MMA and Boxing Greats Call for Answers on Fighter Brain Health Questions

WASHINGTON — As it stands, no one can diagnose CTE in a person while that person is still alive.

A group of doctors, lawmakers and fighters are working hard to change that, and several of them convened on Capitol Hill Tuesday to announce new findings and ongoing support for the science that could one day shed light on a deadly brain condition frequently linked to concussions and sub-concussive trauma.

"We must make sure that young men and women who engage in these sports will not put their lives in jeopardy," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a former amateur boxer and speaker at Tuesday's event. "That's what this is all about."

The event was co-hosted by Bellator MMA and television partner Spike TV, which used the occasion to announce they were renewing financial support for the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study, a multiyear project led by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and designed to better identify, prevent and treat CTE.

CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) has gained notoriety in recent years mainly because of a string of high-profile tragedies among NFL players. Running back and broadcaster Frank Gifford, linebacker Junior Seau and Chicago Bears great Dave Duerson—the latter two of whom committed suicide—are just a few of the notables diagnosed with CTE after death.

"We're trying to understand CTE, know how it develops, why it develops and who gets it," said Dr. Charles Bernick, a neurologist and the lead investigator in the study, which is being undertaken at the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. "To do that, we can't just rely on the government. It's a tremendous expense."

The UFC, Top Rank Boxing, Haymon Boxing, the Cleveland Clinic and federal grants combine with Bellator and Spike TV (both of which are owned by mass-media giant Viacom) to fund the ongoing research. Spike and Bellator officials declined to reveal the amount of their financial support.

According to Bernick, the fighter study, which began in 2011, now tracks the brain function of 651 active and retired male and female fighters in MMA and boxing. Although there is no specific end date for the study, it is already producing results. 

For example, Bernick revealed that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is set to begin using an iPad app, developed by the Cleveland Clinic, that will conduct complementary or C3 testing to establish and benchmark fighter brain function. This, Bernick said, will make it easier to determine how a given fighter's brain functions compared with his or her normal "baseline."

"This cause deserves to be noticed," said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. "The technology that we have today wasn't available even five years ago. The fighters deserve to know. They deserve to have the truth."

Bellator leaders previously took criticism on social media and elsewhere for promoting fights that appeared to disregard brain health. Most recently, a February main event between Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie (combined age: 101) raised eyebrows as a potentially dangerous match for both competitors.

Coker addressed that criticism Tuesday, noting that he and other Bellator officials speak with and assess older fighters before booking them to compete. 

"If a fight is matched fairly, then the fighters deserve to fight," Coker said. "[Shamrock and Gracie] are not beginners. ...But if I was talking to someone like Royce Gracie and it didn't sound right, if they were slurring their speech or something like that, maybe we'd suggest they head over to [the fighter brain study]."

Awareness also is growing inside the fighter community. Phil Davis, a college wrestling national champion, former UFC title contender and current Bellator light heavyweight, said gym culture is growing more attuned to brain injury and its long-term risks.

"It's definitely the elephant in the room," Davis said. "Five years ago, if you got your bell rung, you needed to sit down, maybe you take a round off. But now, if you get concussed in practice, you sit out the rest of the day, the rest of the week. ...It's never easy, but it's making the conversation easier to have."

Austin Trout, former junior middleweight boxing champion, said research like that being conducted by the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study offers peace of mind to those who continue to compete in combat sports.

"I plan on being champion for a long time," Trout said. "But with this study, I can also be a champion for the right amount of time."

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Anderson Silva's Championship Record Is About to Fall as Mouse Nears GOAT Status

Henry Cejudo has an idea.

It’s an idea Cejudo came by honestly, after spending just shy of three minutes in the Octagon with Demetrious Johnson on Saturday at UFC 197.

Almost all of those 169 seconds looked painful for the former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, and at the end of them, Cejudo found himself curled up on the canvas as the referee stepped in to save him from the UFC flyweight champ.

In his own words at the post-fight press conference, the experience left Cejudo “humbled.”

It also left him with a suggestion—that perhaps Johnson should chase greener financial pastures at bantamweight.

“I’m actually curious to see him fight at 135 and fight for the championship,” Cejudo said. “I want to see how good Demetrious Johnson really is and how far he could take it.”

Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

We all see what you’re doing here, Henry. You’re not fooling anybody.

Nah, just playing.

In all seriousness, Cejudo handled his loss to Johnson—which was his first professional defeat and snapped a four-fight tear inside the Octagon—like a real pro. He was gracious and honest in defeat, showcasing the class no doubt honed through years as a world-class grappler.

But Cejudo’s words also add more weight to an idea that has been gaining traction lately in the public discourse: that Johnson should indeed abandon his kingdom at 125 pounds in pursuit of a superfight with 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz.

And when Cejudo casually floats this idea, it’s easy to imagine the rest of the flyweight division enthusiastically nodding along behind the scenes.

There’s just one problem.

Johnson himself isn’t having it.

Hopping up in weight to try to avenge his 2011 loss to Cruz would no doubt be the most lucrative option for Johnson right now. But from his position ensconced at 125 pounds—where he is as safely embedded as any champion in the UFC—he’s closing in on perhaps a more significant milestone.

Johnson needs just two more wins to tie Anderson Silva’s record of 10 consecutive UFC title defenses. In the absence of any truly Ruthian numbers in MMA, it must be considered among the sport’s most hallowed historical marks.

For Johnson, it sounds like that pursuit of history takes precedence over almost everything else.

"I've never shied away from that fight with Cruz,” Johnson said at the UFC 197 post-fight presser. “[But] my biggest goal right now is to break that title defense [streak] of Anderson Silva, and I believe I can do it."

In fact, he’s the only person close.

Once upon a time, both Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones were on the verge of matching Silva’s streak. St-Pierre had run his time with the welterweight title to nine successful defenses before he relinquished the belt at the end of 2013. Jones had amassed eight defenses of his light heavyweight crown before the UFC stripped him of it in the wake of a hit-and-run accident in April 2015.

St-Pierre still hasn’t returned to active duty from his indefinite hiatus. Each day that passes makes it seem as though his break from the sport will become permanent. The UFC reinstated Jones a few months ago, and on Saturday, he made his successful return to the cage with a drubbing of an overmatched Ovince Saint Preux.

Even if Jones regains the 205-pound championship when he renews his feud with Daniel Cormier later this year, his run of consecutive title defenses will have to start again at zero. Likewise, rumors of St-Pierre’s return constantly swirl, but he too would begin from scratch if and when he deems himself ready to reappear.

Aside from those two, the only other UFC champions close to equaling Silva—Jose Aldo (seven title defenses) and Ronda Rousey (six)—both lost their titles via crushing knockouts in late 2015.

That leaves Johnson standing as far and away the UFC’s longest-reigning champion and the only one with an imminent chance to break the record. After him, the next-closest current titlists are 170-pound champ Robbie Lawler and strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Right now, Lawler and Jedrzejczyk have two title defenses apiece.

So you can see why this opportunity might be attractive to Johnson. Despite the fact he’s been as dominant as any UFC champ in history since winning the title in September 2012, he’s failed to distinguish himself with fans and among the list of the Octagon’s all-time greats. Or, perhaps more accurately, fans have failed to distinguish him.

When I spoke to him prior to his title defense against John Dodson at UFC 191, Johnson mentioned the importance of this accomplishment. As a champion who is not likely to be truly appreciated in his own time, he understands he’s building a legacy for the future.

“[Someday] people will look at my history,” he told me at the time, sounding a little defiant about the lack of respect he gets from some observers. “That will never be taken away from me.”

In the respect department, he has arguably made important strides in recent days.

Johnson’s victory over Cejudo was one of five stoppages in his last seven victories. It was also flat-out ridiculous in its impressiveness. He beat the former Olympic wrestler largely in the clinch, a position that should have been advantageous for Cejudo.

After weathering one takedown, Johnson battered his opponent with knees to the head and midsection, stunned him with an elbow and finished him with strikes on the ground. In terms of sheer brilliance, it ranks right up there with his master class over Dodson in their last fight and his first-round KO of Joseph Benavidez in December 2013.

Surpassing Silva, however, would give Johnson a historical benchmark with which to highlight his greatness.

For years, Silva was considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. It seemed as though the dominance he displayed and the numbers he put up might never be equaled.

Lately, however, his career has slipped into mediocrity—and even dishonor—after a pair of losses to Chris Weidman and then a positive steroid test in the wake of his win over Nick Diaz on Jan. 31, 2015.

Johnson’s victory over Cejudo should rightly give him the edge over Jones as the current consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound. Where he will ultimately wind up historically will take awhile longer to accurately determine.

If he can meet or break Silva’s record—perhaps with a win over No. 3 Jussier Formiga and then a potential rematch against someone like Benavidez—any arguments against him being one of the very best ever start to seem pretty hollow.

That's great news for a man as obviously smart and self-aware as Johnson.

It's good news for fans, who could get to see Johnson make history before he even turns 31 years old.

It's bad news for the rest of the UFC's flyweights, who will have to wait for their chance at glory until Johnson is ready for a bigger challenge.

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Jon Jones Injury Update: UFC Star Reportedly May Face 6-Month Medical Suspension

MMA fighter Jon Jones is reportedly facing a possible six-month medical suspension and needs an X-ray on his left foot.

According to MMAFighting.com, Jones was one of 10 fighters who received potential six-month medical suspensions after UFC 197 on Saturday. The report cited "information released to MMA Fighting by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday."

The commission requested a left-foot X-ray for the fighter. MMAFighting.com reported Jones will be cleared to fight in UFC 200 on July 9 if that X-ray is negative. But it noted "if his X-ray comes back positive, Jones will have no choice but to receive orthopedic doctor's clearance or sit on the sideline for upward of six months."

Jones defeated Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 on Saturday via unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The victory gave Jones the UFC interim light heavyweight title, and MMAFighting.com noted he could headline UFC 200 against Daniel Cormier.

UFC.com shared a post-fight interview with Jones:

Jones wasn’t the only one to suffer a physical setback at the event. MMAFighting.com said nine additional fighters received possible six-month suspensions because of injuries:

However, Jones was the headliner, and his immediate future is now in doubt.

Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com said it was the fighter’s first appearance in the Octagon since he lost his official title after he was charged with a felony hit-and-run. He also received 18 months’ probation for the incident.

Although Jones won the fight against Saint Preux with relative ease, Okamoto noted he didn’t look like the unbeatable champion he was before he was stripped of his title. Still, he is riding a 13-match winning streak, and an enticing fight against Cormier looms depending on the result of his X-ray.

Jones was initially supposed to fight Cormier for the official title, but the latter had to pull out because of injury, which left Saint Preux only three weeks to prepare for UFC 197. Alas, UFC President Dana White said fans may get the chance to see the anticipated clash soon, per Okamoto: “If they are both healthy, yeah, it's a possibility that could be the main event for UFC 200.”

The key there is if they are both healthy, especially after this news released on Tuesday.

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Benson Henderson's Bellator Debut Lands with a Thud, but There Is a Bright Side

In every sport with free agency, there are distinct schools of thought regarding its effectiveness. Is it better to pay huge sums of money to someone and risk him losing his edge due to complacency or to build from within through what is often a slow cultivation of talent? There have literally been billions of dollars spent with no definitive answer.

Bellator took the plunge recently with Benson Henderson, signing the former UFC champion to a multi-fight deal and immediately plugging him into a main event championship match with its current welterweight kingpin, Russian Andrey Koreshkov.

As seems to happen in this wild and wacky sport of ours, not much went according to plan. Not for Bellator and certainly not for Henderson. You might say it was the opposite of “Smooth.”

Outsized and overmatched, Henderson lost in a lopsided unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it a shutout against him.

On the business end, there were struggles too. According to the MMA Report, the show averaged just 618,000 viewers on Spike, significantly below its season average of over 800,000.

Before you go concluding it's a double-whammy, yes, Bellator's free-agency gamble took a blow, but there is a bright side too: The world now understands Koreshkov's legitimacy in a way it didn't just a few weeks ago. Koreshkov brutalized an ex-champ who has wins over Gilbert Melendez, Nate Diaz, Frankie Edgar, Jorge Masvidal and Donald Cerrone, just to name a few.

“The way I look at it, [free-agent signees and homegrown talent] are all on our team,” Strikeforce President Scott Coker told Bleacher Report in the aftermath of the show. “They’re all here to help Bellator build. It’s our job to put on big fights and great fights, and I think you saw the depth of the roster. There were some great fights. It was a fight card we’re proud of. We’ve done the fun fights, and we’ll continue to do the fun fights, but I’d say 90 percent of our fights are fights like this where you’ve got hardcore, real-deal guys going at it.”

While it would be easy to dismiss this encapsulation as promoter spin, Coker has a point in that we must go past immediate reactions to form a true assessment of what happened, and whether it’s good or bad. To fairly examine the night, it must be reframed within the context of the bigger picture.

For one thing, Bellator has come a long way since it first signed away a major free agent—Roger Huerta—from the UFC back in 2008. That splash into free agency was a calculated gamble aimed at drawing attention, but for a number of reasons, the move eventually fizzled. In fact, when Huerta made his second start in Boston as part of a decent card that also featured Eddie Alvarez, only about 700 people showed up to the Wang Theatre in Boston.

The attendance was sparse and, in a way, shocking.

I remember talking to Huerta a year or so later, listening to him acknowledge how taken aback he was by the shift. In months, he’d gone from competing before 10,000-plus screaming fans to fewer than 1,000 dispassionate ones. It’s the kind of jarring surprise that can make you question your own decision-making.

In some ways it was an illustration of the distance Bellator would have to travel just to reach a level where it could be in the MMA conversation alongside the UFC.

When you fast forward to Bellator 153, you can see how far it's come.

All these years later, it’s a different time. Henderson’s signing received plenty of fanfare, and his arrival drew a fair amount of media attention, including from ESPN. His walk down the Mohegan Sun ramp was celebrated and celebratory, and there was a full crowd to trumpet his arrival. Visually, it all looked great. 

Contrast that with what was happening a few years before, and you must conclude that Bellator has made many strides in narrowing the gap between it and the UFC, even if it remains wider than it would like it to be. Part of that stems from past free-agency signings changing prevailing notions.

These days, the difference between the two organizations is not necessarily in the audience size, or even so much in the caliber of fighters, as Koreshkov proved by dispatching the former UFC champ.

“In my opinion, Bellator fighters are as good as the UFC fighters,” Koreshkov told Bleacher Report after the bout. “And Bellator champions can beat UFC champions.”

The difference is in the experience.

The fight between Henderson and Koreshkov did not generate the kind of electricity that most major UFC main events do. This is a fairly minor criticism; most fans seemed to enjoy the fight and popped for several of Koreshkov’s power strikes along with Henderson’s gutsy performance. 

But it’s also something that separates the UFC from Bellator as an entertainment vehicle. 

In the UFC, an event is often a slow build to a rolling explosion of passionate reactions. Watching Bellator, the reaction comes in flickers. 

This isn’t something that can be changed in a day. Under Coker, the product has improved. But stories and superstars push the sport forward, and those are not so easy to come by. 

Bellator hoped someone like Henderson could help fill that void.

Last Friday, he certainly showed his trademark toughness, but when fans leave a fight with that as the prevailing memory of a performance, it’s a sure sign that athlete suffered through a rough night. 

But is it back to the drawing board for Coker and Co.? Not completely. Koreshkov has that terrifyingly stoic disposition that can be strangely magnetic, along with the willingness to speak his mind.

Check, for instance, his comments regarding Ben Askren, the man who provided him his lone loss.

“If we fight again, I kill him,” he said.

“Did you say, ‘I kill him?’” I asked.

“I kill him,” he said. “Really.”

It’s the kind of thing that might normally gain traction in the MMA space but was drowned out by the Conor McGregor soap opera and the return of Jon Jones. 

It is the kind of dilemma Bellator often gets faced with. Perpetually chasing down the giant and playing with a slim margin for error.

For the Bellator brass, Friday night wasn’t a best-case scenario, but it also wasn’t a washout. A little at a time, Bellator has gained ground. A little at a time, it's altering perceptions. A lot has changed in eight years. A lot is still changing. 

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UFC 197 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

He's back.

Jon Jones returned at UFC 197 in dominant fashion against Ovince Saint Preux. The lopsided decision victory netted him the interim UFC light heavyweight championship, but that is a consolation prize to just being back inside the cage.

It was an impressive showing, but another champion was even more dominant in the co-main event.

Demetrious Johnson made quick work of Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo with a first-round TKO to retain the flyweight belt. Johnson continues to be the shining example of what high-level MMA is all about, and he is staking his claim as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

There was plenty of other action in Las Vegas on Saturday night, and the winners and losers will be seeking matchups following the show. That is what we take a gander at today.

These are the matches to make for all 24 fighters who competed at UFC 197.

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