The MMA Ten keeps you updated on the latest news from the world of the UFC and beyond. This week: GSP explains his UFC return, Roy Jones Jr. wants a fight with Anderson Silva, Joanna Champion announces title defense, The Black Beast’s gas pangs and much more!
GSP Says This GSP Would Smash the Old GSP
Georges St-Pierre put out a comeback video this week describing why he’s coming back to the UFC. He also added something I found intriguing. GSP says the current 35-year-old version of himself would beat the former UFC welterweight champion. St-Pierre has never been much for hyperbole, and I’d like to take a man at his word, but the MMA game changes quickly.
Certainly, GSP is one of the greatest of all time. But can he really be better than he was after not fighting since 2013? Can you think of any athlete, any fighter that was better after being removed from the game for over three years? Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/kpnbKunWtIw
Joanna Champion Announces Fifth Title Defense
Apparently, it’s “Fighters Make Videos” week. Joanna Jedrzejcyzk made a video announcing her next match, a title defense against Jessica Andrade.
It's on! #UFC champion @joannamma is returning to Dallas to defend her title for a 5th time! What do you think of her opponent for #UFC211? pic.twitter.com/oxfIrnJKIb
— FOX Sports: PROcast (@PROcast) February 23, 2017
Also, I just wanted to let you guys know I was able to spell Jedrzejczyk without checking. So I’ve got that going for me… which is nice.
Travis Browne Almost Kicked the S**t Out of Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis finished Travis Browne last week, but he took several kicks to the midsection. Analyst Brian Stann opined that perhaps a kick broke one of Lewis’ ribs because he kept holding that area with his hands. But in reality, Lewis was trying to soothe his belly and prevent himself from pooping his shorts.
“It was more of, I’m just trying not to s*** on myself. You know? I’m holding my gas in and trying to breathe – at the same time, I just didn’t want to s*** on national TV. Especially with this internet going around, making memes of me… nah, I couldn’t have that. No Charlie Brown.”
Lewis was able to sidestep the full-out number two session. How did he accomplish that? He “eased out a little fart.” I just love this man. Lewis is also fun on social media.
Since my hotel have a power outage I can't see my black hands sooooo I guess it's cool if I sit and pee?!
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) February 19, 2017
Derrick Lewis: Best Post-Fight Interview Ever?
Lewis absolutely killed it in his post-fight interview with Brian Stann in the cage. He talked about poo-poo, Travis Browne having no heart, and inquired about Ronda Rousey’s fine… derriere.
Did I mention I love this man?
Speaking of Ronda Rousey…
Ronda will return to her acting career with a guest spot on NBC’s Blindspot, according to EW.
“Rousey will play Devon Penberthy, a female prison inmate who grew up in a working-class family from the White Mountains of New Hampshire and is serving time for transporting weapons across state lines. She is a tough, athletic woman who knows how to fight and handle a weapon.”
I still think Ronda’s turn on Drunk History was her best role, but we’ll see how she does here. Actually, I won’t be watching. But you can tell me how she did.
Your MMA Nickname Battle of the Week
Hey, let’s check out Your MMA Nickname Battle of the Week, which takes place at Bellator 173 Friday in Ireland. France’s Alex “Da Kid” Lohore will fight former UFC and BAMMA warrior Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher. Lohore is 10-1 and riding a six-fight win streak. He will be making his Bellator debut, as will “Freakshow,” who has gone just 5-4 since leaving the UFC.
Fletcher is a very interesting dude, and he features a heckuva ground game to boot. Perhaps you can figure out how he got his nickname?
Yes, Fletcher likes to walk out to the cage dressed as a clown and he’s one of the more colorful figures in MMA. He’s also fun to watch in the cage, and that goes down Friday night on Spike TV.
Your MMA Knockout of the Week
Everyone loves videos of bullies getting wrecked after trying to start a fight. People also love to see cocky fighters get flattened. Watch as Joe Harding breaks into dance in the cage. Soon after, he has to break out of unconsciousness.
GOD DAYUMMMM. Johan Segas KTFO's Joe Harding at BCMMA 18. When showboating goes wrong. Savage head kick. pic.twitter.com/pPkOPmdmOf
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 18, 2017
Roy Jones Jr. Wants to Fight Anderson Silva
Roy Jones Jr. is one of the best fighters of all-time and as such, he also knows how to make some money. That’s one reason he has called out MMA legend Anderson Silva for a fight.
Roy Jones vs Anderson Silva and Mayweather vs McGregor double headline card UFC invasion. Would be biggest event of all time period
— Roy Jones Jr. (@RealRoyJonesJr) February 23, 2017
Anderson Silva seemed open to the idea, and why wouldn’t he?
Would I watch Jones Jr. vs. Silva? You betcha. Roy is one of my favorite boxers of all-time, and Silva is basically the GOAT of MMA. I still won’t watch that Blindspot show, though. Sorry, between sports and binge-watching The Knick, ain’t nobody got time for that.
BJJ Star Mackenzie Dern Wants UFC Contract
We’ve told you about Mackenzie Dern before, and showed you some of her amazing ground game. She is the No. 1 female BJJ fighter on the planet and she told FloCombat she’d like to join the UFC this summer.
“Right now, I am No. 1 in the world (in BJJ), so I would like to go into the UFC being No. 1 in the world. The ranking finishes at the Worlds, then hopefully I can make my debut in the UFC this year, maybe in June or July. I would like to do that. I told myself when I’m in the UFC then I’ll be 100 percent (MMA). Maybe if I don’t have a fight coming up maybe I’ll do a superfight or do the ADCC, but not doing all these other tournaments I’ve been doing so much. It’s addicting. So addicting.”
She would immediately change the course of the strawweight division, as there isn’t any fighter in that division who can compete with her on the ground. Much like many had no answer for Ronda Rousey’s Judo, fighters know that Dern possesses an incredible BJJ game but will still have difficulty defending against it — even though they know what’s coming. It will be fun to see her in the UFC.
Jorge Masvidal: “Anyone Outside the Top-10 Can Eat a D**k
Jorge Masvidal is pissed. He posted a video to Instagram in which he calls out the “posers and fakes,” and also tells any fighter not in the top-10 to stop calling him out and they can go eat something… nasty.
Masvidal has won three straight fights, including back-to-back knockouts of Jake Ellenberger and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Now he’s having trouble finding his next fight. Masivdal is the No. 6-ranked welterweight in the UFC. I think a matchup with Carlos Condit would be lit, if Condit decides he’d like to continue fighting.
