Apparently UFC light heavyweight champ and pound-for-pound kingpin Jon Jones believes in superstition—particularly when it pertains to his pre-fight rituals.
“I would never bring my belt out to the cage,” Jones said to a group of repor…
Apparently UFC light heavyweight champ and pound-for-pound kingpin Jon Jones believes in superstition—particularly when it pertains to his pre-fight rituals.
“I would never bring my belt out to the cage,” Jones said to a group of reporters (per MMAFighting.com) at the UFC’s “The Time is Now” news conference on Nov. 17.
“Bones” further detailed his superstitious ways, telling those on hand at the media event that it began when he took the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011.
When I fought Shogun, his brother Ninja Rua brought the belt out to the cage. And when I was in the cage and I saw Ninja was holding the belt over Shogun, I remember feeling this feeling in my heart that there was nothing in the Octagon that could happen where I wouldn’t leave without that belt. It reminded me why I was there, what I was there for.
In what was the first of eight straight light-heavyweight title bouts for Jones, he claims getting a glimpse of the belt before facing Shogun alleviated his nerves and helped him zero in on his task at hand.
I’m watching Shogun, and then I just see that belt and all my nervousness went away. Everything went away. I was like, ‘Whoa, the belt is right there. I can view this. It’s so close. I’m probably going home with the belt.’ I just became superhuman after that and that’s probably why Shogun lost so much. That belt, I got to see it right before the fight. You dangled it over me.
Jones will attempt to settle arguably his most heated rivalry and defend his title for the eighth straight time when he takes on former Olympic freestyle wrestler and second-ranked Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in January.
Jones and Cormier have not only engaged in several verbal spats since the bout was announced, the two also took part in a brawl at a press event in August in Las Vegas.
Jones has already given the former Oklahoma State University standout plenty of motivation for his first UFC title fight. He doesn’t plan on giving Cormier any more incentive by flaunting the belt prior to their highly anticipated date in the Octagon.
“For the contender, just to see that right before the match?” Jones asked. “It’s like drinking a gallon of water right before walking into the desert, you know what I mean?”
Essentially unbeaten, aside from a disqualification loss to an over-matched Matt Hamill in 2009, Jones (20-1) will look to score his 15th UFC win. If he happens to best Cormier, Jones will pass former teammate and opponent Rashad Evans for most wins in the promotion for a current light heavyweight.
Cormier (15-0) will attempt to take Jones’ belt in just his third career bout in the light heavyweight division. In his four fights in the UFC, Cormier has beaten Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Patrick Cummins and Dan Henderson.
2014 has been a trying year for the UFC. The organization has had a number of premier fights fall apart due to injuries.
Injuries are a part of the sport, but for whatever reason, they have wreaked havoc on fights fans have wanted to see. In recent mon…
2014 has been a trying year for the UFC. The organization has had a number of premier fights fall apart due to injuries.
Injuries are a part of the sport, but for whatever reason, they have wreaked havoc on fights fans have wanted to see. In recent months we have seen Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier get pushed back, and Cain Velasquez have to back out of his UFC 180 fight against Fabricio Werdum.
I am asking any deity that will listen to curtail these injuries moving forward, because the beginning to 2015 is electric.
Within 31 days we will be treated to a slate of fights like never before. The UFC offers four events in the first month of 2015 that will deliver highly anticipated fights and spectacular action. The UFC will waste no time in providing one of the hottest bouts out of the gate.
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title is set as the main event on January 3. The title tilt will headline UFC 182. This is one of the hottest rivalries in the sport, and their tussle at their press event earlier in 2013 helped generate even more buzz surrounding this fight.
Almost lost in the wake of Jones and Cormier’s hatred for one another is a spectacular co-main event between lightweight contenders Donald Cerrone and Myles Jury.
The UFC’s next offering is on January 18. The UFC Fight Night 59 card is headlined by rising superstar Conor McGregor against Dennis Siver, and the co-main event may be the least talked-about blockbuster of all: Benson Henderson vs. Eddie Alvarez.
The UFC’s slate of fantastic fights marches on.
January 24 plays host to UFC on Fox 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. The two headlining bouts are Dan Henderson, in his return to middleweight, against Gegard Mousasi and Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson.
Those two fights are free on network television.
The month closes with UFC 183 on January 31 with the return of two of the sport’s biggest stars in what is almost guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining fights of 2015.
Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz are signed on for a middleweight clash. Both men are showmen inside the cage. Taunting, trash-talking and superior striking ability will be on display. And while this matchup gets all the attention, and rightfully so, the UFC has a great undercard beneath it.
Welterweights Tyron Woodley and Kelvin Gastelum co-main event, top-five women’s bantamweight contenders Miesha Tate and Sara McMann square off, and no one should forget bout welterweight’s Jordan Mein and Thiago Alves are signed to do battle as well.
If the injury rate slows down enough to allow all of these fights to go off in the first 31 days of 2015, we could be talking about the greatest month of fights in MMA history. It is a ridiculous way to open the new year, and the UFC would be well on its way toward delivering what fans want to see.
We are a month-and-a-half away from kicking that incredible slate off.
Fingers crossed. That is a lot of time before the calendar turns.
When the UFC purchased Strikeforce back in March 2011, it was first believed that the organization was going to continue to operate under then-President Scott Coker. But in January 2013, after Tarec Saffiedine became the promotion’s last welterwe…
When the UFC purchased Strikeforce back in March 2011, it was first believed that the organization was going to continue to operate under then-President Scott Coker. But in January 2013, after TarecSaffiedine became the promotion’s last welterweight champion, big brother brought over a stash of prime Strikeforce talent to stockpile several of its weight divisions.
Strikeforce had been the No. 2 mixed martial arts organization in America for roughly six years. They fostered elite-level talent, such as Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields, which helped spark debate over who exactly was the best in the world. Since the takeover, Strikeforce fighters have gone 0-5 in championship fights, with three left to be played out. Those who have failed in their efforts to capture UFC gold include Shields, Melendez, Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz, who lost twice.
There are three championship bouts in the light heavyweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions featuring the pride of Strikeforce. Melendez and Lawler are both back at it again—with Melendez facing an entirely different foe this time around. Each lost a close split decision in his initial title fight. The last one on the docket pits Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier against Jon Jones.
We are a year and a half removed from the time Strikeforce contracts were transferred over to UFC brass, and they have yet to establish a championship reign. Which fighters have the best chance to become UFC title holders?
The following set of rankings is composed of the most able—and dangerous—threats to champions. This does not mean that the fighter necessarily needs to be challenging for a belt. Fighters who have fought for a belt prior don’t hold an advantage over rising divisional candidates.
Fighters in the women’s bantamweight division are also candidates, however—spoiler alert—none made the list. Here are the five biggest Strikeforce-bred threats to UFC champions—but first, here are a few fighters who failed to make the cut.
The team of analysts for the UFC on Fox Sports 1 and Fox broadcasts has been providing the most in-depth coverage that mixed martial arts has seen in its 20 years of existence.
With a collection of seasoned fight veterans and a handful of well-versed h…
The team of analysts for the UFC on Fox Sports 1 and Fox broadcasts has been providing the most in-depth coverage that mixed martial arts has seen in its 20 years of existence.
With a collection of seasoned fight veterans and a handful of well-versed hosts at the helm, the people who work the pre– and post-fight shows for the UFC have consistently raised the bar.
The broadcast table for UFC on Fox Sports 1 has seen a revolving cast of characters over the past year but few have delivered on the level of Daniel Cormier. The two-time Olympic wrestler turned mixed martial artist has been on point every time he’s been tapped for analyst duties, and because of his valuable insight and solid on-screen presence, “D.C.” has been a regular on the pre– and post-fight scene.
In fact, the American Kickboxing Academy staple has done such an admirable job as an analyst he was recently announced as the new co-host of UFC Tonight, which airs on FS1 on Wednesdays. Furthermore, he’s managed to do all of this while tearing his way up the light heavyweight divisional ladder to become the No. 1 contender to Jon Jones’ divisional crown. That’s impressive by any measurable standard but there doesn’t appear to be many things in the MMA realm Cormier can’t do.
The Louisiana native took time out of his busy schedule to mix it up once again for this column and we talked his new position and the upcoming card for UFC 179.
Let’s get things started by talking about this new gig alongside Kenny Florian as the co-host of UFC Tonight. Congrats Mr. Cormier.
Thanks man. It’s a big deal and I love it.
You’ve done a great job behind the desk. You’re undefeated inside the cage. I’m starting to wonder if you ever fail at anything.
[Laughs] That’s not true. I’ve done it time and time again, but I’m lucky, man. I’m a very, very lucky guy.
To be clear, what I meant to say is that it is obvious you don’t like to fail. Is that what is driving you toward the light heavyweight championship?
Oh I hate losing. I hate it more than most people could ever imagine. But with everything that is going on, nothing means more to me than winning that championship belt. In due time. In due time I’m going to get that title.
That’s a perfect segue to the business we are here to talk about. There is a featherweight title on the line this weekend when longtime champion Jose Aldo rematches Chad Mendes at UFC 179. There are a few things I want to ask you and let’s start with Mendes‘ mentality.
The first time he went down there two years ago he ended up on a highlight reel as Aldo scored a crazy knockout in the closing seconds of the opening round. How do you believe he handles going back to Brazil to fight Aldo after he was finished definitively in their first meeting?
If I’m Chad Mendes I went back and said, “What was the gap between me and Jose Aldo?” How big of a gap is there between me and the champ because I know there is a gap between me and everyone else in the 145-pound division. He’s shown that. He’s shown that the rest of these guys can’t really go with him. He’s finished four of his last five fights with a few of them being top-10 guys. How big of a gap was there in the first fight?
Mendes has to replay that first fight and know that when he was taking him down—putting himself in his best position—Aldo grabbed the cage. By grabbing the cage it started a sequence that ended the fight. Honestly, it’s fascinating how that played out. Chad had his back, lifted him up to slam him to the ground, Jose grabs the fence and it starts a sequence where the fight is over five seconds later. That’s crazy, man. You just don’t see that too often.
Is that a compliment on Jose Aldo’s awareness where he knew the opportunity was coming? Or, does that reflect negatively on Mendes because he hesitated for a second and ended up getting popped? Such a little thing caused a crazy finish. As for the gap, if I’m Mendes I look at the entire round. He wasn’t getting outclassed by Aldo in that round and that’s what he needs to build off of. He was actually doing okay and had he secured that takedown, who is to say the judges don’t give him round one? That’s what I build off of. I say to myself it was 1-0 going into round two had there not been an unfortunate sequence that ended the fight.
Another interesting aspect of this fight is the amount of smack talk Aldo and Mendes have launched at one another during the lead up to this fight. While the champion has said his fair share, he’s also mentioned in multiple interviews that fighting is always business never personal. I recently interviewedMendes and he said it is personal because Aldo said some awful things about him and he plans to make him pay for those words. How important does their respective abilities to balance play into this fight?
When you go into a fight in a competitive situation emotions can’t drive you. If emotion carries one of these guys into the fight, whoever that is will lose. It takes too much energy to carry emotions and anger. That’s why street fights never last long. You watch a street fight and it only goes for 15 seconds because the guys are so mad. They are so mad they can’t control themselves. They can’t control their emotions or their breathing and you can’t allow those things to dictate you.
I believe this fight is personal to Mendes, but when that door closes he will compete in a manner a true sportsman should. He’ll compete in the name of sport and honor. If he doesn’t do that and lets emotion run him, he’ll be exhausted by the end of the first round. Then he will be in trouble.
Another big fight on the card for UFC 179 takes place in the light heavyweight division between Glover Teixeira and Phil Davis. Both are coming off losses and how crucial is this fight for both of these guys?
It’s definitely a big fight for both of them, but I think it may be a bigger fight for Phil Davis. If he can win impressively, then he will insert himself back into the title picture where Teixeira just fought for the title and has some work to do. One great performance over a guy who was just the No. 1 contender puts Phil right back where he wants to be.
While this is a big fight for Davis, do you think any of that scope has to do with his current standing in the division? He was a highly touted prospect who rose through the ranks, but he’s faced a few setbacks over the past two years that have served to take a chunk of his momentum away. Do you believe there is pressure on Davis to become the championship contender many believed he would be?
I don’t think there is any pressure in that sense for Phil. The most pressure you should feel should come from within yourself. It shouldn’t come from anything people say or believe; it should come from within yourself. If Phil has inside pressure, he will be fine, but if he starts to take on outside pressure, it won’t be a good thing because that type of pressure will smash you. That’s impossible to do in this sport. I don’t believe he has to live up to anyone’s expectation but his own. So, to answer your question I don’t think there is any added pressure.
As you very well know, winning streaks at the highest level of MMA are difficult to come by and Neil Magny is having an incredible year. The Ultimate Fighter alum has won all four of his showings thus far in 2014, and he’ll be going for history at UFC 179. If he defeats William Macario on Saturday, he’ll make history as the first fighter to win five bouts in a year, yet, his streak has pretty much run under the radar up to this point. What are your thoughts on the state of Magny‘s current run?
He has been relatively quiet and it’s easy to overlook a guy like that because he’s fought on some prelims and fought guys who people aren’t very familiar with. He is also really unassuming in the way he approaches his fights and I think he’s one of those guys who could maybe benefit from thumping his chest just a little bit and say, “Hey look at me. I’ve won four fights in a row. Pay attention. I’m over here working my tail off and I’ve fought five times this year. Look at me because I’m doing good.” He could benefit from thumping his chest just a bit.
Wrapping things up let’s talk about two fights that could turn out to be action-packed. First up we have Andre Fili vs. Felipe Arantes and then let’s discuss Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. BeneilDariush. What are your thoughts on these two scraps?
I think the Fili vs. Arantes fight is going to be sick. I’ve seen these guys fight multiple times and I think it is going to be good. Especially for Fili. This is a kid who comes of Team Alpha Male with Urijah Faber and he looked so great when he first came to the UFC he looked special. That said, he kind of ran into a buzz saw in Max Holloway in his second fight and lost. When you get young guys who are looking to rebuild themselves, and their ego is kind of driving them to put on a show, nothing but good fights can come out of that scenario.
Dariush and Ferreira is going to be a good fight. I think Beneil will be alright if he can get the fight to the ground. I think he’s a little better when he gets things on the ground and can be a bit more opportunistic. That’s going to be a good fight.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
There is something about Jon Jones that seems to unearth a whole other side to Daniel Cormier.
After enduring years of competition as an amateur wrestler, the 35-year-old former Olympian has grown adept in dealing with various personalities in a calm a…
There is something about Jon Jones that seems to unearth a whole other side to Daniel Cormier.
After enduring years of competition as an amateur wrestler, the 35-year-old former Olympian has grown adept in dealing with various personalities in a calm and subdued manner. But Jones has quickly become the one anomaly to the peaceful rivalries of Cormier’s past.
During a media event in August, an all-out brawl broke out during an intense staredown between the two light heavyweights in the MGM Grand lobby in Las Vegas. The infamous drama that unfolded that day culminated into a large dog pile onto the lobby floor, a flying shoe and UFC senior director of public relations Dave Sholler getting tossed into the set backdrop.
While the media incident managed to snag headlines, it was the off-air verbal exchanges between Jones and Cormier on the set of ESPN’s SportsCenter afterwards that really set the tone for MMA’s hottest new rivalry.
Looking back, Cormier admitted that he wasn’t proud of the way things unfolded, but his genuine dislike for Jones forced his hand.
On Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Cormier explained that there are just certain things beyond a fighter’s control when a feud is real:
It’s pretty cringe-worthy, actually, because you don’t really want to present yourself in that way. Jon and I, above all, we’re family men and we’re fathers. We’ve got kids. So you don’t really want to be portrayed like that because that’s not who we are at the bottom of it. But sometimes, when it’s real and you have a genuine dislike for someone, you can’t control it.
Some of the behind-the-scenes comments were so extreme that Cormier even hinted at crossing a line of some sort.
“It was bad,” Cormier admitted. “It was very insulting to him, and I said some things that I’m not proud of. I’m pretty sure he said some things he’s not proud of.”
The Nevada State Athletic Commission ruled on a hefty fine and community service as a suitable punishment for both fighters for their involvement in the media scuffle.
Despite the commission’s wrist slap, the ongoing drama between Jones and Cormier has played out wonderfully in the media. The MGM Grand incident and SportsCenter quotes have drawn more attention and interest to an already eagerly anticipated fight.
It’s moments like these that serve only to remind fans that MMA, like any other combat sport, will always be a sport with a flair for theatrics. People will always love a good fight between world-class athletes. Now combine that with a good storyline and real emotions. It’s a surefire recipe for a pay-per-view blockbuster.
The UFC has a bona fide blockbuster on its hands on January 3, when Jones and Cormier return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena to finish what they started back in August.
Only this time there won’t be any security around to break things up.
JordyMcElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.
Today was Judgement Day for a trio of misbehaving UFC stars, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission held a disciplinary hearing today to address the infamous Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormiermedia day brawl in August, as well as Wanderlei Silva‘s equally-infamous dodging of a random drug test in May. Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first — the punishments:
– Jon Jones was fined $50,000 for his role in the brawl, which is 10% of his disclosed purse for his upcoming fight against Cormier in January. He will also be required to complete 40 hours of community service in Las Vegas; Jones is not psychedabout that part, as he feels it will impact his training for the fight.
– Daniel Cormier was fined $9,000, which is 10% of his disclosed purse for his upcoming fight against Jones. Cormier will be required to complete 20 hours of community service in his hometown of San Jose, CA. The Nevada Commission felt that Cormier had less responsibility in the brawl — despite the fact that Cormier made first contact — and gave DC a smaller community service requirement as a result.
Today was Judgement Day for a trio of misbehaving UFC stars, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission held a disciplinary hearing today to address the infamous Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormiermedia day brawl in August, as well as Wanderlei Silva‘s equally-infamous dodging of a random drug test in May. Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first — the punishments:
– Jon Jones was fined $50,000 for his role in the brawl, which is 10% of his disclosed purse for his upcoming fight against Cormier in January. He will also be required to complete 40 hours of community service in Las Vegas; Jones is not psychedabout that part, as he feels it will impact his training for the fight.
– Daniel Cormier was fined $9,000, which is 10% of his disclosed purse for his upcoming fight against Jones. Cormier will be required to complete 20 hours of community service in his hometown of San Jose, CA. The Nevada Commission felt that Cormier had less responsibility in the brawl — despite the fact that Cormier made first contact — and gave DC a smaller community service requirement as a result.
Here’s what else you missed, if you didn’t watch the Fight Pass stream…
Jon Jones claimed that his brawl with Cormier cost him a six-figure sponsorship with Nike, as well as another potential six-figure sponsorship that he and his lawyer wouldn’t name. Cormier said that some of the kids in his wrestling program left because of the brawl. Advantage: Jones.
Jones apologized to the commission, to the fans and to the sports of wrestling, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu and boxing as well as the “great sport of MMA.”
Jones told the commission that he had planned to make forehead to forehead contact with Cormier that he had made with other fighters Rashad Evans, Brandon Vera and others. He said that when Cormier touched his throat he felt he had to respond to show he was still champion.
Jones said his howl after the brawl was an instinctive, primal gesture, not a planned action. He said he was feeding off the excitement of the crowd and their enthusiasm for the brawl…
Another commissioner pointed out the absence of Dana White might have played a role and that the UFC learned that “a real presence” is required…
(Underhooks, Sholler! Like we did in practice!)
Commissioner Brady asked for mercy for Jones due to his having already lost one of his fights this year due to injury…
The commissioners said they are “pissed off” at the outcome of “the last time we tried to do something non-traditional” which presumably refers to attempts to use Chael Sonnen as an advisor on drug testing and testosterone replacement issues…
Cormier then appeared before the commission. His attorney said the NSAC was under pressure from the media due to the “non-sporting event actions of athletes” and he pointed out that “this is not a domestic violence situation, not a drunken driving situation and not a brawl between a professional athlete and a non-professional. Rather it was a brawl at an event designed to promote a fight.”
Cormier’s attorney says that he is standing by his filing that the brawl was a self-defense action on Cormier’s part and that his client is not at fault…
One of the commissioners asked Cormier what he could have done differently. Cormier said he could have taken a step back. [Ed. note: Like a punk?? Nah, son.]
Cormier told the commission that he was surprised by the intensity of the stare down because he and Jones had been cordial backstage before the stare down.
Apparently UFC light heavyweight champ and pound-for-pound kingpin Jon Jones believes in superstition—particularly when it pertains to his pre-fight rituals.
