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Tag: Jon Jones

  • Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight

    Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight

    Alexander Volkanovski appears uncertain whether Jon Jones can prevail against Tom Aspinall in a potential heavyweight showdown.

    When Aspinall stepped up on short notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November to claim the interim heavyweight title, he immediately set his sights on a title unification bout against the reigning champion.

    However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the challenge, even belittling Aspinall’s dominance in the division. Instead, Jones has expressed his desire to reschedule his canceled bout with former longtime titleholder Stipe Miocic, with their anticipated clash seemingly set for later this year.

    With Jones currently out of the picture for now, Aspinall has chosen to make the first defense of his interim heavyweight belt against former foe Curtis Blaydes. The rematch will serve as the co-main event of UFC 304, set to take place this Saturday on Aspinall’s home turf in Manchester.

    If the 31-year-old Englishman triumphs over Blaydes on July 27, the ultimate matchup for him and fans alike would undoubtedly be a showdown with Jones.

    “Bones” is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. However, Volkanovski believes Aspinall possesses the complete arsenal necessary to challenge and potentially disrupt Jones’ storied legacy…

    Volkanovski Foresees Aspinall’s Victory Over Jones

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Great” delved into his predictions for the upcoming UFC 304 card. Volkanovski confidently picked Aspinall to triumph over Blaydes and went on to heap praise on the Brit, assessing his chances against Jones in a potential heavyweight showdown.

    The former UFC featherweight champion asserted that if there’s anyone on the current heavyweight roster capable of standing toe-to-toe with Jones and perhaps even having the upper hand, it’s Aspinall.

    “I think Tom Aspinall is too good,” Volkanovski said. “But what I mean is compared to other fighters, which I’m always going to pick Tom Aspinall. Because I believe he’s that good Jon Jones, I want to see that fight. Jon Jones is that good, and he can maybe handle a heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

    “But if anyone’s ever going to beat Jon Jones, it’s someone like Tom Aspinall. He can really mix it up still fast; he’s going to be just as fast as Jon Jones you get what I mean it’s he’s that good.”

    Aspinall’s sole setback in his eight Octagon appearances occurred two years ago at UFC Fight Night London when he sustained a severe knee injury in the first round against “Razor”. Now, he is determined to rectify that misfortune.

    While the prospect of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown tantalizes the MMA community, its realization seems distant. Jones remains steadfast in his desire to face Miocic upon his return and has even hinted at potentially hanging up his gloves after that bout.

  • Jon Jones Told He ‘Cannot Do Anything But Acknowledge That Victory’ If Tom Aspinall Defeats Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304

    Jon Jones Told He ‘Cannot Do Anything But Acknowledge That Victory’ If Tom Aspinall Defeats Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304

    UFC commentator John Gooden recently said that Jon Jones should give due recognition to Tom Aspinall if he manages to overcome Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    Last November, the undisputed heavyweight champion was slated to put his title on the line against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. However, a torn pectoral muscle forced Jones out of action, postponing the highly anticipated fight.

    As a result, Aspinall rose to the occasion on short notice to face the backup fighter, Sergei Pavlovich, for the interim heavyweight title. The Englishman delivered an electrifying performance, clinching a knockout triumph just over a minute into the first round.

    Riding high on his victory, Aspinall called for a title unification bout with “Bones”. However, the American has persistently rebuffed the challenge and even downplayed Aspinall’s status as an interim champion. Instead, Jones has expressed his intention to reconvene his bout with Miocic, which is seemingly targeted for November.

    Frustrated by the inactivity, Aspinall chose to defend his interim title in a rematch against former adversary Blaydes. The showdown is set as the co-main event at UFC 304, taking place on July 27 in his hometown of Manchester.

    Gooden believes this is Aspinall’s golden opportunity to make a bold statement and compel Jones to acquiesce to his formidable presence in the heavyweight division…

    Gooden Foresees Blaydes as Aspinall’s Stepping Stone to Jones Clash

    During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Gooden offered a preview of Aspinall’s upcoming title defense against Blaydes, suggesting that “Razor” constitutes a formidable threat for the Salford native if he relies on his wrestling and grappling prowess.

    However, the English UFC commentator noted that Aspinall could surmount this challenge by applying relentless pressure with his precise striking.

    “He [Blaydes] is a very, very dangerous guy, a legitimate perennial contender who has been there or thereabouts for the longest time,” Gooden said. “He’s also crossed those leaderboards with his style, obviously with the wrestling-heavy grappling style. But the man will open you up if he lands an elbow, and he will change the fight.”

    Gooden also hinted that defeating Blaydes could catapult Aspinall to a status that would force “Bones” to recognize his legitimacy.

    “If Tom Aspinall gets past Curtis Blaydes, and particularly in an impressive fashion, then I think that Jon Jones cannot do anything but acknowledge that victory and therefore surely must creep a little bit further into those two getting together, but of course, Tom’s got a big appointment ahead.”

    Aspinall holds an Octagon record of seven victories since his promotional debut in July 2022, highlighted by six first-round finishes against formidable adversaries such as Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov, and Marcin Tybura.

    The only blemish on his record during this UFC run has been a TKO loss resulting from an unforeseen knee injury just 15 seconds into his bout against Blaydes at UFC Fight Night London in July 2022.

  • MMA News Today: Jon Jones Provides Update On Next Fight After Misdemeanor Charges, Charles Oliveira Raises $80,000 For Children, & More

    MMA News Today: Jon Jones Provides Update On Next Fight After Misdemeanor Charges, Charles Oliveira Raises $80,000 For Children, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 19, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Jones targets November return
    • Oliveira gives back via charity auction once again
    • Cejudo says Cortez is better than she showed

    Jon Jones Lays Out Specific Timeline For His Return Following Misdemeanour Charges

    After being charged with two misdemeanours following the encounter that he had with a drug-testing agent at his home, Jon Jones appears to be preparing for his return.

    The UFC heavyweight champion was set to make his first title defense at UFC 295 last year in New York when facing off with Stipe Miocic.

    When he withdrew due to injury, it was suspected that we could see “Bones” back one year later and that is his clear focus as of right now.

    He posted the following message on X which with the specific timeframe of 16 weeks being mentioned, would schedule his return roughly for November 8th which is just three days out from being a full year since he was set to compete at UFC 295.

    “Tomorrow, I’ll be 37 years old !! I’m 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like I’m in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but I’m happy with it considering the surgeries I recently had. 16 more weeks to become the beast , that’s exactly what I will do. #Champion2024.”

    Charles Oliveira Raises Huge Sum For Children In Need Via Signed Glove Charity Auction

    Charles Oliveira is continuing to help raise money for charity by using his own star status in Brazil to benefit others.

    “Do Bronx” took part in a charity auction several months ago that was hosted by soccer star Neymar Jr. where a fan won the opportunity to get special access to his fight preparations.

    The latest auction saw Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. take up the hosting role where a signed glove from Oliveira was up for grabs.

    Through this one small act, the former UFC champion was able to raise a staggering $80,000 to go towards supporting children in need.

    Henry Cejudo Critiques Tracy Cortez’s Performance Against Rose Namajunas

    Tracy Cortez’s teammate Henry Cejudo believes that she had much more to show in the main event this past weekend in Denver.

    Cortez stepped into the headliner on short notice to replace Maycee Barber and face Rose Namajunas, with the fight going the full five rounds.

    Cejudo, who admitted that he was somewhat surprised by the way that Namajunas approached the fight, believes that Cortez didn’t have her best performance on the night.

    He said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that the replacement fighter didn’t play to her strengths enough in the fight which ended up costing her, stating that she will be back stronger after learning this lesson.

    “Tracy didn’t show up, man. I just don’t know how to say it; man, that’s not the Tracy that we know. I watched the fight again, and she never once attempted the takedowns; after she attempted one takedown, that’s it, there’s no level changes involved. I talked to her on Saturday afterward and just said, ‘Hey, just keep your head up, dude. It was an experience, but I just know you’re better than that, Tracy’.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • UFC Featherweight Brands Ilia Topuria ‘Better’ Than Max Holloway, Touts Spaniard As Closest To Jon Jones In P4P Debate

    UFC Featherweight Brands Ilia Topuria ‘Better’ Than Max Holloway, Touts Spaniard As Closest To Jon Jones In P4P Debate

    One of the most anticipated fights of the year is sure to be what many expect as the next UFC featherweight title fixture.

    For many years, Max Holloway has been considered to be the second-best 145-pound fighter on the planet as he wasn’t able to solve the problem that is Alexander Volkanovski.

    With new champion Ilia Topuria steamrolling his way up the featherweight ladder and taking Volkanovski out in February, his first title defense against “Blessed” is one of the best match-ups in MMA today.

    A current featherweight contender believes that in giving Topuria the edge in this fight, he isn’t just better than Holloway, he’s one of the top two in the world today.

    Nathaniel Wood Says Ilia Topuria Is In The Pound-For-Pound Conversation On Skill Alone

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, London’s Nathaniel Wood spoke about the title fight that is set to go down in his division.

    “The Prospect” is set to return at UFC 304 where he takes on Daniel Pineda after going 3-1 since making the move up from bantamweight.

    He believes that whilst Holloway may have the best chance of anyone else in the mix, “El Matador” is the more skilled fighter overall.

    “See, I see Ilia Topuria as one of the pound-for-pound best at the moment. I think he’s better than Max but I feel like Max could cause him problems with his style and Max is obviously as tough as they come. I do think out of that top 10, if anyone was to beat Topuria, I’d put it on Max Holloway.”

    Elaborating on his high praise for Topuria, Wood put this in context regarding the debate at the top of the pound-for-pound ladder.

    He believes that whilst the current featherweight champion doesn’t have the accolades just yet, his talent and performances prove that he belongs just below the greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    “Gotta be Jon Jones, I don’t see how anyone can ever go against him, obviously if you’re going off of the CV. Now, Ilia Topuria, I think pound-for-pound one of the best just the way he moves. I think if you look at him on the CV, okay he’s obviously just become the champion. Okay, how can you say he’s the pound-for-pound but you just know when someone’s special and me personally, I think he is.

    “I’ve said before I think he’d be the hardest fight for me in the division when he wasn’t even ranked I think in the top 10, because you can just see when someone’s got that something. Obviously, Alex Pereira, he’s just that knockout machine, you know what I mean but skill set wise, I think Topuria’s a better fighter, better athlete all round.”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett: ‘Fickle’ MMA Fans Will Be Back On My Side After I Knock Bobby Green Out At UFC 304

  • Anthony Smith On Ex-Opponent Jon Jones’ Alleged Incident With Drug Tester: ‘If He Got One Of Those Bad Ones…’

    Anthony Smith On Ex-Opponent Jon Jones’ Alleged Incident With Drug Tester: ‘If He Got One Of Those Bad Ones…’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith sympathizes with former opponent Jon Jones as he battles his latest legal case.

    The reigning heavyweight champion has once again found himself the subject of concerning allegations, this time involving a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    The alleged victim claims Jones threatened her life and took away her phone when she and a colleague turned up to his house to test him. “Bones” is accused of remarking, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”

    A few months on from details of the alleged incident emerging, Jones has officially been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor.

    The MMA great is unsurprisingly challenging the tester’s account of events, having been firm with his denial in the days after the accusations initially emerged. And having had his own experience with drug testers in the past, one former opponent of Jones’ appears to support him…

    Smith On Jones’ Drug-Tester Charges: ‘Sometimes They Can Be Assholes…’

    During a recent episode of Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Smith reacted to the charges against Jones, which mark the latest controversy outside of the cage involving his ex-rival.

    “Lionheart,” who unsuccessfully challenged for Jones’ light heavyweight title back in 2019, explained why he was compelled to support Jones following news of the charges, noting that not every tester is well-mannered and appreciative of fighters’ time.

    “I kind of stuck up for him at the beginning because it is a pain in the ass to do the whole drug-testing thing,” Smith said. “I’ve always been lucky that my drug testers have always been pretty cool. They’re fairly respectful of your time, they’re fairly respectful of the inconvenience that they’re creating for you. So they always show up like, ‘Hey, I know it’s not the best time, sorry, let me get this sample and we’ll get out of here.’ But I have had one…not here at home or in Denver, but just been out somewhere and they find this random person, somebody you’ve never had before, and sometimes they can be assholes. They have this power trip…like they want to boss you around.

    “If he (Jones) got one of those bad ones…because he’s a little bit hot-headed at times, I can understand him kind of flipping out and going off,” Smith continued. “And apparently he was having a party, so I think he was drinking and had some friends over. They show up, started to be assholes, kind of being disrespectful at times, I could see him kind of going off. But once you start touching people and taking their phones and stuff, that’s a problem. But if (the testers were) being an asshole to him, then it’s kind of in his right. That’s not illegal.”

    Days on from the charges being confirmed, Jones appeared at Bernalillo Country Metropolitan Court on Wednesday for his bail arraignment, pleading not guilty to the misdemeanors.

    Having had the conditions for his ongoing release set, the UFC star will have his bench trial scheduled for a date between 30 and 45 days down the line.

  • Daniel Cormier Doesn’t See Jon Jones’ Alleged Altercation With Drug Tester As A Big Deal: ‘Kind Of Always Thought It Was BS’

    Daniel Cormier Doesn’t See Jon Jones’ Alleged Altercation With Drug Tester As A Big Deal: ‘Kind Of Always Thought It Was BS’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has received a somewhat supportive message from a surprising source amid his latest legal battle.

    Jones has once again found himself in hot water away from the Octagon. He has frequently fallen foul of the law in the past, with incidents ranging from arrests for a hit-and-run and domestic violence to multiple drug suspensions.

    This year has once again seen controversy surround the Rochester native after Jones became under investigation for allegations he threatened the life and took the mobile phone of a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    The UFC star was accused of saying, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.” He was subsequently issued a summons on accusations of assault and interfering with communications.

    While he claimed no such altercation occurred in posts on social media and instead accused the drug tester of breaking protocol in the visit, he was charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor, this week.

    When incidents like this occur, fans often look back to comments made by Jones’ arch rival Daniel Cormier, who told his bitter foe a number of years ago that he will never change. “DC,” however, isn’t among those rushing to slate the heavyweight champ…

    Cormier Defends Jones: ‘I Know We All Rush To Judge Him…’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to some of the major talking points currently floating about in the MMA community, including confirmation that Jones is headed for a bench trial for his alleged assault of the drug tester.

    Although “Bones” hasn’t been cleared of any wrongdoing, Cormier believes the incident is likely being blown out of proportion and won’t lead to any severe consequences for his former two-time opponent.

    “Jon Jones got charged for the incident with the lady at the testing,” Cormier said. “Guys, he got served two misdemeanors. … If I’m being completely honest, though, the whole time I kind of thought that deal was BS. I feel like he was approached very early, right? Or if I recall, it was either early in the morning or late in the evening, where he could’ve been home having some drinks.

    “I know we all rush to judge Jones because of his past issues, but the reality is, if a man is at his house and he’s having some drinks in the confines of his own home, so what? … And if the drug testers come and he might be a little bit tipsy or messed up, maybe the interactions aren’t as fun or as easy as they may have been in different other occasions,” Cormier continued. “So I kind of always thought it was BS. I don’t think much is gonna come of it. But because he is who he is, it’s always a story. … I don’t really think that this is that big of a deal.”

    In the latest update to the story, Jones pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges while appearing for his bond arraignment at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Wednesday.

    Conditions for his release were set, including not violating any laws, possessing firearms or dangerous weapons, and consuming alcohol or illicit drugs, ahead of a bench trial in 30 to 45 days.

  • Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones has found himself arguing with fans on social media fairly regularly during his recovery process before he hopes to return later this year.

    The UFC heavyweight champion is expected to face former champ Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was cancelled due to Jones’ injury.

    In the meantime, many fans believe that his next opponent should instead be Tom Aspinall, who won the interim title and will now be defending it at UFC 304 later this month.

    Though the case has been made for Aspinall, Alex Pereira also became a part of the conversation following another dominant performance from the light heavyweight champion at UFC 303.

    A former UFC champion at both heavyweight and light heavyweight believes that Jones’ toughest test is also likely to be his next one.

    Randy Couture Says Experienced Stipe Miocic Has The Best Chance Of Beating Jon Jones Right Now

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Randy Couture gave his take on who presents the biggest challenge to Jones and the heavyweight title right now.

    Despite giving Aspinall and Pereira their dues, Couture pointed out how their experience competing at the top of the heavyweight division does leave a few question marks next to both men in potential match-ups with “Bones”.

    With that in mind, “The Natural” sided with the man that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight of all time, former champion Miocic.

    It has been three years since Miocic last competed inside the Octagon but Couture chose to go with the tried and tested competitor at this current time.

    “I think right now, because of experience, Stipe’s probably got the best shot at beating Jon. Aspinall has that raw physical ability and is still green enough and young enough that he’s going to be tough for Jon to deal with, especially if Jon waits any longer because he’s getting stronger and stronger each time out and I think the longer Jon waits, the better he’s going to be, he’s going to be in full stride by the time that fight happens so it’s interesting. Pereira has some things to prove, moving up is no easy task.

    “It’s one thing to cut weight and move down and there’s still some questions there even but moving up and dealing with the bigger guys, and Jon’s answered that question already dealing with the bigger guys, it’s a different thing… certainly has all the ability in the world, Pereira does, and he’s a hell of a competitor and he’s just demonstrated that again. I think anybody’s crazy if they don’t think you better strap them on if you’re stepping in there with him because he’s gonna bring it.”

    Read also: Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

  • MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 16, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Sonnen believes Jones’ misdemeanor charges could be less serious than they appear to be
    • Sterling books grappling match on Karate Combat
    • Romero announces plans for his next fight

    Chael Sonnen Questions Whether Jon Jones’ Case Has Been Over Exaggerated

    Jon Jones is dealing with another controversial police charge following an interaction at his house with a drug-testing agent.

    The UFC heavyweight champion has been charged with two misdemeanors where, if proven guilty, he could face fines or even jail time.

    His former rival, Chael Sonnen, has some issues with the way that this process has been carried out following the initial reports from April.

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Sonnen questioned both why the decision has taken so long based on the evidence they have and whether the case has been exaggerated with the misdemeanor charges.

    “The agents came and did what they did but there is a significant difference guys, in being a jerk and being a criminal. There’s a significant difference in being rude and committing a crime and it’s annoying for me to have to read this about Jon and read that he’s got to deal with this. It’s annoying for me even if not the municipality that I live in…

    “it’s annoying to me that on a double hit misdemeanor where there are not witnesses because – there’s a witness there but they’re not supporting the claim. There isn’t video cameras of everything but there is video surveillance and it doesn’t support the claim. It seems like a tough one and it still took those guys four, five, six [months], however long this is to make a decision even in this case.”

    Aljamain Sterling Set To Compete on Karate Combat’s Pit Submission Series On July 25

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is set to make his Karate Combat debut on the Pit Submission Series.

    The striking-focused promotion recently started opening up their events with several grappling bouts to kick off the show.

    Sterling is set to compete on July 25 in Nashville at Karate Combat 48, where he faces Jay Jay Wilson.

    “Funkmaster” has competed in several grappling matches in recent times with this being his first since he made his successful move up to featherweight with a win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.

    The event is set to be headlined by the heavyweight title rematch between Sam Alvey and Antônio Arroyo.

    https://twitter.com/KarateCombat/status/1813033307564875936

    Yoel Romero Says He’s Fighting Corey Anderson For The Bellator Light Heavyweight Title On October 19

    Despite rumours of him making the jump to BKFC, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero appears to be gearing up for his Bellator return.

    “Soldier of God” has been inactive since his decision win over Thiago Santos in February at PFL vs Bellator and according to him, he’s now set up for a title shot.

    Romero recently spoke in an interview on the Overdogs Espanol podcast where he claimed that he will be fighting Corey Anderson for the light heavyweight title on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

    The Bellator Champions Series is currently set to host events in Chicago on October 12 and Paris on November 16. While there is no event announced as of yet for Saudi Arabia, the PFL is expected to stage another pay-per-view in Riyadh this fall, with names like Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg expected to take part.

    Perhaps Romero has leaked the date for that major show…

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  • UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

    UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

    At UFC 304, Tom Aspinall will become the first interim title holder to defend his belt in eleven years.

    The Brit made the most out of a late notice opportunity at UFC 295 where he stepped into the co-main event to face Sergei Pavlovich for the belt due to Jon Jones’ injury that postponed his fight with Stipe Miocic.

    In most circumstances, Aspinall would now be the next in line to face the returning Jones in a title unification clash but “Bones” is still looking to reschedule his fight with Miocic for later this year.

    With Aspinall looking to avenge his loss to Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event on July 27, some may argue that him defending the interim title is less significant than being the undisputed champion.

    Jon Anik believes that whilst there may be two champions in the division, Aspinall defending the title would be just as significant despite him being the interim titleholder.

    Jon Anik Says That Tom Aspinall Will Be Defending The Undisputed Championship Against Curtis Blaydes

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on the lay of the land right now in the heavyweight division.

    He spoke about how Israel Adesanya considered his title unification clash with Robert Whittaker to count as a title defense despite him coming in as the interim champion.

    In the same vein, Anik believes that Aspinall getting his hand raised in Manchester later this month counts in his mind as a title defense of the undisputed championship.

    He sees it that whether the title says interim before it or not, there are two equal UFC heavyweight champions right now.

    “Interim championships are a very powerful thing in my mind even if maybe in the past I’ve said that the belt should be silver, I consider there to be two undisputed UFC heavyweight champions right now and Tom Aspinall’s one of them. He’s defending his undisputed title as far as I’m concerned and for those that have the archaic philosophy maybe that a champion is not really the champion, and it’s my opinion that it’s archaic, but if a champion doesn’t defend their belt at least one time, then they are not the champion.

    “I mean Alex Pereira never defended his UFC middleweight champion and nobody would dispute that he wasn’t the middleweight king. But, if Tom Aspinall defends the interim championship, as far as I’m concerned, that is an undisputed championship title defense.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Calls For Leon Edwards’ ‘Killer’ To Come Out At UFC 304: ‘If You Know You’re The Top Dog…’ 

  • Jon Jones Charged With Two Misdemeanors For Alleged Behavior Toward Drug Tester

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been slapped with two misdemeanor charges owing to an alleged altercation with a drug-testing agent earlier this year.

    Jones, whose fighting talents have long kept him in the GOAT conversation for mixed martial arts, has frequently fallen foul of the law away from the Octagon. With incidents ranging from arrests for a hit-and-run and domestic violence to multiple drug suspensions, not much time tends to pass by before the former two-time light heavyweight kingpin is back under the spotlight for antics outside of his MMA career.

    The latest came a few months back after ABQ Raw News reported that Jones was under investigation for claims he threatened the life and took the mobile phone of a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    A report obtained by Aaron Bronsteter from the Albuquerque Police Department revealed the exact words the UFC star was accused of uttering, with the tester claiming he remarked, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”

    Jones was subsequently issued a summons on accusations of assault and interfering with communications.

    “Bones” responded to the allegations, insisting the claims were false. While he said the conduct of the drug tester was questionable and a breach of “standard protocol,” Jones insisted that things were left in an amicable and “friendly” fashion. He later posted a video of the final exchanges on that day with the agent in question.

    But the latest update has seen Jones charged for the incident and facing potential jail time.

    Jon Jones Charged After Drug Tester’s Allegations

    This week, MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin reported that Jones has been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor, with the information coming from Bernalillo County Court representatives.

    If convicted of the two charges stemming from the March 30 incident, the UFC heavyweight champ is facing potential jail time and fines that could total $1,500.

    Jones’ virtual bond hearing is scheduled 9:15 AM MT on July 17 in New Mexico. There, the Rochester native will be told about the charges handed down and will be asked to give a plea. Conditions of release while the case is pending will then be set by the judge, with a bench trial to follow in 30 to 45 days.

    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Jones is currently looking ahead toward his first defense of the UFC heavyweight title, which he’s held since a successful divisional debut against Ciryl Gane in Las Vegas last March.

    After a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic last November was scrapped owing to an injury to the champ, both Jones and the promotion have opted to keep that matchup together for this year’s Madison Square Garden event rather than “Bones” unifying the belts against interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Before putting his full focus on his sophomore heavyweight outing, however, Jones once again has legal matters to attend to.

  • Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

    The fractured state of the UFC’s heavyweight title picture has been a topic of discussion this week as Tom Aspinall’s fight against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 draws near.

    The Brit is set to become only the third fighter in UFC history to defend an interim title when he steps into the Octagon in Manchester, England, on July 27, following in the footsteps of Antônio “Minotauro” Rodrigo Nogueira and Renan Barão.

    Aspinall fought for the interim belt on 17 days’ notice last November, knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Jon Jones was originally set to face Stipe Miocic in the main event of that pay-per-view but a torn pectoral tendon and emergency surgery put paid to those plans.

    In the months following UFC 295, Aspinall campaigned hard for a unification bout with Jon Jones, but it seems both “Bones” and UFC CEO Dana White remain committed to the original plan of Jones fighting Miocic later this year.

    Overeem Says Jones Likely To Beat Aspinall In Potential Fight

    Former UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem believes that Aspinall should be the one getting the title shot when Jones finally returns to competitive action, as 42-year old Miocic hasn’t fought since a loss to Francis Ngannou in March of 2021.

    “He should (be fighting Jon Jones),” Overeem said during an appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast this week. “Stipe hasn’t fought for many years now. But it was a little bit vague how that went, right?”

    When asked who he thinks would win a possible fight between Aspinall and Jones, Overeem leaned toward the former light heavyweight champion. However, he also suggested the UFC may have missed a trick by not making another fight that was rumored before Jones picked up his injury.

    “Who is gonna win? I think Jon. But Francis (Ngannou) and Jon would have been very exciting. I know that there was some (talks about making the fight). And they both wanted it, but the timing…and now Francis is gone. That was the fight to make, right?

    “Stipe’s not fought in a long time. What is he doing in the meantime, right, because when you have a fight there’s a camp, there’s development. And when you’re not doing that, you’re doing other stuff. Ok, maybe he has a high focus, high dedication to training…but you’re not fighting. And Jon is fighting…not that much, but he is fighting.”

  • ‘He’s Gonna Be Like Chandler Soon Huh’ – MMA Fans React To Jon Jones’ Concerning Deleted Tweet About Having ‘Finger Cut Off’

    If you think there has not been enough drama in the UFC over the last month or so, Jon Jones is now pouring gasoline on that fire, with a series of now-deleted tweets bringing concern to the MMA community.

    It started with a tweet in which Jones said he was at an airport in Las Vegas “getting half my finger cut off.”

    Jones followed that up with more tweets, including one that simply says, “No,” one that tells an X/Twitter user to, |Stop before it starts,” and one that says, “Do not call me.”

    The nature of these messages, combined with their quick deletion, has several in the MMA speculating what this could mean about Jones. Some have feared him being on another bender, while others are concerned this is a sign that Jones is yet again injured.

    Some even wonder if Jones will ever compete in the UFC ever again. Others, meanwhile, compared the behavior of Jones here to his brother, Chandler Jones, a star NFL defenseman who had a dispute with the Las Vegas Raiders at the start of the 2023 season and was released by the team following a September 2023 arrest.

    MMA Community Reacts To Concerning Series Of Deleted Tweets From UFC Heavyweight Champ Jon Jones

    https://twitter.com/krave_kombat040/status/1812158079120658736

    Some who view this as a sign Jones is hurt say, if that turns out to be true, “Bones” needs to be stripped of the UFC heavyweight championship quickly.

    In spite of some fan outcry, the UFC has been insistent on booking Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at New York’s Madison Square Garden after a plan for them to headline UFC 295 fell through due to Jones suffering a torn pec.

    Tom Aspinall won the interim heavyweight championship on that card, and he will defend that interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 on July 27.

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen recently expressed his belief that Stipe Miocic has the upper hand in his potential fight against Jon Jones.

    The much-anticipated clash between Miocic and reigning heavyweight champion Jones has been the talk of the MMA world since it was first announced. The excitement reached a fever pitch, only to be dashed last October when “Bones” tore his pectoral muscle just two weeks before their scheduled bout at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    The widespread anticipation is that the long-overdue bout will headline the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden this November. Jones has also fueled the excitement with his continuous hints, yet the MMA promotion has not officially confirmed the event.

    Miocic last competed at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he suffered a second-round knockout defeat in a rematch against former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Although he has been absent from the Octagon for over three years, Sonnen believes the 41-year-old Ohio native could still pull off a stunning upset against Jones if they were to fight…

    Sonnen Suggests Miocic’s Apparent Bulk Could Aid in Jones Fight

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Sonnen delved into a discussion about fighters who have the potential to dethrone reigning UFC champions by the year’s end.

    “The Bad Guy” expressed confidence in Miocic’s ability to defeat Jones in their potential matchup. Sonnen revealed that he recently spoke with the former longtime heavyweight champion about his current walk-around weight, and Miocic disclosed he’s around 252 pounds.

    The former middleweight title challenger told “DC” that Miocic’s added muscle mass could significantly enhance his power, a game-changing factor in a showdown with Jones.

    “If Stipe does in fact come in at 252 [pounds], that’s very different,” Sonnen said. “The first time you [Cormier] fought him, he was 246, and the second time you fought him, he was 233… But after he lost to Francis, Stipe thought that he was going to draw into a trilogy against Francis, and he realized I got to be a bigger man and got to have more size on me.”

    “He buckled down and focused on the same thing that Jon Jones did to gain weight. Stipe did the same thing; he added the right kind of weight, and that’s going to change the perception of power ability for takedowns. Stipe is going to show up at Madison Square Garden, and he is primed to get a victory.”

    Despite his extended hiatus, Miocic has been unwavering in his desire to face “Bones” in his comeback fight, expressing his willingness to wait for the opportunity. He’s recently made it clear that if the Jones bout doesn’t materialize, he’s prepared to retire.

  • Chael Sonnen Laughs Off Daniel Cormier’s Claim About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘Is He Drunk?!’

    Chael Sonnen Laughs Off Daniel Cormier’s Claim About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘Is He Drunk?!’

    UFC legend Chael Sonnen could not disagree more with a recent opinion Daniel Cormier shared about the heavyweight title picture.

    The main throne is currently occupied by Jon Jones, who collected the then-vacant belt with a submission of Ciryl Gane in his divisional debut last March. Next to him, however, sits an interim champ in the form of Tom Aspinall.

    The Manchester, England, native captured that gold after Jones’ scheduled defense against Stipe Miocic last November was canceled due to an injury. With Aspinall capitalizing by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, many initially expected Jones to meet the Brit in a unification showdown upon his return from the sidelines.

    But both the Rochester native and the UFC have other plans. While Aspinall gears up to defend his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 on July 27, Jones is expected to welcome Miocic back to the cage in November.

    That situation has left many in the community — fighters, fans, and pundits — less than pleased, with plenty expressing a lack of interest in the Miocic fight and disdain at the champ’s dismissal of his interim counterpart.

    According to Cormier, a former heavyweight titleholder himself, those voices will only get louder should Aspinall run through Blaydes in Manchester, so much so that the UFC could be forced into a change.

    Sonnen To Cormier: ‘Did You Hurt Your Head? Fall Off A Ladder?’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to Cormier’s take with utter bemusement.

    “The Bad Guy” insisted that no manner of victory for Aspinall could outdo his title-winning performance against Pavlovich last November. And seeing that such a display on that occasion did little to budge Jones and the UFC from their plans, Sonnen laughed off the suggestion a win over Blaydes could.

    “Is he (Cormier) drunk? Did he hurt his head? Did he fall off a ladder or something like this? Is he working on a comedy routine? I ask because he thinks that Tom Aspinall, with a proper victory, could take Stipe’s fight against Jon Jones away,” Sonnen said. “He can’t be serious, right?! He said with a proper performance, gotta be an absolute drubbing…Aspinall’s gotta go out there in front of his people and whip Curtis Blaydes, and there could be such an uprising by you, the crowd, that UFC would have no choice but to give Tom the fight.

    “There’s no way he believes that, right? Sometimes you say things and it’s on accident. In a normal situation you’d cut, edit that out, give me another shot. But, you’re live. And you look back and go, ‘That’s not at all what I meant.’ I’m assuming that’s what happened here,” Sonnen continued. “There’s nothing that can be done to Curtis Blaydes that would be worse than what happened to Sergei. And there is no amount of eyes on this match that is going to have the focus and the interest, thus making a victory potentially by Tom more incredible. To act as though that could interfere with a contractual agreement on a fight…what in the blue hell are you talking about?!”

    Nevertheless, Aspinall will hope to give Cormier’s theory the chance to play out by delivering a devastatingly dominant performance in his rematch against Blaydes later this month on home soil.

    The interim heavyweight title will be contested in the first of two championship fights at UFC 304, with Leon Edwards subsequently defending his welterweight belt against Belal Muhammad in the main event.

  • Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    We can add former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to the list of those who disagree with Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic being the next title fight at heavyweight.

    Not many topics have been debated in 2024 quite like the championship conversation in the UFC’s heavyweight division, which currently boasts two champions, only one of which is keen on fighting the other.

    After an injury forced Jones out of his planned defense against Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November, Tom Aspinall stepped up on short notice to capture the interim gold at the expense of Sergei Pavlovich.

    While that would usually lead to a unification showdown, Jones has remained firm on Miocic being his next fight despite pushback from Aspinall, as well as many fighters, fans, and pundits.

    In the meantime, Aspinall will put his belt on the line in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this month. The build-up to that July 27 bout will no doubt feature Jones’ name heavily and talk of Aspinall making one last bid to jump ahead of Miocic.

    According to one UFC star, however, a third option should be the leading candidate upon Jones’ comeback form injury…

    Poirier: It’s The ‘Perfect Time’ For Jones vs. Pereira

    During a recent in-studio appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier gave his take on the current state of the heavyweight division and the ongoing debate surrounding who should be Jones’ next challenger.

    While most of the opposition to Miocic receiving a shot over three years on from his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou has placed Aspinall in the position instead, “The Diamond” wants to see Alex Pereira shoot for two-division glory.

    “Stipe’s been out a good bit. Stipe could come back and be a completely different person,” Poirier said. “Aspinall’s obviously legit; he’s the interim world champion, he’s beat some good guys. But he doesn’t have the aura that Alex and Jones have. … (Pereira’s) starting to get that aura, like a Fedor (Emelianenko) had or an Anderson (Silva) had.

    “It’s the perfect time for it. I would (do it now). Yeah, (bypass the Miocic fight),” Poirier continued. “It’s bigger! It’s a blockbuster, bro. … And in the light heavyweight division, who’s he gonna fight? Ankalaev? Nothing against Ankalaev, but I’m not excited (by that). At the point he’s at in his career, he’s a superstar. I want to see him vs. Jones at heavyweight.”

    Jones himself has noted Pereira as a future option and suggested it sits above interim champ Aspinall in terms of intrigue.

    But just like his division’s other titleholder, “Bones” has refused to budge from Miocic in order to accommodate a super fight with Pereira toward the end of 2024.

  • Joe Rogan Discusses Jon Jones PED Accusations: ‘He Doesn’t Look Like Someone Who Does Steroids…But Neither Did Lance Armstrong’

    Joe Rogan Discusses Jon Jones PED Accusations: ‘He Doesn’t Look Like Someone Who Does Steroids…But Neither Did Lance Armstrong’

    Most MMA fans will find it hard to argue against the fact that Jon Jones is the greatest fighter to ever compete in the sport.

    From being the youngest UFC champion in history to defending the belt 11 times consecutively and then going up to heavyweight and becoming champion in that division also, “Bones” has done it all.

    The one issue that comes with arguing his case is whether or not you have to add a footnote to some of his wins because of several failed drug tests throughout his career.

    There is some form of explanation for some of these, but not everyone is willing to accept these reasonings because of how often they’ve become talking points.

    Joe Rogan References Lance Armstrong When Debating Whether Or Not Jon Jones Was Guilty Of Cheating

    During a recent podcast episode, a former opponent of Jones’, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson appeared on the JRE MMA Show alongside UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

    Jackson, like many fans, assumed that some of Jones’ career was up for debate because of the positive tests that he hadn’t looked into in lots of detail.

    Rogan then explained what the issue is with some of these findings and why some still believe that the current heavyweight champion is in the clear.

    “He did but the problem that he got popped with, there were so miniscule levels that it didn’t make sense.”

    Jackson responded, stating that given the fact that the conversation began by talking about Alistair Overeem, his former opponent never appeared to give off signs of performance enhancing drugs from his appearance alone.

    “He don’t look like somebody that does steroids.”

    Rogan made the point of how some of the most famous examples of athletes using steroids or other drugs to cheat didn’t necessarily give it away just by looking at them, referencing Lance Armstrong who was stripped of his record-setting seven consecutive Tour de France victories.

    “No he doesn’t… but neither did Lance Armstrong… he was doing testosterone, he was definitely doing that too. Those guys were doing a lot of s***.”

  • UFC Light Heavyweight Settles Number One Pound-For-Pound Debate Between Jon Jones & Alex Pereira

    UFC Light Heavyweight Settles Number One Pound-For-Pound Debate Between Jon Jones & Alex Pereira

    When Jon Jones made the decision to vacate the UFC light heavyweight title in order to take some time off before coming back at heavyweight, his former division was left in a strange place.

    The title seemed to change hands constantly without a real dominant presence at the top, until Alex Pereira made the move up from middleweight.

    Having conquered the 185-pound division before losing the title in a rematch with Israel Adesanya, he went on to do the same at 205.

    Whilst it would be hard to argue that Pereira is the most skilled mixed martial artist on the planet, his record and accomplishments in such a short period of time speak for themselves.

    It was only a matter of time, with just one weight class between them, that people started to pit Pereira versus the current heavyweight champion.

    Modestas Bukauskas Says Jon Jones Is Undeniable Despite Alex Pereira’s Achievements

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas gave his thoughts on whether Pereira has done enough to overshadow Jones on the pound-for-pound list.

    There has been a debate over the past several months about whether Jones or the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should be considered the best on the planet, but after Pereira put on another dominant display at UFC 303, he has entered the conversation.

    Bukauskas, who returns at UFC 304 against Marcin Prachnio, cites Pereira as a big inspiration and has briefly trained with Jones much earlier in his career.

    He believes that despite his admiration for the impact that “Poatan” has had, the record books alone show why “Bones” is considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it.

    “I mean if you’re talking about who’s probably the greatest of all time and what they’ve done in the sport, how could Jon Jones not be at the top of that list? Alex Pereira has obviously done a hell of a lot considering like in a short space of time but you know, Jon Jones has literally had about like 10 or 11 title defenses or something like that. When you’re defending the belt like that many times and now moved up to heavyweight and stuff like this, I mean you can’t really deny that. Although, what Alex has done has been amazing but I’d still put Jon Jones at the top of that list.”

  • Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.

    Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between “Bones” and Stipe Miocic.

    Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.

    The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.

    But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, “DC” says hope is not completely lost…

    Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.

    While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion’s next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, “DC” doesn’t believe everything is set in stone just yet.

    For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.

    “I can’t wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy,” Cormier said. “Here’s the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.

    “You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we’ve seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.’ … But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he’s only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight,” Cormier continued. “If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he’s clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that would do for my man Stipe.”

    Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn’t see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.

    In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested “Razor” was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That’s despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.

    Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.

  • Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again.

    That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the UFC’s annual November pay-per-view card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This had been the plan for UFC 295 last year until Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training.

    In spite of Aspinall winning the interim belt on this card, however, the seeming desire of the UFC’s to have Jones vs. Miocic at MSG, as well as the pair’s own desire for this fight to happen, resulted in “Bones” not being stripped or vacating the title with his injury — and the UFC’s patience in delaying this fight.

    Fight fans on social media, however, have voiced frustration with the situation. Many have expressed a lack of desire to see Jones vs. Miocic, with many preferring a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall — or a champion vs. champion superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira.

    Miocic Admits He Would ‘Feel The Same Way’ If He Was Aspinall

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Miocic was asked about the outcry from fans and their impatience or lack of desire for the fight. Miocic’s response was simple — fans need to stop “crying” because this is what he, Jones, and the UFC all want.

    “I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him (Aspinall),” Miocic said. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.

    “People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do? I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying. I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

    Though there has not been an official announcement from the UFC, Miocic confirmed that the plan right now is for him and Jones to face off inside MSG this November.

    Jones has repeatedly mentioned the date November 9 on social media, even though a David Gilmour concert (one in a series) is scheduled for that night at the arena.

    After dominating the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight. After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to capture the then-vacant UFC heavyweight championship.

    Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. With Andrei Arlovski’s recent departure from the promotion, Miocic has not fought anyone on the current UFC roster.

  • Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Jarred Brooks has achieved great success since departing the UFC and signing with ONE Championship, where he currently competes in the strawweight division.

    After losing his belt via disqualification at ONE 166 earlier this year, he is set to return at ONE Fight Night 24 in an interim title fight with Gustavo Balart. In the meantime, Brooks recently put together his perfect fighter in an interview with FightWave.

    He picked out which fellow athletes he would combine in order to build an unbeatable force of nature based off naming certain fighters renowned for their specialist skills…

    Jarred Brooks Says Picking Jon Jones For Each Category Would Build A Perfect Fighter

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0bGB9609-o

    Brooks started with his own specialist field, the grappling realm, where he picked two names who also compete in ONE Championship.

    Garry Tonon was one of the top submission grapplers in the world before making the move to competing in MMA, a venture that Kade Ruotolo has also recently embarked on.

    Brooks has said multiple times that his dream fight would be against the legendary Demetrious Johnson, who is the flyweight champion in ONE. He picked both “Mighty Mouse” and Merab Dvalishvili for cardio.

    In the boxing ranges, he named two featherweights who could be lined up to face one another in the near future as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway continue to trade words on social media.

    Brooks also didn’t take long to name his pick for which fighter he would want for their kicking game, taking the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    After adding “Bones” to his create-a-fighter, Brooks went on to say that, in reality, the correct answer to this question would be to pick the UFC heavyweight champion for each category.

    “It’s Jon Jones, period, though. 100 percent, and I’ve watched him since I was 12.”

    Jones has held the UFC’s heavyweight gold since his divisional debut in Las Vegas last March, which saw him submit Ciryl Gane in quick time.

    The Rochester native is expected to make his first defense against Stipe Miocic this November at Madison Square Garden, a year on from their canceled showdown in New York City.

  • MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    MMA News Today: Jon Jones Teases Date For Potential Stipe Miocic Fight, Dan Ige Calls In His Favor With Dana White After Saving UFC 303, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 4, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Jones says he will return at MSG in November
    • Ige calls to face Garcia
    • 303 winner makes quick turnaround to face Drew Dober

    Jon Jones Says His Return Will Be On November 9 At Madison Square Garden

    In a post on social media, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones teased a potential date and location for the first defense of his title.

    “Bones” was set to face off with former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November of last year until an injury forced him to withdraw and postpone the fight.

    Jones appears to now be targeting the rescheduled fight for the same month in the originally planned venue, Madison Square Garden in New York.

    He replied to a comment on Instagram where he named November 9 at the iconic venue as the target that he is working towards right now.

    Dan Ige Wants To Fight Ryan Garcia At UFC 306 With No Takedowns Or Weigh-In

    After he stepped up on the day of the fight to save the co-main event of UFC 303, Dana White said that he will try to make it up to Dan Ige.

    Ige didn’t get his hand raised against Diego Lopes this past weekend but his efforts to be a company man didn’t go unnoticed or without reward.

    The featherweight contender posted on social media where he made his request for his next outing with a very bold idea.

    Ige posted that he wants to face the controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia at UFC 306 inside the Sphere with a few extra rules being put in place.

    Garcia responded on social media, so clearly the call out at least caught his attention, that he’s down to compete.

    https://twitter.com/RyanGarcia/status/1808595885770543420

    Jean Silva Set To Make Two-Week Turnaround To Fight Drew Dober In Denver

    Jean Silva delivered one of the stand-out performances at UFC 303 as he stopped Charles Jourdain in the second round.

    Despite missing weight for the fight, the Brazilian is now set to make a remarkable two-week turn-around in order to take on Drew Dober up at lightweight.

    Dober was originally set to face Mike Davis in a significant bout for the 155-pound fan favorite due to him training out of Denver, Colorado where the card will be hosted.

    Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reported the news that Silva will be looking to pick up his third consecutive win in the UFC after debuting on the first card of 2024.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Case Made For Alex Pereira Not To Defend Title Against Magomed Ankalaev Next: ‘Wouldn’t You Rather Him Lose To The GOAT Jon Jones…’

    Former UFC heavyweight makes the case for ‘Poatan’ to face Jones next.

    UFC 303 was an unmitigated disaster for the promotion from a matchmaking point of view. The postponement of the long-awaited ‘Return of the Mac’ was no doubt a spanner in the works for the MMA leader as they were anticipating the highest gate in UFC history, and the bizarre sequence of events that led to Dan Ige stepping up on a few hours’ notice to fight in the co-main event is certainly something we’ve never seen before.

    From an entertainment perspective, the majority of the undercard failed to deliver. Outside of Payton Talbott’s quickfire knockout win over Yanis Ghemmouri, there really wasn’t a whole lot to get fans out of their seats during the prelims, and although the welterweight main card opener between Ian Machado Garry and Michael “Venom” Page proved an interesting tactical battle, it wasn’t a fight that impressed the fanbase.

    As has been the case time and time again, however, Alex Pereira stepped up to the plate to save the day. His knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in the main event stole all the headlines, just two months after his previous showstopping exploits against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.  

    The main talking point coming out of last Saturday seems to be concerning who “Poatan” will fight next. Rumours continue to circulate about a potential move up to test the waters in the heavyweight division against either interim champion Tom Aspinall or two-weight world champion Jon Jones. There is also the possibility he will defend the 205lb belt against the consensus challenger Magomed Anakalaev.

    Brendan Schaub Advocates For ‘Poatan’ vs. ‘Bones’ Next

    Speaking on his Extra Thiccc podcast this week, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub made the case for Pereira to fight Jones next.

    “If you’re the UFC, if you’re gonna risk Alex Pereira, wouldn’t you rather him…wouldn’t you rather him lose to the greatest of all time Jon Jones at heavyweight, and then go, ‘Yeah it’s Jon Jones, he’s going back to light heavyweight’, or you know let’s say it’s competitive, you go, ‘Yeah, he’s gonna fight Tom Aspinall’.”

    “At least you still have options” Schaub continued “because if you give him to Ankalaev and he loses? There’s no heavyweight…we don’t wanna see you at heavyweight. He’s gonna be stuck at light heavyweight. If you give him Aspinall and he loses that…well the mega-fight with Jon’s gone.

    Schaub then urged the UFC matchmakers to make the right decision, keep ‘Poatan’ away from the grappling-heavy Ankalaev – and book him against Jon Jones for the undisputed heavyweight strap after “Bones” is done defending his title against Stipe Miocic [if he beats him, of course].

    “If you’re in the boardroom and you’re Mick Maynard this morning and you’re waking up like, ‘Alright he’s an underdog in all three scenarios…what’s gonna be the biggest fight possible, which is not gonna shoot his balloon down of stardom the most?

    “You do Jon Jones – Alex Pereira in 2025 for the undisputed heavyweight title”.

  • MMA News Today: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Verbal TKO To Israel Adesanya During Heated Staredown At UFC 305 Press Conference, Jon Jones Responds To Rumors Of ‘Spirit Channeling & Magic’ In MMA Following Alex Pereira Fight, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 3, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Du Plessis has the best reply to Adesanya jab
    • Jones gives his side of the story on the use of magic and spirits
    • Diaz knew his own value before taking McGregor opportunity

    Dricus Du Plessis Makes Joking Remark To Israel Adesanya During Heated Faceoff

    Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya came face to face once again during the press conference that went down yesterday, for their upcoming middleweight title fight.

    Before the two rivals meet at UFC 305 on August 17 in Perth, they shared an incredibly tense staredown that is sure to build excitement for their eventual meeting.

    Adesanya appeared to be the one to say something to Du Plessis first during the staredown which the middleweight champion was asked about after the press conference.

    He jokingly made remarks about something that Adesanya’s last opponent, Sean Strickland, also chose to make fun of throughout the build-up to their fight.

    Du Plessis referenced a video of Adesanya and his dog which appears to be a bit of a sore subject for “The Last Stylebender”, as was proven after the Strickland fight.

    “I think he said, ‘Don’t kiss me’, as far as I know. I said I’m no dog so I won’t and you know, I don’t really know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying.”

    Jon Jones Says He Has Experienced ‘Spirit Channelling’ & Magic’ For Himself Following UFC 303 Controversy

    Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka are two of the most intense individuals in the sport when it comes to fight night.

    Before UFC 303 got underway, Procházka spoke about how he believed “Poatan” was using the help of magic and spirits in his fight, asking him to abstain in their rematch.

    Whilst Pereira offered a classy response to this in his post-fight interview after beating the former champion, UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones is the latest to weigh in on this.

    He posted on social media about how there is some truth to this based on his experiences of stepping into certain arenas and coming up against specific opponents.

    “There has been a lot of talk about spirit channeling and magic in MMA lately. This stuff is all very real. I felt all types of weird energies walking into those arenas. Looking certain opponents in the eyes. I want to let you all know that Jesus Christ is king, he is and always will be undefeated. Every knee shall bow.”

    Nate Diaz Reveals How He Negotiated A Much Higher Purse For His First Fight With Conor McGregor

    Nate Diaz has always been a cult icon in combat sports but UFC 196 was a moment that changed his life forever.

    The Stockton fighter became a huge name overnight when he stepped into the main event on late notice to fight Conor McGregor in one of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport.

    Diaz was well compensated for stepping up to save the day in place of Rafael Dos Anjos but he did have to put his foot down in order to get a much higher purse than was initially offered.

    He told MMA great Demetrious Johnson during an interview on The MightyCast how he knew what his own value was at the time and made sure he was suitably compensated.

    “At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

    “So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

    Read more on the story here.

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  • Daniel Cormier On State Of The UFC LHW Division Now Compared To Five Years Ago: ‘How Long Can Alex Pereira Reign…’

    UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago.

    For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, and Cormier. However, none of them experienced the rapid ascent within the division like the reigning champion, Alex Pereira.

    “Poatan” successfully defended his title twice in as many months, most recently delivering a stunning second-round head kick knockout against former rival Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303 last weekend.

    In just 13 professional MMA bouts and nine UFC appearances, Pereira has crafted an extraordinary legacy. He became the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Remarkably, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions within a mere two-year span.

    With years of fighting experience and his own status as a two-division UFC champion, Cormier possesses an intimate understanding of the fighters and the current dynamics of the 205-pound division.

    “DC” observes that the landscape has dramatically shifted in the past five years, especially due to Pereira’s dominance and exceptional striking prowess…

    Cormier Highlights Dramatic Change in Current LHW Fighting Styles

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier delved into the current state of the light heavyweight division, with “Poatan” reigning as champion and his challengers on the horizon.

    They discussed Magomed Ankalaev’s recent challenge to Pereira, where the undefeated Dagestani intriguingly promised not to rely on wrestling in their potential title fight.

    “DC” pointed out that five or six years ago, the top fighters in the division primarily had wrestling or grappling backgrounds. In contrast, the present-day contenders are increasingly reliant on striking skills.

    “Look at this weight  class right now, Chael, I see no wrestlers.” Cormier said. “I don’t see any wrestlers all the way to #10. #6 guy in the world is Nikita Krylov.”

    The former Olympian further assessed the prospects of dethroning Pereira, considering the challengers’ fighting styles.

    “If nobody wrestles this guy, Chael, how long can Alex Pereira reign at top of the division? Because it feels if you’re forced to stand with him and strike with him, you really have no chance.”

  • UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 303, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Given how firm he’s been in laughing off suggestions that Islam Makhachev should be ranked above Jon Jones in the P4P pecking order, Dana White likely won’t be pleased with the latest update. As first reported by renowned journalist John Morgan, the UFC heavyweight champion has dropped a further position to #3.

    Now in his place at #2 is Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin who cemented his grip on the crown with a second victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. That result has boosted “Poatan” above both Leon Edwards (#4) and Jones on the P4P list.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: A few months on from her successful debut at UFC 300, Kayla Harrison has jumped above Ketlen Vieira (#14) to move up to #13 in the P4P ranks.

    Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson secured a crucial victory at UFC 303, outpointing the retiring Michelle Waterson-Gomez. As a result, she’s climbed two places to #13, leaving Iasmin Lucindo and her defeated opponent at #14 and #15, respectively.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva had a strong start this past weekend rendered null by a brutal cut sustained from a Macy Chiasson elbow. The former title challenger has dropped three positions to #6 due to the doctor stoppage, with her victorious rival up two spots to #5. The changes have left Harrison (#3) and Irene Aldana (#4) one place better off each, while Holly Holm has had a slight fall to #7.

    Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Cody Durden has risen one position to #14, while David Dvořák has returned to the top 15 on the final step of the ladder despite his reported release.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Diego Lopes had a difficult UFC 303 fight week, going from a Brian Ortega fight at 145 pounds to an Ortega fight at 155 pounds to a same-day notice Dan Ige fight at 165 pounds. He ultimately emerged victorious, and the Mexico-based Brazilian has been rewarded with a two-spot climb to #12 in the featherweight rankings. That’s left him above Bryce Mitchell (#13) and Ige (#14).

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith was another fighter faced with a late-notice assignment at UFC 303. After Carlos Ulberg pulled out, “Lionheart” fought and lost to ranked middleweight Roman Dolidze. The result has seen Smith (#11) fall below Ulberg (#10) at 205 pounds.

    Meanwhile, the Georgian’s celebrations about being ranked in two divisions turned out to be premature, with Dolidze not appearing in the light heavyweight top 15 post-UFC 303.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.