The Tall Order of Short Notice: Why Fighters Like Danny Castillo Deserve Our Respect

By Raphael Garcia We should thank them for doing what they do. At a moment’s notice, some fighters are willing to jump into the cage against opponents they barely have time to scout, and compete for our enjoyment. While the new fight may not garner the reaction from fans that the original matchup presented, the replacement fighter still deserves our respect for "stepping up." At the UFC 141 post-fight press conference, Danny Castillo was nearly brought to tears when he heard boos, which was a sad response, considering the sacrifice he made for our viewing. Castillo, Dan Miller, Josh Koscheck, and many others have stepped in to fight when a peer is forced off a card for one reason or another. Especially with the UFC providing insurance to its signed fighters, it’s becoming more and more often that we see fighters step away from a fight. An individual who is called by UFC matchmakers to replace the original fighter places himself in a precarious position. Do you take the f...