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Yushin Okami Eyeing Title Shot…Again

With all of the understandable hype surrounding Jon “Bones” Jones (no one can say that guy isn’t amongst the best in the ‘holy sh-t’ factor) as he heads into tonight’s bout with veteran Vladimir Matyushenko, it’s probably safe to say that the middleweight tilt between Yushin Okami and Mark Munoz has been overshadowed a little […]

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With all of the understandable hype surrounding Jon “Bones” Jones (no one can say that guy isn’t amongst the best in the ‘holy sh-t’ factor) as he heads into tonight’s bout with veteran Vladimir Matyushenko, it’s probably safe to say that the middleweight tilt between Yushin Okami and Mark Munoz has been overshadowed a little bit. When you consider that you’ve got a dude in Okami with a UFC record of 8-2, taking on a rising star in Munoz, a lot is riding on the tilt.

Despite the fact that several of Okami’s wins haven’t exactly been those of the jump out of your seat variety, anyone who understands the game has to concede that fighting the massive judo beast can’t be fun. The guy’s been stopped just once and that was in 2003, and in the Octagon, he’s only lost to Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen. Point being? Well, considering Okami’s record and his recent stoppage victories, a win over Munoz has to get the dude close to a title shot no? Speaking in the preview program for tonight’s card, Mr. Okami apparently agrees:

“I feel that this is a great test for my title shot. I need to clear this fight and I need to prove that I am very close to a title fight.”

Of course getting the win over Munoz isn’t going to be easy. Like Sonnen, who earned a controlling UD win over Okami, Munoz is also a wrestling machine. We’ll be watching. To bet on the tilt head here.

Yushin Okami Eyeing Title Shot…Again

“I feel that this is a great test for my title shot. I need to clear this fight and I need to prove that I am very close to a title fight.”

Jon Jones Says Vladimir Matyushenko “Not Really Great at Anything”

Depending on your opinion, which as your elders always reminded you as a child–that’s all it is, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko is just hours away from becoming the latest victim of Jon “Bones” Jones. As we all know Jones is a huge favorite heading into tonight’s UFC on Versus card, despite the fact that by […]

Depending on your opinion, which as your elders always reminded you as a child–that’s all it is, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko is just hours away from becoming the latest victim of Jon “Bones” Jones. As we all know Jones is a huge favorite heading into tonight’s UFC on Versus card, despite the fact that by the time the walking highlight reel made his pro debut in 2008, Matyushenko already had 20 bouts under his belt (one would think a tool belt could come in handy for a janitor no?).

If you’re someone who thinks Matyushenko will give Jones a run for his money, the argument could sound like this: the former IFL champ will look to use his extensive wrestling abilities, control Jones against the cage or on the mat, and grind out the win. Jones’ thoughts on this? Well in a recent interview with MMA Weekly he dismissed that line of thinking, stating that people said similar things about Jake O’Brien and Matt Hamill. True, neither dude made out that well (unless you think Hamill’s DQ win by eating illegal elbows is cause for celebration). Jones also offered this:

“What I’m most excited about with this fight is Vladimir’s not really great at anything,” said Jones. “He’s a good wrestler, he’s a powerful puncher, he’s decent at jiu-jitsu, but he’s not known for being great at anything. This is going to be a fight where I can display how well rounded I am right now.”

Not a bad breakdown really, although Vladimir would disagree, particularly about the wrestling part. But that’s just Jon’s opinion. To bet on the fight head here.

Update: UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko Weigh-In Results

Fans can watch today’s UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko weigh-ins live online at UFC.com/Live beginning at 7 PM EST (4 PM PST). Also streaming live this afternoon will be a UFC Fight Club Q&A session featuring light-heavyweight fighter Krzysztof Soszynski starting at 5 PM EST (2 PM PST).
Today’s weigh-ins will take place at the […]

Today’s weigh-ins will take place at the San Diego Sports Arena in California with 20 fighters hitting the scales for Sunday’s event which will air live for free on the Versus network.

Headlining the event is a light-heavyweight bout between Jon “Bones” Jones and “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko. The co-main event has middleweights Mark Muñoz taking on Yushin Okami with a victory moving either fighter into the upper echelons of the division.

Main Card:

Light Heavyweight bout: Jon Jones (206) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (206)
Middleweight bout: Mark Muñoz (185) vs. Yushin Okami (185)
Welterweight bout John Howard (170.5) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170.5)
Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin (154) vs. Takanori Gomi (156)

Preliminary card:

Lightweight bout: Paul Kelly (155) vs. Jacob Volkmann (156)
Welterweight bout: DaMarques Johnson (172.5)* vs. Matt Riddle (171)
Light Heavyweight bout: James Irvin (205) vs. Igor Pokrajac (204.5)
Middleweight bout: Brian Stann (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (184)
Lightweight bout: Darren Elkins (154.5) vs. Charles Oliveira (154)
Middleweight bout: Rob Kimmons (185) vs. Steve Steinbeiss (185)

Update: * Johnson had sixty minutes to cut the 1.5 pounds but failed to make weight on his second attempt. His bout versus Riddle has now been designated a catchweight bout and Johnson will be fined 20% of his purse.

UFC On Versus 2: Jones Vs. Matyushenko Pre Fight Interviews.

UFC On Versus 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko is set to take place on August 1 from the San Diego Sports Arena from San Diego, California.
Here’s the card:
Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Mark Muñoz vs. Yushin Okami
John Howard vs. Jake Ellenberger
Tyson Griffin vs. Takanori Gomi
Preliminary card
Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann
DaMarques […]

Click here to view the embedded video.

UFC On Versus 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko is set to take place on August 1 from the San Diego Sports Arena from San Diego, California.

Here’s the card:

Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Mark Muñoz vs. Yushin Okami
John Howard vs. Jake Ellenberger
Tyson Griffin vs. Takanori Gomi

Preliminary card

Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann
DaMarques Johnson vs. Matthew Riddle
James Irvin vs. Igor Pokrajac
Brian Stann vs. Mike Massenzio
Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira
Rob Kimmons vs. Steve Steinbeiss

Josh Barnett Thinks UFC Has The Best Heavyweight Division.

High level heavyweight fighter Josh Barnett is still awaiting his reinstatement with CSAC following a positive drug test, but he’s been busy fighting outside of North America. After a recent first round win at Impact FC over Geronimo dos Santos, many mma fans are starting to wonder if Barnett will eventually sign with Strikeforce, as some rumors have pointed. Barnett, for his part, recently talked to Punch Drunk Gamer on the UFC heavyweight division vs. it’s Strikeforce counterparts:

What makes the UFC heavyweight division so stacked is that it is the UFC’s heavyweight division and that is the most important factor in this whole equation. The perception is that just by fighting in the UFC, it makes you better but do I think that talent wise the Strikeforce heavyweight division can rival the UFC? Sure I do and it is getting to that point, although no matter how you look at it, right now it is not better. Strikeforce is starting to realize the importance of heavyweight fighters to the fighting community and its fans.

Barnett is riding a six fight win streak, and despite his “positive testing issues” he’s still a very capable heavyweight fighter who could certainly make for some compelling matchups.