Elsalvajeloco

You're the gloomiest of Guses.

I think that was more of UFC's doing because they don't want to make non title fights headlining over title fights a recurring (or at least regular) thing. Based on what Jon has said in the past, he probably doesn't care whether it's for a belt or not.

For the interim belt at 205. Rumble had a dental procedure recently and couldn't fight that early. FWIW, Cormier is out 4-6 weeks.

Looks they are announcing the official opponent in a couple minutes on SportsCenter.

You think training camps are free? He's fighting. Just needs an opponent. It's not hard to see that this is an entirely different situation from UFC 151.

Maybe, if DC is healthy. Right now, I believe Tate vs. Rousey III will be at MSG whether it's the co main or main event.

Looks like OSP may be the fight.

Jon just confirmed via Instagram he is still fighting at UFC 197 whether it be at LHW or HW. He basically laid out the same reasons I gave VileOne. You're not training for like five or six months and then not fighting if you're healthy.

I'm not doubting the actual information. I just think it is an interesting tidbit especially considering they usually notify people ASAP.

Also, based on what happened the last five or so days, do you REALLY want to tempt fate by adding three more months to the Jon Jones one man ABQ media tour?

He was also light heavyweight champion and not coming off a long hiatus. In addition, I don't even know if Rumble has been in the gym really. I would venture to guess that AJ has spent more time taking care of his dogs at his kennel than actually...you know...training for the best fighter in his weight class. Plus, I'm guessing he would have to drop a significant amount of weight unless it would be a catchweight fight. Judging by a video I saw today with Brandon Gibson, Jon is in actual fight shape.

Rumble said he would be ready to step in if Jon couldn't make it. I wonder if it works the other way around. I mean it's not like Jon is risking a belt either. I mean Jon has been training since late last year (October/November-ish). He might as well fight.

There was a rumor going around that Cormier hurt his foot about a week ago. Then, nothing came of it. UFC still hasn't made it official although everyone else has confirmed it. Jon Jones is still training tonight at Jackson/Wink until they get word otherwise. DJ and Rumble haven't heard anything yet either. I saw Dana and the UFC twitter account were still posting links for that hype show on FS1. That was maybe five or six hours ago.

WSOF flyweight champion Magomed Bibulatov has vacated his belt. He is fighting in the Akhmat MMA Grand Prix and intends to sign with the UFC afterwards.

Well, they've been trying to do a stadium show there since Grace Tourinho was the head of UFC Brazil. That was back when the economy of Brazil was better off, and they could get away with less than stellar cards. With Tourinho getting canned in favor of Giovani Decker, they have to do something to energize that market. It helps that Brazil still sees Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort as big stars. I don't think a Fabricio Werdum could sell out a show in a stadium where the ticket prices are way higher than what an average Brazilian can pay for. So in order to build new stars, they have to put those people on shows where the actual stars are. It's something they should've continued doing after UFC 134 and the earlier shows in Brazil. The Shade of the Day Award goes to Invicta FC matchmaker Julie Kedzie: Julie Kedzie ‏@julesk_fighter 19m19 minutes ago Hi! We're gonna to poach you from other organizations with a tv deal and a chance to get more sponsorship $ But you won't be on tv.

My point is he has already accomplished like 85 to 90 percent of what he could accomplish in his career, and that's with all the trouble he has gotten into. There are currently three credible challengers for the position of best fighter at 205. He already has wins over two of them. The Strawberry comparison is probably more appropriate for someone like Paulo Filho, who was a fan favorite and whom most people declared the rightful heir to Anderson Silva's throne at middleweight. Then, he started fighting off invisible demons mid-fight. Hell, you can even use that for someone like BJ Penn who has had numerous issues inside and outside the cage (alcohol and substance abuse, contract disputes, weight issues, lack of commitment, various run-ins with the law, etc). He accomplished a lot, but compared to what he could've done, it doesn't distance himself from many of the top lightweights today or recent past. I don't know what it says about heavyweight MMA (be it during Fedor's ten year run or after it) that someone who can't stay out of trouble is virtually a handful of victories away from being an ATG heavyweight fighter. Like all he has to do is beat two or three different credible heavyweights, and he's already surpassed a Cain Velasquez and a Brock Lesnar. He can do six months in the clink and still accomplish that in two years.

On the other hand, he is about 4 or 5 wins away from possibly accomplishing everything he could in his career. Like once you get past beating DC again, a fight with Rumble, and possibly fighting Gustafsson again, there isn't much of a hill to climb. With dudes off the gas like Overeem (who looked more like '05 MW GP Overeem at the last presser) and someone like JDS being too shopworn, all he would have to do is beat the HW champ and Cain. Those are the final bosses of the video game. Out of all those fights, the Rumble fight is the toughest IMO just because I think Rumble would straight demolish certain top dudes at HW. So even with various stops and starts, he is basically the only person who realistically has a shot of beating everyone there was to beat in and around his weight class. I mean a potential Weidman (or Rockhold fight) could be a payday, but I mean the whole selling point would need to be this superfight with two great athletes. The problem here is both Weidman and Rockhold are great athletes going against possibly the best athlete we've ever seen in MMA. At least with heavyweight, you have the weight curiosity factor. Rockhold is a very big middleweight, but are people going to be really sold on him having a chance against Jon Jones? I mean I would love to see it over something like Jon Jones vs. Andrei Arlovski. However, that's only because Rockhold is in his prime.

Two notes: UFC 198 is sold out. All 45,000 seats are gone. Just VIP packages left. Mark La Monica just reported that Aljamain Sterling is fighting Bryan Caraway on the 5/29 Fight Night card.

According to Meltzer on today's (or last night's edition) Observer Radio, Cat Zingano is probably fighting Julianna Pena on UFC 200. Just hasn't been finalized yet.

"YOU GOTTA TAKE ME IN, PIG!"

By now, that idea should've already been discussed. Whether Jon wants to do that or not is up to him.

The main event of UFC 197 is still a go.

It would depend on the first two fights of the main card. I think if you have bonafide fighters (including the top fights) who people recognize and support, it would make it easier. If it's clunky heavyweight fights (and I don't think Velasquez vs. Browne falls into that category compared to other HWs) or if it's random fights, then yeah, it's probably going to be bad. I mean the fights on 194 weren't bad at all. They just didn't move at a breakneck speed of UFC 189. That type of show is a rarity unless it's on a lower level w/ zero stakes or a mix of mismatches.

Saw a tweet confirming that Aldo-Edgar II isn't the co-main. Heard a rumor that RDA-Alvarez may be the co-main. So basically, they might be doing 3 5-round fights anyway.

That's my thought as well, but it also depends on how the Aldo-Edgar fight shakes out. With that, it at least takes out the bitching out of one side. If Aldo wins and looks impressive, I believe there is money in that fight especially if it's Conor's last hooray at featherweight. If Edgar wins and makes the plea to fight Conor, I believe there is money in that only if Conor wins in the main event. I just think that Edgar needs some sort of a push to really sell people on the fight. He already has the hardcore fans, but I think he needs to break out and guarantee that it's him. If anything, a Conor win vs. Diaz creates a bit of chaos. Nothing is holding him to that featherweight promise. When a fighter has this much command over who and when he fights (although business really determines the when part), you can't hold him to anything. If there is anything I've learned about professional boxing, it is that very lesson. He could want GSP, Lawler, whoever the LW champ is at that point, or even a rubber match with Nate. If the UFC can make one of those fights, it's happening. Simple as that. So just because Frankie Edgar wins and actually deserves his shot at the legit champion, he still has to make a case for it.