Tag: Jon Jones

Former UFC Champion Names MMA Mount Rushmore With No Conor McGregor, Khabib Or Jon Jones

There’s always going to be talk of who the greatest MMA fighters of all time are but this year more than most, it has been a particularly relevant conversation. Whether it’s due to the discourse surrounding Jon Jones and the pound-for-pound rankings or the retirement of Demetrious Johnson, it’s been a consistent topic in recent […]

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There’s always going to be talk of who the greatest MMA fighters of all time are but this year more than most, it has been a particularly relevant conversation. Whether it’s due to the discourse surrounding Jon Jones and the pound-for-pound rankings or the retirement of Demetrious Johnson, it’s been a consistent topic in recent months.

One of the latest fighters to weigh in with his own take on the discussion is the former UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway. “Blessed” not only comes in with a fairly unique Mount Rushmore list but explains why they all deserve their spots.

In an interview with Stake ahead of his huge main event clash with Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Holloway left out some big names but justified why that is the case.

“I would say Demetrious (Johnson) is definitely up there, Anderson Silva is there too, GSP and then you have to give it to Forrest Griffin because he helped put the UFC on the map. That TUF Finale on Spike TV was huge for the UFC, so those are my guys for sure. Those four guys are absolute animals.”

Holloway went on to talk about how, in his opinion, Johnson does not get the respect that he deserves just because he reigned supreme in the smallest of the men’s weight classes.

“When you talk about Demetrious Johnson, it seems insane to me how he is viewed just because he fought at 125 lbs. This 125-er would absolutely whoop your ass. A lot of bigger guys think they can hang with him, you get these influencers and social media personalities who go around screaming, ‘I’m 260 bro, he’s 125lbs. Brother, Demetrious Johnson would take your ACL and your arm home and then he would come back and cut your head off if he wanted to. You could do nothing about it, he’s such a beast.”

The BMF titleholder added that he has a lot of respect for the greatest welterweight and middleweight of all time, both of which made his list.

“I wish I was fighting during the time that GSP was around, I would have loved to have shared the Octagon with him. He’s one of the greats, as was Anderson Silva – he was such a beast.”

Holloway signed off by explaining the reasoning behind his picks, detailing his own specific criteria and why that eliminates his long time rival, Daniel Cormier.

“Some people might disagree with my Mount Rushmore, but I’m looking at the way these fighters carried themselves inside and outside of the Octagon, how they were ambassadors for the sport and for the company as well. ‘DC’ is probably going to be mad that he’s not on my Mount Rushmore of MMA, but I don’t like the way he carries himself out of the UFC. He thinks he’s the ‘Daddest Man on the Planet’, he is delusional.”

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Francis Ngannou On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘If He Shows Up…’

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou won’t dismiss Stipe Miocic’s chances of unseating Jon Jones from the throne next month. For only the second time since “The Predator” exited the promotion and relinquished the gold, the UFC’s heavyweight belt will be on the line at the annual Madison Square Garden-held pay-per-view in November After capturing […]

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou won’t dismiss Stipe Miocic’s chances of unseating Jon Jones from the throne next month.

For only the second time since “The Predator” exited the promotion and relinquished the gold, the UFC’s heavyweight belt will be on the line at the annual Madison Square Garden-held pay-per-view in November

After capturing the vacant strap with a rapid submission of Ciryl Gane in his divisional debut last year, Jones will return from an injury layoff for a rescheduled defense opposite Miocic.

The 42-year-old Ohio native hasn’t competed since being brutally knocked out by Ngannou well over three years ago. That fact has left many doubting his prospects of regaining the heavyweight crown, and it’s made the Cameroonian fall on the side of “Bones.”

Ngannou Leans To Jones In UFC 309 Prediction, Says Miocic ‘Not Getting Any Younger’

During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Ngannou was asked for his thoughts on the upcoming title fight in the division he formerly ruled over.

Given Miocic’s long spell on the sidelines and the uncertainty surrounding his fighting condition, “The Predator” is narrowly leaning the way of Jones for the UFC 309 headliner.

But should his ex-opponent turn up in the state that paved the way for two title reigns, Ngannou wouldn’t be surprised to see Madison Square Garden play host to an upset.

“Stipe hasn’t fought since what, three years and a half? So I don’t really know where he’s at. I don’t really know how he’ll show up,” Ngannou said. “He always shows up good, but it’s been a while, and he’s not getting younger. I think all those questions makes me slightly shift to Jones’ side.

“But Stipe is a guy that is very committed. When he shows up, he shows up in full,” Ngannou continued. “If he shows up in full, he can really surprise you. So I wouldn’t be surprised also if he wins.”

Regardless of Miocic’s condition when he makes the walk for the first time since 2021, Jones will look to establish firm dominance over the heavyweight legend to keep ahold of the belt in what many anticipate to be his final fight.

Ngannou, meanwhile, is just days away from his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts competition.

Following a pair of lucrative boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, “The Predator” will debut in the SmartCage as the headline act for the upcoming PFL pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou On Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: ‘If He Shows Up…’ at MMA News.

Cain Velasquez on Facing Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in His Prime: ‘I Would’ve Had Something for Him’

Cain Velasquez on Facing Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in His Prime: ‘I Would’ve Had Something for Him’Cain Velasquez thinks he could have held his own against the UFC’s current heavyweight champions. During the late 2000s/early…

Cain Velasquez on Facing Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in His Prime: ‘I Would’ve Had Something for Him’

Cain Velasquez thinks he could have held his own against the UFC’s current heavyweight champions.

During the late 2000s/early 2010s, there were few fighters more feared than Velasquez. The heavy-hitting Mexican superstar captured the heavyweight title on two separate occasions while earning victories over some of the division’s biggest names. Fighters like Ben Rothwell, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brock Lesnar, ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, and Junior dos Santos all learned firsthand the kind of power that Velasquez was packing in his prime.

Cain Velasquez

Unfortunately, injuries largely kept Velasquez out of the MMA spotlight in his later years. He only competed twice between 2016 and 2019 before hanging up his gloves for good following a loss against Francis Ngannou.

During a recent appearance on the Basement Talk podcast, the Salinas, California native was asked how he’d stack up against today’s UFC heavyweights — specifically the division’s undisputed champion, Jon Jones, and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.

“Jon Jones, prime Cain, OK, that would be a tough fight, man. Always, that would’ve been tough,” Velasquez said. “You know, with that dude, he is [the boogeyman]. But I think that would’ve been the best matchup because I think I would’ve had something for him. I could go there where he would’ve wanted to go” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Jon Jones5

Cain Velasquez likes his chances again tom aspinall better than jon jones

As for Aspinall, Velasquez thinks he would have faired a little better against the British fan favorite.

“Aspinall, as well, especially with the wrestling, I just know when I get onto somebody’s legs I’m taking him down,” Velasquez continued. “[He’s] very dangerous with his hands, has a lot of power. What he does, he kind of lunges forward and punches, takes a big step and lunges forward, closes that distance really well. But when somebody is wrestling, you’re going to be coming into my takedowns.”

Velasquez is scheduled to appear in a Santa Clarita courtroom on Friday, October 18 for sentencing in his attempted murder trial. In February 2022, Velasquez was arrested after he allegedly chased down a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s son at a daycare center operated by his mother. Velasquez reportedly fired several shots into the vehicle with a handgun, one of the bullets hitting Goularte’s stepfather who was driving at the time.

Eight months after sitting behind bars, Velasquez was granted bail. Velasquez has pleaded no contest to all charges, including attempted murder. If found guilty, he could find himself facing life in prison.

Cain Velasquez

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane, Featured in New Netflix Series ‘The Cage’

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane, Featured in New Netflix Series 'The Cage'UFC superstars Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and Ciryl Gane will all appear in a new Netflix original series focusing…

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane, Featured in New Netflix Series 'The Cage'

UFC superstars Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and Ciryl Gane will all appear in a new Netflix original series focusing on the world of mixed martial arts

Starring Melvin Boomer and directed by Franck Gastambide, The Cage tells the story of a young professional mixed martial artist working his way up the ladder of the French circuit where he faces off against a heated rival. In the trailer, which you can see below, the protagonist (played by Boomer) competes for the popular Poland-based promotion KSW but has big dreams of making it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane

Along the way, Boomer’s character gets help from two of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jon Jones and GSP, in addition to former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane.

“Dreaming of going pro, a young fighter struggles to be seen until an unexpected combat lands him a shot at the big time — and a brutal rival in the cage,” the official synopsis reads.

GSP returns to acting while Jon Jones takes on his first role

St-Pierre, who is no stranger to acting, unveiled the project on social media.

“I’m thrilled to finally share with you a project that we’ve been passionately working on with an amazingly talented team!” he wrote on X. “We’ve poured our hearts and souls into this, and it’s almost time to unveil it to the world! Stay tuned!!!”

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane

Previously, the former two-division UFC champion has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of Batroc the Leaper in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the Disney+ exclusive series, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.

As for Jon Jones, this will be his first acting gig.

Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Ciryl Gane

The three UFC stars will be joined by other athletes from the world of combat sports, including former WBC Muay Thai world champion Samy Sana, seven-time Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Anissa Meksen, and UFC standouts Taylor Lapilus and Morgan Charrière.

The Cage will stream live on Netflix starting Friday, November 8.

Jon Jones Hails Gable Steveson as a Future MMA Champion

Jon Jones recently lauded Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson, proclaiming him a future champion in the realm of MMA. “Bones” is preparing for the inaugural defense of his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in the headline bout of UFC 309, set to take place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden […]

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Jon Jones recently lauded Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson, proclaiming him a future champion in the realm of MMA.

“Bones” is preparing for the inaugural defense of his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in the headline bout of UFC 309, set to take place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Jones will enter the Octagon after a 20-month hiatus, having last fought when he claimed the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285 in March 2023. The 34-year-old New Yorker was initially set to face Miocic at UFC 295 last November, but he had to withdraw just two weeks prior to the bout due to a pectoral injury.

In preparation for his upcoming bout, “Bones” has recruited the expertise of two prominent figures, Steveson and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, to aid in his training. Earlier this week, several photos and videos surfaced, showcasing Jones sparring alongside Steveson and Parker at his longtime training base, the Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Steveson recently took to Instagram to share a training photo with Jones. In the post’s comments, “Bones” hailed the American wrestler as the future champion of the heavyweight MMA division.

“Future MMA heavyweight champion, mark my words.”

– Jon Jones on Gable Steveson’s potential in MMA

Steveson clinched Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021, defeating Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili in the final. Shortly after, he was offered a WWE contract and made his professional wrestling debut at SummerSlam 2021.

However, the 24-year-old’s stint with the promotion was cut short, as he was reportedly released due to insufficient progress at WWE’s Performance Center.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Hails Gable Steveson as a Future MMA Champion at MMA News.

Jon Jones Hails Gable Steveson as a Future MMA Champion

Jon Jones recently lauded Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson, proclaiming him a future champion in the realm of MMA. “Bones” is preparing for the inaugural defense of his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in the headline bout of UFC 309, set to take place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Hails Gable Steveson as a Future MMA Champion at MMA News.

Jon Jones recently lauded Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson, proclaiming him a future champion in the realm of MMA.

“Bones” is preparing for the inaugural defense of his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in the headline bout of UFC 309, set to take place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Jones will enter the Octagon after a 20-month hiatus, having last fought when he claimed the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285 in March 2023. The 34-year-old New Yorker was initially set to face Miocic at UFC 295 last November, but he had to withdraw just two weeks prior to the bout due to a pectoral injury.

In preparation for his upcoming bout, “Bones” has recruited the expertise of two prominent figures, Steveson and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, to aid in his training. Earlier this week, several photos and videos surfaced, showcasing Jones sparring alongside Steveson and Parker at his longtime training base, the Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Steveson recently took to Instagram to share a training photo with Jones. In the post’s comments, “Bones” hailed the American wrestler as the future champion of the heavyweight MMA division.

“Future MMA heavyweight champion, mark my words.”

– Jon Jones on Gable Steveson’s potential in MMA

Steveson clinched Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021, defeating Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili in the final. Shortly after, he was offered a WWE contract and made his professional wrestling debut at SummerSlam 2021.

However, the 24-year-old’s stint with the promotion was cut short, as he was reportedly released due to insufficient progress at WWE’s Performance Center.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Hails Gable Steveson as a Future MMA Champion at MMA News.