The UFC released the third episode of its UFC 202 Embedded series tonight (August 16, 2016) as the event is set for this coming Saturday night (August 20, 2016) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reigning featherweight champion Conor McGregor goes suit shopping and works on combinations with his striking coach Owen Roddy
The UFC released the third episode of its UFC 202 Embedded series tonight (August 16, 2016) as the event is set for this coming Saturday night (August 20, 2016) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Reigning featherweight champion Conor McGregor goes suit shopping and works on combinations with his striking coach Owen Roddy ahead of his main event welterweight rematch with Nate Diaz, while Diaz hits mitts with his long-time trainer Richard Perez.
Light heavyweight slugger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson does media in New York City prior to his pivotal co-main event clash with fellow former title challenger Glover Teixeira, who finishes up some light training in Connecticut before heading out to ‘Sin City’.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone rides his motorcycle down the Vegas strip as he prepares to face off with Rick Story on the main card.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a month for UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. At the beginning of July, he was finally set to rematch arch rival Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 200 for a chance to finally unify the 205-pound titles and silence his critics once and for all. But just days
It’s been a rollercoaster of a month for UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
At the beginning of July, he was finally set to rematch arch rival Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 200 for a chance to finally unify the 205-pound titles and silence his critics once and for all. But just days out from the event, “DC” was hit with the heavy news that “Bones” wouldn’t competing at the supposedly monumental event after a potential USADA violation for two banned substances forced the UFC to pull him from the bout.
Cormier fought and beat late replacement Anderson Silva on the much-ballyhooed main card, using his clear area of strength of wrestling to control “The Spider” in an uneventful and, in the eyes of many fans in Las Vegas, disappointing bout. So the champ just couldn’t win – even if he won – and it turned out to be a sort of microcosm of his year in general.
Forever linked to “Bones,” who beat him by unanimous decision at 2015’s UFC 182, Cormier was and is viewed as a fake champion despite wins over top contenders Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson while the formerly dominant Jones was dealing with his seemingly never-ending legal troubles.
He may never be fully redeemed in the minds of some fans if he never beats Jones, but at this point, he’s just had enough of his rival’s card-wrecking antics. Speaking candidly during his return as a co-host on UFC Tonight last night, Cormier unveiled the stance that he was not going to face Jones, but rather the winner of UFC 202’s pivotal bout between “Rumble” and Glover Teixeira next:
“The sad thing is that you got guys that are doing everything right. Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira are doing everything right. So, I am sitting here right now telling you on UFC Tonight, I am going to fight the winner of that fight. I don’t care if Jon Jones comes back, I am not going to reward him. His chance was July 9, and he was not there. Glover Teixeira and Anthony Johnson are very deserving guys, and they should get the title shot after they fight. They’re doing the things the right way.”
It’s a proclamation that won’t be lauded by most, but at the same time, it’s one that is understandable at the same time. Jones and his downward spiral of arrests and drug test failures are putting a serious damper on his overall legacy and career in the long run, but in the short term, they are simply demolishing the high-profile cards he’s booked on.
The UFC was quick to kick featherweight champion Conor McGregor out of the main event slot for missing a press conference, yet while “The Notorious” may have needed to be put in place somewhat, putting the onus of UFC 200 – the so-called “biggest card ever” – on Jones’ (along with Brock Lesnar’s, who also failed two drug tests himself) dubious shoulders was a questionable call at best.
Like it or not, Cormier isn’t going to reward that behavior any longer. Jones may arguably be the best pound-for-pound talent MMA has ever seen.
He also may be the biggest waste of talent the sport has ever built up.
There might be a time when “DC” finally settles his long-held rivalry with Jones; there might not. It just won’t be in Cormier’s next trip to the Octagon.
Unfortunate news has come to fruition earlier today (June 18, 2016), as MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani has reported that highly-ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was forced out of his upcoming bout with fellow former title challenger Glover Teixeira which was slated for July 23, 2016. Helwani took to his official Twitter account to break
Unfortunate news has come to fruition earlier today (June 18, 2016), as MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani has reported that highly-ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was forced out of his upcoming bout with fellow former title challenger Glover Teixeira which was slated for July 23, 2016.
Helwani took to his official Twitter account to break the news:
Anthony Johnson is out of the 7/23 fight against Glover Teixeira, per sources. More to come shortly on @MMAFighting.
After suffering a submission loss to reigning champion Daniel Cormier in April 2015, Johnson has since bounced back with back-to-back knockout victories over the likes of Jimi Manuwa and previously surging contender Ryan Bader. “Rumble” is widely considered to be one of the most feared strikers in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Teixeira also went through a rough patch, dropping two straight decisions to then champion Jon Jones and Phil Davis in 2014. The Brazilian slugger has since rebounded in an impressive way, scoring three straight stoppage victories Ovince Saint Preux, Patrick Cummins, and most recently former champion Rashad Evans.
A replacement opponent has yet to be named.
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA as more news regarding the situation unfolds.
Top UFC light heavyweight Glover Teixeira made a splash when he called out fellow former title challenger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson following his electric first-round knockout of former champion Rashad Evans in the main event of April 16’s UFC on FOX 19 from Tampa, Florida. And while “Rumble” may be looking for his next title shot
Top UFC light heavyweight Glover Teixeira made a splash when he called out fellow former title challenger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson following his electric first-round knockout of former champion Rashad Evans in the main event of April 16’s UFC on FOX 19 from Tampa, Florida.
And while “Rumble” may be looking for his next title shot after two straight knockouts over Ryan Bader and Jimi Manuwa following his failed title bid against current champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 187, it appears as if UFC President Dana White is coming through on his statement that Johnson vs. Teixeira ‘interests him,’ as it was revealed on UFC Tonight that the bout is being targeted for July 23’s UFC on FOX 20 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Both fighters come in with a ton of momentum from their recent win streaks, with Johnson having the aforementioned two straight victories to run his UFC record to an impressive 5-1 since returning to the promotion in April 2014, while Teixeira has scored three straight finishes over Ovince Saint Preux, Patrick Cummins, and Evans after a two-fight slide against Jon Jones and Phil Davis.
So UFC on FOX 20 could potentially feature a bout for the next light heavyweight title fight from The United Center. Who would you pick in this match-up of lethal 205-pound knockout sluggers?
