Author: Mike Hodges

What Does Shogun Rua vs. Thiago Silva Mean for Rampage Jackson?

With the UFC officially announcing a light heavyweight bout involving Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Thiago Silva for UFC 149, Rua’s original matchup against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been postponed for the moment. The former Pride FC stars were sc…

With the UFC officially announcing a light heavyweight bout involving Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Thiago Silva for UFC 149, Rua’s original matchup against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been postponed for the moment. 

The former Pride FC stars were scheduled to meet later this year. That was before Jackson had to undergo surgery on his knees.

Jackson had hinted at a rematch with the Brazilian after calling him out during his post-fight interview at UFC 135. He had been expected to meet Rua in Japan at UFC 144 earlier this year, but instead was matched up with Ryan Bader.

Jackson is likely to remain out of action for a majority of this year, but could possibly be ready by November or December. That’s considering he underwent knee surgery shortly after his fight with Bader in February.

As the former UFC light heavyweight champion looks to fulfill the last fight on his contract, he seems intent on defeating Rua and leaving the company on a high note.

If Rua is to get past Silva, it is highly possible the two competitors will meet and co-headline one of the company’s biggest cards, barring injuries and scheduling conflicts. 

But with Jackson’s continuous rants regarding his displeasure with UFC management and his patience wearing thin, we may never see this bout materialize.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Can Lyoto Machida Get Back into Title Contention With a Win over Ryan Bader?

Lyoto Machida will return to the Octagon this summer in a pivotal bout against rising 205-pound contender Ryan Bader.”The Dragon” is to be featured on the upcoming card of UFC on FOX 4 later this summer on August 4. It will be his first bout since his …

Lyoto Machida will return to the Octagon this summer in a pivotal bout against rising 205-pound contender Ryan Bader.

“The Dragon” is to be featured on the upcoming card of UFC on FOX 4 later this summer on August 4. It will be his first bout since his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 140 last December.

Despite failing to recapture the UFC light-heavyweight title, and dropping three of his last four bouts, Machida is still considered a valuable addition to the 205-pound division and remains among one of the elite competitors in the sport.

Being matched up against Bader is the kind of fight that the elusive Brazilian needs to regain his confidence and secure his position in the divisional rankings.

Bader will be entering the bout with a lot of momentum since rebounding after a disappointing loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 132 last year, picking up wins over Jason Brilz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

However, Machida has shown in the past that he can perform well under pressure.

It was no more evident than in his matchup with Randy Couture at UFC 129. Machida had previously lost two consecutive fights, but he looked to be the superior fighter against the 47-year-old as he evaded strikes and utilized excellent footwork to move in and out of the pocket and counter his opponent’s attack.

Machida would finish Couture in the second round after landing one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history and became a relevant fixture in the division again.

Against Bader, he has the opportunity to reenter the title picture at 205 pounds.

Arguably the most technical and accurate striker today, Machida still possesses the skills to remain a competitor for a few years.

Should he be victorious over Bader, Machida will reposition himself in line for a title shot once again.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chuck Liddell: Jon Jones Has the Potential to Become the Greatest of All Time

After reigning the UFC light heavyweight division for nearly two years, UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell says he envisions a similar path for current 205-pound champion Jon Jones.Jones has already defended the l…

After reigning the UFC light heavyweight division for nearly two years, UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell says he envisions a similar path for current 205-pound champion Jon Jones.

Jones has already defended the light heavyweight title on three occasions, including his recent victory over Rashad Evans last weekend at UFC 145. The champion cruised through a five-round bout, outclassing his opponent en route to earning a unanimous decision.

To consider how much the New York native has accomplished in such a short time is unprecedented, and at only 24 years old, Liddell feels like Jones still has a lot of time to progress but carries the right attitude that can elevate him to new heights in the sport.

“Jon has the right attitude, he can get there [to be the best],” Liddell told ESPN.co.uk. “He keeps working at everything, he is hungry and motivated and he has the potential [to be the best].”

What was once widely renowned as the deepest division in the UFC, has suddenly become rather shallow since Jones captured the light heavyweight strap over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua nearly a year ago.

“Bones” would follow up with two consecutive title defenses over former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida later that year, capping off arguably the greatest individual year in mixed martial arts history.

Having already defeated another former champion in Evans, and slated to meet Dan Henderson later this year, Jones could essentially clean out the division before the age of 25.

And should that be the case, Jones has been linked with the possibility of competing at heavyweight, a move which Liddell says he wouldn’t be shocked to see happen.

“Jon’s got the frame for heavyweight, if he works his way up, he could definitely move up,” he said.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Eager to Promote Jon Jones and Dan Henderson as UFC 149 Headliner

With Jose Aldo expected to defend the UFC featherweight title in Brazil on June 23rd, there is still no confirmation as to who will headline UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.The UFC will embark on their first trip to Calgary and…

With Jose Aldo expected to defend the UFC featherweight title in Brazil on June 23rd, there is still no confirmation as to who will headline UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

The UFC will embark on their first trip to Calgary and the company hopes to feature a star-studded event. 

Director of Operations for UFC Canada Tom Wright believes it is beneficial for the UFC to advertise a strong card on July 21, and he believes a title bout involving Jon Jones and Dan Henderson could just be the right matchup.

“I think it’s really important (to have a marquee bout). It demonstrates we have an understanding and a respect for how knowledgeable the fight fans are in Alberta, and how important this market is to our business,” Wright told The Toronto Sun.

“Having Jon Jones defend his championship in Calgary against Dan Henderson—that would be a monster fight.”

The UFC has already scheduled a few bouts for the event, pitting former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Cheick Kongo, as well as Calgary native Nick Ring competing against Court McGee.

Jones is fresh after recently defeating Rashad Evans at UFC 145, while Henderson has held out for a title shot since his win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 last November.

And with notable champions like Anderson Silva and Junior dos Santos already booked for their respective title fights this summer, the 24-year-old Jones would be the only other champion available to compete. Considering UFC 145’s gate attendance, the UFC light heavyweight champion’s presence would definitely add some value to the event.

Should the bout become finalized, this will be Jones’ second title defense in only three months and his fourth title defense overall. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 146: Has Alistair Overeem Permanently Destroyed His Legacy?

After learning that Alistair Overeem would be denied an application and be forced to serve a nine-month suspension, fans speculated how long the Dutchman would remain in the UFC.However, he does not appear to be going anywhere momentarily, but that doe…

After learning that Alistair Overeem would be denied an application and be forced to serve a nine-month suspension, fans speculated how long the Dutchman would remain in the UFC.

However, he does not appear to be going anywhere momentarily, but that does not mean he is under the good graces of UFC President Dana White.

It’s hard to believe that after failing his UFC 146 drug test that he would be welcomed with open arms from White or anyone else in UFC management.

As a result, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will replace Overeem and challenge UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.

Overeem’s image will take some considerable damage, especially after earning a convincing victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion has always been credited for being one of the most physically imposing competitors since transitioning to the heavyweight division in 2007, but with his recent suspension it will be hard to market him as a credible contender to casual fans.

His reputation as a dominant heavyweight might still be intact, and perhaps with another possible victory he could re-enter himself into the title picture, but most fans are not naive and Overeem will likely have to continue to face criticism regarding his physical stature for the remainder of his career.

Even if Overeem should capture for the UFC heavyweight title, there are some fans who will always remain skeptical regarding his accolades.

The UFC had signed Overeem in hopes of attracting him to a mainstream audience in the United States, as he is more recognizable and popular in Europe, but their hopes of making him into a potential star have now faded.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dana White on Rampage Jackson: "His Potential Could Have Been so Much More."

Upon his entrance into the UFC in 2007, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was one of the most sought-after talents in the sport and he would go on to achieve a lot of success for the company.Jackson’s legacy can be matched by very few fighters and he will alwa…

Upon his entrance into the UFC in 2007, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was one of the most sought-after talents in the sport and he would go on to achieve a lot of success for the company.

Jackson’s legacy can be matched by very few fighters and he will always be remembered as one of the most exciting fighters in mixed martial arts history, but he doesn’t appear to have the same desire to compete any longer.

Jackson’s recent performances have disappointed many fans as of late, including UFC president Dana White, and it has led some to question his longevity. 

White considers the 34-year-old Jackson to still be among one of the more popular fighters in the light heavyweight division, but he believes the former UFC light heavyweight champion could of accomplished more in his career.

“I think he could have been so much better if he applied himself,” White told MMAFighting.com. “He had all the tools. Incredible chin, knockout power in both hands, incredible charisma and personality.”

Prior to signing with the UFC, Jackson was one of the most successful fighters competing in the now-defuct Pride FC in Japan. Jackson was renowned for his colorful personality, along with his knockout power and vicious body slams. 

Collecting wins over fighters like Kevin Randleman and Ricardo Arona, Jackson would make a successful transition to the Octagon where he found himself victorious over Chuck Liddell and Dan Henderson, unifying both the UFC and Pride light heavyweight title.

But amidst all his success, White said some of Jackson’s losses have taken their toll on him and have caused him to become emotional.

“He’s crazy, Rampage takes losses really hard,” he said. “‘Rampage’ wants to fight one more fight on his contract, and his last fight, and he’ll never make that money ever again for the rest of his life. A lot of those guys in the UFC don’t realize that until its too late.”

Jackson is currently rehabbing a knee injury that will keep him out of action momentarily, but if and when he decides to return, it’ll be interesting to see what remains left of his legendary career.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com