Ok. Let me get this straight. Like, do I have this right?

This December 12th, rapper DMX was supposed to fight Eric Martinez (some guy with a bandana) in some type of boxing 'contest' at a show called "Alabama Pride." DMX went in the web media and talked at length about how tough he is, and how it would be 'unfair' if he trained.

Apparently, the fight was cancelled when DMX's manager tried to make changes to the contract that would ensure that DMX would win. The promoter didn't want to have a fixed fight, so DMX was removed from the card.

This is where it gets odd.

Instead of saying "oh well, I guess we lost that fight from the card", the Alabama promoters started searching for a 'suitable' opponent.

They found one...

COOLIO.

Whoa.

Is this real? Or a very late April Fools joke?

I dunno, but we are getting the tape after it happens. You'll see it, in all its glory, on The Fight Network.

Crazy.

Y'know, as weird and goofy as stuff like this fight is, it is not without precedent. Combat sports have a rich and storied history of these sideshow-typebfights. Fans love them. They have a place in the ring. Or cage. Or jello pit. Man vs Bear. Little guy vs sumo. Bandana Guy vs Coolio.

Maybe it's all a joke.

We'll see December 12th.