Tag: quick quote

UFC Champ Jon Jones Working On His Punching Power

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the cancellation of UFC 151, the promotions light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is busy preparing for his next fight later this month against Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 152. According to Jones coach Mike Winkeljohn, the champ is working at improving his punching power in […]

Jon Jones on the cover of UFC magazine

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the cancellation of UFC 151, the promotions light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is busy preparing for his next fight later this month against Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 152.

According to Jones coach Mike Winkeljohn, the champ is working at improving his punching power in order to land the one-punch knockout.

Winkeljohn was a guest on ‘The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo‘ during Thursday’s live podcast talking about his fighters preparations for Toronto.

“(Jon’s working on) staying calm and believing. Throwing the strike to put someone to sleep versus throwing the strike to throw the strike. That’s what we’ve been working on and everyone needs to work on it. But when there’s so many skills these guys have to work on — striking, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, clinch — you need to stop and believe what you do will work for you every time you do it, and it will play out in fights.”

Also featured on the podcast was Team Nogueira wrestling coach Eric Albararcin.

Jones faces Belfort on September 22, 2012 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario in the main event of UFC 152.

Joseph Benavidez Sees Positive In Co-Main Event Relegation For UFC 152

One might think that UFC flyweight Joseph Benavidez (16-2) would be upset at having been relegated to the co-main event for the upcoming UFC 152. Taking over the main event slot is a light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort, which comes as part of the fall-out of the cancelled UFC 151 […]

Joseph Benavidez

One might think that UFC flyweight Joseph Benavidez (16-2) would be upset at having been relegated to the co-main event for the upcoming UFC 152. Taking over the main event slot is a light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort, which comes as part of the fall-out of the cancelled UFC 151 event.

Benavidez is set to face Demetrious Johnson to crown the promotions first 125-lbs champion, and for Benavidez, sees the positives of having all the extra attention that Jones vs. Belfort brings to the event.

(Quick quote via Yahoo! Sports)

“All my fans on Twitter and my family, [they were upset],” Benavidez said, chuckling. “My Mom called me and said, ‘Jon Jones is a jerk.’ All the people on Twitter were like, ‘[Expletive] Jon Jones. You’re the man. You’re the main event.’

“That was great to see, but it’s really a positive, when you look at it. I know [Jones] is more popular than me. I know [Michael] Bisping and whoever else is on the card is more popular than me. I feel it helps me. My main goal when I got in this was to be UFC champion. I wouldn’t sit there and go, ‘Oh, I need to be UFC main event.’ My goal is to be UFC champion and I still get to do that. Now, I get to do it with that many more fans to gain and that many more fans watching.”

UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort takes place on September 22, 2012 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Vitor Belfort Training With Rashad Evans For Jon Jones Title Match

Former UFC champ Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (21-9) has had to switch gears, from training for a fight versus Alan Belcher at UFC 153 to now training for a light heavyweight title match against Jon Jones at UFC 152. With just a month to prepare for ‘Bones’ the Brazilian has turned to a former training […]

Vitor Belfort – image by Loco via Twitter.com/vitorbelfort

Former UFC champ Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (21-9) has had to switch gears, from training for a fight versus Alan Belcher at UFC 153 to now training for a light heavyweight title match against Jon Jones at UFC 152.

With just a month to prepare for ‘Bones’ the Brazilian has turned to a former training partner of the champs in Rashad Evans.

Evans was the last fighter to face Jones and is helping ‘The Phenom’ prepare at the Blackzilian gym in Miami, Florida.

How come you are trainings at Blackzilians now?
Glenn (Robinson) is a friend of mine and invited me. I needed to train and I got this here, it’s very versatile. The Brazilian community here is large, so I’m close to Brazil that way. It’s been cool and I’m very happy here.

How did you get the invitation for another title fight?
They invited me and I said yes right on the spot. Fighting for the title is priceless. I’m very happy to work and being able to help the organization.

What have changed in your trainings since you heard you are fighting Jon Jones?
It hasn’t changed. I’m focusing on what I’m going to do. I don’t believe in all that science, all that studying. I guess it takes away the chance of you to do your best .

How is it like training with Rashad Evans?
Rashad is a guy who truly knows all about Jon Jones’s game. So we’re working everyday more and more and focusing on what we know.

Read more from Belfort at Tatame.com, as well as a photo gallery of the Brazilian training with the likes of Evans and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson in Miami.

Despite Upset Win Over Bellator Champ, Tyson Nam In Legal Battle With Promotion

Despite an upset win over Bellator bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas this past weekend at a Shoot Brazil 33 event, fighter Tyson Nam (12-4) now finds himself in a legal battle with the Chicago promotion. With a first round one-punch knockout win over Dantas, Nam should be fielding offers from all kinds of promotions to compete […]

Tyson Nam

Despite an upset win over Bellator bantamweight champ Eduardo Dantas this past weekend at a Shoot Brazil 33 event, fighter Tyson Nam (12-4) now finds himself in a legal battle with the Chicago promotion.

With a first round one-punch knockout win over Dantas, Nam should be fielding offers from all kinds of promotions to compete under their banner. Unfortunately because of a previous contract with Bellator from earlier this year, one that never actually saw Nam fight for the promotion, the Brazilian finds himself in limbo as Bellator is invoking their right under the previously signed contract to “match” any offers given to Nam.

Speaking on “The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo” on Tuesday, Nam detailed his legal battle with Bellator.

“On paper it’s one of the biggest upsets in all of MMA. But I myself know where I come from up in Portland. We train with guys that fight in the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce. All I needed was one shot and they gave it to me and I shocked the world.

“Now, Bellator’s trying to hold me back with this contract matching. But they cut me back in the middle of June. They promised me a spot in the season seven bantamweight tournament, and they also promised me a non-tournament fight under Bellator. I never once fought for them, and my agent found me a fight outside of Bellator. I beat their champion and now they want to put legal actions on me.”

Also featured on the podcast were SI.com’s Jeff Wagenheim, Roufusport coach Duke Roufus, pro-wrestler Harry Smith, and boxing analyst Eric Raskin.

Cris ‘Cyborg’ Only Wants To Talk About Ronday Rousey Once The Fight Has Been Booked

Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) still has a few months left on her suspension following a positive steroids test after a win last December. Despite being unconfirmed for her return bout, the fight on everyone’s mind is one between her and women’s bantamweight title holder Ronda Rousey. Rousey is adamant […]

Cris 'Cyborg' Santos

Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) still has a few months left on her suspension following a positive steroids test after a win last December.

Despite being unconfirmed for her return bout, the fight on everyone’s mind is one between her and women’s bantamweight title holder Ronda Rousey.

Rousey is adamant that ‘Cyborg’ come down to 135-lbs, while the Brazilian is holding firm to a catchweight at 140-lbs as her limit in order for the two to meet.

In fact, Santos told Fighters Only that she isn’t willing to comment further on this fight until a contract is signed.

“As I said in my last interview, the 145lbs division is my category but I can drop until 140lbs to fight her. It does not depend on me, it is up to the event. My business is to fight inside the cage and do not trash talk outside the fence. I’m available for the event [to talk to me] on those terms”, she told Fighters Only in Brazil.

Cyborg avoided talking about the strategy for this intriguing bout, saying that submission expert Rousey is not confirmed as her next opponent. “I will only talk about his fight when I sign the contract to say she is going to be my next adversary. There is no reason to speak about it, having nothing concrete.”

‘Cyborg’ finished Japanese fighter Hiroko Yamanaka last December in just 16-seconds but tested positive for stanozolol. The result was overturned to a “No Contest” with Santos receiving a one-year suspension from the California State Athletic Commission as well as being stripped of the title.

Shane Carwin Details His Reasons For Feuding With Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson

If one would describe either heavyweight Shane Carwin (12-2) or Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (17-7), trash talker would probably be one of the last acronyms one would use as both fighters, at least on the surface, appear to be genuinely nice guys. Put the two of them together as opposing coaches for this falls upcoming […]

Shane Carwin

If one would describe either heavyweight Shane Carwin (12-2) or Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson (17-7), trash talker would probably be one of the last acronyms one would use as both fighters, at least on the surface, appear to be genuinely nice guys.

Put the two of them together as opposing coaches for this falls upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and that ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ attitude appears to have been set aside.

Speaking to MMAWeekly Radio, Carwin offers up his reasons for feuding with Nelson, pointing to his own fierce competitive nature as well as ‘Big Country’s’ underachieving as a fighter.

“Roy’s a great fighter, don’t get me wrong, very talented, could he be more talented? I think so. If he took things more serious.”

“Listen, he’s a tough guy with a ton of heart. He goes in there and he gives it his everything. My thing is I’ve always said to him, I’d love to see you take this thing seriously and rip off some weight,” said White in March of this year. “When you’ve got a chin like that and a heart like that, you can’t deny the guy’s got a great chin, a ton of heart and he can knock people out. If he really could get to 205, he’d be a force at 205. He’d be a scary dude. He’s got great wrestling, awesome submissions, great chin, a ton of heart, and has knockout power.

“Who knows what Roy Nelson could really achieve if he applied himself.”

“…He plays this like he’s this average guy and honestly I don’t think the guy’s ever had a normal job.”

Carwin and Nelson are expected to square off on December 15, 2012 in the Finale for “The Ultimate Fighter” season 16 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.