Tag: UFC 165

UFC 165 Live Streaming Pre-Fight Press Conference with Jones and Gustafsson

The next UFC fight card won’t take place until July 27, when the promotion heads to Seattle for UFC on Fox 8, but that doesn’t mean the wheels will stop rolling on the UFC machine. On Tuesday, July 9, the promotion will be in Toronto to get…

The next UFC fight card won’t take place until July 27, when the promotion heads to Seattle for UFC on Fox 8, but that doesn’t mean the wheels will stop rolling on the UFC machine. On Tuesday, July 9, the promotion will be in Toronto to get things started for UFC 165.

UFC 165 will take place at the Air Canada Centre on September 21. A light heavyweight title fight will headline the event. Champion Jon Jones will put his belt on the line against Alexander Gustafsson. A second title fight will be the evening’s co-main event as interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao defends his title against Eddie Wineland.

Jones and Gustafsson will be in Toronto on Tuesday for a public press conference at the Real Sports Bar and Grill. Joining the fighters will be the UFC Director of Canadian Operations, Tom Wright. The press conference will get under way at 12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT.

Speaking about UFC 165’s main event, UFC president Dana White said, “Jon Jones is re-writing the record book for the light heavyweight division…He is one of the pound-for-pound best in the world with a record-tying five straight title defenses by age 25. This bout with Gustafsson is an awesome fight. Alex is a big man plus he’s mean and hungry—and excited for the opportunity to fight Jones.”

 

UFC 165 Fight Card (announced fights):

Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson

Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland

Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Nandor Guelmino

Stephen Thompson vs. Chris Clements

Michel Prazeres vs. Mark Bocek

Myles Jury vs. Mike Ricci

Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Ivan Menjivar

 

**Dana White quote via UFC

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Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland Interim Bantamweight Title Fight Rescheduled for UFC 165 Co-Main Event


(Pfft. Clearly, the UFC is just trying to protect their pretty-boy interim champion. / Photo via Getty)

The UFC confirmed last week that Renan Barao‘s interim bantamweight championship fight against Eddie Wineland has been re-scheduled to serve as the co-main event of UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson (September 21st; Air Canada Centre, Toronto). The match was originally slated to headline UFC 161 last month, until Barao suffered a foot injury and had to pull out on short notice. Instead of staying on the card against a replacement opponent, Eddie Wineland was taken off the lineup altogether.

Barao has gone 31 fights without a defeat — including 20 straight victories, the last five of which were earned in the UFC — and last competed in February, where he scored a fourth-round arm-triangle choke submission against Michael McDonald. If Barao beats Wineland, he’ll become the first fighter in UFC history to defend an interim title twice — an odd achievement, made possible by the fact that actual champion Dominick Cruz is suffering through one of the longest injury layoffs in recorded history.

By comparison, Eddie Wineland’s two-fight win streak is much less impressive, although he did score wins over perennial contenders Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett last year. So, will Eddie just be another notch on Barao’s bed-post, or does he legitimately stand a chance here?


(Pfft. Clearly, the UFC is just trying to protect their pretty-boy interim champion. / Photo via Getty)

The UFC confirmed last week that Renan Barao‘s interim bantamweight championship fight against Eddie Wineland has been re-scheduled to serve as the co-main event of UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson (September 21st; Air Canada Centre, Toronto). The match was originally slated to headline UFC 161 last month, until Barao suffered a foot injury and had to pull out on short notice. Instead of staying on the card against a replacement opponent, Eddie Wineland was taken off the lineup altogether.

Barao has gone 31 fights without a defeat — including 20 straight victories, the last five of which were earned in the UFC — and last competed in February, where he scored a fourth-round arm-triangle choke submission against Michael McDonald. If Barao beats Wineland, he’ll become the first fighter in UFC history to defend an interim title twice — an odd achievement, made possible by the fact that actual champion Dominick Cruz is suffering through one of the longest injury layoffs in recorded history.

By comparison, Eddie Wineland’s two-fight win streak is much less impressive, although he did score wins over perennial contenders Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett last year. So, will Eddie just be another notch on Barao’s bed-post, or does he legitimately stand a chance here?

Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland to Serve as Co-Main Event at UFC 165

Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland will assume co-main event duties at UFC 165 on Sept. 21 in Toronto, Canada, according to a report from The Star Phoenix. Originally scheduled to fight Wineland at UFC 161, Barao suffered a foot injury (via MMAfi…

Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland will assume co-main event duties at UFC 165 on Sept. 21 in Toronto, Canada, according to a report from The Star Phoenix. 

Originally scheduled to fight Wineland at UFC 161, Barao suffered a foot injury (via MMAfighting.com) which delayed the bout, leaving the event with a weakened main event in Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans. 

Now, however, the bantamweight showdown is featured on an even stronger card, and UFC 165 has quickly turned into one of the year’s can’t-miss events. 

Barao and Wineland present unique problems for one another, as Wineland will have a power advantage, while Barao will possess an edge in a technical striking match or a grappling contest. Because of this, the fight should provide an interesting clash of styles, with Wineland looking to score a knockout and Barao choosing to expose Wineland‘s ground game. 

In eight defeats, Wineland has been forced to tap out four times, which does not bode well for him against the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Barao. 

Still, with the ever-present threat of Wineland‘s explosive hands, Barao will need to be sharp and precise to secure his second interim title defense. 

Headlining the UFC 165 fight card is another title fight between light heavyweight superstar Jon Jones and Swedish sensation Alexander Gustafsson.

Should Jones emerge victorious in this bout, he will break Tito Ortiz’s UFC record for consecutive 205-pound title defenses with six, adding even more intrigue to an already-scintillating matchup. 

With this one-two punch of Barao vs. Wineland and Jones vs. Gustafsson atop the card, UFC 165 is set to shake up the title picture in two of the promotion’s most exciting divisions.

 

For fans of MMA, heavy metal or general absurdity 

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UFC 165 Fight Card: Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto Returns, Meets Ivan Menjivar

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto is set to return from a 16-month hiatus, which will be extended to 19 months by the time the Japanese bantamweight meets Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165 on Sept. 21.The matchup was originally reported by Nancy Audet of TVA Sports and l…

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto is set to return from a 16-month hiatus, which will be extended to 19 months by the time the Japanese bantamweight meets Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165 on Sept. 21.

The matchup was originally reported by Nancy Audet of TVA Sports and later translated by BloodyElbow.com.

Despite losing five of his past six bouts and going winless inside the Octagon, Yamamoto will be meeting a top-10 bantamweight in Menjivar. With losses to Urijah Faber and Mike Easton in his past three appearances, Menjivar is currently hanging onto the No. 10 spot in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, but he’s much closer to the top of the division than Yamamoto. 

At 36 years old, Yamamoto is declining, but he still has the knockout power to worry many potential 135-pound opponents. In his most recent outing, Yamamoto rocked Vaughan Lee before getting caught in a submission.

In most cases, a fighter who suffered four straight losses after being signed to the UFC roster would have no chance of being retained by the promotion. However, in this situation, it would appear Yamamoto is safe in the short term.

Had the UFC been looking to part ways with Yamamoto, it easily could have done so following his loss to Lee, but it instead gave him a step up in competition. For that reason, Yamamoto should have at least a couple of more UFC appearances in him unless he is looking at this bout as one last chance to win a big fight before retiring.

Headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, UFC 165 will be held at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. A bout between TUF alumni Ramsey Nijem and Mike Ricci has also been announced for the fight card.

 

Sean Smith is a Featured MMA Columnist for Bleacher Report who has also had work promoted on UFC.com and TheMMACorner.com. Follow on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA. 

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Do-or-Die Time: Kid Yamamoto to Be Given Final Chance Against Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165


(Darren Uyenoyama mocks Yamamoto after giving him the worst wet willy in MMA History at UFC on FOX 1.) 

One of the more notorious UFC busts in recent memory, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto has yet to taste victory in three UFC bouts, dropping decisions to Demetrious Johnson (fair enough) and Darren Uyenoyama (understandable) before getting submitted by Vaughan Lee (COME ON!) in the first round of their UFC 144 scrap last February. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the former K1 star and could only assume that he was diligently working on his kata with headmaster Michael “Lightning Bolt!” Dealy.

His back now firmly planted against the wall, Yamamoto will be given one of his toughest tests to date in what is surely his do-or-die fight with the UFC. “Kid” will face Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson. TVA Sports was the first to announce the booking yesterday:


(Darren Uyenoyama mocks Yamamoto after giving him the worst wet willy in MMA History at UFC on FOX 1.) 

One of the more notorious UFC busts in recent memory, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto has yet to taste victory in three UFC bouts, dropping decisions to Demetrious Johnson (fair enough) and Darren Uyenoyama (understandable) before getting submitted by Vaughan Lee (COME ON!) in the first round of their UFC 144 scrap last February. Since then, we haven’t heard much from the former K1 star and could only assume that he was diligently working on his kata with headmaster Michael “Lightning Bolt!” Dealy.

His back now firmly planted against the wall, Yamamoto will be given one of his toughest tests to date in what is surely his do-or-die fight with the UFC. “Kid” will face Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson. TVA Sports was the first to announce the booking yesterday:

On the heels of a first round submission via rear-naked choke loss to Urijah Faber at UFC 157 (his second loss in his past three fights), it’s safe to say that this could be a must win for “The Pride of El Salvador” as well. Although his UFC record currently stands at a respectable 4-3, you have to imagine that dropping a second straight contest to a winless (as far as the UFC is concerned) fighter like Yamamoto would spell disaster for the WEC veteran.

Who do you like for this bantamweight sure-to-be-slugfest, Nation?

–J. Jones

Jon Jones Deserves to Be Heavily Favored over Alexander Gustafsson

Jon Jones is right. Even before it was official that the UFC light heavyweight champion will face off in the Octagon against Alexander Gustafsson in UFC 165 on Sept. 21, “Bones” already took a shot at “The Mauler.” Here is how the UFC Fighter Rankings&…

Jon Jones is right.

Even before it was official that the UFC light heavyweight champion will face off in the Octagon against Alexander Gustafsson in UFC 165 on Sept. 21, “Bones” already took a shot at “The Mauler.” Here is how the UFC Fighter Rankings’ No. 2 pound-for-pound on the planet responded to the No. 2 light heavyweight contender on Twitter three weeks ago.

Fighting Jones won’t be good for Gustafsson’s image. The champ is a heavy, 8-1 favorite over him, according to MMAjunkie.com. That’s the same probability oddsmakers gave Jones against Chael Sonnen, according to Odds Shark.

Sonnen failed to survive a single round against Jones, suffering a knockout 4:33 into their match at UFC 159. A similar, overwhelming title defense against Gustafsson wouldn’t be shocking.

The Swedish mixed martial artist has only competed against two of the UFC Fighter Rankings’ Top 10 light heavyweight fighters. Phil Davis, now No. 8, choked him out in the first round of UFC 112. Gustafsson defeated Mauricio Rua, now No. 7, this past December in UFC on Fox, but Jones beat Rua, too. He won by knockout.

Gustafsson isn’t even the No. 1 light heavyweight contender. Lyoto Machida is, and Jones defeated him in the second round of UFC 140 by technical submission.

A fan told Jones on Twitter after UFC announced the fighter’s next opponent that Gustafsson will challenge him. Jones wasn’t so sure.

Since Jones lost to Matt Hamill in 2009 for illegal elbows, he’s claimed victory by knockout or submission against every single one of his opponents not named Rashad Evans. There’s nothing in Gustafsson’s resume which suggests that trend will cease in September.

After Gustafsson and Jones’ Twitter exchange on May 24, The Mauler tweeted this at Bones the following day.

Taunting one of the world’s greatest fighters didn’t help Sonnen distract Jones. It won’t increase Gustafsson’s upset odds either.

 

David Daniels is a Breaking News writer at Bleacher Report and news editor at Wade-O Radio.

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