Author: Donald Wood

UFC 145 Fight Card: Jon Jones Will Shut Up Doubters with Big Win over Evans

When Rashad Evans and Jon Jones battle for the Light Heavyweight UFC title Saturday night at UFC 145 in Atlanta, they will be ending what has been two years of build.Jones comes in as the champion and Evans has been the man who has been after it over a…

When Rashad Evans and Jon Jones battle for the Light Heavyweight UFC title Saturday night at UFC 145 in Atlanta, they will be ending what has been two years of build.

Jones comes in as the champion and Evans has been the man who has been after it over a year. It was a rash of unfortunate injuries that kept this bout from happening, but the time for excuses is over.

The duo were part of the same camp, but their business relationship ended with their friendship, all that is left is a fight for the UFC belt and respect. This is going to be an all-out war.

Jones told the Washington Post about his upcoming fight with Evans and what he expects afterwards:

He thinks he knows everything I bring to the table, but a lot has changed since he left the gym a year ago. I’m a much different fighter than the one he trained with. I hope he is ready to see and feel that difference. I did tell Rashad that I was going to finish him, and that I was hoping that he would be my first career highlight knockout. And he remembers that. I would like to be able to be at a UFC event and not feel awkward in the same room with Rashad. It would be cool to be able to be like, ‘Hey, good fight,’ and just keep it moving. We’re adults here, and it’s not like I don’t know Rashad, so we’ll be like men after the fight. We’ll be cool.

After talk from skeptics about Jones’ injuries being staged to avoid the inevitable fight with Evans, it’s time for Jones to silence the critics and make his former friend and training partner respect him.

Jones will have to bring a complete arsenal to take down Evans, especially with Rashad knowing many of Jones’ tactics inside and out. The key for Jones will be adding something to his repertoire that Evans knows nothing about and unleashing it at the proper moment.

Whether it’s a spinning back fist or a flying knee, Jones need an exclamation point on this win to ensure there is no doubt who is the better man.

There is little doubt that this will become a battle for the light heavyweight crown like we’ve never seen.

 

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Ultimate Fighter 15: 3 Reasons You Must Watch the UFC Fight Competition

The Ultimate Fighter is one of the coolest shows on TV and one of the biggest reasons the UFC as a company has become as popular as it is right now. With another wild season on tap and coaches that legitimately want to beat each other down, if there wa…

The Ultimate Fighter is one of the coolest shows on TV and one of the biggest reasons the UFC as a company has become as popular as it is right now.

With another wild season on tap and coaches that legitimately want to beat each other down, if there was ever a time for a casual fan to jump right in, this would be it.

All of the following reasons should have you searching the cable box to find out when the latest episodes are coming your way!

 

New Stars Are Born

With legitimate UFC stars like Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Nate Diaz, Michael Bisping and Josh Koscheck all coming from this show, watching now can give you the inside lane as a fan about which fighters will be huge.

For those that saw Rashad Evans on the Ultimate Fighter, it was easy to see that he was going to be a star. With that said, other stars have looked mediocre at best until they got comfortable and then took off to stardom.

Even if you are just a casual fan of the UFC, watching a few episodes of the Ultimate Fighter may be enough for you to jump head first into an infatuation with the sport.

 

The Tension

When you put 16 amateur fist fighters into one house, the idea that there will not be tension is dumb. You can be sure to expect at least a few fist fights outside the octagon.

UFC isn’t dumb, either. The company knows that these guys will all try to do battle with each other, and that’s why the show has lasted 15 seasons.

As long as there is legitimate tension and attitude in the UFC house, there will be brawling. As long as there is brawling, fans will tune in; it’s a formula UFC has mastered.

 

The Final Fight

At the conclusion of every Ultimate Fighter season, the two coaches that have been jawing back and forth for the past several months will finally square off.

This time around, the two captains are UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and one of his biggest foes, Urijah Faber. With no build, this match would be amazing, but add the suspense of the show, and the UFC has a powder keg on their hands.

While fans should always watch the show for the younger fighters, the idea of the coaches being such bitter rivals only makes the show that much more interesting.

 

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Rampage Jackson: Why UFC Should Let Legend Walk Away

The UFC may lose one of the greatest faces the organization has ever had if Rampage Jackson is granted his wish of being released from the company.While losing Rampage would be a shot in the wallet for the UFC, there are plenty of fighters actually win…

The UFC may lose one of the greatest faces the organization has ever had if Rampage Jackson is granted his wish of being released from the company.

While losing Rampage would be a shot in the wallet for the UFC, there are plenty of fighters actually winning fights who can already draw as much as the former champion. Jackson’s lack of success will always be at the root of his recent struggles with the UFC.

After losing three of his last five fights, it was almost time for the UFC to force the veteran out of the Octagon anyway, so letting him walk is one less headache for Dana White and the UFC to deal with.

Jackson told MMA Junkie about his displeasure with the UFC and how he has been handled:

The UFC talks about being in a billion homes. They’re making all this money. Yet I’m making less money than I used to make with the UFC. The UFC is getting bigger, which means I’m getting bigger, but I’m making less money. Why? I think (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva needs to be slapped in the face. I’m sorry, (but) you’ve got a fighter like me who likes to go out there and fight fights, so why do you keep giving me wrestlers who are going to take me down and hump me?

As much as folks want the star to jump to another promotion, that is not the right idea. I know that Jackson will end up fighting somewhere else, but this is his chance to get away from MMA and just be an actor.

Rampage has had one of the greatest careers an MMA fighter could ever dream of, but the end has come. All the knockouts and howls can’t save him from the dreaded hand of father time, but he can still have fun and live his life.

I’m sure the A-Team movie opened some doors for the fighting sensation in the acting world, so leaving the UFC while his brain still functions to pursue a better-paying job in the movies sounds like the perfect move.

 

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Kampmann vs. Alves Results: Reaction, Grades and Analysis

In what was the UFC’s second show on FX, the free event that featured Kampmann vs. Alves was one of the best live events in the last few months. With the added controversy, this is a show we will be talking about for a long time. From championshi…

In what was the UFC’s second show on FX, the free event that featured Kampmann vs. Alves was one of the best live events in the last few months. With the added controversy, this is a show we will be talking about for a long time.

From championship contenders being elevated to a celebrity status, to a controversial reversal of a call and a last-second submission, this UFC on FX will prove that MMA is here to stay in the mainstream.

 

Fight Breakdowns

Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann  

With both men coming into this fight looking to prove that they still have what it takes to be a serious contender, there was no lack of effort in this fight.

As much as Kampmann was landing his usual effective counterpunches, Alves used his leg kicks and striking to give himself the clear lead on the cards through the third round. That’s when Alves made the biggest mistake of his in-octagon career.

With under a minute left in the final round, Alves shot in for a double-leg takedown and was caught in a guillotine choke. In the blink of an eye, it went from a decision win for Alves to a submission victory for Kampmann.

Fight Grade: A+

 

Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani    

If the fans of UFC weren’t excited for the addition of the flyweight division to the company, the TKO from Joseph Benavidez to Yasuhiro Urushitani was enough to get any fan pumped.

Benavidez isn’t a new player in the game either, holding a career 16-2 record, with the star’s only two losses coming to UFC sensation and current Bantamweight Champion, Dominick Cruz.

While Urushitani is a solid fighter, he was nothing compared to Benavidez. With quick work, the former WEC star showed the UFC faithful why he can be the face of the new division.

Fight Grade: B+

 

Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall

While the other match to decide the top contender for the vacant flyweight title was clear cut, the second match between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall had fans up in arms and the Australian crowd in a frenzy.

After going the distance in what was a perfectly set-up match, the judges returned a decision in favor of Mighty Mouse Demetrious Johnson. While the crowd disagreed, apparently there was an adding error that caused this decision to be wrong.

In what could be construed as a bad sign in terms of integrity, the judges’ official scorecards had this fight ruled a majority draw and the duo will have to battle again. While the ending sounded fishy, the fight was amazing.

Fight Grade: A-

 

Reaction

UFC’s official Twitter shared the same feeling most fans did about the spectacular finish:

CompuStrike breaks down the fight by the numbers and proves Alves had this win wrapped up:

MMAFighting.com shows both sides of the spectrum in this amazing finish:

UFC President Dan White calls it exactly how he sees it:

 

Final Show Grade: A-

While many fans have been iffy on the UFC’s transition to the mainstream via FOX Sports Network-airwaves, last night’s show is exactly what the people want to see.

Interesting stories behind fights, legitimate tension and spectacular finishes are what people want, and that’s exactly what they got Friday night.

If the UFC continues to put on free shows like this, their buy rates will start increasing for their PPVs, which will allow them to show even better fights on free TV. It’s a sinister chain of events, but it’s exactly what the fans want.

 

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Report: Blagoi Ivanov on Life Support After Being Stabbed in Chest

2008 Combat Sambo world champion and Bellator Fighting Championships rising star Blagoi Ivanov is reportedly on life support after being stabbed in the chest. The MMA fighter was rushed to a local Bulgarian hospital where doctors performed over six hou…

2008 Combat Sambo world champion and Bellator Fighting Championships rising star Blagoi Ivanov is reportedly on life support after being stabbed in the chest.

The MMA fighter was rushed to a local Bulgarian hospital where doctors performed over six hours of surgery. Doctors are reportedly still concerned about the fighter’s chances at survival.

The incident took place in a bar in Sofia, Bulgaria early in the morning of February 26. Reports say that the 25-year-old Ivanov was with two friends when eight men approached with bats and knives. The Bellator fighter was stabbed below the armpit and the blade actually pierced his heart.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said in a statement released today to MMAjunkie.com:

Right now, we do not have all of the details, but our thoughts and prayers are with Blagoi and his family.

Ivanov became well known when he defeated former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko in a bout at the 2008 World Sambo Championships. While Blagoi went on to win the tournament, it would be the victory over Emelianko that he would be remembered for.

In the first six MMA fights of his life, the bruiser was 6-0 with enough power to be a serious threat with refinement.

As doctors work to save the young man’s life, the entire MMA community sends its wishes to those affected by this tragedy.

 

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UFC 144 Weigh-In: Rampage Jackson Missing Weight Shows the End Is Near

While the UFC’s epic return to Japan with UFC 144 was going to be something amazing, trouble has already struck, with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson missing weight for this fight.The set weight was 205 pounds, but Rampage came in at a very…

While the UFC’s epic return to Japan with UFC 144 was going to be something amazing, trouble has already struck, with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson missing weight for this fight.

The set weight was 205 pounds, but Rampage came in at a very small 211.

Jackson’s opponent Ryan Bader will receive his portion of the money for this fight because of the issues with weight, but it’s what was said about the veteran’s appearance that ruffled feathers.

Former UFC Champion Rich Franklin was tough on Jackson about the condition in which he came into this fight. When looking at Rampage’s body during weigh-ins, you could tell he was completely drained.

Jackson told Ariel Helwani on the Fuel TV broadcast about the fact that he suffered an injury during the training that didn’t allow him to cut weight enough for the fight:

I wasn’t going to say anything. I thought I was going to make the weight, but I got injured in my camp [and] that kept me from doing a lot of running. But I didn’t want to miss this fight because it’s so important to me and I fought so hard to get it and I said ‘forget it, I’m just gonna man up and make the fight.’

I kept training in other ways, I just couldn’t get my road work in a lot of ways. Then I healed up and could get my roadwork in but it was too late. I started cutting weight and it was a lot of weight to cut. I cut 21 pounds. I just couldn’t get the last six.

I tried my best, it’s kind of difficult [when you’ve got to] weigh in earlier and I kind of underestimated the time. I woke up at three o’clock this morning cutting weight and I cut everything I had.

While this is something that happens from time to time, the way Jackson looked on the stage during the weigh-ins makes many fans think that there are two possible reasons for his appearance: he either didn’t train hard enough or he hurt himself.

As much as the easy way to go is to say that he didn’t take this fight seriously enough, Jackson is a fighter returning to where it all started for him. With Japan being a very special place for the former champion, to say he took this fight lightly would be disrespectful.

Jackson’s career is coming to an end before our very eyes, but we can’t stop giving the man the benefit of the doubt. If he says he was injured and that caused the problems, I believe him. It’s not like it’s uncommon not to report injuries in MMA.

I am seriously worried about how he will look during the fight after trying to cut weight as hard as he was, though. Jackson’s night could end with Rampage KO’d.

 

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