Seems to be a lot of talk over the past 24 hrs about proposed matches with RJJ against either A. Silva or Nick Diaz. Seems like the fighters are the ones who really want it, but the orgs are getting in the way. Interesting to see what happens. ------ While speculation of a potential boxing bout between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (24-4 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and boxing great Roy Jones Jr. (53-5 Boxing) has been circulating for more than a year, a new report from CBSSports.com states that Jones Jr. has extended the offer to include MMA rules. While Silva is apparently open to the idea, there are substantial obstacles that stand in the way of the bout coming to fruition. First on the list: UFC President Dana White. "I could do it, make it huge, make money, but I could have done a fight like this when we were bleeding money [in the early 2000s]," White told CBS Sports.com. "The fight would make some money, but it hurts MMA in the long term. We don't do that because we love the sport. That's a PRIDE or K-1 matchup. It's not what we do." While both Silva and his manager, Ed Soares, have expressed their interest in meeting Jones Jr. under boxing rules, White made it very clear he simply couldn't allow his champion to compete outside of the organization. This time, it was Jones Jr. who said who would step outside of his own comfort zone and into the UFC's octagon. While a boxing bout would certainly allow room for debate on who would emerge victorious, an MMA rules contest would certainly seem to favor Silva, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Nevertheless, White told CBSSports.com the fight would never happen while "The Spider" was under contract with the UFC. With just four fights remaining on his UFC contract, including an August showdown with light heavyweight Forrest Griffin, it's currently unknown what Silva's intentions are after his commitment to the world's largest mixed martial arts organization ends. But as Soares recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), Silva's focus is on fighting the biggest names possible. "For us, it's all about fighting the biggest names that we can and taking on the biggest challenges."
Jones is full of shit, he's not fighting anyone in an MMA fight. He may agree to a fight, but then we'll hear about how he wants to co-promote, and we know the UFC won't do that, and rightfully so. Don't buy the hype, Jones won't be fighting in any MMA fight. TFK
Yeah, this ain't happening. And why would anyone want it to - in his youth this might well have been interesting, if only for the first 90 seconds or so, but RJJ can't even compete at the highest level in boxing anymore, never mind MMA.
Dana is a mega hypocrite, he had no problem getting Lesnar the top fighters of his division but wouldn't let RJ, a far far far more accomplished fighter, fight Silva cause it would hurt the sport real reason is that he would be shit scared tha Jones wins and isn't willing to take the risk of it. Not that Jones would do it, we all know how he likes to talk and put himself on the spotlight, but I would have a ton of respect for him if he did.
I don't think that has anything to do with it. Also, Strike Force turned down a Roy Jones fight as well. TFK
no matter who the fighter is the UFC doesn't do these one off deals. They aren't doing it for Fedor and they sure as hell aren't doing it with Roy. Lesnar is an MMA fighter who has signed a multi fight contract. Would Jones sign a multi fight contract for the UFC?
invalid comparaison because if the UFC does a one fight deal with Fedor and he wins, he'll continue fighting for another org and they wouldn't be able to tell people they are the premiere mma organisation ( well, at least for the hw ). Plus, it will generate hype for the other org and may end the UFC monopoly. But with Jones, win or lose, it's highly probable he'll never fight another mma fight in his life, he's over 40 and is a boxer. He ain't gonna become the flagship of another mma organisation like Fedor is.
The biggest difference is Lesnar is 31 years old and had been training to become an MMA fighter for 2 years before joining the UFC. He is an MMA fighter, not just some ex pro wrestler looking for a payday. Jones is a 40 year old washed up boxer who has no desire to be a 'real' MMA fighter, and is only looking for a payday, and to continue his participation in the business aspect of MMA. TFK
There is no instance of RJ only showing up for a payday, in fact, he's got mad $$$$ and it's ridiculous to think he'll pimp himself for another million. If Roy Jones ever fights in MMA, you can bet he's gonna come in really prepare and thinking he can win. You make it sounds like Jones is doing the Mercer route wich is completely untrue. And I doubt he would make that much money fighting Nick Diaz, a fight he wanted. At least not enough to allow himself to be humiliated. Bottom line is White and Corker doesn't want to allow Jones in because if he'd ever win, it would crush a lot of MMA appeal Saving the integrity of the sport my ass http://mmajunkie.com/news/14797/after-ufc-declines-invitation-roy-jones-jr-shut-out-of-strikeforce-too.mma
Believe one thing, if Jones agrees to fight any MMA fight, he's not just gonna fight for a payday. He's gonna want to co-promote the event. UFC will never do that. I don't think Strike Force will either. Jones will only fight MMA on his terms. This is all about money and him continuing to branch out into the business of MMA. This has zero to do with him wanting to be an MMA fighter. TFK
And at the time Lesnar entered the UFC, he was a far more plausible candidate of someone interested in doing a money pass than Roy Jones is now. He was a former celebrity who was trying anything to stay in the limelight ( tried the NFL before MMA ) and had only beaten a can. Plus, as far as I know, he didn't have 1/10 of Roy Jones money. But of course White didn't think it would hurt the integrity of the sport.:shit:
very plausible, but neither Dana nor the Strikeforce*guy mentionned something like this, and if true, the should have instead of spoutting the savior of the integrity of mma nonsense.
