Source: http://www.boxing-blog.com/index.php/bernard-hopkins-fails-draw-conclusion/
The two best 135-pound fighters in the world will square off some time later this year for the first ever UFC bantamweight title match in what should be a great showcase for what has quietly become one of the UFC's most talented weight classes.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/27/mma-top-10-bantamweights-cruz-faber-on-a-collision-course/
Where's the respect for the champ? Mauricio Rua has been run over by the Jon Jones hype-train. The 23-year-old Jones has been active the last year and posting big wins on Versus, while Rua was recovering from knee surgery. Jones also has the look of a champion towering over the shorter Rua. The public loves "Bones" and the sportsbooks have installed the challenger as a minus-190 favorite.
Can Rua pull the upset and leave the Octagon with his title? Yahoo!'s lead MMA writer Kevin Iole is in Newark and joined us on the phone to break things down using the Las Vegas lines.
My recommended plays include Rua (+160), Ricardo Almeida (-155) and Anthony Njokuani (+210).
Update: There's heavy action on Faber. He's been bet all the way up to minus-700. Jim Miller has also jumped thirty cents to minus-240. Lots of folks have also wagered on Jones to score a second round finish at 7-to-1.
You can watch UFC 128 right here on Yahoo!
UFC 128 betting odds (Courtesy Lagasse's Stadium):
Mauricio Rua (+160) vs. Jon Jones (-190) - Light heavyweight
Main event round prop bets:
Rua wins rd1 10/1
Rua rd2 12/1
Rua rd3 8/1
Rua rd4 7/1
Rua rd5 10/1
Rua win by dec. 5/1
Jones wins rd1 5/1
Jones rd2 5/1
Jones rd3 7/1
Jones rd4 8/1
Jones rd5 12/1
Jones wins by dec. 4/1
Eddie Wineland (+325) vs. Urijah Faber (-450) - Bantamweight
Kamal Shalorus (+190) vs. Jim Miller (-240) - Lightweight
Dan Miller (+280) vs. Nate Marquardt (-360) - Middleweight
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (+200) vs. Brendan Schaub (-250) - Heavyweight
Eliot Marshall (+135) vs. Luiz Cane (-165) - Light heavyweight
Anthony Njokuani (+210) v. Edson Barboza (-270) - Lightweight
Mike Pyle (+125) vs. Ricardo Almeida (-155) - Welterweight
Kurt Pellegrino (+140) vs. Gleison Tibau (-170) - Lightweight
Ian Loveland (+280) vs. Joe Benavidez (-360) - Bantamweight
Raphael Assuncao (+135) vs. Erik Koch (-165) - Featherweight
Constantinos Philippou (+200) vs. Nick Catone (-250) - 195 lbs.
High expectations for a boxer, the kind created by sizzling early-career performances and big talk from one's promoter, can be a bitch. No one who saw YURIORKIS GAMBOA! destroy Rogers Mtagwa last year like he was straight out of a "Matrix" film had much doubt about his talent or how ready he was for greatneess. Add that up with the talk that turned once more to a fight with Juan Manuel Lopez, and with his team actively saying how willing they were to face the then-widely avoided Celestino Caballero... what you end up with is people being disappointed when Gamboa fight the likes of Orlando Salido last fall and the man he fights this Saturday on HBO, Jorge Solis.
Back around UFC 66, what ifs were the way of the world in MMA. With a star-filled roster, PRIDE was still thriving in Japan. Hardcore fans and devotees of Japanese fighting swore up and down that if PRIDE fighters ever got their hands on the stars of the UFC, it would be utter destruction.
Following the Dec. 30, 2006 event, Dana White announced the signing of PRIDE superstar Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic," Mitch Moss of ESPNRadio1100 became a hero to every PRIDE fan:
"Is there any fear or concern that by bringing everybody over that they might come over and completely dominate and crush these guys that you have signed up?"
Much of the gathered media laughed, yet many of them were thinking the same thing might happen. After the raucous laughter subsided, White said he wasn't worried because all those fighters would be his and they'd get a chance to compete under the UFC banner.
As it turned out, even Moss asked a great question, but the PRIDE fighters, who were added mostly in 2008 and 2009, far from dominated. It's actually been a tough run for most of them aside from Quinton Jackson and Anderson Silva. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, 34,� is 2-1 with the UFC. This weekend at Ultimate Fight Night 24, he faces one of the new breed in 26-year-old former Penn State wrestler Phil Davis.
Yahoo!'s lead MMA writer Kevin Iole joined us to talk about what's happened with the PRIDE fighters and "Lil Nog's" chances against Davis.
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/72016/report-jon-fitch-injured-out-of-ufc-132-rematch-with-bj-penn/
Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao Ricky Hatton
For the second straight week, a UFC fighter got a spot on NBC's late-night schedule, and for the second straight week it was a good PR moment for the UFC, which got to show off an engaging, likable fighter to an audience consisting largely of people who don't buy UFC pay-per-views.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/29/brock-lesnar-teaches-jimmy-fallon-a-rear-naked-choke/
Sugar Ray Leonard Sugar Ray Robinson Rocky Marciano Vitali Klitschko
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/89570-brock-lesnar-replies-twitter-smack-talk.html
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/member-bets/89573-canadian-psycho-vs-bobbycooper.html
Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage
The UFC's light heavyweight division has been a revolving door at the top. The promotion's glamour division hasn't had that guy to pitch to the mainstream because no one has been able to defend the title. Jon Jones may change that.
If Jones can put together a long title reign, the champ's starpower is limitless. He's a smart cookie and savvy. You'll see that on "The Tonight Show" this evening. Jones is a guest along with Kirstie Alley. From some early photos he's posted via Twitter, it doesn't look like he's nervous.
Jones is pictured with former "Cheers" star Kirstie Alley and Jay Leno, the host of the show.
Back around UFC 66, what ifs were the way of the world in MMA. With a star-filled roster, PRIDE was still thriving in Japan. Hardcore fans and devotees of Japanese fighting swore up and down that if PRIDE fighters ever got their hands on the stars of the UFC, it would be utter destruction.
Following the Dec. 30, 2006 event, Dana White announced the signing of PRIDE superstar Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic," Mitch Moss of ESPNRadio1100 became a hero to every PRIDE fan:
"Is there any fear or concern that by bringing everybody over that they might come over and completely dominate and crush these guys that you have signed up?"
Much of the gathered media laughed, yet many of them were thinking the same thing might happen. After the raucous laughter subsided, White said he wasn't worried because all those fighters would be his and they'd get a chance to compete under the UFC banner.
As it turned out, even Moss asked a great question, but the PRIDE fighters, who were added mostly in 2008 and 2009, far from dominated. It's actually been a tough run for most of them aside from Quinton Jackson and Anderson Silva. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, 34,� is 2-1 with the UFC. This weekend at Ultimate Fight Night 24, he faces one of the new breed in 26-year-old former Penn State wrestler Phil Davis.
Yahoo!'s lead MMA writer Kevin Iole joined us to talk about what's happened with the PRIDE fighters and "Lil Nog's" chances against Davis.
Jon Jones was hyped up today at the UFC 128. Frankly, he's been hyped up all week long to the point of signing autographs, "Jon Jones, UFC champion 2011."
Is that cocky or confident? The UFC light heavyweight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is irked.
"I really feel it's disrespectful," Rua told UFC analyst Joe Rogan during today's weigh-in. "That's okay, tomorrow we'll see who's the better man."
Both fighters made the weight limit of 205 pounds. The other 22 fighters on the card also made weight without incident.
There wasn't any pushing or heat evident during the Rua-Jones staredown. In what is becoming the norm for Jones, the 23-year-old refused to make eye contact with his opponent.
Kurt Pellegrino did the same to Gleison Tibau, as the Brazilian stood with his hands on his hips. The happiest guy at the weigh-in appeared to be Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. He was all smiles on stage and stepped on the scale in some stylish black socks.
You can watch UFC 128 right here on Yahoo!
UFC 128 weigh-in MAIN CARD (courtesy MMAjunkie)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Bobby Lashley and Phil Baroni picked up wins last night at Titan Fighting Championship 17 in Kansas City, but neither did much to ease questions about their stamina issues.
Lashley pummeled 215-pound John Ott on the ground, but looked tired in the opening minutes of the second round. The former WWE star tried to put a positive spin on the lackluster decision win, 29-27, 30-27 and 29-27.
"No, no no ... I didn't punch myself out [in the first round]. I was looking for something that wasn't there. I felt good. I needed to spend some time out there," said Lashley.
The 6-foot-2, 252-pounder did get in his 15 minutes, but it was rough sledding at times. In the second and third, when it was standing, Lashley could barely hold his arms up and when he did throw punches, they lacked sting.
On the ground, Lashley (6-1) landed some good shots, but Ott wouldn't give in.
"Not as good as I wanted to, but it's a victory. We have stuff to work on, but I felt good out there. I felt like I was in control the whole time. That's what important," said Lashley.
HDNet MMA analyst Frank Trigg refused to put a positive spin on Lashley's effort.
"He showed he can't finish a fight unless it's a guy like Wes Sims, who stands there and let's himself get beat up," Trigg said. "Basically what he is, is a high caliber college wrestler, who spent some time in the WWE, that's crossed over into fighting without learning anything else."
Lashley, just six fights into his MMA career, was trying to get things back on track after a bad loss against Chad Griggs at a Strikeforce card last August.
Lashley, 34, was manhandling Griggs in the first round, but couldn't finish him. He tired badly and was blasted out in the second round. Following the fight, Lashley hit a Houston-area hospital complaining of abnormal fatigue during the match. He was eventually diagnosed with mononucleosis. He went four months with zero training, Five weeks ago when he signed with TFC, Lashley said he felt great.
Clearly, the bout with mono wasn't the only issue. The thickly-muscled Lashley appears to have only four or five good minutes in his gas tank.
Baroni is 27 fights into his career and is still battling a similar issue. "The New York Badass" beat a kid with five pro fights, but it wasn't easy. Baroni, who used to consider MMA wrestling kind of wimpy, was forced to scrap a striking gameplan. He scored takedowns against Nick Nolte (3-3) in each round and looked to grind down the clock. Baroni (14-13) limped across the finish line with a unanimous decision victory, 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28.
"I was really tired there. I was really tired in the second," Baroni said. "He got me with some good knees to the body. Give him credit, more than saying I was out of shape. I was in shape. I had to take the fight to the ground because [of the knees]."
The 30-27 score was baffling considering Baroni, leaning against the cage for much of the final round, basically allowed Nolte to beat the snot out of him with knees, kicks and punches.� Booing and screaming loudly, the Kansas City crowd didn't appreciate Baroni's efforts.
"I needed a win. I could've stood there and made it a shootout, but I needed the win. I'll give Nick Nolte another fight. Thank you very much. I appreciate all the applause. I'll do a little better next time," Baroni said sarcastically.
Abe Wagner, a former "Ultimate Fighter 10" alum, failed to build on the momentum from his upset win over Tim Sylvia in January. He lost via submission (rear-naked choke) against Aaron Rosa.
Watch the full episode on SPIKE TV Tonight, March 17th at 11pm ET/PT.Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc/ufc-in-the-moment-jon-jones-video_63282cc22.html
Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao Ricky Hatton
Dana White Talks Michael Bisping's Punishment, Chael Sonnen's Future, GSP vs Silva Video by Dana White
Joe Silva is the UFC matchmaker, the man who is in charge of deciding fights, title shots and the like. He is also a man whose job I don't want, as it's his job to sort out the ridiculously confusing lightweight title picture.
Ready for the confusion? OK. Start with the fact that the title will already be tested on May 30. Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have a rematch scheduled that should finally decide who is the better fighter among the two.
It's a title shot that was promised to WEC champ Anthony Pettis. Before Maynard and Edgar fought to a draw in January, Pettis was told that if he won the WEC belt in his last fight for the promotion, he would get a chance to unify the championships. A wrench was thrown into that plan because of the Edgar/Maynard draw, and now Pettis will fight Clay Guida in June for his first UFC bout.
And what of Jim Miller? He won his seventh straight bout on Saturday with a TKO of Kamal Shalorus. Four of those seven wins have been by stoppage. That resume reads like that of a title contender, but Miller has flown under the radar.
To make things even more confusing, consider what will happen if in the future, the UFC absorbs Strikeforce's roster of lightweights. Would Gilbert Melendez -- or whoever holds the belt at that point -- get an immediate title shot?
It's enough to make you dizzy. But if you had Joe Silva's job, how would you map out the UFC lightweight title? Does Pettis, Miller or someone else get a title shot next? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.
Sugar Ray Robinson Rocky Marciano Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho
You can learn a lot about a fighter on the days when things aren't going his way, and we learned a lot about Urijah Faber in his UFC debut.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/20/ufc-128-morning-after-urijah-faber-finds-a-way-to-win/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/25/5-reasons-why-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-could-beat-phil-davis
A trip to the New York area always makes for interesting material on a Dana White vlog. The UFC president and his cameraman Eliot are in the midst of the madness during the 250th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York.
White is also seen taking Chuck Liddell and Georges St. Pierre to the New York Knicks-Memphis Grizzlies game on Thursday night. GSP is asked for a pick, says he's biased because they're training partners and goes with Jones. But he did point out that the fight is mostly mental for the 23-year-old. This early title opportunity for Jones is reminiscent of a 22-year-old GSP getting a crack at Matt Hughes back at UFC 50 in 2004. GSP lost via armbar and has always he said he wasn't ready mentally at that time for such a big fight.
Another teammate, Rashad Evans also makes his pick on the vlog and chooses Jones by second round finish. Evans and Jones have appeared to be at odds through the media the last few weeks.
The UFC uploaded White's third UFC 128 vlog with a view from the stage during yesterday's weigh-in.
During the opening seconds of the video, White meets with New York-area hero Joe Lozito. Lozito helped the NYPD catch a serial stabber last month on the subway by using a technique he said he learned from watching mixed martial arts.
Georges St-Pierre Mauricio Rua Anderson Silva Nate Marquardt
The preliminary card for "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" is beginning to fill out.
A bout between DREAM featherweight champ Hiroyuki Takaya and Robert Peralta has been added to the preliminary card of next month's "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" event.
Brendan Shaub gets ready to take on Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 128.Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-128/brendan-shaub-pre-fight-vs-mirko-cro-cop-video_22be6a739.html
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/71733/dan-hardys-ufc-career-is-hardly-over/
Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao Ricky Hatton
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/71690/ufc-fight-night-24-nogueira-vs-davis-results-and-recap/
There is the next big thing, and then the next big thing after that. Maybe.
Rashad Evans waited a long time to get his shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt against Mauricio Rua. Then he suffered an injury that would keep him out 6-8 weeks. Evans was hoping the fight would be delayed, but the UFC's troubles were averted when Jon Jones stepped in on short notice. One problem, Jones is a teammate of Evans and now the former UFC 205-pound champ is peeved at "Bones."
"When he joined the team, he joined the team on the premise that he wouldn't fight none of us because that's…with Greg Jackson, that's one of his policies. Greg brought him on the team and he said he was like, you know what? Jon's on this team, he'll be a good addition to the team. He's got a good style and he's an up and coming kid and he'll never fight you or never challenge you or nothing like that," Evans told Larry Pepe. "There's nothing you need to worry about. He brought him onto the team with that intro."
Jones didn't get the memo and jumped at the opportunity to take on Rua at UFC 128. He's clearly aware that Evans isn't happy and snapped off during last week's prefight teleconference.
"I absolutely hate when people mention Rashad Evans, especially throughout this training camp….for people to even be mentioning Rashad Evans right now…I think it's ludicrous. Rashad is not in my mind, he's not in my being, he has absolutely zero to do with my heart and who I am right now," Jones said. "This guy has nothing to do with Shogun and from here on out, I don't think I'll answer a question about Rashad.�I have a lot of people outside of Rashad who I can draw energy and power from and they'll all be with me."
Evans got the message and said Jones is speaking out of inexperience.
"That does sound a little bit cold-blooded. Jon's a young guy and when you're a young guy sometimes you talk a little too fast for your brain to keep up. I don't think it's acceptable at all. I don't think it's something I'd say.�It sounds like he wants to fight, huh? Those sound like fighting words," Jones told Pepe. ".[...] Sometimes when you open your mouth you show what you're afraid of more than anything. I don't know why he has such an adverse response like that to me. I've never challenged him or made him feel like he should do that sort of thing. It sounds to me ? if I was out of the situation ? that he was feeling insecure about me. You can't just expect to not talk about a situation where you stepped in for a friend and training partner in a title fight who was injured. You can't take it personal… That sounds like a baby."
If Jones wins the title, Evans has to consider taking the fight and more significantly leaving the only training he's known in Albuquerque under Greg Jackson.
"It's something I gotta talk to Greg [Jackson] about it and I gotta talk to Jon [Jones] about. That's how I believe things should be done. We entered into an agreement together and if things are gonna go another way, I don't think he should have to find out from TV. He should find out from my mouth before I tell anybody. That's just how I do it as a man.I just have to sit down and decide on whats its going to be, because whatever it is going to be, there is no going back. There is no making it better. There is no going back to the team after it is done.�If we agree to fight, if we say we are going to fight, it's over," Evans said. "[...] I would need to divorce myself from the situation and just start over, and come with something new. I would divorce myself from the crew from Jackson's.�Trevor [Whittman] would be separate because he is at Grudge. Jon trains in Albuquerque, so I just would divorce myself from Albuquerque and from training with Greg."
Dana White is pretty clear on his thoughts about friendship being a roadblock anywhere in the fight game. He's happy that Evans is finally seeing the light.
"It makes sense [that they fight each other if Jones wins the title]. There's been a lot of stuff [said by] Rashad. Rashad thinks that I'm hatin' him or whatever the deal is. I don't. The reality is ? I said it on your show the last time I talked to you ? he hasn't known Jon Jones that long. To call him a brother and this and that…I really believe that…and Rashad didn't tell me this. Jon Jones didn't tell me this. This is just something that I came up with in my head. This has to be coming from the camp," White told MMAFighting.com. "[...] The reality is, this isn't a team sport, man. You look throughout the history of boxing, guys used to have to spar with each other all the time and the guys who came in as sparring partners eventually became world champions some day. You have to train with other people. You have to train with the best. It's a fact. You just don't become such "close friends" that you don't want to fight each other. It's [expletive]."
Evans should straight out call for the winner regardless of training camps and "friendships."
"If I was Rashad, I would say whoever wins this fight I wanna fight," White said. "The guy got injured; he was next in line for the fight. I'd wanna fight him too. But now he's gotta sit around, he's gotta wait and see what happens with these two, he's gotta wait to see who wins ? do they come out 100 percent or are they injured and have to wait a little while or do they want to fight again? He's put himself into a bad position and that's what I was saying about him: He's boxed himself into this corner."
You can watch UFC 128 right here on Yahoo!
Quotes via Cage Potato
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Evans-and-Jones-beef-getting-serious?urn=mma-wp199
He's about as unimposing as they come in the world of mixed martial arts, but anyone who's watched Jim Miller these last few years knows it's a mistake to underestimate the kid from Northern New Jersey.
Kamal Shalorus was one tough cookie, but he eventually fell victim to Miller's composed attack at UFC 128 Saturday night. In the third round, the Iranian was stunned by a left uppercut and then floored by a left knee to the side of the head. Miller jumped on top and unloaded 15-plus punches, forcing a TKO stoppage at the 2:15 mark in Newark, N.J.
The 27-year-old Miller has now ripped off seven straight wins and is clearly in line for a title shot. One problem, that line is pretty long with Gray Maynard and Anthony Pettis in front of him.
Shalorus (7-1-2, 0-1 UFC) was game the entire way. After an excellent amateur wrestling career, he's made a nice transition to MMA and the standup game. He throws his kicks and punches with massive power, but he was dealing with a different animal in a veteran like Miller.
Miller (20-2, 9-1 UFC) never got crazy with his attack. While Shalorus fired vicious shots, Miller picked his spots and landed plenty of counterpunches with both hands. He was very effective in the opening round with the counter right hook. By the end of the round, there was significant bruising below Shalorus' left eye.
Miller was dynamite in the second. With 3:20 left, he scored a single-leg takedown and transitioned in a split second to take Shalorus' back. Miller worked for a choke until the end of the round. The best he could do was squeeze the heck out of the Iranian's chin and jaw on several occasions. That was a lot of work without producing a finish, yet Miller got up between rounds and looked like he was ready to go three more rounds. He even refused to sit on the stool between rounds.
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/18013/ufc-fight-night-24-predictions-from-mmafrenzy-com-for-nogueira-vs-davis/
Some fighters take it as a sign of disrespect when their opponents miss weight. Fans certainly don't like it, and promoters generally aren't amused, either.
Ready to join in on the biggest thing since Chuck Norris jokes? Try the Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis #sowonderful sensation.
This started when Davis shared a tweet with his followers that talked about his wonderfulness. It snowballed, and many of his followers -- including Urijah Faber -- got involved. Their takes on his wonder ranged from his abilities as a fighter to his ability to quell even Charlie Sheen.
It's hard to deny that the man deserves his nickname of "Mr. Wonderful." After winning a national wrestling championship for Penn St., Davis easily made the transition to MMA. He is undefeated, with four wins in the UFC. Now, he gets to take the #sowonderful show to the main event of Ultimate Fight Night 24 against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Join and tell us just how wonderful Phil Davis is in the comments below, on Twitter or on Facebook.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Phil-Davis-is-so-wonderful-that-?urn=mma-wp525
Source: http://www.boxing-blog.com/index.php/wladimir-klitschko-throws-challenge-david-haye/
Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage
After storming to the UFC light heavyweight title, Jon Jones is being held up as god's gift to the MMA world. That's not the way Rashad Evans sees him.
"People want to say 'oh my God Jon is this and that' but Jon Jones is Jon Jones to me. He's another fighter I have to face. I've seen them all and I've trained with the best," Evans told Duane Finley of BloodyElbow.com. "I've seen all the shades of greatness and how this one was supposed to do this and this one was supposed to do that. It's all the same and it doesn't even matter."
He thinks Jones is not be to be trusted and has the feel of a master manipulator.
"I feel disrespected on many levels and the worst part is that it comes from people who I felt were like family. I would have done anything for Greg Jackson, and I would still do anything for Greg Jackson but I felt disrespected beyond belief," Evans said. "I feel disrespected by Jon because when I think about when we trained or when we were chilling, was the [expletive] even real? Or was he just trying to be a master manipulator and try to manipulate the situation so he could get what he wanted out of it?"
Evans is steaming about the fact that he welcomed Jones, another light heavyweight title contender into Jackson's Submission Fighting camp in Albuquerque, NM, with open arms. It's put Evans in a position that forces him to leave the only camp he's known since 2005.
Evans became so wary of Jones and Greg Jackson that he began training a lot more in Denver at the Grudge Training Center, a partner of sorts with the Jackson's camp in New Mexico.
"I told him straight up that I didn't like it. I told him that the kid was talented and that the sky was the limit with him but that was the type of guy I wanted to fight not train with. Greg came back saying, 'No, no, no this will be just like you and Keith [Jardine] where he will be just like a brother.' I still told him that I didn't want to do that," Evans said. "Then Greg said if that situation ever did arise between Jones and I that he would have to turn the fight down because that's how it works. He would have to turn down the fight with me so that way I wouldn't be put in a position where I looked like a punk. That's how it works in the Greg Jackson system."
Evans is annoyed with Jackson because he's essentially removed himself from the beef.
"You can't say you are not going to have anything to do with it when you are a big part of the reason why the situation originated," Evans fired. "That's like spilling a glass of milk and then walking away and saying that you don't want to have anything to do with it. You [expletive] spilled the milk...so you're at least going to help clean it up right?"
Evans didn't like the way Jones opened the door to a possible fight during the UFC 128 prefight. Jones said he was cutting off all questions about Evans and didn't feel like his teammate and friend was pulling for him to win.
"When the first opportunity came and he said that he would fight me if Dana said so, that to me stung more than anything. He said that he didn't want to lose his job and look man, the UFC isn't going to fire anyone because they are turning down fights," Evans said. "[...] Then he comes across on national TV and says that he will fight Rashad if Dana White tells me to and I felt so [expletive] utterly disrespected."
"I mean it's one thing to say something in an interview but the least you could have picked up the phone and been like, "man I did an interview today and they kind of put me on the spot with a rough question and I answered it this way." At least give me the heads up so that way I know and not look at it if he's Judas or something. You know who Judas is? That interview was some backstabbing [expletive] but now it's like whatever because now I know the game he is playing."
Evans takes nothing away from Jones' game, but his character ... is another issue.
"Now the question is would Jon Jones be an animal had he not trained with Greg Jackson? Yes he would've. The learning rate may not have been as fast because training with Greg allowed Jon access to train with the best in the world. Jon is hands down [expletive] phenomenal. The kid is amazing and there is no doubt about that. There is no shame in my game for saying because the kid is very good but his skills excelled much quicker because of Jackson's," Evans said. "But if Jon Jones down the road goes somewhere else for a camp and then has a great fight and an opportunity arises do you really think he's going to go back to Greg Jackson? No. So then Greg lost on two fronts and for what?"
According to Evans, Jones may feel the same sting down the road when he finally suffers a legitimate loss and needs a helping hand to get back on his feet.
"People are touting Jon around like he's Neo from the Matrix. That's all good and dandy but be there for the kid when the kid falls. Be there to pick him back up rather than turn their back on him like they did to Machida. Lyoto loses and all of a sudden he sucks. No he doesn't [expletive] suck it's just the way the game goes."
The Jones-Evans matchup probably won't materialize until the summer. That's a lot of time for Evans to unleash plenty of mental warfare. In fact, it's already started.
Nobody is supreme in this game and that is what makes mixed martial arts what it is today. Nobody is the absolute best. Anybody can get beat by anybody on any given day."
SEATTLE - This whole fighting thing is a lot simpler than people make it out to be, according to UFC welterweight DaMarques Johnson.
