Jones-Machida rematch headlines UFC 152 in Toronto, flyweight title now co-main

Discussion in 'General MMA Discussion' started by Anthony, Aug 24, 2012.

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  1. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    Jones-Machida rematch headlines UFC 152 in Toronto, flyweight title now co-main

    by Matt Erickson on Aug 23, 2012 at 3:05 pm ET
    [​IMG]Jon Jones hasn't been keen on a rematch with Lyoto Machida, but that's the fight he's going to get.

    With Dan Henderson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) suddenly out with a MCL injury, leading to the cancelation of next week's UFC 151 in Las Vegas, Jones (16-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) now will fight Lyoto Machida (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) for the UFC light heavyweight title as the main event at next month's show in Toronto.

    UFC President Dana White on Thursday confirmed the news on a media conference call. The previous headliner for UFC 152 in Toronto, a flyweight title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson, will serve as the co-main event.

    Though it originally was thought the Toronto show would become the new UFC 151, the UFC announced shortly after Thursday's media call that Toronto will remain UFC 152 and UFC 151 simply will not exist.

    UFC 151 was scheduled to take place Sept. 1 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas with a Jones-Henderson headliner. The main card was to take place on pay-per-view, with a two-hour preliminary-card special slotted for FX leading into the main card.

    But when Henderson was forced out with a knee injury, and former middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen (28-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) offered to step up to challenge Jones, White got a big surprise when he says Jones and his camp refused to take the fight on eight days' notice.

    So with few options, White said the choice was made shortly before the hastily assembled media call to pull the plug on the event entirely – which is a first in UFC history. Instead, Jones gets Machida, who was next in line after Henderson, at Air Canada Center in Toronto on Sept. 22.

    White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that there was no consideration given to moving the Benavidez-Johnson flyweight title fight to a different card as the main event, given its previous top billing in Toronto. Instead, White said it will merely be moved down to co-feature status.

    "This is probably one of my all-time lows being president of the UFC the last 11 years," White said.

    White's displeasure with Jones was evident throughout the call, saying Jones' decision cost the company "a lot" of money, and he alluded to a change in relationship between the fighter, himself and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta because of the decision.

    "The one thing I never thought in a million years would happen, happened," White said. "Jon Jones said, 'I'm not fighting Chael Sonnen on eight days' notice,' – something that's never happened in UFC history, a guy that's a world champion and considered one of the pound-for-pound best turning down a fight."

    Las Vegas' loss may turn out to be Toronto's gain.

    "We've been waiting to add another fight to that card, so there you go," White said of the Toronto show. "It didn't work out well for Vegas, but it worked out great for Toronto."

    White also said he doesn't know what to expect out of the new title fight, given Jones had said he didn't want a rematch with Machida, whom he beat at UFC 140 with a second-round submission – also in Toronto at Air Canada Center. Jones' ride has been a roller coaster since last defending his belt at UFC 145 against Rashad Evans. He had a DWI arrest and subsequent plea and sentencing, but then earlier this month signed a sponsorship deal with Nike.

    "I expect Machida to come out like somebody possessed," White said of the former 205-pound champion. "He's made it very clear to me how bad he wants (the title) back. He feels like he did a lot of (expletive) wrong in their first fight, and obviously he did, and he wants to correct that. And I don't know what to expect from Jon Jones anymore.

    "This is won of those selfish, disgusting decisions that doesn't just affect you. (Jones) just affected other peoples' lives – families, kids are going back to school, the list goes on and on. The money that was spent (by) these fighters to train, and everything else. I don't think this is a decision that's going to make Jon Jones popular with the fans, sponsors, cable distributors, television network executives or other fighters."
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #1
  2. Buddy Rydell

    Buddy Rydell Boxingpress Alumnus

    I dunno, if Dana isn't just BSing, then Jones didn't want Chael or Machida. This could affect his career negatively. I think he would have beat Chael.
     
    Buddy Rydell, Aug 24, 2012
    #2
  3. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #3
  4. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    I believe 100% he would have beaten Chael and I think quite easily so it was a STUPID move to let that fight go. He's really burned some bridges there. Vitor is an easier fight I think, but not so much so that he should have allowed all this to happen to his image by not facing Chael.
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #4
  5. REEDsART

    REEDsART MATCHMAKER

    What Exactly has "Happened" to Jones' Image???...He Turned Down a Fight Against a SMALLER Guy Coming Off a KO LOSS???....



    REED:scratcher:
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2012
    REEDsART, Aug 24, 2012
    #5
  6. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary


    REED, he's catching a shit ton of backlash for not stepping up to keep the card alive. The media and even other pro fighters are ripping him apart. While I don't think Jones should be held responsible for the card getting cancelled, that's Dana's fault for having such a weak-ass card that it couldn't go on without Jones, but Jones was offered Chael Sonnen, which in my opinion is a very winnable if not an easy fight, based on exactly the reasons you gave plus Chael was likely not even in top fighting condition right now. The point is that Jones could have saved the card by fighting Chael which was a very winnable fight, he likely would have gotten a fat locker room bonus check as well from Dana just for stepping up. He listened to his trainer Greg Jackson and decided it wasn't wise to fight Chael on 8 days notice. I think it was a mistake and now his image is taking a beating for it.

    My personal opinion is that Jones was being an ass about fighting Chael because he felt Chael disrespected him over the last few weeks by talking shit about him. Jones said last week that Chael wasn't going to talk his way into a title shot against him and that he would have to earn it. The situation unfolded the way it did, Chael was given a shot and Jones said no. Like I said, this is my opinion, but I think Jones declined the fight out of spite for Chael.
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #6
  7. REEDsART

    REEDsART MATCHMAKER

    Jones will Be Fine...Guys R Jumping the Gun, Looking for CHINKS in his Armor, Especially Dana White's Crybaby Ass...Jones was Prepared to Face the 1 Guy that's Had Even a SLIVER of Success Against Him in a RE, on SHORT NOTICE...

    "I expect Machida to come out like somebody possessed," White said of the former 205-pound champion. "He's made it very clear to me how bad he wants (the title) back. He feels like he did a lot of (expletive) wrong in their first fight, and obviously he did, and he wants to correct that. And I don't know what to expect from Jon Jones anymore.

    Funny as HELL that White Says this, Throws Jones UNDER the Bus, then has Machida Pull THE SAME Shit...Does this Negatively Affect Machida's Career???...Does Dana NOT Know what to Expect from Machida Anymore???...

    Given the Variance of Styles in MMA, REED Doesn't Blame Jones @ All for NOT Wanting to Face a New Opponent on a Week's Notice...NOR Does REED Blame Machida for NOT Wanting to Face the Guy who Left him UNfuckingCONCIOUS, in a Bloody Heap, on 20+ Days Notice...

    Dana's WANNABE Vince McMahon Act is Getting Old...



    REED:hammert:
     
    REEDsART, Aug 24, 2012
    #7
  8. REEDsART

    REEDsART MATCHMAKER

    The Guys "Beating" Jones' Image R the 1's that were Looking for WARTS All Along, in REED's Opinion...Those Same People WOULDN'T have Given Jones Any Credit, Had he Handled Sonnen in the Manner Most of Us Thinks he Would've...

    In NO Way is REED Saying YOU'RE Doing this, but it's Obviously Becoming FASHIONABLE to Hate on Jon Jones...Fans Grow to LOATHE Perpetual Winners....The N.Y. Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, LA Lakers Syndrome...




    REED:popcorn:
     
    REEDsART, Aug 24, 2012
    #8
  9. Buddy Rydell

    Buddy Rydell Boxingpress Alumnus

    What will Dana say about Machida now?
     
    Buddy Rydell, Aug 24, 2012
    #9
  10. REEDsART

    REEDsART MATCHMAKER

    Inquiring Minds WANT to Know...



    REED:bears:
     
    REEDsART, Aug 24, 2012
    #10
  11. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    REED, I think Jones is the in the top 3 fighters in the world today(Silva, Jones, GSP) so I'm not hating on the guy for that at all. I just think he was foolish to give up the fight against Chael, 8 days notice or not when it could have done a lot to prevent this backlash. Chael didn't bring anything new to the table that he wasn't already prepared for against Dan Henderson. Dan is easily a more rounded and dangerous fighter. Chael brings great wrestling to the table but Dan was also an Olympic class wrestler so I don't see the issue. Chael wouldn't have been in top form, and this would have been his first fight at 205 in years. Jones would have manhandled him, and I just don't see that it was worth turning down the fight likely over some petty fued with Chael. Chaels' going to run his mouth, he always does, Jones should have just shut it for him and been done with it.

    I'm not arguing that Dana isn't blaming this all on Jones and Greg Jackson, I do think he's taking his frustrations out on him for sure and its his fault the card wasn't strong enough to continue without them. I also agree its hyprocritical to give Machida a pass for turning down the fight while bashing Jones. You have to understand how much the UFC has invested in Jones though, Dana and the UFC have been building him up as their poster boy, even giving him the first UFC sponsorship, and now he lets them down by not taking a fight against Chael. I can see some frustration there, just being fair.
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #11
  12. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    I think Dana hasn't had enough time to think it through but I believe he would be tearing down Machida right now too if he weren't so pissed at Jones. Dana hasn't ever really cared for Machida much in the past and I doubt he does now, its just that he's really upset at Jones and he's likely scrambling to fix this dilemma so he hasn't really spoke about Machida yet. I'm sure its coming...
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #12
  13. joony

    joony "Twinkle Toes" McJack

    looks like machida is out. now it's jones vs. belfort
     
    joony, Aug 24, 2012
    #13
  14. *Z*

    *Z* WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

    Dana White better start throwing another bitch fit about Machida. He let Jones have it, it's only fair. Funny he was already announcing the Machida fight before ever actually talking to Machida. Dana is a fucking idiot.
     
    *Z*, Aug 24, 2012
    #14
  15. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    He has bitched about machida before. Machida pulled this shit before. He tore machida's ass much worse than he did Jones.
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #15
  16. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    Anderson Silva Offered to Save UFC 151

    [​IMG] Esther Lin, MMA Fighting


    [​IMG] <IFRAME style="WIDTH: 59px; HEIGHT: 20px" class="twitter-share-button twitter-count-none" title="Twitter Tweet Button" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.1345786147.html#_=1345825918250&count=none&counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmafighting.com%2F2012%2F8%2F24%2F3264668%2Fanderson-silva-offered-to-save-ufc-151&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmafighting.com%2F2012%2F8%2F24%2F3264668%2Fanderson-silva-offered-to-save-ufc-151&related=MMAFighting&size=m&text=Anderson%20Silva%20Offered%20to%20Save%20UFC%20151&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsbn.to%2FT1NpWJ&via=MMAFighting" frameBorder=0 allowTransparency scrolling=no data-twttr-rendered="true"></IFRAME><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = FB /><FB:SEND href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmafighting.com%2F2012%2F8%2F24%2F3264668%2Fanderson-silva-offered-to-save-ufc-151"></FB:SEND><FB:LIKE href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmafighting.com%2F2012%2F8%2F24%2F3264668%2Fanderson-silva-offered-to-save-ufc-151" layout="button_count" show_faces="false" width="90" height="21" font=""></FB:LIKE>

    By Ariel Helwani - Video Reporter and Writer
    Follow @MMAFighting on Twitter, and Like MMA Fighting on Facebook.
    Aug 24, 2012 - Anderson Silva was close to saving UFC 151.
    According to UFC president Dana White, Silva relayed a message through his manager Ed Soares just moments after White announced on Thursday that UFC 151 was canceled after Jon Jones turned down a fight against Chael Sonnen. The middleweight champion, who admitted he wasn't in the best shape, volunteered to fight on eight days' notice in Las Vegas against another light heavyweight fighter. Unfortunately, he was a few hours late as the promotion had already decided to scrap the event.<!-- extended entry -->

    White said he never expected Silva to offer his services and appreciated the offer.
    Jones will now meet Vitor Belfort for the light heavyweight title on Sept. 22 in Toronto after Lyoto Machida turned down the fight due to not having enough time to train.
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #16
  17. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    Dana White: "Jon Jones is the first champion to duck a fighter."
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #17
  18. *Z*

    *Z* WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

    Jones didn't duck anything, that is absurd. The UFC is to blame for this for not having a plan B in case of an injury. You cannot force a guy to fight a late replacement with 8 days until the fight. This isn't the first card in history to have the main event canceled. The difference is, the other times they had a co-main to save the show. This time, they fully depended on ONE fight to sell a PPV and it backfired right in their face.
     
    *Z*, Aug 24, 2012
    #18
  19. *Z*

    *Z* WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

    Also, Chael deserves nothing at 205. Not a damn thing. He hasn't fought at 205 in a damn decade, he's coming off a TKO loss. Fuck you UFC for trying to put him in the main event of a PPV.
     
    *Z*, Aug 24, 2012
    #19
  20. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    He is the only one willing to take the fight
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #20
  21. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    Yep, can't hold that against him. Only Sonnen, Weidman, and Belfort agreed to take it. Sonnen and Weidman are tougher fights than Belfort, but both are unproven really at 205.
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #21
  22. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    But sonnen agreed to take the fight for 151.
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #22
  23. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    I know, son of a bitch, I just said that in the previous post. :cheers:
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #23
  24. TKO

    TKO Administrator Staff Member

    Im excited about Jone V Machida..

    R1 was a good round for Machida and probably the best a fighter has looked against Jones
     
    TKO, Aug 24, 2012
    #24
  25. Orion

    Orion Not Ordinary

    That fight isn't happening now TKO.
     
    Orion, Aug 24, 2012
    #25
  26. *Z*

    *Z* WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ


    As a paying customer, that just doesn't cut it for me.
     
    *Z*, Aug 24, 2012
    #26
  27. TKO

    TKO Administrator Staff Member

    what the, why not

    edit: just saw your link
     
    TKO, Aug 24, 2012
    #27
  28. *Z*

    *Z* WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

    Because Machida turned it down.
     
    *Z*, Aug 24, 2012
    #28
  29. Anthony

    Anthony Admin Staff Member

    You dont have to pay for it.
     
    Anthony, Aug 24, 2012
    #29
  30. TKO

    TKO Administrator Staff Member

    Yeah just read that article. Shame, I cant see Belfort putting up much of a challenge.
     
    TKO, Aug 24, 2012
    #30
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