DENVER — Mark Hunt is one of the few fighters in the UFC who didn’t actually have to fight in order to get paid.
Because of the peculiarities involved in Zuffa’s purchase of Japan’s Pride Fighting Championships organization back in 2007, he could have stayed home and still collected a check, according to UFC president Dana White.
“When we bought Pride, he came as part of the Pride deal,” White said at Saturday night’s UFC 135 post-fight press conference. “It was back and forth and basically I was just like…we’ll just pay you off. We know you’re in the Pride deal. And Mark Hunt said ‘No, I want to come. I want to fight.'”
At UFC 135 Hunt won his second straight UFC bout, defeating Ben Rothwell via unanimous decision after a grueling three-round battle that saw Hunt batter Rothwell with strikes while also acquitting himself well in the ground game. It’s a long way from where most people thought he’d be after his rocky start in the UFC, not that Hunt is eager to discuss how he ended up here.
“It’s been a long journey just to get here,” said the New Zealander. “I’m still…plugging away at it. It’s been hard.”
It was especially hard after he injured his arm in a submission loss to Sean McCorkle in his UFC debut. That dropped the kickboxer’s MMA record to 5-7, and his future prospects looked grim.
But Hunt bounced back in February with a stunning walk-off knockout of Chris Tuscherer at UFC 127 in Australia, then followed it up with this clear-cut win over a very game Rothwell, who took every power shot Hunt could think of over the course of their 15-minute scrap.
“It was a really hard fight,” said Hunt. “Ben Rothwell, he’s really tough. I threw a lot of heavy shots at him, real hard shots, but he was still there.”
But according to White, what’s really impressive is how Hunt has managed to carve out a place for himself in the UFC rather than simply taking the easy money when it was offered to him. Even after White had offered to “pay [Hunt] to stay home,” he said, the heavyweight insisted on having his day in the cage.
“Let me tell you what, man, he did it,” White said. “The guy’s got a ton of heart and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Hunt, who’s never been known as one of the sport’s most verbose fighters, said he didn’t “feel like talking about” his decision to turn down the UFC’s offer to pay him off, even appearing slightly embarrassed when White brought it up.
But White said he specifically requested that Hunt come to the post-fight press conference because he wanted to highlight the situation and let everyone know how impressed he is with the former K-1 kickboxer.
“I’m glad that he opted to come here and fight and I’m proud that he fought in the UFC,” said White. “I asked him to come here tonight. If he won’t say it, I will.”
DENVER — Jon Jones decimated his toughest opponent to date and successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title for the first time on Saturday night. So why didn’t he seem all that happy about it?
That was just one of many questions for the brilliant young fighter who is proving to be as much of an enigma to those trying to understand him out of the cage as he is to the baffled opponents who face him inside of it. Throughout the UFC 135 post-fight press conference the 24-year-old champion maintained a low-key, almost downtrodden demeanor, despite the fact that he was only minutes removed from the biggest win of his career.
“Me and ‘Rampage’ [Jackson] did a lot of talking and I’m just glad it’s over,” said Jones, his voice flat and low. “I’m just doing my job right now.”
Maybe what got him down was the foot injury he sustained while kicking Jackson’s shins. He had to be helped into his seat at the start of the post-fight presser and helped out of the room once it was over, though he insisted it was nothing serious.
Or maybe it was the fact that the UFC once again cut his post-fight celebration short by immediately shifting the focus in the cage from Jones’ fourth-round submission win over Jackson to his planned next bout against former teammate Rashad Evans — a shift that Jones said “ruined my special night” for the second time in as many title fights.
When asked about that comment, a stone-faced Jones shook his head and said only, “I don’t want to talk about Rashad today.”
Though later he did talk about him, but only after Jackson alluded to Evans possibly having Jones’ number after their training room sessions at Greg Jackson’s gym in Albuquerque, N.M.
After Jackson said that Evans was “basically the only person who has a chance at beating him because Rashad trained with him before and Rashad knows,” Jones deigned to speak of his former training partner.
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“I will say this about Rashad,” Jones said. “He does not have my number. He’s not even close to having my number. Me and Rashad, we sparred a few times, and every time we sparred I know what could have happened. He talks about one day at practice where he held me down and he lives that day in his head every day.”
Even Jackson had questions for Jones once they were both sitting at the same table. Like, for instance, why did he start the fight by crawling out to the center of the cage on all fours?
According to Jones it was because he knew Jackson’s punching power would be greatest early in the fight and “I knew he wouldn’t be able to generate too much power at such a low target.”
And his decision to dump Jackson over his back before calmly strolling off to his corner following the horn to end round three? At the time, it seemed like just one more way to remind Jackson of his superiority. Not quite toying with him, but certainly sending a message.
Not so, according to Jones.
“I was just trying to finish the round strong, show that I had a lot of energy left,” he explained.
Jackson, who has losses to both Jones and Evans, said he respected the champion more than his old rival Evans, if only because Jones looked to do more than simply out-wrestle him.
“When it comes to fighting, even though Jon ran like a little girl every now and then, I still have more respect for him as a fighter, because Jon did come to bring it. …He rocked me once and he’s a true fighter. Rashad…I was really rusty and he probably would have knocked me out that time had he fought me.”
As for Jones, he insisted that he was “definitely happy” about the win over Jackson, even if he didn’t seem like it. Rather than thinking (or talking) about where and when his long-awaited fight with Evans might be, the champion had other ideas.
“I just can’t wait to get home to my family, take a nice bath, and be done for a while.”
DENVER — Jon Jones decimated his toughest opponent to date and successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title for the first time on Saturday night. So why didn’t he seem all that happy about it?
That was just one of many questions for the brilliant young fighter who is proving to be as much of an enigma to those trying to understand him out of the cage as he is to the baffled opponents who face him inside of it. Throughout the UFC 135 post-fight press conference the 24-year-old champion maintained a low-key, almost downtrodden demeanor, despite the fact that he was only minutes removed from the biggest win of his career.
“Me and ‘Rampage’ [Jackson] did a lot of talking and I’m just glad it’s over,” said Jones, his voice flat and low. “I’m just doing my job right now.”
Maybe what got him down was the foot injury he sustained while kicking Jackson’s shins. He had to be helped into his seat at the start of the post-fight presser and helped out of the room once it was over, though he insisted it was nothing serious.
Or maybe it was the fact that the UFC once again cut his post-fight celebration short by immediately shifting the focus in the cage from Jones’ fourth-round submission win over Jackson to his planned next bout against former teammate Rashad Evans — a shift that Jones said “ruined my special night” for the second time in as many title fights.
When asked about that comment, a stone-faced Jones shook his head and said only, “I don’t want to talk about Rashad today.”
Though later he did talk about him, but only after Jackson alluded to Evans possibly having Jones’ number after their training room sessions at Greg Jackson’s gym in Albuquerque, N.M.
After Jackson said that Evans was “basically the only person who has a chance at beating him because Rashad trained with him before and Rashad knows,” Jones deigned to speak of his former training partner.
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“I will say this about Rashad,” Jones said. “He does not have my number. He’s not even close to having my number. Me and Rashad, we sparred a few times, and every time we sparred I know what could have happened. He talks about one day at practice where he held me down and he lives that day in his head every day.”
Even Jackson had questions for Jones once they were both sitting at the same table. Like, for instance, why did he start the fight by crawling out to the center of the cage on all fours?
According to Jones it was because he knew Jackson’s punching power would be greatest early in the fight and “I knew he wouldn’t be able to generate too much power at such a low target.”
And his decision to dump Jackson over his back before calmly strolling off to his corner following the horn to end round three? At the time, it seemed like just one more way to remind Jackson of his superiority. Not quite toying with him, but certainly sending a message.
Not so, according to Jones.
“I was just trying to finish the round strong, show that I had a lot of energy left,” he explained.
Jackson, who has losses to both Jones and Evans, said he respected the champion more than his old rival Evans, if only because Jones looked to do more than simply out-wrestle him.
“When it comes to fighting, even though Jon ran like a little girl every now and then, I still have more respect for him as a fighter, because Jon did come to bring it. …He rocked me once and he’s a true fighter. Rashad…I was really rusty and he probably would have knocked me out that time had he fought me.”
As for Jones, he insisted that he was “definitely happy” about the win over Jackson, even if he didn’t seem like it. Rather than thinking (or talking) about where and when his long-awaited fight with Evans might be, the champion had other ideas.
“I just can’t wait to get home to my family, take a nice bath, and be done for a while.”
Jones (13-1) won the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March and will be making his first title defense in this fight. Jackson (32-8), who is coming off wins over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill, held the title previously in May 2007 through July 2008.
Round 1: A crouching Jones comes forward on his hands and knees to start the fight, which Jackson probably wasn’t expecting. Jackson swats down at him and Jones reaches for a leg, but settles for the clinch after taking a knee to the gut. They battle for position against the fence and Jones lands a nice short elbow. The action stalls in the clinch, and the crowd isn’t happy about it. They separate on their own and go to the center of the cage. Jones flicks out a few kicks to keep Rampage on the outside. Jackson tries to work his way in close and Jones grabs him in a clinch and nearly trips him to the mat. Looping hook from Jackson, then a head kick from Jones. Jones mixes up the kicks all over Jackson’s body, and Jackson has little answer for them at the moment. Jones hops up in the air but does nothing, and Jackson rushes in only to get clinched again. Big spinning head kick by Jones missed a ducking Jackson in the final ten seconds. Jackson attacks with a series of heavy, looping hooks, but Jones avoids almost all of them. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Jones.
Round 2:
“Find your range!” Jackson’s boxing coach, Mark Kinney, shouted at him in the corner. He comes out for the second and catches a Jones kick before coming forward with hooks. Jones avoids them, and just gets out of the way of a big uppercut moments later. Jones lands a nice straight left and Jackson nods at him. Jackson trying to bob and weave his way in, and Jones has his chin dangerously high as he backs away from the hooks. More kicks from Jones, then he reaches for the clinch. He’s not letting Jackson work once he gets within a certain range. It’s smart, until they have to disengage. Good left hand counter by Jackson to a Jones leg kick. Jones knocks Jackson back with a spinning back kick to the body. Jackson comes forward behind a nice left hook. Less than minute left in the round now. Jones lands a left, then a straight right. He superman punches his way into a clinch and eyes the clock. With less than ten seconds, Jones pulls guard and tries a triangle, but there’s no time left to work. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Jones.
Round 3:
Jones locks up a standing front headlock, then slips off and has to dodge some hooks on his way back out. Jones targeting Jackson’s legs with kicks now, then shoots for a double-leg and puts Jackson on his back. Jones easily goes from side control to full mount. He struggles to free his hands so he can drop some elbows, but Jackson’s making it tough. Jackson pushes him off and gets to his feet in the scramble, though he’s cut around his right eye. A front kick by Jones snaps into Jackson’s jaw. Jackson lunges with a hook, but hits only air. He seems to be getting slightly desperate and maybe a little winded, so Jones does a little shuffle to show how fresh he is. Jumping knee by Jones in the final minute of the round. Jones looks off to one side and then flicks out a straight left. Jones shoots in at the horn and flips Jackson over him as he walks off to his corner without looking back. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Jones.
Round 4:
They touch them up to start and Jones lands a glancing blow, but Jackson wobbles backwards as if he’s badly hurt. Seems like he’s playing possum here, and Jones approaches cautiously. Jones slips off a kick attempt and Jackson comes forward, but can’t capitalize. They clinch up and Jones gets the takedown against the fence. Jackson turns and gives up his back and Jones locks up a rear naked choke. Jackson can’t do much to defend as Jones rolls him over and squeezes. He tries to fight for one of Jones’ hands, but it’s too late. He has to tap. Jon Jones has successfully defended his light heavyweight title.
Jon Jones def. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:14 of round 4
They met in the center after the stoppage and Jackson patted Jones on the shoulder. Seems like the youngster earned some respect from the veteran tonight. They shake hands as Jackson’s team attempts to see to the cut near his eye.
Jones (13-1) won the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March and will be making his first title defense in this fight. Jackson (32-8), who is coming off wins over Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill, held the title previously in May 2007 through July 2008.
Round 1: A crouching Jones comes forward on his hands and knees to start the fight, which Jackson probably wasn’t expecting. Jackson swats down at him and Jones reaches for a leg, but settles for the clinch after taking a knee to the gut. They battle for position against the fence and Jones lands a nice short elbow. The action stalls in the clinch, and the crowd isn’t happy about it. They separate on their own and go to the center of the cage. Jones flicks out a few kicks to keep Rampage on the outside. Jackson tries to work his way in close and Jones grabs him in a clinch and nearly trips him to the mat. Looping hook from Jackson, then a head kick from Jones. Jones mixes up the kicks all over Jackson’s body, and Jackson has little answer for them at the moment. Jones hops up in the air but does nothing, and Jackson rushes in only to get clinched again. Big spinning head kick by Jones missed a ducking Jackson in the final ten seconds. Jackson attacks with a series of heavy, looping hooks, but Jones avoids almost all of them. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Jones.
Round 2:
“Find your range!” Jackson’s boxing coach, Mark Kinney, shouted at him in the corner. He comes out for the second and catches a Jones kick before coming forward with hooks. Jones avoids them, and just gets out of the way of a big uppercut moments later. Jones lands a nice straight left and Jackson nods at him. Jackson trying to bob and weave his way in, and Jones has his chin dangerously high as he backs away from the hooks. More kicks from Jones, then he reaches for the clinch. He’s not letting Jackson work once he gets within a certain range. It’s smart, until they have to disengage. Good left hand counter by Jackson to a Jones leg kick. Jones knocks Jackson back with a spinning back kick to the body. Jackson comes forward behind a nice left hook. Less than minute left in the round now. Jones lands a left, then a straight right. He superman punches his way into a clinch and eyes the clock. With less than ten seconds, Jones pulls guard and tries a triangle, but there’s no time left to work. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Jones.
Round 3:
Jones locks up a standing front headlock, then slips off and has to dodge some hooks on his way back out. Jones targeting Jackson’s legs with kicks now, then shoots for a double-leg and puts Jackson on his back. Jones easily goes from side control to full mount. He struggles to free his hands so he can drop some elbows, but Jackson’s making it tough. Jackson pushes him off and gets to his feet in the scramble, though he’s cut around his right eye. A front kick by Jones snaps into Jackson’s jaw. Jackson lunges with a hook, but hits only air. He seems to be getting slightly desperate and maybe a little winded, so Jones does a little shuffle to show how fresh he is. Jumping knee by Jones in the final minute of the round. Jones looks off to one side and then flicks out a straight left. Jones shoots in at the horn and flips Jackson over him as he walks off to his corner without looking back. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Jones.
Round 4:
They touch them up to start and Jones lands a glancing blow, but Jackson wobbles backwards as if he’s badly hurt. Seems like he’s playing possum here, and Jones approaches cautiously. Jones slips off a kick attempt and Jackson comes forward, but can’t capitalize. They clinch up and Jones gets the takedown against the fence. Jackson turns and gives up his back and Jones locks up a rear naked choke. Jackson can’t do much to defend as Jones rolls him over and squeezes. He tries to fight for one of Jones’ hands, but it’s too late. He has to tap. Jon Jones has successfully defended his light heavyweight title.
Jon Jones def. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:14 of round 4
They met in the center after the stoppage and Jackson patted Jones on the shoulder. Seems like the youngster earned some respect from the veteran tonight. They shake hands as Jackson’s team attempts to see to the cut near his eye.
DENVER — This is the UFC 135 live blog for Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi, a lightweight bout on tonight’s UFC pay-per-view from the Pepsi Center.
Diaz (13-7) has lost two straight fights, dropping decisions to Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. Gomi (32-7) suffered a loss via submission to Clay Guida at UFC 125 in January.
DENVER — This is the UFC 135 live blog for Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi, a lightweight bout on tonight’s UFC pay-per-view from the Pepsi Center.
Diaz (13-7) has lost two straight fights, dropping decisions to Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. Gomi (32-7) suffered a loss via submission to Clay Guida at UFC 125 in January.
Filed under: UFCFighter vs. Writer has been on a bit of a hiatus, which is what happens when you go from a country where you don’t speak the language and your cell phone doesn’t work to a Strikeforce event where the only fighters around are the ones on…
Fighter vs. Writer has been on a bit of a hiatus, which is what happens when you go from a country where you don’t speak the language and your cell phone doesn’t work to a Strikeforce event where the only fighters around are the ones on the card, but you don’t want to hear my excuses, do you?
All that matters is that we’re back this week with UFC middleweight and TUF 14 coach Michael Bisping, who graciously took time away from bickering with opposing coach ‘Mayhem’ Miller to go head to head with yours truly over the UFC 135 main card.
Bisping: Jackson via TKO. “Jon Jones is unbelievable and an incredible athlete and an incredible champ. He’s forging a fantastic career and he’s got what it takes to be a legend one day. That said, he’s fighting Rampage and this is going to be the best Rampage you’ve seen in a long time.” Fowlkes: Jones via TKO. With Jackson’s punching power, you can’t ever count him out. And yes, I think this is the most motivated and in-shape Rampage we’ve seen in a long while. But I still don’t think it’ll be enough. Jones is too quick, too long, and too dynamic. Jackson won’t get close enough to hurt him, and Jones will chop him down.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
Bisping: Koscheck via decision. Matt Hughes has been a great champion in the past and a great ambassador for the sport, but he’s coming to the end of his career. He hasn’t looked too great lately. He hasn’t looked like the Matt Hughes of old, and it pains me to say that because he’s a Hall of Famer. But I’ve got to go with Koscheck being younger, faster, stronger — probably a better wrestler as well.” Fowlkes: Koscheck via TKO. Honestly, I don’t see a single area where Hughes holds the advantage. Experience, maybe? But even there, Koscheck has enough that he’s not going to be beaten on sheer veteran savvy alone. I think he out-strikes, out-wrestles, and overpowers Hughes.
Bisping: Diaz via submission. “That’s a tough one. It could go a lot like the Nick Diaz-Gomi fight. I’ve got to go with Nate.” Fowlkes: Diaz via submission. I’d feel better about it if I didn’t think Diaz was inclined to stand and trade, thus giving Gomi more of a chance than he needs to. Even so, I think it eventually winds up on the floor, where Diaz is superior.
Bisping: Broughton via TKO. “He’s one of the toughest human beings walking this planet. He’s big, strong, and you wouldn’t know it from the look of him because he carries a little extra weight, but he’s a cardio machine. I see him wearing [Browne] down and finishing him in the later rounds.” Fowlkes: Browne via TKO. Every Englishman I’ve talked to this week (and between Bisping and Telegraph writer Gareth Davies, I’ve talked to two) tells me what a tough guy Broughton is. I don’t doubt them, but Browne is just so big and so powerful. I think he’ll keep Broughton at a distance and smash him.
Bisping: Hunt via KO. “I’m going with Mark Hunt because I know him. I don’t know too much about Ben Rothwell, but I know he’s had mixed results. I like Mark Hunt. I’m a big fan of his Pride days and K-1, so I’m rooting for him.” Fowlkes: Rothwell via submission. If Bisping can pick based purely on personal feelings, then so can I. I got to know Rothwell when we were both working for the IFL, and he’s one of the truly good people in this business. If he’s smart, he gets Hunt to the ground and takes advantage of his weak submissions defense.
Filed under: UFCIt’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both UFC 135 main eventers chipping away at each other in their own unique ways. With the fight nearly upon us, I submit some thoughts, predictions, and questions for your consideration…
It’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both UFC 135 main eventers chipping away at each other in their own unique ways. With the fight nearly upon us, I submit some thoughts, predictions, and questions for your consideration.
I. When did respect and humility become so important to “Rampage” Jackson? It must have been very, very recently, since I seem to recall him being less than respectful in the pre-fight exchanges with Rashad Evans. And remember Darrill “Titties” Schoonover, who Jackson bullied repeatedly during a coaching stint on TUF? Let’s go ask him how important respect is to Jackson. I get it, he’s feeling dissed by Jones and, possibly, the media and the oddsmakers. But as Jackson spent all week harping on Jones’ lack of respect, it was hard not to wonder when the challenger had decided to eschew bad breath jokes and personal insults in favor of treating everyone like he’d want to be treated. It must have been after he compared Jones to a monkey he saw at the zoo, just like his sudden love of humility must have come after he predicted that Jones would have to be woken up in the cage following Saturday’s fight. I guess when Jackson says fighters should show respect, he means they should show it to him.
II. And, while we’re on the subject, why can’t Jon Jones just admit that he thinks he’s pretty great? It’s not like anyone would blame him. Look at what he’s done. Just a few years after putting on the gloves for the first time he’s the UFC light heavyweight champion. A guy like that can be cocky. After all, it ain’t bragging if it’s true. The problem is, he’s trying very hard to present a certain hand-crafted, squeaky clean image to the fans, but they’re no longer buying it. He claims not to care what people think of him, but in reality it seems like few UFC champions care more. The claim that he’s somehow disrespected Jackson more than Jackson has disrespected him doesn’t hold up, but Jones certainly has a high opinion of his own skills, and he’s not the only one. If he’d just admit it, it couldn’t be used against him so effectively.
III. My God, this spying nonsense. With all this talk about secret espionage, how is it that there hasn’t been a single statuesque Russian woman involved? Or a dude with an eye patch? At least a spit bucket that is also a smoke bomb. Worst spy story ever.
IV. Matt Hughes says he hasn’t made a decision, but he definitely doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to retire soon. If he did, this would be a sensible fight to end on. His contract is coming up, he claims he doesn’t want to stick around into his forties, so why not call it now? My guess is, it’s because he’s hoping he’ll put out a win over Josh Koscheck and then he’ll be able to ride this train for at least one or two more fights. His wife wants him to quit. His boss doesn’t see what else he’d have to fight for. All signs are pointing toward retirement. The fact that Hughes is adamant about making no decision yet — just as he is adamant that the outcome of this fight doesn’t really matter — tells you that he desperately wants to stay in the UFC just a little while longer. If Koscheck puts a beatdown on him (and I suspect he will), the case for a continued Hughes run is going to be hard to make.
V. If Travis Browne can put his size to work, Rob Broughton could be in for a rough night. Seeing those two heavyweights near each other in the gym on Thursday, it became very apparent that Broughton’s biggest challenge will be getting in close. He’d probably like to put Browne on the mat, but at 6’7″ Browne is a lot of humanity to try and forcibly relocate. If he keeps Broughton at a distance, this should be Browne’s fight to lose.
VI. Will Nate Diaz opt to stand and bang against an opponent who excels at that (and, at this point, little else)? If you’re Takanori Gomi, you probably hope so. The Japanese import has not been so stellar on the ground lately, and he did get submitted by Diaz’s older brother (who then got submitted by the NSAC’s drug testing procedures, but whatever). But if Diaz comes out looking to box, he gives Gomi more of a chance than he needs to. Gomi still hits hard (just ask Tyson Griffin) and he’s always gotten high marks in the brawlability category. That doesn’t mean Diaz can’t beat him on the feet, but why risk it if you don’t have to? Maybe just because you’re a Diaz, and that’s what Diazes do.
VII. Ben Rothwell is a brand new fighter…again. I like Rothwell as a person, and I see what he’s trying to say, but what is this, like the third time he’s declared himself to be a new man? He’s been gone for a bit with injuries, so this time maybe it’s more true than ever, but how different is he really going to be? What, he’s lost some weight? He’s quicker? He’s a jiu-jitsu master who pulls guard now? Okay, the last one would be a significant change, but odds are he’s going to be more or less the same fighter, just an updated version. Again, nothing wrong with that. But you don’t get to be born anew before every fight. Especially not when you’ve been in this sport for ten freaking years.
VIII. The “media notes” the UFC has started handing out recently are, well, interesting. There’s some good information in the ten-plus pages of handouts. If you don’t live and breathe this sport (looking at you, local newspaper writer who probably won’t even show up until the main event), it catches you up on ‘spygate’ and on Hughes’ record of 18 UFC wins. But it also feels like some information is tossed in there just to fill white space. For instance, did you know Rothwell has “a technical degree in collision repair” from Waukesha County Technical College? Or that Hughes has an associate of arts degree from Lincoln Community College? I’m not sure what the UFC expects us to do with that information, but hey, the more you know, I guess.
IX. It’s a little weird to see Josh Koscheck being this nice. We’ve seen flashes of the old Kos this week, but the barbs have been few and not even all that prickly. When he said Hughes was in for a bad night, he seemed to actually feel a little bit bad about it. It’s as if he doesn’t want to beat Hughes up (or at least, not as much as he usual), but simply has no choice. Then again, he’s as fierce a competitor as Hughes is, he reminded us. It doesn’t matter if he’s fighting a former world champ or “a 12-year-old kid,” he wants to win. Who knew he could do it with such a congenial attitude? Well, congenial for him, anyway.
DENVER — Mark Hunt is one of the few fighters in the UFC who didn’t actually have to fight in order to get paid. 
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Fighter vs. Writer has been on a bit of a hiatus, which is what happens when you go from a country where you don’t speak the language and your cell phone doesn’t work to a 
It’s been an interesting week in Denver, what with both