Picture of the day: Flying Donald Cerrone

After beating Jeremy Stephens in a decision at UFC on Fuel 3, Donald Cerrone is taking a well-deserved vacation. In addition to being a fighter, a rodeo-er (because I assume that's the word for someone involved with rodeos) and a fan of pontoon boats, Cerrone is also a wakeboarder.

Thanks, Combat Lifestyle.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/picture-day-flying-donald-cerrone-184125087--mma.html

Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

BJ Penn and Rory MacDonald volunteer for additional drug testing for UFC 152

BJ Penn, who is expected to fight Rory MacDonald at UFC 152 in Toronto, is leading by example in the campaign to introduce more stringent performance-enhancing drug testing into MMA. He and MacDonald tweeted an agreement to have their September bout sponsored by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Penn tweeted to MacDonald on Tuesday:

. @rory_macdonald VADA anti-doping has offered to sponsor our upcoming fight.I've accepted and invite you to help me clean up the sport

. @rory_macdonald VADA results will be released after the fight to ensure that the fight happens. Lets get started asap!!

MacDonald responded:

@bjpenndotcom already worried BJ? honestly i think its a great idea 2, and im ready to do the testing for our fight aswell @danawhite

According to VADA's website, Penn and MacDonald will be subject to a testing program similar to what Olympic athletes under go. They will be subject to random testing, and have to submit their whereabouts to VADA so drug testers can show up whenever they like to require a test.

If it's truly modeled after the Olympic program, Penn and MacDonald need to be ready for knocks on their door at all times of the day and night. Olympians often tweet when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency shows up at their door, and it's rarely expected.

Kudos to both men for paying more than lip service to the problem of PEDs in MMA. Penn is a respected veteran, while MacDonald is a young up-and-comer in the sport, and they both recognize the need to be role models. Hopefully, more fighters will follow their lead.

UPDATE: Penn's tweet was incorrect. VADA releases test results immediately and does not hold them until after an event.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/bj-penn-rory-macdonald-volunteer-additional-drug-testing-131147119--mma.html

Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana 

UFC calls Anderson Silva greatest of all time (VIDEO)

The latest highlight video from the UFC dubs middleweight champion Anderson Silva the greatest of all time. Do you agree?

The UFC has been around for 19 years. In that time, few fighters have been as dominant as Silva. He has the promotion's record for most consecutive title defenses, consecutive wins and has an overall record of 31-4.

Perhaps MMA fans in 75 years will look back and wonder why Silva was called the greatest, or he will be thought of as MMA's equivalent to Honus Wagner or Red Grange.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-calls-anderson-silva-greatest-time-video-173555038--mma.html

Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

We want your UFC 148 picks

We've talked about this fight for nearly two years. The build-up for Chael Sonnen's bout with middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been bigger than for any fight that I can remember. Now, it's almost here, and it's time for you to pick a side.

Pick who you think will the main event and all of the other bouts from the main card of UFC 148:

Champ Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (for middleweight title)
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
Patrick Cote vs. Cung Le
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia
Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie
Mike Easton vs. Ivan Menjivar

Then head to Cagewriter's Facebook page, and tell us who you picked and why you picked them. Select answers will appear on Cagewriter next to picks from Kevin Iole and me.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/want-ufc-148-picks-172203579--mma.html

Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo