While Alexander Gustafsson is hoping to see UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones retain his title against Daniel Cormier Jan. 3 at UFC 182, Anthony Johnson wants chaos.
In August Gustafsson explained that he’d prefer to take the belt off Jones over anyone else, but Johnson believes change could reinvigorate his new division.
“I want Daniel Cormier to win, just to shake up the division a little bit, but he is fighting Jones so that’s going to be tough to do,” Johnson told media in Sweden (via MMA Mania). “I want him to shake up the division, give people something to talk about. It would be nice for a change to hear another name, but Jones is a beast and he’s going to keep doing what he has to do to win.”
With a title shot on the line, Johnson meets Gustafsson in the main event at UFC on FOX 14 Jan. 15 in Sweden.
Maybe in an effort to bolster a growing resume at 205 pounds, ‘Rumble’ said he was surprised the Swede didn’t get the nod after 25 minutes against Jones at UFC 165 in 2013.
“When they announced that Jones won, I was shocked,” said Johnson. “I actually thought Alexander won, but you can’t win ’em all. When you’re fighting the champion, you definitely have to put him away. It was a really close fight, but I still think that he did enough to (win), but that’s just how the dice roll.”
With the Superman symbol tattooed on his right shoulder, Johnson hopes to emulate the superhero when he makes just his third visit to the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
“Every fight, I feel that I get better, and better,” said Johnson (via FOX Sports). “You can only be as good as your last performance so hopefully I’m ten times better than I was when I fought Phil [Davis], and [Antonio Rogerio] Nogueira. So, hopefully Jan. 24 I’m like Superman. But, we’ll see. When you’re fighting a guy like Gustafsson, you just never know what’s going to happen. When you’re fighting a guy like me, you just never know what’s going to happen.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Too bad for them.’ Nick Diaz discusses the UFC’s efforts to increase testing for banned substances and PEDs. “Most fighters for the most part, they like to do steroids.”
‘We only get one chance to make a first impression.’ The UFC reportedly has big plans for a Nov. 15 stadium event in Melbourne, Australia. ‘We cannot do an event of this magnitude without putting a belt on the line.’
Bellator season 11 review. Luke Thomas discusses what worked, what didn’t and what’s next for the promotion.
No more pizza. Renan Barao says he’s cleaned up his diet to make it easier to make 135 pounds.
‘I want to be the one to take her title.’ Bethe Correia says she hopes Ronda Rousey beats Cat Zingano ‘fast and without injuries’ so she can get her title shot quicker. ‘I will knock Ronda out in the first round, but first I’ll do her a favor and knock that mole off her face with a punch.’
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 181: Anthony Pettis vs Gilbert Melendez.
Ronda Rousey’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel.
Wanderlei Silva with more on the UFC, Rampage Jackson and Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum.
By request: Angela Magana ahead of her UFC debut.
TTTHS.
Roy Jones Jr. touting Chris “Huggy Bear” Barnett. Chris will be fighting on Friday’ Dec. 5 against Darrill Schoonover and on New Year’s Eve for for Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) against Shinichi Suzukawa.
Roy Jones on Huggy Bear from JFR on Vimeo.
Diego Nunes vs. Joachim Hansen from Superior Challenge 11.
Long watches.
Heavy Hands: Episode 28: Trainer of Johny Hendricks, Steven “The Warman” Wright
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#LauDownShow Ep4 – ‘This week we talk about the first Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks fight’
TWEETS
Thanks for everything.
Numbers.
@FrankieEdgar McGregor Vs Brandao $1.4million. McGregor Vs Poirier $2.2 million. Edgar Vs Cub $640k. #TheREALnumbersDontLie. Conor bless.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 30, 2014
Ready?
Ready for Rampage? #UFCLegends #EASPORTSUFC pic.twitter.com/PCDccpgUkP
— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) November 30, 2014
Soon.
Bye Brazil thank you so much for the great time.. Now back to Boot Camp #ABQ
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) December 1, 2014
Some would think if preparing for a tall guy u would spar a tall guy…….not me I found the shortest… http://t.co/o1xaRLvFMF
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 1, 2014
United against trolling.
@adrian_peel @Unclecreepymma why don’t you go away and achieve something in your life before trolling people on the web #nolife
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) November 30, 2014
@One_Punch @adrian_peel he’s your typical Internet douchebag. I think he thinks we give a fuck what he says
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) December 1, 2014
Get big.
Excellent.
ibragim_5511 #Profc #ufc #mywedding #?????????? #?????? #??????????? #????????????????? http://t.co/npdYs3M8YD
— Milana Dudieva (@DudievaMilana) November 30, 2014
Birdman.
Not bad for my T-rex reach pic.twitter.com/t61jEUT97o
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) December 1, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Nov. 27-30 2014)
Sheymon Moraes vs. Gabriel Solorio at WSOF 16
Phil Davis vs. Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 14
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via VinceOnAPlane.
Notorious Answers: Solving the puzzle of the UFC’s next Featherweight contender
Welcome to 2014, where title holders in the UFC’s flagship divisions have only defended their title once (or not at all), opening the door for the Featherweight division to steal the limelight. The timing couldn’t have been better with that potential Fight of the Year showing between José Aldo and Chad Mendes headlining UFC 179. We’ve also been treated to great performances from the likes of Max Holloway, Cub Swanson, Dennis Bermudez and Ricardo Lamas.
However, two names sit atop the list of potential title contenders at the moment. Between these two fighters they are 4-0 on the year, finishing all of their fights and scoring three Performance of the Night bonuses, and no one in the MMA universe can stop talking about who deserves the next crack at the title. Former Lightweight champion and Featherweight contender Frankie Edgar and the Irish jaw-jacker (figuratively and literally) Conor McGregor currently have an opportunity to be Aldo’s next challenger, and each have a strong case as to why they deserve the fight.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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