One week and change later, the MMA world is still buzzing over Jon Jones' destruction of Brandon Vera. Today on FightMagazine.com I suggested five potential next opponents for the white-hot light-heavyweight.
One is Thiago Silva, coming off a loss to Rashad Evans, but competed well enough to retain his high standing in the division. In fact, Silva told my colleagues at MMAJunkie.com that Jones must first get to his level before they fight one another.
"I think [Jones] is a wonderful fighter; he's doing a good job, putting on a good show," Silva said. "But I think he has to prove himself more to get the right to fight me. He’s doing fine, but he has to take a few more steps. I [want to] climb fast to the title shot, so I want people with the high ranking right now."
Silva may have planted a bug in Zuffa's ear. He's looking at a UFC 116 return from a back injury. Last I checked Jones' calendar is open. How about Joe Silva telling Thiago Silva, "Think you're that much better than Jones? Prove it."
Showing posts with label Jon Jones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon Jones. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Jones on track to immortality
Brandon Vera's intent was to crack Jon Jones' aura. He implemented a couple schemes: trash-talking and a heated staredown at the weigh-in that sent the normally tranquil 22-year-old into a rage. Vera walked away laughing, confident half the battle was won.
Then the horn sounded Sunday night in suburban Denver. That's when Vera realized true core cracking in MMA happens inside the Octagon. Three minutes and 19 seconds later, the only things cracking were Vera's orbital bone and the ladder he had been climbing towards a light-heavyweight title shot.
I've written and said this many times: Jones could end up one of the best in MMA - ever. He took another step towards immortality by doing what three former UFC heavyweight champions, including Hall of Famer Randy Couture, couldn't do to Vera, destroying The Truth in a UFC on Versus main event that was hardly in doubt. Jones executed one of his slick takedowns seconds into the fight and it was Joe Rogan's astute commentary that had me concerned when Vera was on his back. It appeared that Jones was leaving his left arm too extended and vulenerable for an armbar. While Bones is already one of the great ones, he's just 22 and the experienced Vera had a plan to make his opponent pay for a rookie mistake.
So much for that. Jones ate an illegal kick to the chin and once Herb Dean - for my money the best referee in the business - deducted a point and ordered a restart from the exact same position, it didn't take long for Jones to end the fight with an elbow so brutal it echoed around the arena and through the TV microphones at ringside.
Think about this for a moment: Vera knocked Couture down and had him staring at the clock in hopes the seconds would move faster. He lost that fight, but his reputation gained in stature and was set up to be Jones' biggest challenge. Alas, Jones made it look too easy - just like he did against Matt Hamill, Jake O'Brien and Stephan Bonnar. And because Jones is one of the most mature 22-year-olds you'll ever meet, he allowed himself to learn another lesson.
“In the future, I’ll deal with trash talkers better and focus on what the task is,” Jones said.
The questions began immediately after Dean stopped the fight, who's next? Couture? Mauricio Rua? Rashad Evans? Quinton Jackson? Not exactly.The UFC is going to handle Jones carefully, despite his success, similar to the Washington Nationals sending top-pick Stephen Strasburg to Double-A despite his 100-MPH fastball, writes Kevin Iole. If I were matchmaker: Jones gets either the winner of Forrest Griffin-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC 114) or another light-heavyweight on a rapid rise to the top: Ryan Bader.
____
How good is Junior Dos Santos? He toyed with top contender Gabriel Gonzaga before smashing him 3:53 into their bout Sunday night. Four of Dos Santos' five UFC wins have come via a first-round knockout or TKO. This heavyweight division is so loaded a matchup of any of the top guns would be main-event caliber. Again, if I were matchmaker, Cain Velazquez is next for Cigano, with the winner to take on the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin/Frank Mir.
Then the horn sounded Sunday night in suburban Denver. That's when Vera realized true core cracking in MMA happens inside the Octagon. Three minutes and 19 seconds later, the only things cracking were Vera's orbital bone and the ladder he had been climbing towards a light-heavyweight title shot.
I've written and said this many times: Jones could end up one of the best in MMA - ever. He took another step towards immortality by doing what three former UFC heavyweight champions, including Hall of Famer Randy Couture, couldn't do to Vera, destroying The Truth in a UFC on Versus main event that was hardly in doubt. Jones executed one of his slick takedowns seconds into the fight and it was Joe Rogan's astute commentary that had me concerned when Vera was on his back. It appeared that Jones was leaving his left arm too extended and vulenerable for an armbar. While Bones is already one of the great ones, he's just 22 and the experienced Vera had a plan to make his opponent pay for a rookie mistake.
So much for that. Jones ate an illegal kick to the chin and once Herb Dean - for my money the best referee in the business - deducted a point and ordered a restart from the exact same position, it didn't take long for Jones to end the fight with an elbow so brutal it echoed around the arena and through the TV microphones at ringside.
Think about this for a moment: Vera knocked Couture down and had him staring at the clock in hopes the seconds would move faster. He lost that fight, but his reputation gained in stature and was set up to be Jones' biggest challenge. Alas, Jones made it look too easy - just like he did against Matt Hamill, Jake O'Brien and Stephan Bonnar. And because Jones is one of the most mature 22-year-olds you'll ever meet, he allowed himself to learn another lesson.
“In the future, I’ll deal with trash talkers better and focus on what the task is,” Jones said.
The questions began immediately after Dean stopped the fight, who's next? Couture? Mauricio Rua? Rashad Evans? Quinton Jackson? Not exactly.The UFC is going to handle Jones carefully, despite his success, similar to the Washington Nationals sending top-pick Stephen Strasburg to Double-A despite his 100-MPH fastball, writes Kevin Iole. If I were matchmaker: Jones gets either the winner of Forrest Griffin-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC 114) or another light-heavyweight on a rapid rise to the top: Ryan Bader.
____
How good is Junior Dos Santos? He toyed with top contender Gabriel Gonzaga before smashing him 3:53 into their bout Sunday night. Four of Dos Santos' five UFC wins have come via a first-round knockout or TKO. This heavyweight division is so loaded a matchup of any of the top guns would be main-event caliber. Again, if I were matchmaker, Cain Velazquez is next for Cigano, with the winner to take on the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin/Frank Mir.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Couture amazing story, but No. 1 contender?
I'm a firm believer that age isn't measured in years. It's about how you life your life, take care of your body and apply to your craft while making the required adjustments to cope with bones and muscles that tend to bark a bit louder as your chronological number increases. There is a small part of it, though, that's up to a greater power: God's genetic programming.
Mark Coleman is 45 years old. Randy Couture is 46. Saturday night showed that Couture is aging like fine wine while Father Time is demanding Coleman, "Enough is Enough." Coleman is a decorated fighter, the UFC's first heavyweight champion, and a man of dignity. And it's sad to see him go out this way. Coleman offered little to no resistance against The Natural, yet said afterwords he still wants to fight. Dana White made it clear it won't be in the UFC - against Tito Ortiz or anyone. There's an awful lot The Hammer can contribute to the sport, but he no longer belongs inside the Octagon.
Couture is an incredible athlete and an amazing story. He's 2-2 in his last four fights, which includes the stiffest test anyone's provided Brock Lesnar, a heart-and-soul battle against Minotauro Nogueira, and a controversial decision over Brandon Vera. He appears to be on course for a shot at becoming a three-time light-heavyweight champion, a goal that if accomplished would put Captain America on the immortal level.
But is Couture a legit No. 1 contender? On paper, not yet. I'd like to see him in a rematch against Vera; to this day The Truth believes the judges screwed him out of a win at UFC 105. Coleman's heart is admirable, but his tools of today is not the ideal litmus test that Vera or even Jon Jones would be.
That said, does Urijah Faber deserve a shot at Jose Aldo over Mike Brown? I don't think so, but the UFC/WEC at times places a premium on a compelling matchup over merit (unlike Dan Hardy's fair chance at Georges St. Pierre). You can make an argument for Rashad Evans if he defeats Rampage Jackson, but also point out Evans' 0-1 record against champion Lyoto Machida. Then again, Brown is 2-0 against Faber, yet he's on the undercard of WEC's first pay-per-view while Faber-Aldo is the bout between two of world's most exciting featherweights that everyone wants to see.
Couture could benefit from timing. Beyond Evans and Vera (if he defeats Jones), there's no light-heavyweight that's ready for a title fight. If Vera wins he could draw the lucky number, but those convinced that Couture won that fight would probably want more proof out a rematch too. This puzzle can take well into the summer to complete.
UPDATE 12:04 p.m. Dana White confirmed that Couture is in the title picture. Machida's second defense against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113, as well as the Evans-Rampage Jackson showdown expected to be settled at UFC 114 in May, will have to sort itself out.
"There's some unfinished business in the light heavyweight division," White said. "We've got to do Rashad and Rampage. We've got to do the Machida and 'Shogun' fight, and Randy falls in the middle of that whole mess somewhere. We'll see what happens. I've got to see what happens with the next couple fights."
Mark Coleman is 45 years old. Randy Couture is 46. Saturday night showed that Couture is aging like fine wine while Father Time is demanding Coleman, "Enough is Enough." Coleman is a decorated fighter, the UFC's first heavyweight champion, and a man of dignity. And it's sad to see him go out this way. Coleman offered little to no resistance against The Natural, yet said afterwords he still wants to fight. Dana White made it clear it won't be in the UFC - against Tito Ortiz or anyone. There's an awful lot The Hammer can contribute to the sport, but he no longer belongs inside the Octagon.
Couture is an incredible athlete and an amazing story. He's 2-2 in his last four fights, which includes the stiffest test anyone's provided Brock Lesnar, a heart-and-soul battle against Minotauro Nogueira, and a controversial decision over Brandon Vera. He appears to be on course for a shot at becoming a three-time light-heavyweight champion, a goal that if accomplished would put Captain America on the immortal level.
But is Couture a legit No. 1 contender? On paper, not yet. I'd like to see him in a rematch against Vera; to this day The Truth believes the judges screwed him out of a win at UFC 105. Coleman's heart is admirable, but his tools of today is not the ideal litmus test that Vera or even Jon Jones would be.
That said, does Urijah Faber deserve a shot at Jose Aldo over Mike Brown? I don't think so, but the UFC/WEC at times places a premium on a compelling matchup over merit (unlike Dan Hardy's fair chance at Georges St. Pierre). You can make an argument for Rashad Evans if he defeats Rampage Jackson, but also point out Evans' 0-1 record against champion Lyoto Machida. Then again, Brown is 2-0 against Faber, yet he's on the undercard of WEC's first pay-per-view while Faber-Aldo is the bout between two of world's most exciting featherweights that everyone wants to see.
Couture could benefit from timing. Beyond Evans and Vera (if he defeats Jones), there's no light-heavyweight that's ready for a title fight. If Vera wins he could draw the lucky number, but those convinced that Couture won that fight would probably want more proof out a rematch too. This puzzle can take well into the summer to complete.
UPDATE 12:04 p.m. Dana White confirmed that Couture is in the title picture. Machida's second defense against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113, as well as the Evans-Rampage Jackson showdown expected to be settled at UFC 114 in May, will have to sort itself out.
"There's some unfinished business in the light heavyweight division," White said. "We've got to do Rashad and Rampage. We've got to do the Machida and 'Shogun' fight, and Randy falls in the middle of that whole mess somewhere. We'll see what happens. I've got to see what happens with the next couple fights."
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Holiday Hustle
It wasn't last-minute shopping, but that didn't stop me from running around the past few days to gear up for Christmas. Major League Baseball is closed for business until next year, though that won't stop general managers from tapping away at their blackberries. And like last year, the Yankees made a big deal within the five days before Christmas. No, it didn't shake baseball's foundation like the signing of Mark Teixeira, but the trade that brought Javier Vazquez back to the Bronx was another example about how the champs aren't resting on their laurels.
The rich getting richer? Complain if that's your thing, but the Red Sox also re-loaded with John Lackey and may yet end up with Jason Bay back in green, red and white. And the last I looked, no laws were broken.
Vazquez's first stint in New York was anything but idyllic. After a strong first half, a bout with pink eye combined with a tired shoulder he refused to reveal to the Yankees' medical staff led to a 6.29 second-half ERA. His lasting impression was the two Game 7 home runs he surrendered to Johnny Damon (one a grand slam, the other a two-run bomb) that sealed the Yankees' epic ALCS collapse.
Now Vazquez has a second chance to write a new story. He returns a better and wiser pitcher, having finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. Yes he's back in the hitter-friendly American League, but Vazquez put up some decent numbers while with the White Sox and has pitched at least 190 innings every season since 2000.
Also, in 2004 he was considered a front-line starter riding shotgun with Kevin Brown and Carl Pavano, two wonderful influences. In '09, he pitches behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, a true ace, a fully-matured veteran and one of the best big-game pitchers in franchise history. Even if his homers-allowed and ERA rises, Vazquez's projected numbers will be those that teams will kill for out of their fourth starter.
This means either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain will open the season in the bullpen. Chamberlain denies it, but his mojo is in the 'pen. Yet Hughes will work under an innings limit - the Hughes Rules - and Chamberlain will not. The fifth-starter competition will be a chief storyline during Spring Training with Sergio Mitre (another year removed from Tommy John surgery will make a big difference), Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves also in the mix. That's a nice luxury to have.
Big projects are in store for my MMA coverage and especially the sport. I'm arranging an interview with Jon Jones for a meaty feature to run on FightMagazine.com before Bones' showdown with Brandon Vera, the headliner of the UFC's debut on Versus. Last week I had a great chat with Trevor Wittman, Rashad Evans' assistant coach during The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, about Matt Mitrione. Despite "Meathead's" portrayal on the show, Wittman has great respect for him as a person. As a fighter, Mitrione must improve his ground game - and he knows it. The mental side to his craft, according to Wittman, will make or break him. Lots of interesting ground to cover there.
Huge props to WEC and Strikeforce for tremendous shows last Saturday night. The WEC continues to showcase exciting and compelling talent, while Strikeforce showed there's a lot more to the MMA world. Scott Smith provided dramatic and amazing theater of the unexpected while Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thompson tore it up in what was unquestionably a top-five Fight of the Year for 2009.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I'll check in again before the new year. Today and tomorrow are days to cherish with loved ones even more than usual.
Thanks for reading,
Jon
The rich getting richer? Complain if that's your thing, but the Red Sox also re-loaded with John Lackey and may yet end up with Jason Bay back in green, red and white. And the last I looked, no laws were broken.
Vazquez's first stint in New York was anything but idyllic. After a strong first half, a bout with pink eye combined with a tired shoulder he refused to reveal to the Yankees' medical staff led to a 6.29 second-half ERA. His lasting impression was the two Game 7 home runs he surrendered to Johnny Damon (one a grand slam, the other a two-run bomb) that sealed the Yankees' epic ALCS collapse.
Now Vazquez has a second chance to write a new story. He returns a better and wiser pitcher, having finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. Yes he's back in the hitter-friendly American League, but Vazquez put up some decent numbers while with the White Sox and has pitched at least 190 innings every season since 2000.
Also, in 2004 he was considered a front-line starter riding shotgun with Kevin Brown and Carl Pavano, two wonderful influences. In '09, he pitches behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, a true ace, a fully-matured veteran and one of the best big-game pitchers in franchise history. Even if his homers-allowed and ERA rises, Vazquez's projected numbers will be those that teams will kill for out of their fourth starter.
This means either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain will open the season in the bullpen. Chamberlain denies it, but his mojo is in the 'pen. Yet Hughes will work under an innings limit - the Hughes Rules - and Chamberlain will not. The fifth-starter competition will be a chief storyline during Spring Training with Sergio Mitre (another year removed from Tommy John surgery will make a big difference), Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves also in the mix. That's a nice luxury to have.
Big projects are in store for my MMA coverage and especially the sport. I'm arranging an interview with Jon Jones for a meaty feature to run on FightMagazine.com before Bones' showdown with Brandon Vera, the headliner of the UFC's debut on Versus. Last week I had a great chat with Trevor Wittman, Rashad Evans' assistant coach during The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, about Matt Mitrione. Despite "Meathead's" portrayal on the show, Wittman has great respect for him as a person. As a fighter, Mitrione must improve his ground game - and he knows it. The mental side to his craft, according to Wittman, will make or break him. Lots of interesting ground to cover there.
Huge props to WEC and Strikeforce for tremendous shows last Saturday night. The WEC continues to showcase exciting and compelling talent, while Strikeforce showed there's a lot more to the MMA world. Scott Smith provided dramatic and amazing theater of the unexpected while Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thompson tore it up in what was unquestionably a top-five Fight of the Year for 2009.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I'll check in again before the new year. Today and tomorrow are days to cherish with loved ones even more than usual.
Thanks for reading,
Jon
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mid-week ramblings
It's close to 3 p.m. on a Wednesday and I'm still recovering from a wild holiday party thrown by MLB Advanced Media. No, I did not overdo it. It was just good conversation and plenty of ping-pong. Of course, living in the sticks, the LIRR got me back home around 12:30 a.m. and it was up early for a few errands - top of the list getting my son his new bed.
With headache and fatigue still in two - and warm coffee in the mug - a few random thoughts while enjoying some down time.
The Yankees made news by doing nothing on Monday when John Lackey and Mike Cameron agreed to sign with the Red Sox. The Big Texan and Cameron made the BoSox a better team, adding a horse to the top of the rotation while tightening team defense in hopes of unseating the Yankees as AL East - and World - Champions. Why was it a good day in Yankeeland? Because Roy Halladay, better than Lackey (who's darn good) and a top-three pitcher in the game, is not going to Boston. In fact, he's en route to Philadelphia and out of the Yankees' hair. Since the price was too high to pay for Doc and extend him another three years, the next-best thing was him not going to Boston.
Of course, some Yankees fans were in an uproar thinking that Brian Cashman sat back and watched the parade go by? Wasn't it last week when Cashman took over Indianapolis and the Winter Meetings by acquiring All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson? Talk about having a short memory. To serve as a refresher, the Yankees are introducing Granderson during a formal press conference Thursday morning at Yankee Stadium.
Unfortunately, the Yankees bid farewell to Hideki Matsui, who signed a one-year deal with the L.A. Angels. Godzilla was one of my favorite players to watch and one of my favorite people to interview. It'll be great to see him back in the Bronx and receive his ring in person when the Yankees open their 2010 home schedule against the Angels. How's that for timing?
The UFC is returning to New Jersey and the shadow of New York City on March 27 when the Prudential Center hosts UFC 111. This isn't just some token event to appease fans on the East Coast who too often do not receive opportunities to view live events. Check out this unofficial lineup: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy, Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (reportedly an interim heavyweight title fight), appearances from Thiago Alves and Ricardo Almedia, and expected fights from Jersey Boys Frankie Edgar, Kurt Pellegrino and Nick Catone. Could The Answer be booked for a showdown with Kenny Florian, with the winner getting a shot at lightweight champion B.J. Penn? The Prodigy will have to face the next No. 1 contender, which in my view will be Gray Maynard (who handed Edgar his only MMA loss) if he defeats Nick Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20. The Bully is 9-o with one no-contest with wins over Roger Huerta and Jim Miller too.
I have a couple of special projects lined up for FightMagazine.com: Lengthy features on Matt Mitrione and Jon Jones. The former is nursing a wrist injury coming off his knockout of Marcus Jones while evaluating his next options (Kimbo Slice?). The latter will likely fight Brandon Vera at a UFC Fight Night event the end of March and is appealing his DQ loss to Matt Hamill. No matter the outcome, "Bones" has the look of a future champion and at this rate will go down as one of the best ever. Much more on these fighters and other projects for MMAJunkie.com and TapouT Magazine - my feature on boxing and MMA working together runs in Issue 34 - coming soon.
With headache and fatigue still in two - and warm coffee in the mug - a few random thoughts while enjoying some down time.
The Yankees made news by doing nothing on Monday when John Lackey and Mike Cameron agreed to sign with the Red Sox. The Big Texan and Cameron made the BoSox a better team, adding a horse to the top of the rotation while tightening team defense in hopes of unseating the Yankees as AL East - and World - Champions. Why was it a good day in Yankeeland? Because Roy Halladay, better than Lackey (who's darn good) and a top-three pitcher in the game, is not going to Boston. In fact, he's en route to Philadelphia and out of the Yankees' hair. Since the price was too high to pay for Doc and extend him another three years, the next-best thing was him not going to Boston.
Of course, some Yankees fans were in an uproar thinking that Brian Cashman sat back and watched the parade go by? Wasn't it last week when Cashman took over Indianapolis and the Winter Meetings by acquiring All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson? Talk about having a short memory. To serve as a refresher, the Yankees are introducing Granderson during a formal press conference Thursday morning at Yankee Stadium.
Unfortunately, the Yankees bid farewell to Hideki Matsui, who signed a one-year deal with the L.A. Angels. Godzilla was one of my favorite players to watch and one of my favorite people to interview. It'll be great to see him back in the Bronx and receive his ring in person when the Yankees open their 2010 home schedule against the Angels. How's that for timing?
The UFC is returning to New Jersey and the shadow of New York City on March 27 when the Prudential Center hosts UFC 111. This isn't just some token event to appease fans on the East Coast who too often do not receive opportunities to view live events. Check out this unofficial lineup: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy, Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (reportedly an interim heavyweight title fight), appearances from Thiago Alves and Ricardo Almedia, and expected fights from Jersey Boys Frankie Edgar, Kurt Pellegrino and Nick Catone. Could The Answer be booked for a showdown with Kenny Florian, with the winner getting a shot at lightweight champion B.J. Penn? The Prodigy will have to face the next No. 1 contender, which in my view will be Gray Maynard (who handed Edgar his only MMA loss) if he defeats Nick Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20. The Bully is 9-o with one no-contest with wins over Roger Huerta and Jim Miller too.
I have a couple of special projects lined up for FightMagazine.com: Lengthy features on Matt Mitrione and Jon Jones. The former is nursing a wrist injury coming off his knockout of Marcus Jones while evaluating his next options (Kimbo Slice?). The latter will likely fight Brandon Vera at a UFC Fight Night event the end of March and is appealing his DQ loss to Matt Hamill. No matter the outcome, "Bones" has the look of a future champion and at this rate will go down as one of the best ever. Much more on these fighters and other projects for MMAJunkie.com and TapouT Magazine - my feature on boxing and MMA working together runs in Issue 34 - coming soon.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Hamill: 'I will die before I tap'
Matt Hamill posted a statement on his Web site this morning days after his DQ win over Jon Jones. He said it best: Jon Jones didn't win and I didn't lose, and when explaining how he took those barrage of blows before Jones' 12-to-6 elbow ended the fight, he said simply, "I will die before I tap." I reported on Sunday that Hamill suffered a dislocated left shoulder that was popped back into place at the hospital, adding that referee Steve Mazzagatti was correct in not stopping the fight sooner.
Jones' camp has appealed the DQ decision. Whether it's upheld or not, I see a rematch. Neither fighter is satisfied with the result and both want to see a definitive winner to come out of this.
Jones' camp has appealed the DQ decision. Whether it's upheld or not, I see a rematch. Neither fighter is satisfied with the result and both want to see a definitive winner to come out of this.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
No Bones about it
It's too bad Jon Jones competes in an ocean-deep light-heavyweight division. In the long run this will contribute to his development as one of the greats MMA has ever seen. Short-term Jones will be waiting awhile for his name to be on the championship committee's table. If he defeats Rashad Evans next month, Thiago Silva, in my view is in line for the next shot at the winner of May's rematch between champ Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua. If Sugar wins he'd love his shot at a second title reign. The wild card in this is the predictable return of Rampage Jackson. A chance at shutting up his hated rival - combined with big money - will probably supersede Evans facing either Machida or Rua.
Back to "Bones," who looked awesome in destroying Matt Hamill only to be handed a disqualification loss for an illegal "12-to-6" elbow that was confirmed by the wise implementation of instant replay. Hamill dislocated his shoulder early in the bout, but never in his career - not even against Rich Franklin - has "The Hammer" been decimated like he was Saturday night.
(For the record, Steve Mazzagatti, yet again in the line of fire for controversial situations, was 100 percent correct in not stopping the fight. Hamill may have been on the brink, but he was still defending himself in survival mode. In this sport it's often damned if you do, damned if you don't. You get heat for stopping a bout "too soon" when it's your job to protect a fighter's health or doing nothing and increasing risk of a serious injury.)
The DQ win combined with the injury will get Hamill a rematch, but considering what Jones displayed the results will be similar. Jones' flair for the creative and the dramatic, and his unorthodox style (think Keith Jardine with finesse), has him on track to be a future champion. He's just 22 years old and that's out-and-out scary.
****
Kimbo Slice will never be UFC Heavyweight Champion, but because he cemented his place in the UFC, he's a winner. Slice refused to buy into his hype for one second and his commitment to MMA is admirable. It'd be great if his next fight is a rematch with Seth Petruzelli ... I doubt seriously you'll see Slice-Houston Alexander on any best of 2009 compilations. Alexander looked awful and you have to wonder if the UFC's door is closed for good ... Stop hating on Roy Nelson. He's a legit heavyweight who'd put a scare into the top-tier fighters ... Brendan Schaub will be back and will be a superstar ... Marcus Jones, 36, has a lot of work to do and little time to do it ... Matt Mitrione knocked out "Darkness" with one punch, but must improve his ground game and endurance to complement his immense power ... What's next for Frankie Edgar? A rematch with Gray Maynard or the winner of Kenny Florian-Clay Guida? "The Answer" is a one more impressive win over a top contender from a title shot ... Am I in the vast minority of picking Diego Sanchez over B.J. Penn? I'll explain some time this week.
Back to "Bones," who looked awesome in destroying Matt Hamill only to be handed a disqualification loss for an illegal "12-to-6" elbow that was confirmed by the wise implementation of instant replay. Hamill dislocated his shoulder early in the bout, but never in his career - not even against Rich Franklin - has "The Hammer" been decimated like he was Saturday night.
(For the record, Steve Mazzagatti, yet again in the line of fire for controversial situations, was 100 percent correct in not stopping the fight. Hamill may have been on the brink, but he was still defending himself in survival mode. In this sport it's often damned if you do, damned if you don't. You get heat for stopping a bout "too soon" when it's your job to protect a fighter's health or doing nothing and increasing risk of a serious injury.)
The DQ win combined with the injury will get Hamill a rematch, but considering what Jones displayed the results will be similar. Jones' flair for the creative and the dramatic, and his unorthodox style (think Keith Jardine with finesse), has him on track to be a future champion. He's just 22 years old and that's out-and-out scary.
****
Kimbo Slice will never be UFC Heavyweight Champion, but because he cemented his place in the UFC, he's a winner. Slice refused to buy into his hype for one second and his commitment to MMA is admirable. It'd be great if his next fight is a rematch with Seth Petruzelli ... I doubt seriously you'll see Slice-Houston Alexander on any best of 2009 compilations. Alexander looked awful and you have to wonder if the UFC's door is closed for good ... Stop hating on Roy Nelson. He's a legit heavyweight who'd put a scare into the top-tier fighters ... Brendan Schaub will be back and will be a superstar ... Marcus Jones, 36, has a lot of work to do and little time to do it ... Matt Mitrione knocked out "Darkness" with one punch, but must improve his ground game and endurance to complement his immense power ... What's next for Frankie Edgar? A rematch with Gray Maynard or the winner of Kenny Florian-Clay Guida? "The Answer" is a one more impressive win over a top contender from a title shot ... Am I in the vast minority of picking Diego Sanchez over B.J. Penn? I'll explain some time this week.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Jon Jones' quest
I asked a few in the MMA loop their thoughts on Jon Jones and his bout with Stephan Bonnar Saturday at UFC 94. They either never heard of him or only knew of him, and all wanted to know more about him, so I jumped at the chance to pen a feature on Jones for Junkie and learned he's extremely mature for a 21 year old, who is also a father and soon to be engaged.
Once Jones arrived in Las Vegas this week, he declined a room at the host MGM Grand, optiong to stay 10 minutes off the strip to avoid the myriad of distractions Sin City along throws at you. Bonnar has been out of action for a year, recovering from a serious injury and still rebuidling a reputation soiled when he tested positive for steriods after his second with with Forrest Griffin. Yet Jones' limited MMA experience has him listed as an underdog.
That's exactly how he wants it. This quote from Jones sums up what he's all about:
"The reality of this thing is I have 15 minutes to prove to everyone, and to myself, that I belong in the octagon. People tend to hype you up a lot and tell you you're going to be the next great thing. I don't need that. I need reality. Reality is I'm the underdog, and I need to come with everything."
Fan comments were plentiful and intelligent, which the many having Jones winning the fight. I concur. Jones takes a huge step up the ladder with a second-round TKO.
Once Jones arrived in Las Vegas this week, he declined a room at the host MGM Grand, optiong to stay 10 minutes off the strip to avoid the myriad of distractions Sin City along throws at you. Bonnar has been out of action for a year, recovering from a serious injury and still rebuidling a reputation soiled when he tested positive for steriods after his second with with Forrest Griffin. Yet Jones' limited MMA experience has him listed as an underdog.
That's exactly how he wants it. This quote from Jones sums up what he's all about:
"The reality of this thing is I have 15 minutes to prove to everyone, and to myself, that I belong in the octagon. People tend to hype you up a lot and tell you you're going to be the next great thing. I don't need that. I need reality. Reality is I'm the underdog, and I need to come with everything."
Fan comments were plentiful and intelligent, which the many having Jones winning the fight. I concur. Jones takes a huge step up the ladder with a second-round TKO.
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