Tricky situation: There?s a former gay adult film actor in the cast of TUF 15

It was inevitable that the UFC would be faced with handling the issue of a homosexual fighter. Even Dana White understands that's a reality, but we can't imagine he saw the Dakota Cochrane situation on the horizon.

Cochrane, part of the 32-fighter cast for "The Ultimate Fighter," is a talented mixed martial artist, but he also has another gig on his resume.

According to sites like Middle Easy, Bloody Elbow and MMAMania (Warning: Some of the landing pages contains links to explicit content.), Cochrane performed in 16 gay pornographic films under the name "Danny." Cochrane is quoted in another story about having a girlfriend, but that won't matter to most ardent anti-gay fans and followers of MMA.

UPDATE: Cochrane confirmed that his past does indeed include these films and that the UFC is aware.

On his audition tape for TUF, he included an introduction that mentioned all about his past. Everything.

"I think it's a little bit courageous for both of us. I could just hide in a hole and no one would know except for the people close to me. And to them, I was up front. I let them know right away so it wasn't anything that could come back and bite them in the butt. I think maybe they respected that a little bit," Cochrane told MMAFighting. "I think some people judge against it, some people will be OK with it. Some people will want me to get my butt kicked, and hopefully others will respect what I'm trying to do."

The reaction to Cochrane's inclusion on the show will be interesting to follow. White was asked in the past about the issue of promoting a gay fighter.

"Any guy involved in grappling is the furthest thing from homophobic in the world. I honestly think it would have no impact at all whatsoever. Not only with our fighters or our fanbase. It wouldn't be a big deal to me and most of the guys I know in this sport, it wouldn't be a big deal for them either," White said during a conversation with Edge Magazine in 2009. "The guys in the UFC, everybody is so cool. There's great sportsmanship and everybody has respect for each other."

What will be the reaction from fans, hardcore and casual one this blows up on the blogosphere? The 25-year-old Cochrane is 10-2 in MMA and posted a win over former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner in September.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/tricky-situation-ufc-gay-porn-performer-cast-tuf-164850475.html

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

Benson Henderson takes UFC lightweight title in classic decision

Benson Henderson won the UFC's lightweight belt by winning a decision 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 over Frankie Edgar at Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Saturday. His cardio and strength were too much for the smaller Edgar.

The two lightweights came out with great movement and crazy strikes in the first round, just as you would expect from two smaller guys. Edgar stalked Henderson down, but Henderson did not back away from the fight. He threw several kicks, and Edgar caught them.

[Video: Henderson is too strong for Edgar]

In the second round, Edgar continued to move around the cage and cut angles, meeting Henderson with leg kicks. Again, Edgar caught Henderson's kicks, but Henderson adapted in this round and threw a jab, even with his leg in Edgar's hands. Henderson cut Edgar's left eye with his jab, and it swelled as the fight went on. Late in the second, Edgar got a takedown, and when he moved off Henderson, "Smooth" landed a perfect upkick. Edgar fell to the ground. He survived, but Henderson did serious damage to Edgar's nose.

[ Related: Kevin Iole's UFC 144 breakdown ]

When the third round began, Edgar's nose was swollen and pouring blood. Henderson pounced when Edgar slipped on a kick, and he took Edgar to the ground. Henderson tried to take Edgar's back, but couldn't because of how Edgar moved away. Late in the round, Edgar got a takedown.

Henderson started the fourth round with few marks on his face, while Edgar's was busted up and swollen. Halfway through the round, Edgar went for a takedown. Henderson pulled guard and caught Edgar in a guillotine. Though it was deep, Edgar was able to pop his head out.

Before the fifth and final round, Henderson's corner asked, "Do you got five good minutes?" Henderson answered, "I've got 15."

[ Related: Weight flop proves costly as 'Rampage' loses to Ryan Bader ]

Henderson showed that freshness as he landed several shots and shook off the ones Edgar threw. Edgar continued to try for a takedown, but Henderson shook him off. He moved around the cage as if it was the first minute of the bout, not the 25th.

After the bout, Henderson thanked a former opponent for the upkick that changed the course of the fight.

"I gotta thank [fellow UFC lightweight] Cowboy Cerrone for that because he landed it on me, and that hurt bad."

Henderson previously held a title belt in the WEC, and now he has UFC gold secure around his waist. His well-rounded game was too much for Edgar. The fact that Henderson could have gone another three rounds spoke volumes to the judges.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/benson-henderson-takes-ufc-lightweight-title-classic-decision-063057083.html

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

MMA Marketplace: Chael Sonnen makes a convincing Uncle Sam

Cbael Sonnen has called out Anderson Silva after fights, in interviews, on Twitter, and now, on a shirt. The good news is that if you are on Team Chael, you can own the shirt, too.

If Uncle Sam needs a replacement, Uncle Chael will inspire millions to follow his lead. The shirts costs $29.99 at MMA Warehouse.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mma-marketplace-chael-sonnen-makes-convincing-uncle-sam-140818291.html

Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz

Video gold: Just three years ago UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson was trying to get on TUF 9

There's all sorts of routes to UFC stardom. Benson Henderson is a great fighter, but his path to a fight with Frank Edgar could've been much different.

He graduated from WEC to UFC to the best fighter in the world's best division. How fast did it happen? Well just over three years ago, Henderson was trying to get a slot on Season 9 of the "Ultimate Fighter."

Cage Potato found this Bendo video as he tried to woo the UFC and Spike into choosing for the United States vs. United Kingdom season.

The lightweights that season were Santino DeFranco, Jason Dent, Cameron Dollar, Richie Whitson. They combined for one fight beyond the TUF 9 Finale. The field was smaller because of U.S. vs. U.K. theme, but clearly they whiffed on this one or they had bigger things in mind for Henderson. He debuted just months late in the WEC with a win over Anthony Njokuani.

At the end of the video, Henderson makes a promise.

"I fought my through the smaller shows. Now it's my time to dance underneath the lights," Henderson said. "I will win the UFC Season 9 Ultimate Fighter and I will fight for the title. You're looking at the future lightweight champ of the UFC."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/video-gold-just-three-years-ago-ufc-lightweight-154944862.html

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen 

Get to know the fighters in the flyweight tournament

Dominick Cruz already shared an inside look at flyweight fighters with Cagewriter, but before tuning into tonight's fight's on FX, you may want to get to know Joe Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall a little better. (Yasuhiro Urushitani is not profiled.)

With the UFC on Friday and Strikeforce on Saturday, it's a jam-packed weekend of fights. The flyweight tournament is what I'm most looking forward to, but what about you? Tell us what you're looking forward to this weekend in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/know-fighters-flyweight-tournament-142754986.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Benson Henderson takes UFC lightweight title in classic decision

Benson Henderson won the UFC's lightweight belt by winning a decision 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 over Frankie Edgar at Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Saturday. His cardio and strength were too much for the smaller Edgar.

The two lightweights came out with great movement and crazy strikes in the first round, just as you would expect from two smaller guys. Edgar stalked Henderson down, but Henderson did not back away from the fight. He threw several kicks, and Edgar caught them.

[Video: Henderson is too strong for Edgar]

In the second round, Edgar continued to move around the cage and cut angles, meeting Henderson with leg kicks. Again, Edgar caught Henderson's kicks, but Henderson adapted in this round and threw a jab, even with his leg in Edgar's hands. Henderson cut Edgar's left eye with his jab, and it swelled as the fight went on. Late in the second, Edgar got a takedown, and when he moved off Henderson, "Smooth" landed a perfect upkick. Edgar fell to the ground. He survived, but Henderson did serious damage to Edgar's nose.

[ Related: Kevin Iole's UFC 144 breakdown ]

When the third round began, Edgar's nose was swollen and pouring blood. Henderson pounced when Edgar slipped on a kick, and he took Edgar to the ground. Henderson tried to take Edgar's back, but couldn't because of how Edgar moved away. Late in the round, Edgar got a takedown.

Henderson started the fourth round with few marks on his face, while Edgar's was busted up and swollen. Halfway through the round, Edgar went for a takedown. Henderson pulled guard and caught Edgar in a guillotine. Though it was deep, Edgar was able to pop his head out.

Before the fifth and final round, Henderson's corner asked, "Do you got five good minutes?" Henderson answered, "I've got 15."

[ Related: Weight flop proves costly as 'Rampage' loses to Ryan Bader ]

Henderson showed that freshness as he landed several shots and shook off the ones Edgar threw. Edgar continued to try for a takedown, but Henderson shook him off. He moved around the cage as if it was the first minute of the bout, not the 25th.

After the bout, Henderson thanked a former opponent for the upkick that changed the course of the fight.

"I gotta thank [fellow UFC lightweight] Cowboy Cerrone for that because he landed it on me, and that hurt bad."

Henderson previously held a title belt in the WEC, and now he has UFC gold secure around his waist. His well-rounded game was too much for Edgar. The fact that Henderson could have gone another three rounds spoke volumes to the judges.

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Danica Patrick upset after lastest Daytona wreck/a> | Nationwide race photos
? Fantasy baseball video: This season's breakout stars
? Randy Moss is willing to return to the NFL with no guaranteed money

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/benson-henderson-takes-ufc-lightweight-title-classic-decision-063057083.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

Strikeforce Weigh Ins Overeem Werdum Barnett Rogers Griggs Noons Masvidal - Strikeforce

SHOWTIME Sports presents the official weigh-in for the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournment. Check out all ten fiighters on the super-sized June 18th fight card: Chad Griggs, Valentijn Overeem, Daniel Cormier, Jeff Monson, KJ Noons, and Jorge Masvidal. Plus headliners Brett Rogers, Josh Barnett, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-weigh-ins-overeem-werdum-barnett-rogers-griggs-noons-masvidal-video_ef4f0192c.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio