UFC 145 weigh-in results: Champ Jones (205), challenger Evans (204) on weight
(mmajunkie.com)MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Champ Jon Jones (205) vs. Rashad Evans (204)
Rory MacDonald (169.5) vs. Che Mills (170)
Ben Rothwell (263) vs. Brendan Schaub (237)
Michael McDonald (135) vs. Miguel Torres (135.5)
Mark Hominick (145.5) vs. Eddie Yagin (144.5)
John Alessio (155.5) vs. Mark Bocek (155)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Travis Browne (250) vs. Chad Griggs (228)
Matt Brown (171) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)
John Makdessi (158)* vs. Anthony Njokuani (156)
Mac Danzig (155) vs. Efrain Escudero (156)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Chris Clements (169) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170.5)
Maximo Blanco (146) vs. Marcus Brimage (145)
* - Surrenders 20 percent of purse as a fine
UFC's Stann explains why he quit hitting Sakara, new need to 'fight up the rankings'
(mmajunkie.com)The elbows that ended Alessio Sakara's night this past Saturday at UFC on FUEL TV 2 were proceeded by an utterance in his native language.
"I hit him with a real quick short elbow, and it hit him on the bone just above his right eye, and then my elbow sank into his eye," winner Brian Stann told MMAjunkie.com Radio.
"I heard him say something in Italian, then right when he was saying that in Italian, that's when I hit him twice, and he went out for a second."
UFC's Frankie Edgar anticipates future date with Jose Aldo, regardless of weightclass
(mmajunkie.com)Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (14-2-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) is getting his wish: a rematch with current titleholder Benson Henderson (16-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
Despite an urging from UFC president Dana White to drop to 145 pounds and face current featherweight champ Jose Aldo (21-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Edgar will instead face Henderson sometime later this year.
But that doesn't mean Edgar is ruling out a potential fight with Aldo. In fact, he believes a future meeting with the Brazilian is a near certainty, though he's not sure if it will be 145 or 155 pounds.
"I'm all about fighting big fights and fighting the best guys," Edgar said. "Jose Aldo is one of them. We'll see that fight whether it's at 145 or 155."
Miguel Torres: Every Fight That I’ve Trained For I Haven’t Lost
(mmaweekly.com)As Miguel Torres continues his hunt to get back to another title shot, he says things have changed dramatically for him since his last run as champion.
He’d put the controversial Twitter situation behind him, but now Torres trains and gets ready as a professional and has learned how to say ‘no’ when commitments get in the way of his training.
Torres also opens up about past losses to Brian Bowles and Joseph Benavidez, and says that any time he’s had time and no injuries to train, he’s never lost.
Matt Brown: ‘He’s Gotta Worry About What I’m Going to Do, I’m Going to Smash His Face In’
matt-brown-on-wonderboy-hes-gotta-worry-about-what-im-going-to-do-im-going-to-smash-his-face-in Matt Brown has heard all about Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and on Saturday night he says we’ll find out if it’s hype or reality.
Brown has fielded so many questions about Thompson’s flashy and unique karate style and honestly he’s sick of them.
See, Brown says that Wonderboy needs to worry about what he’s going to do to him in the fight and that plan is simple – he’s going to smash his face in.
Rory MacDonald would move to middleweight before fighting GSP
(mmajunkie.com)Let's make this clear: It might be a while before Rory MacDonald is knocking at champ George St-Pierre's door, and interim titleholder Carlos Condit isn't necessarily around the corner.
Still, seemingly everyone feels something big is on the horizon for the 22-year old welterweight.
And if MacDonald beats Che Mills, there are aren't many top welterweights who seem out of immediate reach, including the interim champion.
Patience proving tough for UFC champ Georges St-Pierre, hints at middleweight
(mmajunkie.com)For recovering UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, there's no tougher part of recovery than the needed patience.
After rushing his recovery from a previous knee injury, St-Pierre suffered another and was shut down in December for an ACL injury.
He's making progress and even addressed a potential move to middleweight due to UFC 145 co-headliner Rory MacDonald, but the champ has learned to follow his doctor's instructions.
Dana White Uses Rashad Evans Vs. Jon Jones As Proof Jackson's MMA Is Not 'Family'
(bloodyelbow.com)Greg Jackson and Jackson's MMA have been one of the biggest camps at the center of the teammates not fighting teammates thing. The idea that fighters are "family" or "teammates" who shouldn't fight each other has long bothered UFC president Dana White and he's taken the opportunity to try to prove what nonsense the idea that fighters are family is in the wake of the fallout between Jon Jones, Jackson's MMA and Rashad Evans.
Here's the quote from Yahoo's Cagewriter:
"There is one thing that is an absolute fact, and no matter how often Greg Jackson pumps that family [expletive], Greg Jackson is a [expletive] businessman," White told Cagewriter. "The more top guys he brings in, the more money he makes. There's nothing wrong with Greg Jackson, but he's a [expletive] businessman. Some of these fighters, who ought to know better but don't listen to that [expletive] and don't take it for the crock of [expletive] that it is. These guys need to make the decision where they train based on where they think they'll get the best work and develop the best, and not on this [expletive] crazy idea that you're becoming a part of a family.
"Greg Jackson [expletive] told Rashad this wouldn't happen, that they're family and all that other [expletive], but look what is going on now. Look and see who is at Jackson's and who is not. Train where you think it's going to be best for you and if that's Jackson's, that's fine. Just don't buy into this family [expletive] because there's nothing to it. This is the fight business, not the friend business."
Lorenzo Fertitta Claims That Rashad Evans Believed Dana White Was Betting On Jon Jones
(bloodyelbow.com)UFC executives are continuing to discuss their reaction to a story on the MMA blog CagePotato that the promotion alleges gave the misleading and incorrect impression that UFC president Dana White was betting on the UFC 145 headliner between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans.
The UFC demanded a formal retraction and CagePotato obliged.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta spoke to USA TODAY's Sergio Non about the story and the promotion's response.
"We had a flurry of people contacting us through e-mail, Twitter. Rashad throwing a complete fit ... and then Dana having to call him to calm him down. If (people) thought it was just satire, we wouldn't have had that reaction," said Fertitta."
"Dana had to talk to Rashad on the phone for 30 minutes to calm him down, to tell him, 'Are you crazy? There's no way I would ever bet on a fight or bet against you,' " Fertitta says."
UFC 147: Brazilian Media Reporting That Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen 2 Might Be Moved To Las Vegas
(bloodyelbow.com)"O Globo" reported today that the bout will be moved to Las Vegas, and rumors indicate that it might happen in UFC's July 7th show (UFC 148).
Anderson Silva's manager Ed Soares told TATAME on Monday that the bout is already signed for June 23, in Rio de Janeiro, but his Black House partner, Jorge Guimaraes, told TATAME today that the plans could change.
"This situation is already being discussed. There are some speculations. What you heard, I heard too. It seems like there are no hotels to fit everybody with UN's event, Rio+20", Guiamares said.
Liddell: 'Evans knows Jones isn't invincible'
(espn.co.uk)Chuck Liddell has ridiculed the odds-makers who have made Rashad Evans a huge underdog against Jon Jones at UFC 145, insisting there is one massively important factor at play this weekend: The challenger knows the champion is not invincible.
Jones puts the UFC light-heavyweight title on the line on April 21, and only the boldest punter is rushing to back against him. The champ has never been beaten, other than a sole disqualification in the act of winning.
Evans, however, rarely makes a habit of losing either. Only Lyoto Machida has defeated him, and the No. 1 contender has the advantage of having previously trained with Jones.
Liddell, the former 205lb champion, does not buy into the suggestion that either man knows what the other will do as a result of their history together. However, he is convinced it will stop Evans taking any fear into the Octagon, as the likes of Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida may have done.
BJ Penn insists: I'm staying retired
(espn.co.uk)BJ Penn appeared to confirm the end of his MMA career on Saturday, revealing he cannot see one challenge that could tempt him out of retirement.
Penn, one of only two men to win a UFC title in separate divisions, hung up his mitts after defeat to Nick Diaz. However, he has since been quoted as saying that he would return if he began to feel the fire once again.
The Hawaiian has been linked to fights with Gilbert Melendez and new UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson, but the Prodigy appears to be very happy to stay outside of the Octagon.
"I haven't made any plans to come back and fight again," Penn said on Fuel TV. "Dana White has called me a few times, but I'm staying retired.
Bitterness Aside, It’s Time for Jon Jones and Rashad Evans to Play the Game
(mmaweekly.com)The showdown between former friends and teammates Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, the main event at Saturday’s UFC 145 in Atlanta, has been shaping up as one of the most heated grudge matches in UFC history.
But the flames of the fire between the two aren’t reaching as high as they once did.
Both men seem to be tiring of all the talk of their fallout and friction. They just want to get in the Octagon and prove who the better fighter is.
UFC 145’s Stephen Thompson Believes Matt Brown Won’t Stand With Him
(mmaweekly.com)Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (6-0) is a dynamic welterweight striker that you have to keep your eyes on.
While competing in kickboxing, Thompson earned several titles and won 30 fights by knockout. Last we saw him, Thompson shocked UFC fans with a frightening head kick knockout victory over Daniel Stittgen at UFC 143. The knockout came in his Octagon debut and while the 28-year-old is just getting warmed up, he knows that his patience is key in his next fight.
The decorated kickboxing champion meets his toughest challenge in the cage to date when he takes on veteran Matt Brown at UFC 145 in Atlanta on Saturday night.
Dan Henderson: 'I'm Not Real Keen On Fighting At 185'
(bloodyelbow.com)It's well-known by now that Dan Henderson is waiting for a shot at a UFC belt. Whether it's at middleweight, light heavyweight, or even heavyweight, Hendo wants to get another chance at that one thing that has eluded him in his storied career. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Hendo made it pretty clear that he doesn't need a rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and that he's more interested in the winner of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 (transcribed by MMA Mania):
Delorme replaces Bedford, Dodson vs. Elliott official for UFC on FOX 3
( mmajunkie.com)An undisclosed injury has forced bantamweight Johnny Bedford (18-9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) to withdraw from a scheduled matchup with Nick Denis (11-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC on FOX 3.
In Bedford's place goes fellow "The Ultimate Fighter 14" cast member Roland Delorme (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
Officials today announced that switch-up and also confirmed a previously reported flyweight bout between John Dodson (12-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Tim Elliot (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who replaces Darren Uyenoyama (7-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The event's main card airs live on FOX while FUEL TV and Facebook carry the prelims.
Delorme returns to the octagon after successfully graduating from "TUF 14" with a third-round submission of Josh Ferguson at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale this past December. Although T.J. Dilashaw defeated him in the quarterfinals of the reality-show tournament, Delorme carries but one blemish on his eight-fight pro resume.
UFC Offers Hector Lombard A Contract, Bellator May Counter
(bloodyelbow.com)Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has told Sherdog that his Middleweight champion Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1 NC) has been offered a contract by the UFC. Rebney has the option to match the contract and will make that decision next week.
"We've received the final proposed UFC agreement from Hector's attorney, and right now we are in the process of reviewing it to determine whether we're going to match the agreement. We've got the 60 pages of UFC contract that were forwarded to us by Hector's counsel. We've been waiting on the actual contract itself to see all of the specifics and every conceivable detail and know exactly what is being offered. Now we have something really specific to look at," Rebney told Sherdog.
As part of his Bellator contract, Lombard had to wait a couple of months after his current contract expired before he could talk to competing promotions. Now he is in a period where Bellator has the option of matching any contract offer he receives.
UFC on FUEL TV 2 medical suspensions: Two suspended, Head not disciplined
(mmajunkie.com)Alessio Sakara and Paulo Thiago – the only fighters who suffered knockout losses – were also the only fighters medically suspended following this past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 2 event.
Both have been suspended 28 days, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with George Sallfeldt, the president of the Swedish MMA Federation.
Sallfeldt also confirmed that James Head currently faces no disciplinary action following some complaints of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Rashad Evans Getting Pointers From Roy Jones, Jr. Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight
(bloodyelbow.com)Rashad Evans is no stranger to being around other famous athletes. If it's not Victoria Azarenka, it's Tito Trinidad or Michael Irvin or Bernard Hopkins. The latest turn sees Rashad getting some boxing lessons from none other than Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990's, Roy Jones, Jr.
Here's video of Rashad working with Roy and talking about the experience.
Chael Sonnen Comes To Alistair Overeem's Defense
(bloodyelbow.com)"Congratulations to MMA media, right when I think you're incompetence can't get to any higher level, the Alistair Overeem story comes out. You kids on the interweb, running your little 'dot com's' from the couch in your mother's basement, you beneficiaries of Mark Cuban's tax write-off, you've gone and screwed up the Alistair Overeem case, beyond belief. Is it repairable? I doubt it."
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