Tag: Vladimir Matyushenko

Jon Jones May Not Have Asked for the Hype, but He’s Stuck with It

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsA year ago, Jon Jones was what you might call an up-and-comer in the MMA world. He had a couple UFC wins under his belt, mostly on the unaired prelims of pay-per-view cards, and primarily against middle of the …

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A year ago, Jon Jones was what you might call an up-and-comer in the MMA world. He had a couple UFC wins under his belt, mostly on the unaired prelims of pay-per-view cards, and primarily against middle of the pack opponents. He’d only been in the sport for a little over year, and people were just starting to come around to the idea that he was someone worth watching.

All that’s changed now. After demolishing Matt Hamill (okay, so he lost via disqualification, but we all saw where that fight was headed) and then Brandon Vera, he has since been officially upgraded from up-and-comer to bright prospect. Instead of asking if he might one day fight for a title, fans have started asking when.

The hype is growing, and with it, the expectations. Only now that Jones has got the MMA world’s attention, he’s not entirely certain that he wants it.

UFC on Versus 2: By the Odds

Filed under: UFCWith another UFC event making its way on to Versus tonight we once again confront mankind’s oldest question: If the fight’s on free TV, how can I ensure that I still throw some money away on it?

One easy solution is to shove that hard…

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With another UFC event making its way on to Versus tonight we once again confront mankind’s oldest question: If the fight’s on free TV, how can I ensure that I still throw some money away on it?

One easy solution is to shove that hard-earned cash into the depressing void of gambling. Or you could take it and buy something nice for your favorite MMA writer. You know, whichever one sounds like an idea that might make someone happy.

But before you decide, why not check out the betting odds for UFC on Versus 2 to see who oddsmakers think will win, and who they think will spend the night in the hospital and miss tonight’s episode of ‘Mad Men’ entirely.

If He Wins Tonight, Will the UFC Keep Handling Jon Jones’ Career in a Way that Pisses Off Absolutely Everyone?

("Look, you know I don’t want to do this, Vladimir, but this bald dude insists I pretty much kick your ass in every way imaginable. Sorry." PicProps: UFC.com)
If we’re going to be honest about it, we have to admit that Jon Jones vs. Vla…


("Look, you know I don’t want to do this, Vladimir, but this bald dude insists I pretty much kick your ass in every way imaginable. Sorry." PicProps: UFC.com)

If we’re going to be honest about it, we have to admit that Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko is a fight no one really wanted to see.  It’s certainly not the fight fans wanted, it’s not the fight Jones wanted and it’s probably not a fight Matyushenko is particularly looking forward to, either. Yet, here we are, just a few hours removed from another fight we all expect Jones to win by some manner of swift and comprehensive destruction.

Of course, it’s no secret what’s going on here. The UFC, for pretty obvious reasons, wants to build Jones into its next great light heavyweight star and it thinks the best way to do that is to give him as many chances as possible to whip ass on free TV. It’s a sound strategy but also a risky one and frankly, it’s an approach that’s kind of starting to piss everybody off. 

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Jon Jones Says Vladimir Matyushenko “Not Really Great at Anything”

Depending on your opinion, which as your elders always reminded you as a child–that’s all it is, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko is just hours away from becoming the latest victim of Jon “Bones” Jones. As we all know Jones is a huge favorite heading into tonight’s UFC on Versus card, despite the fact that by […]

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Depending on your opinion, which as your elders always reminded you as a child–that’s all it is, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko is just hours away from becoming the latest victim of Jon “Bones” Jones. As we all know Jones is a huge favorite heading into tonight’s UFC on Versus card, despite the fact that by the time the walking highlight reel made his pro debut in 2008, Matyushenko already had 20 bouts under his belt (one would think a tool belt could come in handy for a janitor no?).

If you’re someone who thinks Matyushenko will give Jones a run for his money, the argument could sound like this: the former IFL champ will look to use his extensive wrestling abilities, control Jones against the cage or on the mat, and grind out the win. Jones’ thoughts on this? Well in a recent interview with MMA Weekly he dismissed that line of thinking, stating that people said similar things about Jake O’Brien and Matt Hamill. True, neither dude made out that well (unless you think Hamill’s DQ win by eating illegal elbows is cause for celebration). Jones also offered this:

“What I’m most excited about with this fight is Vladimir’s not really great at anything,” said Jones. “He’s a good wrestler, he’s a powerful puncher, he’s decent at jiu-jitsu, but he’s not known for being great at anything. This is going to be a fight where I can display how well rounded I am right now.”

Not a bad breakdown really, although Vladimir would disagree, particularly about the wrestling part. But that’s just Jon’s opinion. To bet on the fight head here.

Even as We All Write Him Off Tonight, Let’s Not Forget Vladimir Matyushenko is a Pretty Awesome Dude

(Warning: Do not try this at home. Listening to traditional Russian folk music while doing power cleans should only be performed by professionals. VidProps: YouTube/MMAWarehouse)
If the main event of tonight’s UFC Live on Versus fight card play…


(Warning: Do not try this at home. Listening to traditional Russian folk music while doing power cleans should only be performed by professionals. VidProps: YouTube/MMAWarehouse)

If the main event of tonight’s UFC Live on Versus fight card plays out like we all think it’s going to, Vladimir Matyushenko is likely going to need some moral support. Matyushenko’s methodical, wrestling-based style seems tailor made for exploitation by the younger, faster, more dynamic Jon Jones. At least that’s what UFC matchmakers are counting on (more on that later today). Bottom line: It doesn’t look good on paper for “The Janitor,” so if Matyushenko ends up getting beat up kind of badly tonight it would serve us all well to remember that he is actually a totally awesome dude who deserves a ton of respect.

After all, you don’t get a nickname of begrudging admiration from guys like Mark Coleman and Kevin Jackson during a wrestling meet in Siberia without pretty much being a badass.

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UFC on Versus 2 Fight Breakdown: Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko

Filed under: UFCWhen Vladimir Matyushenko was named as the next opponent for the surging Jon Jones for UFC on Versus 2, the announcement was met with a resounding thud. Many fans and media members believed Jones, who was coming off an impressive win ov…

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When Vladimir Matyushenko was named as the next opponent for the surging Jon Jones for UFC on Versus 2, the announcement was met with a resounding thud. Many fans and media members believed Jones, who was coming off an impressive win over Brandon Vera, would draw a bigger name as he continues his ascent up the light-heavyweight ladder.

While Matyushenko may lack a little in the flash department, the reality is that he has proven himself to be a tough out for anyone, and is a practical test for the ever-improving Jones on Sunday night (the event airs on Versus at 9 pm ET).

Most likely, when the UFC put the matchup together, they realized that Jones needed to be tested by a rugged veteran who had been in all sorts of situations, one that would challenge him and force the rising star into moments of adversity.