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Ultimate Fighter Dakota Cochrane Addresses Gay-Porn Past

Queerty reported on mixed-martial artist Dakota Cochrane’s gay-porn past back in September, but now that he’s been cast in the new season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, he’s finally talking to the press about it.

Cochrane (right), who claims to be straight, starred in some 16 porn flicks under the name “Danny” before racking up some serious wins in the fighting world.

The 25-year-old is 10-2 in MMA and posted a win over former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner in September.

Cochrane was open about his adult past on his audition tape for TUF:

“I think it’s a little bit courageous for both of us. I could just hide in a hole and no one would know except for the people close to me. And to them, I was up front. I let them know right away so it wasn’t anything that could come back and bite them in the butt. I think maybe they respected that a little bit,” Cochrane told MMAFighting. “I think some people judge against it, some people will be OK with it. Some people will want me to get my butt kicked, and hopefully others will respect what I’m trying to do.”

We’re curious to see how fans will react to Cochrane on the show and in the ring, now that his gay-ish side has come out. UFC President Dana White, the Vince McMahon  of Ultimate Fighting, told Edge Magazine that a gay fighter “wouldn’t be a big deal to me and most of the guys I know in this sport.” But two-time champion Eduordo Nogueria told USA Today he wouldn’t grapple with an out fighter—and White himself got busted for dropping some F-bombs in a video blog a few years back.

What will be the reaction from fans, hardcore and casual, once this blows up on the blogosphere?

For his part Cochrane is acting contrite. Yesterday on The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo he said:

“Yeah, it’s true. It’s something I did a long time ago. Definitely made a mistake and want to put it in the past. Just trying to move on to bigger and better things now…”

Considering Cochrane made some $80,000 from his porn work (or so he claims) and it didn’t involve potentially crippling injuries—we’re not sure he made the right choice.

While 32 fighters are signed up for the first episode of TUF, only the 16 who win their initial matches will go on for the rest of the series and potentially land a long-term contract with UFC.

Sheesh, he’d be better off competing on Drag Race.

Photo: The MMA Corner

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