Author: John Heinis

Jon Jones: I’m 2 Wins Away from Being GOAT, Moving to Heavyweight

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he’s just two wins away from being considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time—which is when he’ll make the move to heavyweight. 
In an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, “Bon…

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he’s just two wins away from being considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time—which is when he’ll make the move to heavyweight. 

In an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, “Bones” said that victories over Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson should solidify his position in the sport once and for all. 

As far as being the greatest of all time, I think me beating Gustafsson and DC — how do you argue that? The argument is just gone, you know what I mean? I do believe I have the best résumé in the sport’s history. I don’t think anyone has beaten as many [former] champions as I have. To go on what I’ve already done and beat DC and Gustafsson? I just think no matter who your favorite is, you can’t deny I’m the best in the game. 

Furthermore, Jones said he’d consider the UFC’s 205-pound division “cleared” at that point and move to heavyweight though he acknowledged that fight fans are clamoring for him to square off with surging contender Anthony Johnson as well. 

One of the best pure athletes—coupled with one of the most unpredictable styles—in the sport, Jones’ ledger is already a solid one at 27 years old. 

Dating back to March 2010, Jones has won 11 straight fights that include consecutive victories over ex-UFC champs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort.

The UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter, according to its official rankings, is often regarded as being unbeaten inside the cage since his only loss, which was to Matt Hamill, was a disqualification for using “12-to-6” elbows. 

Prior to the DQ, Jones was winning the December 2009 encounter handily and looked well on his way to a stoppage victory. 

His next title defense, looking to make it eight in a row, will be a grudge match against Cormier, which headlines UFC 182 on January 3. 

If Jones knocks off Cormier and Gustafsson, would he be generally viewed as the greatest of all time in the fight community?

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

GSP: I’m Still Unsure If I’ll Return, Picks Hendricks over Lawler in Rematch

Former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been on a self-imposed hiatus from the sport for nearly a full year, but he’s still unsure of whether a return to the Octagon is happening. 
In an interview with MMA Canada on Saturda…

Former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been on a self-imposed hiatus from the sport for nearly a full year, but he’s still unsure of whether a return to the Octagon is happening. 

In an interview with MMA Canada on Saturday, “Rush” also makes a prediction for Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler II at UFC 181 next month (transcription per MMA Fighting). 

I don’t know if I will go back to competition. That’s why I didn’t call it ‘a retirement,’ I called it ‘a break’ because I don’t know. [Light heavyweight boxer] Bernard Hopkins has a good analogy. He says, ‘You can’t ask a woman who just gave birth and suffered for many hours if she will have another baby again.’ Same thing for me when I got out of competition … The good old Johny Hendricks as he’s always been, I believe Hendricks is supposed to win. 

St-Pierre last fought against Hendricks at UFC 167 last November, winning a hotly contested split decision before vacating his title about a month later. 

When Hendricks and Lawler fought the first time at UFC 171 in March, Hendricks won a close decision to capture the vacant title, though later revealed that a torn bicep hindered his performance in the championship bout, per MMA Fighting. 

St-Pierre said taking that into consideration, it would be hard to pick against “Bigg Rigg” when he’s at full strength.

Dating back to August 2007, the Tristar Gym standout won 12 fights in a row, including nine successful title defenses, one shy of tying former middleweight champ Anderson Silva’s record of 10. 

Additionally, the French-Canadian superstar, who boasts a 25-2 ledger overall, has avenged his only two losses to Matt Hughes (twice) and Matt Serra. 

UFC President Dana White said in September that if St-Pierre decided to come back, he would he granted an immediate title shot, per Sherdog.

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Leslie Smith Posts Gruesome Post-Fight Photo of Popped Cauliflower Ear

UFC women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith suffered one of the most disturbing injuries in MMA history at UFC 180 Saturday night, when an ill-fated punch to her cauliflower-stricken left ear caused it to explode. 
While the injury looked absolutely awf…

UFC women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith suffered one of the most disturbing injuries in MMA history at UFC 180 Saturday night, when an ill-fated punch to her cauliflower-stricken left ear caused it to explode. 

While the injury looked absolutely awful in real time, per Fox Sports, the post-fight photo is arguably even worse, as a Sqor Sports post (warning: very graphic image) from Smith features her ear—gaping, bloody hole and all. It’s certainly not for the weak of heart.

She wrote on Sqor:

I was pretty mad in the cage. I saw some pictures afterward and I appreciate the doctors looking out for me. I guess. I should’ve adjusted to protect my ear before the doctors had to stop it … Thank you to my team and my coaches at El Nino Training Center for getting me ready. Thank you to all the fight fans. I’ll do better next time. 

Despite Smith insisting that she could have continued, the cageside doctor understandably waved off the fight after the former Invicta FC flyweight title challenger’s ear was gushing blood early in the second frame. 

Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, best known for his Cactus Jack and Mankind personas inside the wrestling ring, lost a significant portion of his ear during a botched move back in March 1994. 

Foley, an MMA fan, reached out to Smith on Twitter early Sunday morning to show his support for her warrior spirit. (Warning: The accompanying image detailing the two competitors’ injured ears is, once again, pretty graphic.)

With the defeat, Smith is now just 2-4 in her past six contests and has only a 1-2 ledger since making her UFC debut in April. 

Meanwhile, Eye earned her first victory in 13 months; she has just a 1-1(1) mark in her past three fights.

However, her split-decision loss to Alexis Smith at UFC 170 in February was generally viewed as a poor judges’ decision and was just the second loss of her 14-fight career.

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

War Machine Laughs and Smiles, Christy Mack 911 Call Played During Court Hearing

Former Bellator and UFC fighter War Machine reportedly laughed and smiled as porn-star ex-girlfriend Christy Mack detailed the summer night he allegedly beat her within inches of her life. 
Additionally, excerpts of Mack’s 911 call from the August…

Former Bellator and UFC fighter War Machine reportedly laughed and smiled as porn-star ex-girlfriend Christy Mack detailed the summer night he allegedly beat her within inches of her life. 

Additionally, excerpts of Mack’s 911 call from the August 8 incident were played for the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, and local media outlet KTNV Channel 13 Action News was there to cover it (Warning: contains graphic images). 

“Jon! Jon!,” Mack screamed at the top of her lungs in fear during an excerpt of the 911 call. “Stop it! Jon! Jon!,” she shouted in the recording, bringing her to tears as she listened on the stand. 

War Machine, whose birth name is Jon Koppenhaver, battles 34 serious charges that include attempted murder and kidnapping. 

Furthermore, he certainly did not endear himself to Judge Melanie Andress-Tobiasson during the court hearing, as The Ultimate Fighter alumnus was called out for smiling and laughing during Mack’s testimony. 

“Objection your honor, he wasn’t laughing,” said one of War Machine’s attorneys, Brandon Sua, when prosecutors asked that War Machine’s reaction to the testimony be put on the record.

“I watched him laugh,” Judge Andress-Tobiasson responded sternly.

Mack testified that War Machine lashed out with a brutal fit of violence against her on August 8, reiterating that he used a kitchen knife to cut off her hair during the alleged attack. 

“Throughout the entire thing, he had a knife. It was one of my kitchen steak knives…and, um,…he cut my hair off with it,” Mack said through tears. 

The incident left Mack with a broken orbital bone, broken teeth, a lacerated liver and various bruises, posting photos of the damage on her Twitter page shortly after she was admitted to the hospital (NSFW). 

Corey Thomas, a former reality TV contestant, was in Mack’s bedroom during the confrontation with War Machine and testified he also suffered a serious beating at the professional fighter’s hands. 

“I was looking up at the ceiling, in Christy’s bathroom, thinking to myself: ‘Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m gonna die in Christy’s bathroom.'”

Koppenhaver has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the next trial date is set for Thursday, November 20.

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

TMZ: Tito Ortiz Has Elaborate, Pro Wrestling Style Walkout Set for Bellator 131

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz enters Bellator 131 tomorrow night to square off with fellow UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar, and he seemed to spare no expense for his walkout.
In a 45-second preview clip filmed by TMZ Sports, the foo…

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz enters Bellator 131 tomorrow night to square off with fellow UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar, and he seemed to spare no expense for his walkout.

In a 45-second preview clip filmed by TMZ Sports, the footage begins with two large U.S. flags being hung from the top of the entrance ramp on both sides near where the fighters walk to the cage, followed by two similarly placed Italian flags. 

Also worth noting is that Ortiz’s entrance theme of choice is “Mosh” by Eminem, a song from October 2004 protesting against then-U.S. President George W. Bush. 

Shortly after the Italian flags are lowered, an explosion can be heard before a large fire graphic flows across the middle screen typically reserved for fighter highlights.

The fire quickly reveals a picture of Ortiz holding an American flag on the aforementioned, large middle screen.

At the same time, his old nickname, The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, is plastered twice—over both sets of flags—in a large, stone-colored font. 

The text on the right side quickly disappears and is replaced with “Tito Ortiz” in a hurry. 

If the actual walkout goes off without a hitch, it looks like Ortiz may have a trip to cage-side that would make Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson blush. 

Ortiz, who was a paltry 1-7-1 in his last nine fights before retiring from MMA in July 2012, signed with Bellator one year later. 

Despite 16 months away from professional fighting, Ortiz had no problem taking down and submitting then-Bellator middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko at Bellator 120 this past May. 

The bout was contested at 205 pounds, unfamiliar territory for the Russian striker. 

Meanwhile, Bonnar has not fought since a lopsided TKO loss to then-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 153 in October 2012. 

The American Psycho and Ortiz were heavily criticized for an over-the-top pre-fight segment that took place back at Bellator 123 in September. 

Additionally, some pundits question what Ortiz, 39, and Bonnar, 37, have in the tank at this point in their respective careers. 

Fight fans will have a chance to find out at Bellator 131 tomorrow night, which airs for free on Spike TV, with the main card kicking off at 9 p.m. ET. Ortiz vs. Bonnar headlines the card. 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Undefeated Prospect Holly Holm Injured, Will Not Fight at UFC 181

Undefeated women’s bantamweight prospect (7-0) Holly Holm has suffered an undisclosed training injury and will not be able to fight Raquel Pennington December 6 at UFC 181. 
Brazilian media outlet MMA by Neko first reported the news, and…

Undefeated women’s bantamweight prospect (7-0) Holly Holm has suffered an undisclosed training injury and will not be able to fight Raquel Pennington December 6 at UFC 181. 

Brazilian media outlet MMA by Neko first reported the news, and Bleacher Report has subsequently confirmed that Holm has withdrawn from her scheduled UFC debut: 

Holm, the inaugural Legacy Fighting Championships Women’s Bantamweight champion, was a three-division titleholder in boxing before making her MMA debut in March 2011. 

While her grappling skills remain untested inside the cage, many pundits give Holm a fair chance against UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey due to her impressive striking pedigree. 

Holm signed a five-fight deal with the UFC back in July, per MMA Junkie, while it was announced last month that her first fight with the company would be against Pennington, per FOX Sports. 

According to the UFC’s official rankings, Holm is the No. 15 women’s bantamweight in the world. 

Due to an obvious discord between UFC President Dana White and Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, it appeared that the UFC may pass on signing Holm as recently as March, per UFC Tonight (via Yahoo! Sports). 

Pennington, a member of Rousey’s close group of fighter friends, the Four Horsewomen, has lost three of her past four contests and is just 4-4 overall as a professional mixed martial artist. 

Her last bout was a close split-decision loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 171 in March. 

The UFC is yet to formally comment on Holm’s injury so there is no word on if a replacement will step up to the plate to fight Pennington on less than one month’s notice. 

UFC 181 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is headlined by a welterweight championship fight between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler. 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com