Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsAt the UFC 126 post-fight press conference, Urijah Faber said he was looking forward to one day seeing Jon Jones fight Phil Davis for the light heavyweight title.
At the UFC 126 post-fight press conference, Urijah Faber said he was looking forward to one day seeing Jon Jones fight Phil Davis for the light heavyweight title.
He’s not the only one.
Since Jones won the belt on Saturday, and to a degree even before UFC 128, media, fans, and even fighters have pegged Davis as the man who could give the unstoppable Jones trouble inside the Octagon.
That’s a huge compliment for a 26-year-old who only made his MMA debut in October 2008.
But Davis (8-0), who faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 24 this Saturday, says he isn’t concerning himself with anything other than what’s next.
Filed under: UFCNormally, UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis isn’t one for pre-fight predictions.
When it comes to guys he doesn’t know and hasn’t trained with, he said, he generally doesn’t care who wins and who loses. Even if he has an opinion on it,…
Normally, UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis isn’t one for pre-fight predictions.
When it comes to guys he doesn’t know and hasn’t trained with, he said, he generally doesn’t care who wins and who loses. Even if he has an opinion on it, he usually keeps it to himself because, as he put it, “I know it’s the fight game, but cats get their feelings hurt.”
But Davis made an exception when talking to MMA Fighting about his friend, training partner, and former opponent, Alexander Gustafsson (10-1), who takes on New Zealand’s James Te-Huna (12-4) at UFC 127 on Saturday night.
("I’ll take Gilbert Godfried for the win, Joe." PicProps: UFC.com)
Those of you who were paying attention to Phil Davis’ Twitter account this week (and really, why wouldn’t you be?) already knew that the light heavyweight up-and-c…
Also on the horizon, it’s reported that fresh off showing his lack of social skills against Brandon Vera at UFC 125, Thiago Silva will step in the cage against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130. Both guys are coming off wins and it’s conceivable that the winner of that bout could be added to an ever-growing list of title contenders at 205-pounds. But wait, that’s not all. After the jump some other alleged upcoming dates in the Octagon.
Every year, a handful of MMA fighters ascend from obscurity to contendership, from prospect status to championship gold — from nothing to something. In honor of The Warrior’s Way, which hits theaters next Friday, we’d like to salute MMA’s breakou…
Every year, a handful of MMA fighters ascend from obscurity to contendership, from prospect status to championship gold — from nothing to something. In honor of The Warrior’s Way, which hits theaters next Friday, we’d like to salute MMA’s breakout class of 2010, whose careers exploded this year, and who are all poised for even larger accomplishments in 2011.
PHIL DAVIS Notable 2010 victories: Brian Stann (unanimous decision, UFC 109), Alexander Gustafsson (submission R1, UFC 112), Tim Boetsch (submission R2, UFC 123) Between his pink shorts, action-figure physique, and aggressive grappling, Mr. Wonderful has become an unmistakable figure in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division. A year ago, he was a relatively unknown 4-0 prospect trying to re-invent himself as a cage-fighter after a brilliant collegiate wrestling career at Penn State, which culminated in a 2008 NCAA title. Davis made his Octagon debut this February, and has since sent four straight opponents back to the drawing board, beginning with former WEC champ Brian Stann, and ending with a Submission of the Night performance against Tim Boetsch. Having proven himself against gritty veterans and promising rookies, we’re about to find out if Davis can keep his dominant run going against the next level of UFC contenders.
COURT McGEE Notable 2010 victories: Kris McCray (submission R2, TUF 11 Finale), Ryan Jensen (submission R3, UFC 121) Court McGee’s life is an object lesson in never, ever giving up, no matter how dire the circumstances. A former drug-addict who was declared clinically dead after an overdose in 2005, McGee got clean and devoted his life to MMA. His stint on The Ultimate Fighter 11 this year was almost cut short after he lost a bum decision to Nick Ring, but McGee re-entered the competition as an injury replacement, and went on to choke out James Hammortree, Brad Tavares, and Kris McCray to earn the season’s middleweight trophy. In his first post-TUF test at UFC 121, he survived getting bombed out on by Ryan Jensen in the first round, and turned the momentum around when Jensen began to fade in round two. In the end, Jensen was tapping like the rest of them, and Court McGee had secured his reputation as one of toughest (and most likable) bastards TUF has ever produced.
Filed under: UFCIf nothing else, you have to respect “Rampage” Jackson’s honesty at UFC 123. He thought he took something resembling a butt-whoopin’ from Lyoto Machida, at least in the final round, and he had no problem saying so.
If nothing else, you have to respect “Rampage” Jackson’s honesty at UFC 123. He thought he took something resembling a butt-whoopin’ from Lyoto Machida, at least in the final round, and he had no problem saying so.
That’s refreshing, I have to admit. The suggestion that the two should have an immediate rematch? That just makes my head hurt.
The fight was interesting, in a way, though not exactly thrilling. Seeing them do it again wouldn’t help pay-per-view sales or the crowded light heavyweight division, which is probably why UFC president Dana White mercifully intervened with other ideas. It just goes to show that sometimes it’s a good thing to have an opinionated guy at the top with veto power and the will to use it. Sometimes.
Now on to the winners, losers, and everything else in between after UFC 123.
At the UFC 126 post-fight press conference, Urijah Faber said he was looking forward to one day seeing Jon Jones fight Phil Davis for the light heavyweight title.
The MMA Hour
Normally, UFC light heavyweight 
If nothing else, you have to respect “Rampage” Jackson’s honesty at