(John Morgan is an award-winning MMA journalist with a rack of those trophies on his mantle. Everything else is virtually identical.)

As we all know, Testosterone Replacement Therapy — or “legalized steroids,” if you want to be an asshole about it — is a private matter that’s best kept between you and Jesus. But for some reason, MMA media members can’t stop wondering about the ethics of Vitor Belfort‘s hormone treatments, and how much TRT should be credited for the Brazilian slugger’s recent career-resurgence.

So, during the UFC on FX 8 post-fight press conference on Saturday night, just moments after Belfort spinning heel-kicked Luke Rockhold into Bolivian, MMAJunkie’s John Morgan asked Belfort the following question: “How frustrating is it that every time you do something good people just want to ask you about testosterone, and how much that’s playing in your life and can you just address that?” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for the brilliantly underhanded nature of that question. Instead of asking Belfort “what’s up with the testosterone, bro?” Morgan asks how frustrating it is that people — like John Morgan, for example — keep asking about it. Kudos, sir.)

Belfort’s response was quick and to the point: “Can somebody beat him up for me please? Can somebody beat him up? You’re boring, get out of here,” responded Belfort. Belfort then said he didn’t want to answer any more questions from Morgan. “Talk to my hand.” (Let’s give a brief round of applause for Belfort’s use of a slang phrase that has been out of circulation since around the time of Belfort’s UFC debut in 1997.)

Now, suggesting that a reporter should be beaten up during a press conference seems like an innocent joke on paper, but you have to keep in mind that the room was packed with Brazilian media members, most of whom were likely carrying shock pens. Luckily, Morgan made it out unscathed, and after a few days of reflection, Belfort released a statement on twitter today expressing how badly he feels about the incident:

(Dana White spends some quality time with his fans. / Photo via Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

By Brian J. D’Souza

There are many contentious subjects in mixed martial arts, from the use of performance enhancing drugs to the corruption and ineptitude of various athletic commissions. Before the issues come into focus, they are often filtered by the entity that draws an epic amount of criticism within the sport itself — the so-called “MMA media.”

Yet far from being a homogonous group of “bloggers,” “hacks,” or “shills,” the public would be surprised to learn that there are actually different individuals that comprise the MMA media. Some were drawn to MMA because they love the sport, others were assigned to cover the UFC by their editors, but whether they’re writing as a hobby or as part of the special entourage of writers who get the best seats at shows and special events, the MMA media operates under circumstances that directly impedes their ability to report accurate and truthful stories.

Corruption and controversy have always been at the heart of mixed martial arts since the sport’s modern inception in the 1990s. Then again, maybe Mark Coleman (Olympian, UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE open weight GP champion) didn’t throw his fight against professional wrestler/PRIDE founder Nobuhiko Takada (career record: 3-6-2) at PRIDE 5? And all the fighters who’ve tested positive for performance enhancers were maliciously framed by athletic commissions, or were taking legal (but tainted) supplements, or had the drugs administered by their doctor without their knowledge?

The media matters because they can bring attention and scrutiny to the dark corners of the sport. Greasing by an athlete? Suspicious judges’ decision? Rival promoter extorted at gunpoint for the rights of their fighter? There have to be news stories that shed light on the truth, especially when you consider that accurate information isn’t always volunteered by the fight promotions or state athletic commissions.

The current mixed martial arts landscape is dominated by the UFC. The question over the hold the UFC has over the media needs to be examined so fans understand the constraints that the MMA media works under.

Skip to the 1:45 mark for Dana’s appearance. Props to reader Alan K for the video.

While the rest of you were watching football today (the American version, aka the one worth watching *chugs beer, initiates U-S-A! chant*), you may have noticed a familiar face in this week’s edition of Riggle’s Picks. No, it wasn’t one of us. It was UFC President Dana White, satirizing “Exclusive Access” sports websites alongside Rob Riggle.

Riggle hits all the standard punchlines about these types: Improbable rumors, Rex Ryan is a fat mess, that these sites are only in it for the money, Richard Simmons, the webmasters live with their mothers, Jewish guilt- you know the drill by now. But Dana White steals the show with his masterful performance as a homeless drunk, who serves as an incarnation of “Guy who can’t possibly have inside information spreading outlandish rumors that only internet trolls are dumb enough to believe.”