'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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Bellamy learns off NBA visit

Craig Bellamy and Frank Ponissi in the US. Source: News Limited

A MEETING with NBA coaching legend Pat Riley - who charges up to $75,000 for a speaking engagement - has Melbourne Storm mentor Craig Bellamy bursting with new ideas as he attempts to keep his side in the upper echelon of the NRL.

Bellamy and football manager Frank Ponissi have returned from a two-week fact-finding trip to the United States, in which they spent time with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, the all-conquering Miami Heat NBA franchise and the famed University of Notre Dame.

There were many highlights, but a 45-minute sit down with Riley - the president of the Heat and five-time NBA championship-winning coach - stood out for Bellamy.

Miami Heat's LeBron James shoots a free throw during a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Source: AFP

"To be quite honest, that time with Pat was probably worth the whole trip on its own," he said.

"He was very intriguing with his insights on coaching and how a club should run.

"He was very open and honest and we found him to be a really personable guy."

Bellamy and Ponissi attended an NBA game between the Heat and the Dallas Mavericks in Miami.

Watching LeBron James in action was an experience, but it did not compare with the rare opportunity to trade coaching secrets with Riley.

The chance to pick the brain of one of the greatest NBA coaches in history left the two Storm head honchos mesmerised.

"He had some mentalities and philosophies on coaching players and he shared them with us, which was great," Bellamy said.

"He also had some very good ideas on running the club.

"And we found a lot of philosophies were things that we really believed in as well.

The Miami Dolphins prepare to take the field during a game against the Carolina Panthers. Source: AFP

"So it was nice to hear some of our own ideas reinforced by a guy like him."

The Storm pair were granted an all access pass at the Dolphins, which included joining the club on a trip to Tampa Bay for the clash against the Buccaneers.

They were blown away by the military-like precision of the road trip.

"They had 20 coaches and 50 some players on their roster," he said.

"There is a lot of people there so it feels big - everything in America is done big.

"They were very welcoming and opened the doors up to us."

Bellamy and Ponissi made a presentation to the Storm staff last week on their findings from the trip.

He said the insights gained would help Storm next season and the way they operate.

"There was a lot of things that we picked up that we think we can incorporate into our program," he said.

"There were a couple little things for each department that we picked up.

"They were very generous with their time and opened up their doors to us."

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Jarryd Hayne central to Blues

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NSW coach Laurie Daley says Jarryd Hayne has "outgrown'' the wing and is poised to be named in the NSW centres for next year's State of Origin series.

The only problem is that Hayne regards himself as a fullback.

Playing Hayne at right centre to confront Queensland's Greg Inglis would allow Josh Dugan and Brett Stewart to fight for the vacant fullback spot.

Daley's comments come as the draw for next year's Origin series was released with the second game at Sydney's ANZ Stadium to be played on June 18. .

''Jarryd was very impressive at centre,'' Daley told The Daily Telegraph. ''He will be in the team somewhere and I think he has outgrown the wing.

''He can give us another option at centre and more depth. He played centre for Australia so he may well play centre for NSW.

Jarryd Hayne is tackled during the RLWC Final against New Zealand. Source: AFP

''I think we need him in a position where he can do a bit more. I was impressed how he handled centre ... the way he took a knock (in the final) and defended strongly.

''I think the best of Jarryd is still in front of him. As I said, he will be there somewhere.

''Blake Ferguson will be another option at centre if he is available, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings and maybe Hayne.''

Jarryd Hayne beats the Fiji defence to score a try during their RLWC clash. Source: AP

But Hayne still wants to return to the No. 1 jersey.

"I think that is what everyone is talking about (moving to centre) but for me I really enjoy fullback and that attacking side of that,'' Hayne said after the World Cup final.

''Being on the edge is one of those positions where you can have games where you don't really see the ball and you can have games where you see all the ball.

"It is not dictated by how good you play, it is dictated by the halves inside you.

"(At fullback) you get a lot more places to roam and you can sort of have a lot more impact on the game."

Despite criticism the series was too long, NRL officials decided to leave three-week gaps between games.

NRL officials wanted to retain the lengthy breaks between matches to ensure marquee games are not played with Origin stars unavailable.

"We obviously try to place byes strategically through that particular area of the season to help compensate teams that are heavily affected by State of Origin and its impact on clubs," said NRL general manager of football operations, Nathan McGuirk.

"So we obviously also try and reserve marquee events or match-ups from our stand down Origin rounds when our superstars aren't playing and reserve those for rounds outside that time period."

The representative weekend will be played on the weekend of May 2 to 4, with the traditional midyear Test between Australia and New Zealand played on the Friday night and City-Country - to be contested at Apex Oval, Dubbo - on Sunday.

The full NRL draw will be released tomorrow.

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Meninga: Cameron Smith is best ever

CAMERON Smith is now starting to enter the debate of where he sits in the list of rugby league greats of all time.

Already considered by many to be the greatest hooker to lace a boot, Smith's cabinet full of trophies and accolades is now complete after leading the Kangaroos to a World Cup triumph in the UK.

It was the one prize the 30-year-old had yet to collect and now that he has led one of the most dominant tours for Australia the skipper is being lauded for his role.

Smith did not miss a single game for the entire World Cup, leading Australia out for all six matches in a feat only matched by interchange prop Andrew Fifita.

Cameron Smith of Australia celebrates with his winners medal after the Rugby League World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia at Old Trafford. Source: Getty Images

Smith saved his best for last with a game high 44 tackles in the final win over New Zealand and for a player that averages over 100 possessions a game the sensational hooker made just one error all tournament.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga said there was no doubt Smith was the finest No.9 of all time and was now beginning to be considered among some of the game's greats.

"If he is not the best hooker of all time then I don't know who is to be honest with you," Meninga said.

"I think you talk to any hooker and he is well out in front.

"He is resilient and he is tough and he doesn't seem to get any injuries. He just keeps pounding it out.

"He is one of our greatest ever players, there is no doubt about that."

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis said it was Smith's ability to make his teammates better players that was most impressive.

"He makes everybody look better," Tallis said.

"His ability to make everybody around him look better and go on looking like he is doing nothing is the greatest quality to have in our game."

Cameron Smith offloads during the Rugby League World Cup Semi Final match against Fiji. Source: Getty Images

In 2013 Smith led Melbourne to the World Club Challenge title, Queensland to an eighth-straight series win and the Kangaroos to World Cup redemption.

Starting with an NRL All Stars appearance on February 9, Smith played 35 games of rugby league in 42 weeks and amassed over 1300 tackles and 44 hours of time on the football field.

Cronulla prop Fifita set the record with 36 games in 2013, while Newcastle's Darius Boyd and Manly's Kieran Foran both equalled Smith with 35 appearances.

It was an effort matched by two Wallabies - Stephen Moore and skipper Ben Mowen - in playing 35 games in a calendar year as the two toughest sporting codes continue to push athletes to breaking point.

But it's Smith's efforts, with his high work rate in defence and handling the ball more than anybody else in the game, that is most stunning.

At 30 he is showing no signs of slowing down. Smith has one year left on his Melbourne Storm contract and is expected to be offered a three-year contract to see out his career at the Brisbane Broncos.

If Smith keeps playing until 2017 it would put the champion from Logan on the verge of reaching the incredible figures set by Immortal-in-waiting Darren Lockyer.

Lockyer retired in 2011 after 355 NRL games, 63 Tests for Australia, 38 Origin appearances and two All Stars starts.

Smith has already played 261 NRL games at the Storm, 37 Tests for the Kangaroos, 30 Origins and three All Star matches.

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Players blocks Origin schedule change

Queensland celebrate their State of Origin win after beating the NSW Blues in Game 3 at ANZ Stadium. Source: News Limited

PLAYER power has ruled supreme with the game's elite rejecting moves to shorten the 2014 State of Origin schedule because of concerns about their physical and mental well-being.

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg wanted to reduce the length of the Origin series for 2014 but hit a brick wall when he put the proposal to the Rugby League Players Association.

Fear of a physical and psychological burnout by reducing the gap between each Origin game by one week forced the NRL to abandon any plans to change the formula for next season.

"It was the players themselves that came back to us and said we preferred the current model in terms of the eight-week window rather than condensing it down," NRL general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk said.

A dejected Mitchell Pearce after NSW lose Game 3 of the 2013 series. Source: News Limited

"The players were concerned about the quick back up within camps by reducing that time period.

"We heeded those calls and we said we will happily sit down with players during this season and try and work on what options are available that meet their needs."

RLPA chief executive David Garnsey said players were keen to consider other scheduling options but were never given the chance to enter into a proper discussion.

"Having consulted with the Origin players their concerns about reducing the Origin period centred on the physical and psychological toll taken by State of Origin football and the inadequate recovery time that would result from a condensed Series schedule," Garnsey said.

"But even with those concerns the proposed schedule change was not rejected out-of-hand, rather we proposed a 'round table' discussion involving all stakeholders that would consider Origin scheduling options and address the Players' issues.

"We're not aware what the reaction was from other parties (broadcasters, clubs etc) but in any event the NRL opted to shelve the idea for 2014."

The NRL yesterday confirmed the Origin dates for 2014 starting with Game One in Brisbane on May 28, with Game Two in Sydney on June 18 and Game Three in Brisbane on July 9.

The series will be identical in length to 2013 and run over six weeks and affect eight NRL competition rounds.

Josh Dugan in action for the NSW Blues in Game 3 of the 2013 Origin series. Source: News Limited

Player burnout had been a hot topic of discussion this year with NRL coaches furious at Origin impacting on one third of the regular season but also wary about player workloads.

As it stands the 2014 NRL schedule will be released just a few hours after Australia's World Cup team returns to the country.

The Test stars will not resume club duties until January, but will be back on the playing field by February for the new Auckland Nines tournament just 11 weeks after the World Cup final.

Maroons coach Mal Meninga agreed the competition schedule was too exhausting for the players and needed to be addressed.

"It's something the game needs to look at closely, it needs to be rectified and we need to come up with a plan about player welfare and the amount of games they play in the scheduling," Meninga said.

Queensland fans are urged to purchase memberships for priority access to next year's Origin games while tickets for the Sydney clash go on sale to the general public later this week.

Meninga said the Maroons were still concluding their planning for 2014 but with Queensland hosting two games for the first time since 2011 he knows they need to start the series firing.

"Game one is really important. It is every season but this year we have two at home and they (NSW) will be really working hard on getting game one and being successful up here that's for sure," he said.

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Lucky George better for the run

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GEORGE Bailey may be Australia's lucky charm.

He played in a resounding win on debut after many of his team mates spent almost all year without success.

Australia's nine Tests without a victory is one of the worst sequences in this country's history so Bailey jokes he's a pretty popular bloke in the dressing room at the moment.

"They rub me," Bailey said with a broad smile.

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"That was pretty surreal," he said about the win. "It brought home how special it was."

It contrasted with another of Australia's late call-ups, Chris Rogers, who went six Tests without a win before basking in Brisbane's 381-run first Test triumph.

"I really enjoyed the week," Bailey said of his first as a Test cricketer.

"It was a fantastic result and particularly seeing how hard those guys had worked for so many months without a Test win, to see the happiness and to be part of that was pretty special.

"It would have been nice to get a couple more runs in the first innings. Hopefully I'm like a race horse, better for the run."

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Bailey reinforced what many who watch Test cricket already believe that overrates could easily be improved, given Sheffield Shield sides must bowl 96 overs, compared to a Test match's 90 in a day.

"The hardest thing I found, certainly in the first innings, was the tempo of the game," said Bailey

"It sounds a little bit silly but it goes a bit slower than coming up from Sheffield Shield.

"It felt like it was longer between overs and longer between balls and having spent a bit of time at short leg looking at how the other guys take their time between balls and take their time to face up that was the big learning curve for me, getting the tempo right."

At 31 Bailey is the oldest Australian batsman to debut for 34 years and after a poor first innings his second innings cameo of 34 included more sixes (2) than fours (1).

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Following on from centurions David Warner and Michael Clarke, Bailey continued what seemed the obvious tactic of murdering spinner Graeme Swann, one of England's most pivotal bowlers, but he claimed the plan was broader than that.

"We certainly wanted to keep bringing their best bowlers back into the game and try and tire them out. That worked," he said.

"Whether that's the same here, it might turn a bit more and reverse swing can play a part here.

"If they happen to be doing that (reverse swing) well and Swannie is trying to tie up one end then it's probably the best option to try and keep the scoreboard ticking along."

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