Fighters Only

Issue 130

July 2015

Morsels of Fighters Only musings on everything MMA.

‘BONES’ remains in limbo

Jon Jones’ fighting future remains under a cloud after manager Malki Kawa said he may never fight again after the UFC light heavyweight was stripped of his championship belt and suspended indefinitely following his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“It could very well be the last time we’ve seen Jon Jones in the Octagon,” Kawa told The MMA Hour. “Jon Jones is gonna focus on Jon Jones.

I think he’s gonna take the time to do whatever he’s gotta do. And if it’s the last time we’ve seen him fight, it’s the last time we’ve seen him fight.”

According to reports, ‘Bones’ fled the scene of a car accident on the morning of Sunday 26th April, leaving a pregnant woman nursing a fractured arm and wrist. Witnesses confirmed Jones ran from the scene.

It took the UFC less than three days to strip him of the championship belt, while Reebok also terminated the 27-year-old’s endorsement deal.

FO SCORE: Watching Jones’ demise has been agonizing, but hardly surprising. He has gotten away with one too many misdemeanors in the last few years and eventually pushed things too far. Let’s hope he can get his head straight and emerge from this a better man.

Gaethje vs. Palomino III ‘very likely’, says WSOF president

Following their early ‘Fight of the Year’ contender at World Series of Fighting 19, lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and heavy-hitting Peruvian Luis Palomino will rematch, according to WSOF head Ray Sefo.

The pair stood toe-to-toe for two rounds before ‘The Highlight’ finished the challenger with leg kicks and punches in the third stanza to retain his belt. During an exclusive interview with Fighters Only, Gaethje said he hoped to return within a couple months, but believed he was more likely to fight again in September.

FO SCORE: Although rematches of great fights rarely live up to expectations, Gaethje and Palomino love to scrap and could easily outdo their previous performance if they approach the contest with the same reckless abandon.

Dos Anjos targets late 2015 return

UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos hopes to defend his title in October or November once he has recovered from a knee injury.

The 30-year-old Brazilian defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 in March. He went under the knife to resolve some breathing problems in his nose, but a partial tear in his MCL required three months of rehab and recovery.

“The nose recovery will be fast, but I went to the doctor on Wednesday to check on my knee and he said I will be ready to return to strong training in two months. If everything goes right, late October or early November is a good date for me to return,” he said.

FO SCORE: It’s good to hear Dos Anjos has a target for his return to the Octagon. He usually keeps a busy schedule and the 155lb division is in desperate need of an active champion due to a backlog of contenders waiting for their turn.

QUOTES

“I want the MMA fighter to make as much money as the NBA and NFL players.

We are as professional as they are, we are on the TV too, but we don’t get paid like they do. That’s my focus now. I will make fighters get paid better.”

Wanderlei Silva, fighter union delegate

“I don’t look at a man who’s an expert in one area as a specialist. I look at him as a rookie in 10 other areas. If I fought Floyd, I would kill him in less than 30 seconds. It would take me less than 30 seconds to wrap around him like a boa constrictor and strangle him.”

Conor McGregor wants Floyd Mayweather next

“I looked at those two dudes like bigger brothers, you know what I’m saying? But now honestly I wouldn’t piss on them if they was on fire. I’d probably set ‘em on fire right now. So that’s how much I care about them.”

Melvin Guillard on his relationship with former teammates Jon Jones and Rashad Evans

“We have a date held in December at the Garden, and I expect to be there. I expect to use that date, and be here in New York in Madison Square Garden and do this, this year.”

Dana White is more optimistic than ever about a UFC event in the Big Apple

“If he would have just went out and retired after breaking his leg and everything else, and said, ‘Look, this is a catastrophic injury. I was the best fighter of all time.’ The world was his oyster at that point… but (his positive test for PEDs) is a definitely a little bit damaging to his legacy, I guess.”

Former fan favorite Chris Leben tells it like it is regarding Anderson Silva

ON THE RADAR

Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...

Andrew Todhunter, 7-0

‘The Sniper’ is one of the more interesting grapplers fighting on the regional circuit. The Oklahoma-based middleweight has decent wrestling and a smothering top game, which has helped to earn him submission victories in each of his seven bouts. He fights for Legacy Fighting Championship, which is known for giving its fighters challenging matchups, so the 26-year-old is likely to be thoroughly tested before he makes it into the big leagues.

Mike Grundy, 3-1

The UK might not be known for producing outstanding wrestlers, but this Team Kaobon featherweight might be the exception to the rule. Currently signed to top British promotion BAMMA, The 27-year-old won a 72kg freestyle bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and has used his base to get the fight to the floor and secure quick submissions. He needs to improve his striking, but training at a camp like Kaobon should help to speed up the process.

Andre Harrison, 9-0

Bellmore Kickboxing Academy has put together a very good roster of fighters over the last few years. The New York gym’s latest prospect is a tenacious, undefeated featherweight. The former Fort Hays State University wrestler mixes his striking and grappling together very well and has defeated some reputable opponents, including World Series of Fighting and TUF 18 veteran Cody Bollinger.

STAR SIGHTING:JENNIFER ‘JWOWW’ FARLEY

Who? Reality TV star Where? UFC on Fox 15

Her days of causing chaos on Jersey Shore are long gone, but JWoww enjoyed plenty of adrenaline-pumping action when the Octagon returned to the Prudential Center in her home state in April. The former reality show star had some of the best seats in the house to see middleweight contender Luke Rockhold submit former UFC 205lb champ Lyoto Machida with a rear naked choke.