Tag: Greg Jackson

UFC Stops Sending Fight Tapes For Study, Suggests Coaches Buy Fight Pass

No more fight footage, unless you pay a monthly subscription… Since the takeover of the UFC by WME-IMG in 2016, many changes have taken place. Among some of the more controversial alterations are the dishing out of multiple interim titles, and the unceremonious sacking of Mike Goldberg. After 20 years with the promotion, Goldberg was

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No more fight footage, unless you pay a monthly subscription…

Since the takeover of the UFC by WME-IMG in 2016, many changes have taken place. Among some of the more controversial alterations are the dishing out of multiple interim titles, and the unceremonious sacking of Mike Goldberg. After 20 years with the promotion, Goldberg was canned from the commentary position without even a thank you. Obviously fans were upset, as Goldberg had become part of the MMA landscape. Making things worse, ‘Goldie’ would later reveal he wasn’t even contacted by the UFC regarding his termination.

Purging fighters like Lorenz Larkin and Misha Cirkunov adds to the current feeling of unrest. According to renowned striking coach Brandon ‘Six Gun’ Gibson, the promotion is also tightening the purse strings on fight footage. That’s right, top MMA coaches have been denied access to fight tapes for studying. Since fighting has been a sport, watching and studying fight footage has been an essential part of formulating and planning for coaches.

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

One of Gibson’s Many Students, Lando Vannata KO’s John Makdessi

Taking to Twitter to announce the news, Gibson seems frustrated, pointing out the UFC has suggested coaches use Fight Pass as a source for footage. Paid subscriptions only, of course:

Wow…

Seemingly unashamed, the new UFC owners are taking the promotion in a strange direction. Albeit well within their prerogative to do so, it’s nonetheless frustrating, to say the least.

Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Ramifications

Judging by what Gibson says, Fight Pass is simply not a sufficient source for footage to study. Having trained Cody Garbrandt, Lando Vannata, Jon Jones, Donald Cerrone and Carlos Condit, to name a few, Gibson is rapidly growing in to one of the sport’s most respected coaches. Forming part of the elite Jackson-Wink coaching team, Gibson’s studying of fight tapes forms a huge part of their gameplans.

Hopefully the UFC redacts this restriction, otherwise it could actually impact fighter’s performances in the octagon.

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Yair Rodriguez On BJ Penn Training At Jackson-Wink: I Don’t Give A F*ck

As a potential future star of MMA, 24-year-old former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): Latin American winner Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his rise up the featherweight ranks when he puts his undefeated Octagon record on the line against returning former two-division champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan.

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As a potential future star of MMA, 24-year-old former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): Latin American winner Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his rise up the featherweight ranks when he puts his undefeated Octagon record on the line against returning former two-division champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan. 15, 2016) UFC Fight Night 103 from Phoenix, Arizona.

Many have doubted Penn leading up to his return bout based on the fact he hasn’t competed since 2014 and hasn’t won a fight since 2010. However, the former lightweight and former welterweight champion is training under the tutelage of legendary coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, which could help to revive his career.

Rodriguez has actually spent time at Jackson-Winkeljohn as well, although he isn’t worried about his training secrets being leaked to “The Prodigy”. In fact, Rodriguez recently told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he doesn’t give a ‘f*ck’ about it:

“He’s been training with people that know me really well and are my friends — ‘Cowboy,’ Diego Sanchez, ‘Magician,’ Jackson, ‘Wink,’” he said. “All of those guys can easily tell him where I’m good at … and not. I don’t really care, I’m a fighter and you have to worry about me at any area of the fighting game. I can wrestle, I can strike and I can grapple and I really don’t give a f*ck.

“I’m a fighter and I was born a fighter. I’m a champion, I know I’m a champion already.”

It has indeed been a few years since Rodriguez spent time at the notorious gym in New Mexico, and although he now trains at Valle Flow Striking in Chicago, he says there’s no hard feelings between him and Jackson.

Do you feel is Rodriguez will continue to shine, or will Penn get back to his winning ways?

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BJ Penn: Fight With Yair Rodriguez Is ‘Not Difficult At All’

Legendary former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn is set to make his return to action against rising prospect Yair Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night Phoenix on Jan. 15, 2015. Penn hasn’t competed since retiring in 2014 and he hasn’t won a fight since 2010. Initially, many had felt as

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Legendary former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn is set to make his return to action against rising prospect Yair Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night Phoenix on Jan. 15, 2015. Penn hasn’t competed since retiring in 2014 and he hasn’t won a fight since 2010.

Initially, many had felt as if Penn should’ve been booked against a fighter in a similar situation him as opposed to a 24-year-old surging contender, but “The Prodigy” doesn’t feel as if the bout is ‘difficult at all’:

“So, what you’re saying is when I make this look easy on Jan. 15, I’m the f—— man, is that what you’re telling me?” said Penn, on ESPN’s 5ive Rounds podcast.

“It’s not a difficult [fight] at all. He’s a very good guy, but I feel like I’m training with very good guys. I have a good team around me and I don’t feel anything is anywhere near out of my league.”

Penn will be competing in the 145-pound division upon his return and he said that this decision was made based off of the fact the he has his eyes set on a third world title in a third different weight class:

“There’s more opportunity for me to get three UFC belts at 145 than going to 185,” Penn said. “I already feel really confident nobody will be able to get the 155- and 170-pound belts. I want to get one more world title. Three titles at three weight classes, and without a doubt 145 is my best option.”

In order to accomplish this goal, Penn has relocated from his native Hawaii to New Mexico to train under the tutelage of highly-touted trainer Greg Jackson. Aside from his plan to add another title to his trophy case, Penn said that he’s returning simply because he ‘missed’ fighting:

“I just like fighting again,” Penn said. “Standing in front of people, sparring every day, punching people, getting into a fist fight every morning. I missed it. I can’t live without it right now. While I can still lift my arms up and do sprints, all these things, this is what I want to do. This is what I love to do. This is the best way I know how to make an honest living.”

What are you expecting from “The Prodigy” next month?

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BJ Penn Fires Back At Dana White’s ‘Sad’ Claims

Earlier this week, UFC President Dana White made headlines after labeling former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ Penn as an ‘underachieving’ fighter, saying that “The Prodigy” could’ve been the best of all-time had he perhaps focused more. The 37-year-old former champion has since gotten wind of those comments, and it appears as

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Earlier this week, UFC President Dana White made headlines after labeling former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ Penn as an ‘underachieving’ fighter, saying that “The Prodigy” could’ve been the best of all-time had he perhaps focused more. The 37-year-old former champion has since gotten wind of those comments, and it appears as if he had mixed feelings regarding the situation.

Speaking with KOHN2, Penn described White’s claims as ‘flattering’ but ‘sad’, adding that he hopes to one day show the UFC boss that he had reached his full potential:

“It’s flattering and it makes you sad at the same time. It’s strange for me to talk, because it’s like one side we’re talking about this Hall-of-Fame career guy, and on the other side, I’m just trying to prove myself. You got to talk about two different people, two different BJs at times. It’s his opinion and he’s entitled to that, and all I can do for my side is get in there and show them. Maybe Dana White will look back and be like, ‘You know what? Look at him now. That guy really did reach his full potential.”

Penn should get the opportunity to win over White, as he’s made it clear that he’d like to make a return to action. In fact, he was scheduled to compete last June at UFC 199, but he was pulled from the bout after violating USADA’s (United States Anti-Doping Agency) guidelines pertaining to IV rehydration. “The Prodigy” is currently looking to return in November at 145-pounds:

“The fight now should be around November,” Penn said. “That’s when we’re looking to come back, so we’re going to talk to the UFC and 100-percent, we want to get back out there, 145 (pounds), and we’re gonna do this. See where this takes us.”

Penn has lost his last three bouts to date and was most recently seen on the wrong side of a brutal beating from Frankie Edgar in 2014, but the Hawaiian has since moved to New Mexico to train under the tutelage of legendary head coach Greg Jackson. Does Penn have one more run left in him?

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Dana White Believes BJ Penn Could Have Been The Best

BJ Penn stands along side only one man in an elite class in mixed martial arts given that he’s only one of two fighters to have ever held a title in two different weight classes in the UFC. “The Prodigy” spent time as both the UFC lightweight champion and the UFC welterweight champion and produced

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BJ Penn stands along side only one man in an elite class in mixed martial arts given that he’s only one of two fighters to have ever held a title in two different weight classes in the UFC. “The Prodigy” spent time as both the UFC lightweight champion and the UFC welterweight champion and produced a legendary career in the process.

UFC President Dana White, however, feels as if Penn could’ve been better than he was. In fact, White recently labeled “The Prodigy” as an underachieving fighter, and added that Penn would likely agree with him:

“That’s a loaded question,” White chuckled when asked by TMZ to name an underachieving fighter. “Listen, there’s guys and girls that probably don’t reach their potential, because they don’t… BJ Penn.

“BJ Penn probably should have been one of the best ever, to ever live, to ever do it. But, BJ was so talented, you know. I just… I don’t know. I think BJ, in his own words, would go back and do things differently if he could.”

If this is indeed how the Hawaiian feels about his iconic career, he may be able to patch up some holes as he announced earlier this year that he would be making his return to competitive fighting under the tutelage of highly-touted trainer Greg Jackson. That return, however, has been postponed after Penn was notified by USADA (United States Ant-Doping Agency) for the use of medically-administered IV during a non-fight period. His punishment is currently unclear, but the 37-year-old had intentions to resume his career prior.

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12 People In MMA Who Outraged Dana White

With rumors of a UFC sale abound and the prospect of longtime UFC President Dana White actually stepping down from his position actually possible, there may not be a better time than now to look back and reflect on all of the game-changing, evolving, and impactful changes White has made upon the UFC and the

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With rumors of a UFC sale abound and the prospect of longtime UFC President Dana White actually stepping down from his position actually possible, there may not be a better time than now to look back and reflect on all of the game-changing, evolving, and impactful changes White has made upon the UFC and the sport of MMA as a whole.

However, this article is not the place to do that.

No, despite all of the absolutely positive and furthering changes, implementations, and improvements White has made during his nearly 20-year tenure with the UFC, he’s built up quite the long list of people in the sport that have angered him quite a bit.

For better or worse, some were right, some were wrong, and some of those people were able to mend the fence with the most powerful man in MMA. Others still remain on the boss man’s proverbial naughty list, and they may indeed never recover.

It’s been a wild ride for White, and it may or may not be close to being over. Let’s take a look back at the people in MMA that angered Dana White the most.

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