In a new interview with the website With Leather, Jon Jones is asked what one thing he would change about MMA if he could. Here is his response: “I would get rid of the replica belts… I hate it when people come up to me with a belt that looks exactly like mine and they ask me to sign it. I worked three times a day for three years to get this [light heavyweight championship] belt, and now this guy asking me for an autograph has one just like it… I never sign those belts.”

Some other sites have pointed the following out, and I have to say that I fully agree with them. When you’re asked “what one thing would you change about MMA?”, that’s a pretty far-reaching topic. Some fighters respond with “I want different rules” or “more money” or “worldwide legalization” or “better judges” or this or that or any number of things. To date, I can’t think of a single other fighter that has ever answered this question with something as downright petty as “I would ban replica belts”.

I mean… is that seriously the one thing, the ONE thing, he would change about MMA if he could? That’s, dare I say it, incredibly shallow. Even egotistical.

As an MMA fan, I’ve never bought a replica UFC belt yet I can certainly see the appeal of it. It’s the crown jewel of the biggest, most well-known promotion in the world, and you can have a small snippet of it in your home to show to your guests and friends. It’s the true measure of the super-fan, because really good replica belts can cost several hundred dollars.

And when you enter that territory, when you drop that much money into a replica belt, you’re not buying it because you don’t want to work for the real thing like Jon Jones did. You bought it because you love watching MMA and you want a piece of memorabilia that will always remind you why you love the sport so much.

And, to be bluntly honest, so long as you can afford them replica belts are pretty damn cool. The good ones cost an arm and a leg, but they’re very nice-looking.

In the end, I have no earthly idea why Jon Jones decided to make his stance on replica belts public, and I don’t know what caused him to have this stance to begin with. Here’s some more blunt honesty for you: it’s interviews like this one that can make you believe that maybe Jon Jones really is as full of himself as his cynics say he is. I still like Jon Jones, I’m still really looking forward to seeing him fight. But this interview really caught me by surprise, and I didn’t like it one bit.

5. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson

It’s the last call for a legend, and one of the greatest MMA fighters in MMA history. If Emelianenko can’t beat Dan Henderson, I have a strong feeling that he’ll retire. And Dan Henderson is currently riding a major wave of momentum now that he’s Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight Champion. It’s going to be an awesome showdown between two of the best old-school MMA veterans still actively competing today.

4. Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson

It may not have the bitter rivalry of the inevitable showdown between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans… but this is certainly one colossal match-up. I honestly and fully believe that this fight will set the stage for years to come: depending on how Jones does against Jackson, we’ll know for sure whether or not Jones is “the chosen one” that will break the curse of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few fights. I definitely can’t wait to see this fight.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

Yushin Okami can’t beat Anderson Silva… right? Of course he can. Anybody can beat anybody, and anything can happen in Mixed Martial Arts. And this is a rematch that’s been years in the making. To a loyal contingent of fans, Okami is one of the most under-rated, under-appreciated fighters currently fighting in the UFC. To a vast majority of people, Anderson Silva is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Any time Anderson Silva fights, you can definitely expect it to chart high on my lists like this. The fact that there’s such an interesting story between Okami and Silva is just icing on the cake.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva

Now this is a fight everyone can really dig their teeth into. Alistair Overeem has been living up to his nickname “Demolition Man” for a long time now, although he didn’t give the best performance against Fabricio Werdum. Meanwhile, Antonio Silva gave arguably the best performance of his life when he defeated Fedor Emelianenko. Whether you’re an Overeem fan, a “Bigfoot” fan, or simply a fan of great fights, this should definitely be the premiere showdown for the rest of Strikeforce’s year.

And my number-one most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011 is…

1. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

The night Nick Diaz faced Paul Daley, I was on the edge of my seat from the moment that fight started. When Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre goes down, I won’t even need a seat. I’ll be too busy pacing back and forth. I’ve followed Nick Diaz for a long, long time, and in that time, he’s changed from one of the fighters I absolutely despise to one of only a handful of fighters I consider my favorites. Even though he’s incredibly controversial and one of the biggest “bad boys” in MMA, I just can’t help but love Diaz’s take-no-prisoners style and his gruff type of “us against the world” affection that he shows to both his fans and his teammates. I know that Nick Diaz is a legitimate “best in the world” athlete, and I want him to prove that against Georges St. Pierre. But to do that, he’ll have to beat a man that I consider one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists of all time. This isn’t just my most-anticipated fight for the rest of 2011, it’s probably my most-anticipated fight of the last few years. Everything, and I do mean everything, will be on the line when Nick Diaz fights Georges St. Pierre.

Coming into 2011, Jon Jones’ record sat at an impressive 11-1 with his one and only loss coming by disqualification. Jones had dispatched veterans like Vladimir Matyushenko, he had beaten Brandon Vera’s face in, and he had caught the attention of the world with his dramatic strikes against Stephan Bonnar. To start out 2011, Jones was matched up against Ryan Bader.

“Darth” Bader was busy capitalizing on the success of winning a season of “The Ultimate Fighter” by tearing through the Light Heavyweight division thanks to his great wrestling and sneaky one-hit KO power. Coming into his fight with Jones, Bader was undefeated at 12-0 and had just got done beating well-respected veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Before that, he had knocked out UFC mainstay Keith Jardine.

The fight wasn’t even close, which surprised a lot of people. Bader would end up on the wrong end of a guillotine choke in the second round. Afterwards, Jon Jones got his shot at the gold in a story that took the MMA world by storm. Thanks to his then-friend and teammate Rashad Evans getting injured after sitting on the sidelines for roughly a year, Jon Jones would be given the task of welcoming Mauricio Rua back to the UFC.

After a rough start in the world’s largest MMA promotion, Mauricio Rua regained his “Shogun” status with convincing victories over Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman, and Lyoto Machida. Most fans believe that Machida winning the first bout with Rua was a fluke, and they were mostly proven right when Machida lost by first-round KO in the rematch.

This would be Rua’s first defense of his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, and he was coming in after a sizable absence. Nevertheless, many predicted that Jones’ run of utterly destroying people would stop with Rua. Rua was too good of a striker, he was too great of a veteran. Rua would show up with the experience to handle Jones’ unpredictability, and his striking would be better than Jones’. At least, that’s what “Shogun” fans said.

Me? I called Jon Jones destroying Mauricio Rua from the moment I first knew this fight would happen. I had to take all manner of abuse for my one-sided pick, but that’s nothing new for me. I even played nice after the fight and didn’t rub it in nearly as much as I could and probably should have.

Because, as we all know, Jon Jones went out and destroyed Mauricio Rua. He humbled him to the point where, as the referee was pulling Jones off of Rua, Rua tapped out due to strikes. For three rounds, Mauricio Rua… Mauricio Rua of all people… was at the mercy of Jon Jones. And Jon Jones fights without mercy.

Jones has already gotten his fair share of cynics, with most of them calling him too egotistical, too prideful, too unproven. But it really doesn’t get much better in MMA than what Jon Jones did in the first six months of 2011. His potential reached the breaking point, and then he finally realized it. And now I think Jones will be the first champion to break the “Light Heavyweight curse” that has beset the UFC’s 205 division since the fall of Chuck Liddell. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Jon Jones is 2011’s Fighter of the Half-Year.

The fight in of itself began to pique the interest of with multiple story lines attached to it—but now, that’s going to have to wait.

Originally, Jon Jones was to defend his ufc light heavyweight title against Rashad at UFC 133, however the champion is now going to be on the mend due to injury and now “Mr. Wonderful” has stepped in his place.

UFC 133, which takes place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 6, was originally the venue that was expected to house the light heavyweight grudge match between both Rashad and Jones, whom prior to the scheduled fight were both training partners housed under the Greg Jackson brand. Since the fight has been announced, both Jones and Evans have gone on very different paths.

Evans ended his 6-year relationship with the Jackson camp and has now began his own team with the likes of heavyweight giant Antonio “Big Foot” Silva, former K-1 Heroes Champion “JZ” Cavalcante, and former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago, among others. Since the split, both Jones and Evans have made it clear how they feel about each other, and despite having called one another “brothers” in the past, it was Jon who pulled punches in the media, to which Evans responded in kind.

The feud will have to be put on the back burner for now, as Jon will now be undergoing surgery after he suffered a torn ligament in his thumb during training. MMAWeekly.com were able to confirm the injury with sources close to Jones, and have now identified Phil Davis as Jones’ replacement in the August light heavyweight tussle.

Davis was last seen in action in March when he defeated legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, where both men served as the main-event for UFC Fight Night 24. Phil stepped up on short notice after Tito Ortiz, Rogerio’s original opponent, had suffered an injury in the weeks leading up to the fight. After a contentious first-round, Davis turned it around and eventually earned takedown after takedown on Nogueira which helped him secure a well-deserved decision victory over the former PRIDE superstar.

Evans, meanwhile, has not been seen inside the octagon since last May, when he defeated rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114. Rashad dominated the bout from start to finish with his superior wrestling, though a third-round scare from Jackson was all that the former PRIDE star could muster before Evans walked away with the decision. Rashad awaited on a title fight with then champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua until March of this year, however a subsequent injury in training left him unable to continue and in stepped in his then training partner in Jon Jones, who defeated the Brazilian with a third-round TKO.

So now, Evans vs. Davis is on deck next–but what do you think MMA peeps? Who do you favor, and should the winner of the bout be considered the legitimate number one contender to the title? Sound off in the comment section below.

You can look to no better example than Joe Stevenson and Melvin Guillard. Both have fought one another in the past and now are housed under the Jackson brand and have become fast friends and good training partners and insist that they will never again fight one another, despite having done battle in the past.

However, recently the UFC light heavyweight champion in Jones has been noted as being somewhat “two faced”. Saying one thing in confidence to Evans and then turning around and expelling tirades in the media. Yesterday was no different, where Jones made mention that he essentially “handled” Evans in practice, which as you can imagine is something that Rashad did not take too kindly to.

In an interview with Josh Gross of ESPN, Jones said bluntly “We fought each other in practice…A finish has been possible several times and it has always been me finishing him. I never did it out of respect that he was the elder of the school”.

While Jon, 23, has often been regarded as a level-headed, and otherwise mild mannered man, these statements cannot be construed as anything else but pompous and arrogant, a sentiment that Evans can surely agree with.

“Sugar” Rashad, the former UFC 205-pound champion, will be challenging his former teammate sometime later this year, and has already taken it upon himself to respond back to his would be “friend” in the best social medium possible: twitter.

“@jonnybones will b mma’s version of Milli Vinilli.. Wait until the curtain comes down cuz it will!!”, began Evans with only more pixilated jabs to come.

“@Jonnybones it’s been on!! Get off your own fan bus cuz nobody is driving!! U ain’t as raw as u believe & I’m gonna show ya!!”

“@xCypherx @jonnybones must b high! Cuz remember him looking at me begging me 2 let him up cuz he couldn’t get back 2 his feet in training..”

Everything the two are claiming is still up for debate. Does Jon run a roughshod through Evans in practice, or does Rashad “big brother” Jon in training? Only these two men really know the answers to these questions, however with the trash talk only beginning to mount, so will the increasing interest in the fight. Evans is doing his part to promote the fight, though I’m sure all the animosity he has towards Jones now is of his own personal satisfaction and is not harbored intentionally for television or the media alike. It’s personal now, and justifiably so. Rashad has been betrayed.

“@RoufuSportSolJa he is fake! The fighting is off the hook but as a person he is fake!”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Evans’ claims? Is he justified? Has Jones crossed the line? Sound off in the comment section below.

First there was BJ Penn, whom seemed tailor made to be a fighter with his fast hands coupled with the knockout power he posseses, in addition to his world-class submission skills that earned him a championship with just a few years of training.

Then there’s Anderson Silva, who has developed into the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, with his pin-point lethal striking that has drawn comparisons to moves that you could only traditonally see in movies.

And now, there’s Jon Jones. A powerhouse wrestler who uses his athletic ability to overcome even the most experienced foes. His full arsenal was on display in his last outing with then champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, whom Jones defeated via third-round TKO to become the new titleholder. And despite the respect he has shown in the past for former training partner Rashad Evans, who will next challenge Jon for the title, all of that has gone out the window, and if the fight goes on as practice has in the past, Jon will easily make his first successful title defense. At least according to him.

“We fought each other in practice. A finish has been possible several times and it has always been me finishing him”, said Jones in an interview with Josh Gross of ESPN.

“I never did it out of respect that he was the elder of the school. It’s against protocol in a way. Some people would do it but I believe in tradition. He has a lot to study. I have a lot to study, but I get to study[ing] more in-depth. He gets to study[ing] and gets a headache.”

It sounds like Jones may be getting a little bit ahead of himself in the lead up to his fight with his former teammate, whom in the past he has likened to a role model of his. Doesn’t look like too much idolization will be going on heading into this pivotal bout.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Do you agree with Jon’s assessment and believe that he will be able to handle Rashad? It will be interesting to see what Evans will have to say in response. Sound off in the comment section below.

He’s proven such accolades in the past, as he has taken fights in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, and even light heavyweight division. So now with the acquisition of Strikeforce into the Zuffa fold, things have gotten a little bit skewed once again.

The loyalty that him and his team (Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) share is undeniable–arguably the most loyal team in the sport of mixed martial arts. When Jake Shields and Nick Diaz were both under the Strikeforce banner, Shields moved up to the middleweight class exclusively, just so he can avoid having to run into his teammate, and eventually both men became champions.

So when people ask whether Diaz will fight any of his teammates, the answer is clear. So in Diaz’ opinion, were Rashad Evans and Jon Jones ever “real teammates”? Definitely, not. Because that’s not loyalty.

“They’re not real training partners though,” said Diaz during a recent conference call leading up to his fight with Paul Daley on April 9, regarding Evans and Jones.

“You don’t understand, they’re like 10 years apart for one and they didn’t grow up training together. That guy’s just brand new into the sport. He’s just doing whatever, they’ve got him busy making photo shoots and press conferences, and conference calls and all this.”

Diaz went on to explain more about his training styling’s and highlighted the fact that the wars he has with his brother Nate Diaz, and his best friends Gilbert Melendez and Shields are the only fights that you will see any of them in. Real teammates do not fight each other, is a point he tries to make clear.

“That’s what they’ve got them doing and they’re not focused on what’s important to them in life. I’ve got what works, and I’ve got what’s got me there and that’s my team. That’s a disgusting thought to have to fight my brother. I don’t even appreciate being asked about that,” said Nick.

Thank to MMAWeekly.com for the transcribe from the teleconference.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the whole “not fighting teammates” routine? Does it hurt the sport? I think in some cases, it’s not necessary, but when their all under the same roof and if they all reach the top of the division, questions will begin to arise. Sound off in the comment section below.

Rashad Evans was one of the originals of the famed team, having began training there several years ago after his underdog performance on the second season of “The Ultimate Fighter” where he became the winner of the heavyweight field.

After paring down to the light-heavyweight class, he became the champion of his division, and though he lost the crown soon thereafter, he worked his way back at a shot at the title. However now, Evans will be facing his former teammate in Jones, who has since made permanent residence with the Jackson team, causing Rashad to sever ties with his friends.

Mike Winkeljohn, one of the head instructors and co-owner of the Jackson training facilities, wishes the whole situation could have been averted, and partly blames UFC champ Jon Jones.

Those who are unfamiliar with Winkeljohn, you can look to a bevy of Rashad Evans’ highlight reel and call them the courtesy of the striking coach. From the headkick knockout of Sean Salmon to the blistering right-hand KO of Chuck Liddell, Winkeljohn has been a longtime supporter of the former champion.

While Jones has been anything but grateful of the whole Greg Jackson camp, Mike now partly regrets the decision to allow Jon on the team.

In an early interview, Jones hinted that should both him and Rashad have to meet in the ring, despite having come from the same team, that he would unwillingly do so. Evans, never one to back down from a challenge, took Jones to his word and now both men will be meeting in the cage in the foreseeable future. Evans, feeling like the GJ team has turned their back on him, has left the camp and is currently training with the likes of Antonio Silva, Jorge Santiago, and “JZ” Cavalcante.

“A lot of us are to blame,” said Winkeljohn of the split, who spoke with MMAFighting.com on the matter.

“I think it’s an unfortunate series of events that’s going to happen more and more. Everybody wants a title. Bringing Jon Jones in, you know, if we would have known ahead of time that this would happen, we might not have brought him in. I don’t know, it’s tough. But I don’t know if that’s why Rashad left, or if it was because he didn’t trust us after he lost to Machida. Maybe it was a combination. I don’t know. I care about both guys and if there’s anybody out there who has the tools to beat Jon Jones, it’s Rashad Evans. If he uses them and he shows up mentally prepared, Jon Jones is in for a long night.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Mike’s assessment of the situation? Long has the Greg Jackson team had this comradery of not wanting to fight each other, however now that Jones is the champ after his blitzkrieg of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last weekend, Evans rightly will be challenging for the title and look to become the new title holder. Should Winkeljohn continue to train Jones or is that betrayal? Sound off in the comment section below.

Former PRIDE and UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was dominated from start to finish by the younger, bigger, and stronger Jon Jones, which eventually resulted into a third-round TKO win for the Greg Jackson product.

While Rua has had his spurts of brilliance inside the octagon in the past, he looked like a shell of his former self from his glory days in the PRIDE organization. And while the subsequent knee injury and layoff could have been a deciding factor in his performance against Jones at UFC 128, his manager and friend Eduardo Alonso pulls no punches and credit “Bones” Jones completely for his accomplishments.

Alonso posted the letter on the popular Underground forum and had this to say:

My friends,

Eduardo Alonso.

“You can’t say you are not going to have anything to do with it when you are a big part of the reason why the situation originated,” Evans told Bloody Elbow. “That’s like spilling a glass of milk and then walking away and saying that you don’t want to have anything to do with it. You f**kn spilled the milk…so you’re at least going to help clean it up right? When Jon Jones came to the gym over a year ago Greg Jackson came to me and said, “listen, what do you feel about having this kid on the team?” I told him straight up that I didn’t like it. I told him that the kid was talented and that the sky was the limit with him but that was the type of guy I wanted to fight not train with. Greg came back saying, “No, no, no this will be just like you and Keith where he will be just like a brother.” I still told him that I didn’t want to do that. Then Greg said if that situation ever did arise between Jones and I that he would have to turn the fight down because that’s how it works. He would have to turn down the fight with me so that way I wouldn’t be put in a position where I looked like a punk. That’s how it works in the Greg Jackson system. After a while Greg was so high on this kid coming in and I met Jon Jones and he was a very nice and very sweet kid, so eventually I said f**k it, let’ s bring him in. After he got there and I trained with him and tried him out a little bit, something didn’t feel right so I moved my camp up to Denver to train at Grudge for awhile. That is where I spent the majority of my time over the past two fights.”

Of course, it didn’t work the same way it usually does with the Greg Jackson system in this case.  Early on, when asked if they would fight one another, both Jones and Evans indicated that they would not.  But later Jones apparently changed his mind. 

“I mean it’s one thing to say something in an interview,” Evans said, “but the least you could have picked up the phone and been like, “man I did an interview today and they kind of put me on the spot with a rough question and I answered it this way”. At least give me the heads up so that way I know and not look at it if he’s Judas or something. You know who Judas is? That interview was some backstabbing s**t but now it’s like whatever because now I know the game he is playing. Then for Greg to sit back and say he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it….why not? You f**kn created the situation. Be his coach and be in his corner. That’s what you want so do it. I don’t care if coaches against me. It doesn’t even matter.”

Jackson agrees that Jones shouldn’t have said he would fight Evans, even if some of the details as he recalls them differ from what the former TUF champion has conveyed.

“The thing with Rashad is, he said he was okay with Jon coming on the team,” Jackson told MMAFighting.com. “I felt that Jon did the wrong thing by saying he would fight Rashad. But once they signed to fight, I’m staying out of it. I’m not choosing Rashad over Jon Jones or Jon Jones over Rashad; I’m staying out of the entire thing. Everybody signed on to [Jon] being on the team. It wasn’t like I brought him on with these evil intentions. I bring a lot of training partners on to the team who are in the same weight class. For instance, Donald Cerrone, Melvin Guillard, Clay Guida – all these guys are in the same division.”

Jackson also reminded that although he clearly had a say in whether or not the two trained at Jackson’s MMA, he did not when it came to whether or not they agreed to fight.

“I’m the one that’s not choosing,” Jackson said. ”I’m staying neutral. I’m not going to tell you you can’t fight. You’re both grown-ass men. I’m not the boss of either of you, and I’m not your dad.”

In the end, this saga is likely to continue publicly in the coming months.  It’s certainly a difficult one with no easy answers.  But the interesting thing is, it’s also a situation we’re going to continue to see from time to time in this sport.  After all, if you don’t have good training partners, it’s hard to be good yourself.  And usually good training partners means fighters in your weight division in your own camp.

Tough deal.

If the world of professional MMA journalists had a pound for pound ranking system similar to that of the fighters, Mike Chiappetta, from MMAFighting.com would certainly be in the top two or three on such a list. A quick review, reveals his MMA-Journo chops.

Chiappetta became the first writer to consistently cover mixed martial arts for a major media outlet website when he helped launch the sport’s coverage for NBCSports.com in 2006. He has written extensively on MMA for ESPN.com, NBCSports.com, and various magazines. He also hosts Spike’s popular “Inside the Ultimate Fighter” podcast, and has been an on-air analyst for multiple MMA television shows.

Chiappetta took some time out of his schedule, around watching his UConn Huskies cruise into the Sweet Sixteen, to talk with Fighters.com about many of the developing story-lines in MMA today.

Click through to watch.

Let’s begin as we so often do: let’s give the situation some context.

If I could describe Jon Jones in only one way, it would be “unstoppable”. I know it’s easy to over-hype a fighter you like, but I also know that very few people are as deserving of that accolade as Jon Jones. No one has ever made Jon Jones look bad in the Octagon. No one has even come close. The only loss he has in the UFC is by disqualification, and that’s because he got a little too heated and started throwing some illegal elbows. And you know what? Even that couldn’t stop Jon Jones. If anything, it was a learning experience that helped mold him into the champion he became at UFC 128.

His opponent, Mauricio Rua, was returning from an extended hiatus due to injury. This was Rua’s first defense of his Light Heavyweight Championship since knocking out Lyoto Machida and ending the heavily-hyped “Machida Era” before it ever really got a chance to get started. Even despite the long layoff, many fans were calling for “Shogun” to win and took to the internet in droves to voice their displeasure of Rua being cast as the underdog in the eyes of most people. Even I can admit that Rua had several interesting tools that he could have used to take Jones down a peg: killer leg kicks, some of the best Muay Thai in the business and possibly ever, knockout power from multiple angles, and more.

But there’s a difference between having the weapons to defeat an opponent and using those weapons to defeat an opponent.

From the opening of the first round, it was clear that Jon Jones would be the one dictating the pace of this fight. Jones was the one landing at will, Jones was the one keeping his opponent at bay with leg kicks and even leg punches, Jones initiated the clinch, took the fight to the ground, and smothered “Shogun” from the first minute to the last. Rua’s attacks were nullified, his submission attempts were nullified, and in the process, he took a huge amount of damage to all areas of his body.

And in the end, Jones stopped Rua in the third round. Although the referee was the one that officially stopped the fight, new video has been released showing Rua tapping to strikes right as the referee was pulling Jones away. This above all else sends a clear message: Rua was so hurt that he no longer wanted to fight Jon Jones. Jon Jones dominated and destroyed a highly-feared veteran, to the point where a man with one of the biggest hearts in the business, with one of the toughest chins imaginable, said “please stop hurting me”.

It was simply the most dominating performance of 2011 so far, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if it earned a year-end award. Many wondered if Jon Jones was really as unstoppable as he looked. We got our answer at UFC 128. I said before this fight that I’ll never again bet against Jon Jones. This fight simply reaffirmed and even strengthened that notion. Judging by what he did to “Shogun” at UFC 128, I simply have no idea how anyone could beat Jon Jones. And that’s why his performance easily took “Best Performance of the Night”.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?

The Friending Spike TV, Spiking Facebook Award: Spike TV, for presenting a far better “UFC Prelims LIVE!” outing than the Facebook stream of free UFC 128 preliminary fights. The Facebook stream boasted bigger-name talent, but completely fell flat of my expectations. Meanwhile, I didn’t have too much to look forward to on the Spike TV special, but I found myself enjoying it quite a lot. This just goes to show that “UFC Prelims LIVE” continues to defy my expectations, which is a good thing for the most part.

The Unnecessary Roughness Award: Brendan Schaub, for the shot he landed on Mirko Filipovic directly after he landed the shot that KO’d Cro Cop. I’ve seen some people come to Schaub’s defense already, but I think “in the heat of the moment” is really the only excuse, since it takes into account that an error was made. Unless you were on an adrenaline high, I just don’t see how you punch a guy again after the punch you just threw caused the guy to crumple lifelessly to the mat. I don’t think Schaub is a dirty fighter, and I’ve never been a Cro Cop super-fan, but I do think Brendan made a mistake.

The Woodsman Award: Nate Marquardt, for his tough but not super-impressive victory over Dan Miller. This award has to do with the phrase “out of the woods”, and in particular, “the woods” for Marquardt is the assumption that he chokes in big fights. Marquardt isn’t out of the woods yet, he’s still exploring. He got a decent victory, but there are still many unanswered questions. Marquardt earned a little breathing room at UFC 128 but not much else.

The “Dark Horse” Award: Jim Miller, for his great performance against Kamal Shalorus. With this victory Miller is becoming the Lightweight equivalent of Jon Fitch: it seems like the only people talking about him are the ones insisting he deserves a title shot. I think Miller became a “dark horse” at UFC 128 because he demonstrated once again that he can fight any type of fighter and beat them at their own game.

The “Brand New Day” Award: Jon Jones, for more than likely ushering in a new era in the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division. Since Quinton Jackson dethroned Chuck Liddell, no UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has managed to hold the championship for more than one defense. Consider that, and consider that no one, and I do mean no one, has been able to come anywhere close to hurting Jon Jones. All signs point to Jones ushering in a new era, and I can’t wait to see that era commence.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. And remember, it’s all in good fun… mostly. What about you? Any thoughts/opinions ready to be shared?

5. The Anthony Njokuani and Edson Barboza fight.

There’s one simple reason why this fight received “Fight of the Night”: it was an absolute blast to watch. Both men were high-level strikers, and that can always backfire if one or both of them is afraid to engage. But neither Barboza nor Njokuani displayed any kind of fear, and proceeded to tear into each other throughout the course of their fifteen-minute war of attrition. It’s a fight that saw both men add several things to their highlight reel.

4. Brendan Schaub KO’ing Mirko Filipovic.

If you’ve followed me for any prolonged period of time, you may know that I don’t have too high of an opinion on Mirko Cro Cop. I’ll never try to take away or demean in any way his glory days in PRIDE, but in the UFC, he’s simply never truly impressed me. But I wasn’t jumping for joy when Schaub KO’d him. I was honestly a bit shocked, because Schaub turned out the lights in one single punch and was dominating the fight up to that point. This was one of the best performances of Schaub’s brief UFC career, and that KO is going and staying on his highlight reel for a long, long time.

3. Jim Miller dropping and stopping Kamal Shalorus.

I always get butterflies when I go out on a limb for a fighter for days/weeks and then have nothing left to do or say other than to watch him fight and hopefully live up to that hype. I didn’t think Jim Miller would lose, but as I so often say, anything can happen in MMA. However, Miller proved himself beyond a shadow of a doubt and I think those butterflies are going to be quite smaller the next time he fights. Miller is a great striker with an under-rated ground game, he’s got a tough chin, and he knows how to put together beautiful, fluid combinations that stop fights. Jim Miller is the real deal, and seeing him prove it at UFC 128 was one of the biggest highlights of the night for me.

2. Urijah Faber beating Eddie Wineland and not changing who he is to do it.

When I saw Urijah Faber lose the first round of his fight to Eddie Wineland, my heart went into my stomach. It was the same Faber I had come to admire, but those old mistakes with his style reared their ugly heads. But then something else happened: Faber’s famous heart and drive took hold, and he turned it all around. By the end of the second round, it was clear that “The California Kid” had gotten comfortable and was going to work. It was another great performance from a fighter that, for so long, was one of the best lighter-weight fighters on the planet.

But there’s just no contest, my best moment of UFC 128 was…

1. Jon Jones demolishing Mauricio Rua.

I said Mauricio Rua would have nothing for Jon Jones. I said it, few believed it. But I said it, and guess what? Mauricio Rua had nothing for Jon Jones. Jones was never in any trouble: he was the one with the killer leg kicks, he was the one controlling the ground, he was the one that pummeled and battered his opponent. Submissions? Jones was so unafraid of Rua’s submissions that he himself tried several submissions, including Rua’s own favorite, the kneebar. This was by far Rua’s biggest loss in the UFC, even bigger than his loss to Forrest Griffin. And while I personally have nothing against him, the sweet vindication I felt at UFC 128 was far and away the best moment of the night for me.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from UFC 128. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Next for Mirko Filipovic: Retirement, if he knows what’s good for him. I’ve had my wars with Filipovic’s legion of fans in the past, but a strange thing happened to me at UFC 128. I found myself quite sad when I saw Cro Cop lifeless on the mat for the second time in a row. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, and I won’t speculate because I’ve never followed him that closely. But the evidence is staggering: Cro Cop is on the decline, and it may be better to hang it up now or else he risks becoming a Heavyweight version of Chuck Liddell.

Next for Brendan Schaub: With this win, Schaub took a crucial step forward on his quest for top-division status. I think the time has come for Schaub to rematch Roy Nelson, but that’s only if Nelson loses to his upcoming opponent, Frank Mir. Likewise, I’d love to see Schaub take on Cheick Kongo if Kongo loses his upcoming fight to Pay Barry. Also, Stefan Struve would be a good fit for Schaub, that’s a fight that’s been discussed and I think it’d be very entertaining. Schaub may not be a championship contender just yet, but he’s really beginning to find himself in the UFC’s Heavyweight division. Big things are in store for Brendan Schaub in 2011.

Next for Jim Miller: I’ll be watching very closely to see how the UFC approaches Jim Miller now that he’s beaten another tough competitor. Miller may not deserve a title shot, but he’s very close. He’s on the short-list. Unfortunately he’ll have to wait awhile, because Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard have to fight again, then Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida have to fight, and then, on top of all that, the winners of those two matches have to fight. It’s a crowded Lightweight scene, but Miller is fast-rising to the top of it. He deserves a top-level opponent for his next fight.

Next for Urijah Faber: I think the man that many consider the WEC’s best asset and biggest star will have a very bright future in the UFC. Faber came off as a class act during his post-fight interview, and when he fought Eddie Wineland he fought with the style that made him a well-respected and a very entertaining champion. The WEC was always quick to put Faber into title contention, and the positives and negatives of that are best left for another day, but in the here and now I think the UFC will continue that trend. Faber is only one or two fights away from challenging for the championship.

Next for Mauricio Rua: A certain section of the “Shogun” contingent are already calling for him to drop down to Middleweight, and I honestly think that would be very interesting and I’d like to see it happen. My gut reaction is that it won’t, but if it does it wouldn’t surprise me too much, and I think Rua has a lot of interesting match-ups at 185. If he stays at 205, I think Rua should face Lyoto Machida for a third and final time, or perhaps Quinton Jackson. Rua needs to battle an established veteran, both for the sake of nostalgia and to keep him alive in the UFC’s ever-crowded Light Heavyweight scene.

Next for Jon Jones: Rashad Evans, and another dominating victory. I once swore I’d never again bet against Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans won’t be the fighter that makes me break that promise. I don’t even know who that fighter is, since I don’t see anyone beating Jon Jones at Light Heavyweight. It may be the hype getting to me, and I may be getting my hopes up too high, especially given the “Light Heavyweight curse”. But I said it was “The Era of Bones”, and I truly believe that.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of UFC 128?

Jon Jones defeats Mauricio Rua at 2:37 of Round 3 to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Urijah Faber defeats Eddie Wineland by Unanimous Decision. Jim Miller defeats Kamal Shalorus by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 3. Nate Marquardt defeats Dan Miller by Unanimous Decision. Brendan Schaub defeats Mirko Filipovic by TKO (strikes) at 3:44 of Round 3. Luis Cane defeats Eliot Marshall by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 1. Edson Barboza defeats Anthony Njokuani by Unanimous Decision. Mike Pyle defeats Ricardo Almeida by Unanimous Decision. Gleison Tibau defeats Kurt Pellegrino by Split Decision. Joseph Benavidez defeats Ian Loveland by Unanimous Decision. Nick Catone defeats Constantinos Phillippou by Unanimous Decision . Erik Koch defeats Raphael Assuncao by KO at 2:32 of Round 1.

Although I once again enjoyed the four free fights the UFC gave us as part of their ongoing “UFC Prelims LIVE” series of shows, I have to admit that my expectations were completely backwards.

I was looking forward to the Facebook stream a lot more, because it boasted bigger names and veteran talents. However, I thought Almeida, Tibau, Pellegrino, and Pyle all put on rather pedestrian affairs. They weren’t bad fights, but they definitely fell short of my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the Spike TV broadcast, which featured a great TKO win by Luis Cane and a very, very entertaining striking war between Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani.

I rarely dislike being right, but I’m not without a heart. I don’t like seeing Mirko Cro Cop lifeless on the mat. This is the second time in a row that Cro Cop has lost by KO, and I think it may be time for him to call it a career. I could possibly see Cro Cop moving down to Light Heavyweight, but I think Cro Cop’s days of being relevant as a Heavyweight are now firmly and finally over and done with, and not even the staunchest Cro Cop supporter can argue against that.

I’m glad Nate Marquardt beat Dan Miller, but I have a new appreciation for how tough Dan Miller is. I didn’t think he would be able to deal with Nate Marquardt’s power for three rounds without going down, and he proved me dead wrong. So here’s some credit where it’s rightfully due: his performance coupled with the fact that he took this fight on ultra-short notice means that Dan Miller far exceeded my expectations at UFC 128, even in losing.

With his win at UFC 128, I think Jim Miller has firmly staked his claim near the top of the UFC Lightweight division. Miller has got to be only a few fights away from a title shot, there’s just no way he’s not unless the UFC doesn’t realize what they have in him. In Jim Miller you’ve got a fighter that will fight anyone anywhere, he’ll strike with strikers and he’ll try to submit high-level Brazilian Jui Jitsu fighters. Miller has the raw talent to go very far in the UFC’s Lightweight division, and his performance at UFC 128 proves that he’s living up to his potential. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jim Miller.

Eddie Wineland is one tough fighter, but Urijah Faber proved that he still has it at UFC 128. I was happy enough knowing that Faber finally debuted in the UFC, but seeing him win and win big while still retaining his very entertaining style was one of my favorite moments of the night. I think this was a very important, very big step on the comeback trail for Urijah Faber, and I think 2012 could be the year where Faber becomes a champion again. Depending on how things shake out, we may even enter 2012 with Faber as champion.

I called it, fans and friends. I gave Rua his due, I said he could beat Jon Jones, now give me my due. This is the new era, now. Jon Jones is “the chosen one”. Like some mythical fairy-tale, the young champion has now ascended to the throne and will be the one to break “the curse”. It’s a whole new ballgame now, and Jon Jones is the best Light Heavyweight fighter in the world.

And that’s what I thought about UFC 128, fans and friends. What about you? What’s your opinion on “Shogun vs. Jones” now that it’s all said and done?

5. Having to switch camps could really end up hurting Rashad.

There’s been a lot of talk about Rashad Evans having to switch camps if he were to accept this fight, with Evans himself stating that he would likely leave Greg Jackson’s if he had to face “Bones”. There’s an obvious disadvantage here: Greg Jackson’s camp was one of the key ingredients in helping mold Evans into a champion. Some of the best fighters in the world train at Greg Jackson’s. The world does not revolve around that camp, but it’s on the shortlist of the best MMA camps in the world. If Evans leaves that behind and doesn’t find a suitable replacement, he’s in deep trouble.

4. Rashad has never been much of a stand-up fighter, and Jones’ unorthodox striking works best against Rashad’s type of fighter.

Rashad is a traditionalist, and one Achilles Heel of the traditional striker is the effectively unorthodox striker. Jon Jones isn’t highly regarded because he throws caution to the wind and tries some crazy strikes, it’s because he throws crazy strikes that land and do a whole lot of damage. The last time Evans fought a fighter with an untraditional striking style was Lyoto Machida, and that was one of the most embarrassing KO losses in recent MMA history.

3. Rashad will have trouble dealing with Jones’ impressive throws.

When Jon Jones gets a firm hold of you… you’re getting thrown. He’s proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt, and that will be one of his biggest weapons against Rashad. If Rashad attempts to pressure Jones up against the cage, he puts himself into prime position for the throws of “Bones”. Likewise, if Evans tries a takedown and fails, he’ll be in another prime position to get tossed and/or slammed.

2. Rashad has been gone too long.

How long will Rashad have been gone by the time this fight actually happens? A year and a half? Close to two years if Jones gets injured? That’s a long, long time to sit on the sidelines, and no one forced Evans to do so. And as we are so often reminded, ring rust is very real. It can affect the young as well as the old, it can hurt champions and challengers alike. And it’s a huge disadvantage for Rashad coming into this fight.

1. Jones is everything Rashad isn’t.

It took Rashad Evans nine fights in the UFC and a run in “The Ultimate Fighter” before he got a shot at the championship. Jones didn’t have to do the reality show and got his title shot in seven fights. Rashad Evans is constantly criticized for being a boring fighter, Jon Jones is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. Rashad Evans sat on the sidelines for many months rather than risk losing his shot at the championship, Jones jumped at a shot at the belt even though it meant he would have barely over a month to prepare for the biggest fight of his life. Jones is on the brink of superstardom, Evans will have to fight to stay relevant since he’s been gone so long. This contrast is the biggest reason why I think Jon Jones could beat Rashad Evans.

We’re now only one away from the finale of today’s special four-part mini-series. Once again I just have to ask: Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones… who wins it and why do you think so?

5. Having to switch camps could end up being Rashad’s secret weapon.

The fact that Rashad Evans would likely leave Greg Jackson’s camp if he has to fight Jones could end up being a blessing in disguise. As prestigious as Jackson’s camp is, they’re not the only game in town. There are plenty of other MMA camps in the world, and most would jump at the chance to work with a former champion like Rashad. By moving camps, Evans has the chance to learn and grown in a wholly new environment, picking up tricks he may never had been able to learn had he stayed put.

4. Jon Jones has never faced a striker like Rashad Evans.

Jon Jones has faced strikers before, but Rashad Evans represents a very different kind of striker. Much like Ryan Bader, he’s a wrestling-based fighter with sneaky one-hit KO power. The main difference here, though, is that Evans has one-hit KO power from any position, not just when he loads up and lands. If Jones gets too confident, Evans can knock him out. Evans can knock Jones out with a counter-strike. Evans can knock Jones out with Ground and Pound. There is no one position where Rashad Evans isn’t capable of knocking out Jon Jones.

3. If Jones tries something flashy and doesn’t hit it, he’s getting taken down.

Jon Jones likes to take chances, and that’s both a negative and a positive. The positive is that if he hits what he tries to hit, it looks great on camera while also doing big damage to his opponent. But Evans could be too experienced to be fooled by Jones’ trickery. If Jones gives Evans the opportunity, Evans can take this fight to the ground on a moment’s notice. And Jones trying one of his flashy moves gives Evans ample opportunity.

2. Rashad is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Rashad Evans has been to the top of the mountain, and he’s relatively young. His body has held up remarkably well, and he can still compete at an elite level. When Evans faces Jones, Evans won’t have the weight of being labeled “the future of the division” on his shoulders. When Evans faces Jones, Evans won’t be the one that’s an unproven champion that must break the “Light Heavyweight Curse” in order to realize his potential. Jon Jones has far more to lose in this bout, and that added pressure could pile up to the point where Jones is defeated before he ever steps into the cage.

1. Rashad is everything Jones isn’t.

This is a sword that cuts both ways. Jones is flashy and unorthodox, while Evans is technically sound. Jones spends a whole lot of energy with his impressive throws, Evans plays it smart and makes the opponent waste energy with constant takedowns. Jones has to throw spinning back elbows to come close to knocking a guy out, Evans has one-hit KO power and he knows how to use it. The fact that Jones and Evans are so dissimilar is the biggest reason either man could beat each other.

And there you have it, fans and friends. Be sure to stay tuned for parts 2, 3, and 4. But for now: what do you think Rashad Evans has to do in order to beat Jon Jones?

Jon Jones has basically been anointed the UFC “golden child” with a crush of positive press and his own reality show on Spike TV ahead of UFC 128 in Newark, NJ.  Can he perform to that level of hype on Saturday night, against Shogun Rua? That is the question, which will decide if he will rocket off to mega sports fame, or get knocked back down to merely a “talented young gun” with lots of potential.  Jones was in good form this week at the UFC 128 press conference taking all questions like a seasoned pro.

Watch Jones take on all questions.

Click through to watch.

5. Jon Jones has an equally short amount of time to prepare for the biggest fight of his life.

Who takes a fight on little less than two months notice? Mauricio Rua has been training for his return for months, but Jon Jones had been training for Ryan Bader. Only the young take a fight the second after they’ve just won a fight, only the reckless take a fight with little more than a month to prepare for a championship bout.

4. The Achilles Heel of the unorthodox striker is the deadly counter-striker.

Let me tell you what’s going to happen if Jon Jones attempts a spinning back elbow or a jumping knee. Rua is going to dodge it and then punch “Bones” in his face, or kick his legs. The same thing is going to happen if Jones comes in charging, trying to grab “Shogun” to either throw him or take him down: Rua is going to blast a knee to the chin or a fist to the dome. The reason people always give so much praise for Jon Jones’ effective and unorthodox striking is because crazy strikes and insane throws rarely work against truly skilled opponents. And despite what you may think I think about Mauricio Rua, if nothing else I consider the man truly skilled.

3. Who has Jon Jones beat, really?

I understand that “Bones” has looked amazing many times in the Octagon, but who was he fighting when he made those amazing moments? His biggest victory is over Ryan Bader, and that was a bout clearly designed to determine which one was ready for top-division status, not who the next #1 contender was. Would Ryan Bader have been given the shot if he defeated Jon Jones? When Jon Jones steps into the Octagon against Mauricio Rua, he’ll be fighting a true best-in-the-world fighter for the first time in his life.

2. Mauricio Rua is an exceptional striker.

Mauricio Rua has won nineteen fights as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Sixteen of those fights have been (T)KO’s. Here’s just a sample of the people Rua has separated from consciousness: Alistair Overeem, Lyoto Machida, Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Evangelista Santos… do I really need to go on? It’s a smorgasbord of strikers, grapplers, and more.  Mauricio Rua is a master at Muay Thai, he has the killer instinct of a champion and the fiery finishes of a legend-in-the-making. Jon Jones has never faced a striker in Mauricio Rua’s league. He’s never even come close.

And the number one reason why I believe Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones is…

1. The body is willing, the mind is weak.

Is Jon Jones ready for this fight? I don’t doubt that he’s ready physically. In fact, Jon Jones is a physical specimen. But mentally? Can Jon Jones deal with all the pressure that’s being put on him? Is he ready, truly ready, to embrace his role as the future of the division? Or is it too much, too soon? No one knows what Jon Jones fights like when he’s not in control because no one has been able to take control from Jon Jones. Mauricio Rua can, and with this being a five-round fight, he almost undoubtedly will at some point. Any small potential mental weakness will be exploited to its fullest, and that’s the biggest reason why I think Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones.

So there you go, fans and friends, and “Shogun” fans in particular. Don’t say I never gave ya nothin’. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe in Jon Jones, but would it surprise me if Mauricio Rua beat him? It honestly wouldn’t.

As always, let’s get some debate going. What’s your opinion?

5. Mauricio Rua has little time to prepare for a completely different fighter.

Rua is taking this fight with basically a month and a half to prepare. For so long it was assumed that Rua would be fighting Rashad Evans, but at UFC 126 on February 5 it was revealed that Evans was injured and Jon Jones would be taking his place. Both Rashad Evans and Jon Jones are incredibly talented… but Jon Jones is not Rashad Evans. Both men are two wholly different fighters that pose very different threats to Rua, and Rua’s inability to fully prepare for this fight stands out as one of the main reasons why Jones could beat him.

4. Mauricio Rua has been out too long.

The last time Mauricio Rua fought in the Octagon was May 2010. He fought for under four minutes, but in those four minutes he injured his knee so badly that it necessitated a ten-month absence. “Ring rust” is very real, and it’s already proven to effect Rua in the Octagon. The last time Rua came off such a long absence, he gassed out horribly and only beat Mark Coleman because Coleman was far past his prime and also badly gassed out. If history has told us anything, it’s that Rua is going to come into this fight with diminished abilities and rapidly-depleting cardio.

3. Jon Jones has never been submitted, never come close to being submitted, and Rua’s last submission win was over four years ago… and that was the only person he ever submitted!

I absolutely cannot understand why so many people just assume that Rua will be able to submit Jon Jones. Who has Mauricio Rua submitted? His first, last, and only submission win in MMA was in 2006 against Kevin Randleman. Randleman had been submitted five times prior to that fight, in fact, there was one stretch of time where Randleman lost three straight fights all by submission. Rua has lost by submission more times than he’s won by submission. Jon Jones has more wins by submission than Mauricio Rua. How can Rua submit Jones? It’s just not computing.

2. Jon Jones is phenomenal.

If Jones hadn’t let the heat of the moment get to him, he would be an unbeaten 13-0 fighter with a large majority of his fights ending in dramatic fashion. The last time Jon Jones went to a decision was in January 2009. Four of his last five fights have all been finishes, and all of those finishes occurred either in the first or second round. No one has been able to stop Jon Jones. No one has even came close. This reason is practically tied with number 1 as the biggest reason why Jon Jones will beat Mauricio Rua.

But my number-one reason is…

1. The mind is willing, the body is weak.

Mauricio Rua has looked truly impressive one time in the UFC. The one time he fully recaptured his amazing run as a destroyer in PRIDE FC was when he KO’d Lyoto Machida. He looked atrocious against Forrest Griffin. He looked only a step or two better against Mark Coleman. He KO’d a glass-chinned Chuck Liddell. Him and Lyoto Machida fought to a close five-round decision, so close that the judges gave Machida the nod. Then in the epic rematch, Rua wins by dominating KO but has to take off nearly a year to heal his knees while Machida is back in the Octagon six months later. Even though he’s not even thirty yet, Rua’s body is already showing clear signs of degradation. If Rua blew out his knees against Machida, Jones’ fierce takedowns will crumble them into dust. If Forrest Griffin set a pace that gassed him out, Jon Jones will have Rua breathing hard by the fourth minute. Jon Jones right now is Mauricio Rua when Mauricio Rua was at his best. It’s Jones’ time now.

And there you have it, fans and friends. My definitive thoughts on why Jon Jones could beat Mauricio Rua. Tune in shortly for the follow-up, where I list five reasons why Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones.

I’m honestly looking forward to the Facebook “UFC Prelims LIVE!” stream more than I am the one on Spike TV. Don’t get me wrong, I plan to watch and enjoy both and I’ll continue to harp on how good of an idea this is and how we should all watch free fights when given the opportunity to do so. But the Facebook stream just seems to have much more going for it. Ricardo Almeida is a pretty big name, and he’s facing a very tough Mike Pyle. Likewise, Kurt Pellegrino is still arguably a “name-value” star as well, and Gleison Tibau is always good for a tough and entertaining scrap. The Spike TV broadcast does boast Anthony Njokuani, who I’ve always found incredibly exciting, but in the end I think Facebook will have the better two fights.

Even if Mirko Cro Cop beats Brendan Schaub, I think we’re nearing the end of his career. A win or loss to Schaub will only speed up or slow down the process. A lot of people seem to think I don’t like Mirko Cro Cop or that I’m trying to diminish what he did in PRIDE, but honestly that’s never been the case. I just remember the warrior and destroyer he was in PRIDE, and then I remember that in the UFC I only got to see brief flashes of that man. I know some Cro Cop fans find it hard to imagine that Cro Cop ever could’ve gotten to the point he is right now, some of them even refuse to admit it entirely. But Cro Cop is on the decline, and Schaub is either going to beat him decisively or KO him outright. If he doesn’t I would be very surprised.

It’s unfortunate but completely understandable that Yoshihiro Akiyama had to be pulled from this card and replaced by Dan Miller. I don’t have anything against Dan Miller, I just think that brother Jim Miller is the better of the two and far closer to earning a title shot in his division. This probably has a lot to do with me being a Nate Marquardt fan, but I believe that Dan Miller isn’t ready for a threat like Marquardt. I’ll be the first to give credit where credit is due if he proves me wrong, though.

I don’t have much more to say about Jim Miller taking on Kamal Shalorus, so I’ll just say this: if Jim Miller beats Shalorus and doesn’t get a top-division fighter for his next fight, I will officially start making the claim that the UFC is under-utilizing Jim Miller.

Whether or not Urijah Faber wins at UFC 128, I don’t think I’ll ever forget his debut in the UFC so long as he doesn’t pull a Miguel Torres on me and fights completely unlike the fighter I grew to respect and admire. We all have at least one fighter we hope wins no matter where he’s at in his career or who he’s facing. One of the few fighters I feel that way towards is Urijah Faber. To give some context on how exclusive that group is, another fighter I feel the same way about is Anderson Silva. I want Faber to win and I sincerely hope he does.

I’ve talked about Mauricio Rua so many times and been in so many debates over the man that I’m honestly running out of things to say. So I guess I’m lucky that he’s finally going to fight and either shut me up or prove me right once and for all. For those who may have missed my many discussions, here’s a very quick rundown.

I think Mauricio Rua is old no matter what his birthday is. He was in countless wars in PRIDE, and those wars have worn his body down. The fighter that gassed horrendously and was then choked out by Forrest Griffin is still in there. It’s just hidden, and only a rare mixture of strength, speed, and stamina can bring it out. And Jon “Bones” Jones has all of that in abundance. If it’s not the unorthodox strikes, it’ll be the cardio. If it’s not the cardio, it’ll be the elusiveness. If it’s not the elusiveness, it’ll be the throws. If it’s not the throws, it’ll be the takedowns. If it’s not the takedowns, it’ll be the Ground and Pound. Jon Jones is the future of the division, and that future will be realized at UFC 128.

And that’s all I have left to say, fans and friends. But what about you? Any final thoughts on UFC 128?

Recently, the former world champion suffered a knee injury in practice, in preparation for his bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, which was originally scheduled to take place this weekend. However, after the news of the knee went around, teammate Jon Jones eventually got the nod and will now be competing for the belt.

While Rashad has gone to several media forums and stated that the likelyhood of him getting his immediate title shot is grim, solely because of his rocky relationship with UFC President Dana White, nothing could be further from the truth, explained the aforementioned UFC head honcho.

“Rashad thinks I’m hating him, or whatever the deal is, I don’t. The reality is…he hasn’t known Jon Jones that long. To call him a ‘brother’, and what I really believe–Rashad didn’t tell me this, Jon Jones didn’t tell me this, this is just something that I came up with in my head, that this has to be coming from the camp”, said White (in an interview with MMAFighting.com) regarding the initial disinterest in either Rashad or Jones wanting to fight each other.

Dana later suggests that it’s the training camp of Greg Jackson’s that is insisting that neither man fight, because should one person have to leave the camp to train, that it would take away from any monetary gain that the camp could draw in.

Since then, both men have changed their tunes, and have stated that they would be willing to fight each other if necessary, and it looks like White will be putting that commitment to the test.

Should Jon Jones win against “Shogun”, he will be fighting Evans next for the belt, however regardless, Rashad will still be next in line for the title shot.

“The guy got injured, he was next in line for the fight…”, said White, affirming that Evans will in fact get a crack at the UFC title.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should Evans be next in line, or is there someone else worthy? And how would you feel about Rashad fighting either man? Sound off in the comment section below.

Mauricio Rua (c) vs. Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: I’m putting it all on the line with this fight and this prediction, but when have I ever been afraid to do so? If Rua proves me wrong and wins, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to stomach a heaping helping of humble pie. But I just don’t see that happening. Jon Jones is too good at everything, and for “Shogun”, the mind is willing but the body is weak. Jones will either hit his flurry and KO Rua in Round 1, or he’ll pummel Rua’s already-damaged knees into dust with constant takedowns. I’m betting on the former: Rua will assume that he’s got the striking advantage on “Bones”, and Jonny Bones will prove him wrong. Jon Jones wins by KO in Round 1.

Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland: Eddie Wineland is one tough fighter, but there’s toughness and then there’s Urijah Faber. Both men are tough and have great chins, but I think the submission game will come back to bite Wineland. He’s got five wins by submission, but he’s been submitted four times. Faber has thirteen wins by submission and has never been submitted. Still, due to the all-important toughness factor, Wineland will only succumb after Faber wears him down. Urijah Faber wins by submission in Round 3.

Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus: As much as I like Kamal Shalorus, Jim Miller should be right up there with the best of them, and I think he’s going to prove it at UFC 128. I could talk more about this fight, but I’m going to wrap it up with one simple sentence: I see Jim Miller being better than Kamal in all major areas of the game. Jim Miller wins by submission in Round 2.

Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller: There’s two ways I look at this match, and in both of them, I see Nate Marquardt winning. The first way is to refute the claim that Nate Marquardt chokes in big fights, which means that he’s still one of the best at 185 and should be too much for Miller to handle. The second way is to allow that Nate Marquardt chokes in big fights but counter that this isn’t a big fight for him. This is much more on the level of when Nate Marquardt faced Rousimar Palhares, and we all know how that fight turned out. In fact, I’m going to be calling for the same outcome: Nate Marquardt will beat Dan Miller by (T)KO in the first round.

Mirko Filipović vs. Brendan Schaub: When it comes right down to it, this is a relatively easy pick. Mirko Cro Cop’s most recent fight was an ultra-boring three-round snooze-fest with Frank Mir that mercifully ended with a late-round Hail Mary KO… which Cro Cop was on the receiving end of. Meanwhile, Brendan Schaub has been destroying people and just got done beating Gabriel Gonzaga and booting him right out of the UFC. Schaub is ready for Cro Cop’s level of talent, and Cro Cop has been a shadow of his former self for quite some time. Brendan Schaub wins by TKO in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at UFC 128?

5. Freedom. It’s a beautiful thing.

If they keep giving ‘em to me, I’ll keep watchin’ ‘em. I liked it when the UFC decided to give fans free, live preliminary fights on Spike TV. I liked it when the UFC began to use Facebook to stream free, live preliminary fights. I liked it when the UFC selected the ION Television network as another avenue to give fans free, live prelims. Take a guess at my reaction when the UFC started combining those things and giving us free fights on Facebook, then more free fights on either ION TV or Spike. We’re nearing a day where, through one avenue or another, we’ll get the chance to see every single fight the fans in attendance get to see. And that’s a great, great thing. The UFC is giving us four free fights for UFC 128, and that’s always a great reason to watch a show.

4. Both Miller brothers in action against two very different but very, very tough opponents.

While I’m a bigger fan of Jim Miller than I am of Dan Miller, I think both Miller brothers are very entertaining and very tough. Dan meets Nate Marquardt at a point where both he and Nate “The Great” need a big win over a good opponent, so this is the type of fight that both men could really make something out of, and in the process we get a pretty entertaining scrap. I firmly believe that Jim Miller is only a few fights away from a title shot, and he’ll have a chance to prove that by taking on former WEC star Kamal Shalorus. Both fights have the potential to become some of the night’s best fights, and that’s really something to say when you’ve got a card as stacked as this one.

3. Mirko Cro Cop’s last hurrah.

I think Mirko Cro Cop will be done in the UFC after Brendan Schaub knocks him out, giving Cro Cop two back-to-back KO losses. I’ve been saying that Cro Cop has been done for quite some time, but a lot of people don’t agree with me. I don’t even harbor any sort of ill will towards the man, I just think it’s clear as day that the wrecking machine he used to be in PRIDE never emerged in the UFC, for one reason or another. I won’t shove anyone’s face in it if I am proven right, but my desire to be proven right once and for all, at least when it comes to Mirko Cro Cop, is definitely a big reason I’m checking out this card.

2. Urijah Faber debuting in the UFC.

For UFC fans who never got to find out what all the fuss was about when it came to the WEC, I don’t think anyone else quite embodies the spirit of that promotion like Urijah Faber. This is a guy that’s always soft-spoken but made a legacy out of brilliantly defeating opponents. This is a guy that’s fought with two broken hands during one fight, and in another fight he fought to a five-round decision despite having his leg kicked so many times and with so much force that he could barely put weight on it from about the third round onward, maybe even the second round. Seeing “The California Kid” debut in the UFC is easily the second-biggest reason I’m going to watch this show.

But of course, the number-one spot simply has to go to…

1. Shogun. Jones. ‘Nuff said.

How long have I been talking about this match? Quite a long time, I’ll say that. And throughout all my many discussions, I’ve held fast to one core belief: Mauricio Rua will not be the one to “break the curse” of the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Jon Jones is going to destroy him, at least, that’s what I think will happen. And that’s really what it all boils down to, doesn’t it? After months of speculation and heated debate, we finally get a definitive answer in the form of an amazing fight. The main event of UFC 128 is easily the best and biggest reason to give this show a watch.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Jones”, currently scheduled for March 19, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Two free preliminary fights will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page beginning at 8 PM ET. Two additional free preliminary fights will be shown on Spike TV starting at 9 PM ET. The UFC 128 Pay-Per-View broadcast begins at 10 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind and with not one extra added ounce of hyperbole, I fully believe the main event of UFC 128 will determine the course of the UFC’s tumultuous Light Heavyweight division for years to come. If Mauricio Rua becomes the first person to legitimately beat Jon Jones, he will most likely be the one to break the “curse” of 205-pound champions losing their titles in their first few defenses. If Jon “Bones” Jones wins, he’ll have fully stepped into his role as the future of the division and will likely go on a reign similar to that of Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Constant action from the second the bell rings. Mauricio Rua wants to test “Bones” like he’s never been tested before, and he also wants to make a big and dramatic comeback after healing from his injury. Likewise, Jones wants to dramatically finish “Shogun” the same way he’s dramatically finished so many other people before, in order to prove that he’s ready for the absolute best of the best. One way or another, both men will be constantly hunting for the TKO or KO or even the submission.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: The man many believe was the heart and soul of the WEC will be making his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC 128. Better still, Urijah Faber debuts on the heels of a successful drop to Bantamweight, submitting Takeya Mizugaki in the first round. His opponent, Eddie Wineland, is on a four-fight win-streak and a two-fight (T)KO streak. It’s one of the best lighter-weight fighters of all time against a fierce opponent that wants to carve his own legacy by demolishing one of the major reasons the WEC was so successful. It’s going to be a barn-burner.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Calling this card “stacked” feels like a disservice. Don’t like Jones/Rua? Then you’ve got Faber/Wineland. You do like old-school fighters like Mauricio Rua? Mirko Cro Cop will also be in action. You do like new-school fighters like Jon Jones? Jim Miller will take on Kamal Shalorus. You want free fights? The UFC is going to give you four of them. It has all the makings of one of the best UFC events of the year.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I’m trying to say something negative about this card, and it’s just not coming to me. There’s just too much goodness here to pass up. I love me some free fights, so I’m going to tune into both the Facebook stream and the Spike TV special. I want the new-school fighters to win and win big, so I can’t wait to see Brendan Schaub take on Mirko Cro Cop and Jon Jones destroy Mauricio Rua. This is one event with so much happening that you just honestly shouldn’t miss it.

Closing Thoughts: This event stands out as one of the most-anticipated events of the year, at least for me. So much will be decided on this night: does Jim Miller really deserve the heaps of praise I’ve been giving him? Does Nate Marquardt not deserve the stigma of choking in big fights, which is another stance I’ve taken? What about Jon Jones? Much to the chagrin of “Shogun” fans, I’ve been calling for Rua to lose ever since Rashad Evans was named his next opponent last year. In many different ways and with many different fights, UFC 128 could permanently alter the way I look at some of my favorite and least-favorite fighters. There’s no chance I’m missing this event.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to UFC 128?

Jones, just 23-years-old, has turned the mixed martial arts world on it’s head with some of his in-the-cage moves that have never been maneuvered before. Jon makes low percentage moves effective, and hit’s them almost every time he enters the cage, whether it’s his lateral drops that he has put many a fighter down with, including season one finalist of “The Ultimate Fighter”, Stephan Bonnar.

Now that he will be challenging Mauricio “Shogun” Rua this weekend for the promotion’s light heavyweight title, the UFC has adopted a new show that will be surrounding Jon in his moments leading up to the fight entitled “UFC Presents Jon Jones: In the Moment”.

MMAJunkie.com spoke to officials regarding the special, who state that the show will surround Jones and his final preparation’s heading into this weekend’s title match with the PRIDE legend in Rua.

It will take an in depth look both at his training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Greg Jackson’s camp as well as Jones’ family which extends all the way to the other side of the country, in New York where Jones grew up as a youth.

The special will appear on Spike TV this Thursday at 11pm EST, and will serve as a lead in for this weekends title bout, and should the show produce strong ratings, it could be around sometime in the foreseeable future.

Jon Jones and Mauricio Rua will fight this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for the 205-pound title and the right to be called the best fighter in the world.

So, MMA peeps, how do you feel about Jones getting his own television special? I wonder if Rashad Evans would have gotten the same treatment if he would have remained in his bout with Rua–probably not. Sound off in the comment section below.

We head to MMA Mania for the scoop. During a recent press conference, the current #1 Contender had this to say regarding the situation: “I want to be clear to other reporters, that I absolutely hate when people mention Rashad Evans, especially throughout this training camp. He’s a friend of mine but I’m fighting Mauricio ‘Shogun’, one of the best… Rashad is not in my mind, he’s not in my being, he has absolutely zero to do with my heart and who I am right now… The fact that people are bringing up Rashad, it almost angers me. Rashad has nothing to do with ‘Shogun’ and I think from here on out I won’t even answer a question about Rashad.”

I can understand where Jon Jones is coming from, and I can certainly understand why he’s becoming so frustrated. I don’t like how a lot of people are clamoring for Jones vs. Evans while Jones vs. Shogun is still very uncertain. I’ve got complete faith in Jon Jones, but that’s only because I fully believe that he’s putting everything into preparing for what should be the toughest test of his career. Rashad Evans is, if I may be so blunt, just a distraction right now. And I applaud Jon Jones for trying to avoid this distraction.

I think it’s always fun to speculate and discuss some potential match-ups, but I also think that the focus right now should absolutely be on the main event of UFC 128. I think “Bones” feels like this fight may even be a bit overlooked, and if I were in his shoes, I’d probably be a bit angry too. It’s taken Jon Jones a long time and lots of hard work to get to this point, so I think we should all be focusing on how Jon Jones will beat Mauricio Rua. Because he will.

But when (not if) Jones becomes the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, this will definitely be the match to make. It’s very rare that two teammates agree to fight each other; that’s the main reason why so many people are talking about a possible Jones/Evans match-up. I personally think that this match-up could be an amazing fight, and it would definitely prove that Jones is a worthy champion if he beats “Sugar”.

At the end of the day, I think Jon Jones has a very bright future, and I even think that he’ll be the one to break the chain of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few defenses of it, a “curse” that dates all the way back to when Quinton Jackson dethroned Chuck Liddell. Jon Jones is the future of the division… but only because he has the foresight to concentrate on the present. “Bones” is solely focused on beating Mauricio Rua, and because of that, I think he’ll beat Mauricio Rua. Rashad’s time will come when it comes.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the matter?

5. Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson at UFC: “Fight Night 24”.

Both men are at a pretty interesting crossroads in their careers right now. Dan Hardy was the tough Brit who would never quit and had an iron chin… until Carlos Condit knocked him out. Anthony Johnson was supposed to be the next big can’t-miss prospect at Welterweight… then Josh Koscheck submitted him in November 2009 and “Rumble” hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since. Both men have a lot to prove in this fight, and it should be a fantastic fight.

4. Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”.

This entry definitely makes the list mostly because I’m an unabashed WEC fanboy, but this is one occasion where I have no problem letting my fanboy flag fly free. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Urijah Faber, and I think he’s found his fire again after dropping down to Bantamweight. I’m really looking forward to seeing Faber debut in the UFC and letting all the non-WEC UFC fans know what they’ve been missing, especially given the disappointing debut of Miguel Torres.

3. Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”.

I’m going to enjoy this fight even if Diego Sanchez loses, simply because it has all the makings of an epic encounter. This is the type of match perfect for the main event of a TV card: it’s two semi-big names in a smartly-booked fight that plays to both men’s strengths. Whoever emerges the winner takes a big step towards championship relevancy, and this should motivate both men to perform at their best. And when they perform at their best, they’re very entertaining. And performing at their best against each other? That will be even more entertaining.

2. Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante at Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”.

As a massive fan of the old school, part of me really wants Dan Henderson to beat Rafael Cavalcante. But as a moderate fan of Rafael Cavalcante, another part of me wants “Feijao” to beat Henderson in order to both legitimize his championship reign and bring stability to Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight division. It’s a tough fight to call, and it could go either way, and very few things are for certain until these two step into the cage. But one thing is for certain: if it lives up to its potential, this will be an awesome match.

And by quite a large margin, my number-one most-anticipated fight of March 2011 is…

1. Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones at UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Jones”.

I’ve talked about this match a whole lot, and I’ve had to deal with my fair share of criticism for my views. But I can’t wait to be proven right, because I wholeheartedly believe that I know exactly what is going to happen. I think Mauricio Rua’s mega-hyped comeback is all smoke and mirrors, and I think Jon Jones will prove once again that he’s the future of the Light Heavyweight division. A new era is about to dawn: Jon Jones will break the streak of Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few defenses, a chain that has remained unbroken since Quinton Jackson famously dethroned Chuck Liddell all the way back in 2007. I absolutely cannot wait for this match.

And there you have it, fans and friends! But what about you? What bouts are you most looking forward to for March 2011?

March 3, 2011: “UFC  on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”: A reinvigorated Diego Sanchez looks to stake his claim to the UFC Welterweight Championship by beating Martin Kampmann, an always-dangerous elite-level 170 pounder that most recently nearly spoiled the UFC debut of Jake Shields. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles will also be making his UFC debut, taking on the super-tough Damacio Page. Other interesting bouts include Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman and Joe Stevenson vs. Danny Castillo.

March 5, 2011: “Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson”: Former PRIDE FC and UFC veteran Dan Henderson looks to make the most out of his most recent comeback by taking the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship away from the man who just won it, the tough and talented Rafael Cavalcante. Also, former Strikeforce Middleweight Championship contender Tim Kennedy will be in action, taking on Middleweight powerhouse and wrecking machine Melvin Manhoef. Other interesting bouts include Jorge Gurgel vs. Tyler Combs and Marloes Coenen defending her Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship against Liz Carmouche.

March 19, 2011: “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones”: Mauricio Rua makes his long-awaited first defense of his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against the man many consider the future of the division, Jon Jones. Also, WEC legend Urijah Faber makes his long-awaited UFC debut against the tough Eddie Wineland, who is on a four-fight win-streak. Other interesting bouts include Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub.

March 26, 2011: “UFC Fight Night 24: Nogueira vs. Davis”: Grizzled veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks to remain relevant in the UFC’s super-competitive Light Heavyweight division by beating the fast-rising Phil Davis. Also, former UFC Welterweight Championship contender Dan Hardy takes on Anthony Johnson in what should be a fantastic war. Other interesting bouts include Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan and Alex Caceres vs. Mackens Semerzier.

And now, here are some thoughts on how I think the month of March 2011 will unfold.

I think “UFC on Versus 3” will be a quality event from top to bottom, and I also think that Sanchez will more than likely beat Kampmann. Urijah Faber will also most likely win his UFC debut too. While I think Dan Henderson is definitely on the comeback trail, I think he’s being given a title shot too soon, and I also think that Cavalcante will be able to beat him. It seems as if Strikeforce is trying their hardest to make “Hendo” a champion after going through so much to acquire his services, and I just don’t see that happening.

I’ve already vocally supported Jon Jones and picked him to win against Mauricio Rua, and I’d just like to note that nothing has happened to change that opinion. Mark my words: “Shogun” will have nothing for “Bones”. I also think Brendan Schaub is going to KO Mirko Filipovic. And finally, I think Davis may have it in him to beat “Little Nog” by Unanimous Decision so long as he doesn’t get careless on the ground. Because if he does, Nogueira could end it anywhere at any time.

All in all, it looks to be a great March 2011, fans and friends! But what about you? How do you think the month will shake out, and what’s your take on this new series?

Anderson Silva continued his reign of dominance by deftly defeating former teammate Vitor Belfort with a first-round knockout, defending his UFC middleweight title once again.

Forrest Griffin has now extended a two-fight win streak for himself inside the octagon with a dominant performance turned in over former titleholder Rich “Ace” Franklin.

Meanwhile, Jon Jones submitted then-undefeated light heavyweight star Ryan Bader with a second-round guillotine choke. The win came with an unexpected prize, earning Jones the 205-pound title shot when an injured Rashad Evans bowed out of the championship bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua–who insists that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was initially offered the fight, however turned it down immediately after.

Jackson didn’t take too kindly that the Brazilian took to the media to reveal the proposed bout.

MMAJunkie.com caught up with the former light heavyweight champion, who was clearly agitated when he learned that Rua seemed to be questioning Jackson’s desire to fight. Quinton is already scheduled to be facing contender Thiago Silva at UFC 130 in May, and should “Rampage” had agreed to step in on short notice to face Mauricio, he would have only six-weeks to prepare for the bout. He currently is walking around at 250-pounds and is in nowhere near fighting shape.

“It’s not enough time to get ready for a five-round fight,” said Jackson.

“Dana knows that. And ‘Shogun,’ he’s a fighter, and he should know that. He shouldn’t even go and say [expletive] like that with him being a fighter. He saw me at the fight this weekend. Everybody saw how big I am.”

Everyone knows that Quinton isn’t exactly the prototypical fighter who stays in fighting shape year-round. When he’s not inside the cage, he’s enjoying himself elsewhere, which is evident to his heavy frame that would put even some heavyweight fighters to shame. To cut 45-pounds in six weeks on top of preparing for the technical prowess of a fight with some as dangerous as Rua is asking a little too much.

And Jackson knows all too well how dangerous the Muay Thai specialist is, having lost to the Brazilian more than five years ago when they were both under the PRIDE banner in Japan, where Rua TKO’d the enigmatic light heavyweight fighter inside of the first-round.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of Jackson’s comments? Do you agree that it was a little bit premature for Rua to question whether or not Jackson wanted to fight, let alone reveal that Jones was second choice to “Rampage”? Sound off in the comment section below.

Jones took home the win with a second-round guillotine choke, where after Joe Rogan informed Jones that the organization was granting Jon the shot at the belt once it was confirmed that teammate Rashad Evans had bowed out of the March fight with champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

However, the Brazilian recently indicated that former rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was originally intended to be the man to step up on short notice, however the fan-favorite slugger turned down the title opportunity.

“Shogun” was at the pay-per-view event which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where he was able to greet his new opponent in Jones first-hand, stepping into the cage and sized up his nw opponent.

The alleged bout with Jackson would have been a rematch from their original encounter in 2005 under the PRIDE banner, where both men were a staple of the light heavyweight division. They met in the quarter-finals of the prestigious middleweight (205) Grand Prix, where the Brazilian scored a first-round TKO over the future UFC champion.

Jackson has long discussed his desire to avenge that loss, and Rua in turn has rallied for a fight with the A-Team movie star, so he was surprised when ‘Rampage’ allegedly declined the bout.

“The UFC thought in other alternatives, but it didn’t worked out. For some reason he (Jackson) didn’t accepted it”, told Rua who spoke with TATAME.com about the originally planned bout.

However with the task at hand now being the young 23-year-old Jones, Rua will have six-weeks in order to change bits in pieces of his training camp, though he suggests largely the camp will remain the same.

“I’ll have to change my training because he’s a lot different from Rashad, much taller, and it’ll be a great challenge. (Jon’s) been surprising everybody in the UFC, defeated everybody with easy, and it’ll be a tough fight for me”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think about Quinton declining the bout? He was originally scheduled to be facing another Brazilian in slugger Thiago Silva at UFC 130 this May, so regardless that fight should go on without a hitch. No word from Jackson has come about concerning the missed title opportunity. Sound off in the comment section below.

The preliminary card bought tons of action during Saturday’s night of fights, with knockouts, submissions galore, however few fights stood above the rest and in the end those respective matches took home an extra bit of change of their efforts.

Jon Jones, not only impressively dismantled then-undefeated collegiate wrestler Ryan Bader, but he did it in style. The Greg Jackson product was able to work the Division I star several times to the mat during their light heavyweight bout, and eventually locked in a fight ending guillotine choke inside of the second-round. The finish earned the New York native a title shot against champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua once teammate Rashad Evans bowed out of the contest due to a knee injury. Oh, and Jones also earned the “Submission of the Night” award, pocketing an additional $75k for his win.

Both Donald Cerrone and Paul Kelly engaged in a fast battle in the lightweight division. Immediately Kelly got the attention of “The Cowboy” when he landed some sharp hooks to the dome. The two rallied for position on the ground, with Donald getting the better of the scrambles, having taken down the veteran several times over. Cerrone looked every bit the great fighter he showed in the now defunct WEC promotion, where he was a three-time challenger to the title, when he eventually mounted and submitted Kelly with a fight-ending rear-naked choke. The two men took home the evenings “Fight of the Night” award, both taking home the additional bonus.

Finally, Anderson Silva brought in perhaps the most impressive performance of the evening when he was pitted against former teammate Vitor Belfort in the main event of the evening. After a few tentative minutes spent on the feet, Anderson eventually connected on a wicked front-kick knocking down Belfort to the mat. Silva met his fellow countryman to the ground, connecting on two more flush punches that left Vitor out cold on the ground, though he recovered quickly thereafter. The spectacular win earned him the “Knockout of the Night” award–his third such award.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think about the post-fight findings? Sound off in the comment section below.

Let’s start with Rashad Evans as a Heavyweight. It’s true that “Sugar” has competed as a Heavyweight before. But did you know the first thing Rashad Evans did immediately after he beat Brad Imes to win the Heavyweight portion of “The Ultimate Fighter” season 2? You guessed it: he moved to Light Heavyweight. That fight with Imes was in fact the last time Evans competed at Heavyweight, it’s been over five years since Rashad ever weighed anything over 205.

Even if you disregard how difficult it is to move up in weight the right way, consider the fact that the UFC Heavyweight division is far beyond what it was in 2005. This is a division ruled by athletes like Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Shane Carwin, and Brock Lesnar. If they’re not huge and powerful, they’re powerful and fast. Rashad Evans has never been that huge of an athlete, so even against someone like JDS or Cain he’d still probably give up ten or so pounds in weight. Against a Lesnar or Carwin, it’s conceivable that Evans could be outweighed by as much as forty pounds.

But does that mean that Evans should drop to Middleweight instead? Honestly… no, no it doesn’t. Either way you look at it, Evans will have to either put on ten to twenty pounds of pure bulk muscle (at the very least), or lose twenty pounds of the lean, honed muscle that made him a champion in the first place. It’s true that the UFC is the home of the monster weight cut, but again, Evans has never been that muscular of a fighter. His best victories have come due to his fast hands and cardio, both of which stand to suffer if he drops down to Middleweight.

In the end, I’m not ruling out that Rashad Evans couldn’t make Heavyweight or Middleweight. It’s not something that hasn’t been done before, and I know Evans has the dedication to get his body to the weight that it needs to be at. He may even be successful at it, some have been. Vitor Belfort (despite his recent loss) and Wanderlei Silva stand out as obvious examples.

At the end of the day, whether it’s a move up or down, Evans runs the risk of losing what made him a champion, or having it diminished to the point where his run ultimately proves unsuccessful. I certainly can’t stop Evans from doing what he wants to do, and I can admit that my philosophy on fighters refusing to fight their teammates has changed a bit somewhat. So I understand his motives. But I truly and wholeheartedly think that Evans is his most optimal at 205. Nevertheless, I’ll be pulling for “Sugar” and I wish him all the best as well as a speedy recovery.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on my opinion, and what’s your take on Rashad Evans in general?

Jones earned the shot at the championship strap with a second-round submission victory over then-undefeated fighter Ryan Bader, the season eight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter”. Ultimately, though, the opportunity came when teammate Rashad Evans had to bow out of the title fight with Rua when he suffered a knee injury in preparation for the bout.

Now, Evans’ camp is indicating that should Jones defeat the Brazilian next month, Rashad is willing to either move up or down in weight class.

MMAJunkie.com caught up with Rashad’s co-manager Malki Kawa who indicated that Evans will either move up to the heavyweight class or to the middleweight division. The former light heavyweight champion is no stranger to the “extra” healthy division, where Evans initially emerged into the UFC when he claimed the status of “The Ultimate Fighter” as a heavyweight star on the second-season of the popular reality show.

The code of honor between most athletes under the same roof is to respect each other enough not to fight, at any means. Evans still has aspirations of becoming a champion once again, and manager Kawa believes that Rashad’s best payday would be in the middleweight division where the collegiate wrestler could take on the dominant Anderson Silva in the foreseeable future.

“Rashad wants to fight for a championship,” Malki told MMAJunkie.com. “He doesn’t want some regular fights or whoever it might be. A fight that interests me a lot, and I thought would be a really big payday for him, is a fight against Anderson (Silva).”

“The Spider” has recently come off of a dominant performance, knocking out former teammate Vitor Belfort last Saturday in the main-event of the evening at UFC 126, having now successfully defended his title for a record eight times and now extends his win streak to a perfect 13-0 inside the octagon.

Yushin Okami and Georges St. Pierre seem like the only logical challenges left for the Brazilian, but Evans could breathe new life into the division.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Rashad’s possible move down to 185? At 5’11, the middleweight class would be ideal for the Greg Jackson product, how packs serious power at 205-pounds, which would only make him more dangerous in the lighter weight class. Sound off in the comment section below.

Forrest Griffin deftly defeated former champ Rich Franklin in a pivotal light heavyweight match-up, moving him closer to the title, however Jon Jones beat him to it when he submitted then-undefeated prospect Ryan Bader with a second-round submission.

However nothing surprised me more then some of these fighter pay-outs with some seeming valid, while others have me scratching my head in humble confusion.

It looks like the fruit of Jones’ labor is finally paying off, as the 205-spitfire has since earned his first six-figure payday inside the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion, which is justified by his exciting fight-finishing performances in the octagon.

On the same token, Anderson Silva, who is currently on a record breaking 13-fight win streak in the cage, as well as an equally impressive eighth-straight title defense, was a top earner on the pay-per-view card, however earned a reported $175k less than fellow countryman Vitor Belfort, whom Anderson knocked out inside of the first-round.

MMAJunkie also claims that should “The Phenom” had taken home the “W” last Saturday, he would have came home with an additional $100k for his efforts (win bonus). Most likely, Silva earned a large portion of his purse due to the PPV revenue that the super bowl card has picked up.

MMAJunkie.com has reported the following figures, which they had originally requested from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Champ Anderson Silva: $200,000 (includes no win bonus)
def. Vitor Belfort: $275,000

Forrest Griffin: $275,000 ($150,000 win bonus)
def. Rich Franklin: $75,000

Jon Jones: $140,000 ($70,000 win bonus)
def. Ryan Bader: $20,000

Jake Ellenberger: $32,000 ($16,000 win bonus)
def. Carlos Eduardo Rocha: $8,000

Miguel Torres: $56,000 ($28,000 win bonus)
def. Antonio Banuelos: $9,000

Donald Cerrone: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
def. Paul Kelly: $19,000

Chad Mendes: $19,000 ($9,000 win bonus)
def. Michihiro Omigawa: $8,000

Demetrious Johnson: $10,000 ($5,000 win bonus)
def. Norifumi Yamamoto: $15,000

Paul Taylor: $36,000 ($18,000 win bonus)
def. Gabe Ruediger: $8,000

Kyle Kingsbury: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus)
def. Ricardo Romero: $10,000

Mike Pierce: $28,000 ($14,000 win bonus)
def. Kenny Robertson: $6,000

So, MMA peeps, are you surprised by any of the payouts you see here? The figures above however do not include any “Fight Night” awards that several fighters earned over the course of the evening. Sound off in the comment section below.

Then, there was an exuberant Jon Jones realizing his life’s work when UFC commentator stepped into the cage to announce “Bones” as the next challenger to the light heavyweight title. Elated, Jones fell to knees in disbelief and the appreciation of such an opportunity was painted on his face.

Jon earned the title opportunity with a second-round submission victory over then undefeated Ryan Bader on the main card for “UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” which culminated this past Saturday.

The win extended the 23-year-old to a three-fight win streak, with his only blemish in his professional mixed martial arts career coming to the hands of Matt Hamill via a controversial disqualification.

The bid for the championship came at the expense of Jones’ teammate Rashad Evans, who was originally expected to face champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on March 19 at the Prudential Center for UFC 128, however the Greg Jackson star injured his knee in preparation for the bout.

Already, the light heavyweight dynamo, who has become one of the most phenomenal and talked about athletes in recent memory, has opened up as a favorite over Rua for their March tussle, even though Jon has roughly six-weeks to prepare for the title fight and has less than three-years experience as a MMA fighter, though his athletic ability and wrestling skills have carried him to an 12-1 record, 6-1 in the UFC.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the recent news? Do you believe Jones is deserving of the title shot, or would you have rather seen someone else thrown in the mix? Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Demetrious Johnson’s speed and technique are far too much for “KID” to handle.

While I can’t say I’m a Norifumi Yamamoto super-fan, I can definitely say I was looking forward to seeing his debut in the UFC. I’m very glad that the UFC gave fight fans this fight for free on Facebook, even though “KID” Yamamoto lost. Because it’s not like he lost a boring fight: from the first second to the last, Demetrious Johnson constantly put pressure on Yamamoto and executed his takedowns with blistering speed. I’m a bit sad that Johnson’s breakout performance had to come at the expense of “KID”, but Johnson’s exuberance made him a star and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.

4. “The Cowboy” successfully debuts in the UFC.

I will freely and fully admit to being a Donald Cerrone fan, and revenge tasted very sweet when I saw Cerrone choke out Paul Kelly after Kelly attempted to cheap-shot him. Kelly mumbled and stumbled his way through an abrupt apology post-fight, but I think it was plain to see that Kelly took the shot in a moment of very poor sportsmanship. Seeing Cerrone successfully debut in the UFC was definitely a highlight of the night for me.

3. Jon Jones completely destroys Ryan Bader.

Jon Jones did what he does best against Ryan Bader: he stayed active, he attacked at all angles, and he threw caution to the wind and attempted one crazy move after the other just to see if they worked. I think “methodically reckless” is a great description of Bones’ style, he does things most fighters would shy away from but he does them in such a way that they land often, and when they don’t, he’s not in any particular danger of reprisal. Jones was in top form against Ryan Bader, and seeing Jones dominate will never get old.

2. Jon “Bones” Jones is literally floored at the news of his impending title shot.

I know some could call it “cheating” by having Jones twice on this list, but I think the news of his upcoming title shot was such a shocker in and of itself that it deserves another entry entirely. In particular, this is the moment where Jones literally falls to his knees in shock at the thought of challenging for the Light Heavyweight Championship. For all his skill, Jones has remained mostly humble despite his meteoric rise. It was definitely one of the highlights of the night to see Jones so moved at the thought of finally being able to reach his dream.

But as if there could be anything else, the number one spot obviously goes to…

1. Anderson Silva is Charlie Murphy

If you’ve never seen the legendary “Rick James” skits performed on the all-too-brief run of the “Chappelle’s Show” television show, do yourself a favor and track them down right now. In particular, watch the scene where Charlie Murphy kicks Rick James (played by Dave Chappelle) so hard that he comically flies through the air and into a mirror. Basically, that’s what Anderson Silva did to Vitor Belfort. Except to his face. This is one KO that’s going to remain on the UFC highlight reels for a long, long, long, long time. It takes first place quite easily.

And there you have it, fans and friends. But what about you? What were your favorite moments from “Silva vs. Belfort”?

Next for Antonio Banuelos: Unemployment, or a fight where if he loses he gets fired. Banuelos had a chance to shine on the grand stage like he never had before, and to say he blew it would be a colossal understatement. The Banuelos we saw in the UFC was a far cry from the WEC version, who prided himself on taking two to give one and giving the fans a good show. Not even Antonio’s close friendship to Chuck Liddell will be able to save his job for long if he keeps fighting the way he did at UFC 126.

Next for Miguel Torres: Torres himself seemed pretty happy regarding his performance, but he also seems to be the only one. Torres’ timid and tepid performance was also a far cry from when he was tearing through the WEC, and I honestly hate to think that most UFC fans will now judge Torres by this fight and not his stellar WEC run. But Torres has nobody but himself to blame. Expect Torres to be put on prelims or on free TV until he starts fighting like he means it.

Next for Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger will keep plodding along near the mid-level, since Carlos Eduardo Rocha exposed some problems that paint a pretty clear picture: Ellenberger isn’t ready for top-division competition. At least, not yet. Expect to see Ellenberger fight his way through the opening contest of Pay-Per-Views or on “Fight Night Live” events at least until 2011 comes to a close.

Next for Ryan Bader: Bader’s quest for top-division status was sidetracked but not derailed by his deflating loss to “Bones” Jones. Bader’s next opponent will be tough, but not as tough as Jones. Expect Bader to fully reassert himself in his next few fights and add a few highlight-reel KO’s to his name as he rebuilds and regroups.

Next for Jon Jones: I’ll likely talk a lot more about this in the days and weeks to come, but say it with me now: Jon Jones is your UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Say it now, because you’ll be saying it for real before long. Jones is going to blast his way through Mauricio Rua and “Shogun” will have nothing to answer back with. It’s Jones’ time now, and “The Era of Bones” is only one fight away.

Next for Forrest Griffin: A win is a win is a win, and with this win Griffin kept his status as a top-division athlete. Expect Griffin to face either a tough veteran hoping to make a comeback or a hot prospect looking for top-division status in his next fight. Griffin fought Franklin to prove that he’s still a high-level star, his next fight will probably put him into the role of a high-level UFC gatekeeper. Even though I’m a fan of Forrest Griffin, he needs at least one more fight before anyone starts taking him seriously as a championship contender again.

Next for Anderson Silva: UFC President Dana White said during the post-fight press conference that we may finally get Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre if GSP beats Jake Shields. So my prediction is… we’re going to get Georges St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva. It may or may not be in Cowboys Stadium, or an arena in Brazil, or the Rogers Centre. But when it happens, expect the UFC to pull out all the stops to make it the fight of the century and the best card in UFC history. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it, and I think we’ll finally get this mega-match before the year is through.

So that’s my take, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of UFC 126?

Anderson Silva defeats Vitor Belfort by KO (Front Kick and Punches) at 3:29 of Round 1. Forrest Griffin defeats Rich Franklin by Unanimous Decision. Jon Jones defeats Ryan Bader by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:20 of Round 2. Jake Ellenberger defeats Carlos Eduardo Rocha by Split Decision. Miguel Torres defeats Antonio Banuelos by Unanimous Decision. Donald Cerrone defeats Paul Kelly by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:48 of Round 2. Chad Mendes defeats Michihiro Omigawa by Unanimous Decision. Demetrious Johnson defeats Norifumi Yamamoto by Unanimous Decision. Paul Taylor defeats Gabe Ruediger by KO (Kick) at 1:42 of Round 2. Kyle Kingsbury defeats Ricardo Romero by TKO (Strikes) at 0:21 of Round 1. Mike Pierce defeats Kenny Robertson by TKO (Strikes) at 0:29 of Round 2.

I’m incredibly happy for Anderson Silva right now, and to those thinking that “The Spider” is back, I honestly think that’s not true. He never left in the first place. Say what you will about his occasional antics inside the cage, but this fight with Belfort once again proved why Anderson Silva is one of the best of all time and will likely go down as the most dominant UFC champion of all time. I never doubted Silva, I never stopped being a fan of Silva, and I’ll always believe in Anderson Silva. Because if that crazy front kick of doom told us anything, it’s that Anderson Silva still has plenty of tricks left up his sleeve.

I was equally impressed with Jon Jones, who once again proved why I’ll never again bet against him. Jones beat Bader and made it look easy… he’s beaten everybody and made it look easy, even if he accidentally got himself disqualified one time. I’ll say this right now, loudly and proudly and for all to see: Jon Jones is the next UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jones will blitzkrieg Mauricio Rua and “Shogun” will have nothing for him. “Bones” will reduce Rua’s already-damaged knees to rubble with constant takedowns, and he’ll either choke him out or knock him out. Rua won’t be able to deal with Jones’ ground game, explosiveness,  or stand-up. “The Era of Bones” is only a few months away.

And that’s my early commentary, fans and friends. Overall, I enjoyed this event even though some of the bouts were a bit under-whelming. I still think that the UFC is off to an amazing start in 2011, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

A middleweight title clash pitting the reigning and defending 185-pound kingpin Anderson Silva against former teammate Vitor Belfort has become official, as both fighters stepped on the scales at 185-pounds on the nose.

All fighters successfully made weight, all but one.

Mike Pierce, who meets UFC newcomer Kenny Robertson in a welterweight bout, came in a pound-over the 170-pound affair, coming in at 172 lbs., a full pound over the already generous one pound allowance allowed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Pierce will have two hours to come back on the scales to lose the extra pound, or he will be forced to relinquish a percentage of his purse to Robertson.

Perhaps the most interesting happenings of the weigh-ins was the headliner, where Brazilians Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort squared off in a heated stare down. “The Spider” made light of Vitor’s comments heading into the championship contest, wearing a white mask mocking Belfort’s comments of the previously figurative additive to which he attributes to the facade the Silva puts on pre-fight. The two went nose-to-nose and were held back by UFC execs before matters could escalate.

Here are the weigh-in results in their entirety, the format courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

* Champ Anderson Silva (185) vs. Vitor Belfort (185)
* Forrest Griffin (205) vs. Rich Franklin (203)
* Ryan Bader (205) vs. Jon Jones (206)
* Jake Ellenberger (171) vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (170)
* Antonio Banuelos (136) vs. Miguel Torres (136)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* Paul Kelly (155) vs. Donald Cerrone (155)
* Chad Mendes (146) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (146)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)

* Demetrious Johnson (136) vs. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (135)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Untelevised)

* Gabe Ruediger (155) vs. Paul Taylor (156)
* Kyle Kingsbury (205) vs. Ricardo Romero (205)
* Mike Pierce (172)* vs. Kenny Robertson (170)

Needless to say, the two are fired up and ready to go.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the weigh-ins as is? More importantly, what do you think of the card as a whole? You have the UFC debut of Japanese legend “Kid” Yamamoto, two title-implicated light heavyweight fights, and of course the all Brazilian main-event. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Bader has impressive cardio, and Jon Jones hasn’t seen a third round of action in over two years.

This one doesn’t seem so likely, but it’s something we should all keep in the back of our heads, which is why it’s starting off this list. Jones is an explosive fighter, and he’s yet to gas himself out despite his mile-a-minute fight style. But could that be because his barrages always end the fight? The last time Jon Jones fought to a decision was in January 2009, against a clearly-outmatched Stephan Bonnar. Can Bones keep up his frantic pace against an opponent that can match it with ease and give as good as he gets? It’ll certainly be interesting to find out.

4. Jones is coming off of a bit of a layoff, while Ryan Bader isn’t.

Again, some “Bones” fans may cry foul but it’s something we should all remember going into this bout. When Jones steps into the Octagon against Bader, it will have been over seven months since he last competed, which is when he fought and dominated Vladimir Matyushenko back on August 1, 2010. That’s the longest layoff of Jones’ admittedly-short career. For Ryan Bader, it’ll have been less than five months since he faced and beat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on September 25, 2010. Jones may not walk into the cage with ring rust, but it may take him a round or two to find some firm footing, and with an opponent like Ryan Bader, those are rounds you simply can’t lose.

3. Bader is a dominant force on the ground.

Everyone talks about the power of “Bones” on the ground, and while it’s definitely awesome and a key ingredient to his success, Ryan Bader also possesses an incredibly dominant top game. As a successful amateur wrestler, Bader has the skill and experience needed to know how to take you down. As a huge Light Heavyweight with big power in his hands, Bader has the muscle to keep you down and the strength to pound your face in. Jones may find himself on the mat working off of his back before long, and it’s not impossible that Bader could outright dominate Jones when this fight goes to the floor.

2. Ryan Bader has already faced a top-division opponent.

It’s generally assumed that whoever wins this bout will finally ascend to top-division status, but in truth, Bader has already fought and beat a fighter that many considered top-division before they fought. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was a highly-decorated MMA veteran on a seven-fight win-streak when he fought Ryan Bader, and Bader beat him soundly and even held his own on the ground against one of the most feared submission specialists in the game. That kind of experience simply can’t be replicated and will be crucial in helping Bader overcome the odds and beat Jon Jones.

And the number one reason why I think Ryan Bader could beat Jon Jones is because…

1. Bader has sneaky one-hit KO power.

Ask Keith Jardine how hard Ryan Bader hits… he’ll probably tell you that he doesn’t know because he can’t remember. At first glance, Bader seems to be cut from the same cloth as many higher-ranked American MMA fighters with wrestling as their base: great takedown ability, decent-to-good striking, and some good Ground and Pound. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll see that Bader has the kind of punching power that even a few knockout artists should envy. It may take a while to land, but Bader has the ability to knock you out with a punch you’ll never see coming and never thought would be the one that sent you to the land of dreams. Not only is Bader’s striking power his big secret weapon, it’s also the biggest reason why he poses a serious threat to Jon Jones.

And there you have it, fans and friends: the five reasons why Ryan Bader may surprise us all and beat Jon “Bones” Jones. That wraps up today’s entry into my “5 Reasons Why” series, so of course I have to ask: what about you? What’s your opinion on this bout, and what do you think Bader needs to do in order to beat Jon Jones?

5. Training with the best helps you become the best, and there is only one Greg Jackson.

Greg Jackson has, over time, became one of the most-discusses head trainers in all of MMA. There’s one simple reason for that: love him or hate him, the man knows how to take fighters and make them champions. There’s a reason why one of Jackson’s nicknames is “Yoda”, and it’s because he’s an amazing trainer that knows how to bring out the best in just about every single one of his fighters. With a wealth of talent to learn from and spar with, including fighters like Rashad Evans and Georges St. Pierre, the training camp behind Jon Jones is definitely one of the biggest reasons he could beat Ryan Bader.

4. He’s not afraid to try something crazy on the off-chance that it’ll work.

Who throws a spinning back-elbow? Jon Jones does, that’s who. And why? Well, it certainly hurts if it connects. That’s one of the keys to the success of “Bones”: he’ll throw caution to the wind just to try out something new, and if it doesn’t work, he knows how to keep his composure. And if it does work? Well, not only does he have a new highlight to add to his reel, he’ll also have either landed a significant strike on his opponent or landed himself in a dominant position on the ground.

3. His ferocity is nearly unparalleled.

An angry Jon Jones is a scary, scary man. Jones knows how to put you into positions where you’re practically helpless, and from that point onward, he basically tees off on you with such precision, force, and speed that you’re soon removed from consciousness. It’s how he’s won a majority of his recent fights, and it’s one of the biggest reasons he’ll continue to excel. Jones doesn’t blindly bull-rush or gas himself out when trying to nail a fight-ending barrage, he’s able to skillfully pick his shots while still landing them with amazing speed and ferocity. That’s going to be a key factor in his upcoming fight with Bader.

2. His level of wrestling is outstanding.

If Jon Jones wants you on the ground, you’re going on the ground. “Bones” has many ways of putting you there, but the outcome is always the same: him in a dominant position, you in a world of hurt. Whether it’s his standard takedowns, his power takedowns, or even his throws, Jon Jones knows how to blast through your defenses and that’s a big tool Jones must utilize in order to beat someone like Ryan Bader.

And the number one reason why Jon Jones could beat Ryan Bader is…

1. Because he’s Jon Jones.

Jon Jones is a different breed of fighter: he can seemingly do it all, and do it all very, very well. Many people, including me, are predicting that he’ll be the future of the UFC Light Heavyweight division. As a whole, Jon Jones simply puts it all together in a nearly-unbeatable package. The simple fact that he is who he is will be Jones’ biggest strength against the talented Ryan Bader.

So there you have it, fans and friends: my top five reasons why I think Jonny Bones will continue his near-flawless Octagon outings and score a big win over Ryan Bader. What about you? What tools do you think Jones will have to utilize and unleash in order to beat “Darth” Bader?

5. A Night Of Nostalgia For WEC Fans

If you were a huge WEC fan like me, you probably still feel a bit down in the dumps now that the WEC has officially been folded into the UFC and now solely exists in our memories. But “Silva vs. Belfort” should give us a good bit of nostalgia and also maybe some “I told you so” moments, as the card features both Miguel Torres and Donald Cerrone in what should be very exciting matches. Watching these two fighters go from the blue cage to the fabled Octagon in two high-profile encounters should make for some good, nostalgic entertainment.

4. Two Isn’t As Good As Four, But Free MMA Can’t Hurt

UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort” marks the return of the “UFC Prelims Live” specials to the place of their inception, Spike TV. Spike will give MMA fans a full free hour of MMA action, with both Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly and Chad Medes vs. Michihiro Omigawa confirmed to air during the broadcast. It’s not as good as the four free fights the UFC recently gave us over Facebook, but free and legal MMA on TV is always a good thing, and with the increasing quality of the “Prelims Live” specials, it should be an hour well worth watching.

3. The Future In Action: Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader

If you’ve ever seen either of these two fight, then you understand how I can say without hyperbole that these two fighters will one day be the future of the UFC Light Heavyweight division, one of the most stacked, most competitive divisions in the entire world. Both men seem to have it all and are able to do it all, they can seemingly do no wrong while winning dramatically and dominantly. This is going to be an awesome, awesome fight.

2. Putting The “War” Back Into “War Of Attrition”: Rich Franklin vs. Forrest Griffin

I honestly think this is the type of fight where neither man goes down unless he’s completely knocked senseless. This is the perfect match-up for both men, it should be a wild brawl between two men who shine in wild brawls. Neither will give an inch, and both won’t be afraid to take two to give one. This will be a down and dirty, bloody and brutal brawl… and it has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, “The Fight of the Century”

Those are Belfort’s words and not mine, by the way. But they do certainly fit the bill, this does have all the makings of one of the best fights in UFC history. It just has to work out the way we all think it will, with Belfort aggressively moving forward and Silva staving him off with the best counter-strikes he’s ever thrown. I’ve said it more than once, but I’m so pumped for this fight that it absolutely bears repeating: so long as it lives up to its potential, this is going to be an amazing, astounding fight.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort: This sure is one hard fight to pick. I’m a gigantic Anderson Silva fan, but I have an immense amount of respect for Vitor Belfort. So long as this fight lives up to its potential, I honestly don’t care who wins. I just want these two to put on the fight I know they’re capable of putting on, because that fight could be one of the best of the last several years. Simply because I have to make a choice, I’m predicting that Silva will keep finding a home for his counters and eventually land a fight-ending barrage in Round 3, winning by TKO.

Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin: Rich Franklin has had a decidedly up-and-down career ever since losing to Anderson Silva for the second time back in 2007. Then again, the same could be said of Forrest Griffin ever since he won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Quinton Jackson. I think this will be a great fight that ultimately boils down to one simple fact: age. Franklin is five years older and has showed signs of slowing down in his recent bouts. Forrest Griffin will take a Unanimous Decision.

Ryan Bader vs. Jon Jones: Following his victory over Vladimir Matyushenko, a fight in which I vocally defended my stance that “The Janitor” would defeat “Bones” in the days/weeks leading up to the bout, I made one single, simple promise: never again will I bet against Jon Jones. That’s just not going to change. Ryan Bader is a good fighter and should ascend to top-division status one day, but in the here and now, I truly think this amazing rocket to the top for Jonny Bones won’t stop until he has some gold around his waist. Jon Jones takes the TKO in Round 1.

Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha: There’s a reason Ellenberger was originally expected to face Jon Fitch before Fitch was moved up to the upcoming UFC 127 main event: Ellenberger is a skilled 23-5 veteran with twenty of his wins by stoppage. Carlos Rocha, meanwhile, is a 9-0 submission specialist. It probably won’t be an easy victory for Ellenberger, but I think his toughness mixed in with his versatility and experience will result in him staving off several submission attempts and taking home a Unanimous Decision victory.

Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos: I like Antonio Banuelos, I really do. I just happen to like Miguel Torres more. I think Torres is primed for a major comeback, one that’s going to fully kick off with a big win over Banuelos. Banuelos has simply faltered against top-ranked competition too often, and Torres looked excellent in his recent winning performance against Charlie Valencia. It’ll be a highlight of the night, and I’m thinking that Miguel Torres takes a TKO in Round 2.

So there you have it, fans and friends: my UFC 126 predictions. What about you? When it comes to “Silva vs. Belfort”, who do you see winning, how, and why?

The Event: UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort, scheduled for February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two free preliminary fights will be shown live on Spike TV starting at 9:00 PM ET. The five-fight main card will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View starting at 10:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: All eyes are on the main event, and for good reason, even though “Silva vs. Belfort” boasts a solid undercard. Anderson Silva takes on one of his biggest challenges to date, former UFC champion Vitor Belfort. It’s a dream-match that’s taken a long time to finally happen, and to make things even better, you’ve got what should be a fantastic brawl between Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin as the co-main event, with an epic showdown between fast-rising prospects Jon Jones and Ryan Bader rounding out the card.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Non-stop action from two of the best strikers in Mixed Martial Arts, both in the here and now and of all time. Silva’s counter-striking is legendary, as is Belfort’s punching power. If this fight stays standing, it’s going to be like poetry in motion, and we can probably expect to see some things we’ve never seen in an Octagon before. This fight has been a long time coming, and on paper, it has all the makings of a Fight of the Year encounter.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: I think Rich Franklin said it best when he described the type of fighter he was are and then made a point about Griffin being almost the exact same type of fighter. This is going to be a brawl between two tough men who don’t like to quit and fight at their best when they get a little beat up and bloody. It’ll be a war of attrition from the second the first bell rings, with both men giving and taking at will and scoring big blows throughout. I fully expect both men to put on a fantastic show.

Why You Should Watch This Card: The UFC is taking no prisoners early in 2011, which is when they generally hit a bit of a slump. There’s no winter slumber here, this is a massive show featuring some of the most well-known talent the UFC has to offer. The event features multiple weight classes, dominant champions, hot prospects, tough veterans, and more. It’s a stacked card in pretty much every sense of the term.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: To be honest, the only thing really negative about this card is the fact that it takes place over Super Bowl Weekend. Also, two of the five main card fights have potential to be good but aren’t as epic or as attention-getting as the other three. If you’ve got other plans that you absolutely cannot miss, you can always catch a replay. But if you’re a big MMA fan, you owe it to yourself to watch this one live.

Closing Thoughts: Putting it plainly and putting it simply: I can’t wait for this card. Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort is a fight I’ve waited a long, long time to see, and I have a great feeling that it’s going to live up to every bit of its potential. Then you’ve got Franklin vs. Griffin, which is a fight between two of my favorite “dark horse” fighters. And to top it all off, Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader should also be an insane fight and fully propel whoever wins into top-division status. The UFC is bringing out the big guns early in 2011, and I’m definitely not missing this one.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”?

UFC officials released the information today, though it was only a matter of time.

The pay-per-view event features one of the best assembled cards of the new year, touting five former champions on the all-star card, as well as a much anticipated title defense pitting current champ Anderson Silva as he defends his middleweight title for a record-setting eighth time as he takes on former teammate Vitor Belfort in the evenings headlining bout.

The event takes place next Saturday on February 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, which holds approximately 12,000 in total attendance. UFC 126 makes the ninth consecutive event that has taken place on Super-bowl weekend, which has consistently been the organization’s fight card that has been riddled with talent.

And this card is no exception.

Aside from the middleweight title clash, former champions Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin will also meet in a pivotal light heavyweight match-up. Griffin, the original winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” was last seen in the octagon in November of 2009 in an anticipated rematch against rival Tito Ortiz at UFC 106, exacting revenge and taking home a split-decision win from the former champion. The win snapped a two-fight skid that Griffin suffered when he faced Rashad Evans, relinquishing his title by way of third-round knockout in a fight he was largely dominating. Next, the fan-favorite dropped another knockout loss, this time to the aforementioned Silva inside of the first-round. Forrest has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury when he was training for an upcoming bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114 last May.

Franklin, like Griffin, is coming off of a win of his own, when he bested former title holder Chuck Liddell last June at UFC 115, knocking out the UFC Hall of Famer in the waning moment’s of their main-event fight. The loss helped “Ace” bounce back from a disappointing performance against the resurgent Vitor Belfort in a catch-weight bout of 195-pounds. Belfort connected on a left hook, followed up with a barrage of punches that eventually left Franklin out on the canvas. The fight was stopped just a little over three-minutes inside of the first-round in September of 2009.

With a win here, it’s conceivable that either Franklin or Griffin (who serve co-main event honors at UFC 126) could be next in line for a shot at the title.

Bouts with Ryan Bader, Jon Jones, Miguel Torres, and Antonio Banuelos will also grace the main-card, while in preliminary action featherweight standouts Michihiro Omigawa and Chad Mendes will be featured on the Spike telecast alongside a lightweight bout pitting three-time WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone as he takes on veteran Paul Kelly.

“Fans have been telling me how excited they are for this card ever since we announced the event,” said UFC President Dana White in the release.

“This is a stacked card from top to bottom, and fans responded by making UFC 126 a sellout.”

The entire event is as follows, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

* Champ Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (for middleweight title)
* Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin
* Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha
* Ryan Bader vs. Jon Jones
* Antonio Banuelos vs. Miguel Torres

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* Paul Kelly vs. Donald Cerrone
* Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa

PRELIMINARY CARD (Untelevised)

* Gabe Ruediger vs. Paul Taylor
* Demetrious Johnson vs. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto
* Kyle Kingsbury vs. Ricardo Romero
* Mike Pierce vs. Kenny Robertson

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the card? Which bout sticks out the most for you? Personally speaking, I would take the “Kid” Yamamoto promotional debut bout against Demetrious Johnson over most fights to see on the PPV event, but that’s just my fanboy in me talking. Sound off in the comment section below.

The American Top Team product bested the Muay Thai specialist throughout the fifteen-minute affair, recording his first decision victory inside the octagon. The win over Vera helped Silva bounce back from a disappointing loss to Rashad Evans in January of last year. It also marked his return after a near-year absence following a debilitating back injury that had the Brazilian sidelined for the time being.

Now back in form, Silva will next meet with former champion Quinton Jackson at an event later this year, but before his fight with “Rampage” Silva has addressed some remarks made by light heavyweight phenom Jon Jones, and it looks like Thiago wouldn’t mind tangling with the Greg Jackson product in the future.

The ire of Jones’ remarks comes from Silva’s performance against Vera, stating that some of his antic’s in the ring such as slapping Brandon on his back and yelling at him inside the cage are indicative of his bad attitude.

“We never do anything without a reason. What I did in there was to take his focus away”, said Thiago who spoke with TATAME.com regarding his fight against Vera.

“The only provocation I did was when I slapped him on his back, the others I did because my hands were aching when I punched him because I broke my finger. So it would open me the way to try a submission or something like it. The only provocation was that one so he would lose his focus, and there’s no other reason.”

It was when Jones specifically attacked Silva’s position as an MMA fighter, stating that the 28-year-old isn’t a “mixed martial artist” and what he did wasn’t becoming of “a professional fighter”. Then, Silva went off.

“(Jon Jones) is a jerk. Everybody’s a professional fighter and all fights include provocations. Brandon Vera said he’s break my legs, that I wasn’t on his level”, said Silva.

“I don’t say things, I do. You get recognized when you do things. I’m a professional fighter, but I can’t always please everybody. There’s always somebody behind the computed with a plate filled with French fries, ready to criticize you. I fight for the fans, for the money and to put my name up there. Talking is too much easy, nobody knows what goes on in your life, your trainings… I think I did my job. Who likes it, likes it, but you can dislike it if you want.”

So, MMA peeps, how do you feel about Thiago’s remarks against your 205-pound hero? I have to admit too that I think Jones is a little bit smug, specifically the way he acted during the 2010 World MMA Awards, but why shouldn’t he be? He’s one of MMA’s most highly touted prospects, a hammer in the light heavyweight division and he’s only 23-years-old. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. The UFC 126 “Super Bowl Super-Show”.

It’s not enough that the UFC is giving us Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, oh no. In addition to the mega-fight that’s been several years in-the-making, we’ve got Rich Franklin vs. Forrest Griffin and Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader. Basically, we’ve got three fights that could each easily, and I do mean easily, headline an event on their own. And it all goes down during Super Bowl Weekend, where everyone is hosting parties and having fun anyway. UFC fans are in for a real treat with this one.

4. UFC in Brazil for the first time in over ten years.

Georges St. Pierre in Canada. That’s the kind of reaction I think the Brazilian fans will give if they get someone like Wanderlei Silva or Anderson Silva or even Renzo Gracie or Royce Gracie to compete at the upcoming UFC event in Brazil. From the beginning, from the moment the idea for the first UFC tournament popped into the head of Rorion Gracie, Brazil has been tied to the UFC. While the UFC will most likely forever be headquartered in Las Vegas, heading back to Brazil is almost like coming home. It should be an amazing show featuring an unbelievable atmosphere.

3. UFC in Toronto in front of over 60,000 fans.

But even the tentatively-titled UFC: “Rio” virtually pales in comparison to the UFC’s upcoming debut in Toronto. The UFC owes almost as much to Canada as it does to Brazil, Canada was the first major step on the road to the UFC becoming a global brand and it remains a key player in the UFC’s international development. And UFC’s debut in Toronto will be in the Rogers Centre, better known as the Toronto SkyDome, which can seat anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 people. I can hardly begin to imagine how epic the crowd alone will be, let alone the amazing card the UFC will likely put on in order to attract the most fans possible.

2. The thirteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

It’s been repeated so many times by so many fans and insiders that it’s practically a cliché, but it’ll always be true: “The Ultimate Fighter” broke the mainstream barrier and is perhaps the single most important thing to have ever happened to the UFC outside of its original founding. We’re heading into our thirteenth season of TUF, and things just keep getting better. No season is perfect, but the steady ratings and improved fight quality of Season 12 have left me incredibly pumped up for TUF Season 13. Even though I’m a bit sad that we won’t see Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva coaching against each other, there’s really no reason to miss out on Season 13.

And #1 on the list goes to…

1. Better per-event fight quality thanks in no small part to the influx of WEC talent and the addition of the Bantamweight/Featherweight divisions in general.

As a WEC super-fan, could I have really picked anything else to top this list? With two new divisions and a host of world-caliber talent, the WEC/UFC merger should begin paying out enormous dividends almost immediately. I have a great feeling that this is going to be a “best of both worlds” scenario, where we get the same great WEC action except on a much larger scale. Both the merger and the new weight divisions should give a lot of otherwise-underwhelming UFC events a big shot in the arm, especially the international events. It should be an awesome, awesome year of fights.

And that’s the end, fans and friends! My four-part “All I Want for Christmas” mini-series is now officially over and done with. I’d like to thank all my readers for their continued support, and once again I’d like to wish you all a very happy and very merry Christmas, and happy holidays in general. So, what about you? What are you looking forward to for the UFC in 2011?

5. Mauricio Rua/Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones

This is more about the ascension of Jon Jones than it is about Mauricio Rua or Rashad Evans, although both men are great fighters and pose a varied assortment of problems to “Bones”. No matter who ends up wearing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, I can’t wait to see Jon Jones finally get his crack at the most hotly-contested and arguably the most prestigious championship in the UFC. With the title being on the line, and given whom Jones may end up facing, we’d most likely see a brilliant performance by “Bones” that utterly eclipses anything he’s ever done in the Octagon before. And that’s a dream come true for Jon Jones fans.

4. Nick Diaz vs. Jason Miller

At this point I think both men can barely stand to be in a room with each other, and I can only imagine how vicious these two would be if they ever got the opportunity to fight each other. This fight has been talked about at length for a long time, and I have personally done my best to keep both myself and my readers constantly up-to-date on this rivalry. And there’s a good reason for that: outside of the Heavyweight division, I truly believe that this fight is the most marketable and most interesting fight that Strikeforce conceivably has access to. And even though I’ve had a few issues with Jason Miller’s antics in the past, make no mistake: I’d still absolutely love to see this fight.

3. Jon Fitch vs. Georges St. Pierre 2

I’ve been a fan of Jon Fitch for a long, long time. I think he’s an amazing athlete, an incredible wrestler, one of the UFC’s best assets, and the recipient of far more criticism than he deserves and far less recognition than is fair. I’d love to see this fight because I think Jon Fitch has it in him to prove a lot of people wrong. Plus, it would likely bring out the best in Georges St. Pierre, who continues to evolve at an astonishing rate. Both as a Fitch fan and a GSP fan, I’d go out of my way to make sure I watched this fight if it ever ends up happening.

2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum 2

Be honest, you knew it was coming. And for good reason, too: I think Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest Mixed Martial Artist that has ever fought. I think he made a mistake against Fabricio Werdum after a lifetime of performing flawlessly, and I think he has every intention of correcting that mistake in the most heinous, destructive way possible. The first fight shook the MMA world to its core, the rematch would be talked about for years to come. There’s not a lot I wouldn’t give to see this fight.

But, as if there could be any doubt, my top dream fight as we head towards 2011 is…

1. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre

Even though it won’t look like it, I’m going to say this without an ounce of hyperbole on my part: I truly believe that Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre is the biggest dream-fight currently conceivable. Pick your poison, it’s all the same to me: it doesn’t matter if it’s Fedor vs. Randy Couture, Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar, Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, or any and all of the rest. I truly believe that this fight would define a generation and go down as the biggest fight in MMA history. In the immediate future, I don’t think anything has a chance of toppling this fight as my top “dream fight”.

And so Part 2 comes to a close, fans and friends. Stay tuned for the final two parts as we head into the second half of “All I Want for Christmas”. And what do you think? What are some big dream matches you’re looking forward to?