Tag: UFC 214

Jimi Manuwa: ‘I Can’t Argue With Jon Jones Getting The Title Fight’

Jimi Manuwa isn’t bummed out over Jon Jones getting a title shot before he does. Manuwa was a front runner for a shot at Daniel Cormier’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight gold. The opportunity ended up going to Jones. The “Poster Boy” will instead meet Volkan Oezdemir on the same night as Jones vs. […]

Jimi Manuwa isn’t bummed out over Jon Jones getting a title shot before he does. Manuwa was a front runner for a shot at Daniel Cormier’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight gold. The opportunity ended up going to Jones. The “Poster Boy” will instead meet Volkan Oezdemir on the same night as Jones vs. […]

Daniel Cormier’s Expecting “Different” Jon Jones Due to USADA

Recently Alexander Gustafsson accused Jon Jones of using performance-enhancing drugs for their epic, 2013 bout, and now Daniel Cormier’s piling on with more PED accusations. Following Gustafsson’s impressive win over Glover Teixeira last month, he and Jones got into it on Twitter. During the exchange, the Swedish star accused Jones of having used banned substances in […]

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Recently Alexander Gustafsson accused Jon Jones of using performance-enhancing drugs for their epic, 2013 bout, and now Daniel Cormier’s piling on with more PED accusations.

Following Gustafsson’s impressive win over Glover Teixeira last month, he and Jones got into it on Twitter. During the exchange, the Swedish star accused Jones of having used banned substances in advance of their bout, and then more recently, he stood by those comments.

Well, during the latest episode of “UFC Tonight”, Cormier reportedly had this to say about Jones and PEDs (quote via MMA Fighting):

“You heard Alexander Gustafsson now is saying he believes that Jon was enhanced throughout his career,” Cormier said. “But before, we had no sanctioning body like USADA. USADA now is on top of all that, so I do believe that we will see a different fighter in Anaheim, because I do believe he’ll have to be clean this time, otherwise he’ll be caught.”

“I think he fought Ovince Saint Preux clean, and he didn’t like the way he felt, and tried to do something again dirty and he got caught at UFC 200,” Cormier added, while referring to Jones’ win over OSP in April, 2016.

Wow. When you consider the beef between Cormier and Jones, chances are these comments aren’t going to sit too well with the former 205 champ. Although, that could be precisely why Cormier’s said it.

It’s been interesting to see how Jones’ USADA flag last year has been cited by the likes of Gustafsson, Cormier, and others, as a means to question the star’s legacy. Before Jones’ issues with USADA, not too many people were scrutinizing his abilities or status as the greatest light-heavyweight ever.

It should be noted, however, that ultimately USADA concluded that a contaminated sexual-performance pill was behind Jones’ positive test for the banned substances clomiphene and Letrozol. As a result, Jones received only a one year suspension.

Cormier – Jones II will go down on July 29th at UFC 214 in Anaheim. That fight has to be on every fan’s must see list.

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Alexander Gustafsson Believes Jon Jones Was ‘On Something’ At UFC 165

After a dominant fifth round stoppage victory over Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 109 late last month (May 28, 2017), No. 1-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson said that former champion Jon Jones, who edged out a closely contested decision over Gustafsson back in 2013, ‘was not a good […]

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After a dominant fifth round stoppage victory over Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 109 late last month (May 28, 2017), No. 1-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson said that former champion Jon Jones, who edged out a closely contested decision over Gustafsson back in 2013, ‘was not a good person’.

On yesterday’s (June 5, 2017) edition of The MMA Hour, “The Mauler” reiterated these claims:

“No, I stand by it,” he said. “The thing is, they had a press conference after the fight and they asked me about Jon Jones and I told them the way I feel. I just told them the truth. I’m not a trash talker. I don’t trash talk, I don’t do that sh*t. But they asked me and I’m not going to lie. I just felt like, he’s probably the greatest fighter we’ve seen. But as a person, I don’t like him.

“I don’t like how he’s talking on the stage, doing the cocaine thing, with so many young people, kids and everything, looking up to him. I just feel like, man, come on. I don’t support that stuff at all. So I just told the media what I think of him.”

As far as ‘the cocaine thing’ goes, Gustafsson is referring to Jones’ 2015 failed drug test for cocaine metabolites, which came after his UFC 182 victory over current champion Daniel Cormier, who he’ll rematch at UFC 214 on July 29. The rematch will mark Jones’ first fight after serving a year long suspension from USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for another failed drug test that occurred last July. This failed test, however, was for a banned substance.

Speaking on Jones’ issues outside of the cage, Gustafsson feels as if he’s ‘been getting caught for everything’:

“He’s been getting caught for everything, it feels like one thing after the other, but the way he was sitting on the stage with DC and he just said he did cocaine a week before he fought him,” he told Ariel Helwani. “He’s not even embarrassed telling that stuff, he’s just proud telling that stuff. For me it’s just, you don’t do that, come on — not [with] being such a good fighter.

“And he’s been doing so good, nobody’s been able to compete with him. He’s been pound-for-pound the best guy, and I believe he is. He hasn’t lost. He hasn’t lost yet to nobody. So that’s just how I feel.”

Jones had indeed been dominant throughout his 205-pound title reign, with his only close fight coming in the five round war against Gustafsson. His latest fight came at UFC 197 last year when he scored a lack luster decision victory over Ovince Saint Preux after spending over a year on the sidelines dealing with legal issues.

Jones came into that fight looking much larger than he had in previous fights. He cited a new found love for power lifting as the reason why. Gustafsson, however, was skeptical and even went as far to say the he feels Jones was on something when they fought each other:

“Well, you know, he hadn’t been in the cage for a long time when he fought him,” he said. “I don’t know. I don’t know if he was on it or not for that fight, but I believe he was when we fought and stuff like that. But anyway, it’s history now and new times are coming, and we probably will fight again some day.”

Since Gustafsson’s victory over Teixeira, him and Jones have been going back-and-forth on social media and a rematch could certainly take place in the future.

Would you like to see these two light heavyweight titans run it back?

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Cat Zingano Eying Cyborg Fight – But Not At UFC 214

Former Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg Justino has repeatedly expressed interest in competing at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California. UFC President Dana White also recently confirmed that Cyborg will indeed fight on the card, but the only problem is finding a willing opponent to share the cage with the Brazilian slugger. The […]

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Former Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg Justino has repeatedly expressed interest in competing at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California. UFC President Dana White also recently confirmed that Cyborg will indeed fight on the card, but the only problem is finding a willing opponent to share the cage with the Brazilian slugger.

The UFC was targeting a bout between Justino and former 135-pound title challenger Cat Zingano, but Zingano recently said that she wouldn’t be able to fight in July.

Recently speaking on the topic, Zingano said that she’s currently dealing with some health issues, but she also confirmed that a fight with Cyborg is ‘coming’ and that she wants it:

“Both the UFC and (her manager) Ed (Soares) want me to handle some health and personal things before I go into a fight like this,” Zingano told MMAFighting.com on Thursday evening. “As always, I think I can beat her right now, but if there is a more optimal level I can perform at, we all want me to reach that level. I think we all know I am the only one that can potentially take this chick any day, any time, when I’m 100 percent healthy and happy.

“But don’t worry, it’s coming, and I want it. The cool part is the UFC is supporting me in making the best decision and getting me to my highest level of health through the new treatment facility and staff there. I feel grateful for them looking out. I feel like they may be trying to make some changes, and I’m excited to be a part of the growth and evolution of fighter consideration.”

Justino, a fighter many consider to be the very best female on the planet, has had an excellent career, although one filled with some controversy regarding a history of drug test issues. With that being said, Zingano said she respects the Brazilian, although she isn’t scared of her:

“If she had to do steroids to get to this level, then she’s not as good as me,” Zingano said. “I’m going to put her through hell, she’s never had to work as hard as me. I’m not scared of her. She had to use substances to get through the things I’ve gotten through naturally. I’ve got respect for her, but when people say it can’t be done, all I say is watch me do it and stay off my (band)wagon once I do.

“I like Cris and I respect her, but if it’s either her or me out there, I’ll be damned if the food is not going on my table.”

Throughout her Octagon career thus far, Cyborg has scored back-to-back stoppage victories over Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg, with both of those wins coming in 140-pound catchweight bouts. It has been quite difficult to get the fearsome puncher an opponent, but Zingano appears to be confident in her chances:

“I will do everything I’m saying I’m going to do,” Zingano said. “This isn’t a fight you go into with the medical bullshit I have, and the UFC knows I’m capable and it’s probable. It’s a different life problem with Cyborg, but one I have the solution to.

“I had to be smart about this fight, which means taking care of a few things first, but I’m in.”

Is this a fight you’d like to see?

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Alexander Gustafsson Reacts To Jon Jones Trolling Him

In the time after his impressive fifth-round stoppage over Glover Teixeira in the main event of last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 109 from Stockholm, top-ranked UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson made it clear that he didn’t like Jon Jones as a person even if he was the greatest fighter in MMA history. Late yesterday, the […]

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In the time after his impressive fifth-round stoppage over Glover Teixeira in the main event of last weekend’s UFC Fight Night 109 from Stockholm, top-ranked UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson made it clear that he didn’t like Jon Jones as a person even if he was the greatest fighter in MMA history.

Late yesterday, the still-suspended pound-for-pound king responded to “The Mauler’s” drubbing by going off in a brutal Twitter rant. A few hours after that, Gustafsson reacted to “Bones” online assault with a few responses of his own. First, he said that although he roots for Daniel Cormier, he hopes Jones wins at UFC 214, and would pray for the former champ after he beat him:

The barb was calm enough, yet Gustafsson took the trash talk to an all-new level in replying to “Bones”” suggestion that he lost to him at UFC 165 and Cormier at UFC 192 due to a lack of heart. Gustafsson thinks his loss to Jones came from another more nefarious aspect of the fight game – the fact that USADA wasn’t testing elite UFC athletes at the time:

road to the octagon
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski for USA TODAY Sports

The slick retort may be the usually reserved Gustafsson’s best-ever instance of smack talk, as the respectful fighter doesn’t normally build up his matches with pre-fight verbal assaults, choosing to let his hands and feet do the talking in the octagon. Jones expectedly denied that his razor-thin unanimous decision over “The Mauler” was due to any form of performance-enhancing substance, but with Jones suspended for just that, it’s hard to argue with the top contender’s insistence.

Then Jones appeared to be amusingly hurt by the whole conversation, even though he started the entire war of words himself. The oft-troubled champ evoked a rule they teach young school children to close the conversation in an unexpected way, saying he was done with “The Mauler” for now:

Jones’ knowing he was only done with Gustafsson for now may be a telling prediction, as it seems the Swedish star has done enough to get the next shot at the winner of “Bones’” rematch with arch rival Cormier at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim.

But we all know Jones making it the cage has become anything but a certainty in recent years; in fact, the cold truth of the matter is we’re more likely to see another highly anticipated bout be canceled for one reason or another, be it injury to either man or continuing legal and drug test issues for Jones. The UFC could most definitely be in the realm of considering how many more chances they will give the decorated Jones, but with a disappointing lack of stars present for the promotion in 2017, they could attempt to book fights for the onetime-indestructible titleholder.

No one could blame them, of course, because Cormier vs. Jones II could easily be the highest-selling PPV event in the barren desert that the year has presented the promotion in terms of overall estimated buyrates. In a sport as volatile as MMA, that’s just the fight game.

The UFC could use Jones’ trouble-free return to face Cormier and then perhaps Gustafsson in what could legitimately turn out to be two of the bigger rematches in UFC history. Just don’t count on it.

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Dana White Confirms Cris Cyborg Will Still Fight At UFC 214

Yesterday, news came that Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson would defend her title at July 15’s Invicta FC 24, closing the door on her rumored contest with dominant former Invicta champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino at July 29’s UFC 214 – at least for now. Cyborg is currently awaiting the results of the battery charge […]

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Yesterday, news came that Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson would defend her title at July 15’s Invicta FC 24, closing the door on her rumored contest with dominant former Invicta champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino at July 29’s UFC 214 – at least for now.

Cyborg is currently awaiting the results of the battery charge she was dealt for punching women’s strawweight Angela Magana at the UFC fighter retreat two weeks ago, something that could potentially delay her octagon return after UFC President Dana White called the charges a “very serious” matter. Today, White appeared on the UFC’s “Unfiltered” podcast to give his personal opinion on the messy situation:

“But here’s the thing; if you’re Cyborg, you go up and let her know how you feel. Say, ‘you said all this mean shit about me, here’s what I think about you.’ Boom, boom. You walk away. Or just stay away from her the whole retreat. Listen, I’m not sitting here like, ‘Mr. I take the high road,’ because I never take the fuckin’ high road, but listen, assault is, you can’t go and assault somebody. You can’t do it.”

White then shifted the topic of discussion to Cyborg’s highly-publicized desire to fight at UFC 214, insisting that even though it may not be against Anderson, the brutalizing female force would still fight at the card near her adopted American home in Anaheim, and it would still reportedly be in the main event after he insisted Jon Jones would not return to a main event:

“Cris Cyborg will fight in the main event, Cormier vs. Jon Jones. I’m working on it.”

With Anderson not an option and 145-pound women’s champ Germaine de Randamie clearly ducking Justino, a bout with former UFC women’s bantamweight title contender Cat Zingano has been discussed for Cyborg, even though she hasn’t been all that enthusiastic about it because Zingano hasn’t won a fight since 2014.

White revealed Zingano was very encouraged about the potential main event fight, but some lingering physical ailments unfortunately meant she won’t be ready by July 29:

“No, Cat Zingano wants to, and we were looking at Cat Zingano, but Cat’s not ready physically. She still has some, she’s been out for awhile because she has some physical issues she was dealing with; she’s not gonna be ready. Oh, she wants the Cyborg fight. She wants it fight. Oh yeah, Cat’s tough, she’s fighter, she’s gritty.”

So we have a sort of confirmation from White that the world’s most dominant female fighter will fight at UFC 214, but with the card already going down next month, it’s far from guaranteed we’ll see Justino in the main event. There simply aren’t many 145-pound or 135-pound women out there willing to take what most would perceive as a one-sided beatdown, even if it dos come with arguably the largest payday and media attention in women’s MMA right now.

But as always White is “working on it,” so fans will just have to wait and see what his efforts produce for the main event of UFC 214.

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