Author: Jeremy Botter

Chael Sonnen: The Only Big-Money Opponent Left for Jon Jones

Chael Sonnen knows a good thing when he sees it.He’s moving up to a new weight class where the champion doesn’t seem all that interested in doing tired old rematches with the same guys he’s already crushed once before.That presents Sonnen with a unique…

Chael Sonnen knows a good thing when he sees it.

He’s moving up to a new weight class where the champion doesn’t seem all that interested in doing tired old rematches with the same guys he’s already crushed once before.

That presents Sonnen with a unique opportunity to cut completely in line, to jump to the head of the proverbial class and get himself a title shot without doing much of note in the division at all.

And so Sonnen started jabbing light heavyweight champion Jon Jones last week, both verbally and on Twitter. He got under the champ’s skin quite effortlessly, but it was the aftermath that was intriguing to watch.

Instead of Jones saying—as so many fighters do—that he wasn’t looking past his next opponent (Jones faces Dan Henderson on September 1st in Las Vegas), Jones began openly discussing his distaste for a rematch with Lyoto Machida.

Jones wants to make that pay-per-view cash, and who can blame him? He’s young, he’s popular (in a manner of speaking, anyway) and he’s got a taste for expensive cars. He’s also exhibited a preternatural talent for making other very good fighters look like rote beginners when they step in the cage with him.

Machida is the one fighter who has come the closest to making Jones look like a human being instead of a fighting cyborg sent from the future to let us know that our Fedor Emelianenko 1.0 model is out of date.

Not only does the fight itself present some risk, but it’s a dead issue at the gate. Very few of you want to see Jones vs. Machida II, and even fewer of you would pay to see the rematch.

The answer to the Jones problem is quite obvious: it’s Chael Sonnen.

Look, I’m no fan of giving Sonnen a title shot right now. Not coming off the loss to Anderson Silva. It goes against every molecule in my being that still believes in the concept of MMA as a sport instead of a spectacle.

I believe Sonnen needs at least one win before he gets a crack at the gold. That’s the right way to do it. And he’s supposed to get a chance against Forrest Griffin later this year, except now it seems like maybe Forrest isn’t really all that interested in fighting Sonnen. But then again, I get the feeling Griffin isn’t really all that interested in fighting anyone.

But I also realize that Jones, by virtue of his utter and complete dominance, has no other fights left at light heavyweight that will intrigue the general public. In terms of a true pay-per-view attraction, it’s Sonnen or bust for Jones.

That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised if Jones continues angling to avoid the Machida rematch throughout the fall. After he beats Henderson at UFC 151—and he will, in fact, beat Henderson, so let’s just move past that one—I won’t be surprised to see Jones attempting to secure a playdate in the cage with Sonnen. 

It’s the only fight that makes sense for his wallet.

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Fighters Should Never Use Death as a Promotional Tactic

There’s no question that, like Chael Sonnen, Ronda Rousey knows her way around a microphone. She’s good at building up fights, plain and simple. Her trash-talking ways are responsible—even more so than her awesome fighting skills and her bea…

There’s no question that, like Chael Sonnen, Ronda Rousey knows her way around a microphone. 

She’s good at building up fights, plain and simple. Her trash-talking ways are responsible—even more so than her awesome fighting skills and her beauty—for her meteoric rise to the top of mixed martial arts. It was just March 2011 that she made her professional debut, and just over a year later she’s the Strikeforce bantamweight champion and a media darling. 

But lately, it feels like Rousey is going overboard. That was certainly the case at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference in San Diego, where she unleashed the following gem:

If I get her in an armbar, I’m going to try to rip it off and throw it at her corner…If I get her in a choke, I’m going to hold onto it until she’s actually dead. And if I get a knockout, I’m going to go all the way. I’m going to try to pound her face into the ground and she’s depending on the competence of the California (State) Athletic Commission to walk out of that cage alive.

Look, I’m fine with a little trash-talking. We don’t get a ton of it in the sport, so it’s a refreshing change of pace when it does happen. I’d prefer that it developed naturally instead of being forced, but I’ll take what I can get.

But there is a line, and saying you’re planning to kill your opponent is close to it. But I can understand the situation, what with the heat of the moment and all that jazz. But going into explicit detail about how you plan on doing it, like Rousey did? That’s crossing the line. No question about it.

I’m sure you remember the time Frank Mir said he planned on making Brock Lesnar the first fighter to die from Octagon-related injuries. That one didn’t go over too well with the brass at Zuffa. Mir was forced to apologize for the comment, and Dana White publicly scolded Mir as well.

I don’t know if anyone at Zuffa took Rousey aside and told her to chill out. If they didn’t, they probably should. Build up a fight all you want, but don’t wish death on your opponent. That’s asking for trouble, and it doesn’t exactly reflect well on the company you work for or the sport as a whole.

Rousey has it all: the skills, the looks and the promotional talent. She’s a goldmine. But stuff like this will turn off fans even as she attempts to earn new ones.

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Michael Bisping, Unsurprisingly, Has Strong Feelings About TRT

I think we’re all aware that the testosterone replacement therapy issue isn’t going away any time soon. Actually, it’s probably never going to go away at all.According to Michael Bisping, that’s bad news:I think it’s absolute nonsense, rubbish, bullshi…

I think we’re all aware that the testosterone replacement therapy issue isn’t going away any time soon. Actually, it’s probably never going to go away at all.

According to Michael Bisping, that’s bad news:

I think it’s absolute nonsense, rubbish, bullshit. Listen, we all get old, we all grow up, you know? At some point, as you start getting older, your balls don’t work as well and you don’t make as much testosterone, but, that’s life and you deal with it. A guy that is 40-years old doesn’t make as much testosterone as a 21-year old so he gets an exemption certificate to say, ‘So now we will give him as much testosterone as a 21-year old.’ Well, what about me, I’m 33 (years of age), I’m not making the same amount as a 21-year old, but I make more than a 40-year old. Where do we draw the line? It’s nonsense. Listen, nature determines that and I don’t think we should interfere with that. I think it’s cheating very, very well, it’s dressed up. Its nonsense, its absolute bullshit and I, for one, am very, very against it. I would never ever do that. I am who I am and I’ve done well doing what I do.

Leave it to Bisping to be the one fighter thus far to get right to the root of the story: Getting older sucks, and we know it sucks even worse for athletes who are used to a lifetime of competing.

But that’s part of life. You get older, and then you can’t compete anymore. So you retire and spend your days playing with the grandchildren or training the next generation of fighters. The one thing you shouldn’t be able to do is artificially extend your career by boosting your low testosterone levels.

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Strikeforce: Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman Main Event Predictions

 There’s a full Strikeforce card this weekend, but you’d never know it.All of the promotional focus has been squarely pointed at the main event. To be more specific, it’s been pointed almost wholly at Ronda Rousey, and for good reason. She’s one o…

 

There’s a full Strikeforce card this weekend, but you’d never know it.

All of the promotional focus has been squarely pointed at the main event. To be more specific, it’s been pointed almost wholly at Ronda Rousey, and for good reason. She’s one of the fastest-rising stars in the sport and has received a metric ton of mainstream attention over the past few months. 

It would be hard thing to refuse to allow all of those celebrity trappings to go to your head, but it would also be a very unwise thing to overlook Sarah Kaufman. 

The eyes of the world are turned to tomorrow night’s Strikeforce main event, and the Caged In staff is doing the same. Check out our predictions for the Rousey vs. Kaufman bout below.

Jonathan Snowden: Everyone is counting Sarah Kaufman out. But something about Rousey is making my Snowden sense tingle. We’ve seen fighters tackle their new PR work load and fall to pieces in the cage. Miguel Torres and Urijah Faber come to mind. If Rousey’s head is anywhere but in the cage, Kaufman will take advantage. Kaufman by knockout.

Jeremy Botter: I realize Sarah Kaufman is a good boxer. Actually, she’s a very good boxer. She’s very technically proficient and hits extremely hard. And still, she’s way out of her league. Rousey is an athlete unlike anyone else in women’s combat sports. She’s just a different breed. And it doesn’t matter how much better Kaufman is at the striking game, because it only takes Rousey one hand and a matter of seconds to put you flat on your back. From there, it’s academic. I suspect this one will look almost exactly like every other Ronda Rousey fight. Rousey by submission, round 1

Matt Roth: Many people are probably overlooking Sarah Kaufman in this fight. Maybe it’s that Ronda has been on an all out media blitz. Or maybe it’s because Kaufman’s title run in Strikeforce was so forgettable. There is a part of me that would love to see Kaufman put Rousey to sleep. Not because I dislike Rousey. No, I’d just love to experience when the air is sucked out of a room and that’s exactly what would happen. But the realist in me says that Rousey is just better everywhere. So with that said I’m picking Rickson by arm…I mean Rousey by armbar. Rousey by submission, round 1

Duane Finley: Sarah Kaufman’s approach and skill set are very well documented, while Rousey’s full capabilities remain to be seen. I believe this puts all the cards on “Rowdy’s” side of the table. There is a chance Kaufman will throw something heavy in the early-goings and catch Rousey, but that’s a possibility in every fight. With that being said, I don’t see it happening here. As soon as Rousey gets her hands on Kaufman, she is going to use her legs and hips to put the former champion on the mat. Once this fight hits the dirt, it is only a matter of time before Rousey grabs a limb and ends the fight. Rousey by submission, round 1

John Heinis:  “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is for real: five fights, five wins and five armbars. The former Olympic Judoka bronza medalist has takedowns and armbars for days and no one has found a solution to overcome her high-level grappling just yet. Nevertheless, Kaufman is no slouch. Kaufman prefers to stand and bang, but she has grappling to fall back on if she has to. Kaufman will put up a fight in the early going, but Rousey is still going to be too much for her. Kaufman will be able to keep the first round competitive for a bit, but once the fight hits the ground, it’s going to be exactly what you expect it to be. Rousey by submission, round 2

Scott Harris: It’s tempting to just say “Rousey by armbar,” set it and forget it. But Kaufman is an outstanding fighter, particularly as a striker. This matchup doesn’t have the sexy sizzle of Rousey and Miesha Tate, but it might be a better fight. Rousey has never really faced adversity in a cage; a great striker has the tools to change that. But in the end, as with all her fights, it’s Rousey’s judo that makes the difference. Kaufman can slow it, but she can’t stop it. Rousey by submission, round 2

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Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen Engage in Heated Twitter Warfare

Chael Sonnen has been in the light-heavyweight division for less than 24 hours, and he’s already riled up the almost-unbeatable division champ.Sonnen announced his return to light heavyweight on the latest installment of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV and took…

Chael Sonnen has been in the light-heavyweight division for less than 24 hours, and he’s already riled up the almost-unbeatable division champ.

Sonnen announced his return to light heavyweight on the latest installment of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV and took a moment to say a few words about the champ.

“Sure, I could go up to 205, and I could take Jon Jones’ belt away the same as I could take away his candy on Halloween,” Sonnen said. “Like a little punk kid, I could snatch it away all I want.”

The champ didn’t take too kindly to Sonnen’s threats and responded via Twitter today.

“The things you say about me hold absolutely no weight. You disrespected Anderson and his country but fought like a child. If you’re going to disrespect me, at least disrespect me to my face like a man. And you call me a punk, I’m more man than you’ll ever be. lol dude, you’re not worth my time.. Earn a title shot instead of trying to talk your way into one and I’ll be glad to hurt you.”

Jones later deleted the tweets, but not before Sonnen could fire back with more shots of his own:

@JonnyBones Oh I plan too. Btw, how long did it take your parents to come up with your name, JON JONES.. 


Jones responded with one last tweet that pretty much lets everyone in the world in on a dirty little secret—he and Sonnen have no real hatred towards one another, and they’re pretty much just building up a future title fight:

 

The main thing to keep in mind here is that Sonnen is entering the light-heavyweight division at the perfect time. If Jones dispatches Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida (a second time), he’ll have no real challengers left that pique the public’s interest. 

Sonnen can be that challenger. Sure, he lost his last fight and quite obviously hasn’t fared all that well in title fights. In a perfect world, he’s not even close to a title shot in his new division at this point. But, a division that’s devoid of challengers needs new ones, and especially ones that can deliver cash on pay-per-view. Sonnen is that guy.

Don’t be surprised to see Sonnen get a title shot if he gets past Forrest Griffin on Dec. 29. In fact, you can count on it. And I’d start booking your travel plans for Vegas next July because that sounds like the perfect kind of headlining fight for UFC International Fight Week 2013.

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Henderson vs. Diaz Title Fight Shows Evolving Relationship Between UFC, Fox

Remember a year ago when the mega-deal between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Fox broadcasting was announced?Remember how they included the announcement of a world heavyweight title fight between then-champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Sant…

Remember a year ago when the mega-deal between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Fox broadcasting was announced?

Remember how they included the announcement of a world heavyweight title fight between then-champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, and how we all thought that we’d be seeing plenty of title fights on free network television for the foreseeable future?

It didn’t exactly turn out that way.

January rolled around, and we were faced with the prospect of seeing three not-so-anticipated fights between guys who ranged from “hey, I know that guy” to “who is Chris Weidman, exactly?” And then May’s card was headlined by a fight between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, which sounds perfectly awesome as a UFC on Fox fight but perhaps not so much as a UFC on Fox main event.

Things began to change with the card headlined by Shogun Rua vs. Brandon Vera a few weeks ago. Sure, it still involved Vera, who didn’t exactly light the world on fire since falling from his perch as one of the hottest prospects in the sport five years ago.

But the willingness to put Shogun—normally a staple of pay-per-view broadcasts—and Lyoto Machida on the card showed that Zuffa might be ready to start dosing these Fox broadcasts with a heap of star power or, at the very least, to give them a big-fight feel.

That was confirmed on Tuesday night when the promotion informed USA Today that December’s Fox card will feature three big fights: BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald, Shogun Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson and Benson Henderson defending his lightweight title against Nate Diaz.

Now, look: I realize that none of these three fights—even if bundled on the same broadcast—are going to garner a million pay-per-view buys. Benson Henderson isn’t a major pay-per-view draw—at least not yet—and none of the other fights have the kind of intrigue that led to the interest that surrounded the rematches between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir or Silva versus Sonnen.

But they’re big fights all the same. The lightweight title will be defended on network television, for free, in what should be an incredible stylistic matchup. Shogun Rua tries to fend off the aging process and take out the most highly-touted young buck in the light heavyweight division not named Jon Jones. And BJ Penn returns from a short-lived (and little-believed) retirement to face the top prospect in the welterweight division.

What’s not to love?

I don’t know what changed in the relationship between the UFC and Fox. Things appeared to be getting a little chilly there for awhile, at least from an outsider’s perspective. The ratings for The Ultimate Fighter Live were abysmal, and Fox probably didn’t imagine when they signed up for this deal that they’d be getting Miller vs. Diaz as a featured main event taking up their precious network air time.

But December’s upcoming Fox card should absolutely be taken as a sign that things are changing, and for the better. We don’t know what the pay-per-view industry is going to look like in five or 10 years, but we know it’s a changing business.

If the UFC’s future truly resides on free, ad-supported network television—like every other major sporting league—they must begin to lay the groundwork now, to condition fans to expect great main events on television.

This is a good start. 

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