said.

In an attempt to keep things fresh, and, more important, stop Cruz from overexerting and hurting himself, Del Fierro set up a series of mini training camps "to show progress with his rehab." Cruz, a famously hard worker in the gym, bought into the "step-by-step" recovery sessions and experienced steady progress.

Next on the list is returning to the mat at Alliance MMA in Chula Vista, Calif., even if it's just to drill technique and position. Once that hurdle is cleared, live sparring should follow.

"So now I begin that portion of the eight weeks," Cruz said. "Then I get cleared to kick and add things together until I can do everything."

Cruz's extended absence hasn't caused Del Fierro to believe his charge needs a tuneup when he's finally able to return. They're not expecting or wishing for anything less than the best possible opponent.

"I wouldn't put anyone in a fight that didn't have a good camp, or wasn't 100 percent focused in camp," Del Fierro said. "Literally you're going to face every single scenario in camp that you would in a fight. If Dominick's running through a camp at 100 percent, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to face anybody in competition in the cage."

Should Dominick Cruz be stripped of his UFC bantamweight title?

It's been nearly 18 months since he won a decision victory over Demetrious Johnson. Since that fight, Johnson has fought four times and captured the inaugural flyweight belt.

Johnson has been -- to use fight game vernacular -- "circulating." That's the preferred method for UFC titlists. Keep that belt dangling over the whole clumsy gang of lunging, outstretched arms.

As for Cruz, he has gone through one rehabilitation stint to repair his blown out ACL and is halfway through another. He explained in excruciating detail the spiral of events on "UFC Tonight." There was the cadaver tendon that didn't take the first time (costing him a year), and now the second procedure, where part of his own patella tendon has become his ACL. That has sidelined him for that extended period of horizonless time we've come to call indefinitely.

It's hard not to feel for Cruz. Though he's swiftly making a name for himself as one of the best television analysts going, the date Oct. 1, 2011 keeps getting smaller and smaller in his rear-view window. That was the last time he stepped in the Octagon. In MMA, that feels like a lifetime ago -- for Cruz certainly, but particularly for the promotion.

Forget vague notions of ring rust, we're now breaking into concepts of urgency. It might be Oct. 2013 before we see Cruz again. It might be later. As much as we like to delude ourselves otherwise, life goes on without us. All of us. Even top 10 pound-for-pound fighters. The UFC, as an event-based promotion with its strongest moorings in the pay-per-view business, has to move on. To be vital, things have to be current. Things have to stay active.

That's why there's such a thing as interim titles in the first place -- though they are make-believe, they function well enough as winking placeholders. They keep things rolling, and the idea of the belt stays intact. But everybody knows that interim titles are only half-satisfying. Even when the UFC wraps a symbolic belt around somebody, we can't keep from nudging each other.

Why? It's not quite real. It's a mirage.

And after a while, that belt has to mean something. If Renan Barao, the interim bantamweight champion, is headlining a pay-per-view card in June -- which he is, UFC 161 in Winnipeg against Eddie Wineland -- wouldn't it be better to knock the adjective from the equation? Instead of "interim champion Renan Barao" -- with the interim label a constant reminder that he's a dynamic, hard-striking stopgap but not really number one -- shouldn't it be simply: bantamweight champion Renan Barao?

That sort of takes the surrogacy from things and raises the pitch to makes things seem bigger and more dire and marquee worthy. An actual champion makes it more legit. Cruz's shadow won't sell that PPV.

Which brings back the question: Should he be stripped of his title? At this point, probably, but we're dealing in asterisks either way.

It's not a Randy Couture situation where contracts are in dispute. Couture retained his belt through the whole money/Fedor Emelianenko fallout anyway. There isn't any acrimony here. Cruz's situation is closer to the Frank Mir case back in 2004. Mir, after winning the UFC's heavyweight title against Tim Sylvia at UFC 48, was in a motorcycle accident that sidelined him for 14 months. When Andrei Arlovski won the interim title against Sylvia at UFC 51, the idea was to marry up the belts in a fight with Arlovski and Mir. Same as with Barao and Cruz.

Only, Mir (knee, leg) wasn't ready when the time came. As a result, he was stripped of his title to keep the heavyweight belt in play. Not the less meaningful placeholder title, but the newly made legitimate real McCoy.

Heavyweight is a lot more glamorous than bantamweight -- particularly at that time, back when there were only a few divisions -- but the situations are similar. It wasn't Mir's fault that he couldn't recover in a timely fashion, and it's not Cruz's either. But if Barao is going to headline a PPV, he can't be masquerading as a champion. He should be one.

So what happens next?

In London a few weeks back, after Barao's first interim title defense against Michael McDonald, Dana White said he'd have a meeting with Cruz to discuss all this. White told ESPN.com on Thursday that he hasn't yet had a chance to have that meeting.

That day is coming, though, and relatively soon. When that discussion happens it will likely center on this: Barao has defended the interim title once, and Cruz isn't quite ready. Make Barao the champion ahead of his next title defense, and let Cruz work his way back towards him. After all, once Cruz finally does make his way back, how fair would it be to stick him in there right away to defend against Barao?

That's a tall order for a guy coming off a lengthy rehab with so many affiliated question marks. Might be better to cede now, and take back what's rightfully his when momentums have had a chance to align.

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.

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.”

Tuesday morning was sparring time at Alliance MMA in Chula Vista, Calif., prompting Dominick Cruz to tweet that he felt ready.

"[Too] bad I can only watch," he lamented.

With the UFC bantamweight champion a couple weeks away from being cleared to jog, Cruz's recovery from a pair of ACL surgeries since May of last year is noticeably far from complete.

"I wanted to start sparring the day I got out of surgery,” he said. “It's just one of those things where you have to bide your time and be patient."

Cruz (19-1) last stepped into the cage on Oct. 1, 2011, when he bested Demetrious Johnson on points. Since then there's been a shuffle at the weight. Johnson and Joseph Benavidez dropped to 125. Older threats like Miguel Torres disappeared in place of new ones like Michael McDonald (15-1). And Renan Barao (29-1) stepped up after Cruz was injured, winning an interim title against Urijah Faber.

"Hopefully this summer the kid is back," UFC president Dana White said. "He's going to have to get back to training. If he gets hurt again like that I don't know what to do."

So far Cruz claims to be able to keep his mind sharp by wearing several hats -- learning what he could; improving where he could. His top priority, of course, remains fighting, and the 27-year-old bantamweight is "ready to have my life back. That's what I do. That's what I love. That's the life I chose."

Perhaps he's mentally ready, but we know for sure his body isn't. So McDonald and Barao will tangle Saturday in London at UFC on Fuel TV 7 with the Brazilian's interim belt up for grabs. White said it's his intention to put the winner in with Cruz if all goes well with his recovery. The Octagon has hosted some tremendous bantamweight bouts while Cruz was sidelined, and 135 is delivering quality contests outside the UFC as well, such as Thursday's Bellator MMA title fight between Eduardo Dantas and Marcos Galvao.

"I tip my hat to them," Cruz said of his fellow bantamweights. "Keep doing work, because everyone is trying to do the same thing, and that's be the best. Good luck to 35ers, but when I come back, I'm going to have to whoop you."

Cruz said while it feels like "I'm watching the division continue to go on" in my absence, he doesn't carry a sense of living in purgatory.

Lacking a timetable for his return (doctors "have no clue and neither do I," he said) the UFC champion has spent much of his time watching film, working as he will this Saturday as an analyst for Fuel TV, and serving as a coach and corner for teammates at Alliance MMA.

A "cornerman for everyone on my team," Cruz declared himself.

Based upon on a breakdown of Saturday’s main event from London, that could go for both bantamweights, too.

Cruz believes Barao will retain the interim belt because of experience, confidence and, most notably, his defense. If McDonald has a shot, said Cruz, it will come if he can force Barao to move backward, take away range-finding straight punches and mix in takedowns.

The shelved champion has thought a lot about the matchup, because the winner will likely be his next top challenger. That depends mostly on when he'll be able to return to the cage. Also, this type of in-depth analysis of fighters is something Cruz says he simply enjoys doing.

Cruz is a natural -- perfectly willing to drop a lengthy, insightful breakdown of a fight and its participants when asked. While some champions don't pay attention to kids coming up the ranks, or even emerging top contenders, Cruz said he's infatuated with knowing all he can about mixed martial artists moving up behind him.

"I'm curious about the division from the very beginning," Cruz said. "What's the main thing that's happening in the sport right now? I feel like it's evolving. What does the sport evolve from? The sport evolves from the guys that are new to the division, new to the UFC period. Those guys are the future of the sport.

"Why wouldn't you be watching those guys to see what new stuff is being brought to the cage? Experienced champion or not, you gotta be watching these new guys coming in because they're bringing new tools that people haven't seen. That's why they're in UFC. They're going to bring different dynamics to the sport. You have to keep an eye out for that stuff."

Joining Barao and McDonald at the top of the heap, Cruz tabbed Eddie Wineland as a serious threat at 135. Considering the champion's extended absence, chances are the gap between himself and men vying for the title will close enough so that ESPN.com's No. 5 ranked pound-for-pound fighter won't make it look so one-sided all the time.

Those two weeks until Cruz gets a chance to run again can't go by fast enough. Then it's on through the next barrier until finally he'll be healthy enough to fight again.

"When I come back, I'll be ready to jump right back into it," Cruz promised.

Until then, he'll keep his raptorlike vision smartly trained on the bantamweights. They've been worth watching.

Michael McDonald won’t be 22 years old until January. There’s a chance -- if the cards fall in his favor, and his hand is healthy enough to chin-hunt, and UFC matchmakers throw him a bone -- that by the time “Mayday’s” birthday rolls around, he’ll be accessorizing with UFC gold.

It’s a lot of “ifs,” and a few asterisks -- but it’s possible, and the scenario isn’t all that hard to fathom.

Jon Jones was 23 years and 8 months old when he defeated Mauricio Rua for the light heavyweight belt. If Mayday gets a fight with bantamweight interim titleholder Renan Barao in December -- which is the month McDonald has circled for his return -- he could usurp Jones’ feat of becoming the youngest fighter to be a UFC champion. By a full year and a half, no less.

Yeah, yeah -- even if it’s a placeholder belt that is mostly illusion, while the genuine article remains off-limits until Dominick Cruz returns from his ACL injury.

But first things first. The only jones McDonald is dealing with is the one to crush a heavy bag without wincing.

“I’m dying to start punching something again,” McDonald told ESPN.com this week. “I was going to get permission to start punching again about a month ago, but my doctor wanted to go a more conservative and safe kind of route. Just to make sure it was 100 percent. But I feel great. It’s hard for me to go into the gym and watch everyone else train, and just grapple, and not being able to spar with the guys.”

McDonald has been rehabbing his hand, which for the past couple of years has been nagging him. After defeating Miguel Torres at UFC 145 in April, a fight in which his fists did plenty of the work, the hand wasn’t healing properly for him to begin training again. So rather than perpetuate the situation, he decided to call the UFC and let them know what was going on.

So, what exactly was going on?

“I don’t know the correct terminology, but there’s almost like a protective film over the back of your hand,” he says. “What I did, was I hit somebody in the gym and it split right down the middle between my ring and my middle finger [on the right hand]. And every time I make a fist, that protective film rolls over and exposes my bone. So my bone was unprotected, and I was punching literally with nothing protecting my bone by skin, and the tendon was rolling over, so the whole thing was screwed up but I was punching with it for about two years. After Miguel Torres, it just wasn’t going down at the rate I wanted it to, and I wasn’t able to punch.”

“

I'm dying to start punching something again. ... It's hard for me to go into the gym and watch everyone else train, and just grapple, and not being able to spar with the guys.

” -- Michael McDonald, who is itching to return to training

It was off to surgery for McDonald, but as of the middle of next week, he should be cleared to punch again. And that means able to train, and available to be booked by the UFC’s smaller division matchmaker, Sean Shelby.

With champion Dominick Cruz still out with a bum knee, and Urijah Faber coming off a loss to Renan Barao, and Barao in limbo holding the interim title waiting to find out how this all plays out ... well, McDonald and Barao might dovetail nicely into a title fight.

Should that happen, McDonald -- who is 15-1 in MMA, and began fighting when he was 16 years old -- would have a chance at history.

“It has crossed my mind, but it’s not something I dwell on,” he says. “Me, I just focus on what matters. A lot of people will say this is what I’m going to do, that I’m going to be the champ, and they say I’m the greatest, and they say all these things that really don’t matter. The only thing that truly matters in my opinion is just ability as a martial artist -- who’s a better martial artist is going to win.

“I think that’s the only thing that matters, and I try and keep my mind centered on that. It does cross my mind, ‘Oh, these are the possibilities.’ It is possible if everything goes as planned, I could be the youngest champion. Things like that do cross my mind, but I can’t dwell on them, because it would just take my mind away from what really matters, and what really matters is just being the best martial artist I can be.”

McDonald threatening to win the belt at 21 years old is one thing, even if he’s only indulging glorified speculation just to be polite. But the surprising thing is that this 21-year-old is powered by a sense of Zen-like bearings, and he comes off as honest, direct, non-sanctimonious, practical and, of all things, wise. Having two brothers who compete in MMA -- younger brother Brad McDonald, and older brother Jason Smitley -- helps him stay rooted in the gym.

Yet there’s more to it. If McDonald has the big picture in his mind, he doesn’t wear rose-colored glasses when looking it over. He doesn’t comb the rankings. He doesn’t even keep up with what’s happening in the bantamweight division, nor any of the divisions.

“To put it very bluntly, I really don’t care,” he says. “I learn everything about my career through other people. My friends will tell me, ‘Dude, you’re in the paper,’ and I’m like, ‘What?’ I didn’t talk to anybody. I don’t keep up with anything that happens. I just stick to myself.”

Just what's sticking to oneself does depend on the person. But for McDonald, he’s become a priority man at a tender age. In fact, he’s got his priorities straight before priorities would seem to have time to mature into an order. It’s simplistic, really.

“My love is in training, in the gym, in martial arts,” he says. “That’s my love. Fighting as a job is a very hard thing to do. And I’ve had times where I’ve questioned whether I wanted to do it, I’ve had times where I didn’t want to do it.

“But I’ve never once questioned whether I wanted to be a martial artist. There’s things about being a fighter as a job that I don’t exactly like. Sometimes I don’t want to have to get up and put on a happy face and meet people and be really jolly when I just had a really bad day. There’s things about being a fighter that are very difficult. Missing out on holidays ... not being able to eat food on Thanksgiving. These seem small, but they wear on you.

“Being a fighter is not where my love is. Being a fighter’s my job. But my love is being in the martial arts, and I’m going to be doing martial arts until the day that I die. When it comes to the aspects of being a fighter and the fight game, I’m a fan of fighting, but I’m not a fanatic of fighting.”

So let’s rephrase this: There’s a chance -- if the cards fall in his favor, and his hand is healthy enough to chin-hunt, and UFC matchmakers throw him a bone -- that McDonald could become the youngest martial artist to ever be champion in the UFC.

It’s an important distinction for a young guy on the verge of something so distinctive.

UFC on Fox 4 in Los Angeles proved that interest can be drummed up in retreads, but it was our collective imagination that became the real hero of the night. Let’s face it, we were all squinting to see the title picture the way it was being drawn up by Dana White. This whole “he who does best gets the title shot” thing felt something like dramatic abandon.

When a figure finally emerged from the four-man 205-pound showcase it was Lyoto Machida, in a reduced 201-pound frame, dishing enigma on Ryan Bader. That was a good knockout.

Better yet, the whole main card scored the same. Every fight delivered. A good night of fights like that makes things, if not totally justifiable, at least somewhat rose-tinted. And that beats disaster, if you know what I mean, which is where things left off after the UFC 149 pay-per-view bust.

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. In Calgary, stakes were being tinkered with, too. Hector Lombard was vying for a possible title shot with Anderson Silva. The interim bantamweight title was up for grabs in the main event between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao. Things “mattered.”

But for all the dangling carrots, something went missing -- and that was enjoyability. Guys didn’t “bring it” -- and everyone should know the center of the fight world is all about the “it” -- which had people asking for refunds and complaining about the watered-down product.

Not on Saturday night. As DeMarques Johnson’s premonition of a 100 percent chance of a knockout came through via the sudden hands of Mike Swick, this thing was off to a roaring start. Joe Lauzon, who is incapable of a boring fight, withstood heavy shots by Jamie Varner and, when the opportunity presented itself, came on like an incubus to finish him in the third. It’s what Lauzon, who has made nearly a half a million dollars in bonus money in his career, does better than anybody. The UFC on Fox Twitter feed called it possibly the “best fight we’ve ever had.”

These were undercard table-setters like we haven’t seen on the Fox shows.

And the co-main event raised the bar for the finale. Machida forced Bader’s aggression then punished it, downing him with a counter right. It was vintage “Dragon.” Machida was once again the abstractionist, doing things with body geometry.

Yet the main event was a crescendo. Here was Vera resurfacing, making it a war, looking like old Vera, the one we thought we lost. Here was Rua proving that his Dan Henderson and Mark Coleman fights were no flukes, that he can make any fight -- good or bad -- a battle of epic attrition. Rua just about did away with Vera twice in the second round with sallies, but Vera both times responded with big elbows and defiance.

Suddenly it was a storyline of Vera’s heart in the poetic sense, not the cardiovascular one. And fights are always more fun when they get like that. When fights transfer “will,” the meaning of the transaction comes back into play.

Better still, when fights go down like they did on Saturday night, the question of what’s on the line can be answered like this: "Who cares?" The moment transcends the stakes. The “it” factor is all that matters. Guys on Saturday night brought “it.”

This was the first Fox card that really delivered far more than it promised. From top to bottom on the main card, every fight delivered the goods. For whatever hung in the balance of the outcomes, it didn’t matter to real time. And you know what? That’s the kind of drama that you want on live television, especially in a sport still trying to communicate with the casual viewer.

Urijah Faber is rapidly becoming a man without a country.

After years spent comfortably ensconced as the best known and perhaps most talented fighter under 155 pounds, the going has gotten fairly tough as of late. Faber’s unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Renan Barao at UFC 149 on Saturday dropped the once-dominant champion to 0-5 in title fights across two different weight classes in two different Zuffa-owned promotions dating back to 2008.

Even a guy as charismatic and notoriously cool as “The California Kid” must be feeling the heat after this latest loss. At 33 years old, he’s not ancient by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s no spring chicken, either. Getting out-pointed by the 25-year-old Barao might not bounce Faber from the 135-pound title picture completely, but by now, even his staunchest supporters have to concede that he won’t get an unlimited number of chances to win a UFC championship.

That means the next decision Faber makes about his future may well be the most important one of his career: What now?

What’s next for a guy who was arguably as important to the popularization of featherweight and bantamweight as Tito Ortiz or Chuck Liddell were to the survival of the UFC itself during the early 2000s? What’s next for a guy who spent the best years of his career toiling in relative obscurity, before the Octagon finally deigned to allow entrance to some of the sport’s most exciting, albeit smallest athletes?

Does Faber stay at bantamweight, hoping nemesis Dominick Cruz defeats Barao and the UFC still sees fit to make Cruz-Faber III? Does he go back to featherweight, where Jose Aldo still rules with an iron fist? Could he, would he try to make flyweight, where teammate Joseph Benavidez is the obvious heir apparent?

Good questions all, and the answers might not come easily.

A pair of losses to Mike Brown in 2008-09 cost Faber not only his WEC featherweight title, but also the aura of invincibility he’d built while amassing a 21-1 record during the previous five years. A lopsided defeat by Aldo in April, 2010 chased him down to bantamweight, but the change of scenery has had little effect on the final results.

Make no mistake, Faber has looked good -- very good -- while trumping contenders like Eddie Wineland and Brian Bowles, but has yet to get over the hump when UFC gold is on the line. There should be no doubt over his status as a legitimate title threat, but his innate marketability has also afforded him opportunities that might not have been granted a less popular fighter.

After losing his first 135-pound title fight to Cruz by close but clear cut decision at UFC 132, Faber needed just a single, dominant win over Bowles before UFC brass gave him another crack. Better than that, they also cast him opposite Cruz as a coach on the first “live” season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, giving both fighters and the weight class its best exposure to date.

Cruz’s knee injury robbed Faber of his chance to win the rubber match with his rival, but the company went forward with its plans to give him another chance at the belt anyway. For a fifth time, he came up just a bit shy.

The news here is certainly not all bad. Simply getting so many title opportunities in multiple weight classes is a testament to Faber’s skill and his overall importance to the sport. It’s hard to think of another fighter who’s gotten as many chances after so many losses and the guys who are even in the conversation are either already in the UFC’s hall of fame, or will be soon:

Randy Couture went 4-5 fighting for versions of the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titles between 2002-07. BJ Penn got six separate shots at UFC gold in the lightweight and welterweight divisions from 2002-10, while going 2-3-1. Kenny Florian lost a total of three title fights at lightweight and featherweight from 2006-11.

Marketability and a previous track record of success can only take a guy so far, however, and Faber is now just 5-5 in his last 10 fights.

In 2011, just before his statement win over Bowles at UFC 139, Faber seemed incredulous when asked if he thought he was running out of chances to win a UFC title, saying: “I’ll make as many [title] shots as opportunity allows ... There’s a reason I’ve been at the top of the weight class, any weight class, since I started in this sport and that’s because there aren’t that many guys out there that can beat me.”

If we had to guess, we'd say he probably still feels the same way, even after losing to Barao.

Still, while it’s not quite time for Faber to hit the panic button, he woudn’t be human if he wasn’t feeling some significant urgency right now. He likely won't get too many more chances before history adds his name to the list of the best fighters never to win a UFC title.

And that’s a list nobody wants to be on.

Where did UFC 149 go wrong? What was the single, biggest offender?

Oh, where to start. What went on in Calgary was one of those perfect storms.

There was the eccentric that didn’t go eccentric (Brian Ebersole). There was hype that fizzled before our eyes (Hector Lombard). There was a passive observer masquerading as the third man in the cage (Yves Lavigne). There were heavy hands that were never deployed (Shawn Jordan/Cheick Kongo). There were gavels that ruled all wrong (Nick Ring over Court McGee). There was a clear body kick that was mistaken for a groin shot (Josh Rosenthal imagining things with Matt Riddle/Chris Clements).

And there was a perfectly decent main event that suffered the residual wrath.

Urijah Faber and Renan Barao needed to turn the main event into Dan Henderson versus Mauricio Rua to balance this ledger. As it were, it played out like Urijah Faber versus Renan Barao. The bout was doomed by its predecessors.

But the real problem, of course, was this: UFC 149 was a stretch to believe in to begin with, and it required some faith. Or that should say -- UFC 149 became a stretch to believe in by its fifth and sixth iteration.

The injury bug sapped this thing good and plenty before it got off the ground. Jose Aldo, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Michael Bisping, on down the line. Bibiano Fernandes wasn’t so much hurt as he was never signed.

Aside from the prelims, the people that the UFC were able to book simply didn’t (or couldn’t) deliver the goods. Shawn Jordan, the former LSU fullback who had a nice glow to his name coming in, was in a battle of leaning pillars with Cheick Kongo. He’s still green and didn’t know what to do in the big spot. Lombard was tentative. Ebersole was intending to move to lightweight when he got the call on a few weeks’ notice to step in. He did. And he looked like a man who wished he didn’t.

Of all the patchwork matches, only Riddle from the main card came correct. His arm-triangle on Chris Clements was cleanly executed viciousness that set a false premise for things to come. The thing that followed was disappointment. Disappointment that Lombard didn’t live up to billing. Disappointment that Kongo played clinch. Disappointment that the UFC played fast and loose with people’s disposable income.

Even the postfight news conference, where Dana White promised to update us on the bearings of the 185-pound weight class didn’t deliver. As for Lombard, who hadn’t lost since that Gegard Mousasi upkick back in 2006? Nowhere to be found. He wouldn’t be made available to scowl at trouble-making media types.

This happens sometimes. Not all cards deliver on the pay portion of the programming. White said it reminded him of UFC 33. Cynics might point to UFC 147. Only difference is, that card was so suspect that most people stayed away from shelling out the $50 to watch it. This time, there was an undercurrent of hope that UFC 149 -- for as cobbled and rearranged as it appeared on paper -- could turn into one of those rare gems. You know, one of those cards where White laughs at the people who criticized it beforehand while holding court with the media afterward.

White himself was certain that this card was going to deliver, appearing in Alberta on Thursday as a man who could barely contain his glee. But it couldn’t, wouldn’t and didn’t, which takes turns being nobody’s fault with being everybody’s fault. When a stinker happens, the people who bought the pay-per-view take it personally, and the crowd on-hand chants “RE-FUND” throughout the main event. The faith of a good product in spite of all the rejiggering came out to $50 and change (more if you ordered in HD). It wasn’t what the UFC wanted, nor what the fans wanted.

Everybody is complaining about the same thing from different perspectives.

But we order these fights knowing there’s a chance things won’t pan out. Look at the response to Clay Guida versus Gray Maynard on a free card. Had that fight been the main event on the UFC 149 PPV, Calgary might have turned into Vancouver after the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s tricky stuff, this PPV business. The public demands its money’s worth. The UFC demands more of its fighters. The commissions demand competence of its referees and judges (or at least should). Everybody demands entertainment. It’s a demanding public, and it’s a demanding sport, and the UFC is a demanding business.

Yet as we learned on Saturday, demands can be what they want, but there are no guarantees.

It's an easy (and perhaps unfair) comparison.

Renan Barao, like Jose Aldo, is 25 and seemingly full of talent. They fight out of the same camp (Nova Uniao). Each of their impressive ledgers are marked by just one loss. Now they both hold UFC belts.

Yet based off Saturday's UFC interim bantamweight title win against Urijah Faber, Barao -- who is essentially the 135-pound standing No. 1 contender to Dominick Cruz -- doesn't stack up to the UFC featherweight champion.

The eager Brazilian out-pointed Faber, there's no question about that. Of course, Aldo did the same when Faber challenged him more than two years ago. However Barao and Aldo, the UFC featherweight champ, go about their business in wholly different ways.

While Aldo often operates like an assassin -- slamming heavy kicks off his opponents' thighs, crashing into them with debilitating consequence, launching an assortment of perfectly timed strikes, finishing on the floor (or wherever he wants) -- Barao comes off as measured, content to utilize range, take-down defense and just enough striking to outpoint shorter, often less-athletic foes.

That's fine. Barao and Aldo don't have to be clones to qualify as excellent.

Here's the thing, though: Aldo stormed on to pound-for-pound lists because he offered a dynamism not often seen in MMA. It was clear from the jump that Aldo was special. He did things no one else did, and he did them on the regular. If Barao is capable of similar feats, he needs to step it up.

I’m not suggesting Barao is ordinary. He’s better than that. How much better, though? Is he a guy that will dominate a division and provide perpetual highlights?

When Aldo was exploding through the ranks in 2009, most people felt, flat-out, "yes, this kid is going to do something great in MMA."

It’s an admittedly high threshold, but I’m not feeling similarly about Barao.

That said, Barao could beat Cruz when he gets the chance (I'd pick the defending champ because, on top of everything else that makes him difficult to handle, Cruz won't suffer from a huge reach deficit). The newly minted interim champion is a solid boxer with quick hands and a tight style. That's a dangerous combination, certainly not something worse dismissing, especially when augmented by excellent submission grappling skills.

But even with all that at his disposal, has Barao shown the “it” factor? ... You didn’t have to think about it with Aldo.

After spending 25 minutes in the cage with Barao, Faber was asked to compare the type of leg attacks he faced Saturday in Calgary against the April 2010 onslaught against Aldo.

"It was nothing like Aldo," Faber said. "Aldo really took my leg apart. I felt [Barao's] kicks for sure, but it wasn't the same thing."

What Faber didn't feel over five rounds was pressure. In the first, Barao utilized his boxing and range, confounding Faber but never hurting him. That was largely the tune in Round 2, though Faber discovered when he stepped closer by half a foot he could connect to Barao's head. The 33-year-old American (5-5 in his last 10 contests) took that with him into the third and, I thought, actually won the round. Whatever momentum he might have seized was gone at the end of four, as Barao once again made the most of his length. And finally, in the fifth, Barao decided to up the power punching -- not to any great effect but enough to indicate he had plenty in reserve.

I want to see what's in the vault. Is he capable of showing it to us? We didn't see it in his last contest either, a decision over Scott Jorgensen.

On the road to his championship, Aldo wrecked people. If Barao possesses that ability, it may not be his inclination to show it. Unless that changes he won't climb to his teammate's Everest-like status.

Fortunately for Barao, Aldo is so good that being a notch worse translates to being among the best in the world. That’s not so bad, and Barao will have a chance to absolutely prove his worth soon enough.

Urijah Faber is a respected former mixed martial arts champion. For a time, he deserved to be thought of as the world's best featherweight. If anyone appreciates the sacrifices and rewards associated with wearing a title belt, it's "The California Kid."

So it surprised me at first that Faber (who says exactly what he believes) is operating as though Saturday's interim title contest in Calgary against Brazilian Renan Barao is as legitimate as his previous championship bouts (when it’s really not).

What's going down at UFC 149? Nothing more than a glorified title eliminator.

Suggesting this weekend will herald a second UFC bantamweight champion, even if Zuffa records the result this way, is insulting to the legitimate champion Dominick Cruz, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Cruz described interim title riches as the No. 1 contender belt, and that sounds right to me.

Faber and Barao will fight for an "interim" championship because the UFC train stops for no man. There are pay-per-views to sell, and it helps to have a belt attached.

At the end of the night, presuming a draw isn't in the offing, UFC president Dana White will gleefully button a heavy strap around the waist of the veteran American or the young Brazilian. In appearance, pomp and circumstance, this will look like a historic moment; the emergence of a new champion always is. But pretending either 135-pounder is a champion is like cruising Rodeo Drive in a Ferrari when it’s a shiny, loud, expensive rental.

Muddling the point even further is confusion about whether the belt will actually be defended. Barao said if he wins, he’ll be inclined to wait for Cruz like interim champ (i.e., No. 1 contender) Carlos Condit has done with the true welterweight king, Georges St. Pierre.

Faber left the door open to defending his top contender status, which is admirable and, for fans, the best option available. But it still won’t mean he’s holding a meaningful title, especially in light of the fact that Cruz defeated him just one year ago. One might even say it would be the least important title he’s won. The feat would stand well behind WEC, which made him a star, and King of the Cage, which put him on the map.

But none of that matters to Faber. He sees symbolism where the rest of us absorb heavy leather and gold. This fight matters because it leads to the next one, and the guy who earns that right also gets a belt. It’s more a trophy than anything else. A 33-year-old ex-champ who looked great last time out, taking just his fifth win in nine bouts, is fighting to return at the top. Barao, 25, is fighting to get there for the first time.

That’s true in the presence of a belt or not.

Barao (28-1) told MMAJunkie.com this week, "To me, interim or not interim, it's very important. It's a belt, and I don't care if people don't like it or think it's not the real belt. ... It's a dream come true if I get it. I'm very excited about it."

Understandable. The title doesn’t make Barao a UFC champion, but it would secure his chance.

Back when UFC didn't promote five-round nontitle main events, there was an actual benefit to creating an interim belt. Under extraordinary conditions it made sense to make championship belts like the Federal Reserve mints dollars. And, hey, we saw two extra rounds for good measure. But now? Just call them what they are and have an opponent ready when the champion returns. That’s interesting enough for me without the hardware.

Cruz is the only person to hold a bantamweight title in the UFC. He'll wake up Sunday morning knowing whether it's Faber or Barao who gets next.

We've already noted that Dominick Cruz was the only guy to truly capitalize on the new live format of "The Ultimate Fighter" this season. Now, it appears he could become a test case for how the show responds to real, actual drama.

UFC President Dana White confirmed via Twitter on Monday afternoon that the reigning bantamweight champion suffered a torn ACL while filming “TUF Live.” The obvious result is, Cruz’s upcoming grudge match against opposing coach Urijah Faber is off the UFC 148 card and the future of the 135 pound title, the division’s first real rivalry and perhaps even Cruz’s gig on the show are all in doubt.

So, yeah, pretty much the biggest bummer imaginable for TUF’s first run on FX, which was already fetching disappointing ratings.

“Sorry to all the fans out there!” Cruz tweeted after news of his injury broke. “I WILL recover and I WILL be back to put on a show!”

If there’s any upside at all to this, it’s that now we might get to see how “TUF Live” responds to genuine adversity.

The cancellation of Cruz-Faber marks the third time in the show’s last five seasons that some calamity has befallen a proposed fight between the coaches, but Cruz is the first coach to suffer a major injury during filming. Given this season’s revamped format -- episodes are shot during the week, edited, then aired on Friday along with a live contestant fight -- that could make this week’s installment the most interesting episode of “The Ultimate Fighter” in quite some time. Maybe ever.

If Cruz’s injury occurred at the TUF training center, if footage exists of it, we’ll all be curious to see how showrunners decide to play it. Considering the high probability that a Cruz injury would also throw the show and the UFC’s planning into utter chaos behind-the-scenes, let’s hope they give us a quality dose of that action as well.

The smartest way for the show to handle the situation would be to show the impact of Cruz’s injury not only on the fighter himself, the TUF contestants and his prospective opponent, but to also show how matchmakers and UFC brass respond to it. Show us the discussions of what to do with Cruz’s coaching spot. Show us the efforts to find a replacement for him to fight Faber and UFC 148.

There is already talk of setting Faber up with an interim title bout against Renan Barao, who was scheduled to take on Ivan Menjivar on the UFC 148 preliminaries anyway. A majority of MMA fans probably think that’s the right thing to do -- best that the fledgling bantamweight division avoids delays and stagnation at all costs -- but it’d be interesting to see footage of how the UFC eventually comes around to the decision of how to handle this unfortunate situation.

That would necessarily give this episode of "TUF Live" a different feel and would be appointment viewing for most MMA fans. It might also give the show the kind of ratings boost it’s been looking for all along.