After his emphatic victory last weekend, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson staked his claim to being the greatest ever mixed martial artist. And when it comes to considering the question, he's got a point. Not only did he break Anderson Silva's all-time title defences record, as well as maintain a virtually unprecedented UFC win streak of 13, but he has single-handedly destroyed the best of the flyweight division, from Benavidez to Cejudo to Borg.
That got me thinking. To me, to be the best mixed martial artist of all time, the first word is imperative: mixed. While there are countless fighters that are excellent at one, perhaps even two of the skill-sets that make up MMA, there are rarely competitors that satisfy all three components.
So after much consideration, here are my thoughts on the Top 10 UFC Mixed Martial Artists of all time.
Matt Hughes - Welterweight (45-9)
While for many, the term 'dominant welterweight champion' will generate images of a certain French-Canadian, it originated as a description of Illinois-born and bred fighter Matt Hughes. A much celebrated collegiate wrestler, Hughes quickly demonstrated his capabilities with all three of the core techniques of MMA, finishing fights both by submission and strikes.
Amidst iconic rivalries with the likes of Georges St Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frank Trigg, Hughes solidified himself as a true great of the sport, with combined titles reigns lasting more than four years during the 00s. However, perhaps the best indication of his mastery of the various arts is his record, with his 45 wins split evenly between KOs (17), submissions (18) and decisions (10).
Jose Aldo - Featherweight (26-3)
Those who choose to characterise Jose Aldo's career by the 13 seconds that he was inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor are beyond naive, they are ignorant and disrespectful. What this man has done for the lower weight classes is, in my opinion, at least as significant as the likes of Urijah Faber, demonstrating the speed and technique that we are now so familiar with.
Despite his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aldo is most well known for his striking proficiency, as well as using the environment to his advantage. From his leg-kicking clinic against Faber to beating Mark Hominick so badly his head swelled to twice its size, Aldo is not afraid to make use of all his limbs. His wrestling and clinch work also supports this, perhaps best demonstrated by his dramatic knee knockout of Chad Mendes in 2012.
A ten year undefeated record cannot be ignored, and his abilities both on the ground and on the feet are unquestionable. It's just a shame that he will likely only be remembered for one moment.
Chuck Liddell - Light-Heavyweight (21-8)
With a strong background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the heavy-handed Iceman was a phenom when he broke onto the scene in the late 90s, and his battles with Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture are now legendary. He was a central part of the growth of the UFC in the 2000s, perhaps just as important as the now iconic TUF 1 Finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
Having lost his light-heavyweight title at the hands of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, a reign that had lasted four defences in nearly two years, the Iceman's career melted. Liddell would go on to lose four of his next five fights, including two of the best brutal knockouts in the company's history.
BJ Penn - Lightweight/Welterweight (16-11-2)
Having burst onto the UFC scene at the tender age of 21, the Hawaiian was fresh off becoming the first American gold medallist at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. However, it was his striking that initially helped him shine above the rest, knocking out the likes of Din Thomas and Caol Uno.
As Penn continued to rise, he returned to his basics to gain success, choking out legends including Hughes, Gomi and Pulver, and is one of three fighters to hold belts across two different weight classes. He remains the longest reigning lightweight champion of all time, being undefeated at the class for more than eight years.
The reason that Penn appears so far down the list despite his many accolades is his insistence at fighting way past his prime. In total, the Hawaiian has lost all five of his most recent bouts, stretching back to 2011. While he has consistently fought top 10 lightweights, his powers are fading and he should call it a career before he does more damage.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Heavyweight (34-10-1)
One of the most iconic PRIDE fighters of all time, who reached the UFC perhaps a few years too late. 'Big Nog' made his name in Japan, fighting everyone from 186lb Jeremy Horn to a steroid-ridden 329lb Bob Sapp. However, Nogueira would become one of the first heavyweights to make use of jiu-jitsu, claiming wins by way of armbar, triangle, anaconda choke, americana and rear naked choke.
Over the coming years Nogueira would fight a who's who of MMA and kickboxing royalty, including Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Semmy Schilt, Sergei Kharitonov and Fabricio Werdum, before claiming the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship from Tim Sylvia in 2008.
Sadly, having compiled a record of 29-4-1 prior to entering the UFC, he never hit the heights of his previous form.
Randy Couture - Light-Heavyweight/Heavyweight (19-11)
The only man who has earned a bow of respect from the legendary announcer Bruce Buffer, Randy 'The Natural' Couture, was one of the original UFC legends, and has been credited will some of the growth in the sport's popularity in the 2000s. Switching seamlessly between heavyweight and light-heavyweight, the collegiate wrestler and ex-US military boxer earned a reputation for his dirty boxing approach.
Having already won, lost and vacated the UFC Heavyweight Championship between 1997 and 2002, Couture would become the first man to hold titles across two different weight divisions. He would start an iconic trilogy with fellow Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, as well as fights with legends like Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, in total winning five separate championships.
Anderson Silva - Middleweight (34-8)
Widely considered by many to be the greatest of all time, 'The Spider' makes only number four on my list. This is for three reasons. Firstly, in his waning years, Silva has lost some of the invincibility that he had between 2006 and 2012. Consecutive losses to Chris Weidman, as well as defeats at the hands of Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier removed that psychological edge to Silva's game.
Secondly, as a complete mixed martial artist, Anderson has shown he has holes in his game. While he is practically unparalleled on the feet, he has shown a deficiency when it comes to the ground. For four and a half rounds, Silva was completely dominated by Chael Sonnen, before a mistake by the American handed him the opportunity to retain his title.
Finally, Silva has also been the making of his own downfall. Following his unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz, the Brazilian tested positive for an anabolic steroid, ruling him out for a year and calling all past achievements into contention. Is it a coincidence that he has been a shadow of his former self in the fights since? A victory over Kelvin Gastelum would certainly go some way to righting some of the wrongs, but it is unclear, whether his reputation will ever fully heal.
Georges St-Pierre - Welterweight/Middleweight (25-2)
One of the four dominant champions in the early 2010s alongside Rousey, Jones and Silva, GSP has shown himself to be adept across all of the aspects of mixed martial arts throughout his career. Whether that's the headkick TKO of Matt Hughes to claim his first UFC title, or his ability to utterly shut down the attack of some of the world's greatest strikers - Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks among the challengers pushed back.
The French-Canadian has amassed the largest number of title bout wins in the history of the UFC, as well as the second-longest combined time as champion. His legacy as one of the greatest is secure, but a successful return at UFC 217 could see him enter the conversation as the best fighter to step foot into the Octagon.
Jon Jones - Light-Heavyweight (22-1, 1 NC)
While the aftermath of UFC 214 may have called his previous successes into question, his talent inside the Octagon cannot be questioned. There are few that have been able to innovate in the way that Jon Jones has, and even fewer that have been able to dominate fights both on the feet and the ground.
Think back to his successful spinning elbows on both Stephan Bonnar and Alexander Gustafsson, or his outrageous standing guillotine that sent Lyoto Machida to sleep. Was there always a hint of controversy, either through an eye-poke or personal indiscretion? Sure. But if there was one thing you could guarantee with a Jones fight, it was going to be a spectacle.
While his latest failed drug test could keep him away from the cage for up to four years, there can be no denying that 'Bones' has played a key role in the difficult adolescent period for the sport of mixed martial arts, demonstrating both what and what not to do to the next generation.
Demetrious Johnson - Flyweight (27-2-1)
By head and shoulders the greatest complete technical fighter we have ever seen, particularly following the indiscretions that have hit both Jones and Silva. Over the last five years, the UFC's only flyweight world champion has cleared out his division, with 11 consecutive title defences as part of a 13 fight win streak since a bantamweight world championship defeat to Dominick Cruz.
His win last weekend was perhaps his most impressive to date, utterly dominating a helpless Ray Borg, with the strike count hopelessly one sided. He has also shown his propensity to innovate even under threat, with his picture perfect suplex to armbar combination a shoo-in for Submission of the Year.
For all of Jones' and Silva's style and flair, the basis of Mighty Mouse's success has been pure technique whether on the feet, in the scrambles or on the ground, and as has been proven by the past five years, he truly is unrivalled.
Do you agree with the list? Are there any I've missed? If you want to discuss this, or any of the topics I've discussed, feel free to contact me on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.
Showing posts with label Jones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jones. Show all posts
Monday, 16 October 2017
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
The 'Anderson Silva Effect': What A Second Drug Suspension Means For Jon Jones
Jon Jones should be in a soap opera. Regardless of how euphoric a moment is for the current UFC light-heavyweight champion, he always finds a way to add a bit of drama to proceedings.
The most naturally talented martial artist of all time, but one of the most mentally immature. An ex-champion with one of the most successive title defences of all time, but stripped of his belt following a hit-and-run attack on a pregnant woman. And when it looked like Jones was set to get the opportunity to get his life back at the marquee UFC 200, he was flagged for a doping offence by USADA, followed by a further one year ban from competition.
However, nowhere is that soap opera bi-polarism better illustrated by this morning's news. Having brutally knocked out main rival Daniel Cormier with a left high kick in the main event of UFC 214 to reclaim the title he never lost in the Octagon, Jones seemed to have achieved the ultimate redemption.
But, almost inevitably, the story was not finished. This morning, Jones was again flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA, taken from his sample provided at the weigh-ins the day before the UFC 214 bout.
Initial reports suggest that the substance found was Turinabol, an anabolic steroid based on a derivation of testosterone. This isn't the first time that USADA has encountered the substance, with ex-UFC heavyweight Frank Mir testing positive for the drug last year. Should the use of Turinabol in the Jones case be confirmed, it would appear to be more conclusive and damning than the failed test before UFC 200, which was for an oestrogen blocker. I think Jon would struggle to suggest that "dick pills" were full of steroids - unless he's really looking to boost performance!
The impact on Jon Jones' career is potentially significant if found guilty. As this is his second offence, a four year ban from competition could be the penalty, and comes at the worst possible time. Having just entered his thirties, Jones is now in the prime of his career, and a four-year layoff would be difficult, if not impossible, to come back from. Dana White himself, reacting to today's news, said as much, suggesting that the UFC 214 victory could be the last time that we see Jones inside the Octagon if found guilty.
There's no doubt that even being associated with another doping scandal will affect Jones' career. Certainly the super fight with ex-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar is off the cards for the medium-term, while White also claimed that a title fight with current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in the works for UFC 218. I think it's safe to say that there is more than a little doubt in that now!
Jones has made it clear in press conferences since the Cormier fight that he, like so many others in the UFC at present, are chasing the money fights over the traditional legitimacy of the competition. With both Lesnar and Miocic likely to provide huge cheques, Jon's set to lose more than a little cash! However, regardless of the result of the investigation, this has the potential to affect Jones' future earnings. Dana White was already concerned at the prospect of offering a headline spot at UFC 214 after his previous failed test - can you honestly say that this, whether he is found innocent or not, will slow that school of thought?
Most damaging of all for Jones, however, are the questions that are now likely to be asked of all of his previous accomplishments. Also known as the 'Anderson Silva effect', the failed drug test has the potential to ruin the legacy of the greatest of all time. Would he have had the stamina to beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 182? Would he have had the heart to overcome the challenge of Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165? Even worse, would he even have had the speed and athleticism to defeat Shogun Rua to claim the belt initially at UFC 128? It's entirely possible that the answer to all of these questions is 'yes', but the truth is we'll never know, casting doubt on his true ability.
Before we start to completely dismiss his career as drug-enhanced, it is worth considering the current defence being put forward by his team. Far from the farcical "dick pills" excuse mentioned earlier, the Jackson Winklejohn team have made the argument that Jones repeatedly tested negative throughout camp, and suggested that there would be no benefit of taking steroids the day before the fight, with the chemicals taking weeks to build up in a fighter's system and take effect.
I'm not naive enough to take this kind of thing at face value, and there is every chance that this is another cover up, but logically something doesn't add up. According to USADA's website, Jones has been tested 17 times since the agency was introduced in 2015, and bear in mind that he was out for a full year between July 2016 and July 2017 for his past indiscretion. Assuming Jones had been tested in the final few weeks ahead of the fight, there would have been no opportunity for the drug to make a difference, and with Jones already knowing the potential repercussions of a failed test first-hand, I struggle to see the pros for taking a steroid - particularly one that has also been proven to be picked up in USADA tests in the past!
Irrespective of this, the person I feel for most is Daniel Cormier, who was defeated so emphatically at UFC 214, and left unconscious and disconnected for some time afterwards. Should Jones be found guilty, he will have been severely damaged by a man who entered the Octagon having cheated to make himself more dangerous, something that could have had long-lasting effects for the remainder of his life. He's in a no-win situation, as stripping Jones of the title and returning it to Cormier would again put him in the position of being questioned as champion, having not won the belt in the Octagon.
Despite this, the statement released by DC in the hours following this news was admirable. Far from the point-scoring and trash-talking seen ahead of the fight, his reaction was perfectly reasonable and understanding. Rather than jumping to a conclusion, he made it clear that he felt that Jones was the better man on the night, and elected to hold off commenting further until the details were revealed.
After the euphoria of UFC 214, not all soap opera stories end happily, and short of something unusual, I can only realistically see one outcome to this one. In Jon Jones, the UFC had reclaimed a real draw, having lost the likes of Lesnar, Rousey and even McGregor in recent years, and in one moment, Jon Jones may have cost the UFC a legitimate PPV draw, and himself his entire career.
The most naturally talented martial artist of all time, but one of the most mentally immature. An ex-champion with one of the most successive title defences of all time, but stripped of his belt following a hit-and-run attack on a pregnant woman. And when it looked like Jones was set to get the opportunity to get his life back at the marquee UFC 200, he was flagged for a doping offence by USADA, followed by a further one year ban from competition.
However, nowhere is that soap opera bi-polarism better illustrated by this morning's news. Having brutally knocked out main rival Daniel Cormier with a left high kick in the main event of UFC 214 to reclaim the title he never lost in the Octagon, Jones seemed to have achieved the ultimate redemption.
But, almost inevitably, the story was not finished. This morning, Jones was again flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA, taken from his sample provided at the weigh-ins the day before the UFC 214 bout.
Initial reports suggest that the substance found was Turinabol, an anabolic steroid based on a derivation of testosterone. This isn't the first time that USADA has encountered the substance, with ex-UFC heavyweight Frank Mir testing positive for the drug last year. Should the use of Turinabol in the Jones case be confirmed, it would appear to be more conclusive and damning than the failed test before UFC 200, which was for an oestrogen blocker. I think Jon would struggle to suggest that "dick pills" were full of steroids - unless he's really looking to boost performance!
The impact on Jon Jones' career is potentially significant if found guilty. As this is his second offence, a four year ban from competition could be the penalty, and comes at the worst possible time. Having just entered his thirties, Jones is now in the prime of his career, and a four-year layoff would be difficult, if not impossible, to come back from. Dana White himself, reacting to today's news, said as much, suggesting that the UFC 214 victory could be the last time that we see Jones inside the Octagon if found guilty.
There's no doubt that even being associated with another doping scandal will affect Jones' career. Certainly the super fight with ex-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar is off the cards for the medium-term, while White also claimed that a title fight with current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in the works for UFC 218. I think it's safe to say that there is more than a little doubt in that now!
Jones has made it clear in press conferences since the Cormier fight that he, like so many others in the UFC at present, are chasing the money fights over the traditional legitimacy of the competition. With both Lesnar and Miocic likely to provide huge cheques, Jon's set to lose more than a little cash! However, regardless of the result of the investigation, this has the potential to affect Jones' future earnings. Dana White was already concerned at the prospect of offering a headline spot at UFC 214 after his previous failed test - can you honestly say that this, whether he is found innocent or not, will slow that school of thought?
Most damaging of all for Jones, however, are the questions that are now likely to be asked of all of his previous accomplishments. Also known as the 'Anderson Silva effect', the failed drug test has the potential to ruin the legacy of the greatest of all time. Would he have had the stamina to beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 182? Would he have had the heart to overcome the challenge of Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165? Even worse, would he even have had the speed and athleticism to defeat Shogun Rua to claim the belt initially at UFC 128? It's entirely possible that the answer to all of these questions is 'yes', but the truth is we'll never know, casting doubt on his true ability.
Before we start to completely dismiss his career as drug-enhanced, it is worth considering the current defence being put forward by his team. Far from the farcical "dick pills" excuse mentioned earlier, the Jackson Winklejohn team have made the argument that Jones repeatedly tested negative throughout camp, and suggested that there would be no benefit of taking steroids the day before the fight, with the chemicals taking weeks to build up in a fighter's system and take effect.
I'm not naive enough to take this kind of thing at face value, and there is every chance that this is another cover up, but logically something doesn't add up. According to USADA's website, Jones has been tested 17 times since the agency was introduced in 2015, and bear in mind that he was out for a full year between July 2016 and July 2017 for his past indiscretion. Assuming Jones had been tested in the final few weeks ahead of the fight, there would have been no opportunity for the drug to make a difference, and with Jones already knowing the potential repercussions of a failed test first-hand, I struggle to see the pros for taking a steroid - particularly one that has also been proven to be picked up in USADA tests in the past!
Irrespective of this, the person I feel for most is Daniel Cormier, who was defeated so emphatically at UFC 214, and left unconscious and disconnected for some time afterwards. Should Jones be found guilty, he will have been severely damaged by a man who entered the Octagon having cheated to make himself more dangerous, something that could have had long-lasting effects for the remainder of his life. He's in a no-win situation, as stripping Jones of the title and returning it to Cormier would again put him in the position of being questioned as champion, having not won the belt in the Octagon.
Despite this, the statement released by DC in the hours following this news was admirable. Far from the point-scoring and trash-talking seen ahead of the fight, his reaction was perfectly reasonable and understanding. Rather than jumping to a conclusion, he made it clear that he felt that Jones was the better man on the night, and elected to hold off commenting further until the details were revealed.
After the euphoria of UFC 214, not all soap opera stories end happily, and short of something unusual, I can only realistically see one outcome to this one. In Jon Jones, the UFC had reclaimed a real draw, having lost the likes of Lesnar, Rousey and even McGregor in recent years, and in one moment, Jon Jones may have cost the UFC a legitimate PPV draw, and himself his entire career.
Sunday, 13 August 2017
The Rise and Fall of AKA
It's June 2015. Cain Velasquez, having seen off the challenges of a brutal trilogy with Junior dos Santos, as well as Bigfoot Silva, is legitimately the 'baddest man on the planet'. Daniel Cormier, following the highly publicised implosion of Jon Jones, is fresh off the back of a euphoric light-heavyweight title victory over Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, while Luke Rockhold awaits the date for his own title fight, at middleweight, against Chris Weidman.
This was the head of the roster at the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. Opened in 1995 by former world kickboxing champion Javier Mendez, the gym has seen a raft of UFC fighters as the sport of MMA progressed, including the likes of pioneers such as Frank Shamrock and BJ Penn. As the gym continued to garner praise and high profile fighters, expansion came naturally. Having opened its Sunnyvale facility in 2008, as well as refurbising its original site in 2011, Mendez made the ambitious move into Asia with the launch of its Thai gym in Phuket. This inevitably drew in a rapidly expanding market, with high profile competitors such as Cung Le, Takanori Gomi, Akihiro Gono and Kid Yamamoto all making the move to the facility.
As the name suggests, it's not just mixed martial artists that come through the doors. The gym has been synonymous with some of the most accomplished names in combat sports, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov and current Glory Heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, with a record of 51-10-1.
Fast forward two and a bit years from that June 2015 nadir, however, and the story is very different. Velasquez, far from being the heavyweight destroyer of his reign, lost the title to Fabricio Werdum and is now struggling to make it into the Octagon after an injury-ridden period, while Rockhold, having defeated Weidman at UFC 194, swiftly dropped the belt in ignominious fashion to a late-notice Michael Bisping at UFC 199.
There was even time for the gym to win and lose its first female UFC championship, with the much maligned Germaine de Randamie using every one of the 25 minutes (and a few seconds more) to defeat Holly Holm for the inaugural featherweight crown at UFC 208, before using every trick and excuse to worm her way out of fighting Cris Cyborg. This led to a public stripping of the title, with the Dutchwoman stating that her main focus was on returning to 135 pounds.
And so that brings us to UFC 214. In the revival of one of the biggest grudge match in MMA history, Daniel Cormier faced off against a returning Jon Jones. Cormier had been unfairly branded a 'fake champion' since he ascended to the throne following Jones' indiscretions, ignoring successful title defences against dangerous opponents in Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson and the opening to the fight highlighted his frustrations. Indeed, Cormier was perhaps ahead on the scorecards going through the first two rounds, and then one instinctive mistake ended it all.
Cormier's tendency to dip his head to the left brought him perfectly into position for Jones to land a devastating head-kick, with the subsequent ground and pound leaving the ex-Olympian unconscious against the cage. This provided the brutal exclamation point on the near-four year rivalry, establishing Jones as the greatest light-heavyweight of all time, and removing the final championship from AKA's grasp.
Big John McCarthy stepping in to protect Cormier marked the first moment that the gym was not home to a champion since December 2012. So where do they go now, and how do they stack up against some of the other premium establishments?
As we look at the current UFC champions, we see an interesting pattern. Despite the wealth of experienced and reputable gyms available to MMA fighters across the world, 40 per cent of UFC champions do not directly associate themselves with the recognised organisations, electing instead to predominantly organise their own training and coaches, often in a location close to them.
Of those that are aligned to a gym, American Top Team is by far the most successful, with three current title holders on their books. Both Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk are full time members, while Tyron Woodley splits his time between ATT and Duke Roufus' camp in Milwaukee.
For those of you interested about the rest, Jones is a Jackson Winklejohn product, Cody Garbrandt has been brought through the system at Urijah Faber's Alpha Male gym, while Conor McGregor is a long time student of the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland under the tutelage of John Kavanagh.
So if we're seeing more fighters tailor their own training and employ their own coaches, will we ever see organisations like AKA frequently hold a stable of champions? While it seems unlikely that Cormier will be champion again any time soon, the prospects certainly remain for both Velasquez, who is apparently being targeted for a title shot later this year, and Rockhold, who is yet to return from a long layoff with an injury. Outside of that, Khabib Nurmagomedov seems just one fight from a shot at McGregor, while in Bellator, AKA Thailand product Anastasia Yankova appears to be being primed for an inaugural flyweight title bout.
Certainly, Javier Mendez will be hoping that this is simply a quick interlude before another series of champions are crowned at AKA, but we could be in the next evolution of a UFC fighter, moving away from the traditional gym approach. With the rise of the media, as well as fights among teammates becoming more common, the need to make your training as private as possible is gaining traction. Indeed, such is the perceived advantage of the element of surprise, Jon Jones refused to attend the open workouts for UFC 214 to avoid giving away too many clues.
With this in mind, loyalty to a single gym is less likely to have the same appeal to UFC fighters. We have seen the likes of TJ Dillashaw come on leaps and bounds as a result of training across numerous camps, much to the disgust of Urijah Faber, and this is expected to become increasingly popular in the future. While gyms such as AKA may be able to lay at least partial claim to some of the titles in future, I doubt very much that we will see many examples of three full time trainees at a single camp.
This was the head of the roster at the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. Opened in 1995 by former world kickboxing champion Javier Mendez, the gym has seen a raft of UFC fighters as the sport of MMA progressed, including the likes of pioneers such as Frank Shamrock and BJ Penn. As the gym continued to garner praise and high profile fighters, expansion came naturally. Having opened its Sunnyvale facility in 2008, as well as refurbising its original site in 2011, Mendez made the ambitious move into Asia with the launch of its Thai gym in Phuket. This inevitably drew in a rapidly expanding market, with high profile competitors such as Cung Le, Takanori Gomi, Akihiro Gono and Kid Yamamoto all making the move to the facility.
As the name suggests, it's not just mixed martial artists that come through the doors. The gym has been synonymous with some of the most accomplished names in combat sports, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov and current Glory Heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, with a record of 51-10-1.
Fast forward two and a bit years from that June 2015 nadir, however, and the story is very different. Velasquez, far from being the heavyweight destroyer of his reign, lost the title to Fabricio Werdum and is now struggling to make it into the Octagon after an injury-ridden period, while Rockhold, having defeated Weidman at UFC 194, swiftly dropped the belt in ignominious fashion to a late-notice Michael Bisping at UFC 199.
There was even time for the gym to win and lose its first female UFC championship, with the much maligned Germaine de Randamie using every one of the 25 minutes (and a few seconds more) to defeat Holly Holm for the inaugural featherweight crown at UFC 208, before using every trick and excuse to worm her way out of fighting Cris Cyborg. This led to a public stripping of the title, with the Dutchwoman stating that her main focus was on returning to 135 pounds.
And so that brings us to UFC 214. In the revival of one of the biggest grudge match in MMA history, Daniel Cormier faced off against a returning Jon Jones. Cormier had been unfairly branded a 'fake champion' since he ascended to the throne following Jones' indiscretions, ignoring successful title defences against dangerous opponents in Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson and the opening to the fight highlighted his frustrations. Indeed, Cormier was perhaps ahead on the scorecards going through the first two rounds, and then one instinctive mistake ended it all.
Cormier's tendency to dip his head to the left brought him perfectly into position for Jones to land a devastating head-kick, with the subsequent ground and pound leaving the ex-Olympian unconscious against the cage. This provided the brutal exclamation point on the near-four year rivalry, establishing Jones as the greatest light-heavyweight of all time, and removing the final championship from AKA's grasp.
Big John McCarthy stepping in to protect Cormier marked the first moment that the gym was not home to a champion since December 2012. So where do they go now, and how do they stack up against some of the other premium establishments?
As we look at the current UFC champions, we see an interesting pattern. Despite the wealth of experienced and reputable gyms available to MMA fighters across the world, 40 per cent of UFC champions do not directly associate themselves with the recognised organisations, electing instead to predominantly organise their own training and coaches, often in a location close to them.
Of those that are aligned to a gym, American Top Team is by far the most successful, with three current title holders on their books. Both Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk are full time members, while Tyron Woodley splits his time between ATT and Duke Roufus' camp in Milwaukee.
For those of you interested about the rest, Jones is a Jackson Winklejohn product, Cody Garbrandt has been brought through the system at Urijah Faber's Alpha Male gym, while Conor McGregor is a long time student of the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland under the tutelage of John Kavanagh.
So if we're seeing more fighters tailor their own training and employ their own coaches, will we ever see organisations like AKA frequently hold a stable of champions? While it seems unlikely that Cormier will be champion again any time soon, the prospects certainly remain for both Velasquez, who is apparently being targeted for a title shot later this year, and Rockhold, who is yet to return from a long layoff with an injury. Outside of that, Khabib Nurmagomedov seems just one fight from a shot at McGregor, while in Bellator, AKA Thailand product Anastasia Yankova appears to be being primed for an inaugural flyweight title bout.
Certainly, Javier Mendez will be hoping that this is simply a quick interlude before another series of champions are crowned at AKA, but we could be in the next evolution of a UFC fighter, moving away from the traditional gym approach. With the rise of the media, as well as fights among teammates becoming more common, the need to make your training as private as possible is gaining traction. Indeed, such is the perceived advantage of the element of surprise, Jon Jones refused to attend the open workouts for UFC 214 to avoid giving away too many clues.
With this in mind, loyalty to a single gym is less likely to have the same appeal to UFC fighters. We have seen the likes of TJ Dillashaw come on leaps and bounds as a result of training across numerous camps, much to the disgust of Urijah Faber, and this is expected to become increasingly popular in the future. While gyms such as AKA may be able to lay at least partial claim to some of the titles in future, I doubt very much that we will see many examples of three full time trainees at a single camp.
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
UFC: Top 10 Title Fights
As the world's premier MMA organisation, the UFC has delivered some of the best title fights in the sport. With recent years seeing the sport expand to include 10 weight divisions, there have been a number of outstanding and memorable clashes.
Below are my top 10 title fights in the UFC:
10. Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen - UFC 117
The first fight on the list involves the greatest of all time, but it's not the Brazilian at his imperious best. Instead, I've gone with his first fight with legendary trash talker Chael Sonnen, who had talked openly about how he would destroy The Spider in the lead up to the fight.
And for four rounds, it seemed that the American had got his tactics spot on, putting the Brazilian on his back and controlling the pace and striking battle. As we entered the final two minutes, it looked more than likely that Sonnen would complete the unthinkable, ending the three year title reign of Silva. However, a momentary lack of concentration allowed Silva to lock in a triangle choke from which the American had to tap.
9. Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo - UFC 194
While not the longest title fight in the UFC, it is certainly one of the more memorable. The build-up was so heated and protracted, with the Brazilian pulling out on the fight on at least one occasion, and McGregor utilising his own brand of mental warfare. With Aldo unbeaten in more than 10 years, and the Irishman the fighter on the rise, it was seen to be the biggest fight in the history of the organisation.
And in a flash, it was over. A side step and a counter left, followed by two hammer fists, and Aldo was out. In thirteen seconds, McGregor had taken his place at the top of the featherweight division, and cemented his legacy as 'Mystic Mac'.
8. Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson - UFC 204
This blog is unapologetically subjective, and quite frankly, this one's on the list because I was there! The atmosphere in the sold-out Manchester Arena was absolutely spine-tingling as the home-town champion made his way to the Octagon, with a similarly expressive response in the negative for Hendo.
The fight itself certainly lived up to the hype, with the H-bomb playing a central role in putting Bisping on the floor twice in the first two rounds. However, with the overwhelming support of the crowd, the champion rallied to pick the veteran apart for the remainder of the fight. The noise as the unanimous decision win was announced was something extraordinary, and a moment I will never forget.
7. Georges St Pierre vs Johny Hendricks - UFC 167
The first welterweight fight on this list is undoubtedly one of the most controversial in UFC history. Having racked up an astonishing 2,204 day title reign in the hotly contested welterweight division, including an 11-fight win streak, Georges St Pierre had cemented himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter of all time.
That meant little to Big Rigg. Having claimed the first round, the challenger staggered St Pierre early in the second, leaving him firmly on the defensive and his face a mess. Only effective jabs by the champion prevented a 10-8 round, with St Pierre recovering to take the third. Despite this, Hendricks clearly maintained grappling control in the fourth, meaning that even with a GSP final round, the decision should have been his. However, the judges clearly saw enough from the champion to allow him the split decision win, much to the approval of the partisan home crowd.
6. Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin - UFC 116
Nothing said 'baddest man on the planet' more than this fight in 2009. After a disappointing and controversial loss to Frank Mir in his opening bout, Lesnar had revolutionised the heavyweight division since joining the UFC, claiming the title in just his third fight. In the meantime, Carwin had built up an impressive 12-0 record, becoming known as one of the hardest hitters in all of combat sports.
None of Carwin's fights had ever got out of the first round, and this one barely managed that. Carwin rocked Lesnar early in the fight, and only some strong refereeing from Josh Rozenthal kept it going, with the undefeated fighter pounding on the champion for three full minutes. However, it became apparent in the second round that the challenger was exhausted, allowing Lesnar to take him down and secure an arm triangle to retain.
5. Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm - UFC 193
Quite simply the biggest shock in UFC history. Having dominated the entire women's bantamweight division for nearly three years, with her previous four fights lasting a combined total of just two minutes and 10 seconds, Rousey was the overwhelming favourite going into the largest spectator event in UFC history.
However, in front of 55,000 fans at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, it was the former kickboxing champion that had the better gameplan, producing a perfect counter-punching display in the first round to frustrate the judoka. The second round continued in the same vein until Holm picked up the pace, stunning Rousey with a series of jabs, before ending the fight with a devastating head kick.
4. Renan Barao vs TJ Dillashaw - UFC 173
While the shock value of this fight wasn't as much as the one above, this was the moment that a young fighter came of age. It does have to be said that going in, Renan Barao was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having gone undefeated for more than a decade, twice beating Urijah Faber, as well as victories over Eddie Wineland and Michael McDonald.
However, the former Ultimate Fighter finalist stunned the Brazilian with his unorthodox movement and consistent striking power, scoring a knockdown in the first round with a huge right hand. Despite dominating the champion for four rounds, Dillashaw refused to leave it in the hands of the judges, eventually finishing Barao with a beautiful head kick and punches combination in the fifth.
3. Dominick Cruz vs Cody Garbrandt - UFC 207
The most recent entrant to this list comes, once again, from the bantamweight division. Having returned from a career threatening injury and series of ACL surgeries, Dominick Cruz had reclaimed the title from TJ Dillashaw in February 2016, before retaining against old nemesis Urijah Faber in the summer.
While many saw Cody Garbrandt as the most dangerous opponent the champion had ever faced in terms of power, the consensus was that the challenger would let the emotions get the better of him and Cruz would take full advantage. However, the latest Alpha Male upstart put on a masterclass in movement and precision, making the usually unorthodox combinations and transitions of Cruz look almost pedestrian. Having knocked down the champion several times during the five rounds, the 25 year-old found himself with a comfortable decision win to fulfil his dream.
2. Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson - UFC 165
About as close a fight as you're ever likely to see. I know the judges get a hard time, and in the most part justifiably so, but try scoring any of the opening three rounds of this one. As we entered the championship rounds, it could just as easily have been 2-1 Jones as 2-1 Gustafsson.
With the challenger demonstrating outstanding takedown defence and catching Jones regularly with jabs, it took a typically extravagant spinning elbow from the champion in the fourth round to wobble the Swede. Gustafsson recovered remarkably to make the final round just as close as the opening three, but ultimately the judges saw it unanimously for Jones.
1. Robbie Lawler vs Rory Macdonald - UFC 189
If ever you wanted to see two humans push themselves to the limit (and beyond), this was the fight. Robbie Lawler is known for his durability, and demonstrated that once again in a battle that defines 'back and forth'. While the opening round did little to highlight the classic that this fight would become, the champion clearly claimed round two.
Despite this continuing into the third round, a single head kick changed the direction of the fight. With Lawler wobbled and hanging on, the challenger unleashed a barrage of punches and knees that was only ended by the bell. Another head kick in the fourth again had the champion in trouble, though he recovered suitably to engage in one of the most intense staredowns in combat sports at the end of the round.
With the fight likely tied at two, the final round was set to be the decider. With Lawler's jab leaving MacDonald a bloody mess by this point, a series of right hands connected in just the right spot at the beginning of the fifth, shattering the nose and the spirit of the challenger, and ensuring that the belt remained around the waist of Lawler.
What are your favourites? Let me know either in the comments section or on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA
Below are my top 10 title fights in the UFC:
10. Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen - UFC 117
The first fight on the list involves the greatest of all time, but it's not the Brazilian at his imperious best. Instead, I've gone with his first fight with legendary trash talker Chael Sonnen, who had talked openly about how he would destroy The Spider in the lead up to the fight.
And for four rounds, it seemed that the American had got his tactics spot on, putting the Brazilian on his back and controlling the pace and striking battle. As we entered the final two minutes, it looked more than likely that Sonnen would complete the unthinkable, ending the three year title reign of Silva. However, a momentary lack of concentration allowed Silva to lock in a triangle choke from which the American had to tap.
9. Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo - UFC 194
While not the longest title fight in the UFC, it is certainly one of the more memorable. The build-up was so heated and protracted, with the Brazilian pulling out on the fight on at least one occasion, and McGregor utilising his own brand of mental warfare. With Aldo unbeaten in more than 10 years, and the Irishman the fighter on the rise, it was seen to be the biggest fight in the history of the organisation.
And in a flash, it was over. A side step and a counter left, followed by two hammer fists, and Aldo was out. In thirteen seconds, McGregor had taken his place at the top of the featherweight division, and cemented his legacy as 'Mystic Mac'.
8. Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson - UFC 204
This blog is unapologetically subjective, and quite frankly, this one's on the list because I was there! The atmosphere in the sold-out Manchester Arena was absolutely spine-tingling as the home-town champion made his way to the Octagon, with a similarly expressive response in the negative for Hendo.
The fight itself certainly lived up to the hype, with the H-bomb playing a central role in putting Bisping on the floor twice in the first two rounds. However, with the overwhelming support of the crowd, the champion rallied to pick the veteran apart for the remainder of the fight. The noise as the unanimous decision win was announced was something extraordinary, and a moment I will never forget.
7. Georges St Pierre vs Johny Hendricks - UFC 167
The first welterweight fight on this list is undoubtedly one of the most controversial in UFC history. Having racked up an astonishing 2,204 day title reign in the hotly contested welterweight division, including an 11-fight win streak, Georges St Pierre had cemented himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter of all time.
That meant little to Big Rigg. Having claimed the first round, the challenger staggered St Pierre early in the second, leaving him firmly on the defensive and his face a mess. Only effective jabs by the champion prevented a 10-8 round, with St Pierre recovering to take the third. Despite this, Hendricks clearly maintained grappling control in the fourth, meaning that even with a GSP final round, the decision should have been his. However, the judges clearly saw enough from the champion to allow him the split decision win, much to the approval of the partisan home crowd.
6. Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin - UFC 116
Nothing said 'baddest man on the planet' more than this fight in 2009. After a disappointing and controversial loss to Frank Mir in his opening bout, Lesnar had revolutionised the heavyweight division since joining the UFC, claiming the title in just his third fight. In the meantime, Carwin had built up an impressive 12-0 record, becoming known as one of the hardest hitters in all of combat sports.
None of Carwin's fights had ever got out of the first round, and this one barely managed that. Carwin rocked Lesnar early in the fight, and only some strong refereeing from Josh Rozenthal kept it going, with the undefeated fighter pounding on the champion for three full minutes. However, it became apparent in the second round that the challenger was exhausted, allowing Lesnar to take him down and secure an arm triangle to retain.
5. Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm - UFC 193
Quite simply the biggest shock in UFC history. Having dominated the entire women's bantamweight division for nearly three years, with her previous four fights lasting a combined total of just two minutes and 10 seconds, Rousey was the overwhelming favourite going into the largest spectator event in UFC history.
However, in front of 55,000 fans at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, it was the former kickboxing champion that had the better gameplan, producing a perfect counter-punching display in the first round to frustrate the judoka. The second round continued in the same vein until Holm picked up the pace, stunning Rousey with a series of jabs, before ending the fight with a devastating head kick.
4. Renan Barao vs TJ Dillashaw - UFC 173
While the shock value of this fight wasn't as much as the one above, this was the moment that a young fighter came of age. It does have to be said that going in, Renan Barao was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having gone undefeated for more than a decade, twice beating Urijah Faber, as well as victories over Eddie Wineland and Michael McDonald.
However, the former Ultimate Fighter finalist stunned the Brazilian with his unorthodox movement and consistent striking power, scoring a knockdown in the first round with a huge right hand. Despite dominating the champion for four rounds, Dillashaw refused to leave it in the hands of the judges, eventually finishing Barao with a beautiful head kick and punches combination in the fifth.
3. Dominick Cruz vs Cody Garbrandt - UFC 207
The most recent entrant to this list comes, once again, from the bantamweight division. Having returned from a career threatening injury and series of ACL surgeries, Dominick Cruz had reclaimed the title from TJ Dillashaw in February 2016, before retaining against old nemesis Urijah Faber in the summer.
While many saw Cody Garbrandt as the most dangerous opponent the champion had ever faced in terms of power, the consensus was that the challenger would let the emotions get the better of him and Cruz would take full advantage. However, the latest Alpha Male upstart put on a masterclass in movement and precision, making the usually unorthodox combinations and transitions of Cruz look almost pedestrian. Having knocked down the champion several times during the five rounds, the 25 year-old found himself with a comfortable decision win to fulfil his dream.
2. Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson - UFC 165
About as close a fight as you're ever likely to see. I know the judges get a hard time, and in the most part justifiably so, but try scoring any of the opening three rounds of this one. As we entered the championship rounds, it could just as easily have been 2-1 Jones as 2-1 Gustafsson.
With the challenger demonstrating outstanding takedown defence and catching Jones regularly with jabs, it took a typically extravagant spinning elbow from the champion in the fourth round to wobble the Swede. Gustafsson recovered remarkably to make the final round just as close as the opening three, but ultimately the judges saw it unanimously for Jones.
1. Robbie Lawler vs Rory Macdonald - UFC 189
If ever you wanted to see two humans push themselves to the limit (and beyond), this was the fight. Robbie Lawler is known for his durability, and demonstrated that once again in a battle that defines 'back and forth'. While the opening round did little to highlight the classic that this fight would become, the champion clearly claimed round two.
Despite this continuing into the third round, a single head kick changed the direction of the fight. With Lawler wobbled and hanging on, the challenger unleashed a barrage of punches and knees that was only ended by the bell. Another head kick in the fourth again had the champion in trouble, though he recovered suitably to engage in one of the most intense staredowns in combat sports at the end of the round.
With the fight likely tied at two, the final round was set to be the decider. With Lawler's jab leaving MacDonald a bloody mess by this point, a series of right hands connected in just the right spot at the beginning of the fifth, shattering the nose and the spirit of the challenger, and ensuring that the belt remained around the waist of Lawler.
What are your favourites? Let me know either in the comments section or on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA
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