History Says Junie Browning Will Fight Again

Junie Browning's recent drug overdose and subsequent rampage resulted in battery charges from the police, and a pink slip from the UFC.

His trainer, Shawn Tompkins, as well as MMA journalists like Kevin Iole have said that his  MMA career is probably over. If he was a politician, this would probably be the end of his political career. Since he is a professional fighter, you can bet that he'll be back.

History definitely suggests that Junie Browning will return. The guy probably should have been kicked off of the TUF reality show three times, but somehow he survived all of that, so surely his career can survive the small matter of battery misdemeanor.

Maybe if he'd only had two strikes up until this point, I could invoke some sort of "three strikes, you're out" rule to suggest that Junie is finally done, but since he's already had three strikes on the reality show, and two losses in the UFC (one of them was a TUF exhibition opposite Efrain Escudero), it's become blatantly obvious that the three strikes rule doesn't apply to Junie. My best guess is that he's more like a cat. Nine lives, minimum.

If you're not convinced though, consider the probable consequences of Junie's latest actions. A battery charge is obviously not a good thing, but it won't put Junie Browning behind bars. People get charged with battery all the time and either are acquitted, plead guilty to a lesser offence, or are granted some leniency.

In Junie's case, I'm pretty sure that even if Junie is convicted of something, the judge will show some sympathy and leniency, considering that Junie Browning was possibly suicidal and under the influence of medication at the time of the incident. Shawn Tompkins has already suggested that, saying:

"You have to understand, he was under the influence of a severe amount of drugs. You can’t hold him accountable for what he said, even though what he said was terrible, because of what he put inside of him."

In the end, this whole incident will probably result in Junie getting forced into some counselling sessions and a metaphorical slap on the wrist.

Since Junie won't be going to prison, he'll find a new employer soon enough if Shawn Tompkins can't convince the UFC to have him back, which they might, considering the way they've handled guys like Chris Leben in recent history.

Jesse Taylor also went on a bit of a rampage while on TUF. He's not been back to the UFC, but instead has been extremely busy elsewhere, taking eight fights over the past year since being released from the UFC.

Getting a fighting licence certainly won't be a problem for Browning. Convicted felons can get a fight licence, so a misdemeanor for battery won't be a problem.

If Strikeforce or the UFC won't take Junie though, there is still Japan, as well as plenty of smaller fighting organizations and native reserves where Junie could ply his trade.

One thing that has become clear to me since I became a fight fan is that you can't count a fighter out, no matter who tells you it's over.

Fighters like Floyd Mayweather who say they're retiring inevitably return to fight.

Fighters like Josh Barnett who are banned by an athletic commission for steroid use inevitably appeal, or move to Japan.

Fighters like Dennis Hallman and David Loiseau, who are let go by the UFC move on to smaller shows, and eventually return to the UFC. Hallman is scheduled to return on the TUF 10 finale, while Loiseau is planning on trying out for TUF 11.

Chuck Liddell certainly seemed finished when Dana White told everybody that he was going to make sure Chuck retired. Now though, Dana White has changed his tune, and you can bet that Chuck Liddell will have at least one more fight after he's finished "Dancing With the Stars."

Even if the media announces that a fighter has literally died, you better double-check your references and sources. Just ask Kimo Leopoldo.