Tag: MMA

UFC News: Rashad Evans Says Greg Jackson Only Cares About Greg Jackson

This just in: Don’t expect top UFC light heavyweight title contender Rashad Evans and renowned MMA head coach Greg Jackson to exchange Christmas cards this year. In a recent interview with MMA Weekly, Evans held nothing back when talking about what cau…

This just in: Don’t expect top UFC light heavyweight title contender Rashad Evans and renowned MMA head coach Greg Jackson to exchange Christmas cards this year.

In a recent interview with MMA Weekly, Evans held nothing back when talking about what caused the riff between him and his now former coach.

Like I told Greg at the time, I told Greg I don’t think it would be a good idea, but Greg did what Greg wanted to do for Greg, Evans said, recalling when UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was recruited by Jackson.

Evans felt the move was selfish on Jackson’s part and indicated that was not a unique instance either.

That’s the thing about him. Greg talks about “for the team, for the team.” The team consists of “I” which is Greg Jackson. That’s what the team consists of, it’s about Greg Jackson getting the “Coach of the Year” awards. That’s what it consists of, Evans said.

Evans, who left Jackson’s MMA after Jones won the title from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, seems to be the only fighter who has a negative opinion of how Jackson runs his gym.

Nevertheless, don’t expect “Suga” to backtrack on his stance anytime soon.

“I wouldn’t bring myself with somebody that I knew would be a contender,” Evans stated. “I would never put myself in that position again.”

Since leaving Greg Jackson’s camp, Evans has been training in the Boca Raton, Florida based “Blackzilians” team.

He formed with the school with the help of disgruntled former American Top Team fighters who left their camp due to undisclosed management issues.

Evans and Jones will finally settle their beef in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 145 card after seeing the potential bout sidelined twice before (via MMA Junkie).

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Jon Jones’ UFC Sponsorship Is the Way of the Future for Fighters

What’s one of the more interesting aspects of Saturday’s long-awaited fight between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans? The fact that Jones will go into the cage with the UFC itself as his sole sponsor.Make no mistake about it: This is a landmark deal, for the…

What’s one of the more interesting aspects of Saturday’s long-awaited fight between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans? The fact that Jones will go into the cage with the UFC itself as his sole sponsor.

Make no mistake about it: This is a landmark deal, for the promotion and for Jones. Never before has the UFC actually sponsored one of its own fighters. Never before has it invested so much financially in a fighter, at least beyond the standard contract and pay-per-view bonuses it doles out.

It’s a tricky subject. The UFC is obviously promoting Jones as one of its biggest superstars, and now it’s associating its brand even more deeply with the light heavyweight champ.

How does this news make Evans feel? He’s going into the cage for the biggest fight of his career, and his opponent is carrying the UFC’s brand. And it isn’t simply paying Jones to wear the UFC logo on his shorts—it’s created an entire clothing line, from fight shorts to track suits to hats. Jones will be covered head to toe in UFC gear for the entire fight week.

I have no idea how Evans views the entire situation, but doesn’t it seem just a little bit disrespectful?

For Jones, it’s the perfect situation. He explained his reasoning behind seeking the deal in a recent conference call:

I’ve had a goal of being sponsored by Nike for many, many years. Part of our strategy to try and make that happen one day is not be a billboard – not be sponsored by TapouT one week, and Affliction one week, Muscle Pharm next week and all these random companies. I try to look for long-lasting relationships with companies. So, a part of my brand is to keep it clean. Less is more, in my opinion. So, once FORM Athletics went down, pretty much every company in the business was looking for an opportunity to work with me. I thought it was a real honor, it was awesome, but we came up with a strategy to keep it clean and be sponsored by the UFC itself.

I’m a big fan of fighters who prefer to keep their image clean. When Jones was sponsored by the now-defunct Form Athletics, he went into the cage with one logo on his shorts: Form Athletics and nothing else. That’s a big departure from your typical fighter, who often displays anywhere between six and 10 different logos on his shorts.

This isn’t the last time the UFC will sponsor one of its own fighters. I think this is just the first of many future stars the UFC will throw its weight behind. You’ll see more and more fighters going this route as long as the UFC makes it financially viable for them to drop their current sponsors.

Kudos to Jones and his manager Malki Kawa for venturing into entirely new territory with this deal. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the ethical side of the deal, but it’s safe to say that it adds yet another interesting aspect to one of the brightest young stars in the sport.

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Mark Hominick Talks Loss of Shawn Tompkins, UFC 145 and More

The greatest boxer to ever walk the face of the earth once said, “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.”UFC featherweight Mark Hominick was down.But as Muhammad Ali stated, it’s not being knocked …

The greatest boxer to ever walk the face of the earth once said, “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.”

UFC featherweight Mark Hominick was down.

But as Muhammad Ali stated, it’s not being knocked down that defines us, but rather returning to our feet.

On August 14th, 2011, Hominick lost a dear friend when mixed martial arts mastermind Shawn Tompkins unexpectedly passed away.

“Shawn has always been my mentor,” Hominick told Bleacher Report. “That won’t change.”

“He’s the reason I can do this every day of my life,” Hominick said. “He’s led by example. Losing him was a huge loss for me. It’s my job and responsibility to carry on his tradition and legacy by going out there and fighting and winning for him.”

The adversity didn’t come to an end as Hominick strapped on his gloves to take on Chan Sung Jung less than four months later at UFC 140.

Once again, Hominick was down.

Just seven seconds into his featherweight matchup, Hominick found himself defeated as the victim of a knockout blow.

“It’s the nature of the sport,” Hominick said. “You see it happen time and time again. But that’s what makes it so exciting at times. It’s the unpredictability of the sport.”

“It was definitely a very tough loss for me,” he said. “I went in there with so much emotion that I normally don’t fight with, and I paid the price for it. I threw a looping punch that I know I would never throw. He followed it with a nice right so my hat goes off to him.

“I’m sure our paths will cross down the road and when that time comes, I’ll get a chance at redemption,” Hominick said.

But before that can happen, Hominick will meet UFC newcomer Eddie Yagin when the UFC travels to Atlanta, Ga. for UFC 145.

With two consecutive losses and his back against the wall, Hominick will attempt to return to the winning column for the first time in over a year.

“Eddie is a veteran of the sport,” Hominick said. “Because he hasn’t fought in the UFC, a lot of fans don’t know who he is. He’s been fighting since 2000, and he’s fought just about everyone in the sport. He’s a game-time fighter, so I’m excited about it.

“My technique and speed will be huge advantages, especially when I’m on my feet,” he said. “He’s got a lot of power in his right hand, and he’s got a great guillotine. He’s dangerous and a great fighter. I’m taking him serious, and I’m prepared in every area.”

Hominick‘s experience with adversity has allowed him to appreciate every moment of life.

When he enters the Octagon on Saturday, April 21st, he’ll be fighting for more than just himself.

He’ll be fighting for Tompkins.

“I don’t care if it takes one minute or 15 minutes. I’m just going in there to win,” he said.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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Jon Jones Says Fight with Rashad Evans Is the Ali/Frazier of MMA

The build up to UFC 145 seems like it has taken forever. The reality though is that Jon Jones and Rashad Evans have been on a collision course since Jones received a shot at Mauricio Rua’s light heavyweight title. For over a year, the two fighters…

The build up to UFC 145 seems like it has taken forever. The reality though is that Jon Jones and Rashad Evans have been on a collision course since Jones received a shot at Mauricio Rua’s light heavyweight title. 

For over a year, the two fighters took shots at each other in the media and at one point even had to be separated at a night club by Georges St. Pierre. With the fights just a week away, the time for talk is over. 

Don’t expect the pre-fight trash talk to shake Jones’ confidence. He’s already had to deal with more controversy before the fight with Quinton Jackson. 

“I wouldn’t say that it’s been the most exhausting lead up to a fight. It kind of reminds me of the Rampage (Jackson) fight. We had smack talking, controversy.  It was drama in the Rampage fight too,” said Jones.

“Someone calling me fake or cocky, that does nothing to me, it’s like alright. I really believe only God can judge me. But somebody calling me a cheater, that really got to me. So I wouldn’t say this was the most exhausting build up to a fight, not at all.”

Jon Jones has settled in as UFC champion. After successful title defenses against Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida, Jones is poised to become the face of the UFC. There’s been recent discussion about the UFC’s decision to sponsor Jones for his fight with Evans. 

“I’ve had a goal of being sponsored by Nike for many, many years and a part of our strategy to try to make that happen one day is to not be a billboard, and not just be sponsored by TapOut one week and Affliction one week and then MusclePharm next week and then all of these random companies.”

He added “But we came up with a strategy to keep it clean and be sponsored by the UFC itself and I’m glad the UFC wanted to work with me as well and I think they trust that I’ll never make them look bad.”

Jones views the fight with Evans as not just the most important of his MMA career but also as the biggest fight in the history of the light heavyweight division. He may be right. Based on media attention, the fight with Evans should be one of the most financially successful in the history of the UFC.

“This fight it has been referred to on several occasions as the Ali vs. Frazier of our sport and of our time,” Jones said. “I think that this fight would sell out in Madison Square Garden the first day that tickets went on sale and that’s amazing. I think it would sell out the Yankee Stadium.  It would sell out anything.”

While he may be over-exaggerating about the reach of this fight, there is one thing that everyone can agree upon, the fight between Jones and Evans will be the fight to decide who reigns supreme in the light heavyweight division. The time for talk is over and now it’s time to put up or shut up. 

 

All quotes were obtained from UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans timeline posted to UFC extranet.

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UFC: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II Facing Possible Date Change

Do you have June 23 circled on your calender? If so, it might be time to start searching for a bottle of Wite-Out.That’s because the highly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and outspoken contender Chael Sonnen may have t…

Do you have June 23 circled on your calender? If so, it might be time to start searching for a bottle of Wite-Out.

That’s because the highly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and outspoken contender Chael Sonnen may have to be rescheduled.

You’re probably wondering what could possibly take precedence over a fight of this magnitude. If you guessed “soccer match,” you are incorrect.

The correct answer is a United Nations Conference.

As noted by MMAFighting.com, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the scheduling of UFC 147 is up in the air during the UFC on Fuel TV 2 post-fight presser.

The problem is, they don’t like the idea of us coming the same time this United Nations convention is going on. The other problem is hotel rooms. Most of the hotel rooms are being taken up. And we don’t think, we know that the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight is one of the biggest sporting events this year, in the world.

The UN summit, which is being held to discuss sustainable development, is penciled in for a three-day duration, running from June 20 to June 22. Notably, UFC 147 is tentatively scheduled for the following day. 

So what’s the problem?

Well, in addition to the hotel occupancy overlap, the UFC was hoping to make this event a real show. The promotion was planning to take over Rio de Janeiro for the entire weekend, and the pre-fight pressers and weigh-ins were supposed to be a big part of the invasion.

Says Dana White:

I think it’s a huge sporting event. I think people will come to Rio from all over the world. I think we’re going to need hotel rooms. Hopefully we’ll get this thing done the next few days, one way or the other.

The hopes of turning Rio into a three-day UFC party took a hit with this announcement and leaves the company with two options. The event can be rebooked, or a “the show must go on” approach can be adopted. 

As White says, it shouldn’t be too long before this mess is all sorted out. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chuck Liddell on Retirement, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans

One of the biggest light heavyweight title bouts in the UFC’s history is about to take place.
When Jon Jones defends the title against Rashad Evans, the fight will likely receive the most attention for the 205 lb. weight class since Chuck Liddell…

One of the biggest light heavyweight title bouts in the UFC’s history is about to take place.

When Jon Jones defends the title against Rashad Evans, the fight will likely receive the most attention for the 205 lb. weight class since Chuck Liddell took on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson back in May 2007.

The upcoming fight – set for Saturday, April 21 – has the recently retired former champion very interested.

“Rashad is a different style of fighter than Jones has been fighting,” Liddell told Bleacher Report’s Gary Herman when asked about the UFC 145 main event. “He’s a lot better at takedowns, and he’s a lot better at takedown defense.”

Even though Jones has ripped through the competition since joining the UFC in August 2008, Liddell believes Evans creates many potential problems for Jones.

“He won’t be able to control where the fight goes as easy as he does normally,” Liddell said. “So we’ll see how that affects him.”

In his 10 UFC fights, Jones has never been threatened or seriously hurt. No fighter has been able to prevent Jones from doing whatever he wants to do in the cage. In his last three fights, Jones has stopped three former champions: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Jackson, and Lyoto Machida.

“Jon is a good kid,” Liddell said about the champion. “He’s got his head right. He goes out and works hard.”

Evans and Jones certainly have a storied history. Not only did Jones ascend to Evans’ former spot atop of the light heavyweight division, he also effectively took Evans’ spot at Jackson’s MMA training camp.

Evans quickly found a new home at the newly formed Blackzilians training camp in Florida.

Liddell believes Evans knows how to put together an effective strategy regardless of where he is preparing.

“Against Rampage, he was really good at keeping the distance,” Liddell said. “He was either all the way in or all the way out. I tell the guys all the time, ‘if you have a good puncher, all the way in or all the way out.’ Don’t stay there and box.”

The “experts” have listed Jones as a heavy favorite in the fight.

“The fight opened with Jones at 6 to 1,” Liddell said, referring to the current odds. “That’s ridiculous. I think it’s going to be a lot bigger test than that.”

Liddell has that view based on firsthand experience with Evans. Evans’ knockout victory of Liddell started Liddell’s string of three straight knockout losses, which eventually led to the end of his historic career.

The former top draw for the UFC is content with his decision.

“I think the reasons I retired stay the same,” Liddell said. “I don’t want to change my style. I can’t take a punch like I used to for whatever reason. I’ve heard all sorts of theories as to why that would happen, but I can’t do it.”

Instead of fighting, Liddell now works in the front office of the UFC.

“I’m still a fan,” Liddell said. “I still like watching fights.”

The fight with Jones and Evans is no exception. The match-up will be Jones’ highest-profile fight to date. Liddell wonders how the younger Jones will react to the added pressure.

“The biggest thing about that fight is: is he going to stick to his game plan as much as he normally is able to?” Liddell said. “We’ll see.”

As for who Liddell believes will win the fight, the former champion believes an upset is very possible.

“I think Rashad has a lot better chance than most people think.”

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