Author: kmowatt

Earlier we discussed the fact that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to see some GSP vs. Jon Fitch 2 action, but as everyone knows, that bout isn’t going to happen anytime soon. As we posted this AM, not only is it looking like the winner of next Saturday’s bout between Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley could coach on TUF 12 and fight St. Pierre afterwards, Mr. Fitch has a previous rematch engagement with Thiago Alves. 

Now unless you’ve only become fascinated with caged violence more recently (the MMA recruits continue to file in after watching Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia last weekend), then you’re familiar with the knowledge that Alves had been scheduled to rematch Fitch at UFC 111, until a pre-fight scan revealed an irregularity in his brain, cancelling the fight. There was a lot of understandable concern; a ton of coverage, and yadda, yadda, yadda, Alves is ready to throw down again.

According to a report from MMA Fighting today, however, although Alves is fine, the UFC has decided to weigh on the side of caution and has moved the Alves / Fitch rematch to August 7^th at UFC 117 (expected to take place in Oakland), instead of holding it at UFC 115 in June. The MMA Fighting report included a text from UFC head honcho Dana White which stated:

“Making sure Alves is 1000 percent healthy,” White replied via text.

Fair enough. So, Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen and Alves vs. Fitch II, looks like Oakland could be in for a good night.

 

Just over a week away from the Josh Koscheck / Paul Daley tilt at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, speculation continues as to whether or not the winner of that bout could end up coaching opposite Georges St. Pierre in the next season of TUF. Since GSP continues to dispose of any and all opposition, many believe the UFC is running out of opponents and fights it can really hype (we think Jon Fitch vs. GSP II would be sick, but average Joe ‘get this sh-t back standing’ doesn’t seem to appreciate the finer points of Fitch’s game). In other words, giving either Koscheck or Daley a season of TUF to get things ‘cooking’ with St. Pierre, could be a good way of building up his next title defense.

There have also been rumors that the UFC might look at Jake Shields for TUF 12, if in fact the promotion does end up signing him away from Strikeforce, but as MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin notes, Dana White has confirmed that the cast is set and filming will begin in 5 weeks. That would seem to rule out the Strikeforce champ. As far as Daley and Koscheck, both guys are interested in doing the show.

“It definitely would be fun. I think it would be a great opportunity, and I would definitely take the UFC up on it,” said Koscheck in a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio.

“If I get the opportunity, it’s a great opportunity that I’d have to accept,” said Daley. “I’d enjoy it, great exposure, and a chance to get my face out there a bit more.”

Daley vs. Koscheck should be a doozy. To bet on the bout head here.

Although Urijah Faber was thoroughly dominated by Jose Aldo during their main event clash at last weekend’s WEC (please see exhibit A), as always, the former champ showed a ridiculous amount of heart and toughness throughout. Since the loss, which is Faber’s third in five fights, there’s been a lot of speculation as to whether or not the Sacramento star might move down to 135.

Well, while speaking to Bruce Buffer on the Sherdog Radio Network, Faber dismissed the idea of leaving the featherweight division for the time being. Not only is “The California Kid” not interested in competing with buddy and training partner Joseph Benavidez for a bantamweight title shot, but because Faber believes technical mistakes, rather than size, is why he lost to Aldo last Saturday.

“If anything, Aldo and myself are two of the smaller 145-pounders. It wasn’t a factor of not being big enough. I really need to work on my leg kicks.”

“That’s not my main focus (right now),” said Faber. “My main focus is filling my weaknesses and getting better.”

Fair enough, after all, this is the same guy that ruled the WEC featherweight division until November, 2008, and broke his hand in his rematch with Mike Brown last summer. And as far as Faber’s thoughts on the Sacramento writer who called for his retirement? Faber apparently called him “uneducated” and “a moron.” You don’t here us arguing.

Yes, yes, we understand that the last thing many of you want to see is an update on the Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson situation, however, really, what ends up happening as a result of this week’s alleged incident, could have a serious influence on the career of Ortiz. Yes, yes, we understand that the last thing some of you care about is the career of Ortiz…you have to admit though, not everyone sold their black and flames Punishment beanie at a garage sale in 2006. The UFC didn’t bring Tito back because he has no fans.

Anyways, too keep this short and simple, according to a report from TMZ this morning, the outlet has confirmed with American Toxicology Inc, that Jameson has tested clean for “ten major” drugs, including OxyContin. If you recall, and don’t feel too, too bad if you don’t, Ortiz claimed earlier this week that Jameson was addicted to OxyContin, and that she had relapsed the day he was arrested.

In other “Huntington Bad Boy” news, Chuck Liddell continues to trash his long time nemesis in the media, insisting to Men’s Fitness, that Ortiz never had any intention of fighting him for a third time. If you’ve been following the latest season of TUF, then you know last night’s episode did not reveal why Ortiz won’t face Liddell at the season’s conclusion, as originally scheduled.

Saturday night could have been the first time a lot of mainstream fans saw Jose Aldo fight, which is probably the reason behind completely made up reports, that  a collective ‘who the eff is this guy’ was heard cascading throughout N.A. around 9:00PM PST. Of course, for people like us (which hopefully includes you), we proudly held our noses in the air while stating ‘uh, that’s Jose Aldo…um…he’s like, he’s like one of the world’s best fighters.’

Certainly Aldo’s thorough domination of Urijah Faber has drawn tons of well deserved praise for the talented champ, so much so, that talk has begun as to whether or not the UFC will take steps to get the P4P contender into the Octagon ASAP. Well, when asked about the prospects of moving up to lightweight to make his UFC debut, Aldo recently told Sherdog.com:

“It is a plan for the future, but not now, just for a distant future,” Aldo said of the UFC. “I intend to fight in the UFC, absolutely. I do not believe in fighting against B.J. or anyone else (right now). Before I get there, I have to do some fights to adapt to the weight, and then I’ll just see what happens.”

Now of course, Aldo vs. Penn or Aldo vs. Edgar etc, would be amazing, but as the WEC champ is wise to state, these things take time. In addition, while the WEC is still a separate promotion, Zuffa isn’t likely interested in moving the organization’s best fighter, at a time when they could use Aldo to build around.

The world of MMA is a magical and entertaining place, where on one day you’re offered jaw dropping bouts (see Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung), and the next, drama which rivals Celebrity Rehab’s (actually no; nothing can touch that show). Of course, it wasn’t that long ago, before the internet was ripe with headlines about Tito and Jenna, that the ‘hate-hate’ relationship between “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans was capturing a lot of the MMA spotlight. Throw a little Dana White in the mix, who didn’t exactly care for Jackson’s Mr. T gig that punted his December bout with Evans, and things got pretty, pretty, pretty nasty.

Now while things between White and Rampage have seemingly simmered (new cars and contracts have a funny way of doing that), Jackson apparently still feels the need to clear the air with certain fans, who still might think that he was ducking Evans back in December. Speaking to MMA Bay recently, Jackson stated:

“I still want to clear [something] up…some of my fans don’t understand why I didn’t fight Rashad in the beginning. I don’t think…the fans that don’t understand now, I don’t think they’ll ever understand. Just because I’m a fighter, doesn’t mean I can’t do other things. I just want my fans to know…no matter what, even though I haven’t been in the cage for a while…people think that I went Hollywood, people always got negative stuff to say.”

It’s been a long time coming. May 29^th is going to be a sweet and glorious day.