I've thought about it a lot over the years, and I've come to the conclusion that UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz might be one of the only people who sees this sport for what it really is: a brutal, terrible way to make a living that no one sane person would choose if they had any viable alternative. It's either that, or Diaz is completely out of his mind.

The story goes that Chael Sonnen accidentally found out where he stood with the UFC in the summer of 2009. That's when, having just heard that Matt Hamill had been forced to pull out of a bout with Brandon Vera at UFC 102 in Portland, he decided to offer his services. Sure, it was a fight out of his weight class. And yes, he was already signed to fight Yushin Okami at UFC 104 in October. So what? If the UFC was headed into his backyard, he might as well see if he couldn't wrangle a spot on the fight card.

The UFC might have no way of entirely ridding its roster of steroid users, but it's at least going to try to make it tougher for them to get in.

UFC featherweight title contender Chad Mendes still thinks about the last chance he had to become a champion. Maybe that's the problem. Even on the verge of a title fight against UFC 145-pound champ Jose Aldo (20-1) on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Mendez (11-0)says there are still times when he can't stop thinking about the one that got away.

LAS VEGAS -- UFC president Dana White doesn't usually bother to comment on the typical pre-fight bluster that comes falling out of fighters' mouths in interviews and press conferences before the big night, but even he couldn't resist taking the bait this time.

You can call Brock Lesnar's world view lots of things, but complex isn't one of them.

It's been a trying time for Alistair Overeem, and it's not over yet. In the last couple months the UFC's newest heavyweight contender has changed training camps and management teams, relocated to Las Vegas only to then return to his native Netherlands to see to his ailing mother, and been all but accused of trying to avoid a drug test by leaving the country.

TORONTO -- If you ask Jon Jones, he'll tell you that his light heavyweight title defense at UFC 140 is at least a little bit of a relief. You might think the same thing if you'd gone from having Quinton "Rampage" Jackson poking at you in the press to fighting a guy who barely speaks English, and isn't inclined to talk much trash even in his native Portuguese.

LAS VEGAS -- I'll admit it: it's strange to see Jason "Mayhem" Miller this calm. Unsettling, even. As he leans back on the plush sofa in his suite at the Palms, patiently explaining how he finally feels like a mature, responsible individual -- "I'm like a real adult now, which is weird," he says -- I can't help but wonder if this is some elaborate practical joke.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Even if you didn't know how Dan Henderson had made his living for the last 14 years of his life, you could probably take a look at his face and get it right within three guesses. George Orwell once claimed that by age 50, every man has the face he deserves. After a lifetime of first Greco-Roman wrestling and then prizefighting in four-ounce gloves, "Hendo" already has his, and with about nine years to spare.