Just some notes that I found interesting regarding MMA this week:
- Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson turned down an opportunity to fight Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Today on Twitter, he described his reasoning: “I turned down the fight cause of short notice,I would have 2 lose 45 lbs n 4 weeks,u would have 2 be a fighter 2 understand,life goes on“. The division in which Rampage usually competes, Light Heavyweight, has a weight limit is 205. At 250 pounds, Rampage Jackson would weigh closer to the upper limit for Heavyweight fighters (265).
- Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, teammate of the fighter who previously earned a title shot against Shogun Rua – Rashad Evans, has been given the title shot after the opportunity was turned down by Rampage.
- Prior to his loss to Fabricio Werdum in June 2010, Fedor Emelianenko had been considering retirement from professional MMA, and still considers it to this day. “To tell the truth, I certainly, was — I am thinking about retiring but that’s not because of the loss,” Fedor told Ariel Helwani Monday on MMAFighting.com’s The MMA Hour. “I used to think about it before [the loss to Fabricio Werdum].”
- Donald Cerrone wants to fight Cole Miller despite Miller having recently lost (by decision against Matt Wiman at Fight For The Troops 2)
- Steven Seagal claims to have taught Anderson Silva the front kick he used at UFC 126 to defeat Vitor Belfort
Strikeforce recently signed Gilbert Melendez, their reigning Lightweight Champion, to a multi-year deal. Melendez is the only Top 5 ranked fighter (in their respective weight classes) aside from Fedor Emelianenko under contract to Strikeforce.- Jon ‘Bones’ Jones gets a spot in the Top 10 Pound For Pound rankings for the first time.
- Georges St Pierre identifies Jake Shields as the biggest threat to his UFC welterweight championship. He has refused to even consider a potential fight with Anderson Silva until he gets past his upcoming challenger.
- UFC 126 Superlatives (awards of $75,000 to each fighter listed):
Fight Of The Night – Donald Cerrone vs Paul Kelly
Knockout Of The Night – Anderson Silva
Submission Of The Night – Jon ‘Bones’ Jones
