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ASK MMATORCH: Hansen and Penick answer reader questions on the writing process, Henderson vs. Thomson, and Dominick Cruz
Jan 8, 2014 - 9:50:25 PM ASK MMATORCH: Hansen and Penick answer reader questions on the writing process, Henderson vs. Thomson, and Dominick Cruz

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Welcome to another edition of "Ask MMATorch," where Torch Editor Jamie Penick and Torch Columnist Rich Hansen answer reader questions on the world of MMA. If you have a question you'd like addressed by either of them, make sure to send it in to askmmatorch@gmail.com. The more questions we receive, the more frequently we can run this feature!


Justin B. Writes: I really enjoyed your Thinking Out Loud WSOF/Belator article where I assume you just spewed your thoughts without a filter. I'm an aspiring writer, and I was curious as to what, if any, process you go through while writing a piece such as that one. Or, was this article just a way for you to write down your thoughts and analyze them to see if they make sense?

MMATorch Columnist Rich Hansen Answers:

Hi Justin,

First and foremost, I'm not the person you should probably ask for journalism advice. I'm pretty open that I'm just a guy with an opinion and a bigger stage from which to spew his mularkey. That said, there are certain journalistic tenets that I try to follow. Don't lie or make stuff up. Don't pander to fighters, especially on Twitter. Don't beg for interviews, again, especially on Twitter. Don't make up a dozen screen names and pimp out your own material on bulletin boards, because that's a good way to wind up without a big stage. But in reality I'm not a journalist. I don't have sources I have to protect, I don't break stories, etc. I'm a columnist, and I deal in opinion. I'm not saying that all for your sake but for mine, as I don't want you thinking that anything I tell you is going to help make you a journalist. I'm pre-emptively absolving myself of any and all responsibility in case you wind up handing out fliers on the strip for a living.

Now, with all that said, about the WSOF column I wrote. The biggest problem I have as a writer is going from idea to finished product. I have great ideas, and they usually die on the vine. Jamie Penick has heard dozens of times from me that I have something fantastic, and it never comes home. The hardest part of this gig (it's not a job) is simply pointing the fingers at the screen and making the letters appear. When I did the WSOF vs. Bellator analysis piece, your guess is half-right. I did in fact just sit down and start writing about it, but I knew what I was thinking, and how I wanted it to come across. I did my research as I was writing, not in advance. I didn't frame it out or draw up an outline. But all of the opinions I had on it were in my head, like I said int he piece, within ten minutes of reading about Ali's challenge on Monday morning.

This was a different piece for me, because it relied a lot less on jokes and my personality, and a lot more on content. It was fun to do, and I appreciate you asking about it.


Brandon A. Writes: Why do you think the UFC booked Josh Thomson vs Benson Henderson? Henderson just lost to Pettis and they were just giving Thomson a title shot before Pettis got hurt. If Henderson wins they lose a contender in Thomson, and I don't believe they want to give Henderson a title shot so soon. Do you believe this is good match making?

MMATorch Editor Jamie Penick Answers:

I think it's the best possible fight they could make out of a bad situation. Had T.J. Grant been cleared to fight, he and Thomson could have fought to determine a clear No. 1 contender. As it stands, with Pettis sidelined until the summer, the next best option for Thomson is fighting the most recent Champion prior to Pettis. A win over Henderson means he's earned his spot for the title fight whether Grant gets healthy enough by the summer or not, while a loss means he shouldn't have been in the fight against Pettis to begin with.

From the other side of things, Henderson wants to get back into contention as quickly as the UFC will allow. It will take some time, and while him knocking off other contenders may not be ideal for the UFC, I just don't know that they had much more of a choice here.

A number of fighters are hovering right around that top contender spot in this lightweight division right now, and Pettis' injury naturally means that those in the mix have time to fight to prove their worth. Gilbert Melendez could still emerge as a contender, Khabib Nurmagomedov could make his case with a win or two, a cleared Grant could step in for the shot he earned last summer if Thomson does lose to Henderson, etc. Lots of things could still happen in this division, and we'll get a clearer look at the Lightweight Title picture over the next several months.


Martin W. Writes: When/If Dominick Cruz returns, who would he fight in his first fight back? After so long would it be a top five opponent?

MMATorch Columnist Rich Hansen Answers:

Keeping in mind that we don't know when he'll return, who will be the champ, who will be injured or booked, etc...

Urijah Faber is going to be Dominick Cruz's next opponent, and it will happen whether or not Faber is the UFC Bantamweight Champion upon Cruz's return. Clearly Cruz doesn't want to come back to an easy fight. Clearly the UFC was willing to wait for damn near ever to allow Cruz a chance to defend his title. Clearly Cruz and Faber want to fight each other. Clearly (I need a new adverb) Cruz vs. Faber is the only money fight at 135. If Faber has the belt, then Cruz still gets to return in a title fight. If he doesn't have the belt when Cruz returns, then it's a number one contender fight for Cruz. I don't think there's any way the UFC makes Cruz win more than one fight before getting a title shot, so Faber is the only fight I think that makes any sense.

Now, let's say I'm wrong here (shut up) and the UFC doesn't see it that way, or let's say for whatever reason Faber is unavailable, then I would just love to see a fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson, at 135 lbs. Remember, Johnson was Cruz's last opponent, and it was only after that fight that Johnson had the chance to go down to 125 pounds. Flyweight poses no great challenger for Johnson right now, and it won't six months from now, or whenever Cruz is ready to return, so there would be a real reason for both guys to take the fight. Johnson's motivation is obvious, to avenge his last loss at 135 lbs., and maybe to put himself in position to hold two belts at the same time. That's the type of thing that might make 125 and 135 draw some money finally. And for Cruz the motivation is equally clear. A fight against ANYONE is his motivation.

You know what, forget the first paragraph. Cruz vs. Johnson. Be bold, Mr. Shelby, and make that fight (and give me props for campaigning for it).