This week, I officially retired from Correctional Service of Canada, so I will no longer be working as a corrections officer.
It’s bittersweet. Through all my years in the UFC, I always knew I had that as a backup. If anything went wrong or my mixed martial arts career wasn’t working out, I knew I could always go back to correctional service.
But the time came now where I had to make a decision, so I chose to retire and focus on running my CrossFit gym and working for CrossFit headquarters and becoming a self-made millionaire (LOL!).
I’m sure many people get rich running a business. I don’t know if I will, but there’s something to be said for being your own boss and running your own business. I get to live my life the way I want to. If I want to leave work early, I leave work early. Not everyone has that luxury.
Cyborg becoming irrelevant?
By the sounds of things this week, it seems like Cyborg and Tito are good for each other. I don’t understand why she doesn’t want to fight Rousey. The whole weight thing, I don’t buy it. I would think she could easily make 135 pounds if she really wanted to. She could have been a main event in the UFC for a title. Instead she’s chosen to go elsewhere. I guess good for her. Maybe she’s taking advice from Josh Barnett too.
I would agree with Rousey when she said Cyborg is fading into irrelevance. The only reason the UFC tried hard to make the fight happen is because she’s somewhat known being the former Strikeforce champion. I don’t think she’s really relevant otherwise. For that matter, I don’t think any of the girls have created a real solid fan base, but we’ll discuss that more next week.
Watch Saturday’s UFC on Sportsnet: Barao vs. McDonald, beginning with preliminary fights on Sportsnet.ca starting at 12:15 p.m. ET and followed by the six-fight main card at 3 p.m. ET on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific.
So this weekend, we’ve got the big interim title fight. These interim title bouts are kind of lacklustre to me, because Dominick Cruz is really the champion. Until one of these guys beats him, they’re not the champ. So I don’t even look at them as title fights. It’s just a fight that determines the No. 1 contender.
I’m not really excited about the matchup to be honest. Usually when I sit down to watch a bantamweight fight, you expect it to go five rounds, because the guys just don’t have the knockout power.
That being said, McDonald has had a couple big knockouts, so it makes it somewhat compelling. I’m going with the wildcard and picking McDonald.
Cub Swanson vs. Dustin Poirier
Swanson is another guy coming off a couple knockouts — in his past three fights actually. I didn’t pick him in any of them, but odds are on him this time, so I’m going with Swanson.
Jimi Manuwa vs. Cyrille Diabate
I don’t really know much about Manuwa, but I hear he’s got a really erratic style and Diabate has been having a hard time finding someone trying to mimic it. It’s always tough preparing for a guy like that. It took people a long time to figure out how to fight Lyoto Machida. I’m going to go with the guy with a weird style as my wildcard pick. Diabate has experience, but I’m going with new guy.
Gunnar Nelson vs. Jorge Santiago
Santiago’s got a ton of experience. He’s had some wars in Japan. It’s hard to count him out. He looked great in his first few fights in the UFC. I’m thinking dropping down to welterweight will be a better weight for him. I’m picking Santiago. He has the experience and the tough fights under his belt.
Ryan Jimmo vs. James Te-Huna
It’s pretty hard to bet against the Canadian, especially after the huge knockout in his debut. I’m going with Jimmo. Hopefully he can start turning the luck around for the Blackzilians (although he’s the whitest guy I know).
Che Mills vs. Matt Riddle
This is a tough one. I think Che Mills is the better fighter, but Riddle often finds a way to win. He’s a tough guy, but I’m going with Mills. By the way, will there any drug testing?