'UFC not problem, maybe we are'

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SOMETIMES, there is just too much fight in the fight for some people.

They like their fight sanitised. Easy on the eye, even if there is a wild mismatch taking place right before them.

No blood, see, no foul.

Antonio 'Big Foot' Silva of Brazil connects with a punch during the UFC Brisbane bout. Source: Getty Images

George Foreman famously said "Boxing is the sport all others aspire to", and he was once right about that.

What he meant was the qualities we look for in any great sporting contest - the courage to keep giving, to desire to go beyond normal limits - were found in greater quantities in boxing than in any other sport.

But boxing is dying nowadays, suffering a prolonged death by greedy promoters and selfish fighters, too many of whom are more concerned about protecting their records by fighting outclassed opponents than they are putting on a true show for paying fans.

Sugar Ray Robinson lost 19 fights during his career and is considered the greatest of all time. Nowadays, fighters won't risk their zero in the loss column unless it's against the payday at the end, a Mayweather or a Pacquiao.

Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva and Mark Hunt grapple in their heavyweight fight. Source: Getty Images

So we have been slowly conditioned to passive, one-way fights where we essentially go along to watch one fighter pad his record until his payday comes along.

The fighting heart had left the fight game.

Until the UFC came along.

The UFC claims it's the fastest growing sport in the world. It is the biggest pay-per-view provider in the world.

It sold out the 12,000-seat Brisbane Entertainment Centre in days when most boxing cards around Australia can't sell a few hundred tickets.

And yet apparently they have it all wrong.

Or are we the problem?

Antonio 'Big Foot' Silva of Brazil and Mark Hunt grapple during the UFC Brisbane bout. Source: Getty Images

Those who get the UFC know that they have put the fight back into the fight game.

The UFC doesn't stand for the posers, for guys protecting records or guys that prefer to be known as a fighter than be a fighter.

Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva showed all that in Saturday's main event in Brisbane when both men, exhausted and covered in blood, gave until they had nothing left.

There was greatness in Saturday's main event.

Both men suffered head cuts and bled a little.

Antonio 'Big Foot' Silva of Brazil connects with a knee to the face of Mark Hunt. Source: Getty Images

Some found that sickening. Forget that it was superficial, so doesn't matter a lick.

I've split my head split more times than I care to remember and everybody that has knows all you feel is a spreading warmth, followed by wetness.

It's never life threatening, rarely even painful.

This year the UFC celebrated 20 years, a milestone that passed without a single death in the cage.

The figures are rubbery in boxing, but averages out to slightly less than 10 deaths a year.

The argument that fighters are allowed to do things in a cage that's illegal on streets is tired.

You can't tackle anybody on a footpath either, not without an assault charge being laid, yet there are hundreds in every NRL game.

The UFC is a sport and, more than that, flourishes because it contains the essence of sport.

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Berry to appeal suspension

Tommy Berry poses for a promo shoot, before his riding suspension in Hong Kong. Source: Braden Fastier / News Limited

STAR Sydney jockey Tommy Berry will appeal the severity of a month-long riding suspension he incurred in Hong Kong on Sunday night that threatens to rule him out of the rich Magic Millions carnival.

Berry rode two winners at the Sha Tin international meeting but his success was soured when stewards charged him for failing to ride his mount, Smart Man, to the finish of a support race.

Berry pleaded guilty to the charge but was shocked when hit with a 10-meeting ban. The commencement of his penalty period is delayed until after Saturday's Villiers Stakes meeting at the Kensington track.

The length of his suspension seems harsh and could prove very costly as the Magic Millions is run at the Gold Coast on January 11, five days before he is due to resume riding.

Berry, who has won two Magic Millions 2yo Classics on Karuta Queen (2011) and Driefontein (2012), is partnering Gai Waterhouse's boom first-starter Echo Gal in the TAB Rewards Plate at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

Echo Gal was very impressive winning a barrier trial at Randwick late last month and is rated one of Waterhouse's main contenders for the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

Waterhouse has already won four Magic Millions with Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and Driefontein (2012).

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Racing Victoria to investigate BC3

RACING Victoria will investigate BC3 Thoroughbreds, as well as an alleged assault at the property of its chairman Bill Vlahos.

However, it does not have the regulatory powers to control punters clubs or wagering schemes and will leave the investigation into a reported $194 million missing account involving Vlahos to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Consumer Affairs and police.

RVL chief executive Bernard Saundry said yesterday: "In the interests of thoroughbred racing, Racing Victoria's integrity department is investigating BC3 Thoroughbreds, for which Vlahos is company chairman.

"As the lead regulator for syndication in this state, Racing Victoria stewards are investigating BC3 Thoroughbreds and the conduct of its racehorse ownership business."

In addition, Victoria Police are investigating an assault at BC3 Thoroughbreds' Connewarre spelling property on Sunday night.

"In light of this incident, we have been liaising with BC3 Thoroughbreds today regarding the welfare of their horses and staff, which remains of importance to Racing Victoria," Saundry said.

As for the Vlahos-run Victorian-based punters' club, Saundry said: "Racing Victoria has regulatory control over the conduct of thoroughbred racing in this state, however it does not have regulatory control over punters clubs or wagering schemes.

"While such clubs or schemes may be wagering on Victorian thoroughbred racing, we do not have the powers to investigate their operations nor take any action on behalf of aggrieved investors.

"Such clubs or schemes fall within the jurisdiction of the ACCC, Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Victoria Police and I strongly encourage any investors with grievances to contact these parties."

The upheaval at BC3 Thoroughbreds syndication has confused many.

Trainer Mick Price said he had expected Nordic Empire to return to his stables yesterday but the exciting two-year-old had been "locked down".

He had planned to prepare the BC3-owned horse to run at Wyong on December 19 in the Magic Millions Wyong Two-Year-Old Classic on his way to the Gold Coast for the January 11 Magic Millions.

Price told Racing Network: "He's heading nowhere.

"He's locked down. I had him booked in yesterday and it was cancelled.

"I'm unsure of what we can and can't do."

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McLean banned for six months

Jarrod McLean with his Melbourne Cup racehorse 'Kibbutz'. Source: News Limited

LEADING Warrnambool trainer Jarrod McLean has been disqualified for six months after pleading guilty to a bicarb offence at the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board in Melbourne on Monday.

He was charged by stewards after five year-old gelding Prymslea returned an elevated total carbon dioxide (TCO2) level at Mildura on August 30.

Prymslea, which ran fourth in the five horse field after starting at $2.90, has been disqualified and lost the $700 prizemoney.

McLean was also fined $2000 for not keeping records of treatment administered to the horse.

Horses trained by McLean won nearly $1 million in prizemoney last season, and so far this season they'd made $361,255.

Although he also trains flat horses, including Blackie which finished third in the Toorak Handicap during the Spring Carnival, McLean is also a prominent trainer of jumpers.

He trained Cats Fun, ridden by his brother Brad, which won the Brierly Steeplechase during the three day carnival at Warrnambool this year.

McLean combined with his brother Brad when Maythehorsebemagic to win the JJ Houlahan Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase at Sandown this year.

He starts his ban today.

And stewards yesterday charged Bendigo trainer Shaun Dwyer after eight year-old gelding Anudjawun returned a positive swab detected in a pre-race urine sample at Caulfield on October 16.

The gelding ran ninth in the BMW Handicap.

Stewards said the prohibited substance - Ibuprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) - was detected.

The charge against Dwyer will be heard by the RAD Board on Tuesday.

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Cummings feud comes to an end

Bart Cummings has something to smile about again. Source: News Limited

RACING'S living legend Bart Cummings and his grandson James have resolved their differences and will continue as training partners.

It is understood the pair have reached an agreement to maintain their training business out of Royal Randwick after reports they were set to dissolve their union at the end of this month.

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph on Monday night, 26-year-old James Cummings was reluctant to make comment but did make this telling remark: "I will say this - it is business as usual," James said.

Legal representative Jack Fisher, representing the family, spoke exclusively to The Daily Telegraph on Monday night and confirmed the training partnership between Bart and James remains in place.

"I've been Bart's power attorney, advisor and friend for many years and I can tell you, in Bart's words the Cummings dynasty is a united family and I'm happy to say all is well now," Fisher said.

Bart Cummings with grandson and business partner James. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

"Quite frankly, this did get a little out of hand and that happens when some people not authorised to speak, do say things to the media.

"There had to be a few amendments, a restructuring of the business, but the issues have been overcome and the training partnership continues."

Fisher said James is the director of the business while Bart has the "right to, wants to, and is relied upon to be the advisor of all thing with the horses."

"Bart is as happy as larry now, he knows what is going on," Fisher continued.

"He is 86 and obviously can't train with the intensity of a young man but he is on the phone to James all the time talking about the horses.

"James will travel out to Princes Farm at least once a week to discuss with Bart what is happening with their horses and the training programs."

It is understood the resignation of long-time Randwick stable employee Bill Charles has been accepted.

Three generations of the Cummings clan, Bart, Anthony and James, will train from the one stable block at Flemington with Melbourne stable foreman Reg Fleming continuing in that role.

James Cummings with race horse Eurozone at Leilani Lodge stables in Randwick. Source: News Limited

Amid much publicity and promise, Bart and James formed a training partnership on August 1 and their union has had immediate success.

Team Cummings had prepared 14 winners of more than $1.2 million prizemoney in just over four months, including stakes wins with Precedence (Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Eurozone (The Rosebud, Stan Fox Stakes).

Reports of a split between the pair shocked the racing world last week.

Bart Cummings even outlined plans to train at the Hawkesbury, which is close to his Princes Farm property at Castlereagh in Sydney's far western suburbs.

The "Cups King" even made application to Racing NSW late last week to dissolve the training partnership in preparation for a move to Hawkesbury.

As of close of business Monday night, Racing NSW had not received any notification from Bart Cummings that he had a change of heart.

"Until we receive something official from the Cummings stable, I cannot make any comment on this matter," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said on Monday night.

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