In an effort to bring more content to WKR, we are teaming up with Kelvin Hunt  of MMAForReal.com for a new feature called 'Weighing In'.

1.) Phil Nurse's actions were intentional.

Zak Woods: Intentional yes, malicious no. Nurse was clearly engaged in his routine and duties as a member of St. Pierre's corner. The presence and application of Vaseline was a side effect not the purposeful action of greasing down an opponent.

Kelvin Hunt: I don't think so.  There are much more sinister ways to apply Vaseline to someone back than what he did.  I think Phil just got lost in the moment of trying to do too much in so little time.  I'm pretty sure it's hectic the corner of a fight of that magnitude.


2.) Will B.J. Penn file a complaint against George St. Pierre?

KH: I don't know, as it seems BJ's mind clearly changes like the wind.  If they were smart they wouldn't file the claim as it's going to yield them absolutely nothing.  The written rule clearly states that GSP's followed the rules when it was identified that Vaseline was put on places other than his face. (He was wiped down).  In fact, Penn filing a complaint would feed the image of him portrayed on the UFC Primetime show as a spoiled, rich fighter crying because things didn't go his way.  


ZW: No he will not. As I lay out on mmaconvert.com, there is no end game that will justify the complaint. Penn has some smart people around him and he isn't quite the demagogue some of us feel he is , so I think it is safe to predict that he won't.

3.) The recent plethora of ‘slippery' accusations against George St. Pierre from former opponents is a non-issue.

ZW: It is an issue, solely for the fact that it will continue to create suspicion, whether unfounded or not. Many of these fighters are clearly biased, looking at you Matt Hughes, it raises doubt surrounding George St. Pierre's corner. There will be microscopic attention paid to St. Pierre's corner for every fight he is involved in from now on.

KH: I think it's a non-issue.  The fact that these guys have waited years to come out of the woodwork with this stuff is absolutely ridiculous.  All of them got their asses kicked, and GSP would kick all of their asses again. GSP's corner will be under the microscope in his next fight, but if/when he runs through Thiago Alves it'll all be forgotten about.


4.) The WEC is losing something with the end of the welterweight division

KH: I don't think so.  It's common knowledge that the best welterweights in the world are in the UFC bar none.  I think the move makes sense in that they want to promote the lighter weight classes anyways.  Carlos Condit is a very good fighter, but he's no PPV draw so they aren't losing anything.  In fact, we are gaining something in that we get to see how Condit stacks up against the elite welterweights in the world.  We could also possibly gain a legitimate women's division.


ZW: Yes, the loss of Carlos Condit and a weight class that has the potential to be deep in any organization will hurt the WEC. Remember, not long ago the WEC was floating an idea of making the move over to PPV. They would need names, like Condit, to promote a show. The addition of a flyweight division may not be enough to help the talent loss that comes with the loss of another division.