MMA News: UFC legend targets Jon Jones for octagon comeback, Niko Price wants ‘BMF’ belt shot, Mackenzie Dern speaks after first loss
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UFC legend targets Jon Jones for octagon return
Anthony Johnson is targeting a fight with Jon Jones at light-heavyweight after declaring his intention to return to the UFC.
‘Rumble’ has not competed in the octagon for two-and-a-half years and was expected to return as a heavyweight after piling on the pounds owing to his interest in body-building.
But with so few competitions in the 205lbs division enticing ‘Bones’ to defend his title, the 31-year-old has even taken to starting fights on social media with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Speaking with recently, the former light heavyweight title challenger said he’s in the market for a third crack at the belt, assuming he can cut the weight and feel good.
“I’m going to wait until I get about, when I lose about 10 more pounds, 235. I want to see how my body feels and then if it feels good, then I’m going to probably make 205.
“Why? Because who is there to fight at 205?” Johnson asked rhetorically.
The pair were supposed to fight at UFC 187, but Jones’ indiscretions outside the cage began to mount up and the fight never happened.
“We’ll make it happen if I get low enough,” Johnson said. “We’ll fight at 205. That’s a fight I wanted. I think Jon wanted that fight too, before everything happened. That situation, which, it’s over with, it’s in the past.
“When we see each other there’s no animosity between each other. We show each other love, you know what I mean? But that was a fight, that’s why I went up to 205, man.”
Instead, Johnson fought Daniel Cormier for the vacant belt and was ultimately submitted.
After their second fight, a bout in which Rumble inexplicably tried to wrestle the two-time Olympian, Johnson retired and he admits that his heart was never really into the Cormier fights and so it affected his performance.
“That’s the guy I want [Jones] and then you know, when I get my heart broken, I have to fight DC, it’s not as motivating,” Johnson said. “The fire wasn’t in me to fight DC but I fought him, kind of fought him, you know what I’m saying, but it wasn’t the same drive.”
Niko Price wants 'BMF' belt shot
Niko Price wants to fight for the ‘BMF’ belt in the future after his latest devastating knockout.
The welterweight stopped James Vick with a vicious upkick to the jaw at UFC Tampa on Saturday night, just the second time in the company’s history a fight has ended this way.
Now 4-2 in his last six fights and with a cult following, Price has admitted the opportunity to fight for the BMF belt one day would be a huge honour.
Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz will headline Madison Square Garden on November 2, with Dana White sanctioning a one-off commemorative belt for the occasion, which Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is expected to put around the winner’s waist.
But Price hopes the belt stays and he gets a chance to fight for it in the future.
“Whatever the UFC brings, man. I’m here, I’m waiting,” Price told reporters during a post-fight scrum. “They know what’s right. They know what they want from me. I’m right here. ‘BMF’ belt sounds cool, though.
“If they keep it here, I’m down to go for it.”
Mackenzie Dern speaks after first loss
Mackenzie Dern has spoken out after her loss to Amanda Ribas at UFC Tampa on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old from Arizona lost her first contest back in the octagon, just months after giving birth to her first child.
Dern, 26, is a BJJ specialist and is now 8-1 as a professional. However, despite her dominant wins in her previous contests, the Arizona native was bested by Ribas on the night.
However, despite the loss, she was quick to assure fans she would be back in no time.
“No excuses!” She wrote on Instagram. “Wins and losses are part of life! Thank you to all my family, my coaches, my sponsors and all the fans that continue to believe in me!
“I have so much ahead of me! Congrats to Amanda for the fight!”