(Rua slugs Dan Henderson during their epic bout in November. / Photo courtesy of Heavy)
A matchup between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Thiago Silva is likely for July 21st’s UFC 149 event in Calgary, according to a new report on MMA Junkie. UFC president Dana White tweeted yesterday that the two light-heavyweight strikers would face one another, but didn’t confirm the date or venue.
(Rua slugs Dan Henderson during their epic bout in November. / Photo courtesy of Heavy)
A matchup between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Thiago Silva is likely for July 21st’s UFC 149 event in Calgary, according to a new report on MMA Junkie. UFC president Dana White tweeted yesterday that the two light-heavyweight strikers would face one another, but didn’t confirm the date or venue.
With Jose Aldo expected to defend the UFC featherweight title in Brazil on June 23rd, there is still no confirmation as to who will headline UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.The UFC will embark on their first trip to Calgary and…
With Jose Aldo expected to defend the UFC featherweight title in Brazil on June 23rd, there is still no confirmation as to who will headline UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
The UFC will embark on their first trip to Calgary and the company hopes to feature a star-studded event.
Director of Operations for UFC Canada Tom Wright believes it is beneficial for the UFC to advertise a strong card on July 21, and he believes a title bout involving Jon Jones and Dan Henderson could just be the right matchup.
“I think it’s really important (to have a marquee bout). It demonstrates we have an understanding and a respect for how knowledgeable the fight fans are in Alberta, and how important this market is to our business,” Wright told The Toronto Sun.
“Having Jon Jones defend his championship in Calgary against Dan Henderson—that would be a monster fight.”
The UFC has already scheduled a few bouts for the event, pitting former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Cheick Kongo, as well as Calgary native Nick Ring competing against Court McGee.
Jones is fresh after recently defeating Rashad Evans at UFC 145, while Henderson has held out for a title shot since his win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 last November.
And with notable champions like Anderson Silva and Junior dos Santos already booked for their respective title fights this summer, the 24-year-old Jones would be the only other champion available to compete. Considering UFC 145’s gate attendance, the UFC light heavyweight champion’s presence would definitely add some value to the event.
Should the bout become finalized, this will be Jones’ second title defense in only three months and his fourth title defense overall.
As reported on MMAWeekly.com this morning, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo have been added to the UFC 149 fight card that will take place in Calgary on July 21.The Calgary Sun cited anonymous sources in announcing the news, but the fight was …
As reported on MMAWeekly.com this morning, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo have been added to the UFC 149 fight card that will take place in Calgary on July 21.
The Calgary Sun cited anonymous sources in announcing the news, but the fight was verified via the UFC Canada Official Twitter feed. The announcement came on the same day that UFC President Dana White hinted that Brazilian featherweight Champion Jose Aldo would most likely be pulled form that same card.
Aldo was originally announced as the headliner for the debut Calgary event with a challenger to be named later. The UFC announced via press conference yesterday that the Silva-Sonnen rematch that was tentatively set for UFC 147 in Brazil will now take place at UFC 148 in Las Vegas. This move leaves a big hole on the Brazil card, and many feel it will be filled by Aldo.
Nogueira (33-7-1) is currently recovering from a broken humorous he suffered after refusing to tap to a kimura lock in his last fight with Frank Mir at UFC 140 in December of 2011. Nogueira has had a tough time in the UFC with a 4-3 record.
Kongo (17-7-2) is also coming off a loss via TKO to Mark Hunt at UFC 144 in Japan.
If the Aldo fight is indeed moved off the Calgary card, the Canadian fans could be in for a very nice replacement as White has already mentioned that Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is the leading candidate to fill that slot.
UFC 149 Fight card To Date: (Subject to Change)
Thiago Alves vs Yoshihiro Akiyama – welterweight
George Roop vs *Antonio Carvalho – featherweight
*Nick Ring vs Court McGee – middleweight
Bryan Caraway vs *Mitch Gagnon – featherweight
*Mitch Clarke vs Anton Kuivanen – lightweight
Cheick Kongo vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
* Canadian Fighter
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA, MMA Editor at CKSN.ca and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca.
A heavyweight bout between veterans Cheick Kongo and Antonio Minotauro Nogueira has been added to UFC 149 in Calgary reports the Calgary Sun.The bout will likely serve as the co-main event on a card that’s also expected to host a championship bout in t…
The bout will likely serve as the co-main event on a card that’s also expected to host a championship bout in the light-heavyweight division when Jon Jones attempts to defend his title for a fourth time against PRIDE FC legend Dan Henderson.
Kongo and Nogueira are both coming off of stoppage losses in their most recent bouts.
Kongo was knocked out by Mark Hunt at UFC 144. Prior to that, the Frenchman had not suffered a loss since 2009.
Big Nog was submitted for the first time in his career at UFC 140 by current No. 1 contender Frank Mir. Nogueira has not found the success he wanted in the UFC, as he holds a modest 4-3 record in the organization.
UFC 149 is also expected to host an interesting welterweight matchup between Thiago Alves and Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Big Nog is coming off his gruesome kimura loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140 in December, a defeat that had many fans and pundits pleading for the legend’s retirement. Following that fight, Nogueira said he expected to return within nine months. Just seven months later, he’ll be taking one more kick at the cat against a tough striker in Kongo, who ate a first-round TKO loss against Mark Hunt in his last outing. Still, you can’t count either of these guys out (see: Nog vs. Schaub, Kongo vs. Barry). Are you happy to see Nogueira back in the Octagon? And who do you think will be left standing?
In other booking news…
(Fun fact: Nogueira’s body is composed mainly of replacement parts from grave-robbed corpses.)
Big Nog is coming off his gruesome kimura loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140 in December, a defeat that had many fans and pundits pleading for the legend’s retirement. Following that fight, Nogueira said he expected to return within nine months. Just seven months later, he’ll be taking one more kick at the cat against a tough striker in Kongo, who ate a first-round TKO loss against Mark Hunt in his last outing. Still, you can’t count either of these guys out (see: Nog vs. Schaub, Kongo vs. Barry). Are you happy to see Nogueira back in the Octagon? And who do you think will be left standing?
Weidman increased his perfect MMA record to 8-0 at UFC on FOX 2 in January with a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia. Munoz was scheduled to compete against Micchael Bisping at the same event, but had to withdraw due to elbow problems. Munoz is currently riding a four-fight win streak, most recently stopping Chris Leben at UFC 138.
UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones does not yet share the same pound-for-pound title with Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Indeed, the previous toss-up between Silva and Georges St-Pierre remains MMA’s closest pa…
UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones does not yet share the same pound-for-pound title with Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Indeed, the previous toss-up between Silva and Georges St-Pierre remains MMA’s closest parallel to the Papal Schism.
There is no doubt, though, that the current LH champion Jones is reaching and inching closer to the throne with his third successful title defense, seventh straight win, 16th victory in 17 fights and only one defeat best written in quotation marks.
Yes, it’s cumbersome, but let’s mention and specify again that that disqualification loss was due to illegal elbow strikes versus Matt Hamill—a lone, isolated case of the greatest-not-being-the-smartest all the time. (Greatest light-heavyweight, I mean.)
Other than that cursed “loss,” Jones has proven that he is the smartest and most skillful every single time inside The Octagon.
Now, after elbowing Rashad Evans out of the title contention picture for the moment, Jones is handed by Dana White a chance to spur the pound-for-pound debate further—by defending his belt against living legend Dan “Hendo” Henderson.
And as “MMA math” goes, if Jones defeats Henderson in a quicker and more spectacular fashion than Silva did, then he can be considered as the better fighter than The Spider.
As a reminder, Silva submitted Hendo by rear-naked choke at 4:50 of the second round of their UFC 82 main event in 2008.
But if Hendo lasts longer against Jones—especially for five full rounds like Evans—even if he loses, then Bones will be judged as inferior to Silva.
Worse if Hendo wins, as MMA math is ultimately predicated on the following equation: If X (Silva) beats Y (Hendo), and Y beats Z (Jones), then X is better than Z.
Well, MMA math may not be absolutely valid in comparing one fighter with another, but it’s not entirely without merit in analyzing hypothetical matchups.
Resorting to it will never prove as decisive as the Council of Constance, but in the absence of an actual match between two great fighters in question, at least it provides a parameter for comparison.
MMA math is just one of many theoretical frameworks.
Besides, give some credit to them MMA mathematicians; after all, not everyone’s good in math.
With Jose Aldo