Before we dive into this week’s topics, I’d like to welcome a few new members to the MMA DieHards team. Those new DieHards are Conner Cordova, Jason Kelly and Cameron Chow.

Cordova joins the DieHards video staff. His first piece had him following Hosting.com contest winner Phil Spitler for a day’s training in Colorado with UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub.

Chow joins the DieHards radio crew as co-host of Punch Drunk Radio alongside Pete Sumulong. The duo’s first edition of the new radio show aired Thursday evening.  MMA DieHards veterans Maggie Krol and Rob Tatum joined in to help welcome the program to the MMA DieHards Radio Network.

Finally, Jason Kelly joins the MMA DieHards roster of talented writers. He made his debut this week with a feature on UFC welterweight Daniel Roberts.

Welcome aboard to Conner, Cameron and Jason!

Now, on to this week’s topics:

Politics in the Octagon

Jacob Volkmann’s recent comments about wanting to fight President Barrack Obama garnered him a visit from the Secret Service and caused him to be placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation, from his position as assistant head coach of wrestling at White Bear Lake High School. They also earned him more press coverage than normal for a fighter usually relegated to the UFC preliminary card.

picture courtesy of Fight! Magazine

While this isn’t the place to debate the political side of this issue in regards to liberals versus conservatives, I do have to say that at least people who voice conservative views are being treated in the same ridiculous manner as people who spoke out against George W. Bush and his policies several years ago. At least we have consistency, right?

But the key word here is ridiculous. Everyone has their own political views, and they should be free to voice those views. Volkmann didn’t threaten the president’s life, he simply chose a questionable way to express his disagreement. Sure, pay him a visit to make certain he doesn’t have a sniper rifle and specs for one of the President’s public appearances hidden away in his closet. But once Volkmann has been cleared as a potential threat, leave the guy alone.

While I don’t agree with Volkmann’s views from a political standpoint, I’m glad to see that the UFC is not punishing the lightweight fighter for his opinion. It’s unfortunate that White Bear Lake High School isn’t doing the same.

The Secret Service already paid him a visit, and he wasn’t dragged away in handcuffs, so they must not be too concerned. The agent even reportedly apologized to Volkmann for the visit. So why should a high school find it necessary to take this any further?

His actions did not take place in a class room or school gym setting, and did not involve anything illegal or immoral. If simply voicing his views publicly is grounds for investigation, any school employee who has ever attended a political rally should face the same consequences. Again, ridiculous, but I’m just saying, it amounts to the same thing.

And his choice of words wasn’t all that different from what you hear out of FOX News political pundits. I seriously doubt those guys are even getting Secret Service visits, otherwise agents would be knocking on those doors on almost a daily basis.

High schools are meant to educate the next generation of this country, and what better way to do that than to show the students that freedom of speech is among our rights? Regardless of what you think of Volkmann’s political leanings, he has just as much right to express those beliefs as you or I. He has done nothing wrong.

TUF meets Smackdown?

Former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar and fellow UFC heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos have been named as the coaches of Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, set to feature a cast of welterweight fighters.

It’s hard not to immediately recall Lesnar’s run with professional wrestling’s lead brand, the WWE, when thinking of the big man in any televised capacity other than engaging in a clash against another of the UFC’s heavyweights.

The casting of Lesnar as a coach makes perfect sense, that’s for sure. He knows how to perform for the camera, has a huge personality and should bring an even larger audience to the reality series.

It’s too bad the UFC didn’t take my suggestion of an all flyweight season. It sure would have been interesting to see Lesnar coaching 125-pounders. Instead, the cast has shifted from a field of middleweights and welterweights to an exclusively welterweight lineup. It’s an interesting decision, as the middleweight ranks seem to need the most help.

The season doesn’t hit Spike TV airwaves until late March, so we’ll have to wait a while to see how it turns out. Let’s just hope the Undertaker doesn’t show up on Junior dos Santos’ guest trainers list.