UFC Ask the Insider: Healy pays the price

Showdown Joe answers several fan questions in his weekly UFC Central Ask the Insider column including why Pat Healy paid the price for using marijuana.

BY SHOWDOWN JOE FERRARO

The beauty of the MMA newswire is that for every big story that makes its way to the top of the heap, another one will supersede it within a few hours. A perfect example is this week, as lightweight Pat Healy failed his post-fight medical test and will no longer receive his extra $130,000 in UFC 159 bonuses. Shortly thereafter, the UFC confirmed their next Toronto show. What this means, is that many of you want some legitimate questions answered pronto.

Truth be told, you are preaching to the choir. I believe there will one day come a time when we look back at all of these marijuana incidents in MMA and shake our heads at some of the penalties many of these athletes have had to face and pay. The same can be said for the allowance of TRT in the sport.

The absurdity of it all is that at the moment one is legal and the other is not. But in time, the opposite will be the norm. The fact of the matter is that smoking or ingesting any form of cannabis is illegal. So while many may be siding with Healy, others are not positioning themselves with any sort of sympathy. He knew it was illegal to do so. His apology, while admirable, explains his transgressions clearly and he is willing to own up to what he refers to as poor judgement. At the moment, this is not an issue of who or what is right and wrong. It’s more of “don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.” And Healy, by his own admission, is guilty.

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The argument of whether marijuana, in any form, is performance enhancing or not has been well documented. I’m of the belief if you choose to be high in an MMA bout, I don’t like your chances of winning.

Reaction time will be slower and that’s the last thing a fighter wants vs. an opponent whose sole goal is to hurt him.

But there is an argument out there, that during training camps, usage helps fighters recover from hard workouts and training sessions. That, technically, is performance enhancing, but I’m not sure I agree (fully). You then can make the same argument for nutritional supplements, be it whey protein, creatine, ZMA, etc. It’s a fine line here, and hopefully, it will get cleared up soon.

From day one I’ve said it will be GSP vs. Hendricks, but I’m hearing other matchups from reliable sources. With Dana White stating Lorenzo Fertitta wants GSP to headline a Vegas show, maybe Georges won’t be booked for Toronto (although I still believe he will be). There is the potential of Bendo vs. Maynard or Grant, and even a heavyweight championship fight, should the mini-tournament next weekend see the victors emerge injury free. But, as always, it’s too far in advance to figure this sort of thing out. Speculating is always fun, but there are too many moving parts at the moment.

I’m on your side Keith. I’m hoping some word begins coming out about Calgary soon, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. I recently heard (and sorry to fans in Edmonton), that if the UFC is going to return to Calgary, it will be in and around the weekend of the Stampede. That means nothing until 2014.

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I feel like this is a question/comment I address on a weekly basis, be it here, via social media, or on UFC Central radio. The curious case of why the UFC has yet to announce an Edmonton show has nothing to do with the organization not knowing “how crazy” the fan base is. My sense is that it’s a logistics issue, coupled with timing. Maybe there is an issue with the athletic commission (doubt it, but never say never). Perhaps there is a problem trying to secure a viable date with the venue. Maybe the venue cannot be configured to a pre-designed UFC model. Who knows what it is, but rest assured, if the UFC decides to hold an event in Edmonton, they can likely do it in the snap of a finger. There’s probably more here that meets the eye.

Interest would be an understatement. I’m glad this is finally taking shape and the ball is finally rolling at a much faster pace. Work still needs to be done, but this is great news for not only the potential of the UFC returning to British Columbia, but also hopefully an amateur system that develops fighters to compete at the grass roots level. Then, one day, the crème of the crop rise and graduate to the big show. BC is on the right path now, but they are joining every other province that sanctions the sport, none of which have a real amateur system in place. But I digress.

Similar to my response about Edmonton above; questions are always raised from folks in Van City about the UFC not having an event in their city. Yet the answer I often give is the same: there’s no athletic commission there, so how can they hold an event? It’s like Hawaiian hockey fans upset that the NHL isn’t putting a team in Honolulu. At the very least, put an ice rink there, and then we’ll see if hockey can be played there. No commission – no MMA. It’s simple math my friends and the addition bothers me big time. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places on this planet, and I want to go back ASAP. So, let’s go politicians out there. Some of us want to visit your beautiful city (and province).

Quite simply, stop twisting my arm. Great matchup, I like it. Hopefully the UFC puts it together.

Unfortunately, your math is a little off. Ronda and Cat will be coaching the next season of TUF. Filming will start in a few weeks with the first episode airing on September 4th. The whole season is approximately 13 weeks – which takes us to the end of November or beginning of December. That’s when the two will tangle in the octagon.

First off, this whole Tyson Fury thing is blowing up for no real reason other than its caught the interest of Dana White. I highly doubt Fury will compete in MMA, let alone UFC 164. And as for Overeem being a guy that can take him out? Maybe, if it was kickboxing, and yes if it was MMA, but based on Alistair’s last performance in the cage, I don’t believe Dana would risk his company’s reputation by using “The Reem” vs. a pro boxer. Now, if Alistair was the heavyweight champion of the world, I bet Dana wouldn’t even blink an eye.

I believe he’s 100 percent sincere, as is evidenced by reports that the California State Athletic Commission has confirmed he has applied for a promoter’s license. Being an MMA promoter is no easy task; trust me, I’ve been there. A lot of money can be made and a lot more can be lost if the unwritten rules of promotion are not followed. I definitely wish Nick and his team the best of luck, and I wonder what his reaction will be when he’s put in Dana White’s shoes. This will be a fun story to follow, no matter what happens. And it would be fantastic if Nick does succeed. I personally hope he does.

There is a sort of unwritten rule or code that the UFC matchmaking team usually spells out with fighters. Be ready in case you get the call. Problem is, not all guys are gym rats. Some are, and can be ready upon reading a text from Joe Silva. Others – no chance. They need eight to 12 weeks notice.

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