The UFC has stones. Dana White takes most criticism head on and the promotion often embraces controversy to further its brand.
Using sideshows like Kimbo Slice and James Toney to sell pay-per-views is one thing, now the UFC sounds like it's ready to take on one of the biggest hot-button issues in sports, steroids.
Rumors have it that highly controversial, currently suspended fighter Chael Sonnen may be the next volatile personality "The Ultimate Fighter" is built around.
Sonnen, who tested positive for an unusually high testosterone count at UFC 117, was cleared by the California State Athletic Commission last week. The CSAC accepted his testosterone replacement therapy excuse and knocked his suspension down to six months.
In the court of public, he's far from cleared.
Anytime a fighter is linked to the word "steroids," there's skepticism.
It looks like the UFC isn't going to shy away from Sonnen. If the Wanderlei Silva vs. Sonnen TUF comes together, it could be the first time in sports' history that guy labeled as a cheater is put at the center of the sport's marketing plan.
Don't believe it's going to happen? Cage Potato tracks the recent banter between Wanderlei Silva and Sonnen on Twitter. It looks like the seed is being planted. Silva feels like Sonnen is disrespectful towards Brazilians.
Here's what Chael Tweeted the day after his CSAC hearing:
"Wand, you might as well fill out your own toe tag. Where is says "Cause of death," just write, "I pissed off a Gangster."
And here is Silva's reply:
"Sonnan you start tolk about me, becarful or you go need call to your dentista"Chael responded with:
"All broken pieces of Wand will be half off on Greenlightdaily.com. Where ya at little guy, worried that I'll understand you this time?"
And then Tweeted this today:
"Take your comebacks, write them down on a sheet of paper. Roll it up tight, soak it in water, freeze it overnight, then jam it up your ass."
Sonnen is a villain for many hardcore fans. His delivery and trash-talk will be huge with casual and non-MMA fans. Plus, Brazil is probably getting a UFC event in August of 2011. It sounds like a recipe for one of the best TUF's ever.
There's one problem. Is it all worth it or could the bad publicity coming from using a guy labeled as a cheater actually hurt the sport?
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