Author: Mike Hodges

Dan Henderson Focused on Light Heavyweight Division Instead of 185 Pounds

Dan Henderson has had a few options of competing in different weight classes, but the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion said he intends to remain at 205 pounds.In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Henderson was asked about where he would pref…

Dan Henderson has had a few options of competing in different weight classes, but the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion said he intends to remain at 205 pounds.

In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Henderson was asked about where he would prefer to fight, and he said he wants to challenge for the UFC light heavyweight title.

“I’m not real keen on fighting at 185 but it’s still a possibility, I’m not ruling it out. I’m not real worried about it but right now I’d like to fight at 205,” he said. 

Henderson has been awaiting a title shot since defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139. 

It is expected that Henderson will challenge the winner between this weekend’s title bout involving Jon Jones and Rashad Evans at UFC 145. 

As to which fighter he wants to challenge, Henderson said he is happy to contend for the title and would compete against either Jones or Evans.

“Both (Evans and Jones) are tough and have been around for a little while but for me the bigger thing is getting that UFC belt,” he said. “It’s the only thing I haven’t gotten. That would be the motivation and it would definitely be a good sense of accomplishment.”

Henderson will be in attendance to watch the event, as well as the main event between Jones and Evans.

UFC 145 is live tomorrow night, from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

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UFC 145: Georges St-Pierre Comments on Title Bout Between Jones and Evans

Georges St-Pierre was amidst the highly-publicized feud involving Jon Jones and Rashad Evans and it didn’t always make for a pleasant atmosphere inside Greg Jackson’s MMA.Evans eventually left the New Mexico-based training facility and will challenge J…

Georges St-Pierre was amidst the highly-publicized feud involving Jon Jones and Rashad Evans and it didn’t always make for a pleasant atmosphere inside Greg Jackson’s MMA.

Evans eventually left the New Mexico-based training facility and will challenge Jones this weekend for the UFC light-heavyweight title at UFC 145. 

St-Pierre has now opened up about the upcoming title bout this weekend on his Twitter account, and when asked about his prediction of the fight, the UFC welterweight champion remained neutral and didn’t necessarily favour one fighter over the other.

“I’ve trained with Rashad and Jon and all I can say is that any small mistake will carry a hefty price, either way,” St-Pierre said.

St-Pierre has since remained on good terms with both Jones and Evans despite their fallout, and it is understandable why he has decided to stay neutral and refrain from picking either competitor from getting a victory this weekend.

Meanwhile, St-Pierre continues to rehab his knee injury and is expected to return later this year, when he is slated to unify the UFC welterweight championship against Carlos Condit at UFC 154 in Montreal.

UFC 145 is scheduled for this weekend, live from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Dana White Blasts Greg Jackson, Says a Training Camp Isn’t a ‘Family’

Greg Jackson is one of the most accomplished and highly regarded coaches in mixed martial arts, and he has been credited with forming one of the most elite camps in the sport.But along with having UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones near his …

Greg Jackson is one of the most accomplished and highly regarded coaches in mixed martial arts, and he has been credited with forming one of the most elite camps in the sport.

But along with having UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones near his side, Jackson has also faced his fair share of criticism.

Most recently, Jackson’s loyalty had been questioned after he chose to corner Jon Jones for his upcoming bout against Rashad Evans at UFC 145. Jackson said he took full responsibility for the rift that came between Evans and Jones, but UFC President Dana White isn’t buying that explanation.

In a recent interview on Yahoo! Sports’ Cagewriter, White said Jackson attempted to exploit the Jones vs. Evans feud for more money. The UFC boss said that Jackson’s idea of being in a family-like environment shouldn’t’ be taken literally.

“There is one thing that is an absolute fact, and no matter how often Greg Jackson pumps that family [expletive], Greg Jackson is a [expletive] businessman,” White told Cagewriter. “These guys need to make the decision where they train based on where they think they’ll get the best work and develop the best, and not on this [expletive] crazy idea that you’re becoming a part of a family.”

However, White was not condemning Jackson for what he does, but he simply pointed out that Jackson’s intention is to make as much money as possible. White said Jackson benefits from having such stars as Jones and St-Pierre in his camp.

“The more top guys he brings in, the more money he makes,” White said. “There’s nothing wrong with Greg Jackson, but he’s a [expletive] businessman.”

White has seemed bothered by the fact that teammates have refused to fight one another, but the recent feud between Evans and Jones is living proof that is not entirely possible to rule out two teammates competing against each other.

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Chael Sonnen Defends Alistair Overeem, Blames Media for Steroid Allegations

Chael Sonnen is at it again.The UFC middleweight contender was giving his latest rant on his segment of “Chael’s Corner” on “UFC Tonight” this past week, but it was not directed at Anderson Silva, surprisingly.Sonnen came to the defense of UFC heavywei…

Chael Sonnen is at it again.

The UFC middleweight contender was giving his latest rant on his segment of “Chael’s Corner” on “UFC Tonight” this past week, but it was not directed at Anderson Silva, surprisingly.

Sonnen came to the defense of UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem after it was revealed that the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion had an elevated testosterone level of 14:1 after failing his pre-fight drug test prior to UFC 146.

According to Sonnen, who was also criticised for failing his post-fight drug test at UFC 117 in 2010, he believes Overeem has done nothing wrong and should not be portrayed as guilty by the media.

“Congratulations to MMA media; right when I think your incompetence can’t get to any higher level, the Alistair Overeem story comes out,” Sonnen said.

“Alistair Overeem did not test positive for anything. End of story. So why is his name getting drug through the mud? Why are they saying, ‘Well, he’s got an elevated T-to-E ratio. OK, fair enough. Let’s say his T-to-E ratio is outside the norm. That’s not illegal. That’s outside the norm.”

“If it’s not against the rules, why are we having this conversation? MMA Media: Ya failed!” he concluded.

Overeem was scheduled to challenge UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, but he will meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission next week to determine whether or not he can compete against the Brazilian.

Meanwhile, Sonnen is expected to face Silva at UFC 147, set for June 23 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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UFC 145: Where Does Jon Jones Rank Among the All-Time Light Heavyweights?

What Jon Jones has been able to accomplish in the past year is remarkable, but at only 24 years old, we may have yet to see Jones at his full potential as a fighter.Having successfully defended the UFC light heavyweight title on two occasions, Jones is…

What Jon Jones has been able to accomplish in the past year is remarkable, but at only 24 years old, we may have yet to see Jones at his full potential as a fighter.

Having successfully defended the UFC light heavyweight title on two occasions, Jones is already on his way to establishing his own legacy. But perhaps the intrigue and aura that surrounds the champion is not who he has defeated, but how effortlessly he has been able to defeat his opposition thus far.

Competing against experienced fighters in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was supposed to serve as a test for the 205-pound champion, and he passed it with flying colours. 

Victories over Rua, Jackson and Lyoto Machida have led many fans to claim Jones to having one of the single greatest years in mixed martial arts history. While these wins have sparked debate on his placement among the pound-for-pound rankings, it is unquestionable that Jones has earned himself a spot on the list filled with past UFC light heavyweight champions like Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.

And with such dominant victories over credible contenders like Rua and Machida, it is only a matter of time before Jones takes his rightful place as the greatest UFC light heavyweight champion. He will hope to extend his title reign when he meets another formidable opponent in Rashad Evans this weekend at UFC 145. 

But for now, Jones has only begun to scratch the surface at 205 pounds.

Statistically speaking, Jones shouldn’t be ranked any higher than top five, as he has only defended the title twice.  

Granted, some of his wins have come against some of the best fighters in the sport, but Jones still has to get past fighters like Evans and Dan Henderson before he gains fan praise and recognition similar to Liddell or Ortiz. 

Jones might still be maturing as a fighter, but a possible win over Evans may be the step in the right direction as “Bones” looks to cement his legacy as of the greatest light heavyweight champion in UFC history.

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Chuck Liddell: Fighting a Teammate Is Nothing Personal

Chuck Liddell has been involved in his fair share of rivalries.The former UFC light heavyweight champion had some grudge matches during his reign over the 205-pound division, including a title defense against former training partner Tito Ortiz.Their ri…

Chuck Liddell has been involved in his fair share of rivalries.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion had some grudge matches during his reign over the 205-pound division, including a title defense against former training partner Tito Ortiz.

Their rivalry went on to break pay-per-view records and cement Liddell’s legacy as one of the greatest UFC champions of all-time. 

Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, who are set to meet this weekend at UFC 145, have drawn similar comparisons to Liddell and Ortiz’s rivalry.

While appearing on “The MMA Hour” earlier this week, Liddell was asked to break down the upcoming title bout.

“What’s interesting about this fight is that the (betting) line is 6-to-1, which is shocking to me, because I don’t think it’s that kind of fight,” Liddell said.

“Even if it was a long time ago, if Rashad was getting the better of him in (training) … sometimes that’s in the back of your head when you go into a fight. Even if you’re a different fighter now and you’ve gotten a lot better, it’s still in the back of your head that this guy used to beat me and I haven’t messed with him since.”

One of the biggest ongoing topics in the sport today has been teammates competing against each other.

It’s been a controversial topic, to say the least, and it has forced some fighters to avoid it altogether, either by switching training camps or moving to another weight class.

Liddell had trained with Ortiz long before the two competitors squared off in the Octagon and “The Iceman” never shied away from competition whether it was against a friend or not.

“If (a teammate) can beat me, they can beat me. They deserve to fight me then. I’m not going to hold back some guy that’s in my camp if he wants to fight me. That’s not my thing,” he said.

Jones and Evans’ war of words has certainly intensified over the past year, and whether they can resolve their differences and remain friends following this weekend remains to be seen.

But Liddell said there should be nothing personal between the two fighters.

“It’s just a personal choice and a personal opinion, but I think eventually, hey you guys are going at it, then go out and have two beers together afterwards,” he said. “Go out there and prove who’s best that day, and go out and be friends again.”

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