Yesterday, we shared an editorial from last year that documented Jon Jones’ chaotic drug-testing history. Heading into UFC 232, that history had more questions and fewer answers than ever before. But there was one thing Jones’ upcoming opponent at the…
Yesterday, we shared an editorial from last year that documented Jon Jones’ chaotic drug-testing history. Heading into UFC 232, that history had more questions and fewer answers than ever before. But there was one thing Jones’ upcoming opponent at the time, Alexander Gustafsson, felt he knew for sure: Jones has always been a cheater.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 26, 2018, 9:00 AM]
Headline: Gustafsson: “Of Course” Jon Jones Has Always Cheated
Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson will be squaring off in the main event of UFC 232 this Saturday night from The Forum in Los Angeles, California, and there has been a lot of tension between Jones and Gustafsson during the lead-in to their contest.
After Jon Jones’ latest run-in with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with a test that rendered an “atypical” result, Gustafsson joined in on the chorus of criticisms that has rained down on Jones. In spite of slamming Jones publicly, though, Gustafsson claims that trash talking is not in his nature:
“I’m not one to trash talk my opponents,” Gustafsson told the LA Times. “If the talk is on, then let’s go, I’ll say the truth — nothing more or less. But it doesn’t affect me in my competition.”
It is with this pledge of truth that Gustafsson answered the question of whether he believes Jon Jones has always cheated, even before USADA partnered with the UFC in 2015,
“Yeah, of course I do,” Gustafsson said frankly. “I don’t care, though. It is what it is. That’s in the past and it doesn’t change anything. We have a new fight coming up and it’s all about that fight. Nothing else. I’m going to prepare for the best Jon out there — dirty or not, I don’t care. I’ll be sure I win this fight.”
At the end of the day, Gustafsson does not care what Jones has done or even what he may be doing. All he cares about is what he can control and the results dictated by his own performance:
“I don’t put an effort into what Jones is doing or not doing. I’m not sitting at home and thinking if he’s doing [performance-enhancing drugs] or not, and it’s not my job to prevent it. I’m just looking at the fight,” said Gustafsson.
“My job is to go out there and do my talking in the cage, and to beat the crap out of him.”
Do you agree with Alexander Gustafsson? Do you believe Jon Jones has been cheating throughout his career?
One week ago today, Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul. However, three years ago today, the then-UFC champion Woodley envisioned knocking out Conor McGregor.
The following article is brought to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy …
One week ago today, Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul. However, three years ago today, the then-UFC champion Woodley envisioned knocking out Conor McGregor.
The following article is brought to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
On This Day Three Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 25, 2018, 6:41 PM]
Headline: Tyron Woodley Envisions Knocking Conor McGregor Out
Tyron Woodley has reason to believe he could be knocking out Conor McGregor in the future.
Tyron Woodley and Conor McGregor have had their names linked together in the past, beginning as early in 2016 after a backstage incident at UFC 205, the same event McGregor would become the first champion in two different weight classes simultaneously.
One idea floated around for McGregor’s next performance following this achievement was potentially moving up to challenge Tyron Woodley at welterweight. Woodley welcomed the idea, but McGregor would not compete again after UFC 205 until earlier this year at UFC 229, when Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to attempt to reclaim the lightweight championship against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
One of the millions of viewers for that showdown was Tyron Woodley himself, who came away with an even bigger confidence boost should a bout between him and McGregor ever materialize:
“Yeah,” Woodley responded in an appearance on Fair Game with Kristine Leahy on whether he believes he’d defeat Conor McGregor, “especially after watching him fight Khabib. You know, Khabib is dope, and he was undefeated. When it comes down to overall martial arts and being able to be a great striker, and power, and wrestling, and defense, and striking, I think Khabib is dope for his pressure and his wrestling. But his striking is not the greatest in his division, and he was able to knock Conor down. So if Khabib could knock you down, I think I might be able to knock you out,” Woodley said.
Had McGregor been victorious, both Woodley and McGregor would have gotten their wish: McGregor would have an opportunity to claim even more gold in his UFC career, while Woodley would finally get the big money fight he has longed for.
But with McGregor now fixated on earning his way back to Khabib and Woodley with a dual-title threat of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, a Woodley vs. McGregor bout may just end up on the long list of matchups that never was.
Do you believe Tyron Woodley would knock Conor McGregor out if the two were to clash in the Octagon?
As you continue to celebrate Christmas 2021, join us in taking a look back at the MMA News’ Naughty & Nice List of 2018, courtesy of ex-staff member Adam Martin.
The following editorial is brought to you in its original, unaltered form, courte…
As you continue to celebrate Christmas 2021, join us in taking a look back at the MMA News’ Naughty & Nice List of 2018, courtesy of ex-staff member Adam Martin.
The following editorial is brought to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 21, 2018, 12:42 PM]
Headline: MMA Naughty & Nice Christmas List For 2018
Author: Adam Martin
Just like any other year, there was good and bad in MMA in 2018. Below are some instances of those in the business who were naughty, and those who were nice.
Naughty: Khabib Nurmagomedov Jumps Over Cage
There’s no question UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov tops the naughty list after jumping over the fence at UFC 229 and going after Conor McGregor’s corner. Regardless of what Team McGregor said to Nurmagomedov in the lead-up to the fight, he had no business scaling the fence and then launching himself into the crowd. Nurmagomedov hasn’t even received his full punishment for the incident yet, and he is likely headed for more fines and suspensions. But the worst thing about this is that the lightweight division finally had some momentum again and this incident stalled it. The UFC might want to book the rematch between Nurmagomedov and McGregor just because it will sell big bucks, but the promotion shouldn’t even risk something like this happening again.
Nice: UFC Lets Demetrious Johnson Go, Completes Trade with ONE
What wasn’t the greatest PR move was the UFC signing Greg Hardy to a contract. Yes, Hardy is an intriguing heavyweight prospect with huge knockout power and raw athleticism who could be something special. But you can’t ignore his past, and his domestic violence incident will always stay with him. The sport of MMA has a lot of people in it who have done some bad things, so Hardy shouldn’t be completely singled out, but the UFC signing him and then booking him on the same card as Rachael Ostovich was a terrible move.
Nice: “Jacare” Holds Up From Hurting Chris Weidman
Golden Boy MMA goes on the naughty list for actually booking Chuck Liddell to fight in the year 2018. Liddell had no business coming out of retirement and it wasn’t shocking at all to see him get brutally knocked out by Tito Ortiz at age 48. Shame on the promotion, shame on the commission, and shame on the fighter. This fight was embarrassing and should have never happened. Liddell should truly never fight again, and at this point it looks like Golden Boy MMA itself may never put on a fight again, either.
Nice: Chan Sung Jung and Yair Rodriguez Take Hospital Photo After Epic Brawl
Arguably the best fight of 2018 was the wild brawl between Chan Sung Jung and Yair Rodriguez at the UFC’s 25th anniversary event. The two featherweight sluggers went at each other for nearly five full rounds before Rodriguez landed an insane upward elbow with one second left in the fifth round to pick up maybe the single-greatest knockout in MMA history. After the fight, the two warriors posed in the hospital for a memorable picture that exemplified the respect and true martial arts that the bedrock of this sport was built on.
Naughty: Conor McGregor Bus Incident
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the bus incident back at UFC 223. Conor McGregor threw a dolly through a bus window which ended up injuring several fighters and leading to multiple fights being scrapped. It was one of the ugliest outside-the-cage incidents involving an MMA fighter all year, perhaps only eclipsed by Nurmagomedov jumping over the fence at UFC 229, depending on how you look at things.
What are some other examples of naughty and nice in MMA in 2018? Leave a comment below with your examples.
On this day three years ago, we ran a story where Dana White confessed that there is one thing that does bug him about the biggest cash cow in the history of his promotion.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form,…
On this day three years ago, we ran a story where Dana White confessed that there is one thing that does bug him about the biggest cash cow in the history of his promotion.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
On This Day Three Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 19, 2018, 5:05 PM]
Headline: Dana White Reveals His ‘Biggest Problem’ with Conor McGregor But Adds ‘He’s Worth It’
Author: Damon Martin
Conor McGregor is the biggest superstar in UFC history and because of that he’s been given more latitude than the average athlete on the roster.
UFC president Dana White has fully admitted as much when talking about the former two-division champion and his status with the company he’s helped earn million upon millions of dollars since first arriving.
Even when McGregor assaulted a bus filled with fighters back in April, he faced no retribution from the UFC, although he did spend a night in jail and could potentially pay out millions in lawsuits over the incident.
Still, White says McGregor is worth any headache he causes but largely he’s been a model citizen for most of his UFC career.
That said, White will point out one issue he has with McGregor that he wishes would change if for no other reason than problems he causes with their television partners.
“Is Conor hard to deal with here and there? Yeah but he’s worth it,” White said when speaking to the Barstool Sports podcast. “If people ask me what’s the biggest problem you have with Conor? It’s not showing up on time.
“Other than that, Conor’s incredible. Conor’s a fun guy to be around, he’s hilarious, he’s a great fighter, he’s fun to watch. If the guy showed up on time, he’d literally be perfect. He’d be perfect.”
White said that McGregor’s constant absenteeism at the start of press conference have caused more problems than anything else because many of those events are broadcast on television.
Unfortunately, McGregor has a tendency to live on his own time schedule and that has resulted in his late arrival to numerous events.
In fact, McGregor was so late for his final press conference showdown for the fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov back in October that the reigning lightweight champion just got up and left rather than wait for him any longer.
McGregor always offers an apology for his lateness but White still wishes he could find a way to be on time more often.
Tonight at UFC 269, Dustin Poirier will not have to worry about anyone skipping the line. He will have a second chance at undisputed lightweight gold when he challenges Charles Oliveira. Three years ago, however, things were much less certain. So much …
Tonight at UFC 269, Dustin Poirier will not have to worry about anyone skipping the line. He will have a second chance at undisputed lightweight gold when he challenges Charles Oliveira. Three years ago, however, things were much less certain. So much so that there were even rumblings of Georges St-Pierre himself potentially looking to win a world title in a third division. However, Poirier was having none of it.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AUGUST 6, 2018, 3:54 PM]
Headline: Dustin Poirier Shuts Down Idea of GSP Skipping Lightweight Line
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
Dustin Poirier shuts down the thought of Georges St-Pierre getting a title shot before he does.
Poirier is set to do battle with Nate Diaz at UFC 230 on Nov. 3. “The Diamond” is coming off a second-round TKO victory over former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. Poirier has now gone 4-0, 1 NC in his last five outings. Meanwhile, Diaz will be stepping inside the Octagon for the first time since Aug. 2016.
Dustin Poirier Shuts Down GSP
St-Pierre recently expressed his desire to fight the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor. Nurmagomedov will defend his title against McGregor in the main event of UFC 229 on Oct. 6. During a recent appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Poirier said St-Pierre will not get a title shot before he does:
“Nah, it’s not happening. Look, after I beat Nate Diaz, I’m fighting for the belt. Or I’m fighting GSP, but he’s not going to get [a title shot] before I do.”
St-Pierre has jumped the line before. Despite having not competed in four years and never fighting at middleweight, St-Pierre challenged Michael Bisping for the 185-pound title at UFC 217. GSP won the bout via submission and vacated his gold the following month.
UFC 230 will feature a middleweight tilt between Jacare Souza and David Branch. Another 185-pound bout is in the works for the card. The UFC is trying to put together Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman II. UFC 230 takes place inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The card doesn’t have a main event yet.
Do you think Dustin Poirier will get his shot if he beats Nate Diaz?
A few weeks back, we reported on Mike Perry’s public rejection of Kelvin Gastelum’s Facebook friend request. The two had engaged in a social media back-and-forth, with Perry ultimately appearing to come out on top. Perry had actually initiated the war of words after posting a comment to Gastelum saying “Jacare” will choke The Ultimate […]
A few weeks back, we reported on Mike Perry’s public rejection of Kelvin Gastelum’s Facebook friend request. The two had engaged in a social media back-and-forth, with Perry ultimately appearing to come out on top.
Perry had actually initiated the war of words after posting a comment to Gastelum saying “Jacare” will choke The Ultimate Fighter winner out when the two meet at UFC 224.
Gastelum has finally broken the silence over his spat with “Platinum” and the story behind his now-infamous friend request (MMA Fighting):
“What happened was, I woke up one day, and I went to check my Facebook. Then he, randomly, I got a Mike Perry comment. I’m like ‘alright, I’m gonna check it,’ and it said ‘Jacare is going to strangle you.’ I’m like, alright, I didn’t reply, I didn’t ‘like’ it or anything. What I did was, I tried to mess with him just to see what he would do, and I sent him a friend request.”
“I kind of feel like it backfired. Because he blew it up on Twitter, he kind of made me look like a fool or at least I felt like it. But yeah, I’m not worried about him. I was just kind of messing around just to see what would happen.”
“I’ve learned that people will say anything online. Anything to get your attention, to get you to respond to them. And many of those people are the saddest people on earth. I don’t pay any attention to it. Only sometimes when I want to have some fun. … I used to read the comments and think ‘oh my god, what are people thinking about me, what are they saying about me?’ But now it’s just like, I realize some of those people are the most saddest people on earth.”
While Gastelum did compete at welterweight for a good portion of his UFC run, he’s now fighting at middleweight following several failed weight cuts to make 170 pounds, where Perry currently competes.
So, it’s unlikely the two will settle their differences in the cage, at least anytime soon.
