Author: Mike Hodges

Rampage Jackson Has "Something to Prove" Against Shogun Rua

While Quinton “Rampage” Jackson might be opposed to performing one last time in the Octagon, it isn’t to say he won’t be motivated when the time comes to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.The former PRIDE FC stars are expected to meet later this year after Ja…

While Quinton “Rampage” Jackson might be opposed to performing one last time in the Octagon, it isn’t to say he won’t be motivated when the time comes to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

The former PRIDE FC stars are expected to meet later this year after Jackson is cleared from having knee surgery, an injury he suffered in training prior to his bout against Ryan Bader at UFC 144.

After requesting a matchup with a striker, the UFC not only granted him one more fight, but also against Rua, a bout which Jackson has long desired.

“Me wanting to rematch Shogun is nothing personal. Shogun coming up, he was the best back then and I knew I could beat him but it’s just unfortunate that I couldn’t get my ankle (healed),” Jackson told MMA HEAT. “I just want to get that fight back.”

Rua was the last man to knockout Jackson while competing in PRIDE FC in 2005. 

Jackson is recently coming off two back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. Although his recent performances have been disappointing to say the least, a rematch with Rua should likely boost his confidence.  

Jackson’s knee surgery has postponed the bout momentarily, but he said that he will be completely healthy and promises to put on an exciting performance against the Brazilian. 

“I got something to prove to Shogun. I don’t care if I’m just coming off of knee surgery and stuff like that, I’m going to give Shogun a run for his money,” he said. “Shogun better train pretty hard for this because I know how to train hard.”

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Jose Aldo Says He Will Move to 155 Pounds If Frankie Edgar Doesn’t Drop Down

Jose Aldo is looking for more challengers, and he is content on seeking competition elsewhere.The current UFC featherweight champion has disposed of every opponent so far and does not intend on slowing down.Since the rumors of former UFC lightweight ch…

Jose Aldo is looking for more challengers, and he is content on seeking competition elsewhere.

The current UFC featherweight champion has disposed of every opponent so far and does not intend on slowing down.

Since the rumors of former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar possibly moving to 145 pounds were recently shot down, Aldo said he still would welcome Edgar in a matchup at some point in the future.

But he made it clear that if Edgar won’t move down to compete in the featherweight division, Aldo will challenge him at 155 pounds.

“Having Edgar, a former lightweight champion, would be amazing for the featherweight division, but if he doesn’t come down [to 145 pounds], in the future, I’m going to have to move to lightweight,” Aldo told Sherdog.com.

The idea that Edgar would move down to challenge Aldo came about following his loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 144. But Edgar said he still sees a future at 155 pounds and would not confirm the potential move anytime soon.

Even UFC president Dana White‘s words did little to convince Edgar and offered him a rematch for the lightweight title, scheduled for later this year.

But Aldo is confident in Edgar’s exit from the lightweight division in the near future, and anticipates a potential bout with “The Answer,” which Aldo said is a fight many fans will want to watch.

“Edgar thinks he won against Henderson, so he really had to stay in his division and get the rematch,” he said. “If he comes to featherweight, we’ll fight. Many people want to see it.”

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Rampage Jackson: ‘I Wish I Didn’t Have One More Fight for the UFC’

At what first seemed like a chance to redeem himself and honor the last fight on his contract, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is now opposed to the idea of facing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and is attempting to pull out of the bout.Jackson and Rua were scheduled…

At what first seemed like a chance to redeem himself and honor the last fight on his contract, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is now opposed to the idea of facing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and is attempting to pull out of the bout.

Jackson and Rua were scheduled to meet later this year, after it was announced by UFC president Dana White that Jackson would fight one more time before being granted his release from the organization.

However, Jackson has since changed his mind and told Inside MMA he plans on leaving the UFC on his own terms.

“I’ve been upset with the UFC and the opponents they’ve been giving me,” Jackson said. “After my fight with Jon Jones, they [the UFC] told my manager that I was losing my appeal, that rappers and stuff don’t come out to watch me fight no more, that the fans don’t really like me no more.”

“I’ll go fight for some other show for free. I’ll prove to the fans that I’m not all about money,” he said.

Jackson has expressed his interest on avenging his loss to Rua since their first bout in PRIDE FC seven years ago. 

Even before the announcement, Jackson had showed great interest in facing a striker more of his caliber, as opposed to constantly being matched up against wrestlers.

But now it appears Jackson no longer has any intention of competing in general, and looks to be opting for his release.

“I wish I didn’t have one more fight for the UFC. I’m trying to get out of it,” he said. 

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UFC 145: Jon Jones May Be Overlooking Rashad Evans

Jon Jones’ rise to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings steadily continues with every challenger he emphatically beats.His next challenger is Rashad Evans, an opponent who seemingly knows the champion and shares a closer past with him than any other…

Jon Jones’ rise to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings steadily continues with every challenger he emphatically beats.

His next challenger is Rashad Evans, an opponent who seemingly knows the champion and shares a closer past with him than any other fighter in the light heavyweight division.

The war of words has gone on for several months, with Evans opening up about Jones in ways unimaginable, and criticizing his former training partner and camp. Jones has remained tight-lipped throughout the year, hoping to achieve redemption against the former UFC light heavyweight champion. 

Although he has looked uncomfortable at times during interviews discussing his past experiences with Evans, there were glimpses where Jones showed over-confidence when comparing his skills to his opponent’s.

Evans has gone on record saying the 24-year-old is arrogant and cocky outside of the spotlight, and that seems more believable each time Jones opens his mouth. 

Evans continues to discredit Jones’ hype and says he is capable of beating him due to his past experience with him, but Jones denies that he will lose on April 21.

This title bout is the most intriguing fight because of the two fighters’ history together. 

Jones is already focused on his next challenger, as he is annoyed with Evans and hopes to beat him in devastating fashion as early and quickly as he can. 

The problem is that Evans is one of the best wrestlers in mixed martial arts and is technically brilliant at mixing up his strikes with his takedowns. 

Some may not want to believe it, but Jones is overlooking Evans’ skill-set, regardless of how much he has improved in the last year. And if there is one fighter who holds advantages over Jones, it’s Evans, and he intends on pulling off an upset at UFC 145. 

So if Jones is as prepared as he claims he is, he better not overlook Evans.

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Jon Jones Looks to Prove Critics Wrong Against Rashad Evans

If Jon Jones hopes to solidify his reign as UFC light heavyweight champion, as well as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, his recent performances would suggest he is on the right path to doing so.After effortlessly dispatching three former ch…

If Jon Jones hopes to solidify his reign as UFC light heavyweight champion, as well as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, his recent performances would suggest he is on the right path to doing so.

After effortlessly dispatching three former champions, Jones is set to make his third title defense against another former champion in Rashad Evans, when the two contenders headline UFC 145 on April 21st.

Evans’ consistent trash-talk has aggravated Jones to the point to where Jones strives to beat him and prove he is a superior fighter.

“My opponent and I have a storied history that has been well-documented. He thinks he knows everything I bring to the table, but a lot has changed since he left the gym a year ago,” Jones told Fightline.com. “I’m a much different fighter than the one he trained with. I hope he is ready to see and feel that difference.”

Since capturing the UFC light heavyweight title last year against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, critics and fans have searched long and hard for the fighter who possesses the certain skills to dethrone the 24-year-old champion. 

But as talented and successful as his predecessors have been, no fighter at this point has even been able to put Jones in danger, let alone defeat him.

And while some fans are pointing to Evans’ past training experience as a possible advantage for “Suga,” Jones intends to silence his detractors once again.

“I have been able to prove many of my doubters wrong over the course of the last 12 months,” he said. “

“Some said I couldn’t submit a legend, and I did that. Some said I couldn’t take a punch, and I did that. Now some are saying that I will have trouble against someone who knows me so well. They are wrong. Wait until they see what I do on April 21.”

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Jon Jones on Rashad Evans: "I Just Can’t Wait to Put Him out of His Misery"

The anticipation couldn’t get any bigger for Jon Jones.The UFC light heavyweight champion is set to defend the title against Rashad Evans, a former longtime teammate and friend, at UFC 145 in April.Since Evans’ departure from Greg Jackson’s last year, …

The anticipation couldn’t get any bigger for Jon Jones.

The UFC light heavyweight champion is set to defend the title against Rashad Evans, a former longtime teammate and friend, at UFC 145 in April.

Since Evans’ departure from Greg Jackson’s last year, both fighters have endured separate paths to their title bout but have become better, well-rounded fighters. However it is Jones who believes that Evans’ trash-talk is fueled by jealously and a lack of confidence in himself.

“Jealousy fuels Rashad,” Jones said during a pre-fight interview on UFC.com. “I think it’s very weak emotionally on his part. That’s why I can’t wait for this fight to be over.”

It is evident that Jones has done his best to let his counter part do all the talking leading up to their bout in Atlanta. Evans has confronted the champion on several occasions and has even revealed incidents involving himself and the 24-year-old Jones where Evans would seemingly get the better of him in sparring sessions.

But despite Jones’ calm demeanor, he has now expressed his feelings towards Evans and is upset over the way he has been portrayed and mistreated by the former light heavyweight champion. 

Jones said Evans’ antics have become tiresome and he intends on finishing his opponent and looking ahead to his next challenge.

“Rashad is the one who looks at this whole story like, you know, this guy’s went off and created his own team and he’s left the people who were there for him in the beginning. He’s the one who is going through this whirlwind in life right now,” Jones said. “And I just can’t wait to put him out of his misery and solidify me being the light heavyweight champion and telling him to go have a seat somewhere.”

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