Tag: MMA

If Jon Jones Breaks Tito’s Record, Is He the Greatest Light Heavyweight Ever?

Jon “Bones” Jones has been perched atop the UFC’s light heavyweight division for a little over two years.  With a victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159, he will have successfully defended his belt five times in a row, tying the ma…

Jon “Bones” Jones has been perched atop the UFC’s light heavyweight division for a little over two years.  With a victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159, he will have successfully defended his belt five times in a row, tying the mark set by former champion Tito Ortiz—which has stood for over 10 years.

Jones is currently sharing second place with two of the all-time greats: Frank Shamrock and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell.  Should Jones secure a sixth straight title defense, would that make him the greatest UFC light heavyweight ever?

I am not necessarily saying no.   Yet, I am not immediately compelled to say yes, simply for the fact that anointing a fighter as the greatest ever in their respected division requires more of an archetype than just title defenses.  More on that later, but first the subject in question.

Jones has finished three out of his four title defenses, submitting the likes of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort.  All of those were extremely impressive.  Were they as impressive as Chuck Liddell’s four straight knockouts in his title defenses?   Maybe that depends on your subjective flavor of violence. 

Jones, in many pundits’ opinions, gets the nod in level of competition on his current streak, yet Chuck Liddell took out UFC Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz in his four-fight reign.  No other light heavyweight champ can lay claim to that feat.

Keep in mind this is still a comparison of title-defense streaks, not overall careers.  Look at it this way: Tito Ortiz, who currently owns the record of five straight, would never be considered a greater champion than Chuck Liddell, or even Frank Shamrock, since “The Legend” defeated him the only time they fought and vacated the belt afterward.  Had he not done so, we could be talking about Jones trying to surpass his record of maybe even more than five straight. 

Liddell and Shamrock both defeated Ortiz, but never fought each other.  We can only assume how Jones would fare versus either of the three, but we will never know for sure. 

Judging who the best ever is never exactly, well, an exact science.

Since Jones is only 25 years old and still has plenty of time left in his career, he could very well end up being the best light heavyweight of all time.  Even if he breaks Ortiz’s record, it’s still too early to anoint him as the greatest.  Winning 16 fights inside the division with 10 career knockouts in your career like Chuck Liddell, those are some examples needed to meet the criteria of an all-time light heavyweight king, in this writer’s opinion.

Jones’ rise to prominence as the currently ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound UFC fighter is indeed a distinct and special era in the history of the UFC.  Let’s face it, the UFC was begging for someone to stay at the top of the division for more than one fight after Liddell lost his invincibility and his title to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. 

From “Rampage” on through Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, the light heavyweight division was a revolving door that featured five champions in six fights.  There were only two successful title defenses out of the five fighters combined, and the oft predicted “Machida era” never materialized.  Jones rose to great heights in a short period of time, and brought forth a name and a mystique along with a skill set and dynamic fighting style not yet seen in MMA.

We’ve only seen a glimpse of his career.  He could go on to break Ortiz’s streak, win the rest of his fights and retire with never being truly defeated.  However, with so many ways to lose in MMA, there may also be a day where we have to talk about how he lost his last three fights by knockout like Chuck Liddell and should call it a day.  By that time, there may be another phenom who has entered the discussion of greatest ever.

If there was a Mt. Rushmore of the greatest light heavyweights in UFC history, Jon Jones face would be etched in stone.  He is already the best of his era.

So again, if Jon Jones breaks Tito Ortiz’s streak of five straight title defenses, is he the greatest light heavyweight ever?  I say no. Even if he breaks it, we still need to see more.

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Ramsey Nijem Expecting War with Myles Jury at UFC on Fox 7

A young fighter looking to establish himself in the UFC is a difficult task unto itself. But when the path to do so involves battling through one of the deepest and most competitive divisions under the UFC banner, the challenges are going to come fast …

A young fighter looking to establish himself in the UFC is a difficult task unto itself. But when the path to do so involves battling through one of the deepest and most competitive divisions under the UFC banner, the challenges are going to come fast and furious.

The pace and constant pressure to progress can be a nightmare for up-and-coming talent, but thus far in his journey, 25-year-old Ramsey Nijem has taken each step in stride.

As a finalist in the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter, the John Hackleman-trained fighter came up short in his bid to earn the coveted six-figure contract. Despite the setback in his Octagon debut, Nijem charged back with vigor and has claimed victory in his last three outings.

The California native’s impressive run of performances and unorthodox style have put him on the map as a developing prospect in the UFC’s ultra-competitive lightweight division, and he has no intention of letting his foot off the gas as he looks to continue making his way up the divisional ladder. 

Nijem will square off with another rising prospect this weekend in San Jose when he mixes it up with fellow TUF alum Myles Jury at UFC on Fox 7. The bout will feature two fighters looking to lead the next wave in the 155-pound weight class, and Nijem is looking forward to the scrap on Saturday night.

The Pit Elevated fighter recently spoke with Bleacher Report’s The Ultimate Show, where he discussed his upcoming tilt with Jury and much more.

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Demian Maia Would Love to Fight Nick Diaz

If Nick Diaz would consider coming out of retirement, Demian Maia would love to be the first to welcome him back to the Octagon.Maia, who is 3-0 at welterweight, wants to continue working his way towards a UFC title shot, but there aren’t many top cont…

If Nick Diaz would consider coming out of retirement, Demian Maia would love to be the first to welcome him back to the Octagon.

Maia, who is 3-0 at welterweight, wants to continue working his way towards a UFC title shot, but there aren’t many top contenders currently available for him to fight.

Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald are all scheduled for upcoming fights. The only plausible opponents for Maia at this point are Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. When asked who he preferred as his next opponent, Maia’s manager, Eduardo Alonso, admitted it would be an honor to fight Diaz.

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani broke the news on Tuesday during an appearance on UFC Tonight:

I spoke to Eduardo Alonso last night, and they’re kind of anxious to get back in there, and more importantly, they want to know who they’ll be fighting next. I asked him, ‘Is there anyone out there that interests you?’ He said, ‘Well, we’re not really quite sure what Nick Diaz is thinking or if he’ll ever fight again, but for us, it would be an honor to fight Nick Diaz.’ They have a lot of respect for him, and they think that fight would generate a lot of buzz.

A potential bout between the two Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts would be highly anticipated.

Maia is by far the most accomplished jiu-jitsu artist in the welterweight division, but it would be nothing short of amazing to see him lock horns with Diaz on the ground.

Unfortunately, the bout may never come to fruition if Diaz keeps his word and remains retired. Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA after losing to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158, is expected to hang up the gloves for good, unless he either receives a rematch or super fight with Anderson Silva.

During an appearance last month on The MMA Hour, Diaz‘s coach and manager, Cesar Gracie, stated that Diaz isn’t interested in fighting up-and-comers. He would like to see Diaz assume a similar role to MMA legends Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, who bounce around divisions taking whatever big fight is available.

A bout with Maia would certainly be a big fight for Diaz, but will it be enough to convince him to come out of retirement?

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UFC 159: Jon Jones Says Chael Sonnen Has Used Steroids His Entire Career

After recent criticism for not going out of his way to promote his upcoming title fight with Chael Sonnen, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is finally willing to engage in some verbal sparring.In an appearance on the latest edition of FUEL TV’s…

After recent criticism for not going out of his way to promote his upcoming title fight with Chael Sonnen, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is finally willing to engage in some verbal sparring.

In an appearance on the latest edition of FUEL TV’s UFC Tonight, the Greg Jackson’s MMA standout accused Sonnen of being a habitual user of performance-enhancing drugs (via Bloody Elbow):

After taking the high road for weeks, it appears that Sonnen’s antics are starting to wear on the champ, as yesterday he made a similar claim on Twitter stating that “The American Gangster” abused steroids earlier in his life. 

Sonnen is an open user of testosterone replacement therapy, though he was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission after his first title bid with UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva in 2010 for elevated levels of testosterone (via Sherdog).    

“Bones” had MMA fans and analysts alike scratching their heads ever since he refused to engage with Sonnen during a pre-fight interview at The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 finale on Saturday. 

However, it appears the dominant titleholder has had a change of heart and wants to knock Sonnen off his proverbial high horse. 

Jones was by no means in bad spirits, though, as on the same broadcast he credited the two-time UFC middleweight title challenger for having solid boxing, wrestling and ground-and-pound (via Bloody Elbow). 

Nevertheless, Jones said he isn’t worried about anything Sonnen brings to the table. 

Jones vs. Sonnen headlines UFC 159 next Saturday, April 27, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.

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UFC on Fox 7 Prelim Fighters Battle for Main Card Recognition

There is not a fighter currently in the UFC that doesn’t aspire to be featured on the main card of any televised event whether it’s pay-per-view, Fox, FX or otherwise. The main card signifies recognition from the UFC in a number of ways for a fighter.&…

There is not a fighter currently in the UFC that doesn’t aspire to be featured on the main card of any televised event whether it’s pay-per-view, Fox, FX or otherwise.

The main card signifies recognition from the UFC in a number of ways for a fighter.  It means a fighter is climbing up the ranks and should be seen by a wider audience.  It means the fighter is somebody fans want to watch or should take notice of when they compete. 

For the fighter, beyond recognition from the UFC, it also means larger paydays and bigger sponsorships because the more eyeballs on a fight translates into better opportunities.

Several high-profile managers confirmed when speaking to Bleacher Report that the difference for a fighter competing on the main card versus the preliminary show can mean huge sums of money.  Some fighters can draw rates up to 600 percent higher when showcased on a pay-per-view or a Fox card.

There are also situations where a fighter can benefit from being featured on an FX card depending on the selling power of a pay-per-view, but typically across the board every manager agrees it’s better for a fighter’s career to be on the main card versus any other slot on a show’s lineup.

This weekend, like most UFC events, a mix of fighters will be showcased on either FX or Facebook as the preliminary bouts that essentially serve as a warm-up to the main card.  The preliminary fights are kind of like the opening band at a big concert.  They are there to get the crowd ready for the big act that’s about to hit the stage.

It’s not a bad spot to have by any means because millions of fans still have access to watch the fights worldwide, and on a network like FX, as previously mentioned, it could mean potentially bigger numbers than even a pay-per-view might draw.  The goal, however, is to make it to the main card, and there are several competitors this weekend fighting at UFC on Fox 7 who are battling for wins and a little bit of recognition.

Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Ramsey Nijem will be looking for his fourth win in a row this weekend since dropping down to 155 pounds. Nijem doesn’t mind the slow and easy approach to his career when it comes to fighting on the preliminary portion of the show.

He’s also realistic about where he fits into the pay scale of the UFC as he still serves out his original contract from being on the reality show. Typically, fighters coming off of the Ultimate Fighter are set at a certain level, and once they complete that deal then they can renegotiate for a different contract.

“Taking it one fight at a time, and they keep matching me up with similar guys as me in the lightweight division right now.  I’m okay with that because I don’t want to go fight a guy that’s making ten times the money I’m making while I’m still under the Ultimate Fighter contract,” Nijem told Bleacher Report recently.  “I want to just build my name and reputation and then when I’m out of it I can start taking bigger fights.  I’m still developing as a fighter, I don’t want to rush into anything yet.

“I’m in like an entry way job.  I’m still making entry wage pay.  So it’s not like I’m going to fight a guy making $200 grand and pay-per-view cuts and I’m making $10,000 or $14,000 whatever I’m making this next fight.”

Nijem‘s opponent Myles Jury finds himself in a similar situation after competing on the 15thseason of the reality show.  Jury is 2-0 since exiting the show but also understands that he has to earn his way to the main card.

While there’s no set of rules the UFC sets forth on how a fighter can make the main card, sometimes it’s about the matchup, and other times it’s about they style of fighter and how exciting they can make a bout.  A little personality goes a long way as well when a fighter is willing to talk and promote a card.

Jury plans on being himself and not portraying some over-the-top character just to get featured on television.  He figures getting there the old fashioned way with hard work is a better approach.

“I’m not like Chael Sonnen or some of these other guys that like to talk their way up to big fights. I just do me.  I stay true to myself, I stay original to myself.  I’m my own unique person.  I’m not going to change no matter what.  I’m just going to keep being me and as long as I keep winning, people will respect that,” said Jury.  “Sometimes I’ll just be zoning out and I’ll think it would just be cool to fight on the main card of a pay-per-view or what not. 

“On the main card you get more sponsors and more opportunity, more exposure, all that stuff. At the end of the day, I feel like fighting in the UFC’s a gift. Honestly I could really care less.  I don’t know if that’s bad to say.”

Being employed by the UFC is another thing just about every professional fighter desires, so Jury is correct in that regard. But that doesn’t mean advancement isn’t possible.  It’s no different than landing a dream job with a company and then climbing up the ranks.

UFC featherweight Darren Elkins is another preliminary fighter with main card dreams, but he’s also gunning for a title shot this weekend.

A winner of five fights in a row at 145 pounds, Elkins seized the opportunity to face No. 1 ranked Chad Mendes this weekend at UFC on Fox 7 on short notice when his original opponent, Clay Guida, dropped out due to injury.  Like any fighter, Elkins wants to be recognized for his victories on the way to the top, but his goals take him to the height of the sport with a gold belt wrapped around his waist in the near future.

“I look at this as a situation to put me where I want to be at,” Elkins said in an interview with Bleacher Report.   “It’s a guy that’s going to put me in a title shot position. In everyone’s rankings he’s either one behind Jose Aldo or one behind that, he’s No. 2 or 3 in all the rankings.  His only loss is to the champion.  There’s no doubt this is a great opportunity to shoot up the rankings.

“If I put on a great performance I think that’s going to be the key. We have to go out there and show who deserves a title shot.”

A title shot in the featherweight division would also guarantee Elkins his first trip to the main card of a UFC show.  Through seven fights, Elkins has never tasted what it’s like to be featured on the main card, but he hopes to change all that with a win over Mendes this weekend.

Of course every fighter is going to approach the opportunity to fight in the UFC differently, whether it’s on the main card or the preliminary portion of the show. 

Nijem is just showing patience, and he knows that if he keeps winning there’s no denying him a spot in a big fight down the road.  He looks at this fight and however many more he has to take while competing on the prelims as a chance to get better and improve. 

When the time is right, Nijem knows he’ll get the call up to the big show and then he’ll have his chance to shine.

“Once I’m on a good streak and can renegotiate and everything like that, I feel like I’m fighting guys at the same tier as me right now,” said Nijem.  “I want to keep building my name as a top lightweight.”

His opponent tries to ignore all the talk about main cards and prelims because he has no control over where he’s placed.   Sure, there are times Jury wonders why one fight or fighter is on a main card, but ultimately he trusts UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby to make the right calls.

“What really helps me to not even think about that stuff is I really have no control of it,” said Jury.  “I see some guys get on the main card and I’m like they definitely deserve that. Then I see other people and I’m like how did they get there?  You’ve just got to go out there and be yourself.  I really have no control over there.”

All three fighters will try to stake a claim this weekend on the UFC on Fox 7 prelims.  Depending on the outcome, it could mean a trip to the main card the next time they step foot in the Octagon.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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Jon Jones Will Wipe the Floor with Chael Sonnen at UFC 159

Chael Sonnen likes to think he has a shot at taking down Jon Jones, but the man is delusional. Jones is going to destroy Sonnen at UFC 159 to retain his light heavyweight title.Sonnen, at the age of 36, is an over-the-hill fighter who is more bark…

Chael Sonnen likes to think he has a shot at taking down Jon Jones, but the man is delusional. 

Jones is going to destroy Sonnen at UFC 159 to retain his light heavyweight title.

Sonnen, at the age of 36, is an over-the-hill fighter who is more bark than bite. 

Jones, at the age of 25, is in the prime of his career, has never been defeated (his only loss came in a disqualification for illegal elbows against Matt Hamill) and is still on an upward trajectory. 

The only reason these two fighters are even going up against one another is because it’s a fight the fans want to see. 

Jones turned down the chance to fight Sonnen at UFC 151 after Dan Henderson tore his MCL before his scheduled fight with Jones. Sonnen volunteered to take Hendo’s place, but Jones wanted nothing to do with the fight on just eight days’ notice. 

Whether you agree with Jones’ decision or not, he had the right to make such a decision.

One thing’s for sure, however—he didn’t do it because he thinks Sonnen is better than him. Sonnen talks a much better game than he presents in the ring these days. He’s lost two of his last four fights and four of his last 11. 

It’s no secret that Sonnen is a trash-talking legend. He’s been consistently hammering Jones on his official Twitter account while pumping himself up for the upcoming title fight. He did the same thing in his recent bout against Anderson Silva, which ended badly for him.

It’s also no secret that Jones absolutely despises Sonnen for using Testosterone Replacement Therapy. We know this because Jones has repeatedly and publicly bashed Sonnen, and he was at it again on Monday, April 15 via his official Twitter account:

You can be sure Jones is motivated to show his superiority over Sonnen, who in his eyes is a cheater.

That’s not the only thing motivating Jones, either. According to Jones’ trainer Greg Jackson, via Marc Raimondi of the New York Post, Jones is using Sonnen‘s constant pestering to hone his focus to a razor’s edge:

He’s really focused and Jon is the most dangerous when he’s super focused and motivated…When Chael says stuff that motivates people, I think he motivates anybody he fights,” Jackson said. “You’re a fighter and you’re a man. So when he does his shtick—which I find actually kind of hilarious—you have the unintended consequence of actually making somebody perform harder.

Jones is already one of the most dangerous mixed-martial arts fighters in the world. He could defeat Sonnen regardless of any personal motivation, but now that he has it, Sonnen‘s chances of winning are at .0001 percent.

Parents should be advised to put their young children to bed early on April 27, because Jones is going to wipe the floor with Sonnen to retain his title.  

By the time the final bell rings at UFC 159, Sonnen will have nothing left to say.

 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78. 

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