(Props, I guess: Fightlinker on Vimeo)

…because Tom Lawlor and Kyle Kingsbury have. Boy, have they ever. This regrettable booze-fueled moment is the latest example of what I’ve started calling the “Nick Ring Theory” (previously known as the “Seth Petruzelli Theory“): At a certain point, pretending to be gay to get a rise out of people becomes a lifestyle choice in itself. But they seem happy, so who am I to judge?

Related:
- Dana White to Gay UFC Fighters: It’s Safe to Come Out Now
- Strangely Arousing Photos of the Day: Natasha Wicks’s Nasty Road-Rash

(They’re even better when you add motion and sound. Props: UFC.com)

As you’re well aware, CagePotato is a passionate supporter of professional hot chicks. But instead of throwing another photo gallery at you this week, we thought we’d switch it up and pay tribute to the best MMA ring girl videos we’ve ever come across. If we’ve left out one of your favorites, please post a link in the comments section. Enjoy…

#11: Rachelle Leah Gets Surprised in Her Hotel Room

Gratuitous semi-nudity is the best kind of semi-nudity. Damn, nice abs.

#10: Ali Sonoma and Arianny Celeste Shoot for Muscle Pharm

Ali Sonoma is another UFC Octagon Girl Hall of Famer, and she’s never looked better than in this clip. When you see the photographer start to drone on and on, just skip to 2:37 for more Ali.

(Let me guess — ‘27 Dresses‘ was on TBS again.)

We’re just moments away from the official start of Memorial Day weekend, a sacred American tradition in which people across the country drink beer at backyard barbecues in honor of the brave men and women who have given their lives defending this country. While you’re giving it up for the military, please take some time to consider those who have passed on in the UFC. And don’t forget to come back to CagePotato.com tomorrow night for our liveblog of UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill…

EVAN TANNER

A one-time middleweight champion of the UFC, Evan Tanner struggled with addiction and financial problems during the later part of his career. Tanner got sober in 2008, but died just a few months later during a fateful adventure in the Southern California desert. And though he didn’t always treat himself kindly, Evan left behind a legion of fans and friends who revered him for his generosity and positive attitude — much like TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis, who also happened to be fond of the word ‘Believe.’

LOGAN STANTON AND NATASHA WICKS

(Photos via twitter.com/natashawicks. Click all for larger versions.)

Former UFC Octagon Girl Natasha Wicks had herself a little spill last week while longboarding in California. As she explained via Twitter: “Wiped out on my Sector Nine… f-ing hurt 7 flips downhill.. booth cheeks gashed, shoulder gash, hand destroyed … I can honestly say this is one of the worst pains I’ve experienced…crying helps sometimes.. and in this case it def does.. ill b fine ”

As they say, she who does not fall does not stand up. And she who posts photos of her scraped-up ass on twitter runs the risk of having them re-posted by weirdos like us. But hey, if you’re not into open sores, there’s some recent swimsuit photos of a perfectly intact Natasha after the jump. (Props: MMA Roundup)

(Props: YouTube.com/bsnsupplements)

In our continuing efforts to keep you up-to-date on how former UFC ring girls are making a living, here’s a brand-new video of Edith Labelle posing in a pool and discussing her latest gig as a BSN Girl. Damn you, food poisoning, for taking her away from us!

After the jump: A "new" BSN feature on Natasha Wicks, which uses mostly old footage but is still worth a peek…

(Photo courtesy of Model Mayhem.)

As we all attempt to work through the shock of losing Logan Stanton and Natasha Wicks as UFC ring girls, there’s bound to be some hand-wringing and maybe even a little finger-pointing.  We understand that, but as part of the healing process, let’s look to the future.  Thanks to help from Cage Potato reader Rooster, we found some photos of the rumored replacement for Logan and Natasha, former Playboy model Chandella Powell. 

We realize it might too soon for some of you who are really hurting right now.  We all get over these things at our own pace.  All we’re saying is, when time heals that wound and you feel like you’re ready to ogle once again, the pictures will be here for you.  More await you after the jump, though be warned that they’re somewhat NSFW-ish.  Which basically means really hot.

(Cue melancholy Forrest Gump theme music.)

Some tragic news coming in from MMA Madness:

Well this blows. With no other information to work off of at this time, we’ll just assume that Arianny became jealous that her alpha-chick status was being threatened by the two newcomers, and went into them-or-me mode during contract negotiations. I know it’s not very responsible to make up rumors out of whole cloth, but goddammnit, Logan and Natasha are gone — gone, you guys — and the last thing I’m feeling right now is responsible. More to come; for now, let’s remember the good times…

– Exclusive Interview: UFC Octagon Girl Logan Stanton
– Photos: Octagon Girl Logan Stanton in Fight! Magazine
– And the UFC’s New Octagon Girl Is…
– Pics: UFC Ring Girl Natasha Wicks Goes ‘Au Natural’
– Hot Potatoes: UFC Releases New Octagon Girl Photos
– The Strangest Thing Happened to Me at the Raw Vegas UFC 106 Afterparty

So there I am at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone after UFC 106, relaxing, enjoying some adult beverages, when the Raw Vegas producer comes up to me and asks if I’ll interview UFC Octagon girls Natasha Wicks and Logan Stanton.  Because I’m a sucker, I said yes.  Some interesting things I learned:

- The consensus opinion among the Octagon girls is that Josh Koscheck is a total faker.  This does not seem to have endeared him to them.

- All three of the girls aren’t necessarily the best of friends.  Logan wouldn’t say who the outsider is, but let’s just say that all of the girls were supposed to be at this party and only two came.

- You don’t appreciate what Dave Farra does until you have to try and do it yourself.  Then you just hate him even more.

(Photos courtesy of Mad Alex Photography via Fightlinker)

One of the cool things about being divorced is that you get to manhandle ring girls at photoshoots without the threat of your wife socking you in the head with a rolling pin later. No, the only things waiting for you when you come home will be dirty laundry, Dinty Moore beef stew, and sweet, blissful silence. (Or maybe, if you’re Randy Couture, your next future ex-wife.) After the jump: More pics from Mad Alex‘s new Natasha Wicks photo set, plus behind-the-scenes video from the shoot… 

(Props: UFC.com via MMA Fight Girls)

Candid, self-shot tweetphotos are nice and all, but sometimes you just need the touch of a professional photographer. The UFC recently released a new batch of high-quality Octagon Girl photos for your viewing pleasure, and they’re just the thing to get you through another miserable hump-day. Lots more pics after the jump; you can see the rest right here.

If you were hoping that Dan Henderson‘s contract negotiation breakdown with the UFC would lead him to abandon his patented understated, laconic style in favor of calling Dana White a stingy bastard and accusing Anderson Silva of shucking and ducking, you’re about to be disappointed.  In his latest interview, Hendo confirms DW’s characterization of the talks as having reached a stalemate, but says he still thinks he’s worth more and can get more than what the UFC is offering him, and dammit, come February he’s fighting somebody, somewhere.  Dan has a good point when he says he’s not too keen on seeing a guy who he beat, and who has never even fought as a middleweight in the UFC, jump ahead of everybody else for the title shot.  But hey, like Vitor Belfort already said, he’s just working from the neck down like everybody else in the UFC.

After the jump, Natasha Wicks tries on the five best/sluttiest Halloween costumes she can find, and "Rampage" Jackson puts in overtime busting Rashad Evans‘ balls on tonight’s episode of "The Ultimate Fighter."

The pervs over at Raw Vegas say this is video from a "photo shoot" involving UFC ring girl Natasha Wicks, but personally, I think it was all a ruse to get her in a towel.  It’s like that time we agreed to be in that calendar that was supposed to be twelve months of MMA writers without pants.  We showed up and did what they asked, even when it made us both uncomfortable, and that calendar still hasn’t come in the mail like they said it would.  I’m just saying, if that guy was a professional photographer, why did we have do the shoot in his mom’s basement?  And why did he use a disposable camera?  But enough of our petty problems.

Judging by her remarks throughout this video, Natasha has quickly figured out what MMA fans want to hear from her.  And no, it isn’t about her great singing career or how much she loves chocolate. 

After the jump, things get even more ridiculous.

We’re fighting through the last vile hours of the work week, which means it’s time to give away some damn t-shirts. This week’s big winners:

UFC fan on "Just ‘Cause: Natasha Wicks Topless in a Leather Jacket":
Schoonover! damn it man…looking good bro

Perdew on "It’s Over: Cro Cop Calls It Quits, Disbands Team, Lingers a Moment in Empty Gym Before Quietly Turning Off the Lights":
does this mean cro cop is gonna try to teach duquan how to box?

Horror Fighter on "Josh Thomson Breaks Leg Again, Hopes for December Return":
Give that blue belt a purple.

If your name has been called, holler at feedback@cagepotato.com with your name, address, and shirt size, and we’ll send a "Devil Horns" shirt your way.

Unrelated: Our heavyweight and welterweight Power Rankings pages have been updated. Junior Dos Santos enters the heavyweight list at #9, while Dan Hornbuckle slides into the 170-pound list at #10.

(Props: PunishmentFilms.tv/dragonman34)

How happy is Tito Ortiz to be back in the UFC? So happy that he would engage in an illicit homosexual kiss with his boss and former rival, Dana White. WHY ISN’T TMZ COVERING THIS?? Later, Ortiz revealed that White "had a hairy lip," and White scrubbed his tongue with steel wool.

After the jump: A quick video profile on new Octagon Girl Natasha Wicks (she’s not just a piece of meat, you guys — she has thoughts, emotions, and she loves the outdoors), some footage of Lyoto Machida training for Shogun, and an underrated Fedor Emelianenko fight, just because.

(Photos courtesy of the Las Vegas Sun)

Meet Natasha Wicks, a 24-year-old Las Vegas native who beat out 39 other women to become the winner of Saturday’s Maxim UFC Octagon Girl Search at the UFC Fan Expo. According to this Model Mayhem profile, Natasha was a cross-country runner at Northern Arizona University, used to work as a Bunny at the Playboy Club in Las Vegas, and has never undergone any kind of plastic surgery. She’s 5’2, and her measurements are 34-25-36. More pics of the UFC’s new ring girl are after the jump…