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The pre-conference video has been showing highlights from Cotto and Margs' career. The conference seems a little bit late, as it's 12:06 pm EST and TopRank's still streaming the highlights package (which runs about 10 minutes and then loops).

Margarito needed eye surgery after the Pacquiao fight. Cotto's been on a good run since his own Pacquiao fight, beating Yuri Foreman and Ricardo Mayorga, but these fights seem to be a bit of a disappointment considering the rise of Cotto and the big fights many felt he was ordained for.

Brock Lesnar's upcoming book is 208 pages and lists for $25.99.  The $25.99 is not disappointing, but the 208 pages sorely disappoints.  

Lesnar has had the most fascinating career I can think of for a combat sports athlete.  The cross-pollination between the pro-wrestling and mixed martial arts industries is itself not wholly unique, but when placed alongside his NCAA accomplishments and his NFL stint, especially considering the heights he's risen in these professions, it makes Lesnar appear more and more a singular figure in this arena.

What follows is an overview of his career, from the hallways of NCAA Divsion I Championships, to the OVW, WWE, the NFL, New Japan, IGF, K-1, and the UFC, his current promotional home.

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Tallying up the Pantydropper of the Week preferences along quasi-ethnic boundaries, Beth seems hot for white mma stars, as does Donna.  White mma fighters average a 4.31 for the Pantydropper of the Week feature.  Brazilians, African-American, Hispanic, and Japanese fighters - whom I've categorized as "non-white", total to a 3.91.  There were 11 scores 3 or under for non-white fighters out of 207 entries.  There were 8 scores 3 or under for white fighters out of 430 entries.

Additionally, there are ridiculous ratings like Big John McCarthy and Dana White averaging a higher score than Ben Henderson, Megareem, and Quinton Jackson.  I understand the premise is lighthearted, but the trends indicate there may very well be some reluctance to invite Dr. Prentice over for a family dinner.  I've separated the categories into white, brazillian, black, japanese and hispanic.  

What I'm really calling for is an mma HotOrNot.

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With news that Melvin Manhoef has been added to Strikeforce's March 5th card, and the impending debut of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix, I've performed a bit of cross multiplication and thought up what is, essentially, a Strikeforce Kayo Grand Prix (or whatever such name that makes one salivate), based on the promotion's formidable power dept, in or around the 185 lb limit. 

Having fighters with non de plumes such as "Hands of Steel", and "Mini-Tyson" walking around its 185 lb hallways, along with the champion, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, being a horrible stylistic matchup for the majority of the division, one begins to wonder what if Strikeforce placed the title "on hold" while the division - we hope - knocks itself out.

Besides the combustible nature of its participants, what makes this tournament equally interesting would be the sort of legacy fights, a la Smith/Le III, and the joy to even consider Manhoef/Santos II, that aren't usually available to non-title affairs.

My inaugural "Kayo GP" includes:

• Robbie Lawler vs Benji Radach
• Melvin Manhoef vs Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos
• Paul Daley vs Zelg Galesic (DREAM)
• Cung Le vs Scott Smith

I believe the promotional imperative would be placed on a Robbie Lawler vs Cung Le fight, and so I've separated them in the slotting.  Some may argue that Daley ought to be replaced by Cyborg for a better chance at Le making a trip to the finals and that thinking isn't without warrant.  I simply prefer a bit more of a balanced tournament,  fully acknowledging Strikeforce may not, if their World Grand Prix is any indicator.
Who is your favorite for Strikeforce's Power Dept. Grand Prix?

Poll

Who wins Strikeforce's Power Dept. Grand Prix?

14%

Robbie Lawler

7 votes

32%

Melvin Manhoef

16 votes

0%

Benji Radach

0 votes

20%

Cung Le

10 votes

2%

Scott Smith

1 votes

22%

Paul Daley

11 votes

0%

Cyborg Santos

0 votes

10%

Zelg Galesic

5 votes

50 votes | Poll has closed

In championship combat, there is, to many, an axiom that "to be the man you gotta beat the man."  Sherdog's Jordan Breen had an excellent history of this type of thinking. The discussion begins at the 29 minute mark of his October 27, 2009 broadcast.

What follows is a summary, and my own thoughts on the topic.

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In light of the excellent article by BloodyElbow's Jonathan Snowden, Lineal Title History, I thought it was appropriate to opine on the concept of lineal championships, the problems they've faced in boxing and MMA, how relevant some of their issues are to MMA, and then to illustrate another viable option for MMA's heavyweight championship lineage: that of UFC 1 crowning the first ever MMA champion.

Combat sports fans have often served as the custodians of its history.  Because God did not declare an original champion in his 10 commandments, it was up to them to decide an original champion, and then, to demand that he - and more recently she - get in tough with whomever was deemed the most threatening opponent.  Number One versus Number Two, ad infinitum.  The algorithm is largely complete, save for a few factors.  Among them: money, the public's desire, the fighter's desire, bitterness and even retirement.  

More after the break...

Poll

Who was MMA's first lineal champion?

67%

Royce Gracie

27 votes

22%

Mark Coleman

9 votes

7%

Rickson Gracie

3 votes

2%

Other

1 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

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A fascinating interview with Mr. Richardson in which he not only mentions how he discovered Marg's loaded wraps, but why he was looking out for them in the first place. He mentions that, in the Cotto fight, Margarito was throwing with abandon and that his hands weren't being hurt, even though he was hitting Cotto in place that boxers try to stay away from (elbows, crown of the head, etc...). Thanks to Elie Seckbach for the video.