Ol’ Dan Henderson just couldn’t help himself.
Hours before the new year announced its presence with the uncorking of a thousand champagne bottles, “Hendo” fired off one last parting shot to the man who eluded him the most in 2012.
“Wishin everyone a Happy New year!! Be safe! No drinking and driving and hitting telephone poles,” Henderson dryly quipped on Twitter, not-so-subtly referring to the DUI arrest of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Of course, word travels fast in this insulated little community we have. So it didn’t take long for Jones to answer the salvo.
“Lol the old guy got jokes.. that a boy… on to the next one,” the champ responded, dismissively putting an end to the year’s final high-profile Twitter squabble before posting a string of motivational musings.
And just like, it’s onward to 2013. Let’s make it a good one, folks.
6 MUST-READ STORIES
Henderson, Jones exchange jabs. Dan Henderson welcomed in the new year by making a thinly-veiled reference to Jon Jones’ DUI arrest via Twitter. Jones wasted little time responding, “The old guy got jokes.. that a boy… on to the next one.”
JDS reflects on loss. Speaking with Brazil’s SporTV, Junior dos Santos admitted to using the “wrong strategy” in his loss to Cain Velasquez, worrying too much about takedowns, not protecting himself properly, and not taking advantage of his jiu-jitsu. Dos Santos also said of a rubber match: “I want now, soon.”
Severn retires. UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on Tuesday, simply writing, “Father time is telling me it’s time to go.” Severn retires at the age of 54, with a 101-19-7 career record.
UFC hires Dolce to help Cyborg. Nutrition specialist Mike Dolce says the UFC has enlisted his services to help Cris “Cyborg” Santos drop down from featherweight to 135 pounds, in order to set up a potential superfight against UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
UFC 155 medical suspensions, salaries. Despite suffering a brutal beating at the hands of Cain Velasquez, former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos received a minimal medical suspension in the aftermath of UFC 155. “Cigano” also led the event’s disclosed payroll, pocketing $400,000 in the loss.
Daley, Bellator feud. According to a posting on his Facebook page, Paul Daley claims Bellator MMA is attempting to prevent him from earning a living while the British fighter waits for undisclosed visa issues to be resolved.
MEDIA STEW
Let the memories wash over you as the MMA Fighting team looks back at the best 2012 had to offer. Here’s to a fantastic 2013.
“I’m hearing he’s doing some video blogs in Portuguese, saying I’m not going to make it out of the first or second round, third round, whatever it may be. Homeboy’s got something comin’ though.” – Frankie Edgar on Jose Aldo
Watching Shinya Aoki grapple is an endlessly fascinating endeavor, though I doubt anyone expected a finish quite like this.
Most striking moment of this behind-the-scenes mini-blog: Cain crying blood after receiving his belt.
Poor Tim Sylvia. Not long ago he thought he had signed with Strikeforce to fight Daniel Cormier, and instead, now he’s relegated to performances like this. (Check out part 2 to see the rest.)
It’s never too late for more “Best of” awards. This collection comes courtesy of Kenny Florian, who just so happens to agree with yours truly on 2012’s Fight of the Year.
LOW BLOW
Wishin everyone a Happy New year!! Be safe!No drinking and driving and hitting telephone poles
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) January 1, 2013
lol the old guy got jokes.. that a boy… on to the next one
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 1, 2013
JDS 2.0
My 2013 goals are very clear – – train harder than ever and regain the heavyweight title.I will#makeitcount!#justdoit
— juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) December 31, 2012
SLOW PROGRESS
3 days later… Keeps getting worse. #UFC155 instagr.am/p/T820B0qb-v/
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) January 1, 2013
“Oh shit! What happened to you? Oh, you must be Mr. Lauzon.” #DeliveryDriver
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) January 1, 2013
SUPPORT
@philbaroni you’re wrong. Stay strong. Its a new year and its got baroni all over it
— Victor Cui (@victoronefc) January 1, 2013
@philbaroni hush
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) January 1, 2013
@philbaroni shut you fucking mouth.u da man Phil. Love u and keep that head up.
— kendallgrovemma (@kendallgrovemma) January 1, 2013
OH, IT IS
@timkennedymma I’m still on Vegas but I’ll be home on Friday. We can only hang out if snuggling is on the menu.
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) January 1, 2013
MOVING ON UP
It took me 9 years but today i finally received my blackbelt from my coach david lea of toshido mma instagr.am/p/T4AjUZQ0oe/
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) December 30, 2012
REALLY LEFT THAT ONE OUT THERE
@patmiletich man that’s a lot of alcohol….
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) January 1, 2013
AMEN
We made it. Congratulations mankind… Now lets see if we can improve a little.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) January 1, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the holiday (Monday, December 31, 2012 – Tuesday, January 1, 2013):
- N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day sees Steve Borchardt reflect back for: 2012 MMA Timeline Part 2: May through August
As the melting snows of spring gave way to the long hazy days of summer, the MMA news cycle went through a gradual but pronounced metamorphosis of its own. When Nick Diaz’s ongoing saga with the Nevada State Athletic Commission wrapped itself up in May, we in the MMA community let out a collective sigh of relief at hopefully never again having to make the inane distinction between a test failure for marijuana and one for “marijuana metabolites” and turned our eyes towards the looming rematch between the greatest fighter alive in Anderson Silva and the brashest trash talker to ever put on a pair of five ounce gloves in Chael Sonnen. Little did we know at the time that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones would soon enter upon the most embattled period of his career and dominate the headlines to an even greater degree than everyone’s favorite midnight toker from the 209 did in the early months of the year. Join me bellow as I march through the days and relive the summer that was…
May 2nd: UFC president Dana White confirms Johny Hendricks is fighting for a welterweight title shot in his upcoming UFC on FOX 3 bout with Josh Koscheck.
May 4th: MMA pioneer and showman extraordinaire Akihiro Gono announces his retirement from the sport following a first round TKO loss at the hands of Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
May 5th: Johny Hendricks earns a narrow split decision win over Josh Koscheck at UFC on FOX 3.
May 5th: Nate Diaz trounces opponent Jim Miller in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 and earns himself a future date with lightweight champion Ben Henderson.
May 5th: Nate Diaz/Jim Miller is witnessed by a mere 2.9 million viewers, down 52% from the 6.1 million who tuned into the UFC on FOX 2 main event of Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis on January 28th.
May 5th: Johny Hendricks says he would like to sit out and wait for the victor of an eventual title unification bout between interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit and injured champion Georges St. Pierre.
May 7th: Dana White claims the Las Vegas Culinary Worker’s Union – who have lobbied heavily to keep MMA illegal in New York and have attempted to alienate blue chip sponsors from the UFC – stand to make an additional $10.8 million a year if they are successful in their efforts to get the Fertitta owned Station Casinos chain to unionize.
May 7th: The New York Daily News reports that a bill to legalize MMA in New York will not receive a vote by the assembly despite passing the state senate.
May 7th: UFC bantamweight champion and TUF: Live coach Dominick Cruz is forced to pull out of his title fight with opposing coach Urijah Faber at UFC 148. This marks the second main card match UFC 148 has lost since the lineup was finalized on March 21st.
May 10th: Jon Jones versus Dan Henderson for the light heavyweight title is officially announced as the main event of UFC 151, set for September 1st.
May 10th: Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal signs contracts with both Bellator and the pro wrestling company TNA. The concurrent deals make King Mo the first American fighter of the modern era to attempt to balance a career in MMA with a full time schedule in the squared circle.
May 11th: A Nevada district court judge throws out the Diaz camp’s request for an injunction and schedules Diaz’s hearing with the NSAC for May 21st.
May 12th: Former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres – who was once cut from the UFC for tweeting a joke about what he called “rape vans” – sends out the following tweet: “They should never say stop, no, and don’t. What you should hear is no don’t stop.”
May 13th: Nick Diaz no-shows his World Jiu-Jitsu Expo main event with Braulio Estima. Ten percent of the proceeds from the $12.95 internet pay per view event were scheduled to go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, in addition to Diaz’s entire purse
May 13th: Braulio Estima offers the following opinion on Nick Diaz, “He has a problem. He has a social issue. This isn’t his first time doing this.”
Much more after the jump…
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.