Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has fought sparsely over the past three years. During a tough period for the New York-born ‘Bones,’ the troubled athlete has experienced some testing moments. Having held the belt so dominantly for nearly four years, Jones’ antics outside the octagon finally caught up to him in 2015. Just three
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has fought sparsely over the past three years. During a tough period for the New York-born ‘Bones,’ the troubled athlete has experienced some testing moments. Having held the belt so dominantly for nearly four years, Jones’ antics outside the octagon finally caught up to him in 2015. Just three months after his final title defense against Daniel Cormier, Jones added to his list of discrepancies. For his part in a hit-and-run in New Mexico, ‘Bones’ was stripped of the light-heavyweight belt.
Facing potential jail time, the Greg Jackson prospect was lucky to escape with community service and a fine. With the harrowing tale of the injured pregnant lady now behind him, Jones returned to win the interim title at UFC 197. Again Jones had UFC gold wrapped around his waist, and again he’d come across a hurdle. This time it was USADA who busted ‘Bones,’ and just days before his unification bout with Cormier. Leaving UFC 200 in tatters, Jones would eventually receive a one-year suspension. Opting to take part in submission grappling during his time away, Jones competed at Chael Sonnen’s ‘Submission Underground 2.’
Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Jones vs. Luke Rockhold
Submitting retired MMA legend Dan Henderson in the grappling contest, ‘Bones’ received challenges aplenty. From BJJ wizard Dillon Danis to Frank Mir, everybody wanted a piece. According to Chael Sonnen, who appeared on ‘Fighter & The Kid,’ Jones is already set to return for a grappling match with Luke Rockhold:
“Jon Jones is working on a deal right now. Jon is likely to return, but his likely opponent is Luke Rockhold. Rockhold can grapple, (Daniel) Cormier wanted that fight too, but Jon Jones said no. He wants to save (Cormier) for his UFC comeback where he can use all his tools. Vinny Magalhaes wanted the fight too, and we really wanted him to take that fight. If he fought Vinny, it would be (Jones’) first fight in ten years that he should lose.”
Jones vs. Rockhold
Since pulling out of his November fight with Jacare, Luke Rockhold has not been paired for a UFC contest. The former middleweight champion’s history of trash talk with Jon Jones should provide a good backdrop for a grappling contest too.
It sounds like pop star Demi Lovato has dropped former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold for a new fighter. Word came from TMZ Sports that multiple sources confirmed the couple broke up and the singer has begun dating Bellator welterweight Guilherme ‘Bomba’ Vasconcelos. Lovato met Rockhold at a MMA gym last summer and the two made their relationship public
It sounds like pop star Demi Lovato has dropped former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold for a new fighter.
Word came from TMZ Sports that multiple sources confirmed the couple broke up and the singer has begun dating Bellator welterweight Guilherme ‘Bomba’ Vasconcelos. Lovato met Rockhold at a MMA gym last summer and the two made their relationship public last fall.
Apparently not ready to give up on fighters jsut yet, Lovato was spotted celebrating the New Year with Vasconcelos and then heading out to a movie January 1 (courtesy of his Instagram):
A photo posted by Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (@bombatuf) on
Rockhold was last seen losing the championship title he won at UFC 194 to a massive upset at the hands of archrival Michael “The Count” Bisping at UFC 199 before an injury forced him out of his scheduled UFC Fight Night 100 headliner against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on November 19.
The AKA standout’s return to the Octagon has yet to be announced, but apparently he won’t have the ‘burden’ of a superstar girlfriend to distract him from training to be his best in 2017.
With a stacked middleweight division and Bisping messing around with champions in other weight classes, it may be a long road back to a title bout.
Earlier today (Tues., December 20, 2016) surging UFC middleweight Gegard Mousasi called out former champion Chris Weidman in forceful fashion, implying that the New York native had already been sent a bout agreement to face “The Dreamcatcher” but was dragging his feet on signing. However, Weidman, who just got knocked out by a brutal flying knee
Earlier today (Tues., December 20, 2016) surging UFC middleweight Gegard Mousasi called out former champion Chris Weidman in forceful fashion, implying that the New York native had already been sent a bout agreement to face “The Dreamcatcher” but was dragging his feet on signing.
However, Weidman, who just got knocked out by a brutal flying knee from Yoel Romero at UFC 205 on November 12, was quick to reply with confirmation that Mousasi’s name was only one of several he was presented with, and still needed time to heal up from his defeat anyhow:
Easy, Pal. You were just one of a few names given by @UFC, and I'm still healing up. Glad you're finally speaking, though! https://t.co/TVPH6KWWfi
It sense that the former champ needs more time to heal up from “Soldier of God’s” devastating knee, as Weidman was left bleeding profusely in the first-ever card from his home state of New York. Since he changed MMA history by knocking out Anderson and defending his belt three times against Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort, Weidman has fallen on incredibly tough times, losing by way of brutal stoppage to Luke Rockhold for the title at UFC 194 and Romero.
Mousasi, meanwhile, has been on a tear after he lost to a highlight reel spin kick from Uriah Hall in September 2015, defeating Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, Vitor Belfort, and finally, Hall in their rematch last month to rack up a four-fight win streak with three finishes. He’s dangerously close to a title shot, but getting matched with Weidman would buck the UFC’s usual trend of booking fighters coming off of wins against one another. Still, Weidman could be the big name Mousasi needs to get over the top.
But if he wants to fight now, “The Dreamcatcher” will apparently have to look elsewhere.
2016 is coming to a close, and another year of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition will soon be in the books. This year has given us some great memories in fighting; some historic, some spectacular, and some just plain amazing. One of the most exciting parts of MMA are the vicious knockouts fans tune in to
2016 is coming to a close, and another year of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition will soon be in the books. This year has given us some great memories in fighting; some historic, some spectacular, and some just plain amazing.
One of the most exciting parts of MMA are the vicious knockouts fans tune in to see every week, and 2016 has presented plenty highlight reel KOs that we’ll never forget.
To commemorate those bouts, we’ve compiled a list of the best knockouts that we’ve seen this year, so let’s dive into LowKick’s top 10 MMA knockouts of 2016….
12. Paige VanZant vs. Bec Rawlings
Following her fifth-round submission loss to Rose Namajunas in December of last year, Paige VanZant took a little break from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition to compete in the 22nd season of Dancing With The Stars.
After finishing the competition as the runner-up, VanZant made her return to fighting action against Bec Rawlings, who was coming in off of a two-fight win streak that included a submission win over Lisa Ellis.
VanZant opened up the second round of her bout with Rawlings with a flashy maneuver that would land and send the Vancouver crowed into a frenzy, as the Team Alpha Male star landed a flush jumping head kick on Rawlings and finished her off with a few punches.
The jaw-dropping knockout earned VanZant her seventh professional win of her MMA career, and No. 12 on our list of top knockouts of 2016.
Although he’s currently suspended from competing in mixed martial arts, former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones grappled Dan Henderson at this past weekend’s (Sun., Dec. 11, 2016) Submission Underground 2, submitting the former PRIDE champion with an arm triangle. In the aftermath of the contest, Jones called out Chael
Although he’s currently suspended from competing in mixed martial arts, former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones grappled Dan Henderson at this past weekend’s (Sun., Dec. 11, 2016) Submission Underground 2, submitting the former PRIDE champion with an arm triangle.
In the aftermath of the contest, Jones called out Chael Sonnen, who promotes Submission Underground, for Submission Underground 3 on Jan. 29, 2016 and “The American Gangster” accepted, although “Bones” may have other options available as well.
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold took to his official Twitter account to challenge Jones to a grappling match at the upcoming event:
@jonnybones testing his grappling skills. Let these old men be. U really wanna try this shit 4 real? Im free Jan 29 lets dance @FloGrappling
Rockhold hasn’t fought since last June’s UFC 199 where he was shockingly knocked out cold by reigning UFC 185-pound champion Michael Bisping. Rockhold was scheduled to return to action last month in a rematch against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, but he was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury.
Jones, on the other hand, hasn’t competed in the Octagon since last April when he outpointed Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197. He won’t be eligible to fight again until July.
12. Paige VanZant vs. Bec Rawlings