Jones earns the title shot after defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 128.

A win at UFC 165 could put Jones at the most consecutive title defenses in UFC light heavyweight division history.

Jones x Shogun, em foto de Dan Rod.

Perguntado via twitter sobre que lutador possui o melhor boxe no MMA, o campeão até 93kg do UFC @Jonnybones nem titubeou.

“JDS”, respondeu Jon Jones para seu seguidor TJ Knauf, cravando as iniciais de Junior dos Santos, o Cigano.

Cada vez mais cheio de moral, portanto, Cigano vai pôr os punhos à prova contra o gigante Brock Lesnar, no UFC 131, dia 11 de junho, em Vancouver, Canadá.

Já Jon Jones está na capa de sua NOCAUTE, após o passeio contra Mauricio Shogun, no UFC 128.

Garanta logo sua GRACIEMAG + NOCAUTE, e saiba mais sobre Jon Jones e o mundo do MMA em geral. Será Jon Jones capaz de iniciar um longo reinado no UFC? Leia e depois comente abaixo!

Jones vs. Shogun, in photo by Dan Rod

Asked over twitter who bears the best boxing skills in MMA, UFC light heavyweight champion @Jonnybones didn’t think twice.

“JDS,” Jon Jones told his follower TJ Knauf, replying with the initials of Junior dos Santos, otherwise known as Cigano.

In constant ascension in the public eye, Cigano will put his fists to the test against the giant Brock Lesnar at UFC 131 on July 11 in Vancouver, Canada.

To get the inside scoop on Jon Jones, Cigano, and all the goings-on in the MMA world, become a GRACIEMAG/CHOKE subscriber by clicking here.

“Em 2008 eu decidi retornar ao MMA. De lá para cá tive o privilégio de competir oito vezes no UFC. Como lutador, não consigo pensar em emoção maior do que estar em pé no Octagon com minha mão erguida.

“Durante esses quase quatro anos, tenho enfrentando um duelo pessoal para equilibrar minha carreira de lutador profissional, os cuidados com meu filho que foi diagnosticado com autismo logo depois que assinei com o UFC, o ensino na minha academia de Jiu-Jitsu e meus deveres familiares, que todos nós temos.

“MMA é um grande esporte, mas também é uma atividade física e mentalmente que não perdoa. Pisar ali é uma tarefa perigosa, especialmente se o seu foco não está 100% nisso.
Após muita reflexão, desde minha luta no UFC 128, decidi me afastar do esporte como lutador.

“Continuo, entretanto, apoiando integralmente o UFC como treinador e, claro, como um grande fã. Gostaria de agradecer Lorenzo Fertitta e Dana White pela visão e liderança que levaram o esporte a atingir novos patamares.

“Também queria agradecer Joe Silva por me dar a chance de competir entre os melhores lutadores do planeta.

“Renzo Gracie, Mark Henry, Frankie Edgar e todos os meus companheiros de time, sem os quais eu não seria capaz de passar por esse desafio.

“Finalmente, gostaria de agradecer minha esposa, meus filhos e família assim como meus alunos. Vocês terão minha dedicação integral a partir de agora.

“E por último, obrigado aos fãs que fazem o MMA o maior esporte que existe.”

Ricardo Almeida.

Cachorrão após sua última luta. Foto: Dan Rod.

“Back in 2008 I decided to return to MMA. Since then I have had the privilege of fighting eight times in the UFC. As a competitor I can think of no bigger thrill than to stand in the center of the octagon with my hands raised.

During these almost four years it has been a personal struggle to find balance between my fighting career, caring for my son who was diagnosed with autism soon after I signed a six-fight deal with the UFC, teaching at my growing Jiu-Jitsu Academy and the family duties we all have.

MMA is a great sport but also physically and mentally unforgiving. It is a dangerous task to step in the octagon, specially if your focus is not at 100%.

After much deliberation since my fight at UFC 128 I have decided to step away from the sport as a fighter.

I will continue to fully support the UFC as a coach and of course as a big fan. I would like to thank Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White for their leadership and vision which brought the sport to new heights. I would also like to thank Joe Silva for giving me the opportunity to compete among the best martial artists in the world.

Renzo Gracie, Mark Henry, Frankie Edgar and all my teammates who I could not have gone through this challenge without.

Finally I would like to thank my wife, children and family as well as my students. You will have my integral dedication from here on.

Lastly the fans who make MMA the greatest sport there is.”

Ricardo Almeida.

Ricardo Big Dog on his last fight. Photo by Dan Rod

Three days prior, Maurício’s shogunate in the under-205-lb division of the UFC came to an end in devastating fashion, by the hand and foot of the division’s new commander, Jon Jones, as you and millions of others have already come to know.

Despite his misfortune – and battered moral – the Brazilian forged ahead with his agenda. Forlorn, as was to be expected, but harboring the same humility from his days of glory in Pride FC and his ephemeral reign in the UFC.

“I’m just bummed out,” he lamented over the telephone with Renzo Gracie, while the fourteen pairs spread out over the grey practice area worked on a rib-kick defense the star taught moments earlier.

“He hits hard, I took a knee shot early on and was out of it the whole fight,” he explained.

Marcelo, who helped Shogun with translation and performing the movements too, set the bag with the former champion’s shirts and shorts on the window sill. So the fighter got to teaching and, like a lot of folks good at what they do, dove into the profession. Keep on trucking, as the saying goes. That’s what he did.

Check out some exclusive pictures from the seminar:

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Três dias antes, o shogunato de Maurício na categoria até 93kg (205lbs) do UFC havia terminado de forma avassaladora, pelas mãos e pés do novo comandante da divisão, Jon Jones, como você e milhões de pessoas pelo mundo já viram e sabem.

Apesar da infortúnio, e do moral abatido, o curitibano cumpriu agenda. Desanimado, como era de se esperar, mas com a mesma humildade que apresentou tanto nas glórias da era Pride e do reinado relâmpago no UFC.

“Estou triste pra caramba, né?,” lamentou em conversa ao telefone com Renzo Gracie, enquanto 14 pares espalhados na área de luta cinza praticavam defesa de chute na costela ensinada pela estrela, momentos antes.

“Ele pegou duro, tomei uma joelhada no início e fiquei grogue a luta toda”, explicou.

Marcelinho, que ajudou Shogun na tradução e também nas movimentações, colocou a bolsa com as camisas e shorts do ex-campeão no apoio da janela. O lutador então seguiu a ensinar e, como muita gente boa, pôs o pé na profissão. Na estrada de terra na boléia de caminhão. Foi assim.

Confira algumas imagens exclusivas do seminário:

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Jones vs. Shogun, in photo by Dan Rod

Candidate for MMA superhero Jon Jones had his litmus test on Saturday, when he had to make it past Mauricio Shogun to conquer his first belt, at just 23 years of age.

Before the fight, though, Jones had a different mission, which ended up being an unexpected warmup for his bout with Shogun.

Just hours before fighting, Jones had just arrived in the parking lot of a park in Paterson, where he went to meditate with his coaches, when told an elderly couple had been robbed in their car. The fighter followed and quickly passed his coaches in pursuit of the robber, who stumbled and was then, upon making another break for it, was subdued by the new UFC champion and his crew, with his Coach Greg Jackson pinning the delinquent to the ground.

As they got out of the police car, the police officer’s first reaction was: “Whoa, what are you doing here? Aren’t you fighting tonight?” as Jones recounted to laughter at the press conference.

The news made it to the local news, and the news clip was rebroadcast across the USA, to UFC president Dana White’s delight. “All he needs to do now is deliver a baby in the middle of the street on his way home,” joked White.

The bizarre occurrence aside, the adrenaline purged on the occasion contributed to the champion being even more on his toes during the fight, in contrast to Shogun, who was unable to get anything done.

Jones x Shogun, na foto de Dan Rod.

Candidato a super-herói do MMA, Jon Jones teve uma prova de fogo no sábado, quando precisou passar por Mauricio Shogun para conquistar seu primeiro cinturão, com apenas 23 anos de idade.

Antes da luta, porém, Jones viveu outra missão, que acabou sendo um aquecimento inusitado para o duelo com Shogun.

Algumas horas antes de lutar, Jones foi meditar num estacionamento em Paterson, perto de Newark e escutou uns gritos. Um casal de idosos tinha sido roubado dentro do carro. O lutador seguiu seu reflexo e correu atrás do ladrão, que ao ver Jones se aproximando tropeçou no próprio pé. Quando tentou levantar-se, a fera do UFC deu um passa-pé certeiro no cara para derrubá-lo de vez. Foi quando seu treinador Greg Jackson pulou nas costas do patife para dominá-lo.

Ao saltar da viatura, a primeira reação do policial foi: “Ué, o que você está fazendo aqui? Você não luta hoje à noite?”, como Jones relembrou na coletiva, para risos da imprensa.

A notícia foi parar no noticiário televisivo local, e a reportagem foi reexibida nos EUA durante a transmissão, para empolgação do presidente do UFC, Dana White. “Só falta agora ele fazer um parto no meio da rua ao voltar para casa. Não sei mais o que falta para esse cara”, brincou White.

Descontando o fato bizarro, a adrenalina descarregada na ocasião acabou contribuindo para o campeão entrar ainda mais ligado, contrastando com um Shogun que nada conseguiu fazer diante dele.

UFC 128

Newark, Nova Jersey

19 de março de 2011

Erik Koch nocauteou Raphael Assunção aos 2min32s do 1R

Nick Catone venceu Constantinos Philippou por decisão unânime

Joseph Benavidez venceu Ian Loveland por decisão unânime

Gleison Tibau venceu Kurt Pellegrino por decisão dividida

Mike Pyle venceu Ricardo Almeida por decisão unânime

Edson Junior venceu Anthony Njokuani por decisão unânime

Luis Banha Cane derrotou Eliot Marshall por TKO aos 2min15s do 1R

Brendan Schaub nocauteou Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic aos 3min44s do 3R

Nate Marquardt venceu Dan Miller por decisão unânime

Jim Miller derrotou Kamal Shalorus por TKO aos 2min15s do 3R

Urijah Faber venceu Eddie Wineland por decisão unânime

Jon Jones derrotou Mauricio Shogun Rua por TKO aos 2min37s do 3R

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UFC 128
Newark, New Jersey
March 19, 2011

Erik Koch knocked out Raphael Assuncao at 2:32 min of R1
Nick Catone defeated Constantinos Philippou via unanimous decision
Joseph Benavidez defeated Ian Loveland via unanimous decision
Gleison Tibau defeated Kurt Pellegrino via split decision
Mike Pyle defeated Ricardo Almeida via unanimous decision
Edson Junior defeated Anthony Njokuani via unanimous decision
Luis Banha Cane defeated Eliot Marshall via TKO at 2:15 min of R1
Brendan Schaub knocked out Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic at 3:44 min of R3
Nate Marquardt defeated Dan Miller via unanimous decision
Jim Miller defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO at 2:15 min of R3
Urijah Faber defeated Eddie Wineland via unanimous decision
Jon Jones defeated Mauricio Shogun Rua via TKO at 2:37 min of R3

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Nate Marquardt at weight-in / Photos by Dan Rod

It was a UFC event where seven fights were decided by the judges, but there was no lack of excitement in New Jersey, technique abounded.

Middleweight star Nate Marquardt overcame Dan Miller yesterday at UFC 128 and signaled how victory reinvigorates in MMA. “I really feel reinvigorated with this win. I really wanted to get in there and show I’m a new Nate Marquardt,” said the American.

“I didn’t expect Miller to be so quick, and from the beginning of the fight I saw I’d have to be at my peak game to beat him. I had to go for takedowns at chest height because his guillotines are so dangerous, and I knew it,” he said after the fight.

Banha

Another to taste the exhilaration of winning was Luiz “Banha” Cane, who spared the judges further work and brought the crowd to its feet with a brutal knockout.

“I feel reborn as a fighter. I wanted the knockout, to remind me of my first win here in the UFC,” he said. “And you will see more fights like this, because I’m more technical now. I want a shot at the belt, but not now, I want to prove my worth a bit more. I hope to have a chance to fight at UFC Rio, to fight in Brazil. Fighting before our fans would be great,” he pleaded.

Another of the evening’s standouts was Brendan Schaub, who fulfilled his promise to knockout an idol of his. He too remarked on the fight that left Mirko Filipovic laid out on the canvas.

“I’m no fool, I know Cro Cop’s a first-rate kickboxer, so I started with a lot of takedowns. I feel my speed is what made the difference in winning. I noticed Cro Cop lines up his feet before each kick, so I got his timing and fired off my right bomb. This is the second time in a row that I take out a legend (Gonzaga and Cro Cop). It’s a good turnaround in my career,” was his assessment of the evening’s events.

Besides Gleison Tibau, Edson Barboza Junior was the other winning Brazilian on the night. He alleged to have not fought as well as he’d have liked due to injury, even after earning the fight-of-the-night prize thanks to his reverse roundhouse kick to the head. “I’m so happy, but I wanted to strike more in the fight, let my kicks flow, but I had an injury and didn’t manage to. At least I got the chance to use my takedowns and Jiu-Jitsu,” said the fighter from Nova Friburgo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Tibau

UFC 128
Newark, New Jersey
March 19, 2011

Erik Koch knocked out Raphael Assuncao at 2:32 min of R1

Nick Catone defeated Constantinos Philippou via unanimous decision

Joseph Benavidez defeated Ian Loveland via unanimous decision

Gleison Tibau defeated Kurt Pellegrino via split decision

Mike Pyle defeated Ricardo Almeida via unanimous decision

Edson Junior defeated Anthony Njokuani via unanimous decision

Luis Banha Cane defeated Eliot Marshall via TKO at 2:15 min of R1

Brendan Schaub knocked out Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic at 3:44 min of R3

Nate Marquardt defeated Dan Miller via unanimous decision

Jim Miller defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO at 2:15 min of R3

Urijah Faber defeated Eddie Wineland via unanimous decision

Jon Jones defeated Mauricio Shogun Rua via TKO at 2:37 min of R3

Jon Jones, with jacket he would throw to crowd at weigh-ins