Q&A with @FrontRowBrian, Dakota "Sean Cody" Cochrane, and TUF: Live

Rapidfire Q&A with @FrontRowBrian "The Agenda Setter"

If you don't know who Brian is, he's an MMA fanatic that gets access to inside stories through direct contacts with fighters, managers, trainers; pretty much anyone involved in MMA. Using his Twitter he's able to release stories and rumors days before many mainstream MMA media outlets. His credibility (and his followers) continues to grow each day, and I got a chance to ask him some quick questions.

Q: Do you think Strikeforce will eventually dissolve?
Brian: I do think SF will dissolve. It's a $ loser for Zuffa.

Q:Do the rules on striking the back of head need to be revised IYO?
Brian: Back of the head rules are fine. Refs need to learn to enforce rules better.

Q: Should Akiyama be cut from the UFC?
Brian: Should he? Yeah. Will he? Don't think so. They're returning to Asia in November.

Q: Any word on how Alves' weight cut is going?
Brian: Alves tweeted he's 12 lbs over right now. @TheDolceDiet will get him on weight. Dolce gets the job done.

Q: Ever think of doing a weekly podcast?
Brian: Sure. It's possible. I'll be a guest on a few coming up. (In response to appearing on Joe Rogan's podcast) I'd love to go on. Met Joe very briefly a couple times a few years back. Good guy. Have lotta respect 4 him.

Leave a comment below to ask Brian a question, or ask him directly @FrontRowBrian


Dakota Cochrane AKA Sean Cody?

I originally heard about this story from @FrontRowBrian, and from there I just had to know if it was real, and unfortunately, it is. Dakota Cochrane, the man who dominated once WEC champ Jamie Varner, is in fact a gay porn star, and is starring on the upcoming season of TUF: Live on FX. I couldn't help but laugh hysterically at this at first, (hell I can hardly say "Mark Hunt" without giggling) but after further review thought about what complications this may have on the TUF season. Is it really smart to put him on a LIVE broadcast? When things start getting heated in the house (as they always do) I can see this being a potential disaster. Then again, something like this could be exactly what Dana White wants to draw attention to the show and to possibly grab some shocked morning-after headlines. FX already is the channel that hosts "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", the hilarious and sometimes extremely vulgar show that has already expanded the FCC border on what FX is allowed to broadcast. In any event, this doesn't help my argument with some of my boxing-only friends that BJJ and wrestling looks like "a bunch of gay dudes rolling around on a mat together". For more on this story, check out MiddleEasy's investigative reporting.



The Ultimate Fighter 15: Live on FX, Cruz vs Faber III, and IV?


Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber coach TUF 15 Live on FX and it should be unlike any other season. By saying, "fuck it, we'll do it live!" opens a whole new can of worms on an already unpredictable show. The one thing I didn't like about the past seasons was that the editors got to choose what fights to show, and what dialogue in the house to portray each fighter's personality. It'll be nice to see things as they really are. As for the coaching selection, Cruz vs Faber again? How hard is the UFC going to try and make Faber the Bantamweight champ? He already lost decisively; give someone else a shot. I do realize he's a huge money draw, but I really don't see their 3rd fight being a whole lot different. Cruz won because he used his reach advantage and his improved striking ability to keep his distance to stay away from Faber's power. What's really going to change this time around? It reminds me a lot of Edgar vs Penn, where going into the 2nd fight, I didn't see what Penn was really going to do differently, much like Faber in this situation. Even if Faber does happen to catch Cruz with a hook though and knock him out, wouldn't Cruz be entitled to a rematch? We could essentially see these two guys fighting each other for the belt for the next two years. I'm more excited for the coaching matchup of UFC: Brazil which will be hopefully airing in the U.S. next month.