According to Croatian website index.hr, Zuffa principal owner Lorenzo Fertitta traveled to Croatia and spent a few hours in contract negotiations with Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

While details are sparse, we can only assume that the UFC is clearly pushing hard to sign Cro Cop to an exclusive contract and have him potentially compete for the heavyweight title.

As is always the case with Mirko, money will be a huge deciding factor. The aging star has also voiced his desire to fight quite frequently over the next 18 months, something most of the UFC’s “top” fighters don’t do.

There’s no denying the system worked before. When the concept was fresh and new, MMA legends Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell were at the helm for TUF 1, and when they clashed on pay-per-view it was epic. Season Two lacked such a pairing with welterweight and middleweight champs Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin in the top slots, but TUF 3’s prefabricated hatefest between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock was prime next-day discussion material for office water coolers and Internet message boards alike. In terms of TV, BJ Penn and Jens Pulver performed nicely in their TUF 5 roles, and delivered well enough to drive the live finale. However, the next arranged marriage, of TUF 6 coaches Hughes and Matt Serra, failed to bear fruit for a year and a half thanks to Serra falling prey to an injury. Their fight happened long after the sizzle had left the steak. And while TUF 7 coaches Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin and TUF 8 coaches Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had grand affairs in the Octagon, their chemistry on television made for a lot of respect and smiles yet little to no tension or sparks.

Then there’s Bisping and Henderson, whose collective efforts of representing the UK and the US while coaching a team of UFC hopefuls produced the kind of heat that wouldn’t cook a snowflake. The Brit obviously made a go of it, attempting to draw the Pride champ out with challenges and bets. But at his most venomous, a sedate Henderson matter-of-factly declared Bisping a “douchebag” before walking off camera – the most emotion he’d shown in a dozen episodes, and even then it was about as passionate as two icebergs mating. Fans hoping for Ortiz/Shamrock-esque scuffles or Hughes/Serra-esque trash talk got zilch. Clearly, it takes two to tango on television, and Henderson is the worst kind of dance partner. Poor Bisping was left dancing with himself.

How many will tune in on July 11th just to see Bisping and Henderson go at it? Of the thousands upon thousands of pay-per-view buys – and thanks to Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir and Georges St. Pierre versus Thiago Alves there will be thousands upon thousands – how many of those will have been solely because of the match-up between the two TUF 9 coaches? Probably not very many. Bisping and Henderson’s patriarchal gigs put them out of competition for nine and six months respectively, and the payoff for fans will be the same as if they’d skipped coaching and faced each other earlier in the year. The Brit and the American’s time kept out of the middleweight mix, filming in a drama-less vacuum when they could’ve been picking off contenders for a shot at the belt, was time misspent.

The coach versus coach motif is no longer viable. Unless the powers that be are sure that there’s chemistry that will lead to a worthwhile payoff, subjecting the general public to two top-level mixed martial artists who fail to inspire even the slightest bit of emotion or interest does nothing. For fans, it’s just a big waste of time.

Best Fight: Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki (WEC 40)
Tabbed as a late replacement for the injured Brian Bowles, few gave Mizugaki much of a chance against the pound-for-pound great Miguel Torres. Apparently someone forgot to tell Mizugaki, who gave Torres everything he could handle in this 25 minute firefight. Mizugaki dealt with Torres’ impossible range on the feet while wisely avoiding Torres’ area of expertise: the ground. The five round war put on display some extremely high level MMA tactics, featuring great inside fighting and some truly innovative clinchwork. Though Torres won the hard-fought decision to retain his belt, Mizugaki did something few fighters have managed: climbed the rankings and won accolades in defeat.

Also Considered:
- Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit (UFN 18)
- Thierry Quenneville vs Doug Evans (XMMA 7)
- Abel Cullum vs. Hideo Tokoro (Dream 9)

Best Knockout: Fedor Emelianenko over Andrei Arlovski (Affliction: Day of Reckoning)
The unparalleled drama of this KO in one of the year’s biggest bouts is undeniable. Andrei Arlovski represented a true #1 contender to MMA’s heavyweight king, and for the first few minutes, looked to be every bit of that threat. Arlovski lept through the air for a flying knee as Fedor rebounded off the ropes, and was met with a huge overhand right in mid-air. Arlovski came crashing to the mat face first, sealing Fedor’s place atop the heavyweight and pound-for-pound ranks, and putting the exclamation point on one of the great KO’s we’ve seen in MMA.

Also Considered:
- Jose Aldo over Cub Swanson, Flying double knee (WEC 41)
- Yahir Reyes over Estevan Payan, Spinning backfist (Bellator VI)
- Matt Hamill over Mark Munoz, Headkick (UFC 96)

Best Submission: Toby Imada over Jorge Masvidal (Bellator V)
In perhaps the easiest category to award, Toby Imada provided one of the best submissions of the sport’s young history, let alone the year, in a spectacular inverted triangle late in the third round against Jorge Masvidal. Imada had been losing the fight for two and a half rounds and was on his way to being eliminated from the Bellator lightweight tournament. But his last second heroics turned an evitable Masvidal slam into a piece of highlight reel material. As great as the submission was in and of itself, its effect was even more spectacular: it thrust Bellator directly onto the main stage with MMA fans and made subsequent Bellator shows “can’t miss” events.

Also Considered:
- Seth Dikun over Rolando Perez, Flying Triangle (WEC 41)
- Demian Maia over Chael Sonnen, triangle (UFC 95)
- BJ Kojima over Yuki Shoujou, RNC (Shooto Tradition 6)

Biggest Upset: Joe Warren over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (Dream 9)
Coming off an upset of former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe, Joe Warren was supposed to be a walk-through return fight for Japanese star Kid Yamamoto. With just months of MMA training, Warren proceeded to take the fight directly to Kid, despite taking several vicious kicks to the body. Warren continued to put Yamamoto on his back and took a very close decision from Yamamoto on his home turf. While Paulo Thiago performed an upset equaling shocking, it is important to note that this was Warren’s second consecutive large upset (the first being vs. Chase Beebe), earning him the honor in our eyes.

Also Considered:
- Paulo Thiago over Josh Koscheck (UFC 95)
- Brett Rogers over Andrei Arlovski (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields)
- Joe Warren over Chase Beebe (DREAM 7)

Come-From-Behind Win: Scott Smith over Benji Radach (Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz)
In a bout that stole the show for Strikeforce’s first promotional offering on Showtime, Benji Radach spent the better part of three rounds outmaneuvering Scott Smith and staggering him with power shots. Entering into the third round, this observer had Radach winning the fight 20-17 and cruising en route to a decision win. With heroics reminiscent of his win over Pete Sell, Scott Smith dug deep and pulled out a right straight that sent Radach crashing into the fence with just a minute and a half remaining. In a year featuring several great come-from-behinds, Scott Smith edged out Toby Imada with the most dramatic one.

Also Considered:
- Toby Imada over Jorge Masvidal (Bellator V)
- Hiroyuki Takaya over Yoshiro Maeda (Dream 9)
- Thierry Quenneville over Doug Evans (XMMA 7)

Best Fighter: Lyoto Machida
When the UFC purchased the WFA and select fighter contracts, including Quinton Jackson and Heath Herring, few dreamt that the crown jewel of that acquisition would have been the enigmatic Lyoto Machida. With a unique style and a very reserved persona, Lyoto seemed to be as much a promotional challenge as tactical challenge. But with back to back dazzling KO victories over undefeated fighters Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida earned himself a UFC title, pound-for-pound consideration, and international stardom. Truly remarkable in such a short amount of time.

Also Considered:
- Mike Brown
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Georges St. Pierre

Comeback Fighter: Michihiro Omigawa
After going 0-3-1 in four fights, including a disastrous 0-2 run in the UFC, Omigawa entered the Sengoku featherweight tournament, playing the well traveled veteran in a field packed with young talent. Showing reinvented stand up skills and an airtight grappling game, Omigawa dispatched two early tournament favorites in L.C. Davis and Nam Phan. Omigawa now finds himself slated for a semifinal bout against the undefeated Marlon Sandro in what could be the tournament’s best fight yet.

Also Considered:
- Cole Escovedo
- Mauricio Rua
- Toby Imada

Breakthrough Fighter: Joe Warren
Joe Warren began the year without an MMA bout or a place in MMA fans’ consciousness. In just 6 months, he has become a star on two continents and serious contender to win the Dream Featherweight Grand Prix. Warren’s first round berth against Chase Beebe drew criticism that a 0-0 fighter could be slated against some of the sport’s best in a high stakes tournament. Two fights later, Warren has pulled upsets over Chase Beebe and Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Next up for Warren: another impossible bout against Bibiano Fernandes. But why count Warren out a third time?

Also Considered:
- Jose Aldo
- Dan Hardy
- Muhammed Lawal

It would seem that Zuffa, owner of the UFC, is in the middle of operation clampdown. I’m referring to the banning of numerous apparel companies (or charging them a fee of $100,000) and now the alleged threat regarding the Electronic Arts (EA) MMA game.

In most cases I’m a supporter of the UFC when it comes to business decisions. Even if I think they are harsh or delivered in a not so couth manner, they still seem to work and whether we like it or not, the running of a promotion is a business. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the UFC has done a great deal for the sport and continues to do so.

Every now and then however, an issue arises that I just can’t comprehend. The threat of banning fighters from the UFC for life if they sign on with EA’s MMA game (a game that would compete against THQ’s UFC Undisputed), even if they don’t currently fight for the promotion, is simply outrageous and bordering on tyrannical. This is why I’m not completely convinced that we’ve heard both sides of the story, but just in case we have, here are my thoughts on how such a ban could actually damage the integrity of the sport, that is as long as the UFC continues with one of its other policies.

By following through with this alleged threat regarding EA, the UFC in effect decreases its talent pool. We all know there are so many fighters training hard each and every day, so many getting better and better with each fight. Some may not be stars now, but will be in the future. If EA comes knocking on their door, who could blame them for welcoming them with open arms? They sign with EA, dominate fight after fight until they are a star, and yet they can never fight the UFC’s best! There is something wrong with this picture.

The UFC walks a fine line between business and sport. It has to. With the relative newness of MMA and its huge and growing popularity, the promotion must protect what it has. It also has to ensure that the fights feature the best fighters they can get and often the best in the world.

Of course this wouldn’t be such a big issue if the UFC allowed for cross-promotion. Many fans champion this idea, but it makes no sense for the UFC. Why give other promotions the opportunity to piggy back on what you have built? So this isn’t an option and it probably won’t be for a long time.

We are left with a situation where some of the soon to be best fighters in the world may have to decide: a deal with EA, or screw it because they might one day fight in the UFC. This is unfair and if the best fighters can’t square off in the Octagon because of a deal with a competing video game, then it does absolutely damage the integrity of the sport.

Let’s hope this is nothing more than something to get us worked up about that never comes to fruition. Because if it does EA Sports, and the fans, is gonna be pissed!

Zac Robinson is author of the upcoming MMA IQ Trivia book, Sports By The Numbers MMA book and blog, as well as the author of the upcoming cutman Stitch Duran book. He can be reached at zacrr6@yahoo.com

1. Is Spencer Fisher headed to the WEC?
2. UFC Fight Night 19 officially announced for Oklahoma City
3. Tito Ortiz thinks he should get a shot at Fedor – once again, Tito likes to talk a big game
4. Luiz Cane would like to fight Rich Franklin
5. GSP picks Kenny Florian against BJ Penn and in the game of life

That said, he is a legit prospect when it comes to the 170 pound division. He's trying to work his way back into the good graces of one of the big organizations like Strikeforce, Affliction or the UFC. He's 3-0 since being released by the UFC after his loss to Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Aside from a little run-in at Krave nightclub, he's controlled himself in Las Vegas and is working hard at Xtreme Couture. His patience was put to the test earlier this week when he was asked to work with high level pros Martin Kampmann and Vitor Belfort. Koppenhaver got in with Belfort, who probably outweighs him by 25 pounds, at the very end of practice and was manhandled a bit:

"It's crazy I used to watch Vitor when I was a little kid, like that was god to me," Koppenhaver told Cagewriter. "To be honest with you, it's kind of intimidating. He's a freak. I think the old Vitor is back in effect."

Koppenhaver said Belfort's combination of knowledge and technique along with off-the-charts athleticism is impressive:

"He's a black belt, he has great boxing. He's knows everything plus the explosiveness, so when he explodes into those same moves as someone else who doesn't have speed, he gets results."

Koppenhaver says if Belfort ever gets a fight with Anderson Silva, he has a great chance if he gets him on the ground. Now Koppenhaver is having to play role of a mercenary. He was supposed to fight on June 20, but the card got canceled, so now he's taking a fight on less than two weeks notice in Mexico City on July 11.

War Machine also updated Cagewriter on how his efforts to "terrorize" chicks in Las Vegas is going. He gave some interesting advice on what helps him attract women (4:22 mark).

Our Cagewriter chatter, Jon Fitch, lets his fighting speak for itself. (Sports Illustrated)

What is the likelihood that Tito Ortiz will be relevant to MMA again? (Bloody Elbow)

Good news for women who are comfortable walking on small runways while wearing a bikini: the UFC is looking for another Octagon Girl. (MMA Mania)

Dana White assures that you do not want his job. (Cagewriter)

Frank Fertitta's sweet new digs. (Fightlinker)

Vitor Belfort's will-he-or-won't-he-come-to-the-UFC saga continues. (Cagewriter)

Pittsburgh's first MMA event was good, but also may have infringed on the UFC's trademarks. (MMA Junkie)

One of the UFC's pioneers, the awesomely-mustached Don Frye, is in the Johnny Depp film, "Public Enemies." (Cage Potato)  

Between their new magazine and reports that they are shutting out more sponsors, the UFC is pushing it. (Fight Opinion)

Chuck Liddell's future will be determined soon. (Cagewriter)

Demian Maia wants Anderson Silva. (Fighters Only)

Who should be considered fighter of the year, boxing's Manny Pacquaio or MMA's Lyoto Machida? Neither. Miguel Torres. (Telegraph)

Georges St. Pierre's Gatorade ad, now in the good ol' U. S. of A. (ESPN)

Ultimate Chaos was one big waste of cash. (Cagewriter)

What do Indiana and Hawaii have in common? They both started regulating MMA this week. That, and, well, that's about it. (Cage Potato)

Michael Bisping is headed into UFC 100 with a chip on his shoulder. (Yahoo! Sports) 

Mike Whitehead and Wanderlei Silva both celebrated birthdays this week. (Combat Lifestyle)

Thanks for reading Cagewriter this week, and stick with us next week for an absolutely insane week leading up to UFC 100. Have a great Fourth, and try not to blow yourselves up. 

The more we talk to Frank Mir, this Brock Lesnar guy is really limited. Mir does make some good points about how green Lesnar is but we also have to consider that the skills the former pro wrestler does have - power and wrestling - are rough to overcome, unless your name is Frank Mir, who did beat Lesnar in his debut back at UFC 85. At least that's what the UFC's interim heavyweight champ is thinking.

Mir told Cagewriter that he's worked himself into a well-rounded fighter over the years. Meanwhile, Lesnar is like most heavyweights, too insecure to really work on his weaknesses especially in the striking game (4:00 mark):

"They fall back on their natural attributes physically. I guarantee Brock's fallen into the same habits. His fighting style is an extension of his strength and power. I understand there's a mindset in fighting for what your tools are, but at the same time that kind of puts you in a pigeon hole."

It's all part of the mental weakness that exist with most heavyweights (1:45 mark):

"They stay within their comfort zone. If a guy wrestled in college, typically you'll watch his training sessions, and it'll look like a college wrestling practice. So they're not looking to use their striking to win fights. It's a real quick 1-2, just to get me by. Striking is a phenomenal way to win fights. I'm light years ahead of most guys in the heavyweight division."

The discussion revolved around former elite heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia. Mir said Arlovski makes too many simple mistakes and Sylvia has always had awful footwork.   

By Rhett Butler

As one of the pioneers of MMA, Matt “The Law” Lindland knows this business and when he speaks you should listen. So when he allows one of his prized pupils to be a part of the newest organization producing real world-class cards it’s a silent statement. With Ryan Healy of the famed Team Quest agreeing to fight Brazilian Top Team’s Fabiano Capoani, Lindland looks forward to the business possibilities with Shine Fights.

“Shine’s certainly been able to get great fighters and put together great fights. Their matchmaking is phenomenal for the level of show it is,” says Lindland. “These guys are all quality athletes that they’ve got and I don’t really see anybody else that’s a grassroots kind of promotion putting together these kind of cards. I’m actually a little surprised that at the quality of each one of these fighters on this card.”

As co-owner of Team Quest (along with for PRIDE Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson), Lindand began working with Shine Fights when his fighter, Ryan Healy was added to the Shine 2: American Top Team vs. The World card. As one half of the Healy fighting brother duo along with Pat Healy (20-13-0), Ryan Healy is coming off three recent losses looking for redemption.

“Ryan is a very tough guy and he’s a great fighter. He took a couple fights on short notice at 170lbs and he’s coming off a couple losses just because he wasn’t able to peak and prepare, he took fights on two days notice kind of thing; up a weight class. He’s not a welterweight he’s a lightweight fighter and I think this is an opportunity where he’s had ample time to prepare for the fight and its in his weight class.”

With three straight losses, all via unanimous decision, Healy shows he has what it takes to go the distance in a fight. The last loss against now WEC fighter, Jameel Massouh in October 2008 was Healy’s last appearance in the cage. After a 9-month layoff the bout against Luiz Firmino marks Healy’s return. Lindland explains the lengthy layoff.

“There was an injury where he hurt his knee and then basically his fights fell apart. Promoters were getting ready to do shows and they didn’t sell enough tickets and so they cancelled events and we just had some bad luck with promotions.”

COMPETITION LIVES

Luiz Firmino (12-4-0) is a submission specialist with 6 of his 12 wins coming by the sweet art. With another 5 wins, mostly coming by unanimous decision, and 1 TKO, Firmino is the real deal. As with Healy, Firmino’s last professional appearance in MMA also resulted in a loss back in May 2008 at a DREAM event in Japan. With an even longer layoff after a loss than Healy, Firmino is also in a state of redemption. A sure fire way to insure a blockbuster battle? Or is this a day of reckoning for one of these two fighters? Lindland advocates Healy and says that one merely needs to look at his conditioning and heart to see why.

“He works a full-time job and comes in, never misses a team practice and then he give some extra workouts after that. Right now where he’s at with his career he’s not making a ton of money with these fights so you got to make some sacrifices,” says Lindland. If he’s willing to do that, whatever it takes to get in the gym, whether its working nights or working the weekends he’s more concerned about getting to the gym no matter what. You’ve got to respect a guy like that.”

Looking back, Lindland also points to strengths recognized and weaknesses realized through Healy’s past.

“He was a national NCAA champion in boxing so obviously his hands are great. He’s working out with quality wrestlers day in and day out. I think maybe that was one of his weaknesses the wrestling aspect, taking the guys down; he doesn’t want to really take those guys down. But the biggest problem he had was getting taken down and I think he solved a lot of those problems just being with us at Team Quest. The guys got incredible work ethic.”

Going further, Lindland spoke about his team’s outlook and himself alluding to a very bright future.

“Well of course we’ve got some of the bigger names. You see Dan Henderson he was on The Ultimate Fighter as a coach and he’s got a big fight coming up at UFC 100. We’ve got other guys like Chael Sonnen and Ed Herman that are fighting in the UFC as well but we’ve also got a lot of up and coming talent. As far as me I can’t really discuss that right at the moment because nothings signed but you’ll certainly see me back in the cage soon. I will be competing on the stage as I should be, fighting some of the top guys in the world.”