Issue 145
September 2016
Jones to stay at 205lb
Put all dreams of heavyweight superfights featuring Jon Jones to the back of your mind for now, because the record-breaking UFC light heavyweight is happy with the division he’s in. “To be honest with you, heavyweight really doesn’t really seem as appealing to me as it once did,” he told MMA Junkie. “I’m almost 30 now, and I’m not really having any more growth spurts,” he said. “This is pretty much the size I’m going to be, and it’s so easy for me to make light heavyweight.”
However, ‘Bones’ didn’t close the door completely on mixing it up with MMA’s in the future. “The only way I will go up to heavyweight, it will really have to be stylistically the right fight for me, and the numbers will have to make sense. Or, obviously, just fighting the right champion for that opportunity to go straight for the title.”
240lb
Jones’ weight after his powerlifting regimen. Before his fight at UFC 200 he was back to around 218lb
On the radar
Emerging talent with big potential
Dzhihad Yunusov (Russia)
One to watch to see if he pulls off any more jaw-dropping techniques. He put himself into a position to win at World Fighting Championship Akhmat 23 by jumping into side control with a shooting star guard pass – that is, a jumping backflip.
Steven Peterson (USA)
Winning a Legacy Fighting Championships title is a sure-fire sign of proving your MMA credentials, and that’s exactly what this bantamweight did when he put hyped-up prospect Manny Vasquez to sleep in at LFC 56.
Mike Santiago (USA)
A little more than two years ago this 26-year-old’s record was an unimpressive 10-9. But after eight straight wins in some of America’s best regional promotions he’s proved that anyone who wrote him off as a mere journeyman was dead wrong.
Jimmo killed in hit-and-run
Canadian light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo has died after he was hit by a pickup truck on June 26th. Police said the The UFC veteran was involved in an altercation with two men in a parking lot in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
He walked up to their vehicle and when he began to walk away, the suspects’ vehicle accelerated and struck him before leaving the scene. The former Maximum Fighting Championship 205lb champion later died in hospital from blunt force trauma. At the time of writing, two men had been arrested and charged with his death.
Members of the mixed martial arts community rushed to pay their respects to the ‘Real Deal’, including the UFC, which offered its condolences to Jimmo’s family, friends and teammates.
What's Hot
International Fight Week
UFC 200, the TUF 23 Finale, a free Fight Pass event and the IMMAF World Championships. More mixed martial arts than you can shake a Thai pad at.
Bisping in the mainstream
After becoming England’s first UFC champion, the nation’s media are finally opening their arms to ‘The Count’ and giving him primetime coverage.
All-star introductions
Bellator introduced four prospects from the wrestling ranks – Joey Davis, Tyrell Fortune, Jarod Trice and Aaron Pico – at Dynamite 2. Four future champions?
What's Not
Poppa Northcutt
Sage’s dad isn’t popular with his son’s one-time sparring partner, Muay Thai champion Ilya Grad, who said he was a bad influence on his son’s training.
Home cooking
Russian officials may have declared Fedor Emelianenko the winner against Fabio Maldonado, but we can’t help but feel the Brazilian was ripped off.
Bargaining power
Rory MacDonald needed leverage for contract negotiations, but Stephen Thompson took it from him by picking ‘The Red King’ apart for five rounds.
I’m so fancy
Is Dominick Cruz looking to start a relationship with recently-single rapper Iggy Azelea? When a TMZ reporter grabbed the UFC 135lb champ in the NYC streets, he was asked whether a mixed martial artist would make a better partner for the rapper than another type of sportsman. He replied: “Man, Iggy Azalea, you’re beautiful, you can do whatever you want. The only thing is, I’m not seven feet tall, but I’ll stand on (some) steps or whatever. Let me know. Hit me up.”
644 days
CM Punk’s scheduled debut at UFC 203 will be one year, nine months and four days after his signing was first announced.
Weighing Up Options
Georges St Pierre says he could fight at light, welter or middleweight if he returns to MMA, but in which division would you like to see him compete?
Maxime Gagnon
185 would be dangerous choice he would be too small compared to others and slower than in 170!
David Foster
Had no interest at fighting at MW till Bisping got the belt.
@Roy_Talks
His body is getting older I don’t think he can make welterweight so easily.
Axel Kadji
He weighs 200lbs, dropping to 155lbs will be dangerous for him.
Thanh Phuong
Don’t see GSP being able to be an effectively strong middleweight. Also doesn’t have much height compared to the others in the division. Compare him to Rockhold/Jacare he looks tiny. LW/WW he could easily be 2 Div champion.
11%
Lightweight
62%
Welterweight
27%
Middleweight
