Posts Tagged ‘Jon Jones’

UFC on Fuel TV 9: Gegard Mousasi: ‘I have the ability to beat all the best fighters’

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi

Ready to conquer his goal of acquiring a UFC belt, Gegard Mousasi is in the promotion he envisioned retiring from and ready for all challenges on his title run.

Mousasi (Twitter: @mousasi_mma),the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, is making his UFC debut against fellow UFC newcomer Ilir Latifi on April 6 at UFC on Fuel TV 9 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Sweden.   Prior to claiming a belt in the debunked Strikeforce, Mousasi competed in various promotions in The Netherlands, Pride FC and DREAM.  It was in DREAM that Mousasi started catching the attention of more onlookers en route to capturing the organization’s middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

Mousasi was one of many fighters absorbed by the UFC when Strikeforce seized operations.  With the winning record (33-3-2) “Dreamcatcher” compiled, and all but four of his victories ending via KO/TKO or submission, fans and media alike think Mousasi’s UFC debut is long overdue.

“I had never spoken to the UFC prior to crossing over from Strikeforce,” Mousasi told MMADieHards.com.  “I always imagined finishing my career in the UFC, so I am happy to have the chance to fight and complete my goals.”

Mousasi’s welcoming to the Octagon is accompanied with more than just the usual pressures a mixed martial artist endures in their inaugural UFC bout.

Mousasi was originally expected to meet No. 2-ranked UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson.  Due to a face laceration suffered in training on behalf of Gustafsson, the match was cancelled five days from fight night, and the Swede’s training partner, Latifi, stepped in as a late replacement.

Aside from holding down the night’s main event with Latifi, Mousasi has to deal with opponent change that he has minimal time to prepare for.  He also said his media obligations have been more demanding than any previous organization he has competed in.

If able to bear the circumstantial distractions and prevail, Mousasi will maintain his position atop of the UFC light heavyweight division.  Defeating Latifi won’t warrant Mousasi a title shot, but it will surely setup a bout against Gustafsson or another top contender in “Dreamcatcher’s” next outing.  Given the conditions, a victory over Latifi, followed by defeating a top ranked competitor, could grant Mousasi the opportunity to accomplish his goal of possessing a UFC belt.

Currently, Jon Jones, who is attempting his fifth title defense against Chael Sonnen at UFC 159, is the weight classes’ kingpin.  Jones has been dominant throughout his title reign, but Mousasi likes his odds against the champ should he get the chance.

“I think (Jones) is an intelligent fighter that is always improving,” Mousasi said.  “I feel that I would match up well with him.  I always have the opportunity to win any fight against anyone as long as I have a good training camp.  I know I am well-rounded, and I have the ability to beat all the best fighters currently out there.”

UFC 157: Machida eludes Henderson, Gustafsson for No. 1 contender status

Lyoto Machida (R) kicking Dan Henderson (L) at UFC 157 (photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com)

After the elusiveness defeated Dan Henderson, Lyoto Machida snuck past Alexander Gustafsson for the next shot at UFC gold.

Machida (Twitter: @lyotomachidafw) garnered a split decision victory against Henderson (Twitter: @danhendo) at UFC 157 on Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.  The match had very few crowd pleasing moments and could have gone either way on the judges’ scorecards.

Machida, a karate specialist, used his imperceptibility to avoid Henderson’s takedowns and strikes, but didn’t attack as much as “The Dragon” usually does.  Machida landed several significant, flashy kicks, but Henderson, with his inhuman-like chin, grinned and was never dazed from the blows.

Henderson hunted Machida without much success for the majority of the fight, although, he did get the Brazilian down in Round 3.  Machida controlled Henderson in guard until he could get back to his feet, and that was the American’s only point of dominance in the bout.  When Henderson attacked with punches, Machida kept a distance that wouldn’t allow “Hendo” to connect, yet the Black House teammate rarely counter-attacked.  It was the story of the fight until time expired and the judges rendered it a split decision in Machida’s favor.

Though, a lackluster contest, the outcome provided Machida with a prize already promised to another mixed martial artist.

Henderson was the UFC light heavyweight No. 1 contender until injury forced him out of the UFC 151 main event championship match against Jon Jones.   While Henderson was recovering, Chael Sonnen managed to acquire a chance to square off with Jones in a title match, so Machida, in a sense, defeated the UFC 205-pound division No. 1 contender at UFC 157.

However, UFC president Dana White announced at a press conference on Feb. 13 that Gustafsson would receive the next title shot if victorious over promotion newcomer Gegard Mousasi.  But, at the UFC 157 post-fight press conference White granted Machida with the same honors.

“He just beat the number one contender,” White said when asked if Machida will get a title shot.  ”Which, would make him the number one contender.

In Their Own Words: The Week’s Noteworthy MMA Quotes

UFC Lightweight Champion Jon Jones (Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com)

“I respect [Silva] a lot. As I said several times, I do not want to be the guy who beat Anderson, and do not want to be the guy who lost to him. Anderson is a great champion, I’m a great champion…I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m not saying that the fight will not happen. It can happen. But it’s not something I’m chasing.”
- Jon Jones admitted to mmafighting that a bout with Anderson Silva is not totally out of the question.

“That question (about facing Jones) has to be made to Dana White. Let’s ask if he will give me 50% of the UFC. I have my projects out of the UFC and I want to put them into practice. To open my school (martial arts) in Los Angeles. I do my thing, take a breath a little, take time with my family. I have better things to do (than just taking punch in the face).”
- A. Silva gave his price to Tatame for a match with Jones.

“Nick really wants this fight because he has great admiration and respect for Anderson as a fighter. Anderson Silva is a true martial artist, he studied martial arts, is a great representative of the sport. Nick loves martial arts and that, for him, is enough to put Anderson Silva as the opponent.”
- Cesar Gracie, coach of Nick Diaz, explained to Tatame why his student wants to fight Anderson Silva.

“Rich Franklin, I’ve always thought he’d be a good fight. I’ve always looked up to Rich Franklin, he’s an incredible fighter, he’s got incredible passion for the sport, we match up well in terms of a fight, and he’d be a tough fight.

“I’d like to fight him out of respect – he’s one of the all-time greats. I’ve got nothing but respect for Rich, he’s a fantastic fighter.”
- Michael Bisping talked to ESPN about possible opponents in the future, including former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin.

“I could see GSP quitting if he gets hurt, if he gets hit with a good shot, but Condit he’s going to keep going, he’s going to be in the fight till the end.”
- Martin Kampmann, who fights Johny Hendricks at UFC 154 for welterweight No. 1 contender status, talked to MMA Weekly about Carlos Condit vs. Georges St-Pierre.

“Chael, someone that never had a title, except for the one he gave himself of course, and didn’t do well in this 205 weight class anyway — I just think it’s a weird message that you send to the fans. I know the real reason is because of course The Ultimate Fighter they need ratings — the ratings are really bad. They think if they get Chael on, the ratings will go up. I think that will happen in the first few shows, but I don’t know if it’s going to be funny every week, so we have to find out.”
- Bas Rutten gave his thoughts on Chael Sonnen coaching on TUF via ESPN.

“Well, Junior dos Santos says all kind of things that don’t really make sense. First he begged to Dana White he wanted to fight me, so as a fighter I accept such a challenge right away. Now he’s saying that I don’t deserve a title fight. He has to make up his mind as he’s changing his story all the time. The same stuff he was saying about me going to the school of Chael Sonnen. I never made the fight between us personal and I never bad mouthed him, the only thing I said was that I think he’s afraid of me which I think he still is haha. When I signed with the UFC I could of easily go for the title shot right away but I chose to fight Brock Lesnar so in no means I’m talking myself into a title shot. If the UFC wants me to fight for the title I’m available and if they decide to let me fight someone else first I’m also fine with that. I’m a fighter and I will get my chance sooner or later.”
- Alistair Overeem gave his thoughts on UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos to Mixfight.nl.

“I wasn’t given much of an option once I gave the go ahead.  It was like I jumped out of the plane and it was hit the ground or pull the parachute.  That was it, that was the circumstances.  That Monday night my manager let me know it was not going to be favorable for me.

“I kind of gave them an inside peek of what was going on in my personal life, and things are getting a little bit crazy, but I was hoping for some understanding.  It’s a cold world sometimes.”
- Rich Attonito detailed his UFC release to MMA DieHards.

“It’s been almost a year now since there’s been any live content on Spike network. My anticipation is that it will play itself out very nicely because of how the consumer base and the hardcore demographic views Spike as the home of MMA.”
- Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney gave his expectations to mmajunkie, regarding Bellator being broadcast on Spike TV in 2013.

“It was bad.  I didn’t do the things I was supposed to do.  The thing that messes with me the most is the way I lost.  I lost a boring decision, he held me down for five rounds.  I like to make fights exciting and it didn’t happen that time.  I got a lot of criticism from it.  Fans didn’t like it.  But, it made me a better fighter.  I trained more on wrestling and learned a lot from the fight.  I’m looking at it in a positive way.”
- Douglas Lima talked to MMA DieHards about the defeat he suffered at the hands of Ben Askren.

“I was always upset. I hated everybody if I was dropping to 170 [pounds], especially on weigh-in day. Everything happens for a reason. I don’t take back anything that happened in my past, because if it hadn’t happened back then, I wouldn’t be who I am right now. Moving to [light heavyweight] was definitely the best decision that I’ve ever made in my life.”
- Anthony Johnson admitted to Sherdog that making welterweight was a tall order, and the 205-pound weight class is much better suited for him.

Hammerfisting MMA Podcast: Episode 129 – Gomites! Plus: Jon Fitch

Episode 129 – Gomites!!  Plus:  Jon Fitch (AND “Ask Fitch”)

 Stand Up Comedians Luis J. Gomez (Twitter: @luisjgomez), Kris Tinkle (Twitter: @kristinkle), and Julian Vance (Twitter: @YESweVANCE) talk MMA news and rumors! On this episode fellow comic Oni Perez sits in and UFC welterweight Jon Fitch (Twitter: @jonfitchdotnet) returns for an interview and his “Ask Fitch!” segment. They boys discuss more Jones/Sonnen rumors, Forrest’s new opponent, more drug test failures, Anderson vs. Lebron, Maia’s next opponent, and more!

Hammerfisting MMA Podcast: Episode 128 – Lingering Hug! Special guest: DON FRYE!

 

We’re just gonna put it to you straight.  You know Don Frye.  Yes you do.  THAT Don Frye.  The funniest, raunchiest, mustache-ingest “Predator” around?!  Yeahhhhh, now you feel us.   Mr. Frye did us the pleasure of calling in to chop it up on Hammerfisting.  It’s everything you could ever hope for, and more.  Know what?  We’ll cut the crap – no one can do Don justice the way Don can.  So sit back, crack open your Bud Light, and… well… “Here We Go”.

 

Episode 128 – Lingering Hug!  Special guest: Don Frye!

Stand Up Comedians Luis J. Gomez (Twitter: @luisjgomez), Kris Tinkle (Twitter: @kristinkle), and Julian Vance (@Twitter: @YESweVANCE) talk MMA news and rumors! On this episode Nate Bargatze joins the crew in studio and UFC Legend Don “The Predator” Frye” calls in. They discuss UFC 153, Jones vs Sonnen on TUF, and more!

 

 

Having trouble loading the player?  You can download Hammerfisting from iTunes, listen on Stitcher Radio, or pay a visit to where the magic begins - RiotCast.

Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen to coach ‘The Ultimate Fighter 17,’ fight on April 27

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31166/jon-jones-and-chael-sonnen-to-coach-the-ultimate-fighter-17-fight-on-april-27.mma

UFC 152 medical suspensions: Jon Jones, five others suspended indefinitely

http://mmajunkie.com/news/30790/ufc-152-medical-suspensions-jon-jones-five-others-suspended-indefinitely.mma

In Their Own Words: The Week’s Noteworthy MMA Quotes

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. (Photo courtesy of UFC.com)

“I wasn’t close to tapping out at all. I was ready to face the music and get it broken if I had to get it broken. I proved a lot to myself tonight and I’m grateful for it. I haven’t gotten x-rays, so I’m not going to sit here and feed into a little pain. But I’ll definitely live on to fight another day. Every time I extended my right hand or tried to use an elbow on my right side, I felt it. I felt as if I really didn’t have any power in my right side at all but it’s a long ways from my heart.”
- UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones talked about his gutsy performance at UFC 152 during the UFC 152 post-fight press conference.

“I’ve always had great respect for Jon Jones and know he is a great champion. When I felt his arm snap, I decreased the pressure, and he got out. Simple as that. During the bout, he managed to work his elbows well (from the top), but I was never afraid. But he was very good in the fight.”
- Vitor Belfort told Brazil’s Globo TV that he couldn’t commit to breaking Jones’ arm in the UFC 152 main event.

“Let me tell you what: If you didn’t like that flyweight fight, please, I’m begging you, don’t ever buy another UFC pay-per-view again”
- UFC president Dana White let it be known at the UFC 152 post-fight press conference that if you don’t appreciate the UFC 125-pound weight class, your money is not welcome here .

“You have to be in a constant grove where you’re always fighting high-level guys.  My last few fights have been against No. 1 guys in the world.  McCall was ranked the No. 1 fighter in the world at 125 pounds and he was the TPF champ.  Now, I’m taking on the uncrowned champ at 125 (pounds) in the world, Benavidez, for the UFC title.  My career has not easy or handed to me by any means.  I’ve worked my butt off to get here.”
- UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson talked to MMA DieHards about facing upper echelon opponents throughout the last half of his career.

“I don’t talk much about Bellator.  But what they do is one of the dirtiest things you can do in the business. It’s dirty, it’s grimy, and it’s just despicable.  I have the right to match, but once I cut a guy and let him go and somebody else tries to sign him, I don’t come back say ‘Oh you’re breaking the contract, I have a contract.’  When you make a decision to cut him, you cut him.  That’s one of the dirtiest scummiest things you can do in the fight business.”
- White talked in this media scrum about Bellator’s antics regarding Tyson Nam.

­“I really don’t know, I don’t know if it would have made much of a difference if they had told me. But they didn’t tell me that they were going to cancel the fight.”
- Jones said at the UFC 152 pre-fight press conference that he had no inclination UFC 151 would be cancelled if he refused to fight.

“I’m glad he said some things. I don’t think he would have said that if I was there. It was false that he didn’t know that UFC 151 would be canceled if he didn’t take the fight. I told him it would. I think he’s acting like he’s taking it all very lightly. I don’t know if he’s embarrassed. There was a lot of collateral damage from the fallout. He needs to take it seriously. There’s been a lot of fans turn on him.”
- White disputed Jones’ claim of being unaware UFC 151 would be cancelled had he not fight, via FUEL TV.

“Fighters, when they get to certain levels, it’s difficult to train for a big fight when you’re in a gym where there are 15 other guys training for a big fight. Sometimes you can get lost in there, and there’s not enough individual attention on what you need to accomplish technically in order to prepare for your fight.”
- Brian Stann explained on ufc.com, his reason for moving his UFC 152 training camp from New Mexico to Atlanta.

“I would consider dropping to 185, but the problem is, I’m kind of heavy right now. I might have to do a practice cut to get down there before I make any commitment to fight at 185. I’ve never cut weight like that, not since college. And, I always told myself, I said, ‘If I compete again, there’s no way that I’ll turn myself into what I did in college, as far as living just to cut weight and stuff like that.’ If the offer is interesting enough, I’ll drop down. But, if not, I’ll stay at 205. It makes no sense for me to drop down to 185 to be right in the same position I’m in now at 205.”
- UFC light heavyweight contender Rashad Evans admitted on MMA Uncensored that he would consider a drop to middleweight if the match was intriguing to him.

“Everything has it’s time. He’ll have his opportunity to fight for the belt. Maybe I fight next before he gets the shot, I lose and he fights someone else. We don’t know. I can fight Bonnar, lose and say: ‘you know what, I don’t want it anymore’. Or maybe I win and say ‘I don’t want this anymore’. Or maybe drop to welterweight or move up to heavyweight. Anything can happen. Every UFC fighter will have their chance. You have to work and wait for your opportunity.”
- UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva told Guilherme Cruz of Tatame that fellow 185-pounder Chris Weidman needs to be patient and wait for his title shot.

“I was thinking about it; if I win this fight, how am I ever going to top that?. It’s been hard enough trying to top the (first) Forrest fight all these years. Then if I freaking beat Anderson Silva, talk about a perfect storybook ending to a career.”
- Stephen Bonnar told mmajunkie.com, his thoughts on fighting A. Silva in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC 153.

“It seems like people sometimes take unfair shots at us and our gym. All it does is piss us off. It seems like all the talking that’s done takes place outside the gym. When we’re here we just train. I’ve been here over three years and he’s (Jackson) never ever told me to cruise it. He’s never said to try and last. It’s always been about finishing fights, train harder and push it. He’s never said to play it safe. This is a guy, that when I was in the WEC, I broke my hand a week before the fight, and he asked ‘do you want to fight?’ When I said ‘yeah’, he said ‘alright, let’s do it. (He) didn’t try to talk me out of it. He supported me 100 percent. He told me that if I didn’t throw that broken hand right away that he would be pissed at me; that he wanted me to go after the guy right away. He didn’t want me going in there fighting dumb, scared and injured. That’s the kind of guy he is; so for people to say he’s the type of person to say play it safe, is bull. He’s a fight coach, and when it comes down to it, he wants us to fight. He wants us to finish.”
- Cub Swanson talked to Full Contact Fighter about the reputation Jackson MMA fighters have for not finishing fights.

“After a fight, it is on and popping.   I get white girl wasted. I do things that make people want to punch me in the face. Someone needs to be on Marcus Brimage duty when I celebrate.”
- Marcus Brimage detailed his post-fight party to MMA DieHards.

“You win a fight and you’re boring, the promoters don’t love you.   They say if you lose an exciting fight they’ll bring you back.  Well, I tried my hardest to make that fight exciting.  I was trying to punch him; I was screaming at him, I did everything I could have done.

“They said they were happy with the way I tried to fight, knowing the circumstances of him trying to hold on.  But, I didn’t get rewarded, I got my walking papers.

“In hindsight, I should’ve just fought to win.  I should’ve just jabbed and moved, jabbed and moved.  I would’ve killed him with my jab and never got taken down if I decided to make it a boring, slow fight.  But, I decided no, I want to give the crowd an all-out war if I can.  It’s frustrating.”
- John Alessio talked to MMA DieHards Radio about his recent release from the UFC.

Twitter MMA: Best of the Week for Sept. 16 – 23

 

Tom DeBlass ‏@TomDeBlass

@RenzoGracieBJJ I’d vote. pic.twitter.com/rL6SRw8T

Renzo_Gracie_BJJ ‏@RenzoGracieBJJ

@TomDeBlass to our friends everything, to our enemies not even the right to justice ;-) what is a vote when we live under this flag.. ;-)

Jeff Curran @BigFrogBJJ1m

Thanks to Master Pedro Sauer for the promotion to 3rd Degree Black Belt! 9 yrs a black belt.. time flies. @teamcurranmma#graciejiu-jitsu

Aaron Tru ‏@AaronTru

That’s too bad…was a rory macdonald fan until he was just spotted dressed as a hipster with horn rim glasses and skinny tie. #lame #nerd

Mark Hominick ‏@MarkHominick

I am sitting beside the American Michael Bisping look alike. @b_ray16http://yfrog.com/nxhwdnwj

Louis Gaudinot ‏@LouGaudinotUFC

Can’t wait to see the first flyweight championship fight in the #UFC ! By the end of 2013 I’ll be fighting in one of those! @danawhite

Joseph Benavidez @JoeJitsu

Great day to make dreams come true!! Let’s do this! #UFC152

Walel Watson ‏@135Gazelle

Well no one to blame but me! The camp was perfect! Diet,weightcut,hydration perfect! Just got too aggressive and got caught! Lesson learned!

Urijah Faber ‏@UrijahFaber

Congrats 2 @MightyMouseUFC gr8 performance! @JoeJitsu proud of you, at 1st u don’t succeed try try again :)

Ian McCall ‏@Unclecreepymma

@MightyMouseUFC congrats tonight … I’m coming for you and hells coming with me #ugctt

Ulysses Gomez ‏@uselessgomez

I got an idea, the next season of TUF needs to get creepy. How about@MightyMouseUFC and @Unclecreepymma as the coaches? What say you? @ufc

Ben Askren ‏@Benaskren

@CrooklynMMA these little guys don’t hit hard enough to hurt each other, I think they should get bass knuckles or something

juniorcigano ‏@junior_cigano

Well Jon Jones proves one more time he is a great fighter and very smart. He looked great in the fight. It had good fights tonight I like it

The Iron Sheik ‏@the_ironsheik

The Jon jones impress me big time tonight. He not like the garbage man ultimate warrior. He real black man ready for fight

UFC 152 attendance, live gate and bonuses

http://mmadiehards.com

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