(With takedown defense like that, Hardy doesn’t even stand a chance. Photo via Hardy’s Twitter.)

Ever since being forced into a semi-retirement due to a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, former welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy has been building up a ton of good will with fans while serving as the color commentator for several of the UFC’s overseas shows. His intelligent, insightful, and undeniably British mic skills have left many fans calling for Hardy to replace Jon Anik outright, which is sad because Anik is probably the nicest cliche-spitting android this side of Shotbot.

But before Hardy was ever a smooth as silk commentator, he was a fiercely polarizing fighter known for his ability to trash talk his way into a fight. His last strategic call-out backfired in a big way, as he was battered, then choked out by Chris Lytle at UFC on Versus 5. But now that Hardy has received some positive news in regards to his condition, he is once again back to his old ways, calling out Diego Sanchez for his potential comeback fight. His reasoning: Getting some good old fashioned payback for fellow countrymen Ross Pearson’s controversial loss to Sanchez at Fight Night 42 (via MMAJunkie):

That was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.

Ross Pearson won that fight clearly, and Diego accepted the win like he does…he’s as crazy as he is. I’m a huge Diego fan, but for me, he is what’s wrong with mixed martial arts right now. He is the 20th century bullheaded martial artist that walks forward and fights with their face, and now we’ve got guys like … Conor McGregor, we’ve got Gunnar Nelson; they’ve all got this very Machida-esque style where they’re very mobile; they can switch stances, and they can hit with power from anywhere.

I think Diego represents the old school, where you just walk forward in a boxing stance and see who falls over first.

(Shove a ref, receive a pink slip. Single leg takedown a ref, receive GIF glory.)

So those corrupt, two-timing, no-good shysters known as the New Mexico Athletic Commission held a meeting in Albuquerque to deal with the fallout from Fight Night 42 yesterday. On the evening’s agenda: Determining Jason High‘s punishment for shoving referee Kevin Mulhall following his second round TKO defeat to Rafael Dos Anjos, and upholding or denying Ross Pearson’s decision loss to Diego Sanchez.

Unfortunately for High, his moment of cloudy judgement had already seen him axed from the UFC before Dana White could even review the footage of the incident. And now, the hits just keep on coming for “The Kansas City Bandit”, who might want to consider changing his nickname to “H.R. Shoven Stuff” (I am so sorry). High was handed down a one year suspension from the New Mexico Athletic Commission for his err in judgment and fined 10% of his $19,000 purse, or $1,900. But that’s just a small price to pay for notoriety, amiright?

It’s a relatively unheard of suspension given the nature of High’s infraction. I can only think of a couple altercations between referees and fighters over the years that didn’t involve Gilbert Yvel — one was James Thompson/Dan Miragliotta at EliteXC: Primetime and the other was Phil Baroni/Larry Landless at UFC 45. While no punishment was given to Thompson for smushing Miragliotta’s face, Baroni actually punched Landless and received just a 4 month suspension for doing so. Diff’rent era, diff’rent rules, I guess.

Oh yes, as to the Sanchez/Pearson decision…

(Lol I got dis in da bag. Photo via Getty.)

In February of 2006, former UFC fighter Lee Murray orchestrated the now-infamous London Securitas heist and (temporarily) made off with nearly $90 million dollars. It was not only considered the biggest robbery in MMA History, but the largest cash robbery in the history of the UK.

Last weekend at Fight Night 42, Diego Sanchez accomplished a similar, albeit more modest feat, successfully robbing Ross Pearson of a hard-earned decision victory and the UFC of an event-high $140,000. And in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, no less. While the New Mexico Athletic Commission’s involvement in the brilliantly executed heist remains under investigation, Sanchez appears to be in the clear. For now, at least.

Ben Henderson, on the other hand, must have renegotiated his contract at gunpoint. See what we’re talking about after the jump…

(“Diego, chu need to stop worrying, meng. Drug tests? We don’t need no stinking drug tests. Viva Mexico!!” Photo via Sherdog.)

Update: Greg Jackson claims that Rustam Khabilov and Diego Sanchez were indeed drug tested for their fights.

You really have to feel for Ross Pearson right about now. For three straight rounds in the Fight Night 42 co-main event last weekend, the TUF 9 winner outstruck, outscored, and plain outworked fellow TUF winner Diego Sanchez, only to watch a clear cut decision victory inexplicably granted to his opponent. “The Real Deal” was not only robbed of his realness, the biggest win of his career, and the bonus money that typically follows, but has since appealed the decision in a move that stands absolutely zero chance of changing anything.

That the egregious decision happened to occur in Albuquerque, New Mexico — the home of both Sanchez and the infamous Jackson’s Gym at which he trains — only fueled the cries of corruption aimed at the New Mexico Athletic Commission following the verdict. And now, one of Pearson’s training partners, Dean Amasinger, has come forward with some equally sketchy information that kinda-sorta indicts the NMAC as the corrupt sonsabitches that we made them out to be (via MMAJunkie):

Ross was drug tested before the fight, which is perfectly normal. That’s absolutely fine, and all this stuff is supposed to be random. But when Ross came back from the drug test, he said to me, ‘I’ve seen the list; none of the Jackson guys are on the drug test list, or the New Mexican guys who are fighting on the card.’ And so I went and checked and that was the case.

With [Sanchez] being from New Mexico and specifically Albuquerque, there’s obvious connections there and obvious potential conflicts of interest. They don’t have a lot of experience with bigger shows, and I think that’s another factor that’s played into this happening.

Crooked commissions you say? THIS THING GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! (*puts on Serpico costume, brushes beard poetically*)

(“Wow, those feel *incredibly* real.” Photo via Getty)

Following his second round TKO loss to Rafael Dos Anjos at Fight Night 42 last Saturday, Jason High was understandably frustrated. The loss dropped his UFC record to below .500, came in his lightweight debut, and snapped the first two-fight win streak of his promotional career in the process. That it came via a stoppage that some (Michael Bisping included) viewed as premature, and at the judgement of a ref who has been shaky at best in recent months, only further demonstrates where his head might’ve been in the heat of the moment.

In any case, “The Kansas City Bandit” crossed the line when he proceeded to shove referee Kevin Mulhall in the moments after the fight had been waved off, and is now facing potential disciplinary action for doing so.

A GIF of the shove and the full story is after the jump. 

(Fact: No can defense Rustan Khabilov’s patented Crab Attack.)

While listening to the latest episode of the CME Podcast earlier today, I was somewhat surprised to learn that Patrick Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez will be the only bout on this weekend’s Fight Night 42: Henderson vs. Khabilov card *not* featured on Fox Sports 1. Cummins, who was previously heralded as “a beast” and “no joke” prior to getting smashed by Daniel Cormier at UFC 170, has fallen from co-main event-worthy to Fight Passable in just one UFC appearance. (At least they were able to find him an opponent, I guess.)

Cummins’ placement on the card is a kick in the balls to say the least, but likely not the biggest dick move a former Starbucks barista has ever been subjected to in his life. Regardless, the recent crash of “Durkin” stock is one of several interesting facts about Fight Night 42 that you probably won’t find in one of MMAJunkie’s insipid “Pre-Fight Facts” articles. Oh yes, shots have been fired.

That being the case, we decided to basically lift their idea and make it our own, bringing you lesser-known, funnier, and borderline inaccurate facts about Fight Night 42 and its competitors. What? If it’s good enough for Burger King, it’s good enough for CagePotato. Now let’s get started.

Stat #1: Fight Night 42 Marks the UFC’s First Trip to New Mexico

In keeping with its “As Real as it Gets” moniker, the UFC has finally decided to put on a night of fights in a state where the police officers are often more crooked than the criminals. Fight Night 42 marks the first time Zuffa has graced the “Land of Enchantment” since WEC 32 was held in Rio Rancho back in 2008, and the first time the UFC has ever held an event in the state best known as the setting of Breaking Bad. There will be no survivors.