UFC 135: Jones vs Rampage (September 24, 2011)

[Headliner]

I'm thinking Jones might be like Machida, where everyone thought Machida was going to be unstoppable and then realized that they needed to bum rush him.
I kind of think that's the best tactic for Bones right now to. Just Go Wandy on his ass and throw fists in flurries. Don't let him create the pace, don't let him think, just go street on him.

[3960HOOD]

I'm thinking Jones might be like Machida, where everyone thought Machida was going to be unstoppable and then realized that they needed to bum rush him.
I kind of think that's the best tactic for Bones right now to. Just Go Wandy on his ass and throw fists in flurries. Don't let him create the pace, don't let him think, just go street on him.

That's what I thought Rampage was going to do, but he didn't and got beat up

[Starkiller]

Guys are just going to not be scared of him and what he can do, and just fight. Just go right at him. Like Chael did with Silva. He just was absolutely going to try and take him down and would walk through fire to do so.

[REDDzone]

I'm thinking Jones might be like Machida, where everyone thought Machida was going to be unstoppable and then realized that they needed to bum rush him.
I kind of think that's the best tactic for Bones right now to. Just Go Wandy on his ass and throw fists in flurries. Don't let him create the pace, don't let him think, just go street on him.

The guys to do that were Shogun/Rampage. At least in terms of striking, Rashad may try to do the same thing with his wrestling.

Machida seems to be the fight that everyone wants to see but Machida versus Bones will probably be a lot of outside striking.

[REDDzone]

Machida/Davis announced today.

Bones given 6 month suspension.

Machida/Davis UNANNOUNCED.

It would be funny if Rashad got screwed again and got set up with Machida.

[singh_shady]

Wow I really hope Bones gets cleared when he gets reevaluated.. I wonder what happened, he didn't take any physical damage from the fight..

[REDDzone]

IDK but I guess he was tweeting earlier than he was already feeling better (leg injury?). So I assume he'd get cleared if push came to shove.

[CPT]

Eh, hopefully he just said the wrong thing in the post-fight check up. A doctor can bring that 6 months down to 45 days.

Don't know what to make of the Machida/Davis announcement and subsequent cancellation. I buy that Davis is still injured, but the UFC announcing a fight without doing their homework on something like that is kind of out of character.

I kind of hope Machida has to get two more wins before getting a title shot, even though I want to see the fight. Coming off 2 losses + the first Shogun fight, I don't know that he should get a title shot with a win over Couture and somebody else. I guess it depends who "somebody else" is, and what the rest of the division is doing. I think if Henderson beats Shogun he should get a shot first.

Rashad appears to be injured himself, so I think he would just wait out another delay and get his title shot.

[REDDzone]

I agree Couture + Davis most likely wouldn't warrant a title fight. But imo (not sure how popular this is), he gave way more than he got in the Rampage fight. Add that to the stylistically good matchup with Bones and that seems to be the fight everyone wants to see (at least it seems that way to me) and I'd be fine with it.

In general I agree with you though, same principal why I was hoping Vitor wouldn't get a shot based off wins over Akiyama and Le (although Couture is better than those two and Machida didn't recently get embarrassed by Bones, same principle).

[CPT]

Can't remember the specifics, but I think Rampage/Machida was one of those 2 close rounds vs. 1 dominant round decisions that always feel kind of ****, no matter who wins.

In any event, I guess it will just come down to who has the best case for a title shot when the time comes.

Rashad is obviously #1 right now, and IMO Hendo is #2. If he beats Shogun, that should lock up that next title shot. If Shogun wins, I don't think anybody is ready for that rematch yet, so it would most likely go to Machida (with another win). If they actually fight, and Davis were to beat Machida, then obviously he gets consideration as well, but right now I don't think he's really in the mix.

[REDDzone]

I agree with you. I think Hendo def deserves it over Machida, especially were he to defeat Shogun.

With that said, legitimate or not, I think Machida IS in the mix. I mean Dana has brought him up several times, not to mention was going to have him replace Davis against Rashad for an immediate shot (at least that was my understanding).

[SDM]

If Machida can knock out his next opponent in a spectacular fashion, he has to get the shot, it's a more interesting fight. Hendo "deserves" it more but I have no interest in that fight.

[jTF2]

Does anyone think Davis has a chance in hell against Machida? He's still so raw especially in striking. Machida can do anything he wants against Davis. I was hoping Davis would get a couple more mid level guys before being fed to the elite.

[REDDzone]

Its hard to say with Davis, because he was allegedly hurt against lil Nog. But dude really struggled for awhile to get Rogerio down. There is no chance in hell he can get Machida down with those same sloppy shots that he was using in that fight. Machida will pick him apart with ease.

I agree Davis is in a group he shouldn't be at the moment. Give him a few more 10-15 ranked opponents. His issue is that his elite skill is defensive wrestling but his standup hasn't come far enough yet to take advantage of that.

[CPT]

If Machida can knock out his next opponent in a spectacular fashion, he has to get the shot, it's a more interesting fight. Hendo "deserves" it more but I have no interest in that fight.

I think Henderson is a more interesting opponent than Rampage or even Rashad. While his defensive wrestling has not looked great recently, he's still a more decorated wrestler than either, more durable, and has more KO power. Not saying he would win, but to me, it's an interesting fight.

I'd rather see Machida, if I could pick one fight, but I'd like to see both. Hendo is not getting any younger, so the sooner the better for that fight, and it would be better if Machida had time to get two more wins to really separate himself from the pack.

[Posey H8er]

the Machida hype has kinda faded away because of his recent fights but i don't think it should have. stylistically shogun was a bad matchup for him as he's a striker who always pushes forward not leaving much time to counteract anything. and with rampage that should have been a 5 round fight. the first two rounds were more of a feeling out process and machida dominated round 3. his style in my view presents a few challenges for jones. machida is elusive and also will get you when you don't expect it.

i think jones' win over rampage legitimized him as the best in the division for sure. but it also showed he isn't unstoppable. he isn't always going to nail every takedown or every spinning back elbow out of nowhere. he is human, but probably a better human when it comes to mma than nearly everyone on the planet.

[Gold Chain]

Can't find source link, but:

ormer UFC light heavyweight champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has revealed he’s prepared to walk away from his career as a mixed martial artist to forge a new career inside the boxing ring as he’s desperate for the kind of fight that will get his juices flowing.

Speaking via ESPN’s Podcast, Jackson said:

“I hate fighting people who are scared. When you fight somebody who is scared you never know what they’re going to do. They turn and run. That’s why I’m gonna go to boxing. I’m gonna try boxing because they’ve got to stand with you. If I get knocked out I don’t care because at least it’s a fight.

“I’ve tried a lot of boxing, I’m falling in love with boxing and I know I can put butts on seats over there.”

Jackson’s immediate future lies with the UFC and a possible fight over in Japan in February next year against either Mauricio “Shogun” Rua or Forrest Griffin. As for the fighters wish to compete in a boxing ring, it’s little surprise that the movie star wants to use the strengths that helped him climb to the top of the UFC’s 205 pound ranks to continue a successful career in the combat sports world.

Rampage. FAIL.

[cowboyronnie]

Jones was scared??? LOL. Rampage was turned into a little boy. Jones was perfectly at ease, Rampage wanted OUT.

He can box Badr Hari or Kimbo. He has no chance against anyone else other than maybe a way over-the-hill 'name'. Boxers will just step inside those wide punches, they'll have a comfort he's never seen (not to mention 12oz gloves to use in guard).