If there’s been one winner not named Mark Hunt in this whole Ubereem drama, doesn’t it have to be Junior dos Santos? The affable, always-smiling, always-agreeable Brazilian has handled the noise like a pro, staying level-headed when it would have been too easy to pout and whine about a blockbuster payday gone wrong.
And now dos Santos has magnificently gone on the offensive.
Dripping with confidence, Cigano told Globo he would happily fight his testosterone-riddled opponent, even if it would be “disrespectful” to the sport. Even better, he said that Overeem is far from his biggest challenge, as the Dutchman is apparently lacking in both speed and cardio, and his superhuman physique only scares the untrained. Instead, dos Santos bestowed that title to Cain Velasquez — the man he just demolished in 64 seconds on national television.
Needless to say, you come at the king, you best not miss.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Junior dos Santos open to ‘unfair’ fight versus Alistair Overeem. Speaking to Brazilian news outlet Globo, UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos admitted a fight against Alistair Overeem would be unfair due to his elevated testosterone levels. Nonetheless, the champ would still readily accept the match if the Nevada State Athletic Commission allows it, even if he feels it would be a disgrace to the sport.
Can Alistair Overeem still get licensed? Despite the public furor, there is still an outside chance Overeem’s positive test results will not preclude him from fighting Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, with the most likely scenario involving the acquisition of a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
UFC on FUEL 2 predictions. Luke Thomas analyzed Saturday’s match-ups and predicted the the big winners of UFC on FUEL 2.
Rolles Gracie in talks to fight Fedor Emelianenko. UFC castoff Rolles Gracie is under serious consideration to be the next opponent of Fedor Emelianenko on June 21, 2012, at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
UFC on FUEL 2 dissections. Preview the first two fights of UFC on FUEL 2’s main card with encyclopedic breakdowns of Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page and DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire.
MEDIA STEW
Out here a practical joke means someone’s car is getting towed or, at worst, a fight is about to be faked. But in Cro Cop’s Croatia? Fake fighting is just the warm-up for someone busting out an AK-47 and trying to shoot up the place. (HT: Middle Easy)
Rashad Evans and Jon Jones‘ dislike for each other is well-documented, but there’s still a fascinating, undeniable big brother/little brother dynamic present when both men are in the same room.
Moonlighting as a professional MMA fighter is a respectable endeavor, but doing so while you’re receiving three years of worker’s compensation checks probably isn’t the best idea. Especially when you consider how easily accesible proof of your felonies are. (via Yahoo Sports)
Ever wonder what the bizarre lovechild of basketball, soccer and MMA would look like? It’s called Ultimate Ball, and apparently it’s a real thing. (HT: Reddit)
FEDOR VS. GRACIE?
Where there is smoke there is fire. My manager is under negotiation with M1. We’re really close to make this fight against Fedor to happen.
— Rolles Gracie (@RollesGracie) April 11, 2012
BAS IS ONBOARD
I hear we still might c the JDS/Overeem fight? Haha, awesome. Let me get more info
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) April 10, 2012
ANY GUESSES?
signed my bout agreement. 3 months away. My opponent is a stud. And my opinion, top 2 WW. Kinda hard for my 1st fight at WW. Oh well.
— Aaron Simpson (@aaronsimpson) April 11, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Wednesday, April 11, 2012):
– UFC 149: George Roop (12-9-1) vs. Antonio Carvalho (13-5)
– Super Fight League 3: Bobby Lashley (7-1) vs. James Thompson (17-14)
– Super Fight League 3: Trevor Prangley (23-9-1) vs. Baga Agaev (26-11)
– Super Fight League 3: Doug Marshall (14-5) vs. Zelg Galesic (10-6)
– Super Fight League 3: Lena Ovchynnikova (8-1) vs. Joanne Calderwood (1-0)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day is a three-part analysis of UFC 145’s headlining rivalry, by Bloody Elbow’s heavyfl0w: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans: Breaking It Down
Striking
Hang on, quick tangent. For all the vitriol directed towards Rashad, do people realize that this is still a guy that has lost only ONCE? Granted, his “strategy” in the Machida fight was pretty reprehensible (as far as I could tell, it was “bounce around on the outside until I jump right into a left cross and am summarily destroyed”), but, moment of weakness aside, his striking strategy and execution has always been pretty sound.
He’s always been a guy that utilizes his quickness and power, dancing around and leaping in with punches when the time is right. In his last fight, he showed more of a flat footed boxing style. Against Jones, I think we’ll see a little bit of both. Rashad has to give Jon different looks, but he’s not much of a kicker (epic KO of Sean Salmon aside, of course), so he’ll have to give him different looks by way of his footwork and punching combinations. Rashad clearly has more one shot power than Jonny Bones.
Unfortunately for Spartan fans, that’s where Evans’ advantages on the feet end. Bones’ striking still has the potential to get him in trouble, as his last fight proved. Lyoto did his “move around and pounce” routine, and it seemed to freeze Bones for spurts in that fight. Still, Bones has everything you’d ever want in his proverbial standup toolbox: youth, athleticism, reach for days, and the willingness to throw almost anything. Spinning back elbows, increasingly impressive knees and punches, and the rarely-talked-about front stomp to the knee. Every time he does that, I think “ooo … that’s gotta hurt.” But nobody ever acknowledges it because it’s the least spectacular strike he throws. Allow me to be the first. Anyway, Rashad has to be a mobile target or he’s just going to get smoked. Don’t rule this out, though. This is a more interesting fight on the feet than people think.
Edge: Jones
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