UFC on Versus 1’s Jones says Vera “trying to convince himself that he still has it”

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera (11-4 MMA, 7-4
UFC) has never been afraid to speak his mind.

“The Truth” has been no different leading into Sunday’s UFC on Versus 1
main event bout with rising star Jon Jones (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in
Broomfield, Colo., but “Bones” isn’t buying into the hype.

“I think Brandon Vera, with all his trash talking, I think he’s really
trying to convince himself that he still has it,” Jones told
MMAjunkie.com.


BROOMFIELD, Colo. – UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera (11-4 MMA, 7-4
UFC) has never been afraid to speak his mind.

“The Truth” has been no different leading into Sunday’s UFC on Versus 1
main event bout with rising star Jon Jones (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in
Broomfield, Colo., but “Bones” isn’t buying into the hype.

“I think Brandon Vera, with all his trash talking, I think he’s really
trying to convince himself that he still has it,” Jones told
MMAjunkie.com.


Poll results: Who wins the Strikeforce title fight between Shields and Henderson?

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has made little attempt to hide his own excitement for the forthcoming promotional debut of UFC and PRIDE veteran Dan Henderson (25-7 MMA, 0-0 SF).

The longtime star and former two-division PRIDE champ looks to make an immediate impact in the promotion as he faces Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields (24-4-1 MMA, 2-0 SF) at “Strikeforce: Nashville” on CBS.

So for our MMAjunkie.com/”Inside MMA” poll, we asked our readers a simple question: “Who wins the April 17 ‘Strikeforce: Nashville’ main event between Shields and Henderson?”


Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has made little attempt to hide his own excitement for the forthcoming promotional debut of UFC and PRIDE veteran Dan Henderson (25-7 MMA, 0-0 SF).

The longtime star and former two-division PRIDE champ looks to make an immediate impact in the promotion as he faces Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields (24-4-1 MMA, 2-0 SF) at “Strikeforce: Nashville” on CBS.

So for our MMAjunkie.com/”Inside MMA” poll, we asked our readers a simple question: “Who wins the April 17 ‘Strikeforce: Nashville’ main event between Shields and Henderson?”


After months of sacrifice, Eliot Marshall looks to prove his time is now at UFC on Versus 1

UFC light heavyweight Eliot Marshall has a lot going
on right now.

As if being a new father to a 15-week-old son isn’t enough, Marshall is
also wrapping up training camp for a fight in front of his hometown
crowd.

But on the eve of his fight against the highly decorated Vladimir
Matyushenko at Sunday night’s UFC on Versus 1 event,
Marshall has holed himself up in a Broomfield, Colo., hotel room no
more than a mile from his house and is focused solely on one thing:
victory.


UFC light heavyweight Eliot Marshall has a lot going
on right now.

As if being a new father to a 15-week-old son isn’t enough, Marshall is
also wrapping up training camp for a fight in front of his hometown
crowd.

But on the eve of his fight against the highly decorated Vladimir
Matyushenko at Sunday night’s UFC on Versus 1 event,
Marshall has holed himself up in a Broomfield, Colo., hotel room no
more than a mile from his house and is focused solely on one thing:
victory.


Gonzaga’s team disagrees with underdog tag, hopes to earn title look at UFC on Versus 1

For the first time since he shocked the world with a head-kick knockout
of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Gabriel Gonzaga walks
into the octagon as an underdog.

Gonzaga, who on Sunday faces the heavily hyped Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Versus 1 in Broomfield, Colo., shrugs off the
label. In his mind, if Gonzaga takes out the young lion, he’s in
spitting distance of title contention.

“I think if I beat him, I’m going to be much closer to the title shot
than him,” Gonzaga told MMAjunkie.com on Friday.


For the first time since he shocked the world with a head-kick knockout
of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Gabriel Gonzaga walks
into the octagon as an underdog.

Gonzaga, who on Sunday faces the heavily hyped Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Versus 1 in Broomfield, Colo., shrugs off the
label. In his mind, if Gonzaga takes out the young lion, he’s in
spitting distance of title contention.

“I think if I beat him, I’m going to be much closer to the title shot
than him,” Gonzaga told MMAjunkie.com on Friday.


The Sunday Junkie: March 14 edition

Next week kicks off one of the busiest periods of mixed martial arts
events in recent memory, but this week went without a major card.

As such, this week’s edition of The Sunday Junkie, MMAjunkie.com’s
weekly reader-feedback feature, touched on a variety of subjects.

While the success of the UFC, WEC and Strikeforce were all topics for
debate, this week’s winner, Mike Rice, took what may prove an unpopular
stance on counter-programming tactics.


Next week kicks off one of the busiest periods of mixed martial arts
events in recent memory, but this week went without a major card.

As such, this week’s edition of The Sunday Junkie, MMAjunkie.com’s
weekly reader-feedback feature, touched on a variety of subjects.

While the success of the UFC, WEC and Strikeforce were all topics for
debate, this week’s winner, Mike Rice, took what may prove an unpopular
stance on counter-programming tactics.


UFC 111’s Mir says Carwin more dangerous than Lesnar, OK if Velasquez gets first crack

After splitting a pair of bouts with UFC heavyweight champion Brock
Lesnar, former title holder Frank Mir has made little effort to hide his current
motivation.

As such, some have labeled Mir a “stalker” because of his singular focus
on a rubber match with the champ.

Nevertheless, Mir carries on in search of facing Lesnar once again. But
standing in his way at UFC 111 is undefeated challenger Shane Carwin,
who Mir says may actually be a tougher opponent.


After splitting a pair of bouts with UFC heavyweight champion Brock
Lesnar, former title holder Frank Mir has made little effort to hide his current
motivation.

As such, some have labeled Mir a “stalker” because of his singular focus
on a rubber match with the champ.

Nevertheless, Mir carries on in search of facing Lesnar once again. But
standing in his way at UFC 111 is undefeated challenger Shane Carwin,
who Mir says may actually be a tougher opponent.