Issue 126
March 2015
3 rounds of action
1. ‘RAMPAGE’ JACKSON RE-SIGNS WITH UFC, FACES MALDONADO AT UFC 186
Former UFC 205lb champion ‘Rampage’ Jackson has signed a new contract with the UFC after ending his tenure with Bellator.
According to his manager Lee Gwynn, Rampage – who won the Bellator light heavyweight tournament in 2014 – left the promotion because aspects of his contract were not met.
“The first nine months was fraught with multiple problems but we considered them to be startup issues in a new way of doing business,” Gwynn explained in a press statement.
“The Tito Ortiz fight was canceled and Bjorn (Rebney, then CEO) persuaded us to enter into a tournament to promote the ‘King Mo’ (Lawal) fight, culminating in a PPV fight with King Mo. The PPV was not successful for our payment structure and we immediately informed Bjorn that the problems had grown too many and that we wished to restructure our position.”
Jackson will now make his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon in Montreal at UFC 186 against Brazilian slugger Fabio Maldonado.
FO SCORE: Rampage has previously complained about being matched against wrestlers, but he should be more than happy to face someone like Maldonado, who will be more than willing to put on a show and stand and trade with the former 205lb champion.
2. UFC PLANNING 23 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS IN 2015
After a successful year of breaking into new territories across the world in 2014, the UFC is planning to promote 23 events outside the US in 2015.
According to reports, the organization has made countries like South Korea, Russia and Scotland (Britain) a priority for next year’s schedule and has began pre-production on international TUF shows in Japan and the Middle East too.
FO SCORE: It’s always interesting to see how fans in other countries will react to the UFC’s arrival. Time and time again we’ve seen the economic and cultural impact the promotion can have when it puts on a show in a new market or one they’ve not visited in a long time.
3. DODSON CONSIDERS DUAL UFC TITLE RUN AT 125LB AND 135LB
TUF 14 champion John Dodson has his sights set on challenging for the flyweight and bantamweight titles when he returns to the Octagon this year.
Dodson, who is recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee, beat UFC 135lb champion TJ Dillashaw to claim the TUF crown in 2011 and took flyweight titleholder Demetrious Johnson to the limit in 2013. He believes both champs are afraid to face him.
“Everybody is afraid of what I can potentially bring to the table, and that includes Demetrious Johnson,” ‘The Magician’ said. “He’s afraid that I have that one-punch knockout that will change him from being the champion to being the number-one contender.
“I think I’m the bogeyman at 125 and 135. Even that champion doesn’t want to fight me. I have a whole team afraid of me.”
FO SCORE: They might not be the fights fans are clamouring to see, but matching Dodson against either Dillashaw or Johnson for a UFC title would equal a hell of a rematch.
ON THE RADAR
Three red-hot prospects worth keeping an eye on...
JAMAL PARKS, 4-0
As an accomplished high school and college wrestler, Parks has always had a strong base for MMA. That base was strengthened even more when he began working with Team Takedown, the home of former UFC 170lb champ Johny Hendricks. Although his striking is still a work in progress, his wrestling is outstanding and will be a valuable weapon as he progresses.
VAGAB VAGABOV, 14-0
An aggressive striker who yet is able to mix up his punches and kicks with decent takedowns, Vagabov is a dangerous prospect. However, the 28-year-old Dagestani middleweight needs to work on his defensive wrestling and keeping his temper in check if he wants to step up to the elite level.
DEAN GARNETT, 7-0
Next Generation MMA in Liverpool, England, has a strong reputation for creating submission specialists and they’ve helped mould another in 26-year-old Garnett. The undefeated Cage Warriors bantamweight is steadily rising up the 135lb ranks and used his devastating leg lock skills to get the best of his two most recent foes within the first round.
Eric Stonestreet - STAR SIGHTING
Who? Actor
Where? UFC 181, Las Vegas, Nevada
If you had to guess which of the stars of hit American TV show Modern Family would venture to Las Vegas for UFC 182 it would probably be Ed O’Neill. After all, he’s an avid MMA fan and long-time BJJ black belt. However, it was his co-star and fellow Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet who ventured to the MGM Grand Garden Arena to see Jon Jones conquer Daniel Cormier over five rounds.
INSTAGRA MMA
JULIANNA PENA
“We passed!! #kingandqueen of #TUF18 are now officially licensed #harleydavidson #riders.”
WILL BROOKS
She said yes. #verymerrychristmas#engagement
CARLA ESPARZA
Some baby octopus skewers!”
QUOTES
“People don’t get to see everything that goes on. They see little bits and pieces. When all is said and done and everything is airing, they choose what to put on and everything is going to be amplified on the show. Everything is to the extreme. It’s so far from reality. People aren’t very forgiving.”
Felice Herrig explains the cons of being on TUF 20.
“For me to retire, for me to think about stopping and to not put my head down and do the (physical therapy) is absolutely insane to me, because this is what I want to do.”
Despite the injuries, you can’t fault Dominick Cruz for his self-belief.
“When people keep talking about the UFC possibly coming to Russia, I would personally like to see it happen but it won’t be easy. This is because the Russian market here is so specific, so I doubt that someone (foreign) can understand it and make a profit here. That is probably why the UFC is just talking about this and has not taken the steps to do an event in Russia.”
Vadim Finkelstein explains why he believes the UFC’s attempts at doing big numbers in Russia will be futile.
“You’re a complete fighter, with almost no holes in the game, but I can see some small details where I can go in. I know you also see details in my game that you can work on, but it would be an aggressive fight with a lot of heart and soul.”
Bellator 145lb champion Patricio Freire talks up a 145lb super-fight vs. UFC champion José Aldo.
“Super sad to announce that I am no longer with Bellator. They have chosen to go in a different direction for the New Year. I worked exactly 99 fights for them over the past four years and it truly was the best four years of my life.”
Jade Bryce leaving Bellator? Say it ain’t so.
REWIND / FAST FORWARD
Legend reborn: linking two combatants – one past, one present
Former US Olympic wrestlers who have lost title fights in the UFC
Dan Henderson
Year he competed in the Olympics: 1992, 1996
Lost title fights to: Anderson Silva, ‘Rampage’ Jackson
Daniel Cormier
Year he competed in the Olympics: 2004
Lost title fight to: Jon Jones
...
