UFC NEWS: "Rampage" Jackson offered title shot before Jon Jones, according to "Shogun" Rua, turned it down

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Jon Jones almost didn't get his shot at UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. According to Shogun in an interview with Tatame.com, Jones was the second choice for the UFC when Rashad Evans pulled out with a knee injury.

The first? Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. But Shogun says that Rampage declined to take the fight.

"The UFC thought in other alternatives, but it didn?t worked out. For some reason he (Jackson) didn?t accept it," Shogun said.

Now, he's turning his attention from training for Evans to Evans' teammate in Jones, and though there is a disparity in experience, Shogun's not taking his 23-year-old challenger lightly.

"I'll have to change my training because he's a lot different from Rashad, much taller, and it'll be a great challenge," Shogun said of Jones. "He's been surprising everybody in the UFC, defeated everybody with ease, and it'll be a tough fight for me."

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: I'm slightly surprised that Rampage turned that fight down if that's what happened. It may have been an issue of him wanting more notice and not wanting that fight on six week's notice, as it is a loss he's wanted to avenge since 2005. He may have felt he'd need more preparation for that fight, but who knows. Regardless, Shogun now gets an exciting up and comer in Jones, and Rampage likely keeps himself next in line with a win over Thiago Silva.

[Rampage Jackson art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8386.shtml

Matt Wiman Travis Wiuff Wu Haotian Rani Yahya

UFC 126 Aftermath: LHW Champ Mauricio Shogun Rua talks Fighting Jon Jones - Shogun Rua

MMA H.E.A.T.'s Karyn Bryant catches up with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua minutes after the UFC 126 press conference. During the broadcast it was announced that Jon Jones would step in for the injured Rashad Evans to challenge for the title at UFC 128 on March 19th, 2011. (Evans suffered a knee sprain when training partner Diego Sanchez fell on him in a freak accident.) Shogun tells us when he found out about Rashad's injury, how his own knee is feeling and what challenges the new opponent presents. Be sure to visit http://www.MMAheat.com for more interviews and archived episodes of our 1/2 hour show. Nós falamos Português! * We're on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MMAheat * Follow MMAheat on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MMAheat * Follow Karyn on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KarynBryant

Source: http://mmalice.com/shogun-rua/ufc-126-aftermath-lhw-champ-mauricio-shogun-rua-talks-fighting-jon-jones-video_e6b16dc97.html

Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin  Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan 

Anderson Silva Knocks Out Vitor Belfort at UFC 126

by Michael David SmithAnderson Silva is still unbeaten inside the Octagon, and still the UFC middleweight champion, after a spectacular first-round knockout win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.

Silva used a powerful left front kick to Belfort's face to knock him flat on his back on the canvas, then finished him off with a couple more punches on the ground. Although the first round hadn't had much action up until that point, the out-of-nowhere knockout from Silva was spectacular, and gave him an exclamation point on his UFC record 13th consecutive victory.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/06/anderson-silva-knocks-out-vitor-belfort-at-ufc-126/

Chad Akebono Rowan Mauricio Shogun Rua Murilo Ninja Rua Marco Ruas

Vitor Belfort Issued Medical Suspension, Courtesy of Anderson Silva

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has suspended 10 UFC 126 athletes for injuries sustained in their respective fights this past Saturday. After confirming the face-to-foot defense is no bueno, Vitor Belfort will now be forced to ride the pine until March 23rd for precautionary purposes. Although Forrest Griffin and Jake Ellenberger each left Las Vegas [...]

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/67426/%ef%bb%bfufc-126-vitor-belfort-issued-medical-suspension/

Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator Côté  Randy The Natural Couture 

UFC NEWS: Tyson Griffin dropping to the featherweight division following three fight losing streak

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Kenny Florian may have been the first high profile UFC lightweight to make the drop down to the new UFC featherweight division, but he's not going to be the last.

Tyson Griffin is following suit following three straight losses in the lightweight division. The longtime UFC lightweight revealed on his personal website that he is making the drop this year.

"I?ve got some big plans for 2011, and unfortunately they?re put on hold right now, but those plans are to move to 145 [lbs] and make a run for that belt," Griffin said. "So you can see me at a new weight class looking stronger and better than ever hopefully."

Griffin is currently recovering from knee surgery before he can return to training. He's lost three straight fights, to Evan Dunham, Takanori Gomi and Nik Lentz. The most recent loss was a controversial split decision loss at UFC 123 in November.

Link to video at TysonGriffin.com

Penick's Analysis: It's a good move for Griffin. He's not the biggest lightweight, but he's had a lot of success over the years in the division. Dropping to featherweight will be a good move for him and will give him a chance to rebuild his career. He'll be an exciting addition to the 145 lb. class, and there are sure to be a number of other lightweights following in Florian and Griffin's footsteps throughout the year.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8395.shtml

Genki Sudo Amar Suloev Mike Swick Takashi Sugiura

Walker lives the simple life at San Jose hotel: Training and little else

Herschel Walker is worth millions. He's a big car collector. The former star college and NFL running back has 63. At 48, he's accomplished a helluva lot, yet he's turned back the clock and living a simple existence in a San Jose hotel for the last six weeks.

"This is my little thing. I do my work. Everyday I stay in this hotel room. It ain't about going out," Walker told Shootmedia.tv. "I don't go out to nightclubs. I don't go out and party. I never have."

Walker said the trainers at American Kickboxing Academy, where he's worked on his MMA skils for the last few years, have done too much for him to screw around.

"I have a resonsibility to those people who have given me a hand. I have a responsibility to AKA for giving me a chance, an opportunity."

Walker faces 40-year-old Scott Carson this weekend in San Jose for Strikeforce.  

For the kiddies, check out the old highlights of Herschel steamrolling people during his Georgia days on his way to the 1982 Heisman. Walker also says he's still doing a minimum of 750 pushups and 2000 sit ups a day.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Walker-lives-the-simple-life-at-San-Jose-hotel-?urn=mma-313418

Georgi Karakhanyan Alex Karalexis Mark Kerr Mamed Khalidov

Chael Sonnen Says Anderson Silva Revealed A New Weakness To Exploit At UFC 126

There wasn’t anything to critique about Anderson Silva’s performance at UFC 126, but you had to figure if anyone was going to say something bad about it, it would be Chael Sonnen. And oh look, he did. “Thank you, Anderson, for revealing yet another weakness for me to exploit in our rematch. Beating that poor [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/SDjkFancUJI/

Sergei Kharitonov Min Soo Kim Dong Hyun Kim Kevin Knabjian

Watch tonight's post-UFC 126 press conference live on MMAjunkie.com

LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene at Mandalay Bay Events in Las Vegas for tonight's UFC 126 event.

As usual you can catch a live video stream of the night's post-fight press conference, courtesy of the UFC, here on MMAjunkie.com at approximately 1:15 a.m. ET (10:15 p.m. PT).

Expected to take part in tonight's press conference are UFC president Dana White, headliners Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort, and other winners from the night's pay-per-view main card.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/slO3YKNl6RE/watch-tonights-post-ufc-126-press-conference-live-on-mmajunkie-com.mma

Zhang Tiequan Igor Zinoviev Mark Coleman Maurice Smith

UFC Fight Night 24, March 26

UFC Fight Night 24
Saturday, March 26
Key Arena
Seattle, Washington
Airing on Spike


MAIN CARD

* Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (#9-tie Ranked Light Heavyweight) vs. Tito Ortiz
* Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson
* Amir Sadollah vs. Duane Ludwig
* Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia

PRELIMINARY CARD (unaired)

* John Hathaway vs. Kris McCray
* Alex Caceres vs. Mackens Semerzier
* Aaron Simpson vs. Mario Miranda
* Michael McDonald vs. Nick Pace
* Jon Madsen vs. Mike Russow
* Sean McCorkle vs. Christian Morecraft
* Dennis Hallman vs. T.J. Waldburger
* Rob Kimmons vs. Dongi Yang

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Upcoming_Events_42/article_7775.shtml

Travis Wiuff Wu Haotian Rani Yahya Kenichi Yamamoto