SBNation.com User Blog: Mike Chiappetta

For Vitor Belfort, a late-career surge clouded by TRT use

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 19 May 2013 05:43:07 -0000

Vitor Belfort's professional career has been one of twists and turns. He was alternately one of the scariest men in mixed martial arts and at least for a time, one of the most head-scratchingly inconsistent. He was the heir to the throne, then nearly a washout. He espoused his Christian beliefs, but made enemies and perpetrated some of the most stunning violence fighting has produced. His career has had multiple acts. There was the "Phenom," the downfall, the comeback, the rise and fall, and now, the TRT period.

At 36 years old, Belfort is finding some of his greatest success. He is 9-2 in his last 11 fights, which is the best single stretch of his career since opening it with 10 wins in his first 12 bouts. In the last six years, he's only lost to current UFC champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. He's coming off crushing knockouts of Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping, and there is a real belief that he is surging towards a possible middleweight title shot.

Yet all of this comes wrapped in a layer of controversy. After Belfort beat Bisping in January, the UFC confirmed what he would not; that he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, treatment he continued for the fight with Rockhold.

The fact that Belfort declined to publicly disclose it himself, even when offered the opportunity, is one of the reasons there is an air of skepticism about his particular case.

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In January, just before fighting Bisping, ESPN's Brett Okamoto straight up asked Belfort if he had ever applied for TRT or was considering it. Belfort gave a rambling answer, eventually saying, "This is too controversial, why am I going to say something that doesn't accomplish anything?"

Last week, I spoke to Belfort, and he had changed his tune. I asked him if he wished the genie had never come out of the bottle and his secret had stayed a secret. He said no, and that he felt everyone on TRT should be publicly outed. But after beating Rockhold in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, he declined to answer any questions about TRT during a post-fight press conference.

Belfort is entitled to his silence if that's the path he chooses, but staying mum on the subject will not make it go away.

Back in the late 1990s, before I covered mixed martial arts, I was a general sports reporter, and I occasionally stepped into major league baseball clubhouses. This was right around the time when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa decided to bring video game baseball to real life, hitting home runs by the dozens. This was around the time when it was revealed by an Associated Press reporter that McGwire was using androstenedione, which then was being sold as a legal, over-the-counter supplement.

When that story broke, there was a real debate over whether McGwire was breaking any rules. After all, andro was legal. But the scientific community was pretty quick to point out that it was a steroid hormone. (It was later reclassified as a steroid.)

McGwire was not the only major leaguer to take andro. Far from it. Andro was an open secret in MLB, essentially a loophole that could be exploited. But McGwire was one of the sport's biggest stars, and so it was he who was most faced the heaviest scrutiny.

The whole scenario echos all these years later with what's going on in MMA with TRT. Testosterone is a performance-enhancer that is quickly seeping into the sport. There is little doubt that some fighters are taking advantage of a loophole. There is no question there is not enough random testing to keep them honest. There is really no way to tell who is truly deserving of an exemption, of who didn't shut down his own testosterone production due to previous abuse.

Due to a failed drug test in 2006, Belfort falls under suspicion of that, and whether at least some of this recent surge is chemically assisted.

That said, TRT is no miracle drug. Of known users, almost all of them have lost at least once while on it. Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir have all lost while on it. So did "Rampage" Jackson and Dennis Hallman and Shane Roller. TRT does not make you invincible, even if it makes you better.

There is a drug problem in sports, and in MMA. No doubt about it. Belfort has repeatedly said that he is not breaking any rules, and that is very true, but that may just be because the rules are outdated, much like they were in McGwire's case. Belfort may not be deserving of any more criticism than a random steroid user who does it under the cloak of anonymity, but his stature is so great and his story is so wildly compelling that it's going to come his way anyway.

One day in the near future, Belfort may fight for a belt again. He is likely going to need to be cleared by a state commission at some point, and some are on the record saying they might have a problem offering him a therapeutic use exemption due to his past PED bust. We are heading for some kind of collision course. We're already there from a public relationship perspective.

Even if you don't want to look too far ahead, you can't help but look at the here and now. The Belfort of today is a killer, something similar to the young, powerful crusher we first saw so long ago. And that's sort of the point. With all of his contemporaries gone or on their way out, Belfort has managed to not only stay relevant, but also go through a rebirth and hover near the top. After nearly 17 years of fighting, that's either cause for celebration or cynicism. Maybe he's just older and wiser than he used to be, maybe the dark period of his career when he suffered through the tragic loss of his sister was more difficult to navigate than he could ever put into words. But maybe TRT plays a role, too.

Fifteen years ago, when all of this PED stuff was a fairly new conversation in sports, McGwire became a national hero for breaking the home run record. If Belfort does something comparable and wins a championship, I suspect his achievement will never be unconditionally appreciated, not with the clouds hanging overhead.

UFC on FX 8 results: Vitor Belfort knocks out Luke Rockhold

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 19 May 2013 02:35:52 -0000

After months of leadup, after weeks of trash talk, and a pushing match on the day of weigh-ins, there were still raw feelings as the UFC on FX 8 main event began. Combatants Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold refused to touch gloves prior to their match, and then as the fight transpired, Rockhold chose to taunt Belfort, inviting him in for exchanges.

It would prove to be an ill-advised move. Belfort took him up on the offer, unleashing a striking series that is likely to be replayed for months to come, and certainly around December when the year's best are compiled.

Belfort crushed Rockhold with a spinning heel kick and then followed with a few thunderous punches from the top, earning a knockout stoppage at 2:32 of the first round.

"I didn't see that one coming," Rockhold said afterward. "I thought I was finding my timing. What can I say? He caught me with a spinning heel kick to the head."

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Belfort, a 16-year veteran who has mostly been known for his hands throughout his illustrious career, scored his second straight KO that stemmed from a kick. In January, he beat Michael Bisping after a head kick and punches.

Against Rockhold, Belfort had thrown the same spinning kick earlier in the fight and missed, but went back to the well about 90 seconds later and found pay dirt.

The victory will certainly put Belfort in the discussion for the division's No. 1 contender, after champ Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman fight on Fourth of July weekend.

Belfort, who has won four of his last five, wouldn't go out and ask for the bout, but said he was open to anything, including a rematch with Silva.

"I'm here to fight. I don't pick fights, I accept fights," he said. "The fans are excited. I'm very happy. I'm going to root for Anderson. He's doing a tremendous job."

The win was the 11th first-round finish in his UFC career, and he's now 23-10 overall. Rockhold, who was making his UFC debut after coming over as the Strikeforce champion, is now 10-2.

UFC on FX 8: 'Jacare' Souza puts Chris Camozzi to sleep

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 19 May 2013 02:13:55 -0000

For a while now, the sport's observers have believed that Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza was capable of competing with the best middleweights the UFC had to offer. For a time though, they had to settle for watching him in Strikeforce, where he rose to the division's championship before losing the title in a disputed decision.

There's no more need for speculation. 'Jacare' is here, and he's legit. In his UFC debut, he made short work of the surging Chris Camozzi, requiring just 3:37 to put the American to sleep with an arm triangle choke in the UFC on FX 8 co-main event.

"We were grappling and I was waiting for the opportunity," he said. "I saw his neck out there and I just went for it."

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The end came off a scramble with Souza on top. Camozzi appeared ready to give his back, but Souza instead opted to lock up his neck and arm, and quickly passed his leg threw to side control. One quick squeeze later, and it was history.

Camozzi never really had a chance to get started as he was only able to land 10 strikes before the fight hit the mat on a 'Jacare' takedown. From there, it was over as Souza sliced through his guard to more dominant positions several times before finding the finish.

Camozzi had won four straight prior to the defeat. The loss dropped him to 19-6. Meanwhile, Souza is 19-3 with 1 no contest.

UFC on FX 8 results: Rafael dos Anjos edges Evan Dunham

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:38:21 -0000

In a matchup of two lightweights trying to inch their way into contention, Rafael dos Anjos eked out a narrow victory over Evan Dunham at UFC on FX 8, winning by a unanimous decision.

The judges awarded him the victory with a sweep of 29-28 scores.

The result caused some immediate controversy, as Dunham threw his hands in the air in shock after cage announcer Bruce Buffer gave the official decision.

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Dunham likely figured his takedowns were enough to edge it out given the fairly even action on the feet.

According to FightMetric, Dunham finished with a slight edge in landed strikes, 90-86. dos Anjos, however, landed more strikes in each of the first two rounds, 30-25 in the first and 24-21 in the second. Dunham turned it up in the third, out-landing him 44-32. Dunham also had three takedowns in the fight while dos Anjos was 0-for-2.

Despite that, it was dos Anjos being handed the win, his fourth straight, moving his record to 19-6. He also has victories over Mark Bocek, Anthony Njokuani and Kamal Shalorus during that time.

Dunham fell to 14-4.

UFC on FX 8 results: Rafael Natal overwhelms Joao Zeferino with late rally

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:01:58 -0000

Accepting a fight on short notice is never an easy proposition. Entering a fight without a full camp and optimal conditioning is no easy obstacle to overcome, and has shunk its share of fighters. After UFC on FX 8, you can add Joao Zeferino to the list.

After a strong start in the first, Zeferino faded from the second round on, allowing Rafael Natal to take over and work his way to a unanimous decision victory in a UFC on FX 8 main card bout.

The judges scored it 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 for Natal.

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Zeferino had his best opportunity in the first, as the two were locked in a 50/50 guard for what seemed like an eternity, trading leg lock attempts. Both survived, but Zeferino won the round on the scorecards of two of the three judges.

However, he couldn't keep up the frantic pace, and Natal absolutely overwhelmed him over the last 10 minutes, out-landing him by a whopping 88-11 margin during that time, including 56-4 in the third.

Natal came close to finishing in the third after earning full mount and raining down strikes, but Zeferino was able to hang on until the final bell.

Natal has now won four of his last five, improving to 16-4-1. Zeferino, who accepted the bout on about two weeks' notice after Natal's original opponent Chris Camozzi was promoted into another bout, saw his seven-fight win streak go down the drain. He dropped to 13-5.

UFC on FX 8 results: Gleison Tibau chokes out John Cholish

Mike Chiappetta — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:07:58 -0000

Nearing seven years in the octagon, Gleison Tibau faced his riskiest professional situation at UFC on FX 8. A defeat would mean losses in three of his last four, and with the promotion's overloaded lightweight roster, could have cost him his job. Competing in front of his home country fans, Tibau ensured that wouldn't happen.

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The Brazilian veteran showed his experience by controlling the fight's tempo before landing the big punch and finishing on the ground with a second-round rear naked choke at UFC on FX 8.

The end came at 2:34.

The fight-finishing sequence was set in motion with a straight left hand that rocked Cholish, who backpedaled to the fence. Tibau followed him there, and as Cholish attempted to shoot for a takedown, Tibau took his neck with an arm-in guillotine. It took him two tries to sink it, but as soon as he pulled Cholish down, it was over.

"John Cholish is a very good fighter," he told the fans at Arena Jaraguá afterward. "He has great wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. I made use of when he made a mistake, got him with my left hand and then used my jiu-jitsu."

Tibau is now 27-9 in his career. The win was the 11th during his days in the octagon.

Cholish dropped his second straight, falling to 8-3.

Report: Renan Barao forced out of UFC 161 interim title defense

Mike Chiappetta — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:33:57 -0000

It looks like UFC 161 is going to need a new main event.

According to Brazilian-based Tatame, interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Eddie Wineland after suffering a foot injury.

Tatame reported that Barao injured his right foot and would not have enough time to recover for the June 15 bout in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Barao is believed to have one of the longest unbeaten streaks in MMA, having emerged from 31 straight fights without a loss. He is 30-1 with 1 no contest in his career.

Barao had been coming off one of his most impressive victories in the UFC, a fourth-round submission over Michael McDonald at UFC on FUEL 7 in February. Barao had hoped to beat Wineland and look towards a unification fight with injured champion Dominick Cruz.

With Barao out and less than a month to go until the show, the UFC is likely to promote one of two light-heavyweight bouts into the main card slot. In one, Mauricio Rua will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. In the other, Rashad Evans squares off with Dan Henderson.

Former UFC fighter Paul Kelly convicted of trafficking heroin, faces lengthy jail time

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:41:34 -0000

Paul Kelly holds a fairly unique distinction in the UFC, having been released after a Fight of the Night performance at UFC 126. His name will fall into further infamy after Friday, when he was convicted of trafficking heroin in his native United Kingdom.

According to The Liverpool Echo, jurors returned a unanimous verdict after a four-day trial.

The paper reported that the 28-year-old Kelly is facing a "long" prison sentence as a result, but did not specify possible lengths of time.

Judge Mark Brown told jurors that they'd made the right decision, and that he considered Kelly to be the head man in the organization.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Kelly and his friend Christopher St John McGirr were "major" dealers in the area. They were arrested in May 2012 after a series of raids in Liverpool and Sefton. At the time, marijuana plants, heroin and significant amounts of cash were found, police said.

The Echo reported that when the verdict was announced, Kelly shouted "I've got two kids," and his father was removed from the court after an outburst.

Kelly fought nine times in the UFC from Jan. 2008 to Feb. 2011, going 5-4. His most notable win came over Paul Taylor in his debut, a Fight of the Night winning performance at UFC 80. A 1-2 spell ending in a loss to Donald Cerrone at UFC 126 ushered him out of the promotion. He went on to fight three more times, and as recently as this past March, when he won a fight via TKO.

With his pending jail time, Kelly's professional fighting days are likely to be over.

UFC on FX 8 main event breakdown: Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:52:49 -0000

Though his career is described by some as inconsistent, Vitor Belfort has few real surprises on his record. He's mostly dominated the B-level opponents he's faced, and despite 10 career losses, most have come to former champions, names like Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, Randy Couture and Dan Henderson. There is no loss that can be viewed as a major surprise, or that can be viewed even in retrospect as a head-scratcher. That can't even be said for many of the greats.

Silva, G.O.A.T. though he is, once lost to Daiju Takase (career record 11-13-2) and Couture once lost to Valentijn Overeem (career record 30-28), and the list goes on. Belfort though, has only lost to the best.

And because of that, Belfort becomes Luke Rockhold's measuring stick.

Rockhold, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion whose best wins have come against Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Tim Kennedy, is taking a clear step up against a historical name, and on his opponent's home soil at UFC on FX 8 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil.

Given Belfort's strong recent record (his only losses in his last 10 fights are to reigning champs Silva and Jon Jones), including a crushing KO of perennial contender Michael Bisping in his last fight, and combine that with Rockhold's 10-month layoff due to various injuries, and it's somewhat surprising that as it stands now, the public is with Rockhold. While Belfort was initially installed as a slight favorite by oddsmakers, the money has come on the 28-year-old Californian to outclass him.

Rockhold has certainly won over believers with his performances against Kennedy and Souza, and for good reason. He has shown a well-rounded striking game, a good understanding of range, and excellent conditioning. He also has shown quality finishing instincts, closing out seven of his nine Strikeforce opponents, including Keith Jardine, who he starched in less than a round.

The matchup does have some built-in advantages for Rockhold. At 6-foot-3 and with a 77-inch reach, he has three-inch edges on Belfort in both areas. His stamina has also proven to be stellar in both of his five-round fights. Against Kennedy, he threw nearly the same amount of strikes in each round, ranging from 28 to 36. In the fifth, he threw 32, and added in a successful takedown for good measure.

Against "Jacare," he absolutely poured it on in the last round, firing off 76 strikes, his second-highest round total of the fight. That round essentially won him the fight and the belt, as two of the judges had the bout tied heading into the fifth.

Now facing Belfort, who has had endurance issues in the past, it could certainly be a determining factor in the bout's outcome. In fact, if the match goes past the third round, it's very likely Rockhold will take over and out-point Belfort.

Rockhold will first have to survive Belfort's early aggression. That has historically been when Belfort is at his most dangerous. In his last eight wins, five have come inside the first round.

The Brazilian's prized gifts have always been his hand speed and natural power. Even after 17 years of fighting, they are still there. The dynamic gets interesting because of the differing individual approaches of Belfort and Rockhold. Belfort generally has two methods of attack; either he likes to hang back and counter lazy punches, or he charges forward with a barrage of power strikes. Meanwhile, Rockhold likes to stay active and create offense. If forms holds, this matchup should be explosive.

To stay away from his power, Belfort's opponents generally look to tie him up or take him down, but Rockhold rarely shows interest in doing either. In his nine Strikeforce bouts, he tried a total of four takedowns. Belfort is much the same way. In fact, his last successful takedown came all the way back in 2007, when he fought and beat James Zikic in Cage Rage. Since then he's competed eight times and hasn't attempted a single takedown.

Bottom line? These two are going to settle things on their feet. To me, the whole fight comes down to whether you think Belfort can catch Rockhold in the first two rounds or not. Statistically, knockout rates decrease round-by-round, and Belfort's conditioning is no given while Rockhold's is a near certainty.

Ultimately, as I said, the fighters' styles will make for an explosive fight, and who does that favor? I feel that Belfort will land the big shot, and Rockhold's lengthy layoff is a big reason for that. Fighters who have experienced it will tell you that adjusting to the speed of a real fight is the most troublesome part of returning from time away. Rockhold has faced the situation before. He was out for nearly 19 months when he fought "Jacare" and while he ended up winning, he struggled in the first two rounds, losing the first on the judges scorecards, and then getting wobbled in the second. Of course, there's a huge difference in power between Souza and Belfort, and I don't know if Rockhold can survive such a scenario with Belfort. If he can, he'll probably win a decision. His offense is heavy on kicks, and he can keep Belfort at bay with that mastery of range. He is more than capable of a win if he plays it smart.

If this was a three-round fight, I'd feel more comfortable in picking Belfort, feeling that he could win the opening two rounds and hold on in the third. In a three-round fight, he'd be capable of winning the bout in two ways, either by finish or decision. In a five-round fight, it's probably finish early or bust. So this comes down to pure gut feeling, and whether you think a rusty Rockhold can survive the opening 10 minutes. My guess is Belfort via TKO.

Pat Healy's punishment doesn't fit crime

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:25:40 -0000

Just a few months ago, in February, boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was fined $900,000 by the Nevada state athletic commission after testing positive for marijuana. That whopping total -- the largest fine ever handed out by NSAC -- was 30 percent of his $3 million purse.

As it turned out, the severity of the punishment became one of few things in life that longtime adversaries Bob Arum and Dana White could agree on. The boxing promoter didn't mince words. In an interview with ESPN, he called it "extortion." The UFC president was similarly harsh. After hearing the fine, he tweeted, "The NSAC has officially lost its mind!"

That brings us to what happened on Tuesday, when Pat Healy announced that he'd been disciplined for failing a drug test. Healy admitted that he'd used marijuana, and took the high road (no pun intended) in saying he stands behind the disciplinary actions of the UFC and the New Jersey state athletic control board.

Healy's penalty was a 90-day suspension and the loss of his bonus money. As it turned out, that bonus money was nowhere close to Chavez's fine, yet a small fortune for most mixed martial artists and a substantial amount by any measure.

Because New Jersey does not disclose salaries, it's impossible to know exactly what Healy's win bonus was for beating Jim Miller, but since his last win bonus in January was $15,000, it's safe to assume it was at least that this time around.

Add in his Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses, which were $65,000 apiece, and Healy was essentially fined a minimum of $145,000 for his positive test.

Assuming his guaranteed fight purse was right around the $27,000 he earned in January (it was likely a bit higher), he was penalized somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 percent of his earnings, a staggering sum.

The obvious needs to be said here: The problem started with Healy. He is the one who chose to smoke marijuana during training camp, and took the risk that the drug would be out of his system. He is ultimately responsible for setting the wheels in motion for the draconian penalty that followed. But that doesn't absolve the penalty-maker for unreasonable punitiveness.

If the NSAC "officially lost its mind" for fining Chavez 30 percent of his purse, what are we to make of the decision to yank away 80 percent of Healy's earnings?

When the UFC decided it would hold back nightly bonus award checks until after drug test results, it was ostensibly to help clean up the sport from cheaters. It was, in effect, a safeguard from rewarding PED users. Those are the drugs that alter competitive balance, after all.

Marijuana is not a drug that anyone sees in that light. The UFC has even acknowledged that publicly. In March, just a month after Chavez's fine, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner visited the NSAC and implored them to consider revisiting punishments for marijuana use.

"I think it's something that has to be discussed on a commission level now," he said then. "Right now I just cannot believe that a performance-enhancing drug and marijuana can be treated the same. It just doesn't make sense to the world anymore and it's something that has to be brought up."

Marijuana is banned because commissions generally follow the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which sets the lead on drugs in sport. Keep in mind that as recently as 2002, caffeine was among the drugs banned by WADA. Caffeine.

Why did that change?

"We must adjust our list to modern thinking and to changes of attitude and changes of knowledge," WADA's medical research committee head said at the time.

At the same time, the status of marijuana was debated, but Arne Ljungqvist, who headed the medical research committee, said it was left on the list of banned drugs not because it is performance enhancing, but because the definition of doping also covers substances that "violate the spirit of sport."

That subjective terminology is far too broad. This is a question for science. It should come down to this: does marijuana enhance performance or not? Many conclusions -- like this one, and this one and this one, say no. Even the NCAA's top medical committee recently "universally agreed" that pot is not a performance-enhancer.

For now, yes, marijuana is on the banned list. And yes, Healy admitted to smoking it. But it does not deserve the same penalty as PEDs. With the money he just surrendered, Healy's penalty by percentage was greater than any fine ever handed out for true PEDs like steroids or testosterone or EPO. Something is very wrong with this picture.

Lavar Johnson was fined $1,250 for using testosterone. Rafael Cavalcante was fined $2,500 for using stanozolol. And Healy lost out on over $140,000 for using pot. If we think Chavez losing 30 percent of his earnings is ridiculous, there should be outrage over Healy's treatment. Chavez plans to sue to recover some of his fine. What recourse does Healy have?

There is little question that one day in the future, marijuana will be removed from commissions' lists of banned substances, or its penalties will be severely reduced. Perhaps then, Healy will be able to take solace in the knowledge that his treatment helped expedite that change.

Heavyweight tourney openers added to six-bout main card for Bellator's summer series kickoff

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:37:55 -0000

Bellator's June 19 summer series kickoff will feature a six-bout, three-hour main card, as the opening round of the heavyweight tournament has been added on to the show.

The promotion confirmed the details of the four-man field, which includes former UFC fighter Vinicius Queiroz, Richard Hale, Ron Sparks and unbeaten Vitaly Minakov.

In the semis, Queiroz will face Hale, while Sparks takes on Minakov.

Minakov is 10-0 with nine stoppage wins, including three straight knockouts, while his opponent Sparks (8-1) hasn't competed since Oct. 2011.

Hale (21-5-1) competed in the season 7 heavyweight tourney, losing in the final against current champion Alexander Volkov. He is probably best remembered for his March 2011 inverted triangle choke submission win over Nick Fekete.

Queiroz (6-3) fought once in the octagon, losing to Rob Broughton at UFC 120. He's 1-1 so far in Bellator, with a TKO loss to Volkov during season 7.

The event emanates from the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma and airs at 7 pm ET on Spike.

The entire main card is below.

Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. Dave Jansen (19-2)
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (9-2) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-7)
Renato "Babalu" Sobral (37-10) vs. Jacob Noe (11-2)
Vinicius Queiroz (6-3) vs. Rich Hale (21-5)
Vitaly Minakov (10-0) vs. Ron Sparks (8-1)
"War Machine" Jon Koppenhaver (12-4) vs. Blas Avena (8-6)

Josh Barnett reignites hope for UFC deal, saying it's where he can cement his legacy

Mike Chiappetta — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:39:13 -0000

The natural course of business negotiations often produces several stops and starts. Parties must continually reassess their own wants and needs, as well as the shifting economy beneath their feet. Throw in complicating factors like outside suitors, market pressures and public relations, and the recipe for reaching a deal can grow far more complex.

Most of the time, it comes down to one single thing, and it's whether the two parties want to work together. When they do, any barrier can be jumped, and a true middle ground can be found on even the most problematic of issues.

From the sounds of it, the possible deal between Josh Barnett and the UFC could be trending in that direction. Or more accurately, that is Barnett's hope. Appearing on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Barnett indicated in several different ways that the UFC would be the most logical home for his services.

The 35-year-old, who has been a free agent since submitting Nandor Guelmino in January on the last Strikeforce show, said that there was only one stumbling block in reaching a deal with the Las Vegas-based promotion. Though he declined to say what it was out of respect to the promotion, he suggested the two could still reach a deal, saying that the one issue is "a very, very simple thing, in my mind."

Asked by host Ariel Helwani if he wants to fight in the UFC next, Barnett didn't mince words.

"I would love to fight in the UFC next," he said, before noting how many times fans have quizzed him about the possibility of fighting Frank Mir over the years.

"I’ve been a top 10 fighter longer than anybody active in mixed martial arts at this time," he said. "And there's a real good reason for that. To be in the UFC would mean to go back to where I already won the belt, to go back to where I was a champion at 24 years old, and try to cement my legacy as an MMA fighter. I don't really feel I can create that legacy and finish on a high point unless I’m there."

The admission will no doubt create new buzz, as in February, Barnett officially declined the UFC's offer and turned his attention elsewhere.

Barnett said his management team is talking to all available suitors and has received offers, but that "the UFC would be the most attractive place to ply my wares."

Barnett had a five-fight run in the UFC in the early 2000s, capturing the heavyweight championship in March 2002, though he was stripped of the belt after testing positive for steroids.

After leaving the promotion, he became something of a fighting mercenary, competing in PRIDE, Sengoku, Affliction and Strikeforce, among other places. With a 32-6 record, he is considered by most of the sport's observers to be the best heavyweight not under Zuffa contract.

There was a time when Barnett was being linked with Bellator, but he said he wasn't as close to signing with Bellator as he was of signing with the UFC.

"Well, I think the right deal just hasn’t put itself together," he said. "There's been a lot of good pieces. These promotions have a lot to offer in terms of competition, promotional value, and opportunity to show the fights to a large audience. The fighting part of it, I’m game for all of it. I think it’d be a blast no matter where. But you can't just run out and start punching people without thinking about the business aspects of it. Between me and my manager, the right scenario just hasn’t presented itself just yet."

Barnett said he would like to finalize something as soon as possible. In regards to the prospects of him fighting Mir, he said he'd be open to it, even though he predicted Mir would find out he wasn't in his league.

"With Frank, it's just the one fight everyone brings to me," he said. "I think part of that stems from us being American submission guys, and being big dudes, and having the fight between [Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira and Mir, me and Nogueira, there's some commonality between opponents. I can understand why fans look at it in that way. And honestly, yeah, Frank's been around a long time. I’d have absolutely no issue fighting him in any way, shape, or form. I think it would be something that would get people excited, but I'll be honest. If I'm just being humble, I think I get people excited anyway."

As the days and months tick by, time is of the essence, but Barnett's public statements make it clear that he's ready to return to the negotiating table and try again to reach a deal.

Poll

Where do you think Josh Barnett will end up?

As controversy swirls around him and age catches up, Vitor Belfort at peace with career arc

Mike Chiappetta — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:33:11 -0000

Last month, Vitor Belfort turned 36 years old. As professional athletes go, he is aging. As mixed martial artists go, he is ancient. Belfort was around for the early days, dating back to UFC 12. How long ago was that? That was the last UFC show that was supposed to be in New York. At the time, it was legal in the Empire State, or so it seemed. On the day of the show scheduled to be held in Niagara Falls, a federal judge upheld suddenly changed regulations that would bar head kicks and require fighters to wear head gear, among other things. As a result, the UFC picked up and moved the show to Dothan, Alabama. It was mostly a traveling circus then, with little in the way of oversight and even less in the way of mainstream acceptance.

Since then, Belfort has seen every side of life. He was one of mixed martial arts' "next big things" -- even before "MMA" was the sport's name. He became champion. He flamed out. He suffered through the pain of his sister's kidnapping and had to come to terms with her murder. He got married, became a father. He found God. He was born again, first as a Christian, then as a fighter.

As it turns out, both of these transformations bring with them some controversy.

Belfort shares his religion freely, offering it up at times expected and unforeseen. It is the most powerful force in his life, he says, and so he must share it. What is the point of a platform without a message, anyway?

But others disagree with his method, his delivery or both. His most recent opponent, Michael Bisping, for example, called Belfort a hypocrite, citing his past PED bust along with his current use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Finding fans who are turned off by Belfort's constant mentions of his faith is no difficult feat, either.

None of this seems to phase him. None of anything seems to, really.

Ask him about knocking out Bisping and he says there is no extra joy in it. Ask him about UFC on FX 8 opponent Luke Rockhold, who has criticized Beflort's TRT use, and he says he doesn't care. Controversy and combat swirl around him, and yet Belfort seems immune to it all.

"I’m the type of fighter that steps into the jungle not fearing anything," he told MMA Fighting. "I’m there to fight, to do my best. that’s what I’m going to do. I fight with what’s inside of me. My motivation is not him. It's not what people say, it's not what people think. My motivation, no one can steal it, or my my gifts and my talents. I develop them every day. I’m new every day. I've just been blessed. I'm so happy."

Being "new" every day? That's also part of the criticism about Belfort, or at least how much is earned and how much is artificially produced.

After knocking out Bisping, it was revealed by the UFC that Belfort was on a TRT program after being diagnosed with hypogonadism. That revelation seemed to correspond with a beefed-up physique, a change that he attributes to diet and strength training. Adding to the drama, Belfort had previously declined to confirm or deny rumors that he was on TRT. Taken together, he seemed guilty of something.

The therapy has become one of many fronts in the war on PEDs. While it is legal under a doctor's care and an exemption from athletic sanctioning bodies, its use has quickly become widespread, with major names like Chael Sonnen, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, Frank Mir and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on the rolls.

Then, in February, company president Dana White changed his own view on TRT from neutral to negative, declaring it as "a way for people to cheat," and saying he was "absolutely 100 percent against TRT." On one hand, it was the strongest anti-TRT statement to date. On the other, White's words came right around the time UFC announced Belfort vs. Rockhold as the UFC on FX 8 main event.

"That’s what he thinks, but I’m not doing anything illegal," Belfort says. "I think people have to have this choice, you know?"

Belfort says that he doesn't care that his name came out as a user, even though as a result, he gets asked about it in every single interview he does. Even though some people accuse him of cheating. That's a label that has dogged him before, and may stick to him until he hangs up his gloves.

"It's no problem," he said. "I think they should release [the name] of everyone that's on it. For me, it's no problem. I'm not doing anything illegal, so I'm not ashamed of anything."

While the focus largely remains on TRT, he would like more credit for his hard work, and for the efforts of his coaches. The Blackzilians staff has received its share of criticism as a super camp that doesn't always boast matching results but Belfort believes part of his newest iteration stems from the instruction he receives there, citing his wrestling improvement as proof that the UFC's old lion is capable of learning new hunting tricks.

Where will it ultimately lead? To Belfort, that is not a question for him to answer. Of course, there is still the hope for another chance to win a UFC championship. The possibility of bookending his career with a belt is still there, but with losses to both middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones, there is no guarantee he will earn a rematch with either, even though a victory over Rockhold would be his fourth straight win while competing at 185 pounds

After all this time, it's just a wonder he's even in the conversation. TRT may be controversial, but the results of known users suggest it's no wonder drug. His religion may inspire him, but doesn't win fights. At 36, and with time and controversy chasing him, there must be other factors, too. Maybe it's Belfort's ability to find peace amidst chaos, a hard-won trait that can only come from experiencing fantastic success and devastating pain, and learning that neither defines you.

"When you realize you have a purpose and you have a joy and you have all that lined up, a great team behind you, family, I’m loving it, "he said. "I've never had so much fun doing what I do. Now I realize that’s my purpose. It's going to come to an end. The key is to finish strong and with a lot of respect for everyone. That's what I'm fighting for. The bottom line is the commitment with your choice. As soon as you make a choice, go for it and be happy. That's my secret."

Nick Newell rebuts XFC claims, says he never agreed to title fight, opted out of contract

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:40:54 -0000

Hours after XFC president John Prisco stripped Nick Newell of the organization's lightweight championship, saying he was afraid to face top contender Scott Holtzman, Newell told MMA Fighting that he was taken aback by the announcement because he had never agreed to any kind of title fight, and had previously exercised an opt-out clause in his contract to declare free agency.

Newell said that he when originally signed with XFC, he agreed to a five-fight deal, but was given the ability to leave after three fights or one year. After being offered a championship match, he chose to take a fourth fight with the promotion, which he won, but opted out before a fifth bout in order to find more experienced opposition elsewhere with the hope of impressing the UFC.

"My contract is up and I chose not to go back to XFC," he said. "It's not about Scott Holtzman, certainly not. It's more so about me wanting to go somewhere that will guide me where I want to go. I want to go to the UFC. There was an interview with Dana White. I'm sure many people remember, and he said, 'Well, has he beaten anyone that was in the UFC?' And the answer's no, because I haven't had the opportunity to fight someone that was in the UFC. At 27 years old, I want to get to the top as soon as I can. No more playing around. I want to fight the guys who will get me where I want to be."

Newell said that after he opted out of his deal, XFC made him another financial offer, but Newell's camp turned it down because the money was too low. He said at that point, XFC promised to match an offer that Newell's camp had obtained elsewhere but his management team turned it down.

Regardless, Prisco went on to announce the matchup with Holtzman, which was penciled in for a June 14 event. Newell said he was surprised at that, but allowed his management to handle the situation. It ultimately ended with Prisco's Friday announcement, but despite that, Newell took the high road, crediting the organization for the opportunity and platform they provided him.

"I don’t have anything bad to say about the XFC," Newell said. "As a person, [John] says he respects me. I owe a lot to XFC. I was a no-name when I first came up, but I moved on. I'm moving forward with my career. He’s going to say I’m scared or whatever because he has a fight to promote. I don’t blame him. I’m not really mad or angry as much as I am upset that he'd say something like that because if you asked him before my last fight if i was scared, or if I wasn't tough, he’d never say that. He's just saying that to make his own guys look better, and I don't blame him."

Newell pointed out that his last opponent, Reynolds, had over 20 fights on his record, while Holtzman has just four.

In preparation for his next opportunity, Newell has been putting in time at American Top Team (ATT) in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the big names of the gym's vaunted roster. He's been there for about one month, and says that training with some of the best fighters in the world has assured him that he's made the right decision. At 27, time is ticking, and Newell is looking ahead towards the end game.

From the time he entered the sport, his goal was the UFC, and splitting from XFC was just another step in that direction. Newell says he expects to make an announcement about his future soon, and that he is prepared right now for the sport's biggest show.

"Hanging with these [ATT} guys is a good way to gauge where you're at," he said. "There's a lot of great fighters here. You can ask anyone from the team. You can call up [head instructor Ricardo] Liborio right now. He’ll tell you I’m ready."

Nick Newell stripped of XFC lightweight title

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:18:33 -0000

Nick Newell, the unbeaten one-handed fighter who persevered through his disability to capture the XFC lightweight championship last December, has been stripped of the belt before ever making a defense.

XFC president John Prisco said on Friday that Newell refused to defend the title against top contender Scott Holtzman. The two had been expected to meet on June 14.

In a post made on the XFC website, Prisco said Newell's management requested more money for the matchup, and that after XFC matched that, they still refused the fight.

Newell did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

"Nick built his name on fighters who were willing to step up and fight him," Prisco said in the post. "And now, the opportunity he received, he is not willing to extend to Scott, even though they both carry the same XFC record (4-0). To me, that’s hypocritical and I have zero respect and no room for any individual that acts like that in my organization."

Prisco also accused Newell of ducking out of the fight because he feared defeat, and then predicted that he would have lost.

"I think Nick knows what I believe. He was going to lose," he said. "Nick knows he can’t defend himself when someone like Scott puts him on his back. I believe Scott is one of the most talented 155ers on the planet. He’s training on the west coast right now with Benson Henderson for that very reason. In my eyes, I saw the fight going 1st round stoppage – Holtzman by ground and pound."

Newell has a perfect record in his career, 9-0 with eight first-round stoppages. He captured the belt with an 82-second submission win over veteran Eric Reynolds (16-6) last December.

By comparison, his anticipated opponent Holtzman is 4-0 with three stoppage wins.

Newell has long targeted a chance to fight in the UFC, and is currently training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. While Prisco did not explicitly announce Newell's release, he wished him well in "his future endeavors."

Meanwhile, Holtzman will still compete for the championships on the June 14 event, just against a different opponent.

Melvin Manhoef faces Mamed Khalidov at KSW 23

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:46:17 -0000

Mamed Khalidov, considered by some to be the top-ranked middleweight outside of the UFC, will take on Melvin Manhoef in the main event of KSW 23 next month.

The event takes place on June 8 at Ergo Arena in Gdansk/Sopot, Poland.

The match features two of the top finishers in the division. Manhoef has stopped opponents in all of his wins, with 25 career knockouts and two submissions, while Khalidov has 11 KO's, 14 submissions and only one decision among his 26 victories.

Khalidov has only lost once since Oct. 2005, a span over 26 bouts. He holds wins over former or current UFC fighters Jorge Santiago, Igor Pokrajac, Rodney Wallace, James Irvin, Matt Lindland and Kendall Grove.

He's won each of his last five fights by stoppage, including a submission win over Grove in his most recent bout. He has in the past been offered a UFC deal but passed, saying he made more money fighting in KSW.

Meanwhile, his opponent Manhoef has chased a UFC deal, but has not been able to secure one. His campaign was set back in his most recent performance, a decision loss to Brock Larson at ONE FC 8. That defeat snapped a three-fight win streak for the 36-year-old, who has a career record of 27-10-1 with 1 no contest.

KSW 23 will also feature the return of strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski in the co-main event against an opponent yet to be named, along with Grove taking on Michal Materla.

Leonard Garcia released from UFC

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:21:59 -0000

After a six-year Zuffa tenure that saw him compete 17 times in both the UFC and WEC, Leonard Garcia has been released from his UFC contract.

MMA Fighting confirmed the cut with Garcia's management team on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old spent much of his last few years fighting to hold on to his job, but managed to secure numerous chances due to a crowd-pleasing style that was heavy on action, though short on defense. The UFC finally pulled the cord after Garcia struggled badly against Cody McKenzie, getting overwhelmed on the ground en route to a unanimous decision defeat at UFC 159. His final record in the octagon was 2-7. He found more success in the WEC, where he was 4-3-1.

Dating back to the start of 2009, Garcia (15-11-1) won just three times in 12 fights, and in a curious coincidence, all three of those victories came in disputed split-decisions, including a 2010 win over Chan Sung Jung which garnered consideration as Fight of the Year.

In a rematch one year later, Jung submitted Garcia in the second round, becoming the first man ever to successfully finish a UFC fight with a Twister.

That setback was the beginning of the five-fight losing streak that ushered Garcia out of the UFC. That stretch is tied for the second-longest skid in promotional history, tying him with Steve Cantwell. Both Phil Baroni and Elvis Sinosic lost six straight octagon encounters, although those streaks were tallied over two separate tenures in the promotion.

A look at the numbers show Garcia's major issues in crafting a winning effort. According to FightMetric, while he landed 2.77 strikes per minute, his opponents were much more successful against him, landing 4.79 times per minute. Eventually, the numbers caught up to him.

He does leave with some good memories, including a TKO win over Jens Pulver in 2008 that propelled him to a featherweight title shot. Two years earlier, in 2007, Garcia took part in a memorable slugfest with Roger Huerta that landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, though he was mostly obscured by the magazine's title.

Garcia said he hopes to make it back to the octagon in the future, tweeting, "Got let go by UFC, thanks for everything! Ill (sic) be back better then ever!"

UFC signs new TV deal in UK, with increase of local events likely to follow

Mike Chiappetta — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:22:18 -0000

The UFC has signed a three-year broadcast contract with BT Group, in hopes that the new strategic partnership will reignite the mixed martial arts boom in the UK.

The deal, which was announced on Tuesday morning, will offer comprehensive coverage of the UFC, including programming specifically produced for UK and Irish audiences, on the soon-to-be-launched BT Sport, according to The Daily Mirror. The aim is to produce coverage similar to the shoulder programming that FUEL TV has developed in the U.S.

Previous deals with ESPN and Setanta Sport provided only live events.

The launch of BT Sport, which will be officially announced on Thursday, is set for an August debut with three channels: two BT Sport channels as well as an ESPN channel. In addition to the UFC deal, they have also signed content deals with Premier League soccer and Premiership Rugby.

Earlier this year, UFC president Dana White hinted that a new television deal in the UK would result in the promotion scheduling regular live events in local markets. Since the start of 2010, the UFC has only visited the UK once each year, and they haven't taken the show to Ireland since 2009.

"Here’s what we are working on: dates in London, Manchester, Dublin and several other places in the UK," he said in February. "We do them every year, the same date every year, and with the right television deal we bring big fights over here."

The UFC's first event that will air on the channel is UFC 163 on August 3, according to multiple reports.

After lengthy absence due to injury, apathy, Brian Bowles rediscovers love for MMA

Mike Chiappetta — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:20:04 -0000

In the world of sports, the next big things come and go with the blink of an eye. They are disposable heroes, adored one minute, forgotten the next. This is the fate of many, even if the reasons for the rise and downfall are rarely fully explored.

A recent mixed martial artist that neatly fits into the narrative is Brian Bowles, a powerful bantamweight who won the WEC championship, lost it partly due to injury, and then, a few fights and a short time later, seemed to vanish without a trace.

At least to the sporting world, Bowles hasn't been seen or heard from since Nov. 19, 2011, when he lost to Urijah Faber on what was perhaps the best night of major MMA in the last 10 years. On the same evening that Dan Henderson outlasted Mauricio Rua in a ferocious war of attrition, and Michael Chandler bested Eddie Alvarez in a brilliant technical masterpiece, Bowles tapped to Faber's vaunted guillotine. After that, he walked back to the locker rooms at the HP Pavilion, out the arena's doors, and disappeared into the California night.

Just as quietly as he left, after 18 months away, Bowles returns. At the upcoming UFC 160 event, he will face George Roop.

It's a comeback a long time in coming. Bowles, who turns 33 next month, said he originally intended only to take a short time off, but saw the days and weeks multiply largely because of injury as well as his own apathy for training.

"Sometimes going in the gym, it wasn’t fun to me anymore," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I started doing this out of fun. I didn't start doing this because I wanted to fight in UFC. I just started doing it for fun. When it became my job, and all the pressure got on me, it quit being fun, the grind of it."

Bowles' issues were compounded by ongoing injures. He broke his hand three times. He hurt his knee. He contracted staph infection. He was diagnosed with two bulging discs and two degenerative discs.

Of all the problems, the back injury has been the most troublesome to his career. Bowles said that he must constantly work hard to stay in shape, doing pre-habbing and strengthening exercises. Whenever he misses any time, it inevitably leads to disaster.

"When I sit out and try to come back, I have to come back so slow to get my back conditioned to it, that if I don't, I'll hurt myself," he said. "That actually happened to me. We tried to come back too fast, and then I ended up hurting my back and that would put me down for another month. Then before you know it, you're out 5-6 months without doing anything just from trying to take off a month or two."

The solution, it seems, is to consistently stay active and stay on his workout regimen.

For this return, he has been training hard since last October, and the workouts have allowed him to put his past experiences in perspective.

"You kind of get down on yourself when you're not training and you're sort of laying around," he said. "You're like, 'Man, I don't know if I want to do this.' I guess it's like you get depressed because you're a fighter and you're not fighting, you're not making money, you're not doing interviews, you're not doing anything. But as soon as I got to training hard again, I realized how much I loved it, and this is what I want to do."

Bowles said the last 18 months of living without earning a fight purse have been a financial challenge. He's lived off his past earnings, as well as some investments he made. He's also tried to make extra money by teaching classes and giving private instruction.

Incredibly, the division has not passed him by. Bowles is still ranked No. 8 in the UFC's divisional rankings, where ostensibly, a couple of wins should put him squarely in the hunt to challenge for a belt. Bowles thinks a solid three-fight win streak will be enough to gain him consideration, and the flashier the wins, the better.

Against Roop, he thinks the key is to find a way inside his range and put himself into position for takedowns.

After 18 months of inaction, and seeing what life is like away from competition, Bowles says there's no chance he's going back to the dark time in his life when he lost sight of how fun it all could be.

"Now I realize what it’s like without it," he said. "I don't want to feel that again. I realize when all that’s gone, I was sitting around the house doing nothing. I need to be out there fighting. Now that I'm back, I realize it was stupid of me to get lazy like that, and I think it got me refocused."

As UFC 163 training camp begins, Anthony Pettis dreams of rare double gold

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:35:48 -0000

Anthony Pettis has this dream scenario. He fights UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and finishes him. And then the UFC lets him move back up to his former home of 155 to fight lightweight champ Ben Henderson, and he stops him, too. As plans go, it's both audacious and flashy. In other words, exactly what you would expect from someone who goes by "Showtime."

See, here's the thing about Pettis: while he's got Aldo in front of him, he can't stop thinking about the lightweight division. That's at least partially because people won't stop asking him about it. Pettis, after all, is the last man to beat divisional champion Henderson, doing it in a style worthy of his nickname. Not only was Pettis vs. Henderson one of the best fights of 2010, but it also closed the curtain on the WEC, with Pettis bringing the entire sporting world to their feet with a launch-off-the-cage kick that floored Henderson and clinched the win.

As much as Pettis launched the kick, the kick launched him, too. Those lightweight roots are still visible. As much as he is reminded of them, he also doesn't hide his ambition in winning both belts, and his interest in rematching Henderson.

For example, ask him about Henderson's last win over Gilbert Melendez, and he says, "I wasn't that impressed." Inquire about which divisional championship he would value the most, and he pauses for just a moment before answering, "[One] fifty-five would mean more, but [one] forty-five is still a belt."

Why, then, is he doing this, so quickly after he was promised a shot at the belt, a chance to fight Henderson? In some ways, he is cutting off Aldo before Aldo can cut him off. He has heard rumblings in the past about Aldo moving up, and figures if he does, Aldo will cut the line for a title shot. That's something Pettis didn't want to risk. So he took the first available route to gold, even if it's not the one he wants most.

"I want to fight Ben again," he said. "I beat him once, but that was a long time ago. People forgot about it already."

That may be a slight exaggeration. Few who witnessed the "Showtime Kick" will forget it, though it is true that the division moved on from it quickly. To wit, just 14 months after that fight, Pettis and Henderson fought on the same card. While Pettis fought in the main-card opener, Henderson was in the spotlight, competing in the main event and capturing the championship.

Since then, Henderson has defended the belt three times, although two of them have been close and controversial split-decisions. The most recent came against Melendez in April, and Pettis was one of the many who watched with a probing eye. Asked for his critique on the performance, he shrugs, saying, "I wasn't that impressed."

"I think it’s his intensity, his brains," he said of Henderson's ability to squeak out close wins. "In between rounds he’s hyping everybody up looking like he's ready to go. When it actually comes down to it, he's barely landing hard punches, he's barely landing any kicks. He's doing well in the scrambles. And then you have to take in the fact that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best lightweights in the world, also. It's hard for me to watch that and just be like, 'Oh, it was a close fight because they're both good.' I come in here to finish my fights. I've proved it in my last two fights and I can't wait to do it again."

Whether his last statement is intended for his next opponent Aldo or a future rematch with Henderson goes unmentioned.

While it may seem he's got Henderson heavy on his mind, this is the week where his focus truly shifts towards Aldo. On Tuesday, he traveled to Rio to train with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts Daniel and Diego Moraes, and begin to acclimate himself with the city where he will eventually fight the champion. That home-cage advantage for the Brazilian featherweight dynamo will be significant, as Rio has hosted some of the most raucously supportive crowds in UFC history. But again, Pettis' history with Henderson comes up here, as Pettis notes he beat Henderson in front of a home crowd.

"I don't think it's going to be a problem," he said. "I don't mind it at all. I think I have fans in Brazil also, so it should be fun."

Pettis expects no problems making his new weight class. Last week, he was walking around at 168 pounds, about 10 pounds lighter than when he competed at 155. He also plans to try a practice cut in the first week of June, and recently exchanged numbers with health and dieting coach Mike Dolce. Between all his preparations, 145 seems comfortably attainable. It's just not a weight he envisions hitting too many times. If Pettis wins the belt, at most he plans to defend it a couple of times before he heads back to lightweight.

"There's nobody else at 145 that intrigues me," he said. "Jose Aldo is the reason I'm moving down to 45."

He views the lightweight division differently. With so many longtime stars and the recent influx of Strikeforce talent, the division "got interesting again," in his words. For now, though, he'll try to channel himself into tunnel vision. While the rest of the featherweight division doesn't excite him, he admits to being "amped" to fight a decorated champion with a lengthy 15-fight win streak.

Aldo's style adds to the intrigue. Pettis' taekwondo background gives him a singular style that is unlike most of what we see in the octagon. Throw it into the pot with Aldo's kickboxing acumen and sprinkle in the finishing abilities of both, and you've got a recipe for something special.

"One of us is going to finish," he said. "Both of us come hard. He dies out in the later rounds but I’m coming hard right away. I’m not trying to get him tired or coast him out. We’re both going to come in there and going to strike."

No fooling around for Pettis. No time to waste. When you have his ambition, you already know what's next, even when something else is blocking your vision.

UFC on FX 8 changes: Chris Camozzi to face 'Jacare' Souza, Rafael Natal fights Joao Zeferino

Mike Chiappetta — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:04:29 -0000

After a cut forced Costa Philippou out of UFC on FX 8, the main card has been reshuffled.

Chris Camozzi has been shifted into a matchup with former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, while Rafael Natal will take on promotional newcomer Joao Zeferino.

The UFC confirmed the changes on Friday morning.

Camozzi had originally stepped into the May 18 date as a replacement for C.B. Dollaway against Cezar Ferreira, but soon after accepting the fight, Ferreira pulled out, too. So instead, that fight became Camozzi vs. Rafael Natal.

But on Friday, it was revealed that Philippou was out of the event, and the UFC responded by pulling Camozzi from the Natal matchup to replace him, necessitating a new opponent for Natal.

Camozzi (19-5) will put his four-fight win streak on the line against Souza's three-fight streak. The fight will be 'Jacare's' first in the UFC since moving over from Strikeforce. He has won seven of his last eight, with a career mark of 17-3 with 1 no contest.

Meanwhile, Natal (15-4-1) is coming off wins in three of his last four while Zeferino (13-4) boasts seven consecutive victories.

UFC on FX 8 takes place on May 18 from Arena Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. Vitor Belfort fights Luke Rockhold in the main event.

Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, and the magic numbers that add up to a superfight

Mike Chiappetta — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:41:57 -0000

Back in the fall of 2012, Mike Dolce flew out to Southern California to meet with Cris Cyborg. At the time, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion was preparing to return from a one-year suspension for a positive steroids test, and looking forward to turning the page. Her future, though, was cloudy. While her longtime promotion was about to fold into the UFC, and UFC president Dana White announced a women's division would be included, the competition would be limited to 135-pounders. That was a weight that Cyborg had never approached in her career.

For two hours over dinner, Cyborg and Dolce discussed the possibility of her making that magic number. At the time, Cyborg was not training much, and weighed 168 pounds. While Dolce queried her about her dieting and workout habits, she laid out her reservations about the major downward shift.

After years of helping athletes achieve their fitness goals, Dolce didn't require much time to assess things. From what he heard and saw, he was confident in telling her she could easily make the weight, which would set up a superfight with bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. By the time Dolce and Cyborg shook hands and parted, Dolce believed they were on the same page. Cyborg told him she would just have to speak to her management. But as time passed, a follow-up call from Cyborg or her Primetime 360 advisors never came, according to Dolce.

Instead, the next time he heard his name in connection with Cyborg, it was in the media, with Primetime 360's Tito Ortiz saying it was impossible for Cyborg to make 135 pounds. At that announcement, Dolce could only scratch his head.

"As a professional, I stand on my resume," Dolce told MMA Fighting. "If she had done the things necessary in November, December and January, it would have been easy for her to make 135 in February."

While that number was at the center of most conversations in the media regarding the inability to make the Cyborg-Rousey fight, it was not the deal-breaker it's been reported to be.

During the ongoing negotiations, which lingered for about two months, the promotion agreed to pay for the services of a dieting and nutrition consultant like Dolce. But there were other points that the two sides could not agree on.

The biggest issue, according to Cyborg's management firm Primetime 360, was Zuffa treating Cyborg as a bit player rather than an event co-star.

"Every pay-per-view megafight requires two participants, and they weren't giving Cris her just credit," Primetime 360 partner George Prajin told MMA Fighting. "They were compensating Ronda like she was the only attraction of the fight."

Despite several public statements by Cyborg and Ortiz that Cyborg could not make 135, as well as a failed practice cut led by Ortiz, Prajin told MMA Fighting that Cyborg would have attempted the drop to 135 if the sides struck a deal, but a contract fell apart for two reasons. First, the money was not right. And second, she was only interested in a short-term agreement.

The two sides could never get past the fact that Zuffa insisted on an eight-fight contract. Prajin said three fights would have been a fair compromise, that way, the UFC could have set up a Rousey-Cyborg fight, a potential rematch, and then one other bout. In exchange, Cyborg would agree to make 135, but only three times and then be free to return to a weight she believes to be her true home.

"Basically, her fighting at 135 is handicapping her," said Prajin. "We were willing to do that, and cut down and go work with Mike and get to 135 to do the fight because Cris wanted to fight Ronda. However, when they said we had to do it for eight fights? She doesn't want to do the cut eight times when all she wants to do is fight Ronda and beat Ronda. After Ronda, there is really nothing left for her."

Prajin said their negotiating leverage was taken away by Cyborg's inactivity and positive steroid result, and that he and Ortiz discussed producing an independent MMA event just to get her fights and disprove White's statement that she was "irrelevant." Instead, they asked for and received a release from Zuffa, and quickly came to a three-fight deal with Invicta Fighting Championships, where she recently defeated Fiona Muxlow by first-round TKO

According to Prajin, the Invicta deal was preferable because it is paying Cyborg more than the UFC offer, and contains an out clause after the second fight if the UFC -- and presumably Rousey -- comes calling.

"We may make it seem like it's more about money, but it's more about respect," Prajin said. "Cris is a humble person. She doesn't drive a fancy car. She beat Gina Carano and proved she was the best at that time, and she got nothing out of it. She got a gold belt around her waist. She told us, 'Hey, I don't care about the UFC.' She knows in her heart people know she's the best. She'll go to Invicta, Japan. She doesn't have anything to prove to anyone. Ronda may hear she's the best in the world, but she has to go to bed at night knowing that's not true until she fights Cris."

While specific terms of Cyborg's Invicta deal are not public, in the last fight of Santos' Strikeforce deal, she made a $33,000 base salary and earned a $33,000 win bonus. By comparison, Rousey had a $45,000 purse and earned a $45,000 win bonus for beating Liz Carmouche at UFC 157, but she also received a bonus based upon pay-per-view sales that likely bumped her total compensation into the mid six-figures.

The financial issues are not the only remaining obstacle in the way of a Cyborg-Rousey fight. Cyborg has a July featherweight championship date with Marloes Coenen at Invicta FC 6, while Rousey will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter before attempting to defend her belt against Cat Zingano around December.

Even if Cyborg and Rousey keep winning and the collision course becomes inevitable, the issue of weight will no doubt re-emerge. While Dolce said he was disappointed with how things were handled after his first meeting with Cyborg, he said he likes her and would still be willing to work with her in a more professional relationship.

He also continues to maintain that Cyborg could easily make 135, citing as evidence a photo Cyborg tweeted the night before the Invicta FC 5 weigh-ins, when she weighed 145.7 pounds.

"She's 10 pounds above the [135-pound] class the day before weigh-ins, which is exactly what she's supposed to be," he said. "That's a 135-pound athlete right there. That issue is all smoke and mirrors. She's a 135-pounder."

Prajin said he and Ortiz respect the work Dolce has done with clients ranging from Chael Sonnen to Vitor Belfort to Johny Hendricks, and that the camp's previous assertions that Cyborg couldn't make 135 was no reflection on him. In fact, if a superfight does come together, they would consider bringing him in to help.

Primetime's ultimate hope is that Rousey will want to fight Cyborg, or that public demand becomes so overwhelming that Zuffa has no choice but to put them together. And while Cyborg's side still contends the fight would be better suited at a 140-pound catchweight, Prajin wouldn't completely shut the door on the superfight's controversial magic number.

"I don't think we would try it," he said, "unless the UFC really, really made it worth Cris' while."

Michael Chandler vs. Dave Jansen title fight, King Mo's return top Bellator's June 19 show

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:23:52 -0000

As reported last week, Bellator will launch its 2013 summer series on June 19, and the main card is now set, with a stacked lineup including a championship match.

Undefeated lightweight titleholder Michael Chandler attempts to defend the belt against challenger Dave Jansen in the night's headliner.

Chandler (11-0) won the belt in Nov. 2011, and had his first successful defense in Jan. 2013, when he defeated Rick Hawn via rear naked choke submission. Jansen comes in riding a six-fight win streak, having advanced to a title match after capturing season seven tournament victories over Magomed Saadulaev, Ricardo Tirloni and Marcin Held, respectively.

The show also features the opening round of a four-man light-heavyweight tournament. The opening round matchups include Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Seth Petruzelli and Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Jacob Noe.

The main card will be rounded out with a welterweight fight pitting Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver against Blas Avena.

The show takes place at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and the main card begins at a special 7 pm ET start time on Spike. The Wednesday night event will serve to introduce viewers to the promotion's new reality show: "Fight Master: Bellator MMA" that will debut on Thursday night.

UFC on FUEL 9 drug test results: Robbie Peralta suspended six months for marijuana

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:55:46 -0000

Robbie Peralta has been suspended six months after failing a UFC on FUEL 9 post-fight drug test.

In a statement, the UFC confirmed that Peralta had been flagged for marijuana metabolites.

The promotion said that the featherweight has agreed to attend drug rehabilitation classes and must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension in order to be reinstated on to the active roster.

Peralta faced Akira Corassani on the opening fight of the FUEL broadcast as a lopsided favorite, but was upset in a unanimous decision, snapping his unbeaten streak at 10. Prior to that, he'd held UFC wins over Mike Lullo and Jason Young.

The 27-year-old Californian has a career record of 16-4 with 1 no contest.

The suspension is retroactive to the date of the fight, making him eligible to compete on Oct. 6, pending a passed drug test.

The April 6 event was held in Stockholm, and was sanctioned by the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation. According to the UFC, all 26 fighters on the card were tested.

TUF 17 Finale draws 5,382 fans, $569K gate

Mike Chiappetta — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:29:56 -0000

The TUF 17 Finale drew strong ratings, and performed at the box office as well.

The April 13 show, which was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center instead of a customary smaller Las Vegas venue, drew a $569,075 gate on 5,382 sold tickets.

The information was released by the Nevada state athletic commission on Tuesday night.

According to NSAC, the UFC also gave out 536 comp tickets, while only 223 seats went unfilled.

By comparison, the TUF 16 Finale held in Dec. 2012 took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and drew a gate of $318,875 on attendance on 2,427. Most other TUF finales have been held at The Palms.

The UFC was forced to move from its customary spots because The Hard Rock was unavailable due to a planned concert series by Def Leppard.

"This worked out fantastic," UFC president Dana White said after the event. "The Hard Rock shouldn't have let us do this, because I like it. I like it a lot. Let me tell you what: we might be moving again. I like it over here."

The April 13 show was built on three major fights. In the main event, longtime bantamweight contender Urijah Faber defeated Scott Jorgensen, Cat Zingano stopped Miesha Tate in a bout that determined one of the next TUF coaches, and Kelvin Gastelum completed his Cinderella run by beating heavy favorite Uriah Hall in the final of one of the most buzzworthy TUF seasons in recent memory. The FX broadcast drew over 1.7 million viewers, the second-highest rated UFC show in network history.

The Forward Roll: UFC 159 Edition

Mike Chiappetta — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:34:33 -0000

Most athletic careers are not wrapped up neatly with a bow atop the package. Retirements are generally messy and lingering, not so much a choice as a dead end. That makes Chael Sonnen's immediate future worth watching. Sonnen seemed to indicate after UFC 159 that he was done.

"I'm going to think it through," he said. "I'm not going to be one of the guys who hangs around if he doesn't have a road to the title. I believe that was my last opportunity."

Though Sonnen wasn't ready to officially announce anything, he's probably right about that being his last chance at UFC gold. After two attempts to wrest a belt from Anderson Silva and bizarre circumstances paving the way for an unforeseen matchup with Jon Jones, the 36-year-old would have a long road back.

Don't mistake that for a suggestion that Sonnen should retire. The Oregonian can still win fights against top 10-level talents -- at least in his natural, middleweight division -- but will he want to put in the time to build a case as top contender with a roadblock up ahead? As long as Silva remains middleweight champ, he's unlikely to gain consideration for a third matchup against him.

Many athletes leave kicking and screaming because they have no plans past their chosen sport, which for most, is part of their identity. Sonnen though, won't have to stray far from the cage. He already has his deal with FOX and FUEL, and he's also spoken about the possibility of working with the UFC in its various business ventures, including the promotion's magazine.

When he weighs the paydays of fighting against turning the page to the rest of his life, he'll have no easy decision. But no matter which direction he goes, he'll continue to have the spotlight and a microphone, and that's more than most fighters can say.

Jon Jones
A broken toe usually heals within about six weeks, but that's a general guideline, and it varies from person to person. We'll have to play the waiting game with Jones, but that may not be a problem. Why? We do know that Jones wants to fight in New York if the legislature passes a bill that would sanction the sport. Now, here's where timing plays into it. The 2013 legislative session ends on June 20. That's about seven weeks from today, so if the UFC waits for Jones to heal, there is a very good chance they'll have their answer on New York -- and a possible November anniversary show -- before he's ready to get back into serious training.
Prediction: Alexander Gustafsson and Lyoto Machida are paired off in early August, and Jones draws the winner

Michael Bisping
Bisping did what he was supposed to do against Alan Belcher, controlling the fight for the distance en route to the win. Beforehand, Bisping said the difference would be speed, and that Belcher was slow. Then in the bout, he proved it, allowing Belcher to land only 29 of 150 strikes (19 percent). Bisping has gone 3-2 in his last five, and if he wants to make a title run before he's done, the 34-year-old needs to put together a streak, and quick.
Prediction: He faces the winner of UFC on FX 8's Costa Philippou vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza match

Roy Nelson
Nelson is in much the similar straits as Bisping. In other words, he beats up the people he's supposed to, but he can't get past the big names. After three straight first-round knockouts, it looks like he gets another major opportunity next time out. UFC president Dana White already said he'd either draw Daniel Cormier or Mark Hunt (if Hunt beats Junior dos Santos). I see the first outcome as much more likely, mostly because if Hunt beats dos Santos, why would he be denied a title shot?
Prediction: Nelson vs. Cormier

Phil Davis
The fight with Vinny Magalhaes never made much sense, and Davis showed he's at this point a class above Magalhaes with a good win that showed off some strides in his standup game. Davis is still putting together his raw tools, but the signs are there that it's all starting to gel.
Prediction: Ryan Bader recently said he should be back around August. Time to put the two together.

Pat Healy
Healy had the under-the-radar feel-good moment of UFC 159, coming from behind to beat Jim Miller. Healy lost the first round, but made the fight to his liking with his typical gritty, grinding style. Over the last two rounds alone, he had two takedowns, connected on 104 strikes and finished with a rear naked choke. For someone who'd been given the boot from the UFC seven years ago after a single performance, and who'd lost out on two separate Strikeforce title fights due to opponent injury, it was a well deserved moment in the spotlight.
Prediction: I'd love to see Healy get the Gray Maynard vs. T.J. Grant winner for the right to fight for the belt, but since that victor is already promised a title shot, Healy gets his long-awaited matchup with Gilbert Melendez

Sara McMann
With a riveting personal history, an Olympic medal-winning pedigree and an engaging personality, McMann is a marketable commodity as a potential future title challenger. In her first time out, she made quick work of Sheila Gaff, finishing in less than a round. Still less than two years into her pro career, McMann deserves a bit more seasoning before going for the belt, but as long as she wins, it's likely to come in two fights.
Prediction: She faces the winner of the UFC 161 matchup between Alexis Davis and Rosi Sexton

Rustam Khabilov
We just may have something here in the Greg Jackson-trained Dagestani, who for the second straight time finished a fight with a suplex, and then threw this baller quote at us: "Like I've said, my business is to throw him down and it’s his business how he lands." We dig it.
Prediction: He fights Mike Ricci

Greg Jackson says a Jon Jones move to heavyweight will be a fun challenge

Mike Chiappetta — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:28:54 -0000

After back-to-back fights against blown-up middleweights, Jon Jones would like to quiet the accusations of his size winning fights by competing against someone of similar stature in the near future. Or even possibly, someone bigger than he is. He would do that by moving up to heavyweight, where no one can accuse him of out-sizing his opponents. There, he will be about average, or even a bit below.

Such a move is likely at least one fight away -- Jones said he would first like to fight the 6-foot-5 Swede Alexander Gustafsson -- but that won't stop anyone from speculating about how he would fare among the giants.

In just five years time, he's gone from complete MMA newcomer to tying the UFC light-heavyweight division's record for consecutive title defenses. A successful move to heavyweight culminating in a championship would only serve to strengthen Jones' case as one of the sport's best all-time fighters.

For trainer Greg Jackson, who stewards Jones' fight skills, it would be a new kind of challenge, one that he would welcome.

"Yeah, I’m OK with whatever they want to do. If he wants to do that, then I’ll help him out," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I've always said that it’s up to fighters and the management. Then it’s my job to figure out how we’re going to do that. If that's the parameters they want to give, that's what I do. And I actually enjoy that. Anything different is good.

"I've said before, I like to watch scary movies like with monsters, not because I like to get scared at all, but because I like to figure out what are the parameters," he continued. "If you're fighting a ghost, can the ghost hurt you? Can you hurt the ghost? I really enjoy that, like figuring out what the rules are of the game and then how to win when we have these rules. If they give me parameters or opponents or whatever, that’s the fun part for me. The picking and the choosing of them? Not nearly as fun, and not really my job. I just like to break down the puzzles in front of me."

For Jackson, the opponent is the thing. Once a foe is set, he can dig in, explore their histories, and determine how his fighter's skills match up. To find the areas where there is an advantage, and shore up the places where problems can be exposed.

So far Jones hasn't shown much in the way of shortcomings. If the UFC pairs him off with Machida, it will mark the first rematch in his career. And even though it is believed that a losing fighter has more to learn in defeat than a winning fighter does in victory, Jackson isn't overly concerned with whether Jones draws him or a fresh opponent in Gustafsson next.

"It doesn't matter to me," he said. "It’s whatever the UFC says. As long as we have enough time to prepare, we're going to have to fight them all anyway. We're going to have to fight Machida again, we're going to have to fight Gustafsson, whoever else they put in front of us. It’s just a matter of who’s next. But I never want to be like, 'Avoid this guy' or 'fight this guy.' When you’re the champion, you really have to take on. That's part of what being champion is; whoever they say you have to fight, you have to fight. People might not think that makes sense because we said we don't want to take a new fight on short notice. That's a whole different animal. It's not that we were avoiding the opponent, we were avoiding the situation. We wanted to make sure we were well-prepared. This is a world title in a sport that I think is the best in the world by far, and I want to take that seriously."

The timeline of Jones' next bout will be complicated from his recovery from an open fracture of his left big toe. As of right now, there is no projected return date from him, and Jackson said he has yet to speak with Jones about it.

That's partially because of Jackson's busy schedule. On Saturday night, aside from Jones, he had two other fighters on the UFC 159 card. By Sunday morning, he was flying back to Albuquerque, New Mexico to assist some of his other athletes preparing for upcoming fights.

Jackson also has a role in the upcoming "Fight Master: Bellator MMA" reality series, in which he is a coach. Given his past issues with UFC president Dana White, who once publicly called him a "sport killer," his inclusion on that program, which airs on former UFC cable home Spike, could be fuel for more fire. But Jackson said the two are on good terms, and have a mutual understanding regarding their personal business lives.

"We’ve talked and things are cool, and we both understand each other," he said. "I actually have always said I like Dana. I think he’s an amazing guy. Even when he loses his temper and and has these severe reactions in these situations, I've always said that passion is the same passion that got us where we are. I don't take it personally. It’s just part of the game. I like the guy. I respect him."

Michael Bisping may need surgery for neck issue

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:53:02 -0000

NEWARK, NJ -- About six weeks before he was to fight Alan Belcher at UFC 159, Michael Bisping was informed that he should undergo surgery to correct a case of spinal stenosis that has compromised his strength.

Bisping bypassed the procedure, opting to go through with his fight with Belcher, which he won via technical decision.

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"As you saw tonight, I could clearly fight," he said during the event's post-fight press conference. "No one goes in to fight at 100 percent. I'll go home, I'll get it looked at and get it sorted out. I still feel fine. That's just the way it goes. It's a rough business. You take a few bumps and bruises along the way."

Bisping (24-5) said the injury first occurred last year when he was preparing to fight Tim Boetsch, and said it had gotten progressively worse over time. He said it has affected the strength in his right arm.

According to the Mayo Clinic, stenosis in the neck is a narrowing of the spine that can cause numbness, weakness or tingling in a leg, foot, hand or arm. Physical therapy is recommended for mild cases, with surgery saved for those with severe problems.

Bisping did not say if he definitely planned to go through with surgery to fix the problem.

His win moved him to 24-5 while Belcher fell to 18-8.

Dana White says Anderson Silva contacted him about superfight, but Weidman still next up

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:25:16 -0000

NEWARK, NJ -- Sometime during the evening of UFC 159, Dana White's phone rang, and on the other line was UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

The two are still finalizing a 10-fight contract extension, but even as that work continues, Silva has his next marching orders in the form of a July 6 date with Chris Weidman. Which made it all the more strange when Silva called and talked about fighting not Weidman, but about a superfight with either Jon Jones or Georges St-Pierre.

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According to White, Silva had a specific request, but he wouldn't divulge it.

"It’s not important," he said. "It doesn't matter who he wants to fight. He’s got to fight Weidman first. If he doesn’t beat Weidman, what difference does it make? The fight isn’t even real. Who he wants to fight doesn’t matter. He better want to fight Weidman right now."

Given the timing of the call -- roughly around the same time Jon Jones knocked off Chael Sonnen -- it seems natural to think that Silva is finally interested in facing the UFC light-heavyweight champ. But even when pressed, White refused to tip his hand.

"You guys can assume whatever you want," he said. "Assume away."

Silva has a UFC record 10 straight title defenses and has held the middleweight title for over six years.

Earlier in the evening, Jones referred to Silva as "still my idol" after being asked if he deserved to supplant Silva in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Meanwhile, Chael Sonnen, who faced Jones on Saturday night and has also competed twice against Silva, seems to believe that Jones would win a matchup if the two were ever to meet.

"The last thing I want to do is disparage Anderson Silva, but it's tough for me," he said. "I whipped him for 30 minutes, he whipped me for less than 30 seconds. I whipped Jon for zero seconds and he whipped me the entire fight. It's just tough. You're asking me for my opinion, Jon’s better."

Jon Jones wants Alexander Gustafsson in next title defense

Mike Chiappetta — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:17:15 -0000

NEWARK, NJ -- Jon Jones was in between winning his record-tying fifth UFC light-heavyweight championship title defense and getting the compound fracture on his left big toe addressed when he already began to plot his next step.

With Chael Sonnen now added to his hit list alongside Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, it is possible that Jones could attempt to defend the belt one more time in order to break Tito Ortiz's longstanding record and then move on to the heavyweight division. But there's still the matter of who that next light heavyweight opponent will be.

It is supposed to be Machida, who snuck past Dan Henderson in a split-decision at UFC 157. But asked his opinion on the matter, Jones had other ideas.

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"I fought Lyoto Machida before," he said. "And I fight for the love of the sport, I fight for the people that support me. But I also fight to prove critics wrong. A lot of people believe I've been successful because I appear to be larger than my opponents. With Alexander Gustafsson, that would be no more. So Alexander Gustafsson, a guy who is 6-foot-6 or 6-5, big long legs arms, long legs, that’d be great. and that’s who I’d love to fight next."

Gustafsson was supposed to fight against Gegard Mousasi on the April 6 UFC on FUEL 9 event in Stockholm, but was ruled out just days from the fight due to a cut near his eyebrow incurred while training.

Gustafsson should be ready to go fairly soon, but given Jones' likely healing time, UFC president Dana White wasn't ready to commit to anything regarding the two fighters.

"Alexander should have fought that night. He didn't fight," White said. "Jon Jones isn’t going to be fighting anytime soon apparently. He's got a compound fracture. When I went into the octagon, the bone was sticking out of his toe. I’m not a doctor. I don't know how long that takes to heal, but it can’t be too quick."

Asked whether a Jones layoff would make a Machida vs Gustafsson bout a possibility, White said he would first wait to find out how long Jones would be sidelined before making a decision.