Junior Dos Santos and Pavel Datsyuk

To those that are unfamiliar with the NHL, it is a professional league where they play a game called ice hockey (*wink-wink*). Pavel Datsyuk is one of the best two-way forwards in the league and has won the Selke Trophy multiple times. He has great hands and his skating ability is fluid and pure. JDS also has tremendous footwork and his boxing pedigree is second to none within the heavyweight division. In essence, Dos Santos is also a defensive forward because he can set up a lightning strike with his superior skill set. When you factor into the equation that the Brazilian and Russian came from meager beginnings and are widely considered true gentlemen in and out of their sport, the parallels are apparent. Basically, if the UFC had the equivalent of the Lady Byng, JDS would win it four years in a row, just like Datsyuk.

Chael Sonnen and A.J. Pierzynski

To say that Chael Sonnen has the gift of gab would be like saying Junie Browning is moody. Both are complete understatements. With Sonnen’s wit and emotion, he is able to sell a fight like no other and the fact that he was able to make an entire country hate him is evidence to that. A.J Pierzynski has long been heralded as a monumental big mouth behind the plate that has a very colorful personality in front of the cameras. Both Sonnen and Pierzynski have had long careers that have seen a great deal of success but the White Sox catcher actually won a championship in 2005 – something that The American Gangster will probably never harvest no matter what weight class he moves to. Regardless, both men are better on the microphone than they are between the lines and that is no small feat. Their opponents would rather face them during competition because a war of words with either Sonnen or Pierzynski is not as fun as a drug-induced rollercoaster ride.

Randy Couture and Howie Long

This is a no brainer. Both men have won world championships and are members of their sport’s Hall of Fame. Both men have had supporting roles in big budget films (Couture: “The Expendables” and the sequel – Long: “Broken Arrow” and “3000 Miles to Graceland”). Both have also starred in straight-to-DVD releases; Long’s “Firestorm” was a cinematic train wreck and Couture’s “Hijacked” was the conductor. Both men have successfully transitioned into broadcasting and the two have a son that is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. The only thing they don’t have in common is grotesque cauliflower ears.

Chris Leben and Bill Romanowski

The MMA universe was first introduced to Chris Leben and his antics during the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter. He was the loose cannon and to say that he wore his heart on his sleeve would be cheating Leben’s emotions. Bill Romanowski was a controvertial linebacker during his lengthy career in the NFL where only Mike Singletary rivaled Bill’s crazy eyes. Both the Crippler and Romo-Cop are as intense as they come and the two have also been reprimanded by their governing brass for several unsavory actions. After Leben’s latest suspension, it is clear that both men enjoy the occasional supplement and both are probably on the cusp of a Section 8.

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