Even before they went five rounds at UFC 182 in January, neither light heavyweight champion Jon Jones or his opponent Daniel Cormier thought they’d be rid of each other in one night.
With Jones capping off his unanimous decision victory with a now infamous crotch chop, it was clear everything hadn’t been worked out between them.
Jones apologized for his ‘classless’ antics post-fight, but said he believed Cormier would have acted likewise if he’d have carried the day.
“I know if he would have won, he would have been up here talking all types of trash,” Jones said. “So I don’t feel sorry for him. This is combat.”
With Cormier sharing those same feelings, he’s already rebuilding his confidence ahead of a second potential showdown with Jones.
“Jon won that fight. But after the fight, I have no doubt in my mind that I can beat that man,” Cormier told Bleacher Report. “Nothing has changed. If we fought again, I feel like I will be even more confident that I can get the job done. He did not beat me. He won the fight.”
One thing that has changed is the return of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. With Cormier’s primary training partner injured and sidelined throughout the lengthy camp leading up to Jan. 3, middleweight Luke Rockhold was given the tall task of giving ‘DC’ the look of the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
The boys are back #TeamAKA @cainmma @dc_mma http://t.co/4bHwDGjiz5
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 9, 2015
“He did not beat me up, and I did not beat him up,” said Cormier. “We were in a very competitive, hard fight. And if anyone believes that it was anything different, go back and watch it again and you’ll feel a little different after watching it.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘We’re happy to get these results.’ Anderson Silva’s second out-of-competition drug test came back clean of PEDs.
‘Just the tip of the iceberg.’ Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre believes we’ll see even more high profile fighters failing drug tests if major changes aren’t made. ‘I’m not a rat. I don’t want to say any names, but I want to change the system.’
Booted. Anderson Silva has been replaced by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as a TUF: Brazil 4 head coach after a request by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from GLORY 19, RFA 23, Garry Tonon vs. Javier Vazquez at Gracie Nationals and more.
‘It’s in my best interest.’ Chad Mendes says he’s rooting for Conor McGregor to beat UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo this summer at UFC 189.
Watch The MMA Hour with Georges St-Pierre, Anthony Johnson, Tim Kennedy, Eddie Alvarez, Brandon Thatch, Mauro Ranallo and George Lockhart.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Cat Zingano vs. Miesha Tate.
WSOF 18 preview.
Ronda Rousey in SI. Probably NSFW.
Ben Henderson talks move to welterweight.
Garry Tonon vs. Javi Vazquez at Gracie Nationals 2015. (Submission only, no time limit)
TTTHS.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #379: The Rage of Robinson at the worst week in recent MMA memory
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Painkiller Already 217 w/ Joe Lauzon – MMA Talk (via r/MMA)
TWEETS
Hmmm.
My doctor cleared me to train 100% Big thanks to @lorenzofertitta @danawhite @AliAbdelaziz00 @Rizvan_RM for all the support you have give me
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 9, 2015
@Cowboycerrone @ripcity3243 ????
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 9, 2015
“@KeepItRealist: @Cowboycerrone @ripcity3243 How long ago did you sign for the fight?” About 2 weeks now
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 9, 2015
Looks good.
Okay enough of the swimsuit pics for now… Those were taken months ago – this is what I’m really up… http://t.co/Nhv1gvN5z9
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) February 10, 2015
OK.
I’m not retiring. There just isn’t a fight I am interested in or excited about. I am disappointed in this sport and I have to make a living.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 9, 2015
Excellent.
#Repost @carloscondit ?????Elbow flow with @sixgungibson http://t.co/rkUk5poYRN
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 10, 2015
Aldo is a rhino.
Get well soon. Skip this first pic.
I have a vagina in my shin… no biggie pic.twitter.com/6xHg7tt3Zy
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) February 9, 2015
Just need some stitches thankfully http://t.co/nkU8ut35XF
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) February 10, 2015
All better http://t.co/uDh3nE0hBk
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) February 10, 2015
Maybe an announcement on Friday?
Time to rebuild my body. First day of camp. Get in shape to get into fight shape. #OrtizChamp2015
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 10, 2015
Very cool.
These cute kids standing in front of the store recognized me and showed me how my fight went. http://t.co/XckAin6Ska
— Makwan Amirkhani (@MakwanAmirkhani) February 9, 2015
Congrats.
Want to thank @maracababjj for the purple belt I received today. He doesn’t just hand belts out so I… http://t.co/JvfzKy2edL
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) February 9, 2015
Make it happen.
Hi @joerogan i’m a big fan I’m in LA
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 9, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 9 2015)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Grateful Dead.
Understanding Lance Armstrong and cyclings PED-Era
The recent events brought back one name, who, apart from some real life streetfights in his early carreer, has very little to do with MMA: Lance Armstrong.
But are those comparisons with Anderson Silva really accurate? Who was Lance Armstrong, really? Let´s take a closer look:
Lance Armstrong was one of the greatest cycling talents the world has ever seen. True talent in this sport shows itself very early, and Lance Armstrongs talent was undeniable. He competed against the worlds elite in Triathlon as a 15 year old. Take a look at this Video:
He came from the plains of Texas, and never had much. He wasn´t a good student, sports was his only chance of success in life. So he moved to Europe, to start his professional cycling carreer. Unfortunately, he landed right in the EPO-Era, the drug that ended the carreers of the great Champions of the 80s, like Greg LeMond, and Laurent Fignon.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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