For all the dramatics leading up to his latest booking, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones sounds relieved to finally have a date for his rematch with Alexander Gustafsson. Jones’ hesitation to sign the bout agreement made him a target of UFC president Dana White, who framed the champion’s reluctance as turning his back on the fans.
“As soon as [Jones] starts to build some steam and starts to become the star that you think he can be, he comes out and doesn’t want to fight somebody,” White said earlier this month. The sport’s pound-for-pound best is remaining fairly tight-lipped about how the deal came together, but you get the sense Jones would love to say more.
“That’s funny,” Jones told ESPN’s MMA Live. “I think it was handled the way it had to be. The UFC had to do their certain strategies and things to get the fight done and I had to do my own strategy to get the fight agreed upon. We ultimately came up with something that worked for both of us. Now the fans get what they wanted, which is most important.
“I’m always learning. Every scenario that I’ve faced in my career is educational for me and I just take it all in and try to apply it for the future.”
Now booked to headline opposite Gustafsson Sept. 27 at UFC 178, Jones says he won’t be taking the Swede lightly this time around. You might not guess it by the scorecards, but the pair’s first meeting at UFC 165 in September was anything but clear-cut. Jones would go on to win a unanimous decision, but he was tested from the onset.
“I realized right away,” said Jones. “[Gustafsson] took me down right away in the first round, scoring on me more than I’ve ever been scored on, right in the first round. Yea, I knew it was going to be a tough fight right away.
“My biggest takeaway is just to train harder than I did last time. Give it my full undivided attention and I believe if I simply do that everything’s going to work out.”
Even following a return to form in a dominant performance against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 in April, Jones believes his fight with Gustafsson remains his top performance.
“In some ways that Gustafsson fight was my strongest showing,” said Jones. “To finish that fight the way I finished it and display the heart that I did to remain being the champion, to beat Tito Ortiz‘ [most consecutive UFC light heavyweight title defenses] record that very same night. I would give that [fight] one of my top showings.”
As for making it eight-straight title defenses, Jones is hoping more focus in preparation will make his rematch with Gustafsson a shadow of their first bout.
“What needs to go right is I need to have a great camp,” said Jones. “I need to have a great camp. I need to remain extremely focused and that’s it, really. Just come in prepared and going out there and doing what I do best. Play the game. Having fun.
“A successful showing for me is just for me to go out there and dominate. I’ve been able to dominate everyone I’ve ever faced except for Gustafsson in that first fight and success for me is to not only win this fight, but to dominate it.”
Jon Jones defends his light heavyweight title to Alexander Gustafsson Sept. 27 at UFC 178 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Long way. Dave Meltzer looks back on Frank Mir’s title run and how far the sport has come ten years later.
Brawlin’ strippers. Invicta FC featherweight Ediane Gomes believes the UFC is interested in finding women with a particular set of skills. “The (female) fighters in the UFC are more worried about showing their a**es than actually fighting.”
Dana quick hits. Dana White explains why lighter weight UFC champions make less money than heavier ones, shoots down Johny Hendricks‘ dream of fighting Chris Weidman and more.
‘Honest and upfront.’ Jon Jones explains how Chael Sonnen ‘almost gained an exception’ for fighters who test positive for performance enhancing drugs. “I really admired him being vulnerable and telling the world about the situation with his wife and things like that.”
The return. Nick Diaz looks to return to action by the end of 2014 following contract negotiations.
MEDIA STEW
Dana White talks Coker taking over Bellator, PED’s ‘ruining’ Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva and more.
Anderson Silva hits the pads and talks recovery.
No one wants to fight Sara McMann.
TTTHS.
Fighting in Brazil sounds fun.
You might not be as badass as you think.
Long watches.
Scott Coker talks Bellator MMA during Spike TV Conference Call
TWEETS
Congrats.
What’s in the box sir? A badass belt!!! @MMAWorldSeries @NBCSports pic.twitter.com/lPVJS0bDzr
— Rick Glenn (@Gladiatorglenn) June 22, 2014
We did…another VICTORY! I want to thank everyone who tuned in for their support. I have the best… http://t.co/nc1z5pMTwD
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) June 22, 2014
Right kick , left kick . A cropped Cro-Cop from #glorykickboxing last night. He fought well & got… http://t.co/90jXr332c0
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 22, 2014
It’s a celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. Bantamweight champion of the world Dillashaw! @TJDillashaw @rebecca_reynoso #DillashawWedding pic.twitter.com/OD0GUFVYiz
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) June 22, 2014
Best damn, most beautiful date I could ever ask for!! @meganolivi #dillashawwedding pic.twitter.com/LUNYXBOVsX
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) June 23, 2014
Indeed.
It was nice to see #TeamJones score a goal tonight. #WorldCup #USAvsPOR
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 23, 2014
So much going on here.
Good times RT @dereksnicole: Great meeting @LukeRockhold at #EDC #Vegas last night with @DerekJStevens pic.twitter.com/16Pe2KrJpo
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) June 22, 2014
Bruce.
Bruce Lee statue in Hong Kong #ufcchina #ufcmacao #brucelee http://t.co/s8QzjmjM8I
— Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2014
Nice.
Just landed in Hong Kong. In a car with none other than my opponent lol. Nice guy, but this is gonna… http://t.co/QD15SxpLJE
— michael (@bisping) June 23, 2014
The Captain.
@MieshaTate I don’t need another doppleganger name like that in my life. 😉
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 23, 2014
Alright.
Now Donatello want some! http://t.co/JSIK401UST
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) June 23, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (June 20-22 2014)
Mirsad Bektic vs. Ernest Chavez at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Dos Anjos
Robbie Peralta vs. Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Saint Preux
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via tigerlee.
Weekly Regional Roundup: June 5 – 11
A look at the regional scene of MMA highlighting the bouts of well-known veterans and rising prospects fighting in promotions not named UFC, Bellator, or WSOF.
This week featured notable wins by Kevin Casey and James Moontasri that led to signings by the UFC. One of the biggest fights of the week included a matchup between top 10 female Flyweight fighters Rosi Sexton and Joanna Jedrezejczyk from the stacked (by regional standards) Cage Warriors 69 event.
June 5
Joshua Aveles (16-10-1, LW#85) def Joe Condon (11-7, LW#409) by UD5 @ KOTC-Slugfest – Highland, CA
Henry Corrales (10-0, FW#115) def Alejandro Garcia (14-8-0-1, FW#262) by R2 TKO(Dr stop) @ KOTC-Slugfest
Diego Arturo Huerto Jaregui (12-3-2, FW#156) def Denilson Silva (8-9) by R1 SUB @ Fusion FC8 – Lima, Peru
June 6
Jiri Prochazka (10-2, LHW#128) def Tomas Penz (11-9) by R1 KO @ GCF28 – Moravia, Czech Rep
Kevin Casey (8-3, MW#92) def Andrew Sanchez (5-1, MW#303) by R1 KO(punches) @ RFA 15 – Culver City, CA
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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