Hyden's Take
HYDEN BLOG: Zuffa Insurance, Quinton Jackson, and Anthony Pettis vs. Gray Maynard
May 11, 2011 - 8:15:43 AM HYDEN BLOG: Zuffa Insurance, Quinton Jackson, and Anthony Pettis vs. Gray Maynard

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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor

Zuffa providing insurance to all of its contracted fighters is huge news. Firstly, it's the right thing to do. However, it also serves to further legitimize the sport of MMA to those who still want to take pot shots at it. I don't know all the details, but this certainly seems to be much more comprehensive than some other sports or forms of entertainment like boxing or professional wrestling.

This would appear to cost Zuffa a lot of money, but they also make a lot of money from this by taking better care of their fighters. Most companies, though, put the bottom line before human interests. There was nothing forcing Zuffa to do this, so they do deserve credit for providing this insurance.

Zuffa doing this eliminates another bullet-point on the ubiquitous list MMA-bashers use to try to discredit the sport. It's kind of hard to call MMA barbaric when the top name in the sport is providing 24-hour injury insurance.

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Quinton "Rampage" Jackson stated in a recent interview that as soon as movies pay him more than MMA, he's gone. I understand that Rampage has bills to pay and he wants as much money as he can get. I appreciate his honesty. No one can accuse Rampage of not telling you how he feels. One of the biggest myths ever perpetuated is the notion that money can't buy happiness. Nothing could be further from the truth. Money makes the world go around, and it can indeed buy happiness. In Rampage's case, he says he has four kids that he wants to provide for. I'm sure having the money to send them all to college will make him quite happy.

It's not as though Rampage hasn't done his part to help MMA. He's had 39 fights, and has been a big star in both PRIDE and the UFC. He's he's already helped make MMA bigger, so why not let him go off to do movies if that's what he'd rather do?

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Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard both went down with injuries, canceling their planned UFC Lightweight Title fight at UFC 130. It sucks that they both suffered injuries, but it happens. At least the fight could take place in September or so. Honestly, I would have liked to have seen Anthony Pettis step in and fight Maynard had Maynard been able to take it, especially after the smack that Maynard talked about Pettis recently. Accusing a guy of not deserving what he's got is most definitely fighting words. I know Maynard doesn't think very highly of Pettis, and that's one reason why I would love to see them fight. Either Pettis proves Maynard wrong or Maynard proves himself right.

I'd be interested to see what Edgar has to say about all this. If Edgar gets by Maynard, it's possible that Pettis will be his next opponent. Of course, Pettis is going to have to beat Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale in June in order to even keep himself in line for a title shot..

Comments and suggestions can be e-mailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com