Tag: Jon Jones

Jon Jones Mum on Gustafsson Rematch: ‘I Got Nothing’

If Jon Jones is guilty of “ducking” anything, it’s hordes of questions from the media and fans relating to the delayed signing of the contract for the Alexander Gustafsson rematch.
The UFC light heavyweight champ has once again made h…

If Jon Jones is guilty of “ducking” anything, it’s hordes of questions from the media and fans relating to the delayed signing of the contract for the Alexander Gustafsson rematch.

The UFC light heavyweight champ has once again made himself out to be the bad guy by not signing on the dotted line of an August title bout agreement. During the UFC 173 post-fight media scrum, White penned August 30 as a tentative date for the highly anticipated light heavyweight rematch.

Initially, it was believed that the contractual holdup was based around negotiations of a “new deal” with Jones. White claimed the UFC had inked Gustafsson to a new deal, and they were working on doing the same thing with Jones.

But according to UFC.com, Jones signing a new fight contract doesn’t have anything to do with the bout agreement with Gustafsson. White reiterated his comments with MMA journalist Matt Parrino:

Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones – we’re not. Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract. So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.

Perhaps the most annoying aspect of this entire process is the fact that fans have yet to hear Jones’ side of the story.  Some have even tried to reach out to the champ on Twitter to get a feel for his current mental state.

The infinite mass of speculation is creating a circus of drama that can quickly be voided by an honest interview from Jones. Maybe he is upset at the UFC because of his matchups, as he alluded to when speaking to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani back in November 2013, saying that they “save all the dogs for me.”

Jones seems to believe the UFC is setting him up for the murderer’s gauntlet of opponents, while the toughest guys are rewarded with the “easiest matchups to get a title shot.” After losing a close unanimous decision to Jones, Gustafsson was granted a rematch after defeating unproven light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa.

If Jones gets past Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier is waiting the wings. The former heavyweight contender’s only wins at light heavyweight have come over former coffee shop employee Patrick Cummins and an aged Dan Henderson.

“You want [Gustafsson] to have the rematch that bad? Let’s see Gustafsson vs. Cormier,” Jones told Helwani. “…Let’s see some of these top contenders fight each other. Either way, I’m going to fight the toughest dudes anyway so it doesn’t matter what journey they’re on, but I definitely am noticing that it just seems like these top contenders aren’t really fighting other top contenders at all.”

There is also the other possibility to consider.

Perhaps Jon Jones isn’t quite ready to relive the hell that Gustafsson took him through in the first fight.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.

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Dana White Claims Jon Jones Doesn’t Want to Fight Alex Gustafsson

Equipped with an 11-match winning streak and the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Jon “Bones” Jones doesn’t appear to have anything to worry about in the world of MMA.
UFC president Dana White believes otherwise.    
White spok…

Equipped with an 11-match winning streak and the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Jon “Bones” Jones doesn’t appear to have anything to worry about in the world of MMA.

UFC president Dana White believes otherwise.    

White spoke about the possibility of setting up a bout between Jones and Alex Gustafsson and mentioned whom Jones wants to fight in his upcoming match, per Matt Parrino of UFC.com:

Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones – we’re not. Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract. So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.

Jones and Gustafsson already squared off in the ring before in September 2013, with Bones coming out on top in a five-round unanimous-decision win. Rather than returning to the octagon with Gustafsson, Jones would rather fight an unfamiliar opponent in Daniel Cormier, who recently defeated Dan Henderson and moved to 15-0 overall.

With that match potentially on the back burner, Cormier discussed his interest in fighting Gustafsson, per Franklin McNeil of Sports World News:

I know this will probably be unpopular, but if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson. But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title…Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.

As for the reasoning behind Jones not giving Gustafsson a chance at the rematch, Elias Cepeda of Yahoo doesn’t believe it’s out of fear:

At the end of the day, it’s the responsibility of the promoter to make the fights happen. If a promoter wants a professional fighter to fight somebody, they have to pay him or her to fight.

With Jon Jones, the UFC seems to simply be stuck in negotiations with less leverage and less fighter complicity than they are used to. Clearly, Jones isn’t afraid to fight Gustafsson – he’s already done it once before.

Jones currently holds a 20-1 record and essentially sits at the top of the UFC throne, but this is clearly a fight MMA fans are crying out to see. Whether or not he thinks he’s above fighting Gustafsson a second time, it’s a match that is destined to happen again in the future.

Though Bones has made his way to the top of the UFC, denying a huge fight for the fans might not go over so well.

In the meantime, Jones might end up watching Gustafsson and Cormier fight it out rather than making it back to the octagon. If he denies Gustafsson his shot at the title, the two might just be dueling it out for the right to meet with him in an upcoming main event.

 

Follow R. Cory Smith on Twitter.

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Jon Jones Hasn’t Signed to Fight Alexander Gustafsson; Should Fans Be Worried?

Very few people seem to know for sure where things stand between the UFC and Jon Jones at the moment.
Those who do? They aren’t talking.

“You got to ask Jon Jones that,” said UFC President Dana White during a media scrum over the weekend, when a…

Very few people seem to know for sure where things stand between the UFC and Jon Jones at the moment.

Those who do? They aren’t talking.

“You got to ask Jon Jones that,” said UFC President Dana White during a media scrum over the weekend, when asked why the fight company’s most dominant champion still hadn’t signed for a rematch against Alexander Gustafsson. “I don’t know. I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all.”

In a sport where sometimes it seems like every bit of minutia commands its own story, and everybody who’s anybody has a video blog, this murkiness is notable. With White firing off nebulous quotes and Jones addressing the situation only with cheeky replies on his Twitter page, you know the rumor mill is going to jump at the chance to fire up its engines.

Are the world’s best fighter and the world’s best fight company at odds? Is Jones still upset that the company seems to be throwing more promotional weight behind Ronda Rousey? Is he miffed at the UFC’s insistence on propping up champions in nearly every other weight class as No. 1 pound-for-pound? Is he plotting a shocking defection?

Sadly for the gossip-mongers, smart money says, nah, probably not. At least at this point, we don’t really have cause to believe it’s time to push the panic button on all our big plans for the rest of the year.

Chances are, what we’re witnessing here is a fairly run-of-the-mill round of contract negotiations. It may be a bit more rancorous and public than most in MMA, but rancor and overexposure are essentially our sport’s default settings when it comes to All Things Bones.

It’s standard operating procedure for the UFC to try to re-sign fighters (especially its champions) before their existing contracts lapse, and that’s exactly what CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said he wanted to do with Jones during a recent episode of UFC: Embedded.

“We’re going to walk him through why it makes sense to fight Alexander Gustafsson,” Fertitta said at the 18-second mark, making it sound like talks were very much in their infancy, “and we’re going to make an offer to extend his contract.”

It’s that last part that’s likely the sticking point right now. If the UFC wants Jones to sign a new multifight deal as part of agreeing to take on Gustafsson, it stands to reason the two sides would have a lot to talk about. After all, this not only represents the company’s chance to re-up with Jones, but his best/only chance to renegotiate before he locks in again.

In other words, expect delays, but eventually, business as usual.

Don’t let White’s terse reply spur you into alarm. He’s the president of the company. He’s supposed to act put out when one of his laborers asks for more money.

Don’t let Gustafsson’s Facebook posts fool you either. He’s about to get his second crack at a UFC title. Think he’ll pass up a chance to try to get in the champion’s head?

And as for Daniel Cormier’s recent outburst to SportsWorldNews.com’s Franklin McNeil that he’ll gladly fight “the kid” (meaning the 16-2 Gustafsson) for an interim title if Jones doesn’t want to do it? Cormier seems to have gone from 0-60 in the self-promotion lane since defeating Dan Henderson at UFC 173. This is an easy way for him to keep his name in the headlines and remind everyone that he’s the guy we really want to see fight for the title, eventually. Fair play to him for that.

On all sides, the timing of these moves is likely no accident. Four days after Fertitta and White met with Jones’ manager, as captured on Embedded, the company confirmed to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that it was targeting Jones-Gustafsson II for UFC 177 on Aug. 30. That means the executives are either confident the fight will be signed and delivered, or they’re trying to squeeze Jones a bit.

On the fighter’s side? Same thing. If the UFC is going to go ahead and advertise a fight before Jones agrees to do it, well, that seems like a great time to try to hold the company’s feet to the fire for those few extra perks the champion has been dreaming about.

Jones and his handlers have been mum on his fighting future since his late-April victory over Glover Teixeira at UFC 172, but given that he’s back on social media now goosing the haters, it seems most likely he still has his 2014 pretty well all planned out.

Is it possible a bigger rift emerges here? Absolutely. Any time a sport’s biggest star and his employers sit down to talk mathematics, disaster looms. But a lengthy holdout? A standoff? The possibility Jones has his next fight anywhere besides the Octagon? Doubt it. Common sense and the champion’s clause in the UFC’s standard fighter contract say those things are unlikely.

I suspect all parties will go on not liking each other very much for a few more days (or weeks) and eventually come to a workable agreement to proceed with the moneymaking.

That’s one thing they all can agree on.

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Jon Jones Still Hasn’t Signed Contract for Alexander Gustafsson Rematch, Wants Daniel Cormier Instead [UPDATED]


(“Yes, you…the tall kid in the back.” / Photo via MMAWeekly)

During a recent “UFC Embedded” video blog, we saw Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta meet with Jon Jones‘s manager in order to lock down a rematch between Jones and top light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson. That footage was filmed two weeks ago, and so far, no progress has been made on the fight. Jones’s camp has refused to sign for undisclosed reasons, which probably have to do with money, timing, or both. Luckily, Daniel Cormier has figured out a solution to this stalemate:

“I know this will probably be unpopular,” Cormier told Franklin McNeil of SportsWorldNews.com. “But if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson. But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title. Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.”

Keep in mind that Cormier’s knee is a giant question mark right now, which puts his interim title fight suggestion squarely into “just sayin’ stuff” territory. Plus, the UFC usually creates interim titles as a last resort — not a couple months after a healthy champion’s last defense. Furthermore, Cormier’s tongue-in-cheek line that Jones wouldn’t have to fight both DC and Gustafsson is probably the best reason why the UFC wouldn’t pursue this plan.


(“Yes, you…the tall kid in the back.” / Photo via MMAWeekly)

During a recent “UFC Embedded” video blog, we saw Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta meet with Jon Jones‘s manager in order to lock down a rematch between Jones and top light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson. That footage was filmed two weeks ago, and so far, no progress has been made on the fight. Jones’s camp has refused to sign for undisclosed reasons, which probably have to do with money, timing, or both. Luckily, Daniel Cormier has figured out a solution to this stalemate:

“I know this will probably be unpopular,” Cormier told Franklin McNeil of SportsWorldNews.com. “But if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson. But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title. Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.”

Keep in mind that Cormier’s knee is a giant question mark right now, which puts his interim title fight suggestion squarely into “just sayin’ stuff” territory. Plus, the UFC usually creates interim titles as a last resort — not a couple months after a healthy champion’s last defense. Furthermore, Cormier’s tongue-in-cheek line that Jones wouldn’t have to fight both DC and Gustafsson is probably the best reason why the UFC wouldn’t pursue this plan.

For once, the UFC has two marketable challengers lined up to throw at their longtime light-heavyweight ruler; that’s two great opportunities to haul in a ton of revenue from pay-per-view buys and ticket sales. Why would they eliminate one of those fights, when so few big-money matchups are on the horizon?

We appreciate Cormier’s moxie, but there’s no way this happens. Unless it does, of course. For better or worse, anything can happen in this crazy sport.

UPDATE: According to Dana White — who isn’t what you’d call a reliable narrator, but bear with us — Jones wants to fight Cormier instead of Gustafsson:

“Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones — we’re not. Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract,” White said Monday afternoon in an exclusive interview with UFC.com. “So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.” …White said if Jones doesn’t sign the contract, who knows, Cormier vs. Gustafsson could be the move.

Stay tuned for the inevitable Instagram video of Jones mocking fans who think he’s ducking Gustafsson.

Cain Velasquez vs. Jon Jones: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Fans love to discuss superfights between UFC champions, and one of the biggest fights out there is 205-pound champion Jon Jones vs. heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.
In a Q-and-A session last winter, one attended by MMA Digest, Jones stated tha…

Fans love to discuss superfights between UFC champions, and one of the biggest fights out there is 205-pound champion Jon Jones vs. heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

In a Q-and-A session last winter, one attended by MMA Digest, Jones stated that he wants the superfight against Velasquez.

There is little doubt that the fight would draw significant interest, but the fight is not close to happening. Both competitors have several challengers waiting for them throughout 2014 and into next year.

Most recently, light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado moved up to take on the No. 7-ranked heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic. However, Jones is not Maldonado. There is a distinct discrepancy in skill between the two fighters.

Did Miocic‘s victory at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale give us a preview of what happens to light heavyweights who make the jump up, or does Jones have a legit shot at dethroning the champion? Let’s break down this hypothetical fight.

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Daniel Cormier: If Jon Jones Stalls, I’ll Fight Gustafsson for Interim Title

UFC light heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier is anxiously waiting to see if divisional champion Jon Jones will rematch Alexander Gustafsson, but he isn’t content to wait much longer. 
If that highly anticipated matchup isn’t going to happen as a…

UFC light heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier is anxiously waiting to see if divisional champion Jon Jones will rematch Alexander Gustafsson, but he isn’t content to wait much longer. 

If that highly anticipated matchup isn’t going to happen as a result of the champ’s contract negotiations (per MMA Fighting), “DC” wants to let Gustafsson know a plan B awaits if need be, per Sports World News.)

“I know this will probably be unpopular, but if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson,” Cormier said. “But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title…Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.”

The former Olympian is undefeated as a professional mixed martial artist, improving to 15-0 last week when he choked Dan Henderson unconscious at UFC 173, in what was a completely one-sided affair. 

A top contender at heavyweight, easily defeating Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and ex-UFC heavyweight champs Josh Barnett and Frank Mir, Cormier dropped down to 205 pounds in February when he made short work of newcomer Patrick Cummins. 

While it’s impossible to deny the American Kickboxing Academy product is on the short list of light heavyweight title contenders, most pundits would prefer to see Jones vs. Gustafsson II first. 

Their first encounter marked the only time inside the Octagon Jones has truly been tested, with the bloody, brutal, back-and-forth September matchup at UFC 165 almost unanimously receiving “Fight of the Year” honors from MMA media outlets. 

Gustafsson next showed his dominance by easily outstriking previously undefeated prospect Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 37 in March, finishing him with a knee and barrage of subsequent punches in the second round. 

Meanwhile, Jones dialed in a nearly flawless performance in April, battering Glover Teixeira for five rounds at UFC 172 in April. 

Gustafsson has recently taken to Facebook to try and goad “Bones” into signing up for a rematch, but that tactic hasn’t panned out just yet. 

According to the UFC’s official rankings, Gustafsson and Cormier are the No. 1 and No. 2 light heavyweight contenders in the world, respectively. 

In the event Jones plans on sitting out for an extended period of time to secure a lucrative UFC deal, would Cormier vs. Gustafsson for the light heavyweight interim title be what the fans want to see?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

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