The 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) was supposed to feature flyweight fighters with the winner getting an immediate title shot at dominant 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson, but that was cast into a bit of doubt when a recent casting call scheduled for April was canceled. But the unorthodox scheduling has now been confirmed,
The 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) was supposed to feature flyweight fighters with the winner getting an immediate title shot at dominant 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson, but that was cast into a bit of doubt when a recent casting call scheduled for April was canceled.
But the unorthodox scheduling has now been confirmed, as it was revealed on UFC Tonight that title challengers Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo will be the opposing coaches on the show, of which the winner will immediately face off against Johnson for the belt at the TUF Finale on December 3. Benavidez and Cejudo will meet in the co-main event of the Finale.
It was also reported that the competitors on the show will come from other organizations, although the previously mentioned tryout will no longer take place.
Both top-ranked flyweights have a history with ‘Mighty Mouse,’ the only flyweight champion the UFC has ever known, as Benavidez met him in the inaugural UFC 125-pound title fight at UFC 152, losing a close split decision before being infamously knocked out by the pound-for-pound great in their rematch at UFC on FOX 13.
The former Team Alpha Male standout has won five straight bouts since the second loss to Johnson.
Cejudo, meanwhile, recently met ‘Mighty Mouse’ to similar results, succumbing to a first-round knockout thanks to a brutal barrage of knees in the co-main event of April 23’s UFC 197 from Las Vegas. The loss was the first defeat in the octagon for the Olympic gold medalist wrestler.
It was also the eighth straight title defense for ‘Mighty Mouse,’ putting him only two shy of former middleweight champ Anderson Silva’s UFC record of 10.
Benavidez and Cejudo do have a bit of prior history, as they were linked to a potential fight at UFC 188 that never materialized, giving them another angle aside from TUF.
TUF 24 will debut on August 31, 2016 on FOX Sports 1.
Former UFC flyweight title contenders Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo will lead a cast of 125-pound fighters as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 24.
The announcement was made during Wednesday night’s episode of “UFC Tonight.”
Benavidez and Cejud…
Former UFC flyweight title contenders Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo will lead a cast of 125-pound fighters as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 24.
The announcement was made during Wednesday night’s episode of “UFC Tonight.”
Benavidez and Cejudo, who have both fought – and lost – to current champion Demetrious Johnson, will coach 16 flyweights from several organizations around the world. The winner will receive a title fight at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in December vs. Johnson.
For their efforts, Benavidez and Cejudo will meet in the co-main event that same evening.
TUF 24 begins August 31 on FOX Sports 1 at 10 p.m. ET.
As far as Kyoji Horiguchi is concerned, he is the No. 1 contender to UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson.
Horiguchi (17-2) scored his sixth Octagon victory in seven appearances this past weekend at UFC Fight Night 87, downing Neil Seery in th…
As far as Kyoji Horiguchi is concerned, he is the No. 1 contender to UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson.
Horiguchi (17-2) scored his sixth Octagon victory in seven appearances this past weekend at UFC Fight Night 87, downing Neil Seery in the Fight Pass main event. His lone UFC loss came last year to Johnson, as he suffered a fifth round submission defeat.
“I wish I could have a rematch against ‘DJ’ as soon as possible,” Horiguchi told MMAjunkie. “I wish I could have finished the fight fast. I really was surprised (I didn’t knock Seery out). I hit clean punches.”
After losing to “Mighty Mouse,” Horiguchi decided he needed a new camp to work with, leaving Japan for American Top Team in Florida.
“ATT is one of the best teams,” he said. “I’m having a good time.”
Who’s up for a super fight? Current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson are. Johnson has cleaned out the flyweight division, and there have been rumors of him possibly moving up in weight classes and going to the bantamweight division. That’s a big jump for “Mighty Mouse.” Cruz recently appeared
Who’s up for a super fight? Current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson are.
Johnson has cleaned out the flyweight division, and there have been rumors of him possibly moving up in weight classes and going to the bantamweight division. That’s a big jump for “Mighty Mouse.”
Cruz recently appeared on The MMA Hour and talked about the possibility of a fight with Johnson.
“You look at DJ, and you can’t deny that he is the best flyweight ever,” Cruz said.“He’s done great things. He’s defended the title. He’s going after a record of Anderson Silva’s right now. He’s said himself, he’s pretty focused on that more than anything, and I kind of understand that. But at the same time, I don’t pick my fights and I never really have. I’m not opposed to a fight. If that guy wants to come up to 135 and try to challenge me, I don’t run from anybody, so I’m there.
Cruz admitted that he is looking to fight the best fighters in the bantamweight division which is picking up steam now that he is the champion.
“But right now, you look at who I’m facing, the landscape of the 135-pound division is probably looking the best that it’s looked in the past four years, in my opinion. It’s looking really good and I’ve got plenty of guys in this division who are my size, my weight, who want to scrap and are in line and knocking at the door and saying they want to beat me up already. So, if you really look at things, I’ve got a long list of guys who want to fight.”
Going back to Johnson, Cruz has interested as well everyone else regarding to how Johnson will do at a bigger weight class. Johnson is small but quick. Could he out move the heavier guys and beat them? Cruz wants to know that too.
“I think people want to see Demetrious move up because he’s just smashing these guys at 125,” Cruz said. “Everybody wants to see that untouchable guy beaten. It’s just the way the world works. So, they want to see him move up and see how great he can do also. Like, if he’s that good against bigger guys too, that’s what the people are curious of.
“If you look at him at 135 pounds, he was beating a lot of people, but there was always a size advantage that gave him trouble that he had to work around. At 125, he has nothing to work around. These guys are his size, they’re his height, and he can use his fundamentals, his technique, and his speed at their fullest potential because of that. When he comes up to 135, things are different. I mean, he lost to me. He lost to Brad Pickett. That’s because of size advantages, and then technique on top of that. So he is good. He’s the best flyweight ever. I agree with that. But, when you’re coming up to 135 pounds, that’s my division. Period.”
It should be noted that Cruz beat Johnson back in October of 2011 and Cruz won via decision.
Johnson is fresh off a Henry Cejudo at UFC 197 while Cruz is set to fight Urijah Faber at UFC 199. Time will tell if Cruz and Johnson fight.
It looks like the long-awaited Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones rematch to unify the light heavyweight titles will have to wait and headline another card other than July 9’s UFC 200 from Las Vegas. News came today that Jones will potentially be on the sidelines for six months pending an x-ray on his left foot
It looks like the long-awaited Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones rematch to unify the light heavyweight titles will have to wait and headline another card other than July 9’s UFC 200 from Las Vegas.
News came today that Jones will potentially be on the sidelines for six months pending an x-ray on his left foot after his one-sided decision win over Ovince Saint Preux in the main event of last Saturday’s tonight’s (Sat., April 23, 2016) UFC 197 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, also in Las Vegas.
Jones was spotted with the injury backstage, but insisted he was perfectly fine at the event’s post-fight presser. He could be cleared by an orthopedic doctor even if his x-ray is positive; however, if it is not, Jones will be out of action until October 21, 2016.
Featuring two title fights and a number of wild bouts, UFC 197 resulted in a rather lengthy medical suspension list including St. Preux, who also received a full six-month sit for a broken left ulna. The full UFC 197 medical suspensions are as follows courtesy of MMA Fighting:
Jon Jones: Must have left foot x-rayed, if positive then requires clearance by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21 Ovince Saint Preux: Must have broken left ulna cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Rafael Natal: Must have nasal fracture cleared by doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Robert Whittaker: Must have right hand x-rayed, if positive then requires clearance by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 05/24, no contact until 05/15 Andre Fili: Must have left inferior orbital wall fracture cleared by oral, maxillofacial surgeon or ophthalmologist or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Sergio Pettis: Must have right hand x-rayed, if positive then requires clearance by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21 Danny Roberts: Must have left foot cleared by orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Glaico Franca: Must have ophthalmological exam; must also have nasal fracture cleared by doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/23, no contact until 06/08 Cody East: Must have nasal fracture cleared by ENT doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Walt Harris: Must have right hand x-rayed, if positive then requires clearance by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 10/21; minimum suspension no contest until 05/24, no contact until 05/15 Henry Cejudo: Suspended until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Clint Hester: Suspended until 06/08, no contact until 05/24 Anthony Pettis: Suspended until 05/24, no contact until 05/15 due to right eyebrow cut Chris Kelades: Suspended until 05/24, no contact until 05/15 due to facial abrasions Juliana Lima: Suspended until 05/24, no contact until 05/15 Dominique Steele: Needs yearly eye examination to follow possibility of glaucoma, due 03/22/17
Henry Cejudo has an idea.
It’s an idea Cejudo came by honestly, after spending just shy of three minutes in the Octagon with Demetrious Johnson on Saturday at UFC 197.
Almost all of those 169 seconds looked painful for the former Olympic gold med…
Henry Cejudo has an idea.
It’s an idea Cejudo came by honestly, after spending just shy of three minutes in the Octagon with Demetrious Johnson on Saturday at UFC 197.
Almost all of those 169 seconds looked painful for the former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, and at the end of them, Cejudo found himself curled up on the canvas as the referee stepped in to save him from the UFC flyweight champ.
It also left him with a suggestion—that perhaps Johnson should chase greener financial pastures at bantamweight.
“I’m actually curious to see him fight at 135 and fight for the championship,” Cejudo said. “I want to see how good Demetrious Johnson really is and how far he could take it.”
Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
We all see what you’re doing here, Henry. You’re not fooling anybody.
Nah, just playing.
In all seriousness, Cejudo handled his loss to Johnson—which was his first professional defeat and snapped a four-fight tear inside the Octagon—like a real pro. He was gracious and honest in defeat, showcasing the class no doubt honed through years as a world-class grappler.
But Cejudo’s words also add more weight to an idea that has been gaining traction lately in the public discourse: that Johnson should indeed abandon his kingdom at 125 pounds in pursuit of a superfight with 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz.
And when Cejudo casually floats this idea, it’s easy to imagine the rest of the flyweight division enthusiastically nodding along behind the scenes.
There’s just one problem.
Johnson himself isn’t having it.
Hopping up in weight to try to avenge his 2011 loss to Cruz would no doubt be the most lucrative option for Johnson right now. But from his position ensconced at 125 pounds—where he is as safely embedded as any champion in the UFC—he’s closing in on perhaps a more significant milestone.
Johnson needs just two more wins to tie Anderson Silva’s record of 10 consecutive UFC title defenses. In the absence of any truly Ruthian numbers in MMA, it must be considered among the sport’s most hallowed historical marks.
For Johnson, it sounds like that pursuit of history takes precedence over almost everything else.
“I’ve never shied away from that fight with Cruz,” Johnson said at the UFC 197 post-fight presser. “[But] my biggest goal right now is to break that title defense [streak] of Anderson Silva, and I believe I can do it.”
In fact, he’s the only person close.
Once upon a time, both Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones were on the verge of matching Silva’s streak. St-Pierre had run his time with the welterweight title to nine successful defenses before he relinquished the belt at the end of 2013. Jones had amassed eight defenses of his light heavyweight crown before the UFC stripped him of it in the wake of a hit-and-run accident in April 2015.
St-Pierre still hasn’t returned to active duty from his indefinite hiatus. Each day that passes makes it seem as though his break from the sport will become permanent. The UFC reinstated Jones a few months ago, and on Saturday, he made his successful return to the cage with a drubbing of an overmatched Ovince Saint Preux.
Even if Jones regains the 205-pound championship when he renews his feud with Daniel Cormier later this year, his run of consecutive title defenses will have to start again at zero. Likewise, rumors of St-Pierre’s return constantly swirl, but he too would begin from scratch if and when he deems himself ready to reappear.
Aside from those two, the only other UFC champions close to equaling Silva—Jose Aldo (seven title defenses) and Ronda Rousey (six)—both lost their titles via crushing knockouts in late 2015.
That leaves Johnson standing as far and away the UFC’s longest-reigning champion and the only one with an imminent chance to break the record. After him, the next-closest current titlists are 170-pound champ Robbie Lawler and strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Right now, Lawler and Jedrzejczyk have two title defenses apiece.
So you can see why this opportunity might be attractive to Johnson. Despite the fact he’s been as dominant as any UFC champ in history since winning the title in September 2012, he’s failed to distinguish himself with fans and among the list of the Octagon’s all-time greats. Or, perhaps more accurately, fans have failed to distinguish him.
When I spoke to him prior to his title defense against John Dodson at UFC 191, Johnson mentioned the importance of this accomplishment. As a champion who is not likely to be truly appreciated in his own time, he understands he’s building a legacy for the future.
“[Someday] people will look at my history,” he told me at the time, sounding a little defiant about the lack of respect he gets from some observers. “That will never be taken away from me.”
In the respect department, he has arguably made important strides in recent days.
Johnson’s victory over Cejudo was one of five stoppages in his last seven victories. It was also flat-out ridiculous in its impressiveness. He beat the former Olympic wrestler largely in the clinch, a position that should have been advantageous for Cejudo.
After weathering one takedown, Johnson battered his opponent with knees to the head and midsection, stunned him with an elbow and finished him with strikes on the ground. In terms of sheer brilliance, it ranks right up there with his master class over Dodson in their last fight and his first-round KO of Joseph Benavidez in December 2013.
Surpassing Silva, however, would give Johnson a historical benchmark with which to highlight his greatness.
For years, Silva was considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. It seemed as though the dominance he displayed and the numbers he put up might never be equaled.
Lately, however, his career has slipped into mediocrity—and even dishonor—after a pair of losses to Chris Weidman and then a positive steroid test in the wake of his win over Nick Diaz on Jan. 31, 2015.
Johnson’s victory over Cejudo should rightly give him the edge over Jones as the current consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound. Where he will ultimately wind up historically will take awhile longer to accurately determine.
If he can meet or break Silva’s record—perhaps with a win over No. 3 Jussier Formiga and then a potential rematch against someone like Benavidez—any arguments against him being one of the very best ever start to seem pretty hollow.
That’s great news for a man as obviously smart and self-aware as Johnson.
It’s good news for fans, who could get to see Johnson make history before he even turns 31 years old.
It’s bad news for the rest of the UFC’s flyweights, who will have to wait for their chance at glory until Johnson is ready for a bigger challenge.
Henry Cejudo has an idea.