3 rounds of action: FO scores MMA’s hottest stories

Round 1: CORMIER PROMISES TO BE 100% FOR MOVED UFC 182 JONES TITLE FIGHT

UFC light heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier says the knee injury to champion Jon Jones which postponed their September bout until January will mean he’ll actually be 100% ready for ‘Bones’.

Cormier had taken the contest with Jones on nine weeks’ notice, when original opponent Alex Gustafsson pulled out with a knee issue, less than the ideal 12 for a title fight.

Cormier told UFC Tonight: “I can actually feel like I’m going in there at a 100% right now. I was very confident that I could win this fight regardless so I was going in there as best I could. Now, it’s more time for my knee to heal, more time for me and my coach to get a game plan together, more time to sharpen all of my skills to be ready whenever we step into the Octagon.”

FO SCORE: While both Jones and Cormier benefit from having more time to prepare for one another, it’s the official number-one contender who gets the short end of the straw here – Gustafsson’s original knee injury will be well healed by January. You have to wonder, if Jones and Cormier hadn’t brawled at that August press conference would the UFC have slotted the Swede back into his original spot?

Round 2: EX UFC 145LB’ER JOSH GRISPI FACING DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES

Former UFC featherweight Josh Grispi is being held by police in Massachusetts accused of beating his wife and making their pet bull terrier attack her.

Grispi, who was released by the UFC in 2013 after four-straight losses, was twice arrested within days in August. Court documents say he attacked wife Kaitlyn and set the family dog on her after sending death threats by text.

Police found unsecured firearms and marijuana plants after searching the Grispi’s residence one hour south of Boston.

FO SCORE: This news came in tandem with the War Machine case and after Thiago Silva’s reported domestic abuse issues in February. Grispi hasn’t fought since his 2013 release from the UFC.

Round 3: OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST SNUBBED WWE FOR UFC

Recent UFC signee and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo turned down interest from behemoth pro wrestling promotion WWE to sign to the UFC.

The 27-year-old flyweight told mmajunkie.com: “One of their talent scouts saw me, met me and wanted to bring me in for an audition or whatnot.”

He added: “Maybe WWE in the future, but as of now I’m sticking straight to the UFC and my fighting career.”

FO SCORE: Although he’s had issues making weight and keeping dates for his MMA career so far, it’s thought that despite the limited skills of his pre-UFC competition, Cejudo could ultimately make waves in the Octagon.

ON THE RADAR

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

Rafael Lovato Jr, 0-0

Not only is Rafael Lovato Jr one of only three American males to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships – the others being BJ Penn and Robert Drysdale – but before he fell in love with jiu-jitsu he was studying boxing and jeet kune do. Now he’s turning his attention to MMA having taken gold in nearly everything in jiu-jitsu. He might be in his early 30s and only booked his first pro fight in September, but he’s got credentials that truly stack up.

Jack Grant, 7-1

British lightweight Jack Grant is making a name for himself on the European scene with his all-action style. So far in his relatively short career the 22-year-old from England has finished seven of his eight fights via submission or KO, including a fantastic calf slicer submission in June.

Luc Bondole, 3-0-1

Middleweight Luc Bondole’s record would show 4-0 if he hadn’t been deducted a point in the final round of a solid performance against Ultimate Fighter alumnus, and Joe Lauzon wrestling coach, Jimmy Quinlan a year ago. A good striker with respectable takedown defense, former military man Bondole has spent a large portion of his young career training alongside the likes of Michael Bisping, ‘Rampage’ Jackson and the stars of Kings MMA such as Fabricio Werdum in Huntington Beach, California.

STAR SIGHTING

Who? Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kids

Where? UFC on Fox 12, San Jose, California

One of MMA’s early known celebrity fans, Anthony Keidis pops up at plenty of UFC events. Kiedis admits he watches the UFC “religiously”, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers even played the UFC Christmas party in 2012.

QUOTES

“When you have a good night, get a knockout, finish somebody – oh my God. ... That single moment, nothing can be wrong in the world. That’s where your head’s at. Cloud nine is an understatement.”

Fighter-turned-trainer Matt Serra relays the sensation of UFC victory to mere mortals.

“I asked him, I said, ‘Chael, do you have any money?’ And he said, ‘I have every dollar you ever sent me.’ I said, ‘Good for you, man. Because that’s a lot of money.’”

UFC president Dana White indirectly confirms rumors Chael Sonnen takes daily Scrooge McDuck swims in his pools of pay-per-view cash.

“I am who I am. I don’t apologize because lions they don’t apologize to be lions.”

We don’t know, Vitor Belfort, are you sure? We know some pretty apologetic lions.

“I am a husband and a father. Any time any kind of girl is beaten like this by any kind of man – and he’s been on the run – he enters into not an MMA ring, but Dog’s ring.”

Even TV star Dog the Bounty Hunter wanted a piece of on-the-lam MMA miscreant War Machine after he allegedly beat his girlfriend.

“Maybe I have so many injuries because I’m not taking the same ‘supplements’ you take. I have injuries because I train a lot to beat you like I did last time.”

Said UFC champ José Aldo to challenger Chad Mendes. Anyone remember when he barely spoke at all? We like the trash-talk version better too.