ESPN’s investigative magazine show ‘E:60′ delved into the issue of UFC fighter compensation. They sat down with UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta to discuss how and what UFC fighters are paid.

The piece is certainly interesting, but I’m not sure exactly what it accomplishes. Here’s the clip from ESPN.

The bottom line? Fighters do not have to fight in the UFC. They are free to go overseas, or fight in smaller promotions in the USA. They can also try to form a union, just like the other major sports. The UFC is a monopoly is just like saying the NFL is a monopoly. It’s sort of absurd if you think about it, seeing as there are literally hundreds of MMA promotions throughout the country where fighters can go and ply their trade. Do they pay as well? No, but the opportunity is there.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defends his title this Saturday at UFC Rio, fighting in his homeland of Brazil for the first time in years. Aldo will take on Team Alpha Male’s Chad Mendes, a teammate of Urijah Faber, who Aldo beat back in 2010.

Aldo has not lost a fight since 2005 and holds a professional record of 19-1. This will be his fifth defense of his WEC/UFC title. He’ll face the talented but raw Mendes, who has yet to lose in 11 pro fights.

Mendes has the nickname “Money”, but he’s +190 to win in this fight, with the champion Aldo at -240. At first glance I was surprised to see the line as it is, figuring it to be much higher for an Aldo victory.

As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares to make the jump to Friday nights, the tournament fields are beginning to take shape as the lightweight and welterweight tournament participants have been revealed. Bellator’s sixth season begins Friday, March 2^nd LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX, with the preliminary fights being streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com. Season 6 will feature tournaments in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.

The rumor mill has long believed that Cris “Cyborg” Santos was using steroids to obtain her chiseled physique. Today that rumor has been substantiated, as the California State Athletic Commission announced that Santos tested positive for steroids after her fight with Hiroko Yamananka.

The CSAC said that Santos’ test came back positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. Santos needed just :16 to knockout Yamanaka, but now that win has been changed to a no decision.

“Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters,” CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd said in a statement. “Anabolic agents and other banned substances put not only the users of those agents at risk, but their opponents as well. The commission simply will not tolerate their use.”

The commission also suspended her license and fined her $2,500.