The FX reality show The Ultimate Fighter Live released its list of 32 finalists earlier this week, and it didn’t take people long to notice that one of the contestants, Dakota Cochrane, had a rather interesting former career. At one time the Fairbury, Neb., native was known as Danny, and he did gay pornography. This was really no secret, according to MMA Fighting.com, as Cochrane has mentioned his past before. But now that he’s in the spotlight — the winner of The Ultimate Fightergets a UFC contract — the news is all over MMA message boards. And it’s causing quite the stir. According to several sources, Cochrane performed in 16 gay pornographic films for Sean Cody Films while he was in college. Cochrane addressed the issue with MMA Fighting.com: 

“It’s definitely a decision I regret,” he told MMA Fighting. “If I would have known what would happen I definitely wouldn’t have done it. But I had money issues and I needed help. I went there to do pictures, and they started throwing pretty high numbers in front of me. I didn’t really think. It was a big mistake.”

But no matter the size of the mistake, it was one he made no effort to escape on the eve of his biggest opportunity. On his audition tape for TUF, he included an introduction that mentioned all about his past. Everything. Continue reading →

INTERNATIONAL pole vaulter Louise Butterworth insists she has no regrets at all about retiring from her sport at the age of 26.

Butterworth – dad Kevin was a speedy winger on the rugby pitch for Torquay Athletic – represented England and Great Britain as a vaulter at senior and junior level. Her best result was bronze in the 2008 European Cup in France.

Having been tipped as an Olympic candidate for London 2012, Butterworth stepped up her training regime in preparation, hoping to win a place on the England team for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Things didn’t work out for Butterworth – her training base moved from Loughborough to Cardiff and back to Loughborough again – and by the end of 2010 her mind was almost made up about quitting the sport. Continue reading →

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – In turning in a personal-best vault of 4.62m at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M., 2009 Notre Dame alum and All-American pole vaulter Mary Saxer has earned a spot at next month’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

Saxer placed second out of 11 vaulters after clearing 4.62m (15-1 ¾ ft) on her second to last vault. The height was a personal best, and qualified her for the elite meet that will be held from March 9-11.

“There were four women at the meet that have been vaulting all around the same height,” said Saxer. “So I knew it would be sort of a chess match. When I was able to clear 4.62m, I was hoping that would be enough to get in the top two, but I wasn’t quite sure.

My coach and I decided to go big or go home. I used a new, longer pole for the first time and I was so excited when I set a personal best and punched my ticket to the world championships all at the same time.” Continue reading →

The University of Northern Iowa track and field team hosted the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships last weekend in the UNI-Dome. UNI walked away with five different event titles by the end of the meet on Sunday  UNI recorded new personal bests in the pole vault for both the men’s and women’s events. Jenna Wexter improved her record by clearing 13 feet, 1 inch and earned All-MVC honors. Daniel Gooris recorded a new personal record by clearing 16 feet, 8.75 inches

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