Tag: UFC

Jon Jones Says He’ll Only Entertain ‘Super Fights’ Like Derrick Lewis & Jamahal Hill After UFC 309

Jon Jones won’t extend his fighting career beyond UFC 309 to unify the heavyweight title, but he will if it means fighting the likes of Derrick Lewis and Jamahal Hill. Jones is set to headline this weekend’s pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden, returning 20 months on from his crowning to defend the heavyweight gold for […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Says He’ll Only Entertain ‘Super Fights’ Like Derrick Lewis & Jamahal Hill After UFC 309 at MMA News.

Jon Jones won’t extend his fighting career beyond UFC 309 to unify the heavyweight title, but he will if it means fighting the likes of Derrick Lewis and Jamahal Hill.

Jones is set to headline this weekend’s pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden, returning 20 months on from his crowning to defend the heavyweight gold for the very first time opposite Stipe Miocic.

Rather than the matchup itself, the main talking point in recent months and days has been the former light heavyweight kingpin’s decision to avoid facing interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, who earned his belt last November as a result of an injury to “Bones.”

And more than just not facing that challenge next, Jones has recently rejected the possibility of fighting Aspinall post-UFC 309 entirely, instead pointing to Alex Pereira as an opponent he’d be willing to share the cage with.

In a media scrum during UFC 309 fight week, Jones continued to dismiss fighting his interim counterpart. This time, though, he added more names to the list of potential opponents he’d favor over the Brit.

But it perhaps came as a surprise when the names Lewis and Hill followed the term “super fights.”

“I could see myself after this entertaining super fights only,” Jones said. “If we get a dominant performance, I’m prepared to vacate the heavyweight championship and fight for fun. I want to fight for fun. … I don’t necessarily want it to be over, but I just want to fight for fun.

“I think about one of my teammates, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, he just fights. Win, lose, or draw, he just fights. I would love to kind of experience that for the first time in my career, just not having this belt to protect. Just fighting guys that I’d stylistically want to fight against,” Jones continued. “Random fights like Jamahal Hill. … I’m at an interesting weight where I can fight light heavyweights or heavyweights. Derrick Lewis, Biggest knockout puncher in history.”

Aspinall’s stoppage wins against Alexander Volkov, Sergei Pavlovich, and Curtis Blaydes haven’t stopped Jones branding the Brit’s résumé unworthy of his time, but “Bones” clearly holds Hill’s victories over Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, Thiago Santos, and a retiring Glover Teixeira en route to the then-vacant title in high regard.

Lewis, meanwhile, is without a win streak since 2021 and has lost five of his last eight fights.

Suffice to say, it would appear unlikely that the ‘ducking’ accusations being leveled against Jones would dissipate should he vacate the heavyweight title in order to fight the likes of “Sweet Dreams” and “The Black Beast.”

Continue Reading Jon Jones Says He’ll Only Entertain ‘Super Fights’ Like Derrick Lewis & Jamahal Hill After UFC 309 at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Defends Against Sexual Assault Allegations In Courtroom Testimony

Conor McGregor refuted any involvement in the sexual assault allegations during his courtroom testimony. “The Notorious” is currently at the center of a serious sexual assault case, with accusations from Dublin-based hairdresser Nikita Hand, who has also implicated a person named James Lawrence in the ordeal. As per a recent report by the Irish Mirror, […]

Continue Reading Conor McGregor Defends Against Sexual Assault Allegations In Courtroom Testimony at MMA News.

Conor McGregor refuted any involvement in the sexual assault allegations during his courtroom testimony.

“The Notorious” is currently at the center of a serious sexual assault case, with accusations from Dublin-based hairdresser Nikita Hand, who has also implicated a person named James Lawrence in the ordeal.

As per a recent report by the Irish Mirror, McGregor testified at the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday, addressing a civil lawsuit in which he is accused by Hand of raping her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, Dublin on Dec. 9, 2018.

For the first time during the ongoing trial, the former two-division UFC champion took the stand on Wednesday. He testified that his encounter with Hand was entirely consensual, following prior online conversations, and firmly denied ever coercing anyone into an act against their will.

“Your client is full of lies,” McGregor said to Hand’s lawyer. “Everything is a lie.”

McGregor also categorically rejected any claims of inflicting bruising on Hand. The UFC icon was accused of restraining her on the bed, with the alleged victim unable to fight back. However, the Irishman’s defense team has consistently argued that the accuser is attempting to exploit the situation and profit from a distorted version of events.

Hand has claimed that on the evening in dispute, she was with McGregor and that his behavior grew progressively aggressive after they went to the hotel room following a Christmas party. She stated that she and a woman named Danielle had consumed drugs and alcohol offered by the UFC fighter.

The allegations in question first emerged in December 2018, but no charges were brought against McGregor until January 2021, following a two-year investigation by Irish authorities. Despite the lengthy probe, McGregor was not prosecuted.

However, a personal injury lawsuit was filed in the same month, and in October 2023, a civil trial date was set, with Hand now seeking an undisclosed sum in damages.

Continue Reading Conor McGregor Defends Against Sexual Assault Allegations In Courtroom Testimony at MMA News.

Jon Jones: ‘I’ll Just Move on With My Life’ if UFC Doesn’t Want Alex Pereira Fight

Ahead of his scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has doubled down…

Ahead of his scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has doubled down…

UFC Changed Gloves for 309 Event to Accommodate Jon Jones

Jon Jones caused the UFC 309 Glove ChangeAhead of UFC 309, the organizational heads at the UFC changed the gloves in an effort to please their…

Jon Jones caused the UFC 309 Glove Change

Ahead of UFC 309, the organizational heads at the UFC changed the gloves in an effort to please their heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. Bones’ Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic in the New York main event and revealed the glove change reason during a pre-fight press conference.

Jon Jones caused the UFC 309 Glove Change

On Tuesday, word went out that the UFC would be switching to their old glove design for UFC 309 hosted in New York but no official word was offered as to why. The New York State Athletic Commission has approved either pair of gloves for use at MMA events hosted in the state.

At a pre-fight press conference, the heavyweight champion of the UFC explained that they changed the gloves at this event because he found the new glove design uncomfortable in training. He told Hunter Campbell, the leader of UFC operations, over the phone, and Campbell decided that they could switch from their new gloves to old ones for this event to appease Jon Jones.

Jones found the new glove design to not fit his hands well and complained to management who then changed the plans. According to ‘Bones,’ Hunter Campbell said:

“Everyone on this card are veterans; why put a bunch of vets in new gloves?”

Jon Jones is set to defend his heavyweight throne against the former division champion Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 main event wearing the old-style UFC gloves which he finds to be more comfortable.

UFC Gloves

UFC Vet Questions Jon Jones’ Handling Of Aspinall Avoidance: ‘Should Have Sent A PR Trainer To Him’

Former longtime UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes heavyweight champion Jon Jones should have approached his refusal to fight Tom Aspinall differently. Jones is currently days away from his first defense of the 265-pound crown, which he captured at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Having been sidelined through injury since, “Bones” will meet […]

Continue Reading UFC Vet Questions Jon Jones’ Handling Of Aspinall Avoidance: ‘Should Have Sent A PR Trainer To Him’ at MMA News.

Former longtime UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes heavyweight champion Jon Jones should have approached his refusal to fight Tom Aspinall differently.

Jones is currently days away from his first defense of the 265-pound crown, which he captured at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Having been sidelined through injury since, “Bones” will meet returning former champ Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 main event.

The pair were originally set to collide last November prior to Jones’ injury. An interim champ subsequently joined the fray when Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich, but that fact hasn’t stopped “Bones” from pursuing Miocic.

His decision to avoid unifying the title has proved to be a controversial one. And UFC 309 fight week has even seen Jones suggest that the continuation of his fighting career beyond this weekend would only be to face light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

During a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer show, Brown pointed to that statement as a big mistake on Jones’ part.

“The fact that he brought up that he is going to fight again, and it’s not going to be the current interim champion, that’s a mistake on his part,” Brown said. “UFC should have sent a PR trainer out there to him or something. ‘How about we don’t talk about the future and focus on what we’re doing now. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.’

“But he crossed the bridge and opened up the door. He has to know when he says that, there’s going to be criticism that he’s ducking,” Brown continued. “It’s not a good look. Jon don’t give a f*ck. He just says it.”

Should Jones be set to stick to his stance post-his planned victory this weekend, it would appear that Aspinall will be relying on a late-notice withdrawal from Miocic to make his dream of fighting the all-time great a reality.

The Brit is currently in New York City to weigh in as backup fighter for the UFC 309 main event. Beyond his assignment on the scale this Friday, the interim champ’s next step is unclear.

Continue Reading UFC Vet Questions Jon Jones’ Handling Of Aspinall Avoidance: ‘Should Have Sent A PR Trainer To Him’ at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall Questions Respect for Jon Jones for Avoiding Him and Francis Ngannou

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has responded to Jon Jones during the UFC 309 fight week. Bones’ Jones,…

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309

Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has responded to Jon Jones during the UFC 309 fight week. Bones’ Jones, the heavyweight champion, is set to fight former division king Stipe Miocic instead of the current interim title holder.

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309

The English-born Tom Aspinall has put together an impressive win streak in the UFC heavyweight division. He has now captured and defended the UFC interim title. ‘Bones’ Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion, having captured the title in early 2023 but has yet to defend it.

Aspinall explained on his YouTube:

“I’m a bit disappointed that Jon, as the great champion he is, doesn’t want to give other guys the opportunity. Most champions would want to put the guy breathing down their neck in their place. If Jon thinks I don’t deserve it, then show me. If you kick my ass in front of the whole world, I’ll happily put my hand out and say, ‘You’re the better man, no problem.’ But this ducking and diving isn’t something I respect.

“This isn’t about Jon’s career, his legacy, or who he’s fighting—it’s because I want that belt. That’s all I care about. I want to prove I’m the No. 1 heavyweight on the planet, and he’s avoiding me.”

The UK-born fighter explained that Jones did the same thing to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, Aspinall continued:

“Don’t be surprised that Jon always takes fights where he has an advantage. He avoided Francis Ngannou for three years. Jon always picks fights where he’s at an advantage, and that’s just a fact. I’m not coming after Jon personally, I’m coming after the belt. He has what I deserve, and I want to prove I’m the guy.”

On the UFC 309 main event, Tom Aspinall made his feelings clear about Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, adding:

“Two champions are fighting, and one of them—Jon Jones—is avoiding the other champion, me. He’s chosen to fight a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic“