5oz’s of Fury: Legal Issues, Interim Champions, and Gina Carano

Columns, News

Do you like legal drama? Do you like reality TV? Do you like BJ Penn, Dan Henderson, and pictures of Gina Carano? If so, this is the 5oz’s of Fury for you. If not, you’ve made it this far so you might as well read it anyway. What have you got to lose?

Sean Sherk: What do you do when the athletic commission says you’ve done steroids and you say you haven’t? If you’re UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, you wait. Sherk had tested positive for Nandrolone after his fight in July. The August hearing was postponed until this past Wednesday, because the California Sports Athletic Commission didn’t get Sherk and his attorney the information they needed in time. Then last Wednesday, it was postponed again until November 13 because the CSAC claimed not to have the legal brief filed by Sherk’s attorney. So sayeth a frustrated Sherk (to Yahoo! Sports, not to me), “The way the commission conducted itself was very unprofessional. I’ve waited a long time for this hearing. I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to get this behind me.” But what of his championship, you ask?

BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson: First Penn was rumored to fight Sherk at UFC 78, then he and Stevenson were rumored to be fighting for the vacated lightweight title, but since the title isn’t vacated and the current champion is tied up, they’ll be fighting for the interim lightweight title in January at UFC 80. The winner would then go on to fight the current champion, Sherk, whenever he’s available. Though I’m sure if “the Muscle Shark” has to serve his full suspension, interim champion BJ Penn whoever wins the interim title would probably be able to squeeze a title defense or two before the fight against Sherk.

Ultimate Fighter: They are starting to cast for season seven of “The Ultimate Fighter,” though there’s no mention of coaches or what weight class (or classes) would be featured on the show. Easy money I would say is on the middleweight division being featured. Season eight is rumored to feature heavyweights, they could use more middleweights, and Lord knows the UFC doesn’t need any more light heavyweights. The big question is, who would the coaches be? I do have one idea…

Dan Henderson: Rumor has it that Dan Henderson’s next fight will be at UFC 79. The only question is, what weight class will he fight at? Henderson only has one fight left on his contract, and wants to fight at light heavyweight. Dana White wants him at middleweight, and you have to think we wouldn’t re-sign him unless it’s at 185. My opinion? I think Henderson is better off at 185. Marquee fights against Anderson Silva and Rich Franklin would be huge, as opposed to the seven or eight title contenders that are already in the light heavyweight division.

Speaking of Interim Titles: I wonder if they’ll do the same with the heavyweight title. White says that, as far as he’s concerned, Randy Couture is the heavyweight champion unless he’s told otherwise. But if Randy is planning to sit out the rest of his contract, methinks we need an interim heavyweight champion as well. Antonio Nogueira was supposed to be next in line for Couture, and Tim Sylvia just beat Brandon Vera in what many considered to be a “#1 contenders” fight. Nogueira vs. Sylvia at UFC 81 in February?

And finally, your regularly scheduled gratuitous Rachelle Leah picture has been postponed, so that we may bring you the following gratuitous picture of Gina Carano…