"We crossed that line many decades ago with the discovery of penicillin or anesthesia, then with the boon in cosmetic and functional surgeries. Sports will follow, and fighting will lead the way ... It may mean that the athlete who hasn’t gone through the intervention will no longer be competitive and even be forced into retirement or compelled to enhance. Should we care about that? I don’t think so. It’s a tough world. If you want to be an elite athlete today, you have to make sacrifices. The era of the natural human is slowly coming to an end, both biologically and ideologically."

Steroids? Soooo 2010. Today's uber-athlete undergoes elective surgery according to bioethicist Andy Miah for WIRED Magazine. Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz went under the knife back in 2008 to remove scar tissue and shave a portion of his skull down to prevent fight-ending cuts like the one that cost him a 2007 fight against KJ Noons under the Elite XC banner. Do these types of cosmetic procedures constitute "performance enhancement?" Can a fighter enhance themselves surgically to create a better fighter? Let's hear your opinions Maniacs. And just for the record, Diaz is undefeated since his operation, going 9-0 including a five-round decision win in his rematch with Noons.

(Fan Post edited and promoted by MMAmania.com)

UFC programming is coming to your television set starting with UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" on May 29 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

You probably already knew that -- but this time it's also coming to people without cable or satellite service.

The Roku digital video player, a little black box that comes from the folks at Netflix and works in conjunction with your high speed Internet connection, will begin streaming live and archived UFC fights at the end of this month. UFC 114 will cost $44.95 and archived fights begin at $1.99.

The Roku receiver has a one-time purchase price starting at $79.99.

In addition to UFC programming, Roku also streams movies from the Netflix and Amazon libraries as well as Major League Baseball and even Kung-Fu Theater! The Roku does not connect to your computer.

UFC TV is here, sans cable or satellite. Are you willing to shell out 80 bucks plus the cost of individual streams to have the UFC library at your disposal?

FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com

There is a good story on CNN about Flavio Canto, a 2004 Brazilian bronze medalist in Judo.  He started a youth training school in the favelas of Rio de Janerio that has been very successful in helping kids not only learn judo but also study, get scholarships and improve their lives. I just thought the BE community would like a nice story on an easy Friday.

Here's the article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/07/16/cnnheroes.flavio.canto/index.html

and here's the link to his school:

http://www.institutoreacao.org.br/reacaoen.html