In the last month the east coast has experienced both an earthquake and a hurricane which led some to believe the end of the world was impending. Yesterday’s UFC press conference completely sold me on that ideology. Cue the music for Nick Diaz.The former Strikeforce welterweight champion had been given the opportunity of a lifetime to face off against Georges St. Pieree at UFC 137. Apparently, Diaz wasn't interested. The highly anticipated title bout was scrapped due to Diaz not cooperating with the UFC having failed to appear at two press conferences to promote the fight. Carlos Condit will now step into the life changing opportunity.

This Saturday, the world's largest MMA organization makes its dramatic return to Brazil for UFC 134. The card, headlining middleweight champion and all time great Anderson Silva in a title defense against Yushin Okami, appears to be stacked in favor of the local boys. Below is the Mid-Atlantic staff picks for the event:

In the last installment of the Problem with Self Defense editorial series, I started to discuss the recent surge in discussion over the Real Life Superhero trend in New York. Last week, HBO aired a documentary called Superheroes following members of the recent phenomenon of private citizens dressing in costumes to engage in everything from from charity work to vigilante justice. Among the groups featured in the documentary is a make-shift team of Avengers who operate out of the New York boroughs known as the NY Initiative. In part one of this two part series*, I discussed the charity work and general positive side of these adventurous cosplayers. But the obvious problem with trying to be ...

Chris Lytle's retirement from MMA could have only been more cliché had he done it on Father’s Day. "Lights Out" chose to walk away from the sport fans on top after his fight with Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy. And as a father, I understand why. Revealing that he wanted to spend more time with his family, the same way Kurt “Batman” Pellegrino did just months ago, Lytle did what nearly all before him have been unable to do in the sport of mixed martial arts - leave at the pinnacle of his career.

The first visit from Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship into Wisconsin territory was undoubtedly a success. A raucous and intelligent fight crowd filled Milwaukee's Bradley Center for Chris Lytle's retirement celebration and showed why the state is considered one of the hotbeds of mixed martial arts, not only in terms of fighting talent, but also because of its residents love for the fight game. Bringing in 6,751 attendees and a $539,000 gate to the Bradley Center with the UFC on Versus 5 on Sunday night, Wisconsin made its case for another event in the near future – hopefully a pay-per-view.