Although he flirted a bit with UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman last August, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been linked to fight Cain Velasquez for years.
The UFC heavyweight champion faces interim title holder Fabricio Werdum June 13 at UFC 188 in Mexico City, but hasn’t lost sight of a scrap with Jones, likely even further now, down the road.
“I thought we were only a couple fights away from it, but now I don’t know how many fights away it is,” Velasquez told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “We’ll have to see how it plays out.”
Jones was suspended indefinitely and stripped of his title by the UFC on April 28 due to his alleged involvement in a felony hit and run near his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On May 20, UFC president Dana White announced Jones would be granted an immediate light heavyweight title shot, fighting whoever holds the strap at that time.
Just prior to his arrest in April, Jones remarked that fighting at 205 pound was becoming easier with age as he ‘matured.’
Jones was originally set to face No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson May 23 at UFC 187 and said in March that he’d ‘consider the division clear’ after beating him.
“I’ll probably go to heavyweight for one or two superfights at some point and then get back down to light heavyweight,” Jones said in April.
With Jones widely regarded as the sport’s top pound-for-pound athlete, the heavyweight champ says he doesn’t need to beat ‘Bones’ to prove anything.
“As far as any legacy fight between us, I don’t look at things that way,” Velasquez said. “I just look at what’s ahead of me. I don’t think about, ‘For my legacy, I need to do this, this and this.’ I just focus on every fight and how to win that fight.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Old Lion. Guilherme Cruz explains how, two decades later, Vitor Belfort’s career still ‘glints like gold.’
‘I don’t have to win. I want to.’ Daniel Cormier explains why a title win on Saturday doesn’t really change anything for him. ‘This could be my last change and I’d be completely OK with it.’
Title time. Donald Cerrone talks about his UFC 187 fight against John Makdessi, addresses critics who say he isn’t taking the fight serious, why he’ll finally ask for a title shot, and more.
Blue chip. ONE Championship CEO Victor Cui says ‘We’ve gotten a lot of interest’ since the rollout of the UFC-Reebok deal. ‘I don’t even open up my Facebook e-mails because it’s probably, I don’t know, 500 or 600 e-mails a day on Facebook from fighters, managers, agents, other promotions that want to work with us and send their fighters.’
End of an era. Nova Uniao co-founder Andre Pederneiras plans to retire as head coach and cornerman this year.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 187 Embedded episode 4.
Highlights from UFC 187 open workouts and media day.
Media day staredowns.
Chris Weidman’s UFC 187 vlog episode 3.
EA UFC 187 simulation.
“All butt. 100 percent.” – Urijah Faber.
Long watches.
…
TWEETS
Clear the schedule.
It’s been a while but a possible WAR 2 is in discussions. Send sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]
— Nick Diaz Promotions (@nickdiazpromo) May 21, 2015
Buddies.
Earlier today with my friend and opponent @travisbrowneMMA , this Saturday night #UFC187 will be #WARLOVSKI #MMA pic.twitter.com/UrjxSVJbtJ
— Andrei Arlovski (@AndreiArlovski) May 22, 2015
UFC bound?
My life moves forward through desire! Namaste
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) May 22, 2015
Congrats.
I took this pic ONE YEAR ago yesterday. It was our 2nd water well among the Pygmies. Tomorrow we go start #20! #Boom pic.twitter.com/Ioe2G4ttjj
— Justin Wren MMA (@JustinTheViking) May 21, 2015
Get well soon.
Surgery was a success thanks @ufc @UFC_AUSNZ #TeamVillain pic.twitter.com/qWf8pWN3sy
— Dylan Andrews (@dylanthevillian) May 21, 2015
Getting closer.
Chael Sonnen earned his 1st degree on his purple belt tonight ! Congratulations @sonnench pic.twitter.com/xRfmDL8DgO
— Fabiano Scherner (@fabianoscherner) May 22, 2015
Nice.
A message from one of the kids parents I coach : DC…you’ve touched lives positively just being… https://t.co/8p7cdk7vr9
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 21, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
Fight business is like stripping business. Make as much as u can while u can still dance good. Once u start to sag it’s “next on the stage”
— Joe Schilling (@JoeSchilling187) May 21, 2015
Some guy just took a photo of me in whole foods and said I was “fucking disgusting” and he wants all his facebook friends to comment on it.
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) May 20, 2015
My 1st fight back & the energy wasn’t the same. It was missing something & I couldn’t put it together. I miss @BurtWatson4real
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) May 20, 2015
Traveling with a bottle of wine in your suitcase is the adult version of the “egg drop project.”
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 21, 2015
On the flight to Vegas, sandwiched between a married couple. You’d think they would of sat next to each other, right? And they keep talking
— michael (@bisping) May 22, 2015
Dinner time but just for them Tomorrow will be tough to cut the weight.. Hora do jantar mas so p eles … http://t.co/EZ2IGuLBLC
— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) May 22, 2015
Just one of those days where everything is going wrong. about to ninja kick someone in the face
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) May 18, 2015
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. pic.twitter.com/Mz2p3IY8Jp
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) May 19, 2015
Hardest thing about working out has to be finding the energy to shower after. #flithyanimal
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) May 18, 2015
Why does everyone on @craigslist try to offer you half the price for the item you have listed?
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) May 18, 2015
Gotta adult but it’s 40* in my room & my feet are frozen & the Suns too bright for my mood & fuck this I’m staying pic.twitter.com/a9wts6ftvN
— Vinc Pichel (@FromHellPichel) May 20, 2015
I rather be tired than broke
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) May 22, 2015
40 mins after practice, double puke, always a good sign
— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) May 21, 2015
@johndodsonmma using the booster seat for these Skype interviews.. #ufc187 https://t.co/aoJoWFRiF0
— Travis Browne (@travisbrowneMMA) May 20, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 21 2015)
Bryan Caraway vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC on FOX 16
Matt Van Buren vs. Jonathan Wilson at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Teixeira
Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Cody Pfister at UFC 189
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via bendylla.
Thoughts on UFC and Reebok Deal
A lot of fuss is being made in regards to the UFC and Reebok deal. On the one hand, Reebok is a high profile, brand with a good track record when it comes to athletics. On the other hand, it isn’t enough money to legitimize Dana White comparing the UFC to the likes of the NFL. Is it a step in the right direction? Yes. But there is one huge disparity in the logic of Dana when he says that this in the long run is the correct thing to do.
Salaries. The salaries between the UFC and NFL are so far apart, that the Reebok deal does not do much except on the surface of the fighter’s clothes, and the canvas in the Octagon.
Minimum salary for NFL: $435,000. Not to mention that this amount goes up $15,000 annually (1).
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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