Welcome back, fight fans. Here we are once again in the midst of a ton of MMA announcements and fight additions in the span of a quick 24 hours. Today was Wednesday, which is usually the day we are hit with the most news and announcements. However, the MMA current was quite calm today. With the exception of a few big UFC fight additions the day was fairly uneventful.
Still, even on a slow day, the MMA world never really rests. Today’s top news starts off with two huge fight announcements coming way of the UFC. We found out that UFC 146, which is being headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Junior Dos Santos Alistair Overeem, just got a whole lot heavier.
First, we caught news that “Big Country” Roy Nelson will take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a massive heavyweight collision. Silva will be making his UFC debut while Nelson is 3-3 in the famed UFC octagon. Both fighters are coming off of losses and are in desperate need of a win. This should be a great bout.
Then we later heard that UFC 146 would also be adding another heavyweight bout, this time between two men vying for the UFC heavyweight number one contender spot: Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. Both men have already been UFC champs, both men want the strap again, both are only two straight wins away. This fight, along with the Nelson vs. Silva fight and the main event title fight between Dos Santos and Overeem have already made this a “must-watch” fight card. All three of these fights will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 26th.
A quote from a legend made MMA headlines today as Fedor Emelianenko stated that even after three consecutive losses he still desires to fight in the world’s largest MMA promotion, the UFC. He explained that he loves fighting in front of his home countrymen but he realizes that the best competition exists in The States, fighting in the UFC. Fedor, now 35 years old and having lost three in a row to top notch competitors, may be trying to make his second coming in MMA just a little too late. However, I have seen crazier things, and there are a few compelling match-ups in the UFC that could draw the masses, which eventually equals money…so there you go. I‘ll leave it at that.
Speaking of fighters past their prime, Tim Sylvia has recently been campaigning throughout numerous media outlets and networks to get a spot back on the UFC heavyweight roster. He stated that he could beat a majority of the heavyweights currently listed on the UFC roster and felt he deserved to at least be given one more shot in the octagon. Well, we found out from an interview with MMA Fighting on Tuesday that UFC President Dana White said, “hell no,” to a Sylvia return to the octagon. I guess that’s enough said.
A video interview with Nate Diaz from Tuesday’s UFC on FOX 3 presser hit top news today. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani talked with Diaz about his upcoming fight with Jim Miller, his thoughts on Henderson, Edgar, and Pettis, and he also talked about his brother’s future in MMA.
We also heard today that Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will face off against UFC and PRIDE veteran Akihiro Gono, in a three-round non-title “superfight” at Bellator 67 on Friday, May 4th in Ontario, Canada.
And in other news, Chael Sonnen stated, “Anderson, you can kiss my ass,” on national television, Rampage Jackson’s future with the UFC is still drifting over rocky waters, and the UFC continues to battle for MMA sanctioning in New York.
And to top off the night’s MMA news, a quote from the current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jonny “Bones” Jones, in his recent interview with mensjournal.com. Jones was talking about his image and how some people view his confidence and faith as cockiness. Jones explained,” My road wasn’t easy, by any means. That’s why when people call me cocky, it’s, like, the biggest blow I can get. It’s like, ‘It’s not me! I’m sorry I’m coming across that way.’ I don’t think I’m better than ¬anyone. I heard this story once of this football player who, whenever he scored, just handed the ball to the ref. And I thought that was really cool, like, ‘This is what I do. I score touchdowns.’ I wasn’t trying to be cocky or anything, but that’s what I was thinking: ‘This is what I do. I defend my title.’ ”Jones will meet former UFC champion and former training partner, Rashad Evans, on April 21st.
And that wraps up another Day in MMA with Jake Chastain. For more in depth MMA news, interviews, and updates visit BJPenn.com or follow me on Twitter @jchastain45
Until next time, fight fans; stay classy.
-Jake Chastain
@jcahstain45
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