Tag: UFC 285

Curtis Blaydes Suggests Jon Jones Likely Turned Down ‘Harder Fight’ Against Him For Heavyweight Debut: ‘Smart Decision…’ 

UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes wasn’t surprised to see Ciryl Gane get the call for Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut last year. Having spent three years away from the Octagon following his final defense of the light heavyweight title in 2020, Jones successfully arrived in a new weight class at UFC 285 in March 2023. The […]

Continue Reading Curtis Blaydes Suggests Jon Jones Likely Turned Down ‘Harder Fight’ Against Him For Heavyweight Debut: ‘Smart Decision…’  at MMA News.

UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes wasn’t surprised to see Ciryl Gane get the call for Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut last year.

Having spent three years away from the Octagon following his final defense of the light heavyweight title in 2020, Jones successfully arrived in a new weight class at UFC 285 in March 2023.

The all-time MMA great achieved his two-division ambitions by submitting former interim champion Ciryl Gane in the first round of their clash for the then-vacant heavyweight title.

Many questioned the decision to place “Bon Gamin” opposite Jones given that he boasted a sole win over Tai Tuivasa since falling short against Francis Ngannou in early 2022. Blaydes was among those branded a logical candidate by a portion of the community, with “Razor” coming off three straight wins.

But the American didn’t get the opportunity, and he believes Jones’ desire for a more comfortable heavyweight debut played a part in that…

Blaydes: A Lot Of Heavyweights ‘Would Have Been Harder’ For Jones Than Gane

During an interview with ESPN MMA’s Andreas Hale, Blaydes looked back on his path to the title shot that awaits him at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, this Saturday night, including the snub he received for the vacant championship bout that followed Ngannou’s exit.

“Razor” insisted that the decision to go a different route for Jones’ first foray into the weight class was not a shock, both down to the marketing edge for French star Gane and the increased difficulty he has no doubt the light heavyweight legend would have had against him at UFC 285.

“I wasn’t surprised (that UFC booked Gane vs. Jones). I’ve been with the UFC for eight years now. Like, I get it,” Blaydes said. “Marketing. He’s French, which means he brings in all the fans over there. He has an aesthetically pleasing style. A lot of people don’t like wrestling, so I get that. He does all the fancy karate stance and all that. It’s easy to market his highlights versus the highlights that I have.

“Also, i think they asked Jon and were probably like, ‘Jon, do you wanna go against this guy who doesn’t know how to wrestle? Or this guy, who knows how to wrestle?’ I think he did the business, smart decision,” Blaydes continued. “I am a harder fight for him than Gane; I think a lot of guys are a harder fight for him than Gane.”

With the chance to win the interim belt this weekend, the state of the division would suggest that a Jones fight would be back on the cards for Blaydes given the Rochester native’s status as the other heavyweight titleholder.

But with both Jones and the UFC remaining firm on him facing the returning Stipe Miocic instead of unifying the titles, as well as “Razor’s” belief that the champ will likely retire soon after, the UFC 304 co-main event challenger doesn’t see any chance of that coming to fruition.

And that’s despite Jones seemingly expecting Blaydes to occupy the throne adjacent to him soon enough.

Continue Reading Curtis Blaydes Suggests Jon Jones Likely Turned Down ‘Harder Fight’ Against Him For Heavyweight Debut: ‘Smart Decision…’  at MMA News.

Submission of the Year – LowKick MMA 2023 Awards

Submission of the Year LowKick MMA Awards 2023 Alexa GrassoProving yet another competitive category for nominations this year — LowKick MMA’s staff were widely divided when it came…

Submission of the Year LowKick MMA Awards 2023 Alexa Grasso

Proving yet another competitive category for nominations this year — LowKick MMA’s staff were widely divided when it came to deciding this annum’s ‘Submission of the Year’.

Drawing a total of four separate nominations, from the likes of stunning championship rallying performances, star-making stoppages, and triumphant Octagon returns, it proved to be another award in the books for undisputed flyweight queen, Alexa Grasso this year — who stopped the dominant run of Valentina Shevchenko with a rallying face crank back in March at UFC 285.

Submission of the Year – Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Alexa Grasso – UFC 285 – Neck Crank – (3 votes)

Stopping the spectacularly dominant run of flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko back in March in a magnificent rallying performance, it proved practice makes perfect for Mexican star, Alexa Grasso at UFC 295 — who drilled a stunning back-take and subseqeunt face crank backstage, before translating the drill into a live-action stoppage.

Dealing with Shevchenko’s pressure and dominance throughout the course of their UFC 285 co-headliner, Grasso, who has since snatched the number one rank in the official pound-for-pound rankings, took the back of the former bantamweight title chaser in the fourth round, and immediately locked up a stunning face crank submission, forcing an eventual tap.

Honorable Mentions –

Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC 285 – Guillotine Choke – (2 votes)

Snapping his hiatus from the Octagon in his sole appearance this year back in March — atop the card in which Grasso struck gold, Jones minted himself as the new heavyweight champion, locking up a quickfire guillotine submission win over Ciryl Gane in the pair’s vacant title affair.

Yet to return to the Octagon in the time since, Jones, who made his long-anticipated heavyweight debut — turned in a spectacular stoppage win over former interim champion, Gane with just over a minute elapsed in the opening frame, handing the Frenchman his first-ever stoppage loss in mixed martial arts — courtesy of a nasty locking guillotine choke win.

Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Geoff Neal – UFC 285 – Standing Rear-Naked Choke (2 votes)

Ending the year with a monumental rear-naked choke win over fan-favorite, Stephen Thompson earlier this month, unbeaten Uzbekistan finisher, Shavkat Rakhmonov turned in a standing variation of the choke on the same card as Jones’ and Grasso’s win at UFC 285 — laying waste to Geoff Neal in a testy clash.

Davey Grant vs. Raphael Assuncao – UFC Las Vegas – Inverted Triangle Choke – (2 votes)

Rallying in tremendous fashion with one of the most dynamic submissions of the year, British contender, Davey Grant may have felt hard done by with his submission effort falling short on many list’s — with a technical stoppage of Brazilian veteran, Raphael Assuncao earning him an honorable mention and two votes from the LowKick MMA staff.

Full List Of The LowKick MMA 2023 Submission Of The Year Votes:

  • Ross Markey: Jon Jones
  • Ian Shutts: Alexa Grasso
  • Murdo Todd: Jon Jones
  • Craig Pekios: Alexa Grasso
  • Makoa Goble: Davey Grant
  • Tony King: Alexa Grasso
  • Red Pill MMA: Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Michael Owens: Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Danny Podolsky: Davey Grant

Alexa Grasso vows to end fluke talk in UFC Noche rematch with Valentina Shevchenko: ‘I want to submit her again’

Alexa Grasso vows to submit Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Noche to end fluke talkAhead of her return to the Octagon at UFC Noche next month in Las Vegas, recently-minted undisputed flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso has claimed she hopes to either KO, or once again submit former titleholder, Valentina Shevchenko in the pair’s title re-run – in a bid to end suggestions of a prior fluke victory. Grasso, the […]

Alexa Grasso vows to submit Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Noche to end fluke talk

Ahead of her return to the Octagon at UFC Noche next month in Las Vegas, recently-minted undisputed flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso has claimed she hopes to either KO, or once again submit former titleholder, Valentina Shevchenko in the pair’s title re-run – in a bid to end suggestions of a prior fluke victory.

Grasso, the current flyweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, has been sidelined since turning in a spectacular upset win at UFC 285 back in March, submitting decorated champion, Shevchenko with a shocking rallying win, submitting the Kyrgyzstan native with a neck crank triumph. 

And booked to make her first attempted title defense in an immediate title re-run atop a UFC Noche event in September at the T-Mobile Arena, Grasso has vowed to finish Shevchenko again – in order to prevent talk of another fluke.

Alexa Grasso vows to rack up submission win over Valentina Shevchenko again

“I would love to knock her (Valentina Shevchenko) out, but I would also like to submit her again with a rear-naked choke so people don’t think it was a fluke, a mistake or anything like that,” Alexa Grasso told MMA Fighting. “I had my plan really clear. I knew she was going to turn, and that was it. It could end by submission, it could be a knockout, but I will win.”

In the midst of a five-fight winning run since making a move up to the flyweight division back in 2020, Mexican fan-favorite, Grasso debuted in the division with a unanimous decision win over Yi Jeon Kim, before beating recent winner, Maycee Barber, as well as Viviane Araujo in decision wins, after a submission success against Joanne Wood. 

For Shevchenko, the decorated Muay Thai ace saw her stunning run of title fight wins come to a crashing halt with her upset loss to Grasso in March, having previously turned in a whopping seventh consecutive successful title defense in a close decision win over Taila Santos back in June of last year in Singapore at UFC 275. 

Can Alexa Grasso land a second career win over Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Noche?

Ciryl Gane plays down speed of Jon Jones in reaction to UFC 285 title loss: ‘He was not fast’

Ciryl Gane claims Jon Jones wasn't quick at UFC 285 He was not fastAhead of his return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night Paris in September, former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has played down the perceived speed and quickness of Jon Jones at the heavyweight limit – claiming the Endicott native “was not fast” during their one-sided UFC 285 title affair. Gane, the current two ranked […]

Ciryl Gane claims Jon Jones wasn't quick at UFC 285 He was not fast

Ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night Paris in September, former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has played down the perceived speed and quickness of Jon Jones at the heavyweight limit – claiming the Endicott native “was not fast” during their one-sided UFC 285 title affair.

Gane, the current two ranked heavyweight contender, faced off with divisional newcomer, former two-time light heavyweight champion, Jones at UFC 285 back in March – with the duo competing for vacant heavyweight spoils.

And suffering a dominant opening round loss, French contender, Gane was submitted early in the first frame with a guillotine choke – suffering just his second professional loss following a prior title unification decision blemish against promotional alum, Francis Ngannou.

Ciryl Gane explains how Jon Jones wasn’t overwhelmingly quick at UFC 285

However, according to the incoming UFC Paris main event feature, Jones was not particularly fast during their UFC 285 headlining clash, instead chalking the loss to his own ability – or lack thereof to get his feet moving in tandem with his body.

“I don’t know why exactly, but I cannot manage my distance very well during some moments, and I did a mistake,” Ciryl Gane said whilst reflecting on the bout during an interview with MMA Junkie reporter, Farah Hannoun. “It wasn’t possible to manage the distance, and I did some stuff to break this atmosphere, and I did a mistake at this moment. Maybe he (Jon Jones) knew already I’m going to do this mistake, and he took his opportunity.”

“He was not fast,” Ciryl Gane explained. “Maybe he was not fast, but I was not good, too.I didn’t manage my distance. I was not good, but I remember he was not fast. He didn’t have fast hands. He had power because he touched me. I don’t remember where, but he landed punches with power, but not fast.” 

Booked to headline the second edition of UFC Paris following a knockout win over Australian contender, Tai Tuivasa in France last year, Gane is slated to take on fellow European talent, Sergey Spivak at the Accor Arena in September. 

Jon Jones’ return at UFC 285 touted as ‘Highest grossing commercial PPV’ for promotion in the last year

Jon Jones' return at UFC 285 touted as highest grossing PPV for organization in last 12 monthsThe triumphant return of two-weight UFC champion, Jon Jones has been described as the “highest-grossing commercial PPV” event the organization have hosted in the last 12 months, as per Endeavor CFO, Jason Lublin.  Jones, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion inside the Octagon, made his three-year hiatus-snapping return at UFC 285 back in March of […]

Jon Jones' return at UFC 285 touted as highest grossing PPV for organization in last 12 months

The triumphant return of two-weight UFC champion, Jon Jones has been described as the “highest-grossing commercial PPV” event the organization have hosted in the last 12 months, as per Endeavor CFO, Jason Lublin. 

Jones, a former undisputed light heavyweight champion inside the Octagon, made his three-year hiatus-snapping return at UFC 285 back in March of this year atop a UFC 285 pay-per-view event against former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane.

Taking top-slot against the French contender, Jon Jones, a native of Endicott, managed to mint himself as the undisputed heavyweight champion in the pair’s vacant title outing, submitting Gane with a stunning opening round guillotine choke at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

And according to Endeavor – the parent company of the UFC, Jones’ successful return against Gane earlier this annum came as the highest grossing commercial pay-per-view event the organization have fielded in the last 12 months. 

“At UFC, we continued to deliver more record-breaking events across the globe,” Endeavor CFO, Lublin said during an investor call this week. “UFC 284 in Perth was Australia’s highest-grossing event of all kind and UFC 285 in Las Vegas was the UFC’s highest-grossing commercial pay-per-view event within the past 12 months.”

“Additionally, UFC 286 in London was the highest-grossing event in O2 Arena history,” Lublin continued. (H/T MMA Fighting)

Jon Jones is expected to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 later this year at MSG

Expected to feature at UFC 295 in a planned Madison Square Garden event in November of this year in New York, former Jackson-Wink MMA staple, Jones has been touted to headline ‘The Big Apple’ showcase in a title defense against former champion, Stipe Miocic.

And while an official confirmation pits Jon Jones and former titleholder, Stipe Miocic, UFC president, Dana White confirmed that it was more than “likely” that the duo will share the Octagon next. 

Daniel Cormier reveals heartfelt message from UFC rival Jon Jones: ‘There’s good in that dude’

Daniel Cormier reveals heartfelt message from Jon Jones UFC there's good in himFormer two-weight UFC champion, Daniel Cormier has once again defended his reaction to recently minted heavyweight titleholder, Jon Jones’ title victory at UFC 285 last month, claiming their is “good” in his arch-rival, detailing how Jones had sent him a private message following the passing of his father despite their rift. Cormier, a former undisputed […]

Daniel Cormier reveals heartfelt message from Jon Jones UFC there's good in him

Former two-weight UFC champion, Daniel Cormier has once again defended his reaction to recently minted heavyweight titleholder, Jon Jones’ title victory at UFC 285 last month, claiming their is “good” in his arch-rival, detailing how Jones had sent him a private message following the passing of his father despite their rift.

Cormier, a former undisputed heavyweight and light heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, twice competed against former two-time light heavyweight kingpin, Jones during his run with the UFC.

In their first pairing at UFC 182, Daniel Cormier dropped a unanimous decision loss against Jones, unsuccessfully prying the light heayvweight crown from the Endicott native. 

In July 2017, Cormier rematched Jones in a title unification fight, and despite dropping a high kick KO loss to the then-interim titleholder initially, the bout was overturned to an official ‘No Contest’ after Jones tested positive for a turinabol metabolite.

Daniel Cormier defends his reaction to Jon Jones’ UFC 285 title win

Defending his reaction to Jones’ title victory over Ciryl Gane last month atop a UFC 285 card, Cormier claimed the former still was not past their rivalry.

“Did you see what happened after the fight?” Daniel Cormier told Henry Cejudo. “I wasn’t mad thought. When he (Jon Jones) was finishing Ciryl (Gane), his back was to me and my reaction was the same reaction as (Joe) Rogan, but because of our history it’s like, Oh, DC is mad.’ Then he says, ‘Dude couldn’t even force a smile.’ That tells you he’s not quite ready [to leave it behind]. So, we don’t need to force him. He’s ready, but he’s not quite ready yet.”

“We talked about each other’s familities [during our rivalry],” Daniel Cormier explained. “But in the darkest moments, when his mother passed, when my father passed, he sent me a message. He really did. And even in that moment, I appreciate that. For all that we’ve been through, I appreciated him sending me that message as I sent a message for his mother because we understand what family is.” 

“There is good in that dude,” Daniel Cormeir said. “You just gotta be able to get to it. Nobody is without fault. Everybody is messed up. I have. So, for us to cast stones at him – that’s why in those dark moments I was never trying to pile onto him. I hope he gets better, I hope this works out for him. I never tried to kick him while he was down. In fight promotion, what you say is what you say. Especially when you a history like him and I had.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)