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Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson: What Went Right and Wrong for the Champ

Whether or not Jon Jones truly did enough to retain his UFC light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson Saturday night, everybody in the MMA world agrees on two key facts.
Firstly, they agree that a rematch will happen down the …

Whether or not Jon Jones truly did enough to retain his UFC light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson Saturday night, everybody in the MMA world agrees on two key facts.

Firstly, they agree that a rematch will happen down the line between “Bones” and “The Mauler” because Gustafsson pushed Jones harder than any of Jones’ past challengers. Secondly, they agree that this bout not only ranks among the all-time greatest light heavyweight contests in UFC history, but also delivers a potential front-runner for “Fight of The Year.”

Now then, to address that pesky judging debate, let us recall that two judges scored the ultra-close title bout 48-47, scoring three rounds for Jones and two rounds for Gustafsson. In contrast, just one of last night’s cageside judging trio submitted a 49-46 score, with all but one round going the way of the champion.

It stands to reason that most would see the champion getting the better end of three close rounds, but how? What did Jones do to earn himself the better end of those rounds, outside of carrying a marketable name and not getting finished by a worthy opponent?

Saturday night’s action told us what we already know about what went wrong for Jones, but some deeper insight will reveal what went right for the main event’s winner and still the UFC light heavyweight champion.

What Went Wrong for Jones?

Once the fight started, both men looked for an edge in a technical striking battle, but then Jones got tagged and suffered a cut near his right eye.

As Gustafsson pressed on, the cut worsened, and cageside doctors almost stopped the fight before the start of the championship rounds. It also did not help Jones that Gustafsson found his mark with shots to the body in the later rounds.

Even when Jones attacked with his vaunted spinning back elbow, it missed the mark in the early going, and “The Mauler” did his part to deflect a number of head-kick attempts from Jones.

In the skinny of it all, Jones found himself looking for a way to keep up with the frantic pace that Gustafsson established, because Jones knew if he couldn’t keep up with Gustafsson, he would lose his title.

What Went Right for Jones?

In line with the norm for Jones’ fights, few expected Jones to do what he did to Gustafsson, but it paid dividends. Many asked themselves what Jones would do when someone came out looking to dominate him as he dominated others in previous bouts. When push came to shove, however, Jones found a way to shove back.

Jones’ resiliency kept him in the fight, even though Gustafsson’s damaging blows slowed him down. As the fight started reaching the later rounds, Jones’ head kicks, spinning back elbows and flying knees began to land more flush.

In fairness, Jones never rocked Gustafsson prior to his late fourth-round rally, nor did he rock Gustafsson after, but he capitalized on the negative effects of the frantic pace Gustafsson set early in the bout.

Ultimately, Jones still looked worse for the wear, but to say that the judges robbed Gustafsson all but declares that close fights never did and never will exist in MMA. Jones persevered in order to end up outstriking his hungry foe.

The unanimous-decision win did not emerge as a popular or a justifiable decision, but Jones’ fight with Gustafsson answered questions about Jones when someone has fought him with hellfire and razor wire.

FightMetric statistics revealed after the fight that, while the two combined for only two total takedowns between them, Jones landed the higher overall percentage of significant strikes and also connected with a higher total of strikes.

Gustafsson, to his credit, stayed busy early on, but while Gustafsson’s early frenetic fury earned him a case toward taking the decision, so did Jones’ activity when many believed Jones attacked “too little, too late” in the fight.

Gustafsson came up short, but fans can expect a rematch, and both men can expect the other to improve in areas where they looked less than stellar, but everyone learned that when one forces Jones into a fight, he will not hesitate to fight back, even if he does not get a pretty victory out of it.

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Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland: The Winner will See Dominick Cruz Next

Sometimes a winning streak walks a fine line between legendary and insanity, especially when it features a man like UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao, who owns 30 pro career wins, one no-contest, and just one defeat.
Skeptics argued that, a…

Skeptics argued that, aside from eventual featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and rising prospect Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra, Barao‘s record featured wins over never-hacked-its, save for Anthony Leone.

That all changed in 2011, when the UFC-WEC merger went down, and Barao came into the UFC as the most lethal and promising bantamweight that nobody heard of.

He systematically broke down former WEC featherweight champion Cole Escovedo, and then stole the show with “One Punch” Brad Pickett, who ironically hit the ground thanks to one punch from Barao and eventually tapped to one of the more nasty versions of a rear naked choke in recent memory.

A decision win over Scott Jorgensen followed, and Barao anticipated a marquee collision with the winner of UFC 148’s original co-headliner of undisputed UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber.

But when Cruz suffered an injury and withdrew from the trilogy, the stars aligned to give us UFC 149’s interim UFC bantamweight title headliner between Barao vs. Faber.

Many agree that UFC 149 on the whole turned in an inferior night of fights, likely due to the injuries that hit it, but few could argue that Barao‘s performance left anything to be desired. In fact, Barao turned in arguably one of his best overall career performances when he dominated Faber for five rounds.

Barao went on to survive a near-scare against Michael McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV 7 and inevitably submitted McDonald, booking a date with Eddie Wineland once Wineland pleaded his case towards a title crack. Now we stand just 24 hours away from UFC 165 in Toronto, where the two will do business.

On paper, Barao loses the most in this fight. Currently, many peg him as the man to beat Cruz, not only because of his endurance and his chin, but also because he brings a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game unlike that of any other bantamweight in the division right now.

In addition to that, he attacks with the type of diverse technical volume-striking that can mobilize just about anyone, though he does not show fear in wearing opponents out against the cage if he must.

However, for every reason that many feel Barao will beat Wineland, Wineland delivers a counter-argument. Often touted for his well-founded skills, Wineland not only carries an underappreciated ground game, but he also packs the kind of power that sets him apart from the common opponents that he, Barao and Cruz share.

Like Barao, Wineland also holds wins over Pickett and Jorgensen, and like Cruz, Wineland owns a loss to Faber. Still, neither Barao nor Wineland ever fought the still-reigning champion, but both know that a win may get them a shot at unifying the belts opposite Cruz.

On the other end, Cruz knows that if his injury prevents him from fighting the winner, UFC president Dana White already declared to the media that the promotion will pull the trigger and strip Cruz of the belt.

Still, does that possible event mean he will not cross paths with the winner down the line? Absolutely not. Cruz will find himself in a position to reclaim the belt he technically did not lose, but he will not get an immediate shot at the gold as others have in the past.

Instead, Cruz will get one fight before facing either Barao or Wineland, simply to show that he still possesses the same step he held when he last defended the undisputed title. Expect Cruz to fight against the winner of a major contender fight, specifically Faber’s UFC on Fox 9 bout with McDonald, before he fights to reclaim the title.

Should Cruz face the Faber-McDonald winner, he will meet this Saturday’s victor sometime before the end of 2014. With a shortage of contenders in the division, Cruz vs. the Faber-McDonald winner will make the most sense in determining the next man to contest for the actual gold.

The question remains, however, just who will hold the gold and get their chance to combat Cruz?

We will find out Saturday, and if that man can say or do anything about it, he will prove that he needed to stand as UFC bantamweight champion long ago.

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UFC 165: With a Dominant Win, Jon Jones Will Not Immediately Move to Heavyweight

With a win over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will do more than simply retain his title.
Not only would he score a win over the one foe everyone expects to challenge him, but he would also top th…

With a win over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will do more than simply retain his title.

Not only would he score a win over the one foe everyone expects to challenge him, but he would also top the records of former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes and UFC Hall of Famer and current Bellator 106 headliner Tito Ortiz. Ortiz holds the records for most successful defenses, most consecutive successful defenses and most successful wins in UFC light heavyweight title bouts.

Jones knows where it will put him if this, his sixth UFC light heavyweight title defense, goes as planned on Saturday night in Toronto. Should he pass the achievements of Hughes and Ortiz, he will zero in on the current welterweight title record of reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Of course, once that happens, fans will automatically question whether he will finally move to heavyweight.

Rest assured, he will move to heavyweight and put himself in position to earn a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship, but he will not do it on the strength of the win over Gustafsson.

Remember, Brazilian light heavyweight prospect Glover Teixeira arguably earned his own crack at Saturday’s winner with his win over Ryan Bader just a few weeks ago, and Daniel Cormier has already declared his intentions to face Jones with a win over Roy Nelson at UFC 166.

In short, Jones will have to contend with at least one or two threats to the throne he holds before he can set his sights on the most must-see division in the MMA world.

But knowing Jones, he will not keep his mind off Gustafsson, whose reach disadvantage stands a bit higher than advertised. The fact that we do not know what version of “The Mauler” we will see makes the prospect of Jones at heavyweight all but an “if and only if” situation right now.

Then again, we are speaking of Jon “Bones” Jones, a freak athlete who excels at destroying his opponents either at their own game or by breaking them in areas where they previously held some edge. Thus, he should crush Gustafsson mentally, kill off his hopes of looking like he belongs in the UFC and destroy him physically on Saturday night, just as he did to the men who challenged him before, right?

Come Saturday night, we will find out. Just because Jones can do it, and just because he did it before, doesn’t necessarily mean he will do it again. Just the same, just because Gustafsson made easy work of top-ranked individuals before, does not mean he will unseat the champ.

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UFC 164: Expect an Encore of Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis 1 in Milwaukee

Remember when Anthony Pettis stepped into hostile territory to face then-WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson at WEC 53 in Glendale, AZ? It feels like ages ago that the two closed out the final card of the now-defunct World Extreme Cagefighting, e…

Those who remember the fight saw the bout even after four rounds and prepared to debate over whether or not anyone won or lost the fifth round. Then, from out of nowhere, Pettis ran toward the wall of the WEC cage, sprung off and used the momentum of the launch to find a home for a right head kick that dropped Henderson.

Henderson would hold on until the end of the round, but still lost a unanimous decision to Pettis, who left Henderson’s home state as the final WEC lightweight champion. Both men would eventually make their way to the UFC, traveling on different roads that would lead them to their much-anticipated rematch.

Henderson, now the reigning UFC lightweight champion, rides a seven-fight winning streak, though some still dispute his two wins over Frankie Edgar and his recent UFC on Fox 7 win over Gilbert Melendez. Meanwhile, Pettis started his UFC career with a loss to Clay Guida, accumulated a three-fight winning streak, and now fills in for an injured TJ Grant to fight at home for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 164.

Actually, Pettis planned on seeing UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 163, but an injury befell Pettis. Luckily, the injury did not prove severe enough to keep him from fighting at home. With Grant out, Pettis and Henderson both get the opportunity they equally desire.

Still, while Pettis and Henderson will look to bring a different fight from the one they brought to Glendale, should fans expect to see the two repeat the first fight when the two duke it out in Milwaukee?

For a number of reasons, fans should expect a near-repeat of the first fight.

Pettis brings unorthodox striking and an active ground game. Though he struggled with Guida‘s wrestling, that striking and that ground game promise to bring out the aggression that defined Henderson’s WEC run.

More than just the moves that Pettis throws out of thin air, he throws them in a textbook manner. From Capoeira-style kicks to liver kicks, and from Showtime knees to his patented Showtime Kick, Pettis perfected his striking technique to where everything he throws appears beautifully executed, even when some of those strikes do not land flush on his opponent’s anatomy.

Likewise, consider Henderson’s style for a moment. The “Smooth” one brings a style that presents opportunities for fights to end in close or controversial manners, often with him landing more than he appears en route to decision wins. Additionally, he incorporates a number of strong takedowns into his game and looks to keep active whenever he takes his opponent to the ground.

From a statistical standpoint, the champ’s success in various areas of the game speaks for itself, though Pettis‘ success proves impressive in its own right. For instance, the champ’s success in takedowns gives him an automatic edge on paper, as do his accuracy defense and output on the feet. However, Pettis‘ strikes not only pack a bit more power into them, but they also prove effective in areas few ever mention with Pettis.

In the clinch, Pettis‘ striking proves lethal. His effectiveness with his jab takes a backseat to very few in the division. As far as grappling goes, the champion’s success in takedowns delivers a bottom line, but only if one ignores what Pettis does when he actually does attempt takedowns, as well as what he does on the ground and what he goes for in the submission department.

The bottom line, though, is that fans should expect an encore of the first fight predominantly for the fact that once the Octagon door closes, the things Pettis and Henderson normally bring fly right out the window, along with the stats.

Sure, fans will see Pettis look to fight more strategically in areas where Henderson bested him before, just as Henderson will look to showcase improvements in areas that Pettis proved superior back in 2010. Nevertheless, in doing so, something will give and someone will leave an opening.

Once that happens, the other will take advantage. Then we will witness another split fight heading into its final round, forcing both men to unleash one game-changing maneuver in order to pull through in the clutch and leave Milwaukee with the UFC lightweight title.

As for who unleashes the “move of the fight,” we will find out this Saturday night. Rest assured that nobody will forget it afterward, just as nobody will ever forget the first fight that started it all between two of the best representatives of the UFC lightweight division’s present and future.

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UFC 164: Expect an Encore of Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis 1 in Milwaukee

For a number of reasons, fans should expect a near-repeat of the first fight.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dana White Won’t Counter-Program Bellator 106, and That’s a Smart Move

Everyone knows the UFC’s modus operandi by now when it comes to the fights they showcase. The strategic idea behind their cards involves showcasing the best fights possible, either on pay-per-view or on free TV.
When the UFC began its deal with Fox las…

When the UFC began its deal with Fox last year, the quantity of events increased, but when the injury bug, the cancellation of UFC 151, and the all-time lowest PPV buyrate of any UFC event in the Zuffa era hit the promotion, the occasional question arose about whether or not more harm than good came from what some perceived as too many UFC events.

Compared to the number of MMA events that fly under the radar without so much as a mundane mention in casual conversation, the UFC’s upcoming schedule actually doesn’t present that many cards, though it does promise a lot of cards in itself. Besides, while they certainly did not avoid the injury bug this year, they did deliver some notable hits, both on free TV and pay-per-view, save for some clear misses.

Still, those expecting the UFC to feature more cards in 2013 aside from their upcoming schedule should pump the brakes. UFC president Dana White spoke to members of the media today and, as reported by MMAJunkie.com, declared that the promotion will not feature a night of UFC action on Nov. 2. That’s the night that Bellator 106 emanates live from Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. on pay-per-view with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Tito Ortiz and Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler vs. former champion Eddie Alvarez.

Some would find shock in White’s decision to not try and use the next two months to put together something that could compete with Bellator 106, but it shouldn’t shock anyone. Aside from not opting to feed the argument that the UFC over-saturates their product by putting on too many events, two months does not allow for the time the UFC needs to put on a card that can compete with Bellator‘s PPV debut.

Right now, UFC 164 features the WEC 53 rematch of Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis, this time with Henderson’s UFC lightweight title at stake. Afterwards, UFC 165 features UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson and UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland.

In addition, UFC 166 features Cain Velasquez-Junior Dos Santos 3, UFC 167 gets Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks, while UFC 168 gets the doubleheader of UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva and UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate.

Competing with Bellator 106 with two months to go essentially means playing out a rather unrealistic situation in which two or more of those six upcoming title fights move from their respective cards to another UFC event that may or may not wind up on pay-per-view. Still, the promotion needs to stack the card up rather well, even with title fights on the card, and, with a number of guys out of action or slated to remain on the sidelines for the rest of the year, only a select few names could possibly fill out the kind of card that people would choose over Bellator 106.

This does not imply that more people will express interest in Jackson-Ortiz than anything the UFC features, but, again, the lack of time makes it to where the UFC will need to reschedule a number of their biggest fights for Nov. 2, and with the way the UFC’s remaining schedule looks once UFC 164 hits the archives, the UFC wants the best fights to happen and will not settle for anything less.

Of course, things can change, meaning that White could rethink his position and find a way to load up an alluring event without touching his post-UFC 164 schedule, but for now, cut the boss man some slack. He doesn’t know any more about how the Viacom-owned promotion’s PPV debut will do than anyone else. Even Bellator MMA doesn’t have a clue as to how thing will go, but they hold high expectations and hopes.

Remember, though, they planned this months in advance. They will enjoy some time to load their card up and sell it to fans in the next two months. If White changes his mind, he will not enjoy the same. Therefore, applaud White for a smart decision that involves staying true to the UFC M.O. of featuring the best fights possible.

After all, the UFC could easily attract attention with a Nov. 2 outing simply because their brand slaps its name on the advertised card, but if the event does not legitimately promise the best fights in the world, or anything that could remotely outclass the level of action Bellator MMA wants to promote on pay-per-view, what good does it do the UFC in the long run?

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