Author: Jordy McElroy

Renan Barao on T.J. Dillashaw: ‘He’s Not a Champion—He’s a Joker’

The rapid, ever-changing landscape of MMA becomes all too real with the mere mention of former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao.
Around this time last year, the Brazilian world-beater was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world. UF…

The rapid, ever-changing landscape of MMA becomes all too real with the mere mention of former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao.

Around this time last year, the Brazilian world-beater was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world. UFC President Dana White even went out on a limb, calling him the No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter behind then-light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.

The excessive hype behind one of Nova Uniao’s top fighter’s didn’t feel the least bit overblown at the time. With a stoic look on his face, Barao effortlessly eviscerated 22 opponents in a row without showing so much as a chink in his armor—until UFC 173.

T.J. Dillashaw, the runner-up from The Ultimate Fighter 14, became the unlikeliest of contenders to foil Barao’s reign of dominance. A chink in the armor no longer needed to be found. Barao’s vulnerability to Dillashaw’s shifty footwork and underrated kickboxing led to one of the most surprising upsets in UFC history.

Since the fifth-round TKO loss, Barao has patiently waited for an opportunity to not only recapture the throne but get back at Dillashaw. The two were slated to fight at UFC 177, but the bout was scrapped a day out, when Barao was hospitalized after attempting to cut weight.

Dillashaw went on to score a fifth-round knockout over last-minute opponent Joe Soto, a former Bellator featherweight champ.

“T.J. Dillashaw had one defense of the title and he thinks he’s the best champion in the world,” Barao said through an interpreter at a media scrum, according to MMAFighting.com.

Barao has spoken more in the past year than he has in an entire decade of fighting. This newfound rivalry turned ugly the moment White wrapped the UFC title around Dillashaw’s waist. At the UFC 177 weigh-ins, Dillashaw accused Barao of being “scared” and not really wanting the rematch.

The rematch was once again rescheduled for UFC 186 on April 25, but Dillashaw was forced to withdraw from the bout after sustaining a broken rib during training. With the rematch now penned for July 25, Barao hopes to prove the first fight was a fluke that never should have happened:

“I looked in his eyes just to tell him, ‘I will kick your ass.’ I don’t like him, because he talks a lot of s–t. He’s not a champion—he’s a joker,” said Barao.  

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Damacio Page Talks Legacy vs. RFA, Superfight with Pantoja and Jackson Camp

Not all angels have wings. Some have one-punch knockout power and slams that rival the legendary Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Damacio Page, The Angel of Death, isn’t the kind of person to sit around and come up with cool nicknames to ge…

Not all angels have wings. Some have one-punch knockout power and slams that rival the legendary Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Damacio Page, The Angel of Death, isn’t the kind of person to sit around and come up with cool nicknames to get over with fans. Quite the contrary; the tatted-up Legacy FC flyweight champion is a fighter through and through, void of any spectacle-enabling shenanigans.

Everything in Page’s life has been earned through hard work and sacrifice, including the catchy nickname he is so often asked about.

“I was fighting in Montreal, and I was fighting Thierry Quenneville,” Page told Bleacher Report on Monday. “I picked him up and Rampage slammed him, and one of the guys that was cornering me in the back, a French Canadian guy, was all excited. ‘Georges St-Pierre asked’ my name, ‘It was crazy. You were like an angel of death. You took that guy’s life.’ And I was like, ‘Cool man, that’s my nickname.’”

Most of you might remember Page from his stint as a bantamweight in the UFC and WEC.

During his days in the WEC, he was a highly touted contender, who earned wins over Scott Jorgensen, Will Campuzano and current Bellator champion Marcos Galvao. He even managed to steal a round from UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson back in the blue-cage days.

The potential was definitely there for Page, despite being shoved into the limelight at an early age. He managed to put together some solid wins before dropping four straight losses and getting cut by the UFC. Being denied a spot on the UFC roster really forced Page to do some soul searching and reexamine himself as a fighter.

Fortunately, an opportunity arose to fight for Legacy FC, a budding MMA promotion on AXS TV. After spending nearly a year on the sidelines, Page returned with a vengeance as a flyweight, knocking out Patrick Ybarra in the first round.

It was the kind of performance we’ve grown to expect from The Angel of Death. The 32-year-old star has gone 4-1 since dropping to flyweight, with the one loss being a controversial split decision.

“I’m coming into my own, just fighting the way I fight and growing up as a fighter,” he said. “That’s the biggest attribute that happened was that I needed to grow up.”

For all of the talk of the UFC, this weekend’s Legacy FC vs. RFA Superfight card has all of the makings of a big event. Fans have always dreamed of major promotions coming together and pitting its best fighters against one another.

On Friday night, Page is slated to fight RFA flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja. The backdrop for this event from a promotional perspective revolves around bragging rights. One would think there would be added pressure for Page in the main event spot, but he refuses to get caught up in all of the excitement of a cross-promotional event.

At the end of the day, it’s simply another fight.

“It is what it is, I just want to fight. So whoever it is they put in front of me, a champion from another organization, I really don’t care,” said Page. “Part of my ultimate goal is to get back to the big shows and do what I do best. They’re all pluses, but at the end of the day, it’s my job to do what I’m here to do, and I got to get back to where I belong.”

Getting back to where he belongs has helped Page weed out the recent distractions at Jackson’s MMA, the same camp that houses former UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.

A week ago, the 27-year-old fighter was stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely from the UFC, after being arrested on a felony for an alleged hit-and-run incident involving a pregnant woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The story has loomed like a dark cloud over MMA headlines.

However, you’d be sadly mistaken if you think the ongoing issues surrounding Jones had any impact whatsoever on Page’s mental preparation for perhaps the biggest fight of his career.

“I don’t pay attention to that,” Page said. “That’s his own life, his own business so I don’t have nothing to really say about that. At the end of the day, I’m here to do my job, what I do, and I leave people’s business as their business. At the end of the day, I’m here to be me.”

Pantoja trains at the famous Nova Uniao camp in Brazil alongside UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo and former UFC bantamweight champ Renan Barao. He is currently riding an eight-fight win streak.

Page plans on introducing his fists to Pantoja’s face unlike any other flyweight. He has no predictions on what will happen when the bomb drops. Either Pantoja will be standing or he won’t be.

“I can’t tell you. I’m going to do what I got to do. If he’s standing, he’s standing; if he’s not, he’s not.”

RFA vs. Legacy Superfight takes place on May 8 in Robinsonville, Mississippi. The event will air live on AXS TV.  

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Daniel Cormier to Jon Jones: “Get It Together, Man”

The show must go on.
This has been the commonly used phrase in the last 24 hours, since Jon Jones was stripped of his UFC title and suspended indefinitely. The shocking announcement was made by the UFC on Tuesday, a day after Jones was arrested on a fe…

The show must go on.

This has been the commonly used phrase in the last 24 hours, since Jon Jones was stripped of his UFC title and suspended indefinitely. The shocking announcement was made by the UFC on Tuesday, a day after Jones was arrested on a felony charge for a hit-and-run.

In the wake of the suspension, Daniel Cormier was offered a golden opportunity to step in for Jones and fight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 187. The decision to take the fight was bittersweet for Cormier, a recent adversary of Jones.

Despite his past drama with Jones, including a media brawl in the MGM Grand lobby, Cormier admitted it was disappointing to see Jones’ title run end this way. During an appearance on Fox Sports’ UFC Tonight, he implored the former champ to “get it together” for the fans that look up to him and want to see him succeed:

More than anything, I think all the stuff that Jon gets into is disappointing. This is a guy that has the world at his fingertips, and he can’t seem to get out of his own way. …

Just get it together. Get it together, man. There are a lot of people that look up to you and a lot of people that actually want to see [you] succeed. … Also, you know, I’ll be waiting on the other side with my championship, and he can actually challenge me for it.

Jones, who was widely recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, was only two victories away from tying Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. There is no arguing the fact that he is the greatest light heavyweight ever in MMA.

One could even make the case that he’s the greatest fighter of all time, period. Cormier is a realist, and he knows Jones’ tumble from grace is the only reason a new champion is being crowned at UFC 187.

But at the end of the day, we’re all responsible for the choices we make. Jones may be the best light heavyweight in the world, but he no longer represents that coveted spot because of poor life choices, according to Cormier.

I’m a realist. Jon was the champion, and he beat himself. Nobody beat him. I didn’t get the job done on January 3. Jon Jones beat me. But opportunity presents itself, and you have to step up. … Jon did this to himself. The belt is not his anymore. So, yeah, it is the real championship.

There currently isn’t a timetable for Jones’ return. Appearing on Fox Sports Live, UFC President Dana White admitted even he was unsure of what the future held for the former champ.

Cormier was the logical option as a replacement, given his top-tier status in the division, and he was already in the gym preparing for his previously scheduled fight with Ryan Bader on June 6 at UFC Fight Night 68.  

UFC 187 will take place on May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The card will also feature a middleweight title fight between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Former UFC Champ Jon Jones Finally Breaks His Silence

Jon Jones is now a king without a throne.
The 27-year-old MMA star was stripped of the light heavyweight title and suspended indefinitely by the UFC on Tuesday in the wake of a felony charge for an alleged hit-and-run, which occurred on Sunday.
Opening…

Jon Jones is now a king without a throne.

The 27-year-old MMA star was stripped of the light heavyweight title and suspended indefinitely by the UFC on Tuesday in the wake of a felony charge for an alleged hit-and-run, which occurred on Sunday.

Opening up for the first time since the incident, Jones apologized on Twitter and admitted he “had a lot of soul searching to do.”

Jones turned himself in to police on Monday, after an off-duty police officer identified him at the scene of a three-car accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. MMA Fighting’s Marc Raimondi reported Jones allegedly ran a red light before causing a pileup.

Vanessa Sonnenberg, a 20-year-old pregnant woman, was one of the victims involved. Witnesses claimed Jones grabbed a handful of cash from his vehicle and fled from the scene of the accident on foot. MMA paperwork with the name “Jonathan Jones” was found inside the vehicle, along with a marijuana pipe with marijuana inside.

After posting bail on Monday, Jones had his travel restrictions lifted by a judge on Tuesday, opening the door for the UFC to still allow him to compete against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in Las Vegas on May 23. However, UFC President Dana White put down the hammer on his top fighter, stripping him of the title and suspending him indefinitely.

Johnson will now fight Daniel Cormier to crown a new UFC light heavyweight champion. When appearing on Fox Sports Live, White admitted it wasn’t an easy decision:

Obviously we have a guy like Jon Jones, who has defended his title as many times as he has, and for us to have to go in and strip him of his title and suspend him, it’s not fun. But you know what they say, the show goes on. Anthony Johnson is ready for this fight, and Daniel Cormier was beyond pumped to get this opportunity.

No timetable has been given for Jones’ return.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Twitter Reacts to Jon Jones’ Felony Charge

The downward spiral in the career of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones hit face first into the pavement on Sunday afternoon, and it might take more than a $25,000 fine to get him out of this mess.
MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi reported that …

The downward spiral in the career of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones hit face first into the pavement on Sunday afternoon, and it might take more than a $25,000 fine to get him out of this mess.

MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi reported that an off-duty police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, identified Jones at the scene of three-car accident. Jones allegedly ran a red light, which resulted in the pileup. Witnesses say Jones returned to the vehicle for a handful of cash before fleeing on foot.

Jones turned himself in on Monday and posted bail immediately, when he learned he would be facing a felony charge for leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries. Vanessa Sonnenberg, a 20-year-old pregnant woman, suffered a broken arm in the collision.

Many of Jones’ peers took to Twitter to give their take on the ongoing situation involving the pound-for-pound king.

This incident comes only a few months after Jones tested positive for cocaine, leading up to his title defense against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. The 27-year-old champion’s punishment for violating the UFC’s code of conduct policy was a slap-on-the-wrist fine of $25,000.

There were no grounds for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to step in and hand down a heftier fine or suspension since recreational drugs aren’t prohibited out of competition.

During an exclusive interview with Fox Sports’ Charissa Thompson, Jones claimed he voluntarily checked into a rehab facility for a 24-hour evaluation, before being released into out-patient treatment. He also admitted to having experimented with cocaine use in the past.

For now, Jones is still slated to defend his title against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the main event of UFC 187. A win would put him one title defense away from tying Anderson Silva’s all-time record for most consecutive defenses in UFC history.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Video: Jon Jones Avoids Reporters After Making Bail

A few days ago, Jon Jones was preparing for his upcoming UFC light heavyweight championship fight against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson scheduled for May 23. Now the 27-year-old MMA star is running from reporters after being bailed out of jail.
…

A few days ago, Jon Jones was preparing for his upcoming UFC light heavyweight championship fight against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson scheduled for May 23. Now the 27-year-old MMA star is running from reporters after being bailed out of jail.

Jones, who was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident on Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, posted $2,500 bail after being arrested on felony charges on Monday. He is accused of fleeing on foot after running a red light and causing a three-car accident.

According to MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi, witnesses claim Jones ran back to the vehicle to grab a handful of money before running away. Jones was identified on the scene by an off-duty police officer, who also happens to be an avid UFC fan.

Paperwork with the name “Jonathan Jones” on it was found inside the suspect’s vehicle. A marijuana pipe and marijuana were also found.

Vanessa Sonnenberg, a 20-year-old pregnant woman, was inside one of the other vehicles involved in the accident. Her unborn child was reportedly unharmed, but she did suffer a broken arm as a result of the collision, which elevated the misdemeanor hit-and-run charge to felony level.

After turning himself in on Monday, Raimondi reports Jones was booked at 7:11 p.m. local time, per Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center records. He posted bail and was released before 10 p.m. local time.

According to Action 7 news, Vincent Ward, Jones’ attorney, says “his client is in good spirits” and “thinking about his next competition.”

“He wants to get down to training for this big fight that he has. I know obviously he wouldn’t want to be dealing with this right now, but Jon is a great guy. I know he’s taking all of this very seriously,” said Ward.

The UFC released a statement on Sunday acknowledging awareness of the situation. For now, the promotion is still gathering information before making a decision on whether or not to go forth with the UFC 187 main event.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com