Author: Matthew Roth

Jon Jones on Fighting Anderson Silva: "We Both Have a Lot to Lose"

Anderson Silva is believed by many to be the best fighter in the world. There is very little left for him to accomplish in the middleweight division so now there is talk of Anderson possibly moving up to light heavyweight to challenge current champion …

Anderson Silva is believed by many to be the best fighter in the world. There is very little left for him to accomplish in the middleweight division so now there is talk of Anderson possibly moving up to light heavyweight to challenge current champion Jon Jones.

It’s a super fight that fans want to see. Unfortunately, it’s one that Jon Jones wants absolutely no part of. He appeared ESPN Radio LA’s show ‘Max and Marcellus’ to speak with host Max Kellerman about a potential fight.

His reasoning may surprise some fans. As for Jones, it’s not just about the L. He doesn’t see a need to fight Anderson to cement his place in UFC lore, nor does he want to risk his own growing legend by taking a loss to the middleweight champ.   

“It’s not that he won’t fight me or I won’t fight him. To be dead honest, it’s that we both have a lot to lose and we both respect each other a lot and we both are striving for personal greatness. I don’t want to crack on his greatness and I don’t want him cracking on my greatness.”

For Jones, it’s strictly a matter of dollars and cents. Both are paid extremely well and considered incredibly valuable assets for their sponsors. 

“We’re in completely different weight classes. We both have sponsor deals and things that are really important to us and a big part of that sponsorship package is being a winning—being a champion. Having us fight each other means one of our championships goes away.”

“I respect Anderson Silva so much that I don’t want to be the guy to beat him. I don’t want to lose to him either. It’s a lose-lose situation for me.”

Both fighters are up for the “Fighter of the Year” ESPY award this year. While Jones does respect Anderson’s contributions, he’s adamant that he’s had the better year in sports. 

“Well Anderson Silva is someone I respect dearly. He’s a great athlete. He’s the fighter of our generation but when it’s about who had the more outstanding year, I think I’d give it to myself.”

As a fan of the sport, I hope that Dana White and company can figure out a way to put this fight together. There’s just too much interest for it to fall apart like the bout between Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva that never came to fruition. 

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Ronda Rousey Video for ESPN Body Issue Hits the Net…It’s Awesome

You know when things are so totally awesome that you really can’t even put into words how awesome they are? That’s how I feel about this video and photograph from Ronda Rousey’s shoot with ESPN: The Magazine for their upcoming Body Issue. Rousey h…

You know when things are so totally awesome that you really can’t even put into words how awesome they are? That’s how I feel about this video and photograph from Ronda Rousey’s shoot with ESPN: The Magazine for their upcoming Body Issue. 

Rousey has become a certifiable star in the MMA world because of not only her ability to snap arms but also for her good looks. She’s been deemed the latest in a long line of “the face of Women’s MMA” that’s included Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg.

What makes her different from her contemporaries is that she’s just as good on the mic as she is in the cage. Gina Carano had that “aw shucks” attitude and Cris Cyborg suffered because Portuguese is her first language. 

This has made Rousey a rarity in MMA. 

And it shows as ESPN has chosen her as one of the six athletes to receive their own cover for the Body Issue. With her ever growing celebrity Rousey will continue to receive opportunities in front of the camera. 

And that’s totally awesome. 

For the rest of the photos, check out Jeremy Botter’s post from earlier today. 

Look for her and the five other athletes on the cover of ESPN: The Magazine’s Body Issue on news stands. 

She defends her Strikeforce Bantamweight title against Sarah Kaufman in August. 

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UFC 148 Results: Chael Sonnen and Forrest Griffin Among 11 Medical Suspensions

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the medical suspensions for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2.  The card was the biggest gate in UFC history at around $7 million. It also was host to one of the most anticipated rematches in the histor…

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the medical suspensions for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2. 

The card was the biggest gate in UFC history at around $7 million. It also was host to one of the most anticipated rematches in the history of the sport. 

Bleacher Report received the suspension list earlier this morning. Of the 22 combatants, half received suspensions from the commission. 

Among the names listed are middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen and former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. 

Below is the complete list of fighters who were suspended after the event:

Chael Sonnen – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29 for cuts on his nose. 

Forrest Griffin – Suspended until August 22 with no contact until August 12 for possible jaw injury. Additionally, he must have CT scan of jaw and be cleared by doctor or no contact until October 6. 

Cung Le – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29 for left eye laceration. Additionally, he must have x-ray of right knee and right foot and be cleared by doctor or no contact until October 6. 

Patrick Cote – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29 for cuts on the scalp. 

Dong Hyun Kim – Suspended until August 22 with no contact until August 7 for TKO loss. 

Cody McKenzie – Suspended until August 22 with no contact until August 7 for TKO loss. 

Ivan Menjivar – Must have X-ray or MRI of left knee and be cleared by doctor or no contact until October 6. 

Fabricio Camoes – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29. 

Gleison Tibau – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29 for cuts around his right eye.

Constantinos Philippou – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 30. Additionally, must have left eye cleared by a doctor or no contact until October 6. 

Rafaello Oliveira – Suspended until August 7 with no contact until July 29 for cuts on the scalp.

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UFC 148 Results: Rashad Evans Wants a Crack at Anderson Silva

After snuffing out Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, everyone has been wondering who honestly poses a challenge for the champion. Running down the list of contenders at middleweight, there just doesn’t seem like anyone can truly push Anderson Silva the way that…

After snuffing out Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, everyone has been wondering who honestly poses a challenge for the champion. Running down the list of contenders at middleweight, there just doesn’t seem like anyone can truly push Anderson Silva the way that Sonnen could. 

Well, an unlikely challenger may have emerged. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has thrown his hat into the mix and honestly, that’s a fight that I can get excited for. 

I’ve always felt that Evans was not only one of the best fighters in the UFC, but one of the only light heavyweights that could truly match Anderson with both speed and technique. He’s considered “small” by light heavyweight standards and may actually be better suited for middleweight.

The fight makes even more sense as Silva told UFC President Dana White that he has no interest in moving up to light heavyweight to challenge current champion Jon Jones in a super fight. 

While I’m sure guys like Michael Bisping and the winner of Mark Munoz & Chris Weidman feel they should be next in line, those fights really don’t interest me the way that one with Evans would. 

They match up well stylistically and Evans possesses the takedown ability to push Silva like only Chael Sonnen could. On the feet Evans’ head movement and boxing would force a very technical match up. 

I know the UFC is hoping to hold a huge show to close out the year. This may be the fight that gets fans to fill out Cowboy Stadium. 

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UFC 148 Results: Dana White ‘Forrest and Tito Looked Old Tonight’

The Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin story came to a close at UFC 148. The match would be Ortiz’ last as he had announced his retirement in the lead-up to the fight. The fight had a nostalgia factor as Ortiz claimed to be healthy for the first time and i…

The Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin story came to a close at UFC 148. The match would be Ortiz’ last as he had announced his retirement in the lead-up to the fight. The fight had a nostalgia factor as Ortiz claimed to be healthy for the first time and in the opening round, he looked to be in vintage form.

Unfortunately, both fighters faded pretty fast and the fight went from being exciting to losing some steam midway through the third round. UFC President Dana White was critical when addressing the fight. 

“Both Tito and Forrest looked old tonight. Anybody who thought that those guys looked good tonight is out of their f***ing mind. They both looked old. Tito barely beat Forrest the first time. Forrest barely beat Tito the second time. And Forrest barely beat Tito tonight,” White told Bleacher Report after the UFC 148 post-fight press conference.

“All three of those fights looked the same except this was the slowest and sloppiest of the three that they’ve had. And my point in saying that isn’t to beat up on Forrest and Tito. That’s what you see when a guy starts to get closer—and they’re younger than Anderson, you know what I’m saying?”

With Tito’s retirement, it truly is the end of the Golden Age of the UFC. His compatriots Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture had already called it quits, leaving only Ortiz to represent the older generation of UFC light heavyweights. 

“That’s what happens in this business and not just this business but all sports. There’s always an end to an era man. Your heroes, your guys. F***ing Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys died. Beastie Boys were supposed to be young forever man. I’m just saying, that’s my generation.”

He’d go on to add, “I seriously haven’t been impacted by a death in a long time like I was with the Beastie Boys. It’s life. It’s the way that it happens. It’s the end of an era. It’s the way that it goes. The old guys go out and the new guys come in. Especially in this sport, it’s a young man’s game.”

He’s right, it’s the end of an era. And we witnessed history. 

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UFC 148 Results: Dana White ‘Anderson Silva Is My Favorite Fighter’

Dana White had difficulty putting the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen together. Two years in the making, it just seemed like the middleweight champion would never face the only man in the UFC to make him seem human for a second time.&nb…

Dana White had difficulty putting the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen together. Two years in the making, it just seemed like the middleweight champion would never face the only man in the UFC to make him seem human for a second time. 

However, to everyone’s surprise, Dana actually enjoys having to deal with Anderson Silva by every definition of the word. 

“Let me tell you what’s always happened. Anderson is such a unique individual to deal with and you know, you’ve seen me. I’ve butted heads with this guy and that guy. We argue. It’s such a different process when I’m dealing with this guy and I respect him so much, it’s like dealing with an artist,” White told Bleacher Report after the UFC 148 post-fight press conference.

“It’s like dealing with an artist or some big crazy talented actor. That’s what it’s like. The guy is a fighter. The two times he went to 205, it wasn’t because he wanted to. It was because I asked him to.” 

While some may take White’s comments about Silva being an artist as having other meanings, he truly respects the middleweight champion. After promoting the Brazilian for over six years, he still enjoys finding new and creative ways to build up his champion.

“It’s so complex and hard to explain, but I actually like doing it. I like being involved in every aspect of the business with this guy. I love to watch him fight. The anticipation and the buildup to watch this guy do what he does is seriously one of the favorite parts of my job. I love it.”

He left the media with some very surprising and kind words. 

“This guy is my favorite fighter. He really is. And as hard as he is to deal with, I just love dealing with this guy.”

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